Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Marines’ First Frontline Stealth Fighter Lacks Vital Gear

11/20/2012

The U.S. Marine Corps has received its first F-35 Joint Strike Fighter that, in theory, is meant for actual combat. But that doesn’t mean the pricey, long-delayed JSF is going to be dropping bombs on enemy targets anytime soon. The Lockheed Martin-built plane’s computerized logistical system, flight software and special helmet still aren’t ready — and it lacks weapons.

Lethal weapon 2012 - life in the virtual battlezone

11/19/2012

Some people worry about the use of drones – unmanned aerial vehicles – in warfare. Others are concerned about potential deployment of lethal autonomous robots that are programmed to identify, track, and destroy targets and people without a human decision-maker in the loop. Many fret about cyberconflict.

Israel counts cost of war: €60m spent so far could rise to €800m

11/19/2012

The last five days of fighting in the Gaza Strip have so far cost Israel €50 million-€60 million. Initial estimates indicate that a week of similar combat would cost €80 million-€90 million. If a ground assault is launched in Gaza, the cost may reach €600 million-€800 million. The cost will depend on the length of the operation, the number of reservists called up and the types of units participating in the operation.

Defence minister avoids being pinned down in F-35 controversy

11/19/2012

The minister of defence insists Canada's military will replace its outdated fighter jets but would not say if Canadian forces are looking at aircraft other than the controversial F-35. "Clearly everyone understands that equipment requires replacement at some point," Defence Minister Peter MacKay told CTV's Question Period Sunday. "(New jets are needed) just as new ships are needed."

Israel expands military offensive

11/19/2012

An Israeli envoy was in Cairo today for talks on a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza as both sides kept up a barrage of attacks. Palestinians in Gaza continued to fire rockets into Israel, and Israeli jets pounded homes and installations of targeted terrorists.

Boredom may be worst foe for Predator drone operators

11/18/2012

Break out the popcorn. Put on some tunes. Check your email once in awhile, especially if you're flying a remotely piloted spy plane in monotonous circles for hours at a time over a terrorist's hideout in Afghanistan. Boredom might be your worst enemy when it comes to paying attention to the target, and a little distraction might result in better performance.

Air Force: Oxygen not related to crash

11/18/2012

Investigators in oversized white hazardous materials suits were combing the site Friday where an F-22 Raptor crashed a day earlier. Air Force officials said a thorough investigation was being conducted in accordance with standard Air Force and Department of Defense policy, but military officials quickly dismissed one theory. Air Combat Command released a statement Friday afternoon saying despite initial media speculation, no indications point to the life support oxygen system.

Military gets first F-35 operational squadron

11/18/2012

The Defense Department is setting up its first operational squadron of F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jets, the supersonic stealth aircraft intended to replace at least seven types of military aircraft flown by the United States and its allies.

Pakistan struggles in race to develop armed drones

11/18/2012

Pakistan is secretly racing to develop its own armed drones, frustrated with U.S. refusals to provide the aircraft, but is struggling in its initial tests with a lack of precision munitions and advanced targeting technology. One of the biggest rivals to the U.S. and one of Islamabad's closest allies, China, has offered to help by selling Pakistan armed drones it developed. But industry experts say there is still uncertainty about the capabilities of the Chinese aircraft.

Palestinians shoot down Israeli fighter jet in Gaza

11/17/2012

Palestinian fighters have downed an Israeli warplane flying over the Gaza Strip as retaliatory rocket attacks from the enclave continue to sound alarms across Israel.

Atlas programme gets lift, as Airbus Military resumes A400M reliability flights

11/17/2012

Airbus Military has resumed its function and reliability (F&R) testing programme for the A400M Atlas transport, and says it remains on track to deliver its first production example to the French air force during the second quarter of next year. Being performed using development aircraft "Grizzly 5", the F&R process is a vital element of the company's work towards securing full civil certification for the A400M - a milestone targeted for the first quarter of 2013.

India, Russia to jointly develop Military Transport Aircraft

11/17/2012

Moscow and New Delhi have finally come to an agreement over the joint development of a medium-lift military transport aircraft under the MTA programme. The plane should replace the ageing An-12 and An-26 fleet, while becoming an alternative to the American-made ?-130 Hercules recently purchased by the Indian Air Force.

China flexes its muscles in global arms bazaar

11/17/2012

China is flexing its muscles as an arms exporter with a growing array of indigenous weaponry, offering something for most budgets in the global arms bazaar and revealing its wider ambitions to strategic rivals and watchful neighbours. As a new leadership was anointed in Beijing and the world looked on to see what direction it might take over the next decade, military officials from Africa to Southeast Asia were shopping for Chinese weapons in the country’s south.

China interested in active cooperation with Ukraine in sphere of military aircraft modernization

11/17/2012

Ukraine and China are planning to intensify cooperation in the sphere of the repair and modernization of military aircraft. According to the press service of the state-run company Ukrspecexport, issues related to the development of bilateral cooperation in the sphere were discussed by the sides during China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition (namely Airshow China 2012) in Zhuhai.

Lockheed Martin Corporation : Combat King Reigns In The Sky

11/17/2012

An HC-130J Combat King II takes off for Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. from Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] facilities here today. Aircraft number 5707 is the third of 15 HC-130Js to be delivered to the U.S. Air Force's Air Combat Command. The HC-130J replaces the HC-130P/N as the only dedicated fixed-wing personnel recovery platform in the Air Force inventory.

Air Force: No sign of hypoxia in Fla. F-22 crash

11/17/2012

The Air Force says there are no indications that the pilot of an F-22 that crashed in Florida experienced hypoxia-like symptoms. The single-seat stealth fighter went down Thursday afternoon near Tyndall Air Force Base, just south of Panama City on The Gulf of Mexico.

Avic Promotes J-31 As An Export Fighter

11/17/2012

As much as the resources wielded by the Chinese state aerospace industry impress outsiders these days, few could have expected that one of the companies in the sector would want to produce a stealth fighter on its own account.

Joint development the way ahead for Russia-India military ties

11/16/2012

The hallmark of cooperation between Russia and India in the aviation sector is the joint development and manufacturing programme of fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) for the Indian Air Force. According to the Centre for Analysis of World Arms Trade’s latest estimates made in late October, the countries intend to start serial production of the FGFA in 2020. The plane – an Indian version of the Russian T-50 fighter – will be built at the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) production facili

Britain could intervene in Syria as David Cameron considers no-fly zone

11/16/2012

The Prime Minister is chairing a meeting of the National Security Council on military, humanitarian and diplomatic options for tackling the bloodshed and refugee crisis in Syria. The discussion is expected to consider implementing a no-fly zone, supplying anti-aircraft guns to the opposition, and encouraging other countries in the region to provide arms.

South Korean military aerobatic jet crashes on training flight; pilot killed

11/16/2012

South Korea’s air force says a pilot on its aerobatic team was killed Thursday when his jet crashed during training. The T-50B aircraft hit a mountain in Hoengseong shortly after taking off, the air force said. The plane is a trainer jet flown by the military’s Black Eagles aerobatic team. Hoengseong is about 70 kilometers (45 miles) east of Seoul.

EU To Set Up Online Market For Surplus Military Equipment

11/16/2012

Cash-strapped European Union countries, trying to get the most value out of shrinking defense budgets, will soon be able to sell or swap surplus tanks or fighter jets on a new eBay-style electronic marketplace. Website eQuip will provide an online shop window for existing military hardware and in future perhaps for equipment from NATO-led operations in Afghanistan, said an official who briefed journalists on condition of anonymity.

Carrier-bound X-47B drone passes remote-control test

11/16/2012

On dry land, Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Navy show that they can use a handheld controller to maneuver the drone as if around the tight quarters of an aircraft carrier. How do you drive a jet-powered drone around the deck of an aircraft carrier? If you've ever guided a remote-control toy car around your kitchen floor, you'll have an idea.

USAF removes bulk of F-22 operating restrictions

11/16/2012

The US Air Force has removed the majority of operating restrictions previously imposed on its Lockheed Martin F-22 fighter pilots, but is continuing to limit the maximum altitude to which the type can be flown.

Islamabad perfecting its own combat drones

11/16/2012

Pakistan is on the cusp of joining an elite group of countries capable of manufacturing unmanned aircraft capable of killing as well as spying, a senior defence official has claimed. Publicly, Islamabad, which officially objects to lethal drone strikes carried out by the CIA along its border with Afghanistan, says it is only developing remote-controlled aircraft for surveillance purposes.

New Factory at HAL To Build Avionics for Indian Aircraft

11/16/2012

India’s state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) has launched a new factory to manufacture advanced avionics for aircraft and helicopters. The factory, named Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. Strategic Electronics Factory, will be inaugurated Nov. 17 by Defence Minister A.K. Antony in his home state of Kerala.