Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Army manned surveillance plane gets fresh start

07/23/2011

The Army has relaunched its program to deploy a manned airborne intelligence and reconnaissance gathering platform. Working on a tight development schedule, the effort will turn more than 30 commercial turboprop aircraft into flying sensor platforms that will support ground forces by searching out and pinpointing enemy activity.

Libyan army, rebels face common enemy in the mountains

07/23/2011

Accidents caused by lack of training and the mishandling of weapons are common among the rebels of the Western mountains. But negligence might also be an 'invisible enemy' among Moammar Gadhafi's troops.

Boeing Shares Industrial Development Plan with Brazilian Industry

07/22/2011

Boeing on Wednesday, July 20, conducted an industry forum in São José dos Campos to share with local businesses and universities the broad spectrum of opportunities available to them as part of Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet offering in the F-X2 fighter aircraft competition.

The US Air Force’s top civilian leader has called for a quick-look study on safety concerns about oxygen generation systems acr

07/22/2011

The US Air Force's top civilian leader has called for a quick-look study on safety concerns about oxygen generation systems across the combat aircraft fleet. Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley directed the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board to conduct the study more than two months into a fleet-wide stand-down for the Lockheed Martin F-22 over related concerns.

YPSILANTI TWP: Blue Angels back for Thunder Over Michigan this weekend

07/22/2011

The Yankee Air Museum's 2011 "Thunder Over Michigan" Air Show is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, July 23-24 and is proud to welcome back the world's most famous military demonstration team, the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels to Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti, Michigan.

Nato aircraft have engaged 3000 targets over Libya

07/22/2011

Nato aircraft have flown 5 900 sorties over Libya and engaged more than 3 000 targets since combat operations began, the alliance has announced, with French and British helicopters destroying more than 300 targets since June 4. “Nato has controlled the Libyan air space around the clock, every day since the implementation of the No-Fly Zone, using Nato's sophisticated airborne warning and control system,” said Colonel Roland Lavoie, Nato spokesperson for Operation Unified Protector.

Military report blames dust, pilot error for 2009 helicopter crash in Afghanistan

07/22/2011

A distracted pilot and a blinding swirl of dust kicked up by rotors were to blame for a helicopter crash in Afghanistan two years ago that killed two Canadians and a Briton. A military board of inquiry filed its final report on the crash on Wednesday.

Boeing, US Navy Mark Harpoon Missile System's 40th Anniversary

07/22/2011

Boeing and the U.S. Navy recognized the 40th anniversary of the Harpoon Missile System today at a ceremony near the company’s St. Charles facility.

Boeing F/A-18E/F IRST System Advances to Next Development Phase

07/22/2011

The Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Infrared Search and Track (IRST) program received a Milestone B Acquisition Decision Memorandum from the U.S. Navy on July 13. This allows the program to advance to its next development phase - Engineering and Manufacturing Development.

Air Force officer gets suspended sentence over MiG-31 crash

07/22/2011

A court martial in northern Russia’s Arkhangelsk has given a two-year suspended jail sentence to an Air Force officer who supervised flight operations prior to the crash of a MiG-31 interceptor in March, military investigators said on Thursday. The officer, Roman Storozhenko, was found guilty of accepting the base at Kotlas in Arkhangelsk Region as being fit to allow flight operations in March 2010, and authorizing missions for MiG-31s.

Combat aircraft bids opening soon

07/21/2011

The commercial bids for the ‘mother of all defence deals’ - for 126 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA), valuing over $10 billion, will be opened before July 31. However, the winner of the contract - French Dassault or European Eurofighter - will be known only when the IAF finds out the lowest bidder based on various factors such as life cycle maintenance costs.

Japanese F-15s arrive at Red Flag-Alaska

07/21/2011

Several Japan Air Self-Defense Force Mitsubishi F-15 Eagles joined other RED FLAG-Alaska participants July 12 after having its entire F-15 fighter fleet grounded in response to an incident on July 4 with one of the fighter jets during a routine training exercise back in Japan. The Mitsubishi F-15 Eagle forms part of JASDF fighter-interceptor aircraft inventory used to engage hostile aircraft. The F-15 was brought to RED-FLAG Alaska to help JASDF members improve their tactical flying skills and

Parliament Approves Funds For Military Aircraft

07/21/2011

The loan agreements includes a $105,370,177.09, from the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) for the purchase of one Embraer E 190 jet with a hanger, an €11 million from Fidelity Bank Ghana for two DA42 MPP Guardian Surveillance aircrafts and another €60 million from the Deutsche Bank Sociedad Anónima Espanóla for the purchase of two CASA 295 aircraft.

Boeing official says ‘nothing’s changed’ in Air Force tanker plans

07/21/2011

Boeing officials do not expect to breach the cost estimates that the Air Force endorsed when it handed the company a $35 billion contract for new tanker aircraft. “There are no overruns. … We remain on cost, on schedule,” Boeing executive Chris Chadwick told The Hill on Wednesday. “Our bid has not changed since the Air Force accepted it. Our expectation of cost has not changed since the Air Force selected the Boeing plane.

Boeing casts net wider for Brazil jet deal

07/21/2011

The Boeing Co. cast its net wider in the campaign to secure Brazil's multibillion-dollar order for up to 100 jet fighters, pledging generous technology transfers and training for Brazilians as part of the deal. Boeing is in competition with French Dassault Aviation's Rafale fighter jet and Swedish company Saab's Gripen NG rival.

German, Indian air forces may have joint exercises soon

07/21/2011

The German air force is keen on a joint military exercise with India and will discuss the possibility of this when the Indian Air Force (IAF) chief visits Berlin in September. Luftwaffe chief General Aarne Kreuzinger-Janik said during an interaction on the sidelines of the Royal International Air Tattoo here that Germany was exploring the possibilities of regular joint exercises with the IAF for achieving interoperability.

Obama's Defense Cuts

07/21/2011

The Obama administration is reportedly pushing for yet another $100 billion in Defense cuts, on top of the more than $500 billion in cuts to the ten-year defense spending plan the White House is already planning to enact -- ensuring that there will be few -- if any -- major Obama era defense programs left.

Lockheed Martin Delivers Second F-35 Production Jet In A Week

07/21/2011

It was wheels up Wednesday morning for Lockheed Martin’s second F-35A Lightning II production jet delivery in a week. Maj. Joseph T. “OD” Bachmann (Marine Corps) piloted the aircraft, known as AF-8, to Eglin Air Force Base where it arrived at 11:50 a.m. CDT. AF-8 joins AF-9 which Lockheed Martin delivered to the 33rd Fighter Wing last Thursday.

Eurofighter optimistic of winning India''s MMRCA contract

07/20/2011

From Ramnath Shenoy London, Jul 19 (PTI) As India prepares to open the commercial bids for the USD 10.8 billion tender for 126 medium range multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA), Eurofighter hopes to make the country a partner in its Typhoon fighter jet programme which it says would be a game-changer.

Our defence capabilities in need of a reality check

07/20/2011

The Pentagon's acknowledgment on Friday that an American defence contractor's computer networks had been seriously hacked by a foreign spy agency is the first in a series of security wake-up calls likely to hit Australia in coming months.

Lightning fighter jets get new home at Nellis

07/20/2011

The skies over Las Vegas will fill with Lightning next year, as the military's next-generation fighter jet lands at its new home at Nellis Air Force Base. The Air Force announced plans on Tuesday to establish a test and training center at Nellis for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, also known as the Lightning II.

Clinton pitches for more military sales to India

07/20/2011

With their strategic proximity growing, the US on Tuesday pitched for more military sales to India, a call soon after Washington decided to cut $800 million arms aid to Pakistan. "On the issue of defence technologies, the US expects to continue developing and selling the world's most competitive products," secretary of state Hillary Clinton, on a three-day visit to India, said here.

China defense industry faces homemade engine troubles

07/20/2011

China can send a man into space and a rocket into lunar orbit but, paradoxically, its defense industry cannot build a top-end aircraft engine. Or an engine sophisticated enough to power advanced surface ships and armored vehicles.

The China Challenge: A strategic vision for U.S.-India relations

07/20/2011

Indian policymakers are scrambling to develop effective policies to cope with a rising China by simultaneously pursuing both a robust diplomatic strategy aimed at encouraging peaceful resolution of border disputes and forging strong trade and economic ties and an ambitious military modernisation campaign that will build Indian air, naval, and missile capabilities.

Boeing P-8A Poseidon Production Aircraft Completes 1st Flight

07/20/2011

The first Boeing P-8A Poseidon production aircraft completed its first flight on July 7, taking off from Renton Field and landing three hours later at Boeing Field in Seattle. The P-8A is the first of six low-rate initial production (LRIP) aircraft Boeing is building for the U.S. Navy as part of a $1.6 billion contract awarded in January.