Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

600 new combat planes, 1000 helicopters by 2020, says Putin

08/12/2012

Addressing a crowd of people today at an air show at Zhukovsky just outside Moscow marking the air force's 100th anniversary, President elect Vladimir Putin, said the military will receive more than “600 new combat planes and 1,000 helicopters by 2020.” "I'm sure, each of us will feel pride for the country, for the people who build such aircraft and pilot them," he said smiling.

US arms sales to Pakistan touch $5.4 billion since 2001: Pentagon

08/11/2012

US military sales to Pakistan since 2001, including in-process supply of F-16 combat aircraft, are collectively worth about $5.4 billion, accordingly to a newly-released report from the Congressional Research Service (CRS). Major US arms sales and grants to Pakistan since 2001 have included not only items related to counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations, but also a host of big ticket platforms more suited to conventional warfare.

Drone piloting gains popularity in military

08/11/2012

Becoming a fighter pilot is still a hotly coveted goal at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. But slowly, a culture change is taking hold. Initially snubbed as second-class pilot-wannabes, the airmen who remotely control America's arsenal of lethal drones are gaining stature and securing a permanent place in the Air Force.

Russia’s Air Force to Get 180 New Aircraft by Yearend

08/11/2012

The Russian Air Force will receive some 180 brand new planes and helicopters by the end of the year, the Air Force Commander in Chief Major General Viktor Bondarev said. The country’s air force has already received several new Sukhoi Su-34 Fullback warplanes and will get another 12, along with Kamov Ka-52 Alligator and Mil Mi-28 Havoc helicopters, as well as trainer jets including 15 Yakovlev Yak-130 Mitten aircraft, Bondarev said in an interview.

President Putin to Attend Air Force Centenary Air Show

08/11/2012

Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend on Saturday a spectacular air show near Moscow marking the 100th anniversary of the Russian Air Force, the Kremlin’s press service said.

Turkish Authorities Disprove Plane Shot Down by Syria

08/11/2012

An investigation by Turkish authorities found no evidence that the Turkish reconnaissance aircraft that crashed on June 22 was shot down by Syrian air defense, the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet reported on Friday.

Chile still seeking Black Hawk helicopters

08/10/2012

Chile is seeking U.S. government information for possible purchase of additional Black Hawk helicopters for the Chilean air force, industry sources said. Chile has been aiming to modernize its armed forces but has been hamstrung by budgetary constraints and divergent opinions within the military establishment on options available to the country and the competitive edge of rivals to U.S. suppliers.

Embattled F-35 Program Scores A Key Victory

08/10/2012

The embattled F-35 fighter program, amid a myriad technical problems, quietly keeps racking up wins as Pentagon officials try to protect America's lone active tactical jet program from big cuts.

U.S. Air Force works to fill need for drone pilots

08/10/2012

Becoming a fighter pilot is still a hotly coveted goal at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. But slowly, a culture change is taking hold. Initially snubbed as second-class pilot-wannabes, the airmen who remotely control America's arsenal of lethal drones are gaining stature and securing a permanent place in the Air Force.

Florida company buys military light-attack aircraft from New Zealand

08/10/2012

Draken International in Lakeland, Fla. has been selected as the winning bidder for nine Aermacchi MB-339 tactical jet trainer aircraft from the New Zealand government. The fleet will complement the company's already expansive and highly capable fleet of fighter aircraft, with capabilities in all mission sets including air to air and air to ground.

Indonesia Says ‘No, Thanks’ to More Sukhoi Fighters

08/10/2012

Indonesia will buy no more Sukhoi fighter jets from Russia, opting instead for U.S. F-16s, Air Marshal Eris Herryanto told Flightglobal aviation news portal on Thursday. The Indonesian Air Force has 10 Su-30 and Su-27s with six additional fighters on the way. Money is being made available to accelerate the refurbishment of its existing fleet of 15 Lockheed Martin C-130s, as well as buy four C-130Hs from Australia and upgrade them, and purchase more Indonesia Aerospace CN-295 transports.

Florida Based Company Obtain New Zealand’s Remaining A-4s to Support Military Training Missions

08/09/2012

Draken International has signed an agreement with the New Zealand government to purchase eight Douglas A-4K Skyhawk strike fighters formerly used by the Royal new Zealand Air Force. Draken has already received the necessary approval from the US State Department and expects to have the aircraft operational by the first quarter of 2013. In the 1990s these planes formed the New Zealand strike force. They flew until 2001, when the unit was disbanded and its aircraft put for sale.

The X-47B Doesn’t Need A Pilot to Land on an Aircraft Carrier

08/09/2012

As the role UAVs in the US military expands, the demands placed on these unmanned platforms grow as well. One of the most important new abilities these autonomous fliers must have is the ability to land atop a thin strip of tarmac rolling on the high seas. And that's just what the new Northrop Grumman X-47B will do.

American military hardware's 'faulty' Chinese spare parts under lens

08/09/2012

India, which has emerged as a major importer of American military hardware, is verifying reports about "faulty spare parts made in China" being used in defence equipment sold by the US to other countries. In a written reply in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, defence minister A K Antony said the entire issue of Chinese spare parts being used in US weaponry was being examined. "There have been media reports in this regard which are being verified," he said.

Saudis seeks military aircraft support

08/09/2012

The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency reports that Saudi Arabia has requested follow-on support and services for its military aircraft. The deal, if approved by Congress, would include support and services for aircraft, engines and weapons; publications and technical documentation; airlift and aerial refueling; support equipment; and spare and repair parts.

Sukhoi Tests New Radar Array for 5th-Generation Fighter

08/09/2012

Russia’s Sukhoi aircraft maker has started tests of a new onboard radar system for its 5th generation T-50 fighter jet, the company said on Wednesday. The new X-band active phased array radar has been installed on the third prototype of the T-50 fighter and showed a stable and effective performance comparable with the most advanced existing radar systems.

Sukhoi Continues Tests of Su-35 Fighter Jet

08/09/2012

Russia’s Sukhoi aircraft company is carrying out state acceptance trials of its Su-35 advanced fighter jet at the Russian Air Force’s flight test center, the company said on Wednesday. The aircraft has already undertaken more than 650 flights as part of the trials. The Air Force will accept another six Su-35s before the end of the year.

Oman Takes Flight

08/09/2012

A new C-130J Super Hercules for the Sultanate of Oman conducts a test flight at the Lockheed Martin facility here. This is the first of three C-130Js on order for Oman and is scheduled for delivery later this year. Oman currently operates a fleet of three C-130Hs purchased in the early 1980s. The new C-130J will be used to support internal country operations where its ability to operate out of remote austere airstrips will be invaluable.

Boeing Delivers Smaller, Lighter Radio Relay for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

08/09/2012

Boeing has delivered production units of a smaller, lighter version of its Tactical Compact Communications Relay (TCCR), which allows a small unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to function as a tactical, range-extending communications repeater for military handheld radios.

Saudi becomes world's largest non-US F110 customer

08/09/2012

The Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) has ordered 193 F110-GE-129E engines to power 84 new twin-engine Boeing F-15SA aircraft. With the order the RSAF becomes the largest operator of F110 engines other than the U.S. government. This follows earlier RSAF orders for 156 engines to power 71 re-engined F-15S aircraft.

Aircraft penetrates into Kuwait

08/08/2012

The suspicious military aircraft which penetrated Kuwait's airspace recently and flew low near the border area was seen by border security personnel at the Al-Squihah center contrary to earlier reports which had said the aircraft was detected by the radar of the General Administration for Border Security, reports Al-Shahed daily.

Somali airspace routinely violated by foreign UAVs and other aircraft – UN

08/08/2012

The United Nations has counted 64 reports of foreign fighter jets, helicopter and unmanned aerial vehicles operating in Somalia over the last year, most of which violated the 1992 arms embargo against Somalia. In its Report of the Monitoring Group on Somalia and Eritrea, the United Nations said that it had received a growing number of reports of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) flying over Somalia.

South Korea Selects BAE Systems to Perform F-16 Avionics Upgrades

08/08/2012

The Republic of Korea has selected BAE Systems to upgrade the avionics and electronic systems for its fleet of F-16 aircraft. The Korean Government will deliver a Letter of Request (LOR) for BAE Systems' U.S.-based Support Solutions business to be the sole source systems integration contractor for upgrading more than 130 F-16s. The work will be contracted through the U.S. Department of Defense's Foreign Military Sales program.

Canadian military to spend $1 billion on unmanned armed drones

08/08/2012

It appears that Canada is getting involved in the drone arms race. According to a report in the Ottawa Citizen, the Harper government recently approved a military 'request to aerospace firms' to provide details about the types of drones now available in the marketplace. The 'request' pointed out the need for the unmanned aircraft to operate in the Arctic. The aircraft should also be able to carry precision-guided munitions, the government said.

Fighter jets intercept two small planes in Obama’s airspace

08/08/2012

Two F-15 fighter jets intercepted two small airplanes that strayed into President Barack Obama's airspace during a campaign visit to Connecticut and New York on Monday, military officials said. One of the pilots was questioned by local law enforcement.