Military Aviation News Archive

New drone has no pilot anywhere, so who's accountable?

01/26/2012

The Navy is testing an autonomous plane that will land on an aircraft carrier. The prospect of heavily armed aircraft screaming through the skies without direct human control is unnerving to many.

Military Prepares Realignment: More Drones, Special Forces

01/26/2012

The Pentagon plans to expand its global network of drones and special-operations bases in a fundamental realignment meant to project U.S. power even as it cuts back to eliminate at least eight brigades while reducing the size of the active duty Army from 570,000 to 490,000, cuts that are likely to hit armored and heavy infantry units the hardest. But drone and special-operations deployments would continue to grow as they have in recent years.

Ukraine Boosts Military Budget by 30%

01/26/2012

Ukraine’s 2012 military spending will increase by around 30 percent, to about $2 billion or 1.1 percent of GDP, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry’s financial department said on Wednesday. The ministry expects to spend about $120 million for purchases and modernization of military equipment, as well as scientific and military design projects, including the production of L-39 Albatros jet trainers and MiG-29 fighter jets. Ukraine’s existing fleet of MiG-29, L-39 and Su-25 close air support aircrafts

U.S. Navy Testing Technologies to Refuel Unmanned Aircraft During Flight

01/25/2012

The Navy is testing a system that promises to significantly increase the endurance and range of carrier-based unmanned aircraft. As part of the Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstration (UCAS-D) program, the Navy and industry partner Northrop Grumman have been developing Autonomous Aerial Refueling (AAR) technologies to refuel unmanned aircraft in flight.

IAF women pilots break altitude barrier

01/25/2012

Continuing with their sparkling achievements, IAF women pilots have now begun to go where no women has gone before. They are flying military cargo aircraft sorties to forbidding high-altitude forward areas like Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) and Leh. "Since December, some women IAF pilots are flying sorties of AN-32 medium-lift aircraft to DBO, the highest advanced landing ground (makeshift airstrip) in the world at 16,500-feet, and IL-76 heavy-lift aircraft to Leh," said a senior officer.

Air Force Leaders Say Strategy Calls for F-22, F-35 Capabilities

01/25/2012

Fifth-generation fighter aircraft are key to America maintaining domain dominance in the years ahead, Air Force officials said here today. Lt. Gen. Christopher D. Miller, deputy chief of staff for strategic plans and programs, and Maj. Gen. Noel T. “Tom” Jones, the service’s director for operation capability requirements, said the technology – exemplified in the F-22 and F-35 – assumes greater importance in combating growing anti-access, area-denial capabilities.

Air Force buys five more Boeing C-17 large military cargo jets in $693.4 million deal

01/25/2012

Aircraft manufacturers at the Boeing Co. Commercial Airplanes segment in Long Beach, Calif., will build five C-17 Globemaster III military cargo jets for the U.S. Air Force under terms of a $693.4 million contract modification announced Monday from the Air Force Aeronautical Systems Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio.

U.S. military in Persian Gulf still necessary, welcome force

01/25/2012

The U.S. is maintaining a sizable ground, air and sea force in the Persian Gulf, underscoring the need to protect oil-producing states after deposing Iraqi strongman Saddam Hussein and exiting a democratic Iraq in December.

In the Shadow of Asia

01/25/2012

North Korea’s air force or navy fare little better. Most aircraft currently operated have obsolete avionics and limited weapon system capabilities Pilots are allowed fewer than twenty flight hours per year due to high fuel costs.

South Korea sweetens pot in Israeli jet deal

01/25/2012

South Korea has sweetened the pot in a bid to secure a hotly contested $1 billion contract for its T-50 Golden Eagle jet trainer for Israel's air force by offering to buy Rafael Advanced Defense Systems' Iron Dome counter-rocket system.

U.S.-Japan Exercises Underscore New Strategy Guidance Focus

01/25/2012

Two bilateral command post exercises with Japan kicked off yesterday and today, reflecting the growing strategic importance of the Asia-Pacific region as outlined in the new defense strategy guidance President Barack Obama announced earlier this month. Japanese and U.S. military forces launched Keen Edge 12 yesterday at Yokota, Japan. The biennial exercise continues through Jan. 27.

Russian Air Force Tests New Air-to-Air Missile

01/25/2012

The Russian Air Force is testing and will soon deploy an advanced tactical air-to-air missile that will greatly enhance its operational effectiveness, the service's commander Col Gen Alexander Zelin said on Tuesday. The missile will be carried by MiG-31BM Foxhound supersonic interceptors/fighters and will subsequently be used by other warplanes, he said.

Saudi Typhoon storms ahead

01/24/2012

Saudi Arabia has faced challenges introducing the Eurofighter Typhoon into service, not least in establishing local production – which has yet to start. But, as Jon Lake reports, despite this the Royal Saudi Air Force is pushing hard to adopt new capabilities and is believed to have been driving the pace of the development of new air-to-ground capabilities for the tranche 2 aeroplane.

Army rejects US report on Nato attack

01/24/2012

Pakistan Army on Monday rejected the investigation report by US Central Command (Centcom) on the Salala incident, involving aerial strikes by US aircraft and helicopters resulting in the killing of 24 Pakistani soldiers and injuries to 13 others. In a statement issued here, ISPR said, "Pakistan does not agree with several portions and findings of the Investigation Report as these are factually not correct.

BAE Systems names new India chief executive

01/24/2012

Europe's second-largest defence contractor BAE Sytems has named Dean McCumiskey as its new chief executive and managing director of its India operations with effect from March 2012, the British company announced on Monday. McCurmiskey, who is currently the Group chief information officer, will replace Andrew Gallagher, who will be returning to the UK as the company's Director of Audit, according to a company-released press statement.

Czech Aero profits from stalled L-159 fighter plane sale to Iraq

01/24/2012

The Czech Ministry of Defense is hoping talks on Jan. 23 – 24 with Iraqi government and military representatives will produce a breakthrough for a Czech offer of twenty L-159 fighter planes produced by Aero Vodochody. The manufacturer, which is heading talks on the Czech side, is less concerned about the deal going through: last year it received Kc 25.2 million for simply storing the planes, the daily Lidové noviny (LN) reported on Monday.

Boeing Receives Additional US Air Force JDAM Contract

01/24/2012

The Boeing Company received a $126 million contract from the U.S. Air Force on Nov. 30 for approximately 5,000 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) tail kits. Deliveries will begin in June 2013 and continue through May 2014. This is Boeing's third major U.S. Air Force contract within a year for conventional JDAM kits. Boeing received an $88 million contract for nearly 3,500 kits in January 2011 and a $92 million contract for an additional 4,000 kits in March.

Lockheed Martin Delivers Fourth Upgraded CBP P-3 Orion In Record Time

01/24/2012

Lockheed Martin delivered the fourth P-3 Orion with new Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU) modifications to U.S. Customs and Border Protection two months ahead of schedule on Jan. 20. The MLU installation and phase depot maintenance (PDM) were accomplished in record time of 11 months at Lockheed Martin’s Greenville facility.

Russia to Sell 36 Yak-130 Jets to Syria

01/24/2012

Russia and Syria have signed a $550-million contract on the delivery of 36 Yakovlev Yak-130 Mitten combat trainer, the Kommersant daily quoted on Monday a source close to Russia’s state arms exporter Rosoboronexport as saying. Under the deal struck in late December, the jets are to be supplied to Syria once Damascus makes a prepayment, the source said.

Oman begins Typhoon purchase formalities

01/24/2012

It was at Farnborough airshow in 2008 the Omani first expressed an interest in the Eurofighter aircraft and in April 2010 the then UK Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, announced a deal had been done. There is no clear confirmation on numbers although it is believed it could be around 20 aircraft in the requirement.

Lebanon and Iraq increase Combat Caravan fleet

01/24/2012

Alliant Techsystems is to delever a second Combat Caravan to Lebanon next year following an order from the US Air Force. The American company recently delivered a third AC-208B to the Iraq Training and Advisory Mission in Kirkuk.

Navy chooses fiber optic aircraft test and measurement equipment from Clear Align

01/23/2012

U.S. Navy aircraft specialists needed common fiber optic test kits for Navy aviation systems. They found their solution from military electro-optics designers at Clear Align in Eagleville, Pa. Navy officials awarded Clear Align a contract to develop what company officials say is the first common fiber optic test kits naval aviation.

U.S. aircraft carrier enters Gulf without incident

01/23/2012

A U.S. aircraft carrier sailed through the Strait of Hormuz and into the Gulf without incident on Sunday, a day after Iran backed away from an earlier threat to take action if an American carrier returned to the strategic waterway.

US$ 6m overhaul for three combat aircraft

01/22/2012

The Government will spend US$ 6 million (around Rs. 684 million) to overhaul three Chinese-built combat aircraft as part of modernization plans for the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF).

Australian military grounds Black Hawk helicopters

01/22/2012

Australia's military has grounded its fleet of Black Hawk helicopters after fractured bolts were found during a routine inspection, the defence ministry said on Saturday.