Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Syria rebels appear to be targeting air bases

09/03/2012

Thwarted by aerial attacks, Syrian rebels appear to have begun systemically targeting government air bases and aircraft, while trying to capture antiaircraft missiles that can shoot down helicopters and fighter jets. An opposition group reported Saturday that insurgents had captured an air defense base in eastern Syria, close to the Iraqi border, and that battles were raging near a military airport in the area.

Indonesian Air Force Welcomes Delivery of 4 ‘Anti-Guerrilla’ Fighter Planes

09/03/2012

Four A-29 Super Tucano fighter planes arrived at East Jakarta’s Halim Perdanakusuma Base on Saturday in the first wave of new “counter-insurgency” turboprop fighters purchased as part of the Indonesian Military’s (TNI) push to modernize its fleet.

The Troubling Potential for ‘Spoofers’ To Commandeer Aircraft

09/03/2012

Last December an old, rarely used word–spoofing, –meaning to hoax or to fool others–entered worldwide aviation vocabularies virtually overnight. Simultaneously it brought a new and disturbing strategic escalation to military tactics and a potential, albeit probably lesser, threat to civil aircraft operations.

Airbus Military Reconfirms A400M Production Output for 2013

09/03/2012

Airbus Military has today reconfirmed that it will deliver the first four new generation A400M airlifters to customers in 2013 as planned, following the development of solutions to the recent engine issue, which prevented the A400M from participating in the Farnborough Air Show flying display.

Steps to enhance pilots’ competence in combat

09/01/2012

Indian Air Force has taken pilot-friendly policy steps to enhance its crew’s all-round health and competence in combat, Vice-Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal D.C. Kumaria said here on Friday. These include revising the rules relating to return of sick air crew, medically reducing ill-effects of long-haul sorties and improving nutrition and psychological health among pilots.

Non-standard rotary wing office supports security assistance, responsible for almost $1B in Foreign Military Sales

09/01/2012

Safety, airworthiness and responsive support of all the non-standard rotary wing platforms are the core functions of the Army’s Non-Standard Rotary Wing Aircraft Project Management Office. Since its inception in January 2010, the Army’s Non-Standard Rotary Wing Aircraft project management office has grown in its scope of responsibilities and number of non-standard platforms that it manages.

Airbus Said to Revise A400M Schedule Following Engine Defects

09/01/2012

Airbus Military is set to push back development milestones on the A400M military transport after falling behind with certification because of defects on the turbo-propeller engines, people familiar with the plan said. Airbus may announce an updated schedule as early as today, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the information isn’t yet public. Airbus is able to set a new timetable after resolving the issue that grounded the aircraft for two months, two of the people said.

U.S. military’s F-35 not landing in Hawaii

09/01/2012

The military may be shifting its focus to the Pacific, but even with that new direction and Hawaii’s strategic location, the Pentagon has no plans to base F-35 Joint Strike Fighters here. One source familiar with all the aircraft-related work at Marine Corps Base Hawaii told me they heard the base could get the aircraft. But the Marines at the Pentagon said there are no plans to put the aircraft in Hawaii.

Free Syrian Army Claims MiG Fighter Jet Downed

08/31/2012

The Free Syrian Army (FSA) claimed on Thursday that it had shot down a government MiG-23 fighter jet in the northwestern Idlib Province, Al Arabiya TV reported. A video, “exclusively obtained” by the TV channel, shows the aircraft falling from the sky and billowing smoke. Two pilots, who safely ejected, are also seen descending by parachutes.

Nine die as Indian military choppers crash

08/31/2012

Nine Indian air force personnel were killed on Thursday when two Russian-designed military helicopters apparently collided in mid-air, the military and police said. Air force spokesman Wing Commander Gerard Galway said the two Mi-17 helicopters were "flying in close formation" over a firing range in the western state of Gujarat when they crashed. "It is likely it was a mid-air collision," Galway told AFP, confirming that all nine on board the two aircraft had died.

Russia working on hypersonic vehicle

08/31/2012

A hypersonic vehicle meant to deploy satellites into orbit is based in part of the Su-27 series of Russian military aircraft, documents reveal. Russia's state-run news agency RIA Novosti reports that it obtained documents from the space design bureau of research agency NPO Molniya that reveal plans for a hypersonic booster called Hammer.

Airbus Military Ferries First C212 to Vietnam Marine Police

08/31/2012

Airbus Military has delivered to Vietnam the first of three C212-400 maritime patrol aircraft ordered by the Vietnam Marine Police. The aircraft, manufactured in Seville, Spain was handed over at Gia Lam (Hanoi) at the end of a 10-day ferry flight from Skavsta, Sweden following installation of its mission system. It was formally delivered last year prior to the conversion work in Sweden.

Budget impasse clouds F-35's future

08/31/2012

Plans to deliver the first F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jets to Nellis Air Force Base early next year hinge on uncertain defense budget cuts and potential layoffs at the manufacturer, Lockheed Martin. Three dozen of the stealthy warplanes are supposed to be based in Southern Nevada.

Low cost spy plane takes off as military budgets squeezed

08/31/2012

Northrop Grumman Corp, maker of the B-2 spy plane and the Global Hawk unmanned drone, will demonstrate a smaller, cheaper surveillance plane this week it hopes will be attractive to budget conscious U.S. law agencies and foreign countries. The new Air Claw system marks Northrop's latest effort to expand its overseas revenues and move into new non-military markets at home given the expected decline in U.S. military spending after a decade of sharp growth.

Uzbekistan Bans Foreign Military Bases

08/31/2012

Uzbekistan has said it will not host any foreign military bases or other military objects on its soil, Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov said on Thursday before the Senate. "There will be no foreign military bases or [military] objects in Uzbekistan," Kamilov said, adding that there would be no "operative groups" allowed either in the Central Asian country.

Boeing Fatigue Test to Validate Predicted Life of B-1 Bomber Fleet

08/31/2012

Boeing has begun a five-year fatigue test on the wing of a U.S. Air Force B-1 bomber to validate the predicted life of the bomber fleet, currently forecasted to be 2050. The test also will reveal potential areas of concern for which Boeing and the Air Force can develop maintenance and repair plans.

Boeing Winged Joint Direct Attack Munition Completes 1st Round of Tests

08/31/2012

A winged version of the Boeing [NYSE: BA] Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) that will triple the weapon's glide range to more than 40 miles is a step closer to production after completing wind tunnel tests at a U.S. facility in June. Developed in partnership with the Commonwealth of Australia, the 500-pound JDAM Extended Range (JDAM-ER) features a modular add-on wing kit that will unfold in flight. The kit can also be coupled with other modular enhancements, such as laser sensors.

Sweden, Switzerland cement Gripen pact

08/30/2012

The Swedish and Swiss governments have signed a framework agreement to cooperate on the Saab Gripen E/F, with their air forces to potentially acquire up to a combined 82 of the new-generation combat aircraft. Signed in late August, the pact is the result of discussions conducted between the nations since Switzerland selected the Gripen E/F last November for a planned 22-aircraft deal to replace its Northrop F-5 fighters.

New Airborne Defense Against Small Swarming Boats

08/30/2012

The U.S. Navy's defenses were built to counter large, powerful targets—not small, asymmetrical ones such as a flotilla of small, explosive-laden boats. A new system by defense contractor Raytheon aims to spot those boats from above and target them with small bombs able to attack moving targets.

A Breakthrough in U.S.-Indian Relations?

08/30/2012

The Indian military is close to purchasing a major American combat-weapon system for the first time in decades. Despite a history that might suggest otherwise, India is betting on American reliability as an arms supplier. India has bought a considerable amount of military equipment from the United States in the last decade, but very few of its purchases were combat-weapons systems.

Iran closely monitoring U.S. military bases in the region

08/30/2012

FARS is reporting that a senior Iranian air defense commander underlined that the country's Armed Forces are “fully capable of repelling enemy threats, adding that Iranian air defense units are closely monitoring US bases in the region round the clock.” "At present, we are monitoring all military bases around Iran 24 hours a day.

Aerobatics Ace Suspected of Badge Sales

08/30/2012

The commander of Russia’s famed Strizhi (Swifts) aerobatics team is suspected of illegally selling team emblems, the Lifenews.ru portal reported on Tuesday. Valery Morozov is believed to have forced a Moscow region businessman to pay him 5,000 rubles (about $160) a month for the right to use the team logo on t-shirts and other items he sold.

Boeing to Provide Performance-Based Logistics for US Air Force F-15 Radars

08/30/2012

Boeing has received an $85 million Performance-Based Logistics (PBL) contract for continued support of U.S. Air Force F-15 mechanically scanned and Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars. The new PBL contract replaces three previous support contracts with one overarching agreement.

RMAF to receive three Block 52 F-16s

08/30/2012

The Royal Moroccan Air Force (RMAF) is set to receive three of the 24 Block 52 configuration of the F-16C/D aircraft which will form a central part of its modern fleet of fighters. The Kingdom of Morocco purchased the aircraft in 2008 and is acquiring the tailored Block 52 configuration of the F-16C/D aircraft to meet the specific requirements of the RMAF. The sale included the aircraft, mission equipment, support equipment and a spares and technical support package.

RAF surveillance aircraft clock up 20,000 flying hours

08/29/2012

The high-tech, state-of-the-art Sentinel R1 aircraft of No 5 (Army Cooperation) Squadron and Shadow R1 aircraft of 14 Squadron have each clocked up 10,000 hours on Operation HERRICK. While based in Britain aircraft from both units have been permanently patrolling the skies above Afghanistan since 2009 gathering vital intelligence on insurgent activities.