Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Denel to probe Cheetah in-flight incident

08/19/2011

One of 12 former South African Air Force (SAAF) fighter aircraft, sold to Ecuador for more than R550-million, has been quarantined following an unspecified "in-flight" incident in the South American country. On Thursday Denel Group spokesperson Sinah Phochana confirmed that a Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana (FAE) pilot was hospitalised after suffering injuries on Monday.

Superfast Military Aircraft Hit Mach 20 Before Ocean Crash, DARPA Says

08/19/2011

A superfast unmanned military plane traveled at 20 times the speed of sound and managed to control itself for three minutes before crashing into the Pacific Ocean in a recent test, military officials said. The prototype Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle 2 (HTV-2), billed as the fastest aircraft ever built, splashed down in the Pacific earlier than planned on Aug. 11 shortly after launching from California's Vandenberg Air Force Base on its second-ever test flight.

Boeing gives guarantees to Brazil in fighters bid

08/19/2011

Boeing Co. says it will provide a full transfer of technology to Brazil if the U.S.-based company wins a $5 billion fighter-jet bid. The president of Boeing Military Aircraft tells Brazil's Senate that the South American country would be able to fully produce the F-18 Super Hornet if it purchases the planes from Boeing.

Grand Illusion: The Era Of Manned Aircraft Is Ending

08/19/2011

Earlier this week, the Associated Press released a story on the outlook for military contractors that ended with an absurd observation by Brookings Institution senior fellow Michael O'Hanlon. The widely quoted military analyst said, "the era of manned airplanes should be seen as over," and he went on to imply that politics is the main reason Washington hasn't acknowledged the inexorable trend away from use of human pilots.

Taiwan in the Lurch

08/19/2011

According to a report in Defense News, the Obama administration quietly informed Taiwanese officials last week that Washington won't supply Taipei with new fighter jets. Since 2006, Taipei has asked to buy 66 new F-16 C/D fighters, but it will only get an upgrade of its older F-16s with better radar.

Boeing Demonstrates 'Swarm' Reconnaissance with Unmanned Aircraft

08/19/2011

Boeing today announced the successful autonomous communications and operation of dissimilar unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in flight tests over the rugged terrain of eastern Oregon.

Boeing to Provide Simulator-based Training for Australian Army Kiowa Pilots

08/19/2011

Boeing today announced that it will use a Helimod helicopter simulator leased from Ryan Aerospace to help train Australian Army pilots to fly Bell 206B-1 Kiowa helicopters. Delivery is expected before the end of this year.

Russia to get 2nd aircraft for Open Skies inspections in 2012

08/19/2011

Next year Russia will build its second aircraft specially equipped for international aerial inspections under the Open Skies Treaty, Vladimir Verba, the director general of Vega concern, said on Thursday. Russia's first-built Tupolev Tu-214ON aircraft with installed equipment for aerial inspections was showcased for the first time at the MAKS-2011 International Air Show in the Moscow Region running between August 16 and 21.

Selfridge Air Show

08/18/2011

Aviation buffs and military fans will have a rare opportunity to get up close and personal with military aircraft and the performers during the Selfridge Air Show. The event, set for Saturday and Sunday at Selfridge National Air Guard Base, will feature a mix of military and civilian aircraft.

Russian military pilots offer U.S. colleagues joint demo flight at MAKS show

08/18/2011

Representatives from the United States Air Force are pondering a proposal from their Russian colleagues to perform a joint demonstration flight at the tenth international aerospace show, MAKS 2011, which opened in Zhukovsky near Moscow on Tuesday, a source from the flight control unit at the show told Interfax-AVN.

BAE Systems in Fife secures £20m Eurofighter Typhoon deal

08/18/2011

Electronics workers in Fife have landed a £20m order to help build one of the world's most advanced radar systems. BAE Systems at Hillend near Dunfermline will embark on building the next generation of the Typhoon combat aircraft. That will mean about 200 jobs will be secured for the next two years.

Russia sees orders for fifth generation jet from 2015

08/18/2011

Russia expects initial orders for its fifth-generation T-50 fighter jet to be booked from 2015, United Aircraft Corporation's chief said on Tuesday. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is due to watch the first public display of the stealth fighter at the MAKS airshow, where Russia is showcasing its top-of-the-line fighter jets and hoping to win civil aircraft contracts.

India's inches closer to its stealth fighter

08/18/2011

Russia on Wednesday lifted the curtains on its Sukhoi T-50 stealth fighter, the platform on which India's fifth generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) will be based. In a major leap forward for the Indian Air Force's FGFA programme, a T-50 prototype blazed through the skies at the MAKS 2011 international airshow outside Moscow - the stealth jet's first public appearance.

First Il-76MD transport to fly in Feb 2012

08/18/2011

Russia's Aviastar aircraft factory will produce the first production Il-76MD transport aircraft this year and test fly it in February 2012, a management source in the plant said at the international MAKS airshow on Tuesday. The first two Il-76MDs will be delivered by 2013, "probably for the Russian Emergencies Minstry or Defense Ministry," the manager said.

Russia's 5G fighter makes first demonstration flight

08/18/2011

Russia's Sukhoi T-50 5th generation fighter performed its first demonstration flight at the MAKS 2011 International Aviation and Space Show on Wednesday. The flight was observed by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and other dignitaries.

Turkey's T-129 attack helicopter prototype makes successful first flight

08/18/2011

The first flight, conducted by TAI’s test pilots, of T129 “P6” prototype helicopter has timely and successfully been completed at TAI’s facilities in Akinci (Ankara) the company said today.

China already has advanced stealth technology

08/17/2011

China is not interested in acquiring the stealth technology currently being used by the United States for its flying machines as it has already developed the same in a much advanced shape and is using it in its most sophisticated multi-role planes, highly placed defence sources told The News here Monday.

Assessing Turkey's Stance on Syria and Options Ahead

08/17/2011

The Turkish mediation and intervention in the ongoing crisis in Syria has many people inside and outside Syria puzzled as to whether Ankara is still trying to save the threatened regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad or is Turkey orchestrating international moves to change this regime.

Boeing to Showcase Super Hornet Simulator to Brazilian Congress and Public

08/17/2011

Boeing today announced that its Defense, Space & Security (BDS) business unit will showcase the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Block II simulator inside the National Congress Building in Brasília from Aug. 16 through 19. The Brazilian public will be able to fly the simulator and see the advanced technology inside the Super Hornet.

Russian commander says MiG-35 equal to U.S. F-35 fighter

08/17/2011

The Russian military will use new MiG-35D multirole fighters as an equal to the U.S. F-35 fighters, the Air Force chief said on Tuesday. "We have not given up on the MiG-35D light aircraft project, but we will transfer to the T-50 [heavy fighter] in the future," Gen. Alexander Zelin, the Russian Air Force commander, said during his visit to the six-day air show MAKS-2011 that opened near Moscow on Tuesday.

PM Putin to attend MAKS air show in Moscow Region

08/17/2011

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin will on Wednesday attend the six-day air show MAKS-2011 that opened in the Moscow Region town of Zhukovsky on Tuesday, the government press service reported.

Defense Russian military to receive 450 helicopters this year

08/17/2011

Russia's biggest helicopter building company has said it will supply the country's Air Force with more than 450 helicopters this year. Helicopters of Russia company head Dmitry Petrov said the firm had signed contracts to deliver the coppers, including Kamov KA-52 Alligators, as part of this year's arms procurement plan.

New stealth fighter jet 'principal' for Russia, India

08/17/2011

Russia's new stealth fighter jet, which is expected to make its first public appearance at the MAKS exhibition near Moscow on Tuesday, will be the principal plane for both the Russian and Indian military, a top official says.

Russian military to get world's ten largest cargo planes

08/17/2011

Russia's United Aircraft corp (UAC) has said it is looking to clinch a contract to supply the country's military with ten Antonov An-124 freighters. "Staring from 2015, we plan to supply the Defense Ministry with ten An-124s as part of the arms procurement program until 2020," UAC chief Mikhail Pogosyan told reporters at the opening of the MAKS-2011 air show outside Moscow.

Russian military 'to get 20 new planes' a year

08/17/2011

Russia's state-run United Aircraft corp (UAC) has said it plans to supply the country's military with more than 20 new planes a year. "From this year on, we will supply the Defense Ministry with more than 20 planes a year," UAC chief Mikhail Pogosyan told reporters on Tuesday.