Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

JSC United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) Takes Part in Singapore Air Show

02/11/2012

UAC takes part in the Singapore Air Show 2012 international exhibition. UAC civil aviation is presented by SSJ100 and MC-21 aircraft. UAC military aviation is represented by Su-35 and Yak-130 aircraft. Be-200 amphibious aircraft and MC-21 cabin and cockpit mockup will be available on static display.

Inside look: Remotely-piloted warbirds

02/11/2012

The Air Force training underway for hundreds of personnel in southern New Mexico is helping keep U.S. forces safe across the world. Holloman Air Force base is the primary training base for some of the newest aircraft in the military. The MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper at Holloman represent advances in technology and one of the newest career fields in the air force.

The air force gets its ideal platform

02/11/2012

The selection process for IAF’s medium, multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) which ended last week with the selection of the Dassault Rafale, was an exceptional procurement process — free of scams and characterised by professionalism

Russia May Sell $14 Bln Worth of Weaponry in 2012

02/11/2012

Russia’s arms exports may reach a record $14 billion in 2012, a Russian think-tank said on Friday. Russia’s state arms exporter Rosoboronexport sold $10.7 billion worth of weaponry in 2011 under contracts with 57 countries, but this number could be readjusted to $12 bln with the addition of direct sales of spare parts by Russian arms producers.

Turkey halts T-37 flights after second fatal accident

02/11/2012

The Turkish air force has halted flights with its Cessna T-37 jet trainers to perform technical checks on the type, Flightglobal.com has reported.The decision follows two fatal accidents in the last six months.

China Military Growth Spurs Asia Demand for Boeing, Lockheed

02/10/2012

China’s surging defense budget, the world’s second-biggest, is helping spur military spending across Asia, offering U.S. and European suppliers a chance to offset slowing demand at home. Lockheed Martin Corp. and Boeing Co. fighters will be on display at next week’s Singapore Airshow as the two biggest U.S. defense contractors prepare to compete with Eurofighter and Saab AB for a $7 billion South Korean order. The contest follows similar competitions in Japan and India.

Cost of Britain’s military programmes soars £500m in just a year ‘due to wasteful MoD chiefs’

02/10/2012

The cost of Britain’s biggest military programmes has soared by £500million in a year because ‘wasteful’ defence chiefs failed to ‘live within their means’. A withering Commons report today finds that 15 crucial procurement projects are £6.1billion - or 11.4 per cent - over budget.

Report: Pentagon reviewing military options on Syria, just in case

02/10/2012

McCain, Graham, and Lieberman issued a we-are-all-Syrians statement tonight insisting that no options should be off the table and that we should think carefully about arming the rebels.

Russian, Chinese Arms Fuel Conflict in Sudan, Says Amnesty

02/10/2012

Russia and China, two veto-wielding permanent members of the Security Council described as key arms suppliers to the embattled regime in Syria, are now accused of supplying weapons and fuelling an ongoing conflict in another military hotspot: Sudan.

Anti-drone protester disrupts conference on drones in combat

02/10/2012

At a conference about the development of drones for use in combat, Rep. Howard "Buck" McKeon (R-Santa Clarita) was interrupted Wednesday by an anti-drone protester as he was giving a speech. Standing onstage in front of a crowd of more than 500 people, McKeon was talking at the Assn. for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International's annual program review conference at the Omni Shoreham Hotel.

IAF fighter deal: Rafale much cheaper than Typhoon; govt rules out reviewT

02/10/2012

It was the "substantially higher cost" of acquiring and operating the Eurofighter Typhoon that led to its ejection from the almost $20 billion MMRCA (medium multi-role combat aircraft) project to supply 126 fighters to IAF.

Analysis: Navy may benefit in revamped military

02/10/2012

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta wants to “rebalance our global and presence to emphasize where we think the potential problems will be in the world” with the goal of producing a leaner, more rapidly deployable military. Translation: Shrink land forces and rely more on the Navy.

Exclusive: U.S. military seeks more access in Philippines

02/10/2012

The United States is seeking more access to Philippines ports and airfields to re-fuel and service its warships and planes, diplomatic and military sources said on Thursday, expanding its presence at a time of tension with China in the South China Sea.

Facing the Challenge of China, Should India Embrace the U.S.?

02/10/2012

India’s Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna was in Beijing this week, inaugurating his nation’s new $10 million embassy and meeting with his Chinese counterpart as well as a range of high-ranking Communist party officials. The biggest headline to emerge from the visit was invariably about the two countries’ commitment to reach $100 billion in bilateral trade by 2015.

Japan Scrambles Fighters to Meet Russian Bombers

02/10/2012

Japan’s Air Self-Defense Force had to scramble fighter jets in response to flights by Russian military aircraft near Japanese airspace on Wednesday, Kyodo news agency said on Thursday citing the Defense Ministry. According to the ministry, a total of five Russian planes, including two Tu-95 Bear strategic bombers, two Su-24 Fencer reconnaissance planes and an A-50 Mainstay airborne early warning and control aircraft skirted Japanese territory on Wednesday.

RAF blasted after Tornado jets continued to 'attack' Scottish island airfield as passenger plane attempted to land

02/09/2012

A passenger plane landing at an island airport got caught-up in RAF war games involving 14 military aircraft. A report into the 'needless incident' today heavily criticised military planners and said the exercise should have been aborted once it was clear a passenger plane was about to land.

Indiana Guard chief wants A-10s to stay in Fort Wayne

02/09/2012

The Indiana Air National Guard's top official hasn't accepted Air Force plans to move A-10 fighter jets away from Fort Wayne's Air Guard base and replace them with light reconnaissance aircraft.

UK to buy another Boeing C-17 military plane

02/09/2012

Prime Minister David Cameron says Britain will buy a new Boeing C-17 military aircraft to help move troops around. Cameron's announcement followed a critical report by U.K. lawmakers warning that Britain would struggle to mount a Libya-style mission in the future as sweeping defense cuts come into force. The prime minister says evacuating civilians from Libya brought home the importance of transport aircraft for the Ministry of Defense and Royal Air Force.

Congressman Murphy Fights Base Closure

02/09/2012

As the Air Force looks to trim more than $8 billion, Congressman Tim Murphy (R- PA 18) is battling a third attempt to close the Pittsburgh 911 Airlift Wing. He’s sponsoring a House Bill that stipulates that the Air Force has to keep C-130 aircraft at the Pittsburgh base, and cannot move them elsewhere.

A Philippine Do-Over

02/09/2012

How often do you get a do-over in Washington? Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia Kurt Campbell is taking his; having watched the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty fail its partners in 1995, he is now helping to lead its revival.

Ability of U.K. to Conduct a Future Libya-Style Campaign Questioned

02/09/2012

A parliamentary defense committee has questioned if Britain will still have the ability to conduct future operations on the scale of the Libya campaign after the strategic defense and security review has been fully implemented.

India Upgrades Its Military With China in Mind

02/09/2012

India has decided to buy 126 fighter jets from France, taken delivery of a nuclear-powered submarine from Russia and prepared for its first aircraft carrier in recent weeks as it modernizes its military to match China's. India and China have had tensions since a 1962 border war, and New Delhi has watched with dismay in recent years as Beijing has increased its influence in the Indian Ocean.

Prince Harry may return to Afghanistan

02/09/2012

Prince Harry could return to combat duties in Afghanistan within the year following an announcement on Thursday that he has successfully completed an intensive training course to fly the army's Apache attack helicopter. The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the prince – Captain Wales to his colleagues in the military – has qualified to fly the aircraft, which is one of the most sophisticated in the armed forces.

Russia Maps Rebel Forces for Assad – Paper

02/09/2012

Russia used its satellites to help the Syrian government fight growing insurgency in the country, pan-Arab daily Asharq Al-Awsat reported. Russian officials provided the regime of President Bashar al-Assad with satellite photos showing the location of the bases and main forces of the Free Syrian Army, the most prominent militant rebel group, the London-based newspaper said on Wednesday.

Amidst Regional Changes, Middle East Arms Bazaar Remains Open

02/08/2012

While the news coming out of the Middle East over the past year has focused upon the percolations of restless societies, two aspects remain consistent amidst the region’s sea of political unrest: strong levels of investment in security forces and the appetite for defense-related acquisitions. The market for arms sales in the Middle East continues to be robust, notwithstanding the relative shift in security focus from external to internal concerns.