Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Cobham's kit on MD5230F helicopters set for Afghanistan

05/09/2012

Three Cobham business units are to provide critical components for six MD530F training helicopters bound for Shindand Air Base in Afghanistan, the company said today. Via its partner, EDMO Distributors, Cobham Aerospace Communications will supply four N301A audio controllers; Cobham Antenna Systems will provide VHF communications, VOR/LOC/GS V-Dipole, DME, and Navigation Splitter Antennas.

Abandon F-16s, seek F-35s: senior military officials

05/08/2012

Senior military officers may be considering abandoning a long-stalled bid to procure F-16C/D aircraft from the US because of rising costs and could instead reserve budgets for an eventual F-35B bid, reports said yesterday. The Ministry of National Defense maintains that the air force remains committed to acquiring 66 F-16C/Ds, but the rising costs associated with the package — now estimated at US$10 billion, from an initial US$8 billion, according to local reports.

hales New Generation Inertial Navigation System and GPS Selected for the KC-390

05/08/2012

Thales has been awarded a contract by Embraer Defence and Security to provide the Inertial Navigation System (INS) and the GPS of the KC-390 military transport aircraft. Thales HPIRS (High Performance Inertial Reference System) is a real breakthrough in inertial navigation, as it combines the advantages of a civil certified product with the performances expected by military aircraft.

EASA certification for new airlifter

05/08/2012

The European Aviation Safety Agency has given Airbus Military of Spain initial type certification for the A400M airlifted. The certification, officially called the Restricted Type Certification, is critical for the aircraft to later receive full civil certification and military operating clearance.

Military Aircraft Parts Reverse Engineered Using 3D Laser Scanning, Structured Light Scanning & GD&T Best Practices

05/08/2012

3D Engineering Solutions Used Reverse Engineering, 3D Laser Scanning, Structured Light Scanning, and Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing Best Practices to Recreate Military Aircraft Components, Including Parts for Britain’s Harrier Jump Jets Sold to U.S.

Gaps in China's area-denial strategy

05/08/2012

uch is being said about the Chinese military dramatically improving its combat capability to keep United States forces at arm's length. Anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) is the magic slogan, meaning that the People's Liberation Army's (PLA's) new shore-based artillery, aircraft and naval assets could deny a rapid deployment by United States forces into the Pacific in the event of a conflict, since the US would face heavy losses. But exactly how concerned is the US?

AMC aims to increase casualty survivability in Afghanistan

05/08/2012

Air Mobility Command is working jointly with other U.S. military services to improve emergency care for service members critically injured in combat by employing newly-developed Tactical Critical Care Evacuation Teams. These are three-member teams, each comprised of a highly-trained emergency medicine physician and two certified registered nurse anesthetists or critical care nurses, now providing point-of-injury care and treatment during tactical evacuation of severely-injured troops in Afghanis

US selling combat drones to undisclosed countries

05/08/2012

The unmanned aerial vehicle industry is expected to bring in billions for domestic drone makers over the next few years. Where are the robotic aircraft manufacturers sending their stealth spy plans though? They aren’t saying. The American Independent reports that Texas’ Vanguard Defense Industries, a US Defense Department contractor that outfits the Pentagon with unmanned aerial drones, has inked agreements with several overseas governments.

Boeing Brings Nine Decades of Aviation Innovation to iPad

05/08/2012

Boeing announced today the launch of its first official app for iPad, 'Milestones in Innovation', now available on the App Store. The app brings nine decades of aviation innovation to iPad through beautiful imagery and an interactive timeline.

Soaring commercial aviation market drives best year yet for aerospace and defence industry

05/08/2012

The aerospace and defence (A&D) industry experienced a record year in 2011 on the strength of a surging commercial aviation market, according to the Aerospace and Defence 2011 year in review and 2012 forecast report from PwC. In 2011, the Top 100 A&D companies reported $677 billion in revenue, a 5% increase compared to the previous year, and $60 billion in operating profit, an increase of 2% from 2010.

KADDB to open service centre for L-3 Wescam products in Jordan

05/08/2012

L-3 WESCAM a major player in the design and manufacture of stabilized, multi-spectral airborne imaging systems is set to sign a service centre agreement with King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau (KADDB) in Jordan. The Bureau will open a Wescam authorised service center (WASC) in Amman. The deal will be formally signed on Wednesday at the SOFEX trade show in Amman.

Australia issues tender for F/A-18 Hornet maintenance

05/07/2012

Australia has issued a request for tender (RFT) related to its fleet of 71 Boeing F/A-18A/B Hornet aircraft. The contract will cover deep maintenance for 55 single-seat A-model combat aircraft and 16 twin-seat trainers, says Australian minister for defence materiel Jason Clare. The package also covers operational flight trainers, computer-based training systems, maintenance training systems, and testing and ground equipment unique to the Hornet.

U.S. Navy Joins India's Light Combat Aircraft Project

05/07/2012

The U.S. Navy has agreed to come on board India’s much delayed Naval Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) program and will audit tests and provide feedbacks to the Indian team. The U.S. will join the Russians and the Europeans who were earlier roped in to realize the LCA project which has been delayed by over 15 years.

US F-15 Eagle Crashes In Middle East, Crew Ejects Safely

05/07/2012

A U.S. Air Force F-15E fighter crashed Thursday during a routine training mission in the Middle East, but investigators have ruled out insurgent activity as a cause, the military said. Both crew members ejected safely. The Air Force said that the crash happened in southwest Asia, a broad term that includes the Persian Gulf region.

Air Force Opens Revised Competition for Afghan Aircraft

05/07/2012

The U.S. Air Force is restarting its stalled competition for as much as $1 billion to buy 20 light- attack aircraft for the Afghanistan military. A revised request for proposals will be issued and contains only “minor changes,” Air Force spokeswoman Jennifer Cassidy said today in an e-mailed statement. A new award will be made early next year, with first aircraft deliveries expected 18 months later, she said.

BAE Systems near $800 mln Saudi Hawk deal - report

05/07/2012

BAE Systems is close to sealing a 500 million pounds ($808 million) deal to sell up to 30 Hawk trainer aircraft to Saudi Arabia, the Sunday Times reported. The sale would provide some welcome relief for the defence giant, which is battling against shrinking defence budgets in Europe and America. Saudi Arabia has ordered 72 Eurofighter Typhoon jets from BAE and needs the Hawks to train its pilots.

Chinese Counterfeiters Nail Another Russian Jet Fighter

05/07/2012

China has apparently copied the Russian Su-30MK2, and is operating it as the J-16, claiming that the aircraft is of Chinese design. More unauthorized pictures of the J-16 are showing up, via Chinese with cell phone cameras and Internet access. It's pretty clear that the J-16 is a copy of the Su-30MK2. Russia and China jointly developed the two seat version of the Su-30, as the Su-30MKK in the late 1990s, and, a decade ago, an upgraded version the Su-MK2.

Could the Navy ever build a flying aircraft carrier?

05/07/2012

Moviegoers can easily recognize flights of fancy when they see the "Avengers" assemble aboard the flying "Helicarrier" aircraft carrier in Hollywood's latest superhero blockbuster. But could the U.S. Navy ever build the fantastical military marvel if it wanted a flying air base?

Difficult choices faced on F-16 deals

05/07/2012

Questions emerged at the weekend as to whether Taiwan could afford both a multibillion-dollar upgrade program for its F-16A/B combat aircraft and new F-16C/Ds, amid claims that the price for the upgrade had been inflated since the deal was announced last year. The air force received a Letter of Answer from the US last week on the US$5.3 billion upgrade package for its 145 F-16A/Bs and is now reviewing the prices of the items on the list, Air Force Command Headquarters said yesterday.

India Tries To Forget

05/07/2012

India recently revealed that it had bought nearly a thousand MiG combat aircraft in the last half century, and lost most of them to accidents (along with nearly 200 pilots and people on the ground). While India was something of an extreme case in this area (other users don't fly their MiGs as much), it's been typical of MiG aircraft.

Military Notebook: Air Force retires last C-130E

05/06/2012

No one can say the Air Force didn’t get its money’s worth out of an aircraft with the tail number 61-2358. The “61” in that number is the year the plane was built. In a ceremony at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., on Tuesday, Air Force officials said goodbye to the little aircraft that could. After more than 50 years of service, the plane was the last C-130E to be retired, according to a release. Retired planes ordinarily go to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, more commonly called “the boneyar

US basing F-22 Raptor Stealth Aircraft at Al-Dafra Air Base on Iran’s back door

05/06/2012

The news that the US is basing Raptors also known as F-22 A stealth combat aircraft at Al Dafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates is being roundly condemned by Iran as yet another provocative and indication of war. "We consider such (military) presence in the region as to be useless and harmful and more aimed at creating a psychological ploy and an insecure atmosphere in the region," Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi said. "We don't see it useful”, he added.

Russian Plans New Aerospace University

05/06/2012

Russia is planning a new aerospace university to produce a new generation of professionals for the aviation and space industries, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said on Saturday. "We have plans connected with the creation of a modern aerospace university, where we will produce a broad range of specialists, for aviation, and also the rocket and space industries," he said during a visit to the Khrunichev rocket factory north of Moscow.

Another J-model for the Lone Star State

05/06/2012

Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] delivered another C-130J Super Hercules to Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, today. This aircraft was the 19th of 28 C-130Js being delivered to Dyess. Maj. Gen. Scott M. Hanson, commander, Carl A. Spaatz Center for Officer Education, and commandant, Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., accepted delivery of the aircraft and flew it to Dyess.

Russian Helicopters delivers rescue helicopter to EMERCOM

05/06/2012

Russian Helicopters has delivered to the Emergency Situations Ministry (EMERCOM) of the Republic of Kazakhstan two modified coaxial Ka-32A11BC rescue helicopters. The delivery of the Ka-32A11BC helicopters marks the quick and successful execution of a contract signed on 15 August 2011.