Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Blue Angels to Fly in 2014 Selfridge Air Show Under Macomb County Native's Command

12/14/2012

A familiar face will be in command of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels flight demonstration team when the squadron returns to headline the air show at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in 2014. Cmdr. Tom Frosch, a native of Clinton Township, took command of the squadron in November. A 1988 graduate of Fraser High School and 1992 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Frosch is a decorated combat veteran, serving in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

PLA Navy makes preparations for aircraft carrier formation

12/14/2012

Within only a month, the development of China's aircraft carrier experienced the official delivery of the "Liaoning Ship" to the Navy of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) and the successful taking-off and landing training of the carrier-borne J-15 fighter nicknamed "Flying Shark" on the deck of the aircraft carrier.

Australia Looks At Purchasing More Super Hornets

12/14/2012

Minister for Defence Stephen Smith and Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today provided an update on planning for Australia’s future Air Combat Capability. “Australia’s Air Combat Capability is a vital part of our national security framework. The Government will not allow a gap in our Air Combat Capability to occur,” Mr Smith said.

India flexes air muscle: IAF to start new year with grand tests of strength

12/14/2012

Flowing from its 80th anniversary celebrations, the Indian Air Force is getting set to conduct its biggest exercise in a decade, named Livewire, in March 2013. As an adjunct to the effort, the air force combat fleet will be involved in a live firing air power demonstration called Iron Fist to be held in February at the Pokhran range in Rajasthan.

For Lockheed's F-16 fighter, still buyers after all these years

12/14/2012

The end of the line for the F-16 jet fighter is set to go on receding, the top executive of manufacturer Lockheed Martin Corp said on Thursday. "We've been having that conversation for over a decade," Chief Executive Robert Stevens said in an interview. Pressed on his current expectation when it would close, he shot back: "We'll have that conversation for over a decade."

Fighter jet criteria up in the air

12/14/2012

The Harper government's promise to restart its plan to replace Canada's CF-18 fighter jets has come under the microscope as opposition parties and analysts say the field remains heavily slanted in favour of the F-35. At issue is the "reset" promised by the government Wednesday is being led by many of the same people who originally recommended sole-sourcing the stealth fighter.

Joint Strike Fighter: Too big to fail?

12/14/2012

Since the recession, American families have taken a hard look at their spending habits. We have less to spend, so there's no room for waste. Instead of buying a new coat every season to keep up with the latest fashion, we buy just one coat that will last. Our federal budget faces the same crunch. With growing deficits, both parties have decided that we need to cut back everywhere. Defense spending potentially faces an unprecedented $1 trillion cut as part of the "fiscal cliff" scenario.

Military (also) needs logistical innovations

12/14/2012

Indonesia’s recent defense guidelines have comprehensively outlined the government’s military modernization programs. Although those documents have specified a broad range of arms acquisition plans up to 2024, they still lack a clear vision on the development of a robust logistics support system and capabilities.

Boeing Demos Unmanned Little Bird for Republic of Korea Army

12/14/2012

Boeing today demonstrated affordable unmanned aircraft technology that could be integrated onto Republic of Korea Army (ROKA) MD 500 helicopters to expand the fleet's mission capabilities. A Boeing Unmanned Little Bird (ULB) demonstrator aircraft, a variant of the highly successful MD 500 helicopter, autonomously flew for approximately 25 minutes at the ROKA Aviation School in Nonsan.

Japan Answers Chinese Plane With Fighter Jets

12/13/2012

Japan scrambled fighter jets over contested islands in the East China Sea after a small Chinese propeller plane entered what Tokyo considers its airspace. Coming just three days before general elections in Japan, Thursday's move sharply escalates territorial tensions that have already damaged economic relations between the two neighbors.

China holds air war to choose best fighter pilots

12/13/2012

China has organised a 10-day air war competition in which over a hundred ace fighter pilots were pitted against each other at speeds of 1,800 km per hour and had to take the right decision in barely 10 seconds. The second People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force "Golden Helmet" award took place after the 10-day air war competition came to an end on November 29. Eleven Air Force pilots stood out from the 108 elite and won the award, reported People's Daily.

Inside China: What’s in a fighter jet crash?

12/13/2012

A Chinese-made J-7 fighter-interceptor jet crashed into a civilian residential area earlier this month, injuring four people on the ground. The pilot successfully bailed out seconds before impact near an air force base in Guangdong province Dec. 4. Such news is considered routine in the West. But the Chinese government usually responds by being secretive — except for this incident.

Canada widens search for fighter jet beyond F-35

12/13/2012

Canada's government on Wednesday widened its multi-billion-dollar search for a new fighter jet to models other than the F-35 it has spent 15 years helping the United States and other allies to develop. The largest-ever government procurement in Canadian history has come under fire from opposition parties over its spiralling costs and an apparent lack of transparency and competition in the process.

Crime, Osprey add to Okinawan anger over US bases

12/13/2012

For nearly 70 years, Okinawa has gotten more than its share of America's military - more jets rattling homes, more crimes rattling nerves. It's the only Japanese island invaded by U.S. land forces during World War II. It endured 27 years under U.S. administration, and it continues to host two-thirds of Japan's U.S. bases.

Last of the F-16 fighter jets delivered to Turkish Air Forces

12/13/2012

Speaking at the F-16 delivery ceremony, Özcan Ertem, TAI’s Aircraft Group head, stressed the F-16's importance and speciality, and that the program was successfully completed ahead of the deadline with the delivery of the 308th F-16 jet, known also as the Fighting Falcon.

Syrian Rebels Training On Anti-Aircraft Weapons In Jordan

12/13/2012

The U.S. has now formally recognized a new Syrian opposition group as the legitimate representative of the Syrian people. But the U.S. has repeatedly declined to provide weapons for rebels fighting President Bashar Assad's army. However, NPR has learned that there are movements behind the scenes. In Jordan, several Syrian sources said that Jordanian authorities, along with their U.S. and British counterparts, have organized training for Syrian rebels on sophisticated anti-aircraft weapons.

Questions surround fighter aircraft project as $46-billion price confirmed for F-35

12/13/2012

Key questions remained Wednesday over the Conservative government’s promise to consider all available options to replace Canada’s aging jet fighters after an explosive new report put the full cost of buying, owning, replacing and disposing of 65 F-35 stealth aircraft at almost $46 billion. But it’s not known whether the government is really prepared to walk away from the F-35 if a better alternative is found.

Iraq Takes Delivery Of Super Hercs

12/13/2012

Lockheed Martin delivered a C-130J Super Hercules to the Iraqi Air Force at formal ceremonies here today. This is one of the initial three aircraft of a total of six C-130Js ordered by Iraq. The other two of these initial three aircraft departed yesterday for Iraq. The remaining three C-130Js will be delivered in 2013. The Iraqi Air Force will use the airlifters for intra-theater support for its troops and to provide humanitarian relief operations in various locations.

Fourth T-50 Stealth Fighter Flies

12/13/2012

Russia's fourth prototype Sukhoi T-50 stealth fighter jet took to the skies for the first time on Wednesday in a 40 minute flight at the Komsomolsk-on-Amur factory in Siberia, Sukhoi said. "The fourth prototype PAK-FA made its first flight today from the Gagarin factory in Komsomolsk-on-Amur," Sukhoi said, referring to the aircraft by its project name, an acronym for future fifth-generation tactical fighter.

The first pic of a presidential V-22 Osprey

12/12/2012

Here's a great pic of the first MV-22 Osprey destined for HMX-1, the Marine helicopter squadron that operates the fleet of Marine One presidential choppers. As you can see, this MV-22 already has presidential green painted on the tail and engine nacelle. The tilt-rotor has freshly arrived at Bell Helicopter's Amarillo, TX, plant from Boeing's factory in Philadelphia, where the Ospreys' fuselages are made.

Navy eager for Tejas ordering eight naval fighters

12/12/2012

So far - much to its disappointment - only one naval light combat aircraft has been built by the Aeronautical Development Agency. Earlier this year, the then naval chief, Admiral Nirmal Verma, regretted the delay in building the naval version of the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA). Last week, the current naval chief, Admiral D K Joshi, declared the navy wanted the Tejas more urgently than any fighter aircraft from abroad.

Most contractors opt out of Air Force chopper bids

12/12/2012

Five big defense contractors on Tuesday withdrew from the U.S. Air Force's latest attempt to replace its aging fleet of HH-60 Pave Hawk rescue helicopters, leaving just Sikorsky Aircraft in line for a deal whose valued is capped at $6.84 billion.

Lawmakers question gift of 20 F-16s to Morsi's Egypt

12/12/2012

Key lawmakers expressing concerns about the Obama administration's plan to send 20 F-16 fighter jets to Egypt, where new President Mohamed Morsi's allegiances are as uncertain as his grip on power. Under a foreign aid deal signed in 2010, when Morsi's U.S.-friendly predecessor Hosni Mubarak was in charge, the U.S. is giving the planes to Egypt's air force, which already has more than 200 of the aircraft.

Brazil fighter deal seen to favor Boeing

12/12/2012

Brazil's long-delayed FX-2 fighter competition isn't over yet but Boeing's F/A-18 Super Hornet is winning friends in the Brazilian air force, news reports said. The Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is a twin-engine, carrier-based, multi-role fighter aircraft based on the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet.

Military machine: Learning to use new equipment

12/12/2012

When fighter jets took off from the Liaoning, China’s first aircraft carrier, for the first time late last month, video footage of the airmen’s Top Gun-like gestures went viral on domestic websites. With hundreds of amateur videos offering imitations of the moves, an aircraft carrier style craze is sweeping China, much like the Gangnam Style phenomenon – of Korean pop star Psy – elsewhere.