Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Russia ‘Years Behind’ in Military Electronics

04/24/2012

Russia’s defense electronics are up to 12 years behind foreign analogs, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said on Monday. “The technical level of electronics used in the development and manufacture of military hardware and equipment…is five to 12 years behind that in other countries,” he said. Microelectronics production in Russia is low scale and loss making, and needs government support, he said.

Turkish Air Force begins special training with Boeing for AEW&C programme

04/24/2012

The Turkish Air Force has begun training for the acceptance of its new fleet of airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) systems from US manufacturer Boeing. The Seattle-based company has launched a training programme specifically designed to meet the individual requirements of the Turkish programme which will see the first aircraft – based on the 737 platform – being handed over later this year.

Israel military: Ready to hit Iran if ordered

04/23/2012

Israeli forces are carrying out more special operations beyond the country's borders and will be ready to attack Iran's nuclear sites if ordered, the chief-of-staff said in an interview on Sunday. In an extract from an interview with the top-selling Yediot Aharanot daily, Lieutenant General Benny Gantz said that 2012 would be a critical year in efforts to halt what Israel and much of the international community believe is an Iranian nuclear arms programme.

Embraer warns on US Air Force contract

04/23/2012

Brazil’s Embraer has threatened to pull out of the retendering of a politically charged light attack aircraft contract with the US Air Force if the product requirements are changed significantly. The Brazilian aircraft maker and its US partner Sierra Nevada won the contract last year but it was abruptly cancelled in February after the US Air Force said its staff had botched the documentation for the deal.

US, Afghanistan reach deal on strategic pact

04/23/2012

The U.S. and Afghanistan reached a deal Sunday on a long-delayed strategic partnership agreement that ensures Americans will provide military and financial support to the Afghan people for at least a decade beyond 2014, the deadline for most foreign forces to withdraw. The pact is key to the U.S. exit strategy in Afghanistan because it establishes guidelines for any American forces who remain after the withdrawal deadline and for financial help to the impoverished country and its security force

Iran military says copying U.S. drone

04/23/2012

Iran's military has started to build a copy of a U.S. surveillance drone captured last year after breaking the software encryption, Iranian media reported on Sunday. General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, head of the Revolutionary Guards aerospace division, said engineers were in the final stages of decoding data from the Sentinel aircraft, which came down in December near the Afghan border, Mehr news agency reported.

Debate set to resume on Canada's F-35 fighter purchase

04/23/2012

Parliamentarians will return to House of Commons on Monday ready to do battle over whether Canadians were misled when it came to the troubled F-35 stealth fighter program. Wading through the gamut of conflicting statements, political spin and daily back-and-forth has muddied the waters to the point where few Canadians can tell truth from fiction. Here’s what you need to know to follow the debate:

Defence preparedness: Situation serious, but not alarming, says Naik

04/23/2012

Commenting on India’s military preparedness, Air Chief Marshal (Retd) PV Naik on Saturday said, “The situation is serious but not alarming.” Naik was delivering a lecture on ‘The Armed Forces and the Media’ at Patrakar Sangh as part of the Ja Sa Karandikar Memorial Lecture. He said, “Military modernisation is a continuous process. It is like a sine curve. We are currently at the cusp of the sine curve. But that does not mean we are not prepared.

NATO aircraft making Pakistani airspace unsafe

04/22/2012

The Nato aircraft changing their flying levels without taking orders from the traffic control department during the monsoon season, is creating issues for the other traffic flying on different levels and thus making the airspace near Afghan border area more vulnerable to any collision.

Fighter jet’s skyrocketing costs are on Congress’ radar

04/22/2012

The radar-evading F-35 fighter jet, a nearly $400 billion weapons program under development for more than a decade, is facing its worst turbulence since Washington decided to buy it in 2001 — when it was billed as the most affordable, lethal and survivable military aircraft ever built for the U.S. and its allies.

US Worried As China And Russia Prepare To Hold Historic Joint Naval Exercises

04/22/2012

China is sending a group of 16 ships, including destroyers, frigates, and a hospital ship. Russia is sending 4 ships, including the cruiser Varyag and three air defense destroyers now moving south from Vladivostok to join the Chinese after navigating through the Sea of Japan. Another Varyag, though, might steal the spotlight from the assembled fleet. It is the Chinese aircraft carrier of the same name, the first carrier in the People's Liberation Army Navy.

U.S. plans for larger presence in Pacific

04/22/2012

The failed mid-April launch of a long-range North Korean rocket, billed as a satellite launch but widely seen as the test of a ballistic missile, was the latest reminder of how the Pacific region remains one of the world’s most volatile. It’s also a key focus of the Obama administration’s new national defense strategy.

Fighter jets about-turn 'will harm capability’

04/22/2012

The Daily Telegraph has seen a Ministry of Defence document setting out secret contingency planning for future military operations in Afghanistan, the Falklands, Saudi Arabia and Africa. The highly-classified report shows that planners have grave doubts about the capabilities of the jump jets ministers now want to buy for the Royal Navy’s aircraft carriers which are still under-construction.

Kenya, Uganda risk entering Sudan conflict

04/22/2012

As the dispute between Sudan and South Sudan over oil transportation dues deteriorates into full-fledged war, The Independent reports of an intense rhetoric that could see Kenya and Uganda sucked in. Following separation, most of the oil fields fell in South Sudan’s territory but Sudan remains the owner of refineries and pipelines and the South’s oil is exported through the north.

Show of military superpowers

04/22/2012

IT might be big business in the developed and industrialised countries but the defence industry is flexing its muscle with greater intent when it comes to displaying, developing and selling their wares to countries in Asia. That was aptly displayed at the recent Defence Services Asia (DSA) expo, where 850 companies from 45 countries participated in the four-day event, showing the variety of arsenal from handguns to jetfighters.

Lockheed Martin F-35 Carrier Variant Completes First Formation Flight

04/22/2012

For the first time, two Lockheed Martin F-35C Lightning II carrier variant test aircraft launched together and conducted formation flying at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., Wednesday. The test aircraft, known as CF-1 and CF-2, were piloted by Navy Cdr. Eric Buus and Marine Corps Lt. Col. Matt Taylor, respectively. The mission tested flying qualities of the aircraft while taking off, landing and flying in formation for more than one hour.

Russia to Test Fly First Combat Drone in 2014

04/22/2012

Russia will test fly its first domestically-produced strike unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in 2014, First Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Sukhorukov said on Friday. In February, Army General Nikolay Makarov, the chief of the Russian General Staff, said the drone would be first test flied in late 2012, a revision of the initial 2015 timeframe.

Russian Warships Arrive in China for Joint Drills

04/22/2012

A Russian naval task group arrived at the eastern Chinese port city of Qingdao on Saturday for joint exercises with the Chinese navy, a captain said. "Each vessel was welcomed individually," Captain Roman Martov told RIA Novosti. The naval squadron, including the Varyag missile cruiser, three Udaloy class destroyers and three fleet support ships, will join 16 Chinese surface ships for drills in the Yellow Sea between Aril 22 and 27.

Eaton enhancing new F-15SA's for RSAF

04/20/2012

Eaton Corporation will provide significant content on 84 new Boeing F-15SA fighter aircraft for the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) in a purchase agreement announced between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the US Government. The deal also includes upgrades to the SA configuration for 70 F-15S fighter jets in the RSAF fleet.

MPs return as opposition triggers meeting on F-35s

04/20/2012

Members of the public accounts committee gathered in Ottawa Thursday for a special meeting to discuss the auditor general's report on Canada's contentious F-35 purchase plans. But opposition members faced roadblocks in launching a comprehensive probe as the majority Conservatives used their power in the all-party committee to postpone discussion of who would appear until next week.

Intel influx leads to increased U.S. strikes in Yemen

04/20/2012

The increased pace of counterterrorism strikes in Yemen by U.S. drones and aircraft is a result of what U.S. military and intelligence officials describe as improved intelligence about the leadership of the al Qaeda movement in that country.

New generation airlifter takes part in 100th anniversary celebrations of the Royal Thai Air Force

04/20/2012

The Airbus Military A400M, the new generation airlifter for the 21st Century, is today flying over Thailand for the very first time as it takes part in the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the Royal Thai Air Force – “The Centennial of the RTAF Founding Fathers’ Aviation”. The visit is part of the first Asia Pacific Tour the A400M is making, visiting Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, then Chiang Mai and finally Bangkok, before returning to Europe.

Official: Helicopter crashes in Afghanistan, likely killing 4 Americans

04/20/2012

A Black Hawk helicopter crashed Thursday in southern Afghanistan, likely killing all four of its crew members -- all of them Americans -- a U.S. military official said. The crash occurred in bad weather, though the official said, "We cannot yet rule out enemy action."

US bid to iron out strained ties with India

04/20/2012

The visit will be the first by a high-level official of Pentagon to India after bilateral defence ties came under stress last year following New Delhi’s decision to drop two US contenders from the fray of a contract for 126 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft for the Indian Air Force. Panetta will hold talks with Defence Minister A K Antony. While the dates for his visit are yet to be finalised.

Super Hercules Takes Flight to Texas

04/20/2012

Lockheed Martin delivered another C-130J Super Hercules to Dyess Air Force Base, Texas yesterday. This aircraft was the 18th C-130J delivered to Dyess by Lockheed Martin. Colonel Gerald Goodfellow, Vice Commander of the 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess accepted delivery of the aircraft.