Military Aviation News Archive

Syrian opposition unification puts west to the test as rebels lay grounds for no-fly zone

11/16/2012

The Syrian opposition parties have finally succeeded in unifying themselves in the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces (NCSROF) that was born Nov. 11, after nearly a week of meetings in the Qatari capital of Doha.

Israel launches massive attack on Gaza, kills key Hamas leader

11/15/2012

Israeli aircraft and warships struck dozens of targets across the Gaza Strip on Wednesday in the opening hours of what military officials in Jerusalem said could be a days-long military operation. The attacks left at least one senior Hamas leader dead and terrorized tens of thousands of Gaza residents in the strip’s densely populated urban centers.

Flight tests confirming An-70 aircraft engine's specifications

11/15/2012

The program of test flights of the upgraded Russian-Ukrainian An-70 military transport aircraft is running smoothly, Chief Designer of Zaporizhia-based Ivchenko-Progress Design Bureau Ihor Kravchenko has said. "The plane is finishing the program of flight tests of the D-27 engine and propfan. Everything is going as planned. The performances are being confirmed," Kravchenko said at Airshow China-2012 in Zhuhai.

The Struggle for Self-Reliance in the PAF

11/15/2012

Self-reliance in the defence field is a cherished goal for all nations - it is also a very elusive goal to achieve, given the technological complexity of modern weapons especially in the field of military aviation. USA, the sole super power, is perhaps the only nation today that has come close to achieving a high degree of self-sufficiency in its weapons requirement for the projection of air power but even they cannot claim to be totally self reliant.

China eyes purchase of Russia's Su-35 fighter

11/15/2012

Beijing is interested in buying Russia's new Su-35 multirole fighter, according to the President of Russia's United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) Mikhail Pogosyan. "The Chinese are showing interest in this jet. But we have agreements that we disclose information only upon reaching actual agreements. So, I am not going to comment on the pace of negotiations," Pogosyan said at the China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai.

China’s J-31: Scaling A New High? – Analysis

11/15/2012

The recent maiden flight of China’s second stealth fighter twin engine J-31 Falcon Eagle, which claimed to feature fifth generation combat aircraft technologies, was not a wholly unexpected event. The test flight, which coincided with the 18th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, was perhaps meant to deliver the message that China will leave no stone unturned to be recognised as the second country after the US to simultaneously develop two stealth fighters.

Vietnam, Malaysia Eye Russian Yak-130 Trainer

11/15/2012

Malaysia and Vietnam are interested in buying Russian-made Yak-130 Mitten combat trainers, a source in the Russian delegation at the Air China aerospace show told RIA Novosti on Wednesday. “Malaysia will need new combat trainers in the near future to replace the outdated Italian-made M-339 aircraft,” the source said.

New Russian Bomber 'Will Not be Hypersonic'

11/15/2012

Russia's future PAK-DA manned bomber project will not have hypersonic speed capability, Russia's bomber force commander said on Wednesday, in an apparent contradiction of claims by Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin earlier this year. "PAK-DA, currently under development, will not be hypersonic," Lt. Gen. Anatoly Zhikharev told RIA Novosti on Wednesday. The first prototpe PAK-DA is due to enter service around 2020, he added.

U.S. Navy Selects Lockheed Martin to Modernize C-130T Aircraft

11/15/2012

The U.S. Naval Air Systems command awarded Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] a $30 million contract to integrate new avionics and software on multiple C-130T aircraft as part of its avionics upgrade program.

Boeing Adapts Innovative Training Technologies to F/A-18E and F-15E

11/15/2012

Two military aircraft produced by Boeing – the F-15E Eagle and the F/A-18E Super Hornet – now are equipped to train in an environment that puts them at odds against real aircraft and computer-generated enemy threats at the same time.

Syrian opposition unification puts west to the test as rebels lay grounds for no-fly zone

11/15/2012

Poland welcomes first permanent US aviation detachment

11/14/2012

The mission is meant to strengthen cooperation between the key NATO allies through regular joint training exercises and rotational deployment of U.S. military aircraft beginning in 2013. The first permanent US air force detachment on Polish soil will be at in Lask air base near Lódz, central Poland. The 10 resident U.S. staff will service four annual aircraft rotations, mainly of F-16 fighter jets and C-130 Hercules transport planes.

Investigation launched into Algerian C295 crash

11/14/2012

A team of technical experts is being assembled to help investigate the crash of an Algerian military C295 transport aircraft in France on Friday, which is believed to have killed all six people on board. The accident happened at about 15:45 local time, in the mountainous area of Lozère near the city of Avignon, south France, while the aircraft was being flown from Paris to Algeria. A team from Airbus Military was due to visit the crash scene "to help clarify the circumstances of this accident".

Latest China military hardware displayed at airshow

11/14/2012

China on Tuesday showed off a new military drone and a model of a next-generation fighter plane as it builds up its own defence capabilities and seeks customers for its hardware. Industry giant China Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC) displayed its "Yi Long" drone, called Wing Loong in English, at the opening of China's premier airshow in the southern city of Zhuhai, state media said.

Military lacks funds for aircraft repairs in 2013

11/14/2012

The Czech military may not be able to use some of its aircraft next year because it will lack from 600 million to 1 billion crowns for the necessary repairs, chief-of-staff Petr Pavel told journalists yesterday. "Whether we like it or not, some aircraft will certainly have to be grounded next year," he said. In 2013, the military will probably not be able to use the Russian-made Mi-8 and Mi-17 helicopters, the Challenger government plane or the Yakovlev Yak-40 transport aircraft.

Syrian Softies Grounded

11/14/2012

Why is the Syrian Air Force performing so poorly? On October 29th the Syrian Air Force hit a record high for daily air raids; 60 bombing sorties. But with a force of 400 combat aircraft, and about as many pilots, surely the air force could have launched more raids on one day. Over the last two months, the air force has been averaging about 20 air attacks a day.

JF-17 Thunder displays high agility, monoeuvrability at Zhuhai Air Show

11/14/2012

JF-17 Thunder during Zhuhai International Air Show in China has displayed high agility and manoeuvrability which was also visible in the form of ‘white condensed air streaks’ generated from wing roots of the aircraft. The show was inaugurated with an impressive inauguration ceremony Tuesday, said a press release received from China.

Pakistan developing combat drones

11/14/2012

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 claims. 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.

Iraq Denies US Pressure Over Russia Arms Deal

11/14/2012

Iraq denied on Tuesday that its decision to suspend a $4.2-billion arms deal with Russia had been taken after consultations with the United States. “We are a sovereign state and we would not give into pressure,” a spokesman for Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki told RIA Novosti by telephone from Baghdad. "What's more, there was no pressure from Washington," added the spokesman, Ali Musawi.

Sukhoi to Build Strike, Recon Unmanned Planes

11/14/2012

Russian aircraft maker Sukhoi is to focus on creating reconnaissance and strike unmanned air vehicles (UAV) in the near future, United Aircraft Corporation President Mikhail Pogosyan said at the Zhuhai Airshow China exhibition on Tuesday. Sukhoi, which has historically designed fighter and ground attack aircraft but now also builds some civil aircraft, is part of UAC, a holding covering most of Russia's aircraft industry.

Saudi Arabia in $6.5billion bid for new Hercules

11/14/2012

Saudi Arabia is close to signing a deal worth more than $6.5 billion with Lockheed Martin as it seeks to modernise its airlift and inflight refuelling capabilities. US Congress is to consider an export application by the American manufacturer for up to 20 C-130J -30 transproters and five KC130J tankers.

Qatar fighter choice still up in the air

11/13/2012

Qatar's long-running quest to find a new fighter to replace its Mirage 2000s – part of a wider air force modernisation programme – seems to be entering the final phase. The Dassault Rafale, Boeing F-15 and Boeing F/A-18E/F have been slugging it out in the Qatar heat during July, August and September with in-country evaluations taking place.

Danish Military To Meet Lockheed, Boeing Over Fighter Replacement

11/13/2012

Danish military officials will be visiting Washington this week in a major step toward restarting competition for their fighter replacement program. The delegation will meet with representatives from Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program and Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet.

Two-Seater J-15 Flies

11/13/2012

On November 2nd the Chinese J-15S naval fighter made its first flight. This is the two-seat version, with the guy in the rear being the weapons system officer (or WSO). Thus the J-15S is similar to the U.S. Air Force F-15E. During the last decade the U.S. Navy has abandoned two-seat fighter aircraft for carrier operations.

The Incredible, Shrinking Modern Military

11/13/2012

In the 1950s, the United States built over 9,000 F-86 Sabres, a key fighter aircraft in the US and allied inventories during the early Cold War period. About half as many F-16s were built in the 1970s. Today, the F-35 is touted to be the next front-line fighter for the United States, as well as for America's friends and allies across the world. It is likely that no more than 3,000 will ever be built, a two-thirds reduction in comparison to the F-86.