Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

T-38 replacement faces six-year schedule gap

03/13/2012

With the US military facing lean times, the US Air Force's Air Education and Training Command (AETC) is not immune from procurement pressure, despite its importance in providing the combat pilots of the future. Not surprisingly, more expensive bills, such as replacing the command's fleet of 508 ageing Northrop T-38 Talon jet trainers, are also receiving sharper scrutiny by Rice and his superiors in the air force chief of staff's office.

New Indian Light Combat Aircraft Runs Into Problems

03/13/2012

One of the variants of India’s new fighter aircraft is running into some problems. The Guardian newspaper is reporting that the naval version of India’s first indigenous fighter — the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA-Navy) — has not been able to obtain the certification needed to make its debut flight because of structural issues.

Senators Call For End to Russian Helicopter Deal

03/13/2012

The U.S. Department of Defense should drop a $900 million contract with Russian arms sales company Rosoboronexport to supply helicopters to Afghanistan's forces, if Moscow continues to arm the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, 17 senators have said in a statement sent to Pentagon head Leon Panetta, the Foreign Policy Journal reports.

Two Die in Ka-52 Helicopter Crash in Russia

03/13/2012

Two pilots died after a Kamov Ka-52 (Hokum B) attack helicopter crashed during a training flight near Torzhok in Russia’s Tver Region on Tuesday, the Defense Ministry said. “A rescue group found the helicopter some 10 kilometers west of Torzhok air field at 08.45 am Moscow Time” he said. One pilot died immediately in the crash, and the second died in hospital shortly after.

Russian Air Force to Receive Six Su-35 Fighters by Yearend

03/13/2012

The Russian Air Force will receive the first six Sukhoi Su-35 Flanker-E multirole fighter jets by the end of 2012, spokesman Col. Vladimir Drik said on Monday. “Su-35 is in the final stages of flight testing at the Akhtubinsk testing and pilot training center [Volga Region],” Drik said. “The first six series-production Su-35s will be delivered to the Air Force by the end of 2012.”

Lockheed Martin Receives Sniper Post Production Contract

03/13/2012

Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has received an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod (ATP) Post Production Support (PPS) contract from the U.S. Air Force.

Boeing and US Army Successfully Test Advanced Rotorcraft Flight Control System

03/13/2012

Boeing and the U.S. Army have successfully completed a series of tests on the company’s Adaptive Vehicle Management System (AVMS), an advanced rotorcraft flight control system. AVMS, which has been in development for two years, delivers enhanced maneuverability and safety while reducing aircrew workload and overall operating costs.

AAFB: Strike Fighter Advanced Readiness Program Underway Overhead Through April 10

03/12/2012

Approximately 550 military aircrew personnel and four squadrons of F-18s (VFA-102, VFA-115, VFA195 and VFA-27) from the Naval Air Facility at Atsugi, Japan, are on Guam this week for the Strike Fighter Advanced Readiness Program. The training excercise begins TODAY, March 12 and runs through April 10.

Chinese military spending a concern

03/12/2012

The Chinese government has just announced its plan to boost defense spending by 11.2 percent this year (The Jakarta Post, March 4). China may be reacting to the increasing US military presence in Asia-Pacific region, particularly after President Barack Obama last November revealed a plan to establish a new Marine Corps base in the Northern Territory of Australia, to be manned by 2,500 troops.

Yemen officials: US airstrikes hit al-Qaida area

03/12/2012

Yemeni military officials said Sunday that U.S. aircraft carried out four airstrikes in a southern province where al-Qaida-linked militants control several key towns. Two military officials said the airstrikes targeted Khanfar Mountain near the town of Jaar in Abyan province, where al-Qaida is in control. There was no comment from U.S. officials.

Drones on beach patrol

03/12/2012

SMILE, you're on camera. That's what holidaymakers on North Stradbroke Island will be saying if a plan takes off to get tiny unmanned planes to patrol beaches. It is hoped Australian surf lifesavers will add the robotic "eye in the sky" aircraft, called Unmanned Aircraft Systems, to their arsenal of rescue equipment in May.

Military Points to Risks of a Syrian Intervention

03/12/2012

Despite growing calls for the United States to help stop the bloodshed in Syria, senior Pentagon officials are stepping up their warnings that military intervention would be a daunting and protracted operation, requiring at least weeks of exclusively American airstrikes, with the potential for killing vast numbers of civilians and plunging the country closer to civil war.

Dassault Says Indian Fighter Jet Deal Secure as Talks Intensify

03/11/2012

Dassault Aviation SA (AM) is confident that an accord to supply at least 126 Rafale combat planes to India will cross all hurdles as the French company intensifies negotiations to clinch the first-ever export deal for the jet. Dassault and India are now in final talks to conclude details of the contract, after the Rafale was given preference over the competing Eurofighter jet last month, Chief Executive Officer Charles Edelstenne said in an interview in Paris.

GKN 'planning to buy Volvo's aerospace unit'

03/11/2012

The British engineering firm is ready to pay £800m ($1.3bn) for the business, according to the Sunday Times. Volvo Aero makes aircraft engines and their components, including the jet engine used in the Saab Gripen combat jet. GKN's aerospace business is the firm's second biggest division. It makes parts for civilian and combat aircraft as well as helicopters. Last year it had sales of £1.5bn, up 4%.

China starts testing its first aircraft carrier

03/11/2012

China’s new aircraft carrier has begun its first sea trials. The carrier was originally left for scrap but was later bought by a company with ties to the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Military sources were quoted as saying that the trial “would not take a long time.” The carrier left its shipyard at Dalian Port in Liaoning Province on Wednesday morning.

Philippines military rethinks F-16 acquisition

03/11/2012

The military is rethinking its planned acquisition of F-16 fighter jets from the United States owing to various reasons, foremost of which are the maintenance and cost. This was disclosed by Maj. Gen. Lauro Catalino de la Cruz, Air Force commander, during the turnover of four W-3A Sokol Combat utility helicopters to the Air Force in Clark Field, Pampanga, over the weekend.

High-powered U.S. surveillance aircraft likely to be mobilized during nuclear summit

03/11/2012

The South Korean and U.S. militaries are considering deploying a high-powered surveillance plane to bolster their watch over North Korea during the second Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul later this month, a senior military source said Sunday. The March 26-27 summit will bring together U.S. President Barack Obama and dozens of world leaders amid increased hostile rhetoric from North Korea. Pyongyang has branded the gathering as an "intolerable grave provocation" against it.

Syria And Hezbollah Have Advanced Missiles

03/11/2012

Fears that some of the world’s most sophisticated anti-aircraft weapons that disappeared from government warehouses in Libya would end up in the hands of stateless insurgent are being realized. At least some of the roughly 480 high-performance SA-24 “Grinch” shoulder-launched missiles that disappeared during the Libyan uprising have reappeared in the hands of insurgents on the borders of Israel, say senior Israeli officials.

Philippines' defence expenditure soars

03/11/2012

Military spending of President Benigno Aquino's government has outstripped that of previous administrations, a palace official revealed. Herminio Coloma, the Presidential Communications Secretary, said procurements for the Armed Forces of the Philippines' (AFP) modernisation programme have reached 28 billion pesos (Dh2.41 billion) in 18 months under the Aquino administration when compared to 33 billion pesos under various administrations in the past 15 years.

How India compares with China in military prowess

03/11/2012

China's increased military spending, by 11% this year and 12.7% last year, is matched by its growing assertiveness in pressing territorial claims. A classic example is the South China Sea where Beijing contends that India's exploratory drilling with Vietnam is a breach of its sovereignty. Should India be worried? The 1962 defeat is still as fresh as yesterday. There is also the long-running border dispute over Arunachal Pradesh.

Facing loss of Thunderbolt fighter jet, Selfridge Air National Guard members welcome new commanders

03/11/2012

Guard members who operate the A-10 Thunderbolt II at Selfridge Air National Guard Base shouldn't focus on the possibility of the aircraft being eliminated from the base in 2013, according to the new commander of the 107th Fighter Squadron.

Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in running for new line of high-tech tanker aircraft

03/11/2012

Glancing at the tail number of a long, gray tanker aircraft, Col. Laen D. August remarked, "I'm a pretty old fellow, but that airplane is at least a year older than I am because I was born in 1963." One week ago today, August was looking at a Cold War-era KC-135 Stratotanker on the ramp at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base for the base's largest launch of tanker aircraft in 20 years.

India’s indigenous Tejas LSP-7 makes maiden flight at HAL

03/10/2012

The country’s indigenously developed light combat aircraft (LCA), Tejas LSP-7, made its maiden flight on Friday. The Limited Series Production-7 aircraft took off from the HAL airport at 4.27 pm and flew for 28 minutes. The LSP-7 aircraft, along with LSP-8, will be offered to the Indian Air Force for user evaluation trials (UET).

Israeli Request for American Military Equipment Was Meant to Buy Time on Iran Strike

03/10/2012

During last week’s meeting between President Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington, a request was made by the Israelis for American “bunker buster” bombs and refueling planes, according to Reuters. Both types of equipment would enhance the abilities of Israel’s military to effectively strike Iran’s nuclear facilities.

U.S. officials: Syrian military unlikely to turn on Assad

03/10/2012

Top U.S. officials all the way up to President Barack Obama are predicting the Syrian regime's days are numbered, but recent U.S. intelligence reports suggest that the Syrian leader commands a formidable army that is unlikely to turn on him, an inner circle that has stayed loyal and a Syrian elite that still supports his rule.