Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Russia to Increase Number of 5G Fighters in Test Flights

02/14/2012

The number of Russia's Sukhoi T-50 5th generation fighters involved in test flights will be increased to 14 from three by 2015, Russian Air Force Commander Col. Gen. Alexander Zelin told RIA Novosti on Monday. “There are three fighters already in tests, another three are expected to be tested in the nearest future. The entire number of aircraft planned for test flights is 14,” Zelin said.

Raytheon Restarts Production of Laser-guided Maverick for US Air Force, Navy

02/14/2012

After more than two decades, Raytheon Company RTN -0.64% has formally restarted production of the laser-guided Maverick missile, with the first weapon expected to be delivered to the U.S. Air Force in late 2012. Production began following a rigorous U.S. Air Force and Navy Developmental Testing/Operational Testing program that culminated in a production contract in late 2011.

India Hungry to Develop Hi-Tech Aerospace Expertise

02/14/2012

India’s big-ticket military acquisitions are expected to aggressively push schedules for the transfer of production to the country’s ambitious aerospace and defense industry. But the technology that India expects to be transferred through co-development work generated by offset agreements is raising concerns among vendors about possible violations of intellectual property rights.

U.S. Defense Budget Cuts Already Leading To Questionable Acquisition Decisions

02/14/2012

Defense department officials and the chiefs of the military services have been reassuring anyone who will listen that the Pentagon has its act together when it comes to implementing the new defense strategy and creating a “leaner and more flexible” force structure. There will be cuts that are painful, they all say, but they are being implemented in a manner designed to ensure no loss of capability even as the overall size of the military shrinks.

Cameron and Sarkozy to discuss help for Syrian rebels

02/14/2012

David Cameron and the French president Nicolas Sarkozy are to meet in Paris on Friday to discuss a possible increase in help to Syrian rebels, including giving them military advice. The meeting, held in the context of the annual Anglo-French summit, will occur the day after Sarkozy is expected formally to declare his intention to run for a second term as French president.

India plays fighter catch-up

02/14/2012

After over a decade of waiting, India has decided in the "mother" of defense deals, with France's Dassault Rafale fighter jets winning the multi-billion contract for 126 MMRCA (medium multi-role combat aircraft). The value of the contract could be anywhere between US$12 billion and $16 billion, though some estimates have pegged it at much larger $20 billion. It is clear that this is one of the world's largest military aviation deals.

Boeing Says ‘Confident’ of Winning South Korean Fighter Jet Deal

02/14/2012

Boeing Co., maker of the F-18 and F-15 fighter jets, said it’s “very confident” of winning a $7 billion South Korean order for combat planes as it boosts focus on Asia amid shrinking military spending at home. “If you look at the budget situation in Europe and the U.S., we have to make some grounds somewhere,” Joe Song, director, Asia Pacific International Business Development of Boeing defense, said in an interview in Singapore yesterday. “The focus is Asia and the Middle East right now.”

Pentagon’s $525 Billion Budget Takes Most From Lockheed F-35

02/14/2012

The Pentagon’s proposed $525 billion budget for fiscal year 2013 would seek the most savings on weapons by reducing purchases of Lockheed Martin Corp.’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the military’s costliest program. The Defense Department would cut $1.6 billion from the F-35 program by eliminating 13 planned aircraft, part of $18 billion in weapons cuts proposed in the budget that President Barack Obama sent to Congress today for the year beginning Oct. 1.

Soldier's death in Afghanistan sparks debate over installing guns on US Army medevac choppers

02/14/2012

It took a medevac unit 59 minutes to get U.S. Army Spec. Chazray Clark to a hospital in southern Afghanistan after receiving a call that a roadside bombing severed three of his limbs. Clark did not survive. "I need something, please. It hurts," Clark, a 24-year-old combat engineer from Detroit, can be heard saying on a videotape as he waited in the dark for the helicopter.

U.S. Air Force’s New Missile Warning Satellite Providing Vital Infrared Data to Users

02/14/2012

The first Lockheed Martin built Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) geosynchronous (GEO-1) satellite is now delivering critical infrared data to users. The spacecraft is currently undergoing its rigorous operational certification process.

Michigan congressman raises concerns about defense spending

02/13/2012

The budget President Obama delivers to Congress this week will spend about 8 billion dollars less on the Defense Department. That's going to directly affect two Michigan Air National Guard Bases. Battle Creek and Selfridge Air National Guard Base officials learned earlier this month that the president’s proposed defense cuts would effect them. Selfridge would lose specialized fighter aircraft and Battle Creek will not become the home of some cargo planes.

WPAFB likely to avoid cuts from defense plan

02/13/2012

The Pentagon’s increasing demand for unmanned aircraft bodes well for Wright-Patterson Air Force Base as President Barack Obama prepares to make public his funding plans for the smaller, more agile military he envisions for the future. These are white-knuckle days for any military installation, as Obama prepares to authorize a new round of evaluating which U.S. bases can be closed and which missions might be moved for consolidation into other bases.

Sikorsky Aircraft Signs MOU with ASESA of Mexico

02/13/2012

The MOU marks another step in our commitment to support BLACK HAWK aircraft operated by the Mexican military and Federal Police," said Steve Estill, Sikorsky Vice President for Mexico. "This agreement will establish a working relationship with ASESA in preparation for expected growth in Mexico, which could include helicopter assembly, maintenance, repair and overhaul work.

Will Brazil follow India's Rafale bet?

02/13/2012

In a country where defence policy has traditionally not been a key aspect of overall foreign policy, seeing a former powerful Foreign Minister assume the Ministry of Defence is certain to raise some eyebrows. And so it happened when, in August 2011, President Dilma Rousseff chose Celso Amorim, the architect of Brazil's foreign policy under the Lula administration, to replace Nelson Jobim after the latter had openly questioned the capacity of several of his fellow cabinet members.

Anka unmanned plane to take off this summer

02/13/2012

Turkey is planning to launch its unmanned planes by the summer in the hopes of using them against the outlawed Kurdsitan Workers Party (PKK). The plane’s A version is ready, but a B version is still pending.

Second Predator C Avenger, Unmanned Aircraft Completes First Flight

02/13/2012

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, a manufacturer of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), tactical reconnaissance radars, and electro-optic surveillance systems, announced the successful flight of a second multi-mission jet-powered Predator C Avenger aircraft.

China and US create less pacific ocean

02/13/2012

The naval build-up by Beijing and a Pentagon shift in seaborne firepower towards Asia are creating an arena for rivalries.

India finalises contract with GE for 99 aircraft engines

02/12/2012

The only thing left before India signs the estimated $800 million deal with GE Aviation for 99 GE-F414 engines now, is the clearance from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS).

5 Russian military aircraft fly by Japan, prompt ASDF scramble

02/12/2012

A total of five Russian military aircraft flew near Japanese territory on Wednesday, prompting the Air Self-Defense Force to scramble fighter jets, Japanese Defense Ministry officials said Thursday.

Pakistan receives more revamped F-16 jets

02/12/2012

The last three of 18 new and upgraded F-16 fighter jets from the United States arrived in Pakistan, a report by the Indo-Asian News Service said. One F-16 D Block 52 and two F-16 Block 15 Mid-Life Upgrade aircraft arrived from the United States at Pakistan's air force base Shahbaz, the air force said in a statement. The D Block aircraft is new but the Block 15 aircraft had been sent back to the United States for improvements, the Indo-Asian report said.

Exclusive: Pentagon budget eyes $178.8 bln for R&D, procurement

02/12/2012

The Pentagon's fiscal 2013 budget plan calls for spending of $178.8 billion to develop and buy new warships, fighter jets and other major weapons, a 7.5 percent drop from the level initially projected for the coming year, according to a detailed budget document obtained by Reuters.

Italy widely expected to scale back F-35 orders

02/11/2012

Italy seems certain to scale back its major investment in Lockheed Martin Corp's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, heightening uncertainty over the troubled stealth jet's future. Defence Minister Giampaolo Di Paola has said repeatedly since January that the country's originally planned order of the 131 supersonic warplanes by 2018 was being "reviewed" because military spending cuts were necessary as part of Prime Minister Mario Monti's austerity plan to shore up public accounts.

Singapore Seeks Tankers, Tranports, ASW

02/11/2012

Airbus Military could be one of the main beneficiaries of the Singapore air force’s next round of procurements. Singapore has at the top of its procurement list aerial refueling tankers, strategic airlifters and anti-submarine warfare fixed-wing aircraft, purchases that will see that the island continues to be, for the next few years at least, the biggest spender on new defense equipment in Southeast Asia.

Raytheon Sees AESA Potential in Asia Pacific

02/11/2012

The U.S. strategic tilt toward the Asia Pacific region plays to Raytheon Co.’s strength in active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, a key technology being used and sought by countries in the region to enhance the capabilities of their legacy fourth-generation fighters.

South Korea joins military drill with US, Thailand first time

02/11/2012

South Korea’s military joined the annual Thai-US joint military exercise for the first time this week as the maneuvers kicked off in Thailand's eastern seaboard province of Chonburi. The 10-day joint drill, code named Cobra Gold 2012, is scheduled to end on Feb 17.