Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Could the Navy ever build a flying aircraft carrier?

05/07/2012

Moviegoers can easily recognize flights of fancy when they see the "Avengers" assemble aboard the flying "Helicarrier" aircraft carrier in Hollywood's latest superhero blockbuster. But could the U.S. Navy ever build the fantastical military marvel if it wanted a flying air base?

Difficult choices faced on F-16 deals

05/07/2012

Questions emerged at the weekend as to whether Taiwan could afford both a multibillion-dollar upgrade program for its F-16A/B combat aircraft and new F-16C/Ds, amid claims that the price for the upgrade had been inflated since the deal was announced last year. The air force received a Letter of Answer from the US last week on the US$5.3 billion upgrade package for its 145 F-16A/Bs and is now reviewing the prices of the items on the list, Air Force Command Headquarters said yesterday.

India Tries To Forget

05/07/2012

India recently revealed that it had bought nearly a thousand MiG combat aircraft in the last half century, and lost most of them to accidents (along with nearly 200 pilots and people on the ground). While India was something of an extreme case in this area (other users don't fly their MiGs as much), it's been typical of MiG aircraft.

Military Notebook: Air Force retires last C-130E

05/06/2012

No one can say the Air Force didn’t get its money’s worth out of an aircraft with the tail number 61-2358. The “61” in that number is the year the plane was built. In a ceremony at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., on Tuesday, Air Force officials said goodbye to the little aircraft that could. After more than 50 years of service, the plane was the last C-130E to be retired, according to a release. Retired planes ordinarily go to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, more commonly called “the boneyar

US basing F-22 Raptor Stealth Aircraft at Al-Dafra Air Base on Iran’s back door

05/06/2012

The news that the US is basing Raptors also known as F-22 A stealth combat aircraft at Al Dafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates is being roundly condemned by Iran as yet another provocative and indication of war. "We consider such (military) presence in the region as to be useless and harmful and more aimed at creating a psychological ploy and an insecure atmosphere in the region," Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi said. "We don't see it useful”, he added.

Russian Plans New Aerospace University

05/06/2012

Russia is planning a new aerospace university to produce a new generation of professionals for the aviation and space industries, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said on Saturday. "We have plans connected with the creation of a modern aerospace university, where we will produce a broad range of specialists, for aviation, and also the rocket and space industries," he said during a visit to the Khrunichev rocket factory north of Moscow.

Another J-model for the Lone Star State

05/06/2012

Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] delivered another C-130J Super Hercules to Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, today. This aircraft was the 19th of 28 C-130Js being delivered to Dyess. Maj. Gen. Scott M. Hanson, commander, Carl A. Spaatz Center for Officer Education, and commandant, Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., accepted delivery of the aircraft and flew it to Dyess.

Russian Helicopters delivers rescue helicopter to EMERCOM

05/06/2012

Russian Helicopters has delivered to the Emergency Situations Ministry (EMERCOM) of the Republic of Kazakhstan two modified coaxial Ka-32A11BC rescue helicopters. The delivery of the Ka-32A11BC helicopters marks the quick and successful execution of a contract signed on 15 August 2011.

Harmonizing European Defense Efforts

05/05/2012

The European Union is trying to bring the defense programs of its 27 member nations into synchronicity before the budget boom is lowered on military spending. This harmonization has been a goal for several years, but now it has assumed greater urgency in a time of both greater limitations and more diverse missions.

Eurocopter's Extensive Military Helicopter Presence in the Arab World is Showcased at Jordan's SOFEX Exhibition

05/05/2012

Eurocopter's dedication to meeting the operational requirements of governments, armed forces and special mission operators across the Arab world with its broad helicopter product line will be highlighted at Jordan's Special Operations Forces Exhibition & Conference (SOFEX).

Rodney Brossart, American Arrested Using Predator Drone, Had Rights Violated, Lawyer Says

05/05/2012

Bruce Quick, attorney for the first American arrested using an unmanned drone says his client was subject to "guerrilla-like police tactics." Quick tells U.S. News that Lakota, N.D., resident Rodney Brossart should not have been arrested and that authorities had no legal right to use the drone to aid in his capture. "The whole thing is full of constitutional violations," Quick told U.S. News. "The drone use is a secondary concern."

Second International Exhibition of Arms opens in Astana

05/04/2012

The second Kazakh international exhibition of arms and military-technical property KADEX-2012 opened in Astana on Thursday, the press service of the Kazakh Defence Ministry told Trend. The opening ceremony was attended by supreme commander of the armed forces of the country - President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev.

DND being pressed to reopen F-35 debate

05/04/2012

National Defence is touting F-35 fighter jets as a key tool against overseas threats for decades to come, stating the military can’t pick an aircraft based solely on Canada’s domestic needs. But government insiders, opposition critics and military experts are arguing that National Defence needs to reopen the debate over mandatory requirements for the new fighter jets.

Lockheed Martin to Assist Department of Defense in Fight Against Growing Threat: Cyber Crime

05/04/2012

Already one of the U.S. Department of Defense’s most-experienced providers of solutions for defeating military threats, Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) will now team with the Department of Defense Cyber Crime Center (DC3) to thwart another type of enemy — cyber criminals.

Singapore Seeks F-15SG Pilot Training Worth $435 Million

05/03/2012

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified U.S. Congress April 30 of a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to the Government of Singapore of a possible sale of follow-on support and services for Singapore’s Continental United States (CONUS) detachment PEACE CARVIN V (F-15SG) based at Mountain Home Air Force Base (AFB) for a five-year period. The estimated cost is $435 million.

Drone Pilots: We Don’t Get No Respect

05/03/2012

At least that’s the word from Air Force Major Dave Blair – himself an MQ-1 Predator instructor pilot – in the latest issue of Air & Space Power Journal. As technology changes warfare, he argues, the military needs to change, too. The Air Force isn’t welcoming its growing workforce of remotely-piloted aircraft – RPA – personnel.

Air Force chief talks of shrinking budgets, post-Iraq exhaustion

05/03/2012

As it continues downsizing under tightening Defense Department budgets, the Air Force will give priority to operations and maintenance to make sure that “what remains will be ready and available to act,” its chief of staff said. Gen. Norton Schwartz also told an audience at the Stimson Center, a nonpartisan think tank, that Air Force operations and tactics are clearly better after two major conflicts and counterterrorism efforts.

Lockheed Martin Delivers Final, Historic F-22 Raptor To U.S. Air Force

05/03/2012

Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] leadership delivered today the 195th and last F-22 Raptor to U.S. Air Force leadership in a ceremony at the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics site here. With this delivery, the U.S. Air Force now possesses the world’s only 5th generation stealth fighter aircraft fleet in the world.

Turkish, U.S. Inspectors to Fly Over Russia

05/03/2012

A group of Turkish and U.S. inspectors will make a joint observation flight over Russia in line with the international Open Skies Treaty, the Russian Defense Ministry reported on Wednesday. The inspection will be carried out on May 2-5 on board a Casa CN-235 transport aircraft. “The aircraft and equipment on its board have undergone the necessary international certification procedure that Russian representatives also took part in,” the ministry said in a statement.

Rolls-Royce awarded propulsion system order for F-35B

05/02/2012

Pratt & Whitney has awarded Rolls-Royce a $315 million contract to produce LiftSystem equipment for 17 F135-powered short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) F-35B combat aircraft. Announced on 1 May, the propulsion system order covers the delivery of LiftFans, roll posts and three-bearing swivel modules this year for 17 aircraft included in Lockheed Martin's fourth low-rate initial production (LRIP) deal for the Joint Strike Fighter.

ECA secures funds for NATO aggressor aircraft purchase

05/02/2012

NATO's ability to conduct multi-national combat training could be transformed if a 24-aircraft system being proposed by a Dutch-based company takes off. The integrated opposing force (IOPFOR) concept now being promoted by ECA Program would see a new fleet of privately-owned and operated lightweight fighters provide an aggressor training service for Alliance nations.

Royal Canadian Air Force still wants F-35 fighter jet, committee hears?

05/02/2012

Canada’s military is determined to purchase the F-35 fighter jet rather than a cheaper or more reliable alternative despite a recent flood of criticism and controversy surrounding the U.S. aircraft. That was the word from the head of the Royal Canadian Air Force, Lt.-Gen. Andre Deschamps, who was testifying Tuesday at a House of Commons committee along with a panel of defiant senior government officials who have come under fire for their handling of the program.

In Afghanistan, Obama pledges cooperation, vows to 'finish the job'

05/02/2012

President Barack Obama, speaking early Wednesday in Afghanistan at the tail end of a surprise visit there, discussed how the war will end and promised a steady drawdown of U.S. troops. Obama committed to pulling 23,000 troops out of the country by the end of summer and sticking to the 2014 deadline to turn security fully over to the Afghan government. He said that NATO will set a goal this month for Afghan forces to be in the lead for combat operations next year.

Map: US bases encircle Iran

05/02/2012

US military bases continue to form a strategic envelope around Iran, although the American withdrawal from Iraq at the end of 2011 may have changed the regional balance somewhat towards Iran's favour. While US forces are scaling back in many parts of the globe due to budget cuts - and have begun a gradual depature from Afghanistan to be completed by 2014 - their international presence remains vast.

Military helicopter crashes in northern Colombia, killing 13

05/02/2012

A Colombian Air Force helicopter crashed in the northern region of the country on late Monday afternoon, killing all thirteen people on board, defense officials said on Tuesday. The cause was not immediately known. The accident happened at around 4:30 p.m. local time when the Bell 212 helicopter, which was assigned to Air Combat Command Number 3, crashed into a horse stable at the 'Buenavista' ranch in Sabanagrande, a town in Colombia's Atlantico department.