Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

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.

Buster, Stone Support McCain's Military Aircraft Transfer Act

08/08/2012

The legislation, introduced by Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Bill Nelson of Florida, would transfer surplus aircraft from the U.S. Department of Defense to the U.S. Forest Service for use in fighting wildland fires. Saying federal officials lack adequate air power to fight fires from the sky, Riverside County Supervisors Bob Buster and Jeff Stone, are urging the U.S. Senate to support legislation to convert excess military air tankers to help fight wildfires nationwide.

Lockheed Martin Procerus Technologies Brings High-Performance Surveillance to Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems

08/08/2012

Lockheed Martin Procerus Technologies’ new, lightweight, Perceptor™ dual-sensor gimbal packs the capability of a large camera system in a small, compact package designed to provide high-quality video surveillance for small and micro unmanned aircraft systems.

Boeing Flies X-48C Blended Wing Body Research Aircraft

08/08/2012

A modified Boeing Blended Wing Body research aircraft – designated the X-48C – flew for the first time today at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The remotely piloted X-48C aircraft took off at 7:56 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time and climbed to an altitude of 5,500 feet before landing 9 minutes later.

Russia to start serial production of new frontline aircraft after 2015

08/07/2012

Serial production of a new fifth generation frontline aircraft will start in Russia after 2015, Air Force Commander, Major-General Viktor Bondarev said. Compared to previous generations of the frontline aircraft, the new one will be a combination of as fighter and attack plane. It will be provided with new an active phased array radar system and new avionics.The latter will include an "electronic pilot", which will reduce the workload on the pilot to allow him to concentrate on his combat task.

US platforms to buff up IAF, navy combat edge

08/07/2012

India will buff up its combat edge next year with the induction of a new set of warfighting capabilities sourced from the US under contracts totaling more than $6.2 billion (Rs 34,720 crore).

Embraer Delivers The First Four A-29 Super Tucano To Indonesian Air Force

08/07/2012

Embraer Defense and Security has today delivered four light attack and tactical training A-29 Super Tucano aircraft to Indonesia’s Air Force at a ceremony held in its facility in Gavião Peixoto, São Paulo, Brazil. Indonesia is the first operator of Super Tucano in the Asia-Pacific region. These four A-29 Super Tucano are from the initial batch of eight aircraft purchased by the Indonesian Air Force (IAF) in 2010.

Transport planes could strengthen air defense

08/07/2012

Hercules C-130 transport planes operated by the Air Force can be refitted as tanker aircraft, which can beef up the country’s air defenses in the event of war, military officials said recently. Although the Air Force has no tanker aircrafts, the C-130 is spacious enough to be turned into a tanker aircraft if it is equipped with refueling equipment such as oil tanks and hoses, the officials said.

US helps the Philippines improve its military capability

08/07/2012

The US is helping the Philippines to modernise and improve its military capability in the face of a growing confrontation with China over supremacy in the South China Sea. The Americans have already agreed to transfer two naval vessels to an underpowered Philippine navy, and deployment of fighter jets, a coastal radar system and even increased numbers of American troops on the ground in the Philippines are under discussion.

Boeing Team Demonstrates Expanded Control of Unmanned Aircraft Swarm

08/07/2012

Boeing and the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL) have demonstrated that an operator on the ground, using only a laptop and a military radio, can command an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) "swarm." Despite limited flight training, the operator was able to connect with autonomous UAVs, task them and obtain information without using a ground control station.

Taiwan's transport planes can be refitted as tanker aircraft

08/06/2012

Of Taiwan's military aircraft, the C-130 transport plane can be refitted as a tanker aircraft, which can beef up the country's air defenses in the event of war, military officials said recently. Although the Air Force has no tanker aircraft, the C-130 is spacious enough to be turned into a tanker aircraft if it is equipped with refueling equipment such as oil tanks and hoses, the officials told CNA.

Iran upgrades its MiG 29 fighter jets with modern electronics

08/06/2012

FARS news agency reported on an effort by Iran to overhaul and upgrades it’s tactical MiG29 fighter jets. Which the article says is necessary to maintain combat readiness in the face of a probable "pre-emptive U.S. military strike" against both civilians and military targets.

US military sees virtue in 50-year-old aircraft

08/06/2012

The United States military, the world’s most technologically advanced force, paradoxically fields some of the oldest weapons’ platforms on the planet. At least five aircraft, still in US military service, are already more than 50 years old. And, they are set to serve for three to four decades more.

Fighter jets intercept small plane near Washington, D.C.

08/06/2012

Two F-16 fighter jets intercepted a small airplane near Washington, D.C. Saturday after the pilot failed to respond to radio communications, military officials said on Sunday. The aircraft was later allowed to proceed when contact was established.

Russia’s Baltic Fleet to Hold Large-Scale Drills in Kaliningrad Exclave

08/06/2012

Russia’s Baltic Fleet battleships and combat aircraft will take part in large-scale tactical drills in the country’s westernmost exclave of Kaliningrad on August 8 to land marines in rough terrain, the press office of the Western Military District reported. The drills will be held at the Baltic Fleet’s Khmelyovka firing range ahead of the celebration of the Russian Air Force centennial on August 12 and will involve 500 servicemen, warships, support vessels, combat aircraft and gunships.

U.S. Air Force Training More Drone, Than Traditional, "Pilots"

08/05/2012

The U.S. Air Force is training more drone “pilots” than those who will be at the controls of traditional aircraft, according to the Air Force chief of staff. To date, there are reportedly around 1,300 people controlling the Air Force’s arsenal of Reaper, Predator, and Global Hawk drones, and the Pentagon plans to add about 2,500 pilots and support crew by 2014, according to an article in published August 3 by The Times of London.

Japan's Defense Minister Gets Osprey Ride

08/05/2012

Even after 28,000 hours of flight time in Iraq and Afghanistan, the MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft had to undergo yet another test flight today to prove its safety and reliability to the Japanese and bolster U.S. strategic planning for the Pacific.

US fighter jets scrambled to intercept aircraft

08/05/2012

Two F-16 fighters were scrambled in the Washington metropolitan area Saturday after a small plane that ignored attempts at radio contact, was detected in flight, the US military said. The North American Aerospace Defense Command said the fighters intercepted the Beechcraft King Air airplane near the national capital region at approximately 7:00 pm (1100 GMT).

Sukhoi-30 jets have a design flaw, says Air Chief Browne

08/05/2012

Air Chief NAK Browne today said the Indian Air Force (IAF) has identified a 'design flaw' with the Russian-made supersonic fighter aircraft Sukhoi-30 though nothing is wrong with its 'airworthiness'. "We have identified a Fly-By-Wire problem with the aircraft. It is a design issue and we have taken it up with the designing agency," he told reporters on the sidelines of a function held to mark Golden Jubilee celebrations of Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) in Pune.

X-47B UCAS-D Begins Deck Handling Trials

08/04/2012

Northrop Grumman’s X-47B unmanned combat aircraft system demonstrator (UCAS-D) is about to begin ground maneuver trials at NAS Patuxtent River, Md., to evaluate deck handling procedures as it moves toward a landing on an aircraft carrier in 2013. The X-47B made its first flight from Pax on July 29, when air vehicle (AV) 2 completed a 36-min. flight over Chesapeake Bay, reaching 7,500 ft. altitude and 180 kt. airspeed.

RAF Games fighter jet scrambled

08/04/2012

An RAF fighter jet tasked with defending the Olympics against terror attacks was scrambled after an aircraft lost contact with aviation authorities, the Ministry of Defence has said. The Typhoon was sent to intercept the aircraft after air traffic controllers lost contact. But the jet was able to return to its base at RAF Northolt, west London, shortly after taking off when communication was re-established with the pilot.

RIMPAC fighter jet lands at Midway due to mechanical problem

08/04/2012

A Marine Corps F-18 fighter flying from Honolulu back to Iwakuni, Japan, made a precautionary landing on Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge early today after experiencing a mechanical problem, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said. The fighter, which had been taking part in Rim of the Pacific war games in Hawaii, landed safely at Henderson Airfield on Midway’s Sand Island, the federal agency said.