Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

House votes to give Taiwan 66 F-16 fighter aircraft

05/21/2012

The House late Thursday approved more than a dozen amendments to the 2013 National Defense Authorization act (NDAA) by voice vote, including language from Rep. Kay Granger (R-Texas) that would authorize the sale of 66 F-16 fighter aircraft to Taiwan.

Australia Recruits Former US Military

05/21/2012

American servicemen and women are being urged to join the Australian Defence Force (ADF) amid US military budget cuts. The ADF is inviting former foreign military personnel to apply for jobs it claims cannot be filled by Australians. The scheme is attracting huge interest overseas with officers tempted by the higher pay and the offer to pay moving costs.

Raytheon development of small missile for UAVs, vehicles, and surface ships continues with $85 million Griffin buy

05/21/2012

Engineers at the Raytheon Co. Missile Systems segment in Tucson, Ariz., are moving ahead with a project to deploy a small missile called Griffin on unmanned aerial vehicles, ground vehicles, surface ships, and utility aircraft with an $85 million U.S. Air Force contract awarded Friday for Raytheon to build 22 all-up Griffin missiles and 43 telemetry rounds for Griffin tests.

China Poised to Join Elite Aircraft Carrier Club

05/21/2012

The Pentagon has determined China soon will commission its first aircraft carrier, placing it in an elite club of seafaring nations and raising concerns about Beijing's growing global ambitions. In its annual congressionally-mandated report on China's military build-up, the Pentagon states the Peoples' Liberation Army Navy will this year place its Russian-built Kuznetsov-class aircraft carrier into its fleet.

Pilot dies in military trainer jet crash in Calif.

05/21/2012

A civilian piloting a military-contracted jet was killed when his aircraft crashed into a Southern California farm field as he completed a training exercise, authorities said. The privately owned Hawker Hunter jet trainer went down Friday near Naval Base Ventura County, fire department spokesman Steve Swindle said. The pilot was the only person aboard. The high-performance military-style aircraft, contracted to play the enemy in training exercises.

Philippines Looking to Buy Non-USA Combat Aircraft

05/21/2012

For the first time in its history, the Philippines is looking to non-USA sources for combat aircraft to strengthen the nation’s warfighting capabilities. The Philippine Department of National Defense (DND) is reported to be in the market to purchase as many as two squadrons of combat aircraft and, according to DND representatives, has already entered into negotiations with non-USA manufacturers.

Mi-17 Helicopter Crash in Venezuela Kills 4

05/21/2012

A Russian-made Mil Mi-17 helicopter has crashed in Venezuela, killing four out of the five people on board, the Globovision television channel said, quoting the country’s defense authorities. The aircraft crashed during a training flight near the northern city of San Felipe on Friday. According to preliminary data, the helicopter lost its tail rotor before the crash.

India heads towards inking more arms deals with US as Panetta comes calling next month

05/19/2012

NEW DELHI: India is ready to seal more arms deals and further boost defence cooperation with the US but remains unwilling to ink the foundational military pacts being pushed by Washington for years. This, in essence, is the message US defence secretary Leon Panetta will get when he comes visiting here next month. Panetta, who will hold talks with PM Manmohan Singh, defence minister A K Antony and national security advisor Shivshankar Menon among others.

Could We Trust Killer Robots?

05/19/2012

In the year 2015, somewhere over the tribal territories of Pakistan, an American MQ-9 Reaper drone patrols a complex "kill zone"—an area of terrorist activity in which large numbers of civilians are also present. But on this mission, the drone isn't piloted from afar. It's on its own.

House OKs $642 billion defense bill

05/19/2012

Washington ignoring a White House veto threat, the Republican-controlled House approved a $642 billion defense budget Friday that breaks a deficit-cutting deal with President Barack Obama and restricts his authority in an election-year challenge to the Democratic commander in chief.

Pentagon says China may build aircraft carriers

05/19/2012

China may have started work on it first domestically built aircraft carrier and is likely to produce a number of carriers over the next decade as part of an aggressive effort to modernize its military, the Pentagon said Friday. In its annual report to Congress appraising China's military strength, the Pentagon also cited concern about China's targeting of U.S. and other foreign computer networks as a means of collecting strategic intelligence.

Boeing Delivers UK Royal Air Force's 8th C-17 Globemaster III

05/19/2012

Boeing [NYSE: BA] delivered the United Kingdom's eighth C-17 Globemaster III to the Royal Air Force (RAF) today during a ceremony at the company's final assembly facility in Long Beach. "I'm honored and delighted to deliver the Royal Air Force's newest C-17 to join the fleet at Number 99 Squadron, where our seven C-17s are in constant demand flying missions in support of Defence and other government agencies' requirements.

B-1 Lancer Crews Use Laser JDAMs for First Time

05/18/2012

B-1 Lancer aircrews from Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., employed laser Joint Direct Attack Munitions against moving targets during a weapon system evaluation program exercise May 14 through 16. Aircrews from the 37th Bomb Squadron and 34th BS employed six GBU-54 laser JDAMs against targets on the Utah Test and Training Range near Hill Air Force Base, Utah, as part of the Air Force's air to ground WSEP, known as Combat Hammer.

Russian AF to Get First T-50 Fighters in 2013

05/18/2012

The Russian Air Force will receive the first batch of prototypes of its fifth-generation T-50 fighter for performance testing in 2013, Col. Gen. Alexander Zelin said on Thursday. The T-50, developed under the PAK FA program (Future Aviation System for Tactical Air Force) at the Sukhoi experimental design bureau, is Russia's first new major warplane designed since the fall of the Soviet Union.

Russia May Fit Foreign Weapons on Export Helicopters

05/18/2012

Russia may install foreign manufactured weapon systems on combat helicopters exported to other countries, acting deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin said on Thursday. Foreign partners may be brought in to help master modern, advanced technology - engines, avionics, cockpits and weapons, he said at an international helicopter industry exhibition in Moscow.

Russia: ‘No Plans’ to Close Kyrgyz Airbase

05/18/2012

No decision has been made to withdraw the Russian airbase from the town of Kant, Kyrgyzstan, an aide to the Russian defense minister said on Thursday. “The Air Force main command has not planned any changes in the air component of our base in Kant,” Col. Gen. Alexander Zelin said, adding that the base’s organizational and personnel structure will remain as is.

Russia: ‘No Plans’ to Close Kyrgyz Airbase

05/18/2012

No decision has been made to withdraw the Russian airbase from the town of Kant, Kyrgyzstan, an aide to the Russian defense minister said on Thursday. “The Air Force main command has not planned any changes in the air component of our base in Kant,” Col. Gen. Alexander Zelin said, adding that the base’s organizational and personnel structure will remain as is.

Russia to Field New Ground Attack Jet

05/18/2012

The Russian Air Force will start receiving new ground attack aircraft based on the Sukhoi Su-25SM Frogfoot combat jets by 2020, Col. Gen. Alexander Zelin said on Thursday. “This new type of a ground attack aircraft has been included in the state arms procurement program,” Zelin, who is an aide to the defense minister, told a news conference in Voronezh (central Russia). “It will be put in service with the Air Force by 2020.”

UAC to Launch Military Transport Division

05/18/2012

Russia's United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) plans to set up a standalone division to produce military transport aircraft, Acting Vice-Premier Dmitry Rogozin said on Thursday at the fifth Heli Russi international helicopter exhibition in Moscow.

U.S. Warplanes to Hold Drills Prior to NATO Summit

05/18/2012

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) will hold on Friday large-scale military air drills in the sky over Chicago to ensure security ahead of the 2012-NATO summit, NORAD said in a statement. “Providing the air defense for special security events like this year’s NATO Summit is a part of our day-to-day mission,” said Lt. Gen. Sid Clarke, Continental U.S. NORAD Region commander.

Russian Helicopters showcases new-look medium multi-role Ka-62

05/18/2012

Russian Helicopters today presented the new model of the medium multi-role Ka-62 at the 5th international helicopter exhibition HeliRussia 2012. Dmitry Petrov, CEO of Russian Helicopters said: "We are delighted to present the new model of the medium multi-role Ka-62 to the Russian aviation market. The new model combines all of the traditional qualities that generations of purchasers have come to expect from Russian-made helicopters, and is reliable and easy to operate.

Dubai Helishow 2012 dates announced

05/18/2012

The fifth edition of the International Helicopter Technology & Operations Exhibition, known as Dubai Helishow 2012, will take place on November 6-8, organisers the Domus Group announced today. The show will be held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, at its new venue the Grand Stand, Meydan Hotel, Meydan Racecourse, Dubai.

VFC-13: MiG role player for COMPTUEX

05/17/2012

The “Fighting Saints” of Fighter Squadron Composite (VFC) 13 are currently supporting the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group’s Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) from the NAS Jacksonville flight line. COMPTUEX is a series of graded exercise scenarios intended to evaluate and prepare the strike group for its upcoming deployment. For COMPTUEX, the carrier and its strike group of support ships are somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean, east of Florida.

USAF: F-35B cannot generate enough sorties to replace A-10

05/17/2012

The US Air Force has concluded that the short take-off vertical landing (STOVL) Lockheed Martin F-35B- model aircraft cannot generate enough sorties to meet its needs; therefore the service will not consider replacing the Fairchild Republic A-10 Warthog close air support jet with that variant. Meanwhile, the USAF and the US Navy are hoping to more closely integrate their forces as part of the US Department of Defense's (DoD) new AirSea battle concept.

Forces in Europe to Preserve Strategic Edge

05/17/2012

With major force changes to unfold across Europe, including a drawdown of about 7,000 U.S. forces there, U.S. European Command remains committed to its mission of ensuring a ready force prepared to respond if called upon, officials said. About 80,000 military forces based in Europe remain the command's No. 1 tool - both for maintaining U.S. influence across the theater and, when called upon, for projecting power within and beyond it, the Eucom commander, told Congress.