Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Russia to Show Advanced Warplanes in Paris

04/06/2013

Russia will unveil its most advanced aircraft, the Sukhoi Su-35 Flanker fighter jet and the Ka-52 Alligator helicopter gunship, at the Paris Air Show in June, the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) said on Friday. It will also display the Yak-130 Mitten combat jet trainer, UAC spokesman Boris Krylov said.

Defense Expert: N Korea Has Ability to Attack US

04/06/2013

Leading defense and national security expert Dr. James Carafano tells Newsmax that the Obama administration has spent four years ignoring North Korea and we now run the risk of an “accidental escalation” of tensions in the region. He also warns that North Korea does in fact have the technical capability of attacking the west coast of the United States.

Carrier readiness threatened by budget woes

04/06/2013

Until last week, the Navy was hard-pressed for money even to pay for the tow of the aircraft carrier Lincoln on the short haul from Norfolk to Newport News, much less begin the $2.6 billion overhaul the ship needs to rejoin the fleet. “The funding is now in line,” for the Lincoln, but the complex overhaul involving switching out her nuclear fuel will make the ship unavailable for duty until 2015, said Lt. Dan Day, a spokesman for the Fleet Forces Command at the Norfolk, Va., Naval Station.

US, Philippine troops start war games amid tensions

04/06/2013

Thousands of US and Filipino troops began annual military exercises yesterday that the Philippines said were vital to building its defence capabilities to face the rising threat of China. Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario used the launch of the 12-day Balikatan manoeuvres to accuse China of destabilising Asia with aggressive and illegal actions in the South China Sea.

China Claims Innovation in J-20 Weapons Bay Design

04/06/2013

China’s under-development J-20 combat aircraft recently demonstrated its missile-launch mechanism, which the Chinese media tout as a simple but “more efficient” design than that of the American F-22.

President Obama Learns the Value of the Military Toolbox

04/06/2013

President Obama could order F-22s to South Korea because prior presidents made the investment s needed years ago to ensure he'd have them today. Last month, the Obama Administration began noticeably increasing military shows of force on or near the Korean peninsula, as the North’s young leader increasingly took steps of his own to increase tensions.

Fighter aircraft deal with France delayed, talks on

04/06/2013

While Pakistan manages to get fresh supply of arms from US, India's biggest defence deal for procuring 126 Rafale combat aircraft is expected to be delayed. Rafale had edged out five other aircraft including American F-16 and F-18, Russian MiG 35 and European Eurofighter to bag the contract.

CAE to build simulator centre for Kuwait Air Force

04/06/2013

CAE’s US arm has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under the a foreign military sales scheme to construct the training facility for the Kuwaiti air force at Al Mubarak Air Base. The two-bay training facility will house a KC-130J full-mission simulator that CAE is currently under contract to design and manufacture for the Kuwaiti Air Force.

F-22s dispatched amid Korea tension

04/05/2013

The most expensive aircraft ever constructed for the U.S. Air Force seems to be having its coming out party this week. The F-22 Raptor has spent this week on the Korean peninsula, participating in training exercises amid North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s bellicose statements threatening war against the U.S. and allies. On Thursday, North Korea announced its military has been cleared to attack the U.S. using “smaller, lighter and diversified” nuclear weapons.

EADS offers to manufacture 48 Eurofighters in S. Korea

04/05/2013

The European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company (EADS), which is competing with U.S. companies Boeing and Lockheed Martin for South Korea's fighter jet program, has offered to manufacture 48 out of 60 planes in local factories if it wins the multi-billion dollar deal, sources and company officials said Friday.

CCS asks DRDO to accelerate military projects

04/05/2013

Against the backdrop of long delays in its projects, the Government on Thursday asked the premier research agency DRDO to accelerate the work on its major military development programmes and complete them in time. The Cabinet Committee on Security headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was briefed by the DRDO on its major projects including the futuristic Agni-6 and the recently launched Agni-5 long-range missile programmes.

F-22 resumes normal flight operations

04/05/2013

The F-22 Raptor has resumed normal flight operations after modifications to aircrew life-support equipment were completed across the fleet, including the upper pressure garment and related hoses, valves and connectors. Completion of this task eliminates the need to restrict flight operations to remain within a 30-minute flying distance from an airfield suitable for landing.

North v South: military strengths on the Korean peninsula

04/05/2013

North Korea's army says it has approved plans for nuclear attacks on US targets, the latest in a series of apocalyptic threats that have sent tensions soaring on the divided Korean peninsula. Many analysts say the North's rhetoric is for internal consumption, intended to bolster the authority of young leader Kim Jong-Un over the powerful military.

Lockheed Martin Delivers First C-130J In Africa To Tunisia

04/05/2013

Lockheed Martin delivered the first C-130J Super Hercules to the Republic of Tunisia today, marking the first delivery to an African country. Lockheed Martin signed a contract in 2010 with Tunisia to deliver two C-130Js between 2013 and 2014, in addition to providing training and an initial three years of logistics support.

Boeing to Highlight Advanced Technologies at Latin America Aerospace and Defense 2013

04/05/2013

An F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Block II simulator, cybersecurity demonstration, and unmanned airborne system models will anchor Boeing’s display at the Latin America Aerospace and Defense (LAAD) trade show in Rio de Janeiro April 9-12. “We look forward to expanding discussions on our portfolio of products and services with our customers in Brazil and Latin America,” said Roberto Valla, Boeing Defense, Space & Security regional director, International Business Development for the Americas.

‘Bellicose’ N. Korea Forcing US Hand – State Dept.

04/05/2013

The United States said Thursday that statements by the North Korean government has forced Washington to respond by boosting its military defenses. “When you have a country that is making the kind of bellicose statements and taking the kind of steps that they have, you have to take it seriously and you have to take steps to defend the US and its allies,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told a news conference Thursday.

Pentagon to Buy Russian Helicopters Despite Ban

04/05/2013

Maria Young for RIA Novosti) – The US Department of Defense said Thursday it plans to sidestep a Congressional ban to purchase 30 helicopters from Russian state-owned defense firm Rosoboronexport, despite objections from US lawmakers who allege that the firm has equipped the Syrian government to commit brutal crimes against civilians.

Norway sees rise in Russian military jet activity

04/04/2013

Norway said Wednesday it had observed an increasing number of Russian military jets near its airspace last year, amid President Vladimir Putin’s massive rearmament plan. The Scandinavian country scrambled fighter jets on 41 occasions to inspect Russian military aircraft flying past its airspace, although the planes always stayed in international territory, the Norwegian air force said in its annual report. A total of 71 Russian military planes were identified during the sorties.

30 aircraft, 3 vessels to participate in US-Phl military exercises

04/04/2013

Some 30 military aircraft and three vessels from the Philippines and the United States will be deployed in the coming joint military exercises in the northern part of the country, a military spokesman said here Wednesday. Colonel Arnulfo Burgos, spokesman for the Armed Forces of the Philippines, said that of the 30 aircraft, 20 will come from the U . military, and they will support more than 8,000 Filipino and American soldiers in the two-week "Balikatan 2013.

A-10 fires its first laser-guided rocket

04/04/2013

The 40th Flight Test Squadron completed another first in February when an A-10 Thunderbolt II fired a guided rocket that impacted only inches away from its intended target. The 2.75 diameter, 35-pound, laser-guided rocket is known as the fixed-wing Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II. Before the Thunderbolt test, the rocket had proved effective in Afghanistan combat operations when fired from Marine helicopters.

Georgia says it will further monitor Russian naval exercises

04/04/2013

The Georgian Foreign Ministry has announced that Tbilisi expresses deep concern about the unplanned and sudden exercises of the Russian military which go beyond the territory defined by the Vienna Agreement. Speaking at a briefing on Monday, Deputy Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani said that Georgia will continue to inform the international community on Russian military exercises being held near the maritime borders of the country.

Pentagon OKs Lockheed or Boeing fighters sale to South Korea

04/04/2013

The U.S. Defense Department said on Wednesday it has approved the sale of either the Lockheed Martin Corp F-35 stealth fighter or Boeing Co's F-15 Silent Eagle fighter to South Korea, which is expected to announce the winner of a 60-jet competition later this year. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency, or DSCA, which oversees foreign military sales, notified U.S. lawmakers Friday about the possible sales to South Korea as tensions continued to mount with North Korea.

Current arms deficit crisis looms large over Indian forces

04/04/2013

The country's defence forces do not have enough arms to take on the enemy as a large number of weapons, fighter jets, ships and submarines in service near retirement and replacements look years away from arriving, delayed by a multi-layered arms acquisition process.

First Aust fighter aircraft in production

04/04/2013

AUSTRALIA'S first two F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) aircraft are progressing down the US production line and approaching the stage where they will be recognisably aircraft rather than a collection of components. David Scott, Lockheed Martin's director of F-35 international customer engagement, said the two, designated AU-1 and AU-2, were on schedule for delivery in the US in 2014.

Davis-Monthan AFB Receives HC-130J Combat King II

04/04/2013

U.S. Air Force crews ferried a Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] HC-130J Combat King II to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., today. Aircraft number 5719 is the ninth of 15 HC-130Js to be delivered to the U.S. Air Force by Lockheed Martin since initial contract award in 2008 and the seventh HC-130J to be stationed at Davis-Monthan.