Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Yuma is home base for key Marine Corps tactics course

04/23/2013

Known simply by the Marines who have attended it over the years as WTI, which stands for Weapons and Tactics Instructor course, it is also the only training of its kind, providing pilots, weapon system operators, ground combat and combat support service personnel a world-class opportunity to hone their battlefield knowledge and expertise.

Necessary Spending

04/23/2013

This year’s defense budget is coming into focus, and the picture isn’t pretty. Congress and the president will probably agree to increase defense spending by a small amount, but they will probably also take money away from future defense budgets. This will allow them to say that they have increased defense spending while in reality the wholesale unraveling of American power will continue.

Partner in the Pivot?

04/23/2013

Apathy kills. The Obama administration’s pivot to Asia—a politico-military endeavor that combines strategic mass, strategic maneuver, and geography in intensely competitive surroundings—may well bolster Taiwan’s security vis-à-vis the mainland.Yet the pivot’s capacity to dissuade or defeat China hinges on whether U.S. Navy relief forces can reach the island’s vicinity, do battle, and prevail at a cost acceptable to the American state and society.

Taliban seize Turks and Russians from downed helicopter

04/23/2013

Officials said there were seven Turks and two Russians on board. The insurgent militia, which frequently makes exaggerated statements, claimed 11 US military personnel were on the aircraft which came down on Sunday in bad weather in Logar province, just south of Kabul. The US-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said no foreign military were involved and the helicopter was a civilian one. It said it had no information on the fate of the aircraft or its occupants.

New aircraft deal crucial for IAF: Browne

04/23/2013

The Indian Air Force (IAF) chief NAK Browne on Monday indicated that the medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) deal, pertaining to acquisition of 126 aircraft at a cost of around Rs 45,000 crore, was crucial in the wake of the fact that the Mig-21 aircraft were being phased out. The phasing out of all the four variants of these aircraft will be over by 2019-20.

USAF: Fighters might be grounded, but pilots could get ready for combat quickly

04/23/2013

Even though the Air Force has grounded a third of its fighter squadrons due to sequestration, Pacific-based pilots and planes could be ready for combat at a moment’s notice, officials said Monday. Earlier this month, the Air Force announced that it would reduce flying hours of all aircraft by 18 percent and stand down a third of its fighter squadrons in an effort to save money in the wake of the ongoing Defense Department budget cuts.

Italian tech firm wins $221m Oman deal

04/22/2013

A unit of Italy-based Finmeccanica has announced the signing of a EUR170m ($221m) contract for the supply of components, systems and services for Oman's Eurofighter aircraft. Alenia Aermacchi, a Finmeccanica subsidiary, said it has signed the contract with Eurofighter relating to the 12 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft ordered by Oman in December.

US offers Israel new $3b air weapons systems deal

04/22/2013

The package, which includes F-35 stealth fighter bombers, V-22 Ospreys and KC-135 air refueling tankers, will enable Israel to strike longer range targets. A new defense deal between the US and Israel, after a year of secret negotiations, will give the Israel Air Force (IAF) a technological overhaul. The IAF will receive F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter bombers, the latest C-130J Hercules transports and cargo planes, both made by Lockheed Martin Corporation.

Asia-Pacific Spending Spree

04/22/2013

The Asia-Pacific will comprise 26 percent — nearly $200 billion — of global naval and maritime security builds in the next 20 years as complex relationships and rivalries drive procurements designed for particular regional challenges.

Hagel: Mideast arms deal ‘a very clear signal’ to Iran

04/22/2013

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel arrived in Israel on Sunday to put the finishing touches on a complicated $10 billion arms deal with three Middle Eastern countries, saying the pact sends “a very clear signal” to Iran. Under preliminary terms of the agreement, the United States would sell tilt-rotor V-22 Osprey aircraft — which can take off like a helicopter but cruise at airplane speed — to Israel. It would be the first time the Pentagon has approved a foreign sale of the Osprey.

Tejas grounds Medium Combat Aircraft project

04/22/2013

Troubles in India’s ambitious Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) project has inflicted gaping wounds where it would hurt the Indian Air Force (IAF) the most—the future plans for an Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has “put on hold” the AMCA project that is being spearheaded by Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA).

Armed Forces denies aircraft shot down

04/22/2013

The Armed Forces denied on Sunday morning that a military aircraft was brought down by smugglers in southwest Egypt. Armed Forces spokesperson Ahmed Mohamed Ali said that a military helicopter was flying on a regular patrol of southern border areas Saturday evening when a sudden malfunction led to an “emergency landing.”

Drones to 'replace' Israeli aircraft says military source

04/22/2013

Israel's air force is on track to developing drones that within four to five decades would carry out nearly every battlefield operation executed today by piloted aircraft, a high-ranking Israeli officer says. The officer, who works in the field of unmanned aerial vehicle intelligence, said Israel is speeding up research and development of such unmanned technologies for air, ground and naval forces.

Iranian F-5 Fighter Jet Crashes in West Iran, 2 Pilots Killed

04/21/2013

An Iranian US-made fighter jet F-5 has crashed in western Iran, killing two pilots, Mehr news agency reported on Sunday. The fighter jet crashed into Mount Filman near the town of Abdanan, some 450 km (280 miles) southwest of the capital Tehran. The bodies of both pilots were found at the crash site, Mehr said, citing regional governor Morad Nasseri.

Russia ratifies Central Asia base deals

04/21/2013

Russia’s lower house of parliament, the State Duma, ratified agreements with Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan on Friday extending the presence of Russian military bases in those countries. Both bases are seen by Moscow as a bulwark against the threat of Islamist militancy and drug-trafficking in Central Asia.

Should Australia Engage Asia in Fantasy or Reality?

04/21/2013

Since the Australian Government’s last White Paper on defense in 2009, there have been rapid changes within the Asia-Pacific region. As a consequence, the forthcoming Australian defense white paper will be perhaps the most important that has ever been prepared. With a rising assertive China, the US adopting an "Asia Pivot" doctrine, and a host of rising Asian powers, the Australian Government cannot defer the strategic complexities of the region to the ’never never’ of 2030 like the 2009 paper.

Russia provides latest military tech exclusively to India

04/21/2013

Russia today reminded India that it provides latest cutting-edge technology exclusively to New Delhi unlike its "newly-acquired partners" in defence sector. "Unlike its newly-acquired partners, we provide the latest cutting-edge technology to India and don't share it with others," Russian Ambassador to India Alexander Kadakin said at an IAF function here on frontline fighter aircraft MiG-21.

A-29 Super Tucano turboprop aircraft uses FLIR Systems advanced imaging systems under U.S. Air Force Light Air Support mission

04/21/2013

FLIR Systems Inc. in Portland, Ore., won a $22 million order for from the U.S. Air Force for its BRITE Star DP advanced imaging systems, to be employed on Embraer A-29 Super Tucano military aircraft acquired as part of the Light Air Support (LAS) program. U.S. Air Force officials selected Sierra Nevada Corp. to supply Embraer A-29 Super Tucano aircraft for use by the Afghanistan National Army Air Corps and other future customers in a contract issued in Feb. 2013.

THE LAST F-4 DEPARTS DAVIS-MONTHAN

04/21/2013

The U.S. Air Force Air Combat Command issued the following press release: The final F-4 regenerated from storage at the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group performed its last flight over Tucson, Ariz., April 17, before heading to Mojave, Calif. Aircraft 68-0599, an RF-4C Phantom, arrived at AMARG for storage on January 18, 1989 and had not flown since.

Virginia Plane Crash: 'Air Force General' Dies

04/21/2013

A pilot who died when his light aircraft crashed just a few metres away from a house was reportedly a US Air Force general. The single-engine Cessna 210 came down in a field near a retirement community in Williamsburg, Virginia. There was no fire when it crashed.

Uganda, Sudan enter arms race

04/21/2013

The budget increase in Uganda’s military expenditure even amidst global and regional defence cuts might be the latest indication of President Museveni’s strategy to fasten his grip on power and his influence on the region. As recent events have showed, a large military war-chest increases Museveni’s regional and international leverage, and helps cow opposition to him at home. Unfortunately, it also means more taxes must be paid to finance it.

U.S.-Morocco crisis: Major exercise canceled over W. Sahara

04/20/2013

Morocco and the United States have been plunged into a crisis that led to the cancellation of a major military exercise. Diplomats said Rabat and Washington underwent a sharp decline in diplomatic and military relations when the United States supported a Security Council effort to expand the authority of a UN force in the disputed Western Sahara.

US finalizing arms sales to Israel, Arab nations

04/20/2013

The Defense Department is working out final details of a $10 billion sale of warplanes, transport aircraft and advanced missiles to Israel and Arab nations amid concerns about the growing threat from Iran and its disputed nuclear weapons program, Pentagon and congressional officials said Friday.

CH-47s delivered to Army Guard Flight Facility in Rochester, April 22

04/20/2013

Five CH-47 Chinook heavy lift helicopters will be delivered to the New York Army National Guard Aviation Support Facility at Rochester International Airport, April 22. The aircraft will arrive on board a C-17 on Monday morning, offloading on CH-47 and the other Chinooks will be delivered on board two Air Force C-5 Galaxies-the largest aircraft in the U.S. military.

FISCAL 2014 BUDGET: COMBAT AVIATION

04/20/2013

Mr. Chairman, Representative Sanchez, and distinguished members of the Subcommittee, we thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today to discuss the Department of the Navy's (DoN) Aviation programs. Our testimony will provide background and rationale for the Department's Fiscal Year 2014 Budget request for aviation programs aligning to our strategic priorities and budgetary goals.