Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Airbus Military Transfers C212 Production to Indonesia

02/02/2013

Production of the Airbus Military C212 light transport is being transferred to Indonesia. The company signed a “strategic collaboration agreement” with PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) in mid-2011. The last aircraft to be assembled in Spain–a C212-400 version–was delivered to the Vietnam Marine Police in late December.

Turkish military aircraft violates Greek airspace

02/02/2013

Seven aircrafts of the Turkish Air Force entered the airspace of Greece late Thursday, RIA Novosti reported with reference to the Athens News Agency. Greek military aviation took to the air to intercept the aircrafts. According to the agency, four Turkish aircrafts violated the border north of the island of Chios, the other three - to the east of the island of Rhodes. It is assumed that the Turkish air force was participating in naval exercises.

Iraq, Bahrain Eye Bell’s AH-1Z Attack Helicopter

02/02/2013

Bahrain and Iraq have requested pricing and availability data for the newly upgraded H-1 utility and attack helicopters built by Bell Helicopter, said two sources familiar with the US firm’s development program. Bahrain is eyeing a possible purchase of 14 AH-1Z attack helicopters, while Iraq is looking at a possible purchase of 24 AH-1Z helicopters for the Iraqi Army and 6-8 UH-1Y Maritime Utility helicopters for its Navy, said the sources.

For Europe's Defenses, a Moment of Truth

02/01/2013

Europe's armed forces can't seem to escape the front lines. French forces, with logistical help from its allies, have moved deep into Mali. Under the auspices of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, European military forces are deeply involved in Afghanistan as the combat mission there is winding down, and in Kosovo.

Joint Chiefs: Looming Cuts Would 'Hollow' Military

02/01/2013

The military's top leaders are warning Congress that automatic spending cuts looming in March would force the Pentagon to slash operating budgets, weakening the armed forces and possibly forcing furloughs of 800,000 civilian employees. The Joint Chiefs say in a letter to Congress that the cuts would create a "hollow force" and would require aircraft to be grounded and warships to return to port.

Cameron Refuses to Rule Out U.K. Military Cuts After 2015

02/01/2013

Prime Minister David Cameron refused to rule out further cuts to the British military if his Conservative Party wins power in 2015. He said he stands by his commitment to increase spending on defense equipment by 1 percent a year more than the inflation rate, leaving open the possibility of further reductions to troop numbers when Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne announces post-2015 departmental spending plans by June.

New planes for old

02/01/2013

"It's technologically magnificent and the next big thing. At present, we're gearing up and learning how to deal with this animal. It's like nothing that we've had here in the past, or that they've had anywhere else." Thus a senior Israel Air Force officer brings home the challenge that the Air Force will face in commissioning its first squadron of F-35 stealth fighter jets in the coming years.

U.S., France Top Participants in Aero India

02/01/2013

The United States will continue to top the list of participants at Aero India 2013, the biannual aero show at Bangalore being held from Feb. 6-10. U.S. participation has increased from 63 companies in the 2011 show to 67 this year, followed by 49 participants from France, 33 from the United Kingdom and 29 from Russia. However, Germany has slashed its participation from 43 companies in 2011 to 22 in 2013.

With Engine Project, India Aims For Unmanned Strike Aircraft

02/01/2013

India has refocused its homegrown Kaveri engine project, originally intended for its Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), to power developmental unmanned attack aircraft, according to a Defence Ministry source. One reason the Kaveri was shifted to power an unmanned strike air vehicle (USAV) was that Missile Technology Control Regime restrictions prevent foreign suppliers from selling India engines that could give unmanned aerial systems a range greater than 300 kilometers, the MoD source said.

Denel offers aviation expertise for Africa

02/01/2013

Experimental test pilots and flight test engineers from Denel Aviation are now offering their skills and experience to the benefit of clients across Africa, the company says. This continental service is reinforced by a mobile telemetry vehicle capable of supporting flight testing at remote locations. Previously such highly specialised test flying could only be conducted in South Africa.

Europe’s A400M aircraft programme now reaching major milestones

02/01/2013

Airbus Military’s troubled A400M air- lifter programme is now progressing well, with the first production aircraft set to be delivered to the launch customer within a few months, Airbus group president and CEO Fabrice Brégier reported at the recent Airbus annual press conference. “We were in deep crisis, [but], since 2009, we have worked very hard.” He added: “The A400M programme was progressing very well until midsummer [2012]. Then we had maturity problems with the engine.”

Whitfield Opposes Scheduled Shipment of F-16 Fighter Planes to Egypt

02/01/2013

Congressman Ed Whitfield and several colleagues in the House of Representatives will send a letter to President Obama and Secretary of State, John Kerry, expressing opposition to the shipment of F-16 fighter aircraft and other military aid to Egypt.

Israelis: Missiles were at Syrian military base when aircraft struck

02/01/2013

The anti-aircraft missiles that were the target of a disputed Israeli airstrike on Syria this week were on a military base outside Damascus and had yet to reach the highway that leads to Lebanon when they were destroyed, two Israeli intelligence officials familiar with the air assault told McClatchy on Thursday.

Aviano launches F-16s to find missing pilot after crash in Adriatic

01/31/2013

The Air Force’s 31st Fighter Wing launched at least two F-16 Fighting Falcons on Wednesday to join the search for one of its pilots missing since late Monday, according to wing officials. Officials did not say how many of their fighters would ultimately join in the effort, citing security reasons. The fighters join Italian and U.S. aircraft and ships searching for Capt. Lucas Gruenther, the wing’s chief of flight safety, whose F-16 disappeared over the Adriatic during a night training mission.

United Kingdom : RAF squadron takes delivery of 100th Typhoon

01/31/2013

The unit, No 1 (Fighter) Squadron, which was reformed just 4 months ago at RAF Leuchars in Scotland, is now home to the 100th Typhoon to enter service. Officer Commanding No 1 (Fighter) Squadron, Wing Commander Mark Flewin, said: There can be no better example of the strides we are taking with regard to growing the Typhoon Force than the stand-up of 1 (Fighter) Squadron - we reformed as a Typhoon unit in September last year.

Special aircraft test defenses of carrier strike group

01/31/2013

A six-plane detachment of F/A-18A+ Hornets from Fighter Squadron Composite (VFC) 12, along with a six-plane detachment operated by Airborne Tactical Advantage Company (ATAC), a two-plane detachment from L-3, and a two-plane detachment from Phoenix Air are operating from NAS Jacksonville to provide “adversary threat training” for the Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) Strike Group that is currently underway in the Atlantic for its Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX).

U.S. fighter jets to use Star Wars-style onboard laser weapons by 2014

01/31/2013

The future of warfare has arrived: airplane-mounted laser weapons. The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) announced that the 150-kilowatt lasers would be 10 times smaller and lighter than existing lasers that fire comparably powerful beams– small and light enough to be mounted on fighter jets.

Philippines To Buy 12 S. Korean Fighter Jets

01/31/2013

The Philippines will buy 12 South Korean FA-50 fighter jets to strengthen its poorly armed military, government spokesmen said Jan. 30 amid increasing maritime tensions with China. The FA-50s will be the first fighter jets to be operated by the Philippine air force since it retired the last of its U.S.-designed F-5 fighters in 2005, said President Benigno Aquino’s spokesman, Edwin Lacierda.

Syria: Israeli planes attacked military research center

01/31/2013

Syrian army command denies earlier reports that IAF planes had struck a convoy carrying weapons from Syria to Hezbollah in Lebanon; claims 2 people were killed and five wounded in the attack on the site in Jamraya. Israeli warplanes attacked a military research center in Damascus province at dawn on Wednesday, Syria's military command said, denying reports that the planes had struck a convoy carrying weapons from Syria to Lebanon.

100th F-35 On Lockheed Martin’s Production Line

01/31/2013

Assembly of the 100th Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is well underway at the F-35 production facility here. F-35 technicians are in the final phase of building the wings that will be installed on the 100th aircraft known as AF-41. AF-41, a conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variant, is one of 88 F-35s in various stages of completion on Lockheed Martin production lines Fort Worth and Marietta, Ga., and supplier locations across the world.

Top Court Rejects Call to Close Airbase in Central Russia

01/31/2013

Russia’s Supreme Court threw out a petition by a group of residents in the Central Russian city of Voronezh to close a military airbase, the city legislature said on Wednesday. The petition, filed in 2011, urged the Defense Ministry to remove the airbase called Baltimore from the city boundaries.

Russia, Kazakhstan Sign Air Defense Agreement

01/31/2013

Russia and Kazakhstan signed a deal on Wednesday to create a joint regional air defense system, Kazakhstan's Defense Ministry said on Wednesday. “This document will create a platform to secure the defense of Kazakhstan’s airspace and Russia’s adjacent territory,” the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

Officials to AP: Israel hit SA-17 missiles shipment

01/31/2013

Israel conducted an airstrike inside Syria overnight near the border with Lebanon, hitting a convoy of trucks, US and regional officials said Wednesday. The regional officials said Israel had been planning in the days leading up to the airstrike to hit a shipment of weapons bound for Hezbollah in Lebanon. They said the shipment included sophisticated, Russian-made SA-17 anti-aircraft missiles, which would be strategically "game-changing" in the hands of Hezbollah.

IL-476 Airlifter Makes First Long Test Flight

01/30/2013

A prototype Ilyushin Il-76MD-90A (also known as the Il-476) heavy-lift transport plane completed its first prolonged test flight on Tuesday, its manufacturer Aviastar said. The flight, which lasted four hours and 25 minutes at altitudes of up to 10,000 meters (33,000 feet), was designed to assess the performance of its onboard avionics, engines, automated control system, and other characteristics, Ulyanovsk-based Aviastar said.

Anka successfully completes acceptance tests

01/30/2013

The acceptance test campaign of Anka Medium Altitude Long Endurance UAV System, which was designed and developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), was successfully completed with the last test flights held between January 20-22 2013.