Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

IAF conducts first ever landing of 'Super Hercules' military aircraft at Car Nicobar airbase

05/29/2012

India is slowly but surely bolstering its military presence in the crucial Andaman and Nicobar Islands in keeping with the overall policy to counter China's strategic moves in the Indian Ocean region as well as ensure security of the sea lanes converging towards the Malacca Strait.

Northrop Grumman's Joint STARS Completes Flight Testing of JT-8D Engines

05/28/2012

Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NYSE:NOC) E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System testbed aircraft, equipped with a new JT-8D propulsion system, has successfully completed flight testing and moved one step closer to receiving its Military Airworthiness Certification.

Memorial Day Thoughts on National Defense

05/28/2012

We can best honor those who have given their lives for this nation in combat by making sure our military might is proportional to what America needs. The United States spends more on our military than do China, Russia, Britain, France, Japan, and Germany put together.

Hearing will focus on Air Force's plan to add fighter jet

05/27/2012

A public hearing has been set for June 5 on a proposal to add a new fighter jet to the Burlington Air Guard Station in Vermont, which conducts missions in western Maine airspace. The Air Force last week scheduled the hearing at University of Maine at Farmington after facing complaints from Mainers about why initial hearings on the plan were scheduled to take place only in Vermont.

US Pivots To Maritime Southeast Asia – Analysis

05/27/2012

The United States decision to deploy littoral combat ships in Singapore signals a maritime focus in its pivot to the Asia-Pacific. It reaffirms U.S. commitment to support Southeast Asian allies and partners amid China’s growing maritime assertiveness in the region.

Report claims Chinese airstrip near disputed islands near completion

05/27/2012

The China Post news staff--Attack warplanes and land-to-air missiles are being deployed to a Chinese air base with an operational radius reaching both Taipei and the disputed islands in the South China Sea as tension in the region continues to mount, a report said yesterday. The hardware being deployed includes China's Jian 10 and Sukhoi Su-30 jet fighters, unpiloted attack planes, and S-300 anti-aircraft missiles.

IAF chief flies Rafale fighter aircraft

05/26/2012

Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal N A K Browne has taken an hour-long sortie in a Rafale fighter aircraft which has been selected by India for its multi-billion dollar deal to procure 126 jets. On a four-day visit to France, the IAF chief flew the fighter jet at the St. Dizier Airbase and was accompanied by the Rafale squadron Commander Squadron Leader Kubiak Thierry.

South Korea to announce in October its military aircraft and helicopters contractors

05/26/2012

South Korea government, through the military acquisition programme's spokesperson, announced that the choice regarding the suppliers of fighters aircraft and the helicopters for its air force will be communicated in October. The purchase will involve on the whole 60 fighters, 35 attack helicopters and 8 helicopters for the navy.

Fighter-bomber upgrade faces $1.4bn blowout

05/26/2012

The cost of fitting out 12 of the RAAF's Super Hornet fighter-bombers with sophisticated electronic warfare equipment appears to have blown out from the original $300 million to $1.73 billion -- slightly more than the Gillard government's budget surplus for the coming year.

Think Tank Calls Budget Cuts an Opportunity to Reform Military

05/26/2012

Despite dire warnings about U.S. military funding cuts, one prominent Washington think tank says fewer dollars give the Pentagon a chance to make sweeping changes to sustain America's warring dominance. The Defense Department is implementing a $450 billion reduction to planned spending over the next decade, and could be forced to take out close to $500 billion more over the same span if Congress fails to pass a $1.2 trillion debt-paring deal this year.

ENDEARING TIES

05/26/2012

Introducing me at a meeting of Singapore’s India Club (for Indian citizens only), Prasenjit Basu, its economist president, recalled that more than 10 years ago my book on India’s relations with the United States of America was called Waiting for America. “We are still waiting for America”, he concluded. It was a perceptive comment. Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose, the more things change, the more they remain the same.

U.S. Air Dominance at Risk

05/26/2012

Air dominance is essential to virtually every operation the U.S. military conducts. It is an essential component of the U.S. military’s “DNA.” Budget cuts, shrinking force structure, poor investments in modernization, technological innovation and a growing anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) threat are combining to call into question the Department of Defense’s ability to maintain air dominance in future conflicts. Without air dominance, the U.S. military’s concepts of operations will unravel.

Military Airship Floats Toward First Flight

05/26/2012

Northrop Grumman's 300-foot long, 70-foot tall, remotely piloted Long Endurance Multi-Intelligence Vehicle (LEMV) airship is scheduled to fly for the first time in early June at Lakehurst, New Jersey. The maiden flight could take place anytime between June 6 and 10, weather permitting, and will be followed by a trip to Florida where it will be outfitted with surveillance gear.

Bangladesh seeks C-130 deal

05/25/2012

Bangladesh is asking for the refurbishment, overhaul and modification of four C-130E aircraft through the Foreign Military Sale program. The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency said the contract sought by Bangladesh includes spare parts, equipment and training services and is worth about $180 million.

Congress moves toward saving A-10 jets at Selfridge

05/25/2012

The effort to preserve Selfridge Air National Guard Base’s A-10 aircraft gained some altitude Thursday when the Senate Armed Services Committee embraced a provision that would block budget cuts to the Air National Guard. Sen. Carl Levin, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said his committee had unanimously approved an annual defense bill that rejects proposals to eliminate Air National Guard aircraft and personnel across the nation, including proposed cuts at Michigan bases.

Senate panel approves F/A-18 purchase, delays Jefferson Barracks action

05/25/2012

The Senate Armed Services Committee approved a defense bill that would maintain the production lines of the F-18 in St. Louis, nix a new base-closing round, and block an AF plan to shut down air guard units, including one at Jefferson Barracks. While the Senate defense bill’s $631 billion price tag for fiscal 2013 is about $4 billion less than the House-passed version, the provisions of the two bills with direct impact in Missouri and Illinois appeared to be similar.

Pilatus seals record plane deal with India

05/25/2012

The Pilatus aircraft manufacturer has confirmed a deal to export 75 PC-7 MkII military training aircraft to India worth $523 million (SFr500 million) - the biggest-ever contract for the turboprop trainer in the Stans-based firm’s history. The company also confirmed on Thursday that it is in the final stages of a major contract with Saudi Arabia for 55 PC-21 propeller-driven trainers via a deal with the British defence contractor BAE Systems PLC.

Last CH-46 pilot graduates

05/25/2012

First Lt. Zerbin Singleton qualified as the Marine Corps’ last CH-46 Sea Knight pilot with Marine Medium Helicopter Training Squadron 164 aboard Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, Calif., May 23. The MV-22B Osprey is replacing the Sea Knight, making the accomplishment of Singleton particularly noteworthy. Several local news stations came out to record the event.

Pakistan: U.S. Drone Strike Kills 10 In North Waziristan

05/25/2012

A U.S. drone strike on suspected Islamist militants in northwest Pakistan killed 10 people on Thursday, Pakistani intelligence officials said, an attack likely to raise tensions in a standoff with Washington over NATO supply routes to Afghanistan. The pilotless drone aircraft attacked a compound in a village in North Waziristan, a day after a similar attack killed four suspected militants in the same region.

Israel steps up security ties with China

05/25/2012

After a prolonged chill, security ties between Israel and China are warming up. With Israel offering much-needed technical expertise and China representing a huge new market and influential voice in the international debate over Iran's nuclear program, the two nations have stepped up military cooperation as they patch up a rift caused by a pair of failed arms deals scuttled by the U.S.

Guard, Reserve leaders discuss budget issues

05/25/2012

The military's reserve components remain ready and capable despite budget cuts and their transition from a strategic to operational force, senior National Guard and Reserve officials told the Senate Appropriations Committee's defense subcommittee here May 23.

Airbus Military focusing on African market

05/24/2012

Airbus Military expects to sell 70 light and medium military aircraft to Africa over the next decade, as it shifts it focus to the African continent and other emerging markets. Ghana, Cameroon and Gabon are some of the nations that are in the midst of buying new aircraft or are about to sign, whilst South Africa is a leading potential customer for the C295.

Fake ICs in US military aircraft

05/24/2012

1,800 cases of fake ICs in US military aircraft were discovered last year, says the US Senate Armed Services Committee, and 70% of those could be traced back to China. After China come the UK and Canada as the biggest sources of fake chips. Counterfeit parts were found in SH-60B helicopters used by the Navy, in C-130J and C-27J cargo planes and in the Navy's P-8A Poseidon plane.

F-35B lifts off for first flight at Eglin

05/24/2012

An F-35B Lightning II made its first flight at Eglin Air Force Base today, two months after 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing officially introduced the Marine Corps' fifth generation fighter to the world at the 33rd Fighter Wing.

UPA's major goof up: Tejas inducted

05/24/2012

First, it was the NDA regime which was in a hurry to christen it 'Tejas' , with the then PM, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, doing the honours in 2003. Now, it's the UPA II government's turn to declare that the indigenous fighter has already been "inducted'' .