Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

U.S. Builds Afghan Air Base, but Where Are the Planes?

07/26/2012

Shindand Air Base has an 8,000-foot runway, a gleaming new headquarters complex and a cadre of motivated Afghan pilot candidates. Because of the way Washington operates, however, it lacks warplanes. The budding Afghan air force was supposed to receive $355 million worth of planes custom-made for fighting guerrillas well ahead of the U.S. withdrawal in 2014.

Japan Expert Panel To Assess Safety Of US Military Aircraft

07/26/2012

Japan has set up a panel of experts to make its own assessment on the safety of the U.S. military's Osprey transport aircraft brought to the country on Monday. Defense Minister Satoshi Morimoto presided over the first meeting of the panel, headed by Defense Ministry's Deputy Director-General for Policy Tetsuro Kuroe, on Wednesday.

Fighter jet scrambled to intercept aircraft

07/26/2012

Britain's controversial Olympic security procedures swung into action when a fighter jet was scrambled to intercept an aircraft that had entered restricted airspace. The Typhoon jet was ordered to intercept the aircraft after it failed to contact air traffic controllers, the Ministry of Defence said. Communications were then restored and the fighter jet told to stand down.

Boeing Awards More Contracts to Canadian Firms for CH-147 In-Service Support Program

07/26/2012

The Boeing Company has selected L-3 Communications MAS of Mirabel and General Dynamics Canada of Ottawa for two In-Service Support Program contracts for Canadian Forces CH-147F Chinook helicopters.

Mad Catz Combat Pilot MMO Flight Sim

07/25/2012

Combat Pilot from Mad Catz is a new flight simulation, multiplayer game that looks pretty rockin'! I have to say that the game is definitely one I'll give a go at home with my own sons. I can't say that I'm a huge flight sim fan, but one of our resident gamers here at Fox took a look at the trailer and was very enthusiastic about giving it a go. This is a PC only sim and does require a membership fee. The fee is $49.95 for the first month, then $11.99 a month thereafter.

Air Force says it has identified F-22 problems

07/25/2012

The Air Force will gradually lift flight restrictions for the F-22 Raptor, expressing "very high confidence" that investigators have found what is causing oxygen-supply problems with the plane, a Pentagon spokesman said Tuesday. The first problem is a faulty valve on a high-pressure vest that Raptor pilots have worn during high-altitude missions. The valve caused the vest to inflate at the wrong time, which restricted a pilot's breathing.

India sets stage for $2.4bn transport aircraft contest

07/25/2012

India has approved a $2.4 billion contest to acquire 56 transports to replace the air force's Hindustan Aeronautics-built Hawker Siddeley HS 748s, setting the stage for a possible showdown between the Airbus Military C295 and Alenia Aermacchi C-27J. The planned acquisition was approved on 23 July by India's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), says the country's defence ministry. Headed by defence minister AK Antony, the DAC oversees the military's entire acquisition process.

Drone operations over Somalia pose danger to air traffic, U.N. report says

07/25/2012

The skies over Somalia have become so congested with drones that the unmanned aircraft pose a danger to air traffic and potentially violate a long-standing arms embargo against the war-torn country, according to United Nations officials.

Syria: Fighter Aircraft Over Aleppo?

07/25/2012

It is claimed the jets have targeted the northern city of Aleppo as opposition fighters attempt to seize control of Syria's second city and commercial hub. The conflict has intensified with the regime unleashing warplanes and helicopter gunships to "drop bombs" in a bid to wrestle back control of neighbourhoods in Aleppo and the capital Damascus.

News Analysis: Arrival of controversial military aircraft in Japan stokes anti-U.S. military sentiment By Jon Day

07/25/2012

The arrival of the U.S. military's accident-prone Osprey V-22 aircraft in Japan on Monday sparked widespread protests from Japanese officials and citizens concerned about the plane's safety record and the government's plans to deploy the aircraft at U.S. bases in the south of Japan.

North Korea Deploys Attack Helicopters Near Sea Border

07/25/2012

North Korea has placed several dozen combat helicopters near its sea border with South Korea, the Yonhap news agency reported on Tuesday citing South Korean government sources. North Korea has deployed around 50 upgraded Russian-made helicopters on Baeknyeong Island in the West Sea since May.

First New AC-130J Gunship In Production

07/25/2012

The first MC-130J Commando II that will be converted to become an AC-130J Gunship is being built at the Lockheed Martin C-130 production facility here. The AC-130J will be equipped with a Precision Strike Package creating the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command’s newest gunship. Sixteen AC-130Js are planned with an Initial Operating Capability scheduled for 2015.

Boeing Awards P-8 Supplier Contracts to 2 Australian Companies

07/25/2012

Boeing [NYSE: BA] has awarded contracts totaling nearly US$1.85 million to Australian companies Lovitt Technologies Australia and Ferra Engineering to manufacture parts and assemblies for the P-8A Poseidon maritime reconnaissance aircraft. “Boeing continues to capture opportunities for value and growth through partnering with Australian suppliers,” said Ian Thomas, president of Boeing Australia & South Pacific.

Qatari Emiri Air Force awards Pilatus Aircraft procurement of PC-21 Training System

07/25/2012

Pilatus Aircraft has announced that the Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF) has awarded a contract to Pilatus for the procurement of a complete PC-21 Training System, consisting of a fleet of 24 PC-21 trainer aircraft, a suite of Ground Based Training System assets and an extensive logistics support and maintenance package.

UK receives first of next generation of stealth aircraft, STOVL F-35 Lightning II

07/22/2012

The UK is the first country outside the US to receive these aircraft, and Mr Hammond announced that the MOD intends to order a fourth Lightning II aircraft next year to add to the three already on contract. The RAF and Royal Navy will conduct flight trials of the jets which will operate from land bases and from the sea.

Carter Addresses Joint Strike Fighter Program

07/22/2012

Many countries that are partnering with the United States in the F-35 joint strike fighter program will have a role to play in the aircraft’s assembly, but the U.S. government will not decide which country does what, Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter said here today.

Brunei air force helicopter crash kills 12, two cadets survive

07/22/2012

Twelve military personnel including six cadets were killed in a Brunei air force helicopter crash while flying home after jungle training, a spokesman said yesterday. The crash occurred Friday in Kuala Belait in the oil-rich sultanate on the island of Borneo.

Two dead in Navy helicopter crash in Oman

07/22/2012

Carrying five crew members, a U.S. Navy MH-53E Sea Dragon crashed in the Persian Gulf nation of Oman, approximately 60 miles southwest of Muscat on Thursday. Three crew members were injured and two previously reported as missing have been confirmed dead. The aircraft and crew were conducting heavy lift support operations in the area. The helicopter was assigned to Helicopter Mine Countermeasure Squadron (HM) 15, based in Norfolk, Va.

U.S. Navy Says It is One Year Away From Landing Its First Unmanned Jet Aboard an Aircraft Carrier

07/21/2012

The Navy is one year away from landing its first unmanned jet aircraft aboard a carrier after completing the most recent round of surrogate tests aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). In early July, members from the Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstration (UCAS-D) carrier integration team engaged in extensive software testing aboard Truman to validate the concept of autonomous UAV operations around an aircraft carrier and prepare for the X-47B unmanned aircraft’s arrival on a carrier next year.

UK Takes Delivery of First Lightning II Fighter Jet

07/21/2012

The first of the UK's next generation stealth combat aircraft has yesterday been handed over to the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD). At a ceremony in Fort Worth, Texas, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond formally accepted the first of the jets, which will be known as Lightning II. The aircraft are short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) F-35 Joint Strike Fighters and are manufactured by Lockheed Martin.

Denel in fresh talks on military aircraft deal

07/21/2012

DENEL, the state-owned arms company, was renegotiating the country’s purchase of Airbus A400M carriers after the collapse of an earlier contract for the aircraft, which were intended to play a crucial role in SA’s contribution to peacekeeping efforts in Africa, Denel Saab Aerostructures CEO Ismail Dockrat said yesterday.

Israel, Italy ink deal for military aircraft

07/21/2012

Israel and Italy Thursday signed a $750 million agreement to provide the Italian Air Force with two early warning aircraft. The contract includes ground control stations and a "comprehensive logistical support package", Xinhua quoted the government-run Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) as saying.

Russian Arms Ship Offloads Syria Helicopters

07/21/2012

A Russian cargo ship carrying a batch of Mi-25 attack helicopters and air defense systems for Syria has offloaded the aircraft in the Russian port of Baltiysk in the Kaliningrad region, a security source said on Friday. "The ship has unloaded," the source said. "These helicopters are now on the shore. A decision from Rosoboronexport on what to do with them is expected shortly."

Boeing Receives US Navy Contracts for SLAM ER and Harpoon Missiles

07/20/2012

Boeing on June 29 received a firm-fixed-price contract from U.S. Naval Air Systems Command for the production of nearly 90 Harpoon Block II missiles and associated hardware for the U.S. and four foreign militaries. The $145.1 million contract also includes exercise and test variants of the Standoff Land Attack Missile Expanded Response (SLAM ER). The first missile deliveries are scheduled for this August and contract work is expected to run through December 2013.

United Kingdom Accepts First International Lockheed Martin F-35

07/19/2012

The United Kingdom accepted the first international Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II aircraft in a ceremony today with senior representatives of the U.K. Ministry of Defence and the U.S. Department of Defense. The Right Honourable Philip Hammond, U.K. Secretary of State for Defence, and Mr. Frank Kendall, U.S. Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, represented their governments.