Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

UAVs Close The Safety Gap

12/24/2012

Last year the large U.S. Air Force UAVs, (MQ-1 Predator, MQ-9 Reaper, and RQ-4 Global Hawk) had an accident rate of 3.8 per 100,000 hours. This accident rate is currently lower than that of the F-16, which is currently one of the safest manned fighter aircraft flying. Last year these air force UAVs had 13 "Class A" accidents (one causing over a two million dollars of loss).

India, Russia ink deal on air-launched BrahMos missile

12/24/2012

Ahead of the visit of President Vladimir Putin, India and Russia have signed a deal for working together to develop the air-launched version of the 290-km-range BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, which would be fitted to the Su-30MKI combat aircraft of the IAF. An agreement was signed between BrahMos Aerospace, Russian Rosoboron export and Sukhoi Design Bureau for developing the air-launched version of the missile here on Friday, Defence Ministry officials said here.

China Assails U.S. Over Alliance With Japan and Possible F-16 Sales to Taiwan

12/24/2012

The nomination of Senator John Kerry as the new U.S. secretary of state has been warmly received by China, but the state-run news media on the mainland has sharply attacked the passage of a new military spending bill that is awaiting President Obama’s signature. Two amendments to the $633 billion bill have drawn particular scorn from Beijing, which has unleashed a series of scathing articles and editorials in the state-run news media.

Russian military presence in Syria poses challenge to US-led intervention

12/24/2012

Russian military advisers are manning some of Syria's more sophisticated air defences – something that would complicate any future US-led intervention, the Guardian has learned. The advisers have been deployed with new surface-to-air systems and upgrades of old systems, which Moscow has supplied to the Assad regime since the Syrian revolution broke out 21 months ago.

Blair Watson: Why the F-35s will cost yet more

12/24/2012

Last week, the Harper government released a report by audit firm KPMG, which sought to ascertain how much it would cost to procure and operate a fleet of 65 F-35 fighter jets. KPMG calculated the total bill over 42 years, the warplane’s expected lifespan in Canadian service, to be $45.8-billion, which works out to an average annual expense of almost $1.1-billion.

Russia, India sign weapons deals worth billions

12/24/2012

Russia and India signed new weapons deals worth billions of dollars Monday as President Vladimir Putin sought to further boost ties with an old ally. Putin and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh hailed cooperation between their countries as officials signed a $1.6 billion deal for India to purchase 42 Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jets and a $1.3 billion contract for the delivery of 71 Mil Mi-17 military helicopters.

BAE Systems saves 6,000 jobs with £2.5bn Oman military aircraft contract

12/24/2012

BAE Systems has bagged a £2.5bn military aircraft contract from Oman, securing jobs of its 6,000 employees which were jeopardised by the debacle of £25bn merger with European defence giant EADS. BAE Systems will manufacture Typhoon and Hawk military aircraft for Oman in a strategic effort to look out for other growing markets.

Astra bang on target again

12/23/2012

The launch of the Astra missile for the second day on Saturday from Chandipur, Odisha, was deadly in its accuracy. An air-to-air missile, it was launched from a fixed launcher on the ground and homed in on its target — Lakshya, a pilotless target aircraft (PTA) flying 15 km away. The warhead exploded within a metre of Lakshya, destroying it.On Friday also, the launch from the ground against an electronic target was successful.

Russia’s 5th Generation Fighter Jet to Start State Tests in March

12/23/2012

Russia's fifth-generation stealth jet fighter, the T-50, will start state flight tests in March 2013, Russia’s Air Force Commander, Lt. Gen. Viktor Bondarev said on Sunday. Currently three fighter jets are performing test flights at the Zhukovsky airfield outside Moscow, the fourth plane is undergoing factory test trials and the fifth plane is in the process of factory approvals, the commander said.

PAF hero is ill

12/22/2012

Despite the chaos and mess created over the years by our so-called leaders, Pakistan has produced fine individuals who make all of us proud. Among them is none other than Air Commodore M. M. Alam, who is undoubtedly one of the greatest fighter pilots of all times and arguably the best in the modern jet warfare era.

Lakenheath: Three Marines to be honoured for rescue of F-15E pilot

12/22/2012

Three Marines are to be honoured next month for their heroics during a rescue mission in Libya in which they recovered a downed Air Force pilot, from a Suffolk air base. Capt Erik Kolle, Capt David Potter and Sgt Daniel Howington are scheduled to receive the Air Medal with combat distinguishing device on January 7.

Congress approves final FY2013 Defense Authorization bill

12/22/2012

The House (315-107) and Senate (81-14) overwhelmingly passed the conference agreement on the FY2013 Defense Authorization bill this week. The bill now goes to the president. The annual Defense Authorization bill authorizes force levels, programs, and policies (including military pay raises) for DoD budgets. Appropriations bills provide actual funding for DoD.

Aquino vows stronger military forces

12/22/2012

President Benigno Aquino III has vowed to roll out a stronger and more capable Armed Forces of the Philippines with a P75 billion budget for hard power upgrade over the next five years. In what officials described as a “scaled down” celebration of the AFP’s 77th anniversary on Friday, Mr. Aquino said the modernization fund will put an end to jokes about the military being a “poor cowboy” who does not have the means to fight his enemies.

Obama could face pressure over Taiwan air force

12/22/2012

US President Barack Obama may soon come under direct congressional pressure to draw up a plan ensuring that Taiwan’s air force can “contribute appropriately” to the defense of the nation. The House of Representatives and Senate are considering the measure as part of the US defense budget for fiscal 2013, which is expected to pass before the Christmas break.

U.S. Military Focuses on ADS-B To Operate in Future Airspace

12/22/2012

As with civil aviation operators, the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) must ready its aircraft fleet to comply with fast-approaching mandates to operate in the future global airspace system. Failure to meet those requirements will prevent operators from being able to take advantage of preferential routes and altitudes that will be available to properly equipped aircraft.

Britain’s BAE agrees $4.1 bln deal to supply 20 military aircraft to Oman

12/22/2012

British defense giant BAE Systems announced a $4.1-billion deal to supply 12 Eurofighter Typhoon fighter aircraft and eight Hawk trainer jets to Oman. The deal, which will help sustain thousands of jobs in Britain, is the first major order since BAE Systems failed to merge with European aerospace giant EADS earlier this year.

Lockheed Martin Acquires Assets of CDL Systems Ltd.

12/22/2012

Lockheed Martin announced the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of CDL Systems Ltd., a software engineering firm that specializes in the development and licensing of vehicle control station software for unmanned systems. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed and are not material to Lockheed Martin.

At war's end‚ ramping up drone strikes in Afghanistan

12/21/2012

The United States carried out more drone strikes in Afghanistan this year than it has done in all the years put together in Pakistan since it launched the covert air war there eight years ago. With all the attention and hand wringing focused on the operations in Pakistan, it’s remarkable that such a ramp-up just over the border has gone virtually unnoticed.

German attack helicopters to augment forces in Afghanistan

12/21/2012

Silhouetted against the towering Marmal mountains outside this northern city, a camouflage helicopter bristling with weaponry swooped low over the brown plains Thursday, representing a new phase in Germany’s military mission in Afghanistan. The delivery of four Tiger helicopters to Afghanistan represents the first attack helicopter deployment in the history of the German army and has been a long time in the making.

Developmental trial of Astra missile conducted

12/21/2012

India on Friday conducted developmental trial of its indigenously developed beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missile 'Astra' from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, 15 km from here. The sophisticated missile was test-fired from a launcher in launch pad-2 of the ITR at about 1.25 pm targeting a flying object being supported by a pilotless target air-craft 'Lakshya', defence sources said.

PAC meeting: US refuses to pay Pakistan for breach of airspace

12/21/2012

During a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Thursday, Malik said the US refused to pay Rs72.4 million it owed to Pakistan, maintaining that military aircraft belonged to the state and were, as such, exempted from airspace navigation charges as per international norms. He added that Washington similarly did not charge Pakistan’s C-130 aircraft for using US airspace on several occasions.

MiG-21: People’s fighter or plane dangerous?

12/21/2012

If safety is an issue, how come more than 20 air forces around the world continue to operate the Russian fighter? In fact, with upgrades this old warhorse is now able to take on more modern combat aircraft.

Military will contract out air-to-air refuelling if Canada goes with F-35

12/21/2012

The Canadian military has decided it will rely on the U.S., other allies and private companies for air-to-air refuelling if the government purchases the F-35 because the stealth fighters aren’t compatible with Canada’s current refuelling aircraft. The revelation is buried in an explosive report released last week and means the Canadian military would be reliant on third parties to realize the full benefits of its F-35s — a situation opposition critics and analysts say is completely unacceptable.

Boeing's Final Design for Wedgetail AEW&C Airborne Mission Segment Accepted by Australia

12/21/2012

The Commonwealth of Australia has completed its acquisition of six Boeing [NYSE: BA] 737 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft and related mission systems by accepting the final design of the Wedgetail airborne mission segment. The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) operates the aircraft, which provide Australia with advanced airborne surveillance, communications and battle management.

Boeing Delivers 1st P-8I Maritime Patrol Aircraft

12/21/2012

Boeing on Dec. 19 made an on-site delivery of the first P-8I aircraft to the Indian Navy in Seattle, in accordance with the contract. India will receive this aircraft and two more of its eight contracted P-8Is in 2013. The program is progressing on schedule as Boeing assembles the fourth and fifth P-8Is, which are designed for long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare.