Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Five Israeli military aircraft buzz over skies of Lebanon

10/31/2012

Four Israeli fighter jets crossed into Lebanon's airspace over the southern border village of Kfar Kila, located 96 kilometers (59 miles) south of Beirut, at 9:45 a.m. local time (0645 GMT) on Tuesday, according to a statement issued by the Lebanese military. The warplanes flew over several areas in southern Lebanon and Beirut before leaving Lebanese airspace at 10:40 a.m. local time (0740 GMT) while flying over the southern border town of Alma al-Shaab.

CF-18 replacements vital to military's future, says new top soldier

10/31/2012

Canada's newly appointed top military officer says it's important to get it right when it comes to replacing the Canadian Forces' aging fleet of CF-18 fighter jets -- equipment he said the military will rely on for decades. Lt.-Gen. Tom Lawson was promoted to general on Monday and officially installed as chief of the defence staff, succeeding Gen. Walt Natynczyk, who is retiring after four years in the role. Natynczyk has described his replacement as "a great officer and a gentleman."

Su-24 Crashes, Pilots Survive

10/31/2012

A Russian Sukhoi Su-24 Fencer fighter-bomber crashed on Tuesday during a training flight in the Chelyabinsk region when its nose cone came off, the Defense Ministry said. “After an unsuccessful attempt to make an emergency landing, the pilots decided to steer the falling aircraft away from populated areas and ejected safely,” the ministry said in a statement.

Boeing Pilot Instructors Complete Training on EC135 Helicopter with Surf Life Saving Queensland

10/31/2012

Flight instructors from Boeing subsidiary Boeing Defence Australia (BDA) recently traded their training posts at the Oakey Army Aviation Centre for Gold Coast beach patrols as part of a unique arrangement between BDA and Surf Life Saving Queensland (SLSQ).

PAF to bid out acquisition of fighter jets

10/30/2012

The Philippine Air Force (PAF)’s planned acquisition of lead-in fighter jets from South Korea or any friendly state may take longer than expected after it was decided that the multi-billion peso defense procurement will be bid out instead of the government entering into a government-to-government deal.

New app for military phones seek to cut time, money and mistakes

10/30/2012

Now that we know horses and bayonets are (mostly) outmoded, a U.K.-based company says its new mobile military app can help American forces take another step toward the future by going more paperless in combat. IFS, a global “enterprise applications company” that already works with the U.S. Army, released Monday its “Flight Log” app specifically for military smartphones. It is designed, according to IFS, to help personnel aboard planes, boats and vehicles record real-time,mission data.

Insight: Unable to copy it, China tries building own jet engine

10/30/2012

China has designed nuclear missiles and blasted astronauts into space, but one vital technology remains out of reach. Despite decades of research and development, China has so far failed to build a reliable, high performance jet engine. This may be about to change. China's aviation sector is striving for a breakthrough that would end its dependence on Russian and Western power plants for military and commercial aircraft.

Wargaming Announces Financial Backing Of Burma Spitfires Expedition

10/30/2012

Wargaming, the creator of the award-winning games World of Tanks, World of Warplanes and the upcoming World of Warships, announced today that they are fully underwriting aircraft enthusiast David Cundall's efforts to recover the British Spitfires reportedly buried in Burma at the end of World War II.

Iraq Is In A Hurry

10/30/2012

Iraq recently signed the purchase order for a second batch of 18 American F-16 fighters. At the same time, Iraq has announced the purchase of $4.2 billion in Russian weapons. Most of the details were not released, and there were rumors that Iraq is looking at MiG-29s (which Saddam obtained 24 of in 1987 and were popular because they were a modern fighter and looked impressive). The MiG-29 is a lot cheaper than new F-16s.

First Ka-52K Choppers for Mistral Ships to be Built in 2013

10/30/2012

The Russian Navy will receive the first batch of Kamov Ka-52K attack helicopters for Mistral class amphibious assault ships in 2013, Kamov General Designer Sergei Mikheyev said. “The first serial Ka-52K will be assembled in 2013,” Mikheyev said on Monday. “By the time the first Mistral enters service in 2014, we are ready to make as many helicopters as the Defense Ministry will order.”

Lockheed Martin Receives $26 Million Contract to Help Royal Jordanian Air Force Control and Defend Its Airspace

10/30/2012

The U.S. Air Force has awarded Lockheed Martin a $26 million foreign military sales contract to modernize the Royal Jordanian Air Force’s national air command, control and communications infrastructure. Lockheed Martin will provide the Kingdom of Jordan with an integrated, real-time air picture across multiple command centers and many remote sites to better protect the country’s airspace.

Bell Boeing Receives US Marine Corps Contract for V-22 Training Devices

10/30/2012

The U.S. Marine Corps has awarded a $74 million contract to the Bell Boeing V-22 Program, a strategic alliance between Boeing and Bell Helicopter - Textron, for seven Osprey ground-based trainers, which will reduce fuel usage and aircraft wear-and-tear, maximizing lifecycle cost savings.

Apache helicopter pilots, crew to begin training

10/29/2012

The Taiwanese army earlier this year took delivery of the first of 30 Apache combat helicopters from the US and next month pilots and crew will begin training on the platform, which recently received a new designation from the US Army. As a result of the significant upgrades made to the AH-64D Block III Apache during its development, the US Army recently decided to re-designate it the E model.

Boeing Sees Challenges After 2012

10/29/2012

Boeing Co., which has boosted its 2012 profit forecast three times as commercial and military aircraft sales rose, said it expects challenges next year that include a tougher defense market and higher pension expense. The projected $3.5 billion in pension expense next year will be about $1 billion more than this year’s, the planemaker said.

USAF Issues Request for Combat Rescue Helo

10/29/2012

The fight over who will design the U.S. Air Force’s new combat search-and-rescue helicopter (CSAR) is underway. The Air Force last week issued a request for proposals (RfP) for the project, setting cost and performance parameters that will guide one of the service’s most expensive aircraft acquisitions over in the coming years.

US, Swedish Inspectors to Fly over Russia, Belarus

10/29/2012

Inspectors from the United States and Sweden will conduct inspection flights over Russia and Belarus under the Open Skies Treaty starting on Monday, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday. “In the period from October 29 to November 2 a joint group of US and Swedish inspectors will conduct surveillance flights on board a SAAB-340B Swedish surveillance aircraft over the territory of the treaty participants, namely the Russian Federation and Belarus,” a ministry spokesman said.

Russian Military Inspectors Begin Surveillance Flight Over France

10/29/2012

A group of Russian military observers begin on Sunday a four-day inspection mission in the skies of France under the Open Skies Treaty, the Defense Ministry’s press office reported. “Aboard the An-30B aircraft, a group of Russian inspectors will make a surveillance flight over the territory of France on October 28-31 as part of the Open Skies International Treaty,” the press office said.

Military Bracing for 'Frankenstorm'

10/28/2012

The Navy isn't taking any chances with a weather system nicknamed Frankenstorm. Nearly 25 ships homeported in Hampton Roads, including the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman, are heading to sea in advance of Hurricane Sandy, the Navy announced Friday. The hurricane, which is moving up the East Coast, could combine with a cold front from the west to create an even larger monster storm, forecasters have said.

Colombia invests in military weapons, technology

10/27/2012

President Juan Manuel Santos, whose administration is having peace talks with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) terrorist group, is spending heavily to bolster his country’s military. Santos’ spending aims to acquire better technology, vehicles and equipment but also increase military and police troops, as fighting terrorism, crime and narco-trafficking remains his biggest priority.

Development Cost Savings in KC-390 Programme Total $42 Million

10/27/2012

The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) and Embraer have reduced contract costs of developing the KC-390 aircraft by about USD 42 million, after a reassessment of the contract held on October 19. This reduction was only possible thanks to the joint efforts of the Coordinating Committee for Combat Aircraft (COPAC) of FAB and Embraer, which, through the Program Executive of the KC-X Project, conducted analyzes and used modern management tools to good effect.

US Military Tests Missile Defense Capability

10/27/2012

The US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has successfully conducted its largest and most complex missile defense flight test ever, involving the simultaneous engagement of five ballistic missile and cruise missile targets. The test in the western Pacific this week “stressed the performance of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD), THAAD, and PATRIOT weapon systems,” the agency said on Thursday.

Youngest Boeing B-52 Stratofortress Achieves 50 Years of Service

10/27/2012

Boeing today marks 50 years since the company delivered its last B-52 Stratofortress to the U.S. Air Force. H-model bomber 61-040 was assigned to Minot Air Force Base, N.D., where it remains in active service.

Ukraine, Russia start state resource test of D-27 engine for An-70 aircraft

10/26/2012

Ukraine and Russia have started state resource tests of the D-27 turbofan engine for the An-70 military transport aircraft, a source in the defense sector has told Interfax-Ukraine. The source said that the tests of D-27 engine are carried out with the participation of representatives of the defense bodies of the two countries, the state research and test center of Ukrainian Armed Forces and the Russia's Baranov Central Institute of Aviation Motor Development.

Boeing Partner GE Aviation Enters Agreements With Brazilian Aircraft Maintenance Companies

10/26/2012

Boeing Super Hornet partner GE Aviation recently signed memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with Brazilian companies to become potential suppliers for the program's global supply chain, strengthening the in-country component of Boeing's F/A-18 offering for the Brazilian F-X2 fighter jet competition. It was stated in the press release issued here today.

Sikorsky to Build Superfast, Military-Grade Helo

10/26/2012

In 2009 Sikorsky Aircraft built the world’s fastest helicopter, the X2, which clocked in at nearly 287 miles per hour and earned a PM Breakthrough Award to boot. Since then, the company has been incorporating the technology into designs for a new helo—the Raider S-97—which it plans to offer it to the U.S. Army in 2015.