Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Purchase of search and rescue planes delayed again

03/09/2012

The Harper government's plan to buy new fixed-wing search and rescue planes has been delayed yet again, The Canadian Press has learned. The Defence Department is not going to issue a tender call to replace nearly 50-year-old C-115 Buffalos and C-130 Hercules transports until the spring of 2013.

US military could hit Iran harder than Israel: Panetta

03/09/2012

A US military attack on Iran would do more damage than a strike carried out by Israeli forces, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Thursday in an interview. The United States and Israel disagree about the imminence of the threat posed by Iran’s nuclear program, and Panetta’s comments underscored the US administration’s stance that Israel should hold off on any unilateral action.

Airbus Military offers Canberra a sixth A330 MRTT

03/09/2012

Airbus Military has offered Australia a sixth A330 multi-role tanker transport (MRTT) aircraft, giving Canberra until mid-2012 to make a decision. The unsolicited offer involves an aircraft, MSN 871, that was previously involved in the US Air Force's KC-X tanker competition, said Airbus in an email to Flightglobal. After years of controversy, the Boeing 767-based KC-46A emerged as the ultimate winner of the KC-X competition in 2011.

China's first aircraft carrier to be commissioned in Aug

03/09/2012

China's first aircraft carrier is likely to be commissioned on August 1 and deployed in the disputed South China Sea, boosting its blue water aspirations. "The military authority plans to let the aircraft carrier be commissioned this year," Deputy Commander of Chinese navy Xu Hongmeng said.

Italian Air Force HH-139A Enters Operational Service

03/09/2012

AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that the first of ten Italian Air Force’s HH-139A medium twin engine helicopters has entered operational service. A ceremony held at Cervia Air Base marked this achievement. These helicopters will supplement ageing HH-212 and HH-3F helicopters in the role of search and rescue operations across the nation.

US pilots plant SEAD with Turkish counterparts

03/09/2012

The Turkish and U.S. air forces continue to combine their air assets and share tactics in large-force employments during Exercise Anatolian Falcon 2012 here March 5-16. During LFE exercises, units oftentimes take advantage of the high number of aircraft participating to test mass communication efforts, but the 480th Fighter Squadron pilots from Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, are sharing suppression-of-enemy-air-defenses tactics with their Turkish counterparts.

Marines boost drone program

03/09/2012

As the Marine Corps cuts about 10 percent of its forces in the next few years, it is adding personnel to its four drone squadrons and may create a fifth. A new occupation specialty will lead to the first dedicated Marine officer corps for unmanned systems, to work in conjunction with full-time drone operators from the enlisted ranks.

HAL likely to handover 1st batch of Tejas to IAF by next year

03/08/2012

The first batch of the country's indigenously developed light combat aircraft (LCA) "Tejas" was likely to be handed over to the Indian Air Force by next year, a senior Aeronautical Development Agency official said today. "As far as LCA is concerned, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is the prime agency. Last year they have started production.

U.S. Air Force proposes cuts at Barksdale Air Force Base

03/08/2012

The Air Force's latest budget proposal would eliminate the 917th Fighter Group, a unit of 409 part-time reservists and 171 full-time technicians, at Barksdale Air Force Base. The cuts would take effect by the end of next year on the unit's 50th anniversary.

PM: Iraq interested in Czech L-159 fighter planes

03/08/2012

Prague, March 7 (CTK) - Iraq military continues to be interested in the purchase of Czech-made L-159 subsonic fighter planes, Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas said after a cabinet meeting today. Necas said aircraft makers from other countries are of course competing for the contract on the delivery of fighter planes for Iraq, too.

Hawk jet and Merlin helicopter's 'near miss' at RNAS Culdrose

03/08/2012

Two military aircraft were involved in a "near miss" at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall, according to a report. Details of the incident which happened last September, have been published by the UK Airprox Board (UKAB). The Merlin helicopter and Hawk training came within within half a mile (0.8km) of each other horizontally, but were only 100ft (30m) apart vertically.

U.S. mulls Iran strike systems for Israel

03/08/2012

U.S. President Barack Obama's administration is reportedly considering an urgent request by Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu for GBU-28 bunker buster bombs and tanker aircraft that would be used in any Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear facilities. The Israeli air force's lack of the systems is widely seen as a major impediment to Netanyahu ordering airstrikes aimed at slowing the Islamic Republic's nuclear program, which Netanyahu sees as an existential threat to his tiny country.

Philippine Air Force to get 4 Polish-made brand new choppers

03/08/2012

Four brand new choppers for the Philippine Air Force (PAF) will be turned over on Friday by a Polish manufacturer to the Philippine government, Malacañang said Thursday. The four new aircraft signals the near completion of the initial phase of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization Plan aimed at making the air force more equipped in performing its mandate, it said in a statement.

Sierra Nevada Corporation Urges U.S. Air Force to conclude LAS Competition Swiftly, Based on Substantial Work Already Done

03/08/2012

USAF Clarifies Investigation of LAS Contract Award Focused on Internal Issues. Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) today called on the United States Air Force (USAF) to move expeditiously to select an aircraft for its Light Air Support (LAS) Program.

Panetta: Syria intervention risky, but possible

03/08/2012

The nation's top military leader said Wednesday that U.S. was considering "all possible additional steps" including "potential military options" in Syria, but stressed the administration was focused on "diplomatic and political approaches rather than a military intervention."

Asia's military spending likely to overtake Europe this year

03/08/2012

Military spending by Asian countries, led by China, is rising fast and for the first time is likely this year to outstrip Europe, where governments are cutting their defence budgets, according to a leading London-based thinktank.

Russian Peacekeepers End S.Sudan Mission

03/08/2012

As the Russian air group in South Sudan ends its mission all the equipment will be withdrawn within a week, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Vladimir Drik said on Wednesday. All Russian soldiers and helicopters will leave the African country by the end of this week, he added. The move follows a Russian presidential decree after the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) ended on July 11, 2011.

Air Force looking to rebid light-attack aircraft contract?

03/07/2012

An aircraft company with an Arkansas connection could get another shot at a multimillion-dollar Air Force contract. Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley indicated today that the Air Force is preparing to rebid a $355 million contract for a light-attack aircraft for the Afghan military that it canceled just a week ago.

Boeing, Elbit invest in Brazil

03/07/2012

U.S. aircraft maker Boeing, and electronics company Elbit Systems of America have signed a memorandum of understanding for technology investment in Brazil. The MOU will cover the development of advanced avionics. Boeing subsidiary AEL Sistemas is involved in the project.

Pilot killed in jet crash

03/07/2012

A civilian pilot flying for Airborne Tactical Advantage Co., was killed Tuesday morning when his F-21 Kfir jet crashed near the west gate of Naval Air Station Fallon, six miles east of the city limits. Spokesman Matt Bannon of ATAC, which is based in Newport News, Va., said the pilot's name is being withheld pending notification of the next of kin.

Anatolian Falcon 2012 builds strength, sharpens skills

03/07/2012

The Turkish and U.S. air forces continue to successfully integrate their capabilities during Anatolian Falcon 2012 here March 6. The first four missions of the two-week exercise are through, and the two NATO allies are learning to better communicate with each other and combine their strengths.

Eglin's first F-35 sortie takes off this morning

03/07/2012

Eglin Air Force Base’s 33rd Fighter Wing is flying its first local F-35 Lightning II sortie this morning. The single-craft exercise was set to begin at 10 a.m. and expected to last about an hour, according to Eglin spokeswoman Lois Walsh. As the world’s first multi-role stealth fighter, the F-35 is known for its superior range, cutting-edge avionics and next-generation sensor fusion, according to a news release from Eglin.

The Defense Budget and American Power

03/07/2012

Mr. Chairman, Mr. Ranking Member, other Members of the Committee, it is an honor to appear before the committee today. That is especially true for a Congressional Budget Office alum like myself who remembers well working for senators Domenici and Sasser and others some two decades ago, when the Cold War ended and we were collectively trying to reduce defense budgets responsibly.

Pentagon Helps New Stealth Fighter Cheat On Key Performance Test

03/07/2012

It seemed like a promising step for America’s next stealth fighter: The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter passed a key Pentagon test of its combat capability. But it turns out that the family of jets cleared the mid-February exam only because its proctor agreed to inflate its grade. In essence, the military helped the F-35 cheat on its midterms.

10 companies profiting most from war

03/07/2012

Global sales of arms and military services by the 100 largest defense contractors increased in 2010 to $411.1 billion, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. The increase reflects a decade-long trend of growing military spending. Since 2002, total arms sales among the 100 largest arms manufacturers have increased 60 percent.