Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Lockheed Martin Delivers Fourth Upgraded CBP P-3 Orion In Record Time

01/24/2012

Lockheed Martin delivered the fourth P-3 Orion with new Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU) modifications to U.S. Customs and Border Protection two months ahead of schedule on Jan. 20. The MLU installation and phase depot maintenance (PDM) were accomplished in record time of 11 months at Lockheed Martin’s Greenville facility.

Russia to Sell 36 Yak-130 Jets to Syria

01/24/2012

Russia and Syria have signed a $550-million contract on the delivery of 36 Yakovlev Yak-130 Mitten combat trainer, the Kommersant daily quoted on Monday a source close to Russia’s state arms exporter Rosoboronexport as saying. Under the deal struck in late December, the jets are to be supplied to Syria once Damascus makes a prepayment, the source said.

Oman begins Typhoon purchase formalities

01/24/2012

It was at Farnborough airshow in 2008 the Omani first expressed an interest in the Eurofighter aircraft and in April 2010 the then UK Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, announced a deal had been done. There is no clear confirmation on numbers although it is believed it could be around 20 aircraft in the requirement.

Lebanon and Iraq increase Combat Caravan fleet

01/24/2012

Alliant Techsystems is to delever a second Combat Caravan to Lebanon next year following an order from the US Air Force. The American company recently delivered a third AC-208B to the Iraq Training and Advisory Mission in Kirkuk.

Navy chooses fiber optic aircraft test and measurement equipment from Clear Align

01/23/2012

U.S. Navy aircraft specialists needed common fiber optic test kits for Navy aviation systems. They found their solution from military electro-optics designers at Clear Align in Eagleville, Pa. Navy officials awarded Clear Align a contract to develop what company officials say is the first common fiber optic test kits naval aviation.

U.S. aircraft carrier enters Gulf without incident

01/23/2012

A U.S. aircraft carrier sailed through the Strait of Hormuz and into the Gulf without incident on Sunday, a day after Iran backed away from an earlier threat to take action if an American carrier returned to the strategic waterway.

US$ 6m overhaul for three combat aircraft

01/22/2012

The Government will spend US$ 6 million (around Rs. 684 million) to overhaul three Chinese-built combat aircraft as part of modernization plans for the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF).

Australian military grounds Black Hawk helicopters

01/22/2012

Australia's military has grounded its fleet of Black Hawk helicopters after fractured bolts were found during a routine inspection, the defence ministry said on Saturday.

Panetta: US will keep 11 aircraft carriers to project sea power in Pacific, Middle East

01/22/2012

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told sailors aboard the country’s oldest aircraft carrier that the U.S. is committed to maintaining a fleet of 11 of the formidable warships despite budget pressures, in part to project sea power against Iran.

Canada welcomes fresh U.S. F-35 backing

01/22/2012

The Canadian government is welcoming a decision by the U.S. military to renew its support for the development of the F-35, Associate Minister of National Defence Julian Fantino said Saturday.

Do Drones Undermine Democracy?

01/22/2012

IN democracies like ours, there have always been deep bonds between the public and its wars. Citizens have historically participated in decisions to take military action, through their elected representatives, helping to ensure broad support for wars and a willingness to share the costs, both human and economic, of enduring them.

Russia Keeps 30 MiG-31 Interceptors on High-Alert Duty

01/22/2012

More than 30 MiG-31 Foxhound supersonic interceptor aircraft are on round-the-clock high-alert duty every day protecting the Russian airspace from airborne threats, Air Force spokesman Col. Vladimir Drik said. “They [the MiG-31s] scramble every time they receive warnings of a potential violation of the Russian airspace, including the appearance of foreign weather balloons in the stratosphere,”Drik said on Saturday .

Russian Air Force Gets First An-140 Passenger Plane

01/22/2012

The Russian Air Force took delivery of the first Antonov An-140-100 passenger/transport plane on Friday, Defense Ministry spokesman Col Vladimir Drik said. “The plane’s delivery is the first step toward the implementation of a program to expand the AF transport aviation fleet,” he said, adding that another two aircraft will soon be delivered to the force.

Bahrain 2012: Kingdom's fast-jet fighters on show

01/22/2012

The wing is also planning to provide one of the unique highlights of the flying display, when some of its F-15s and F-16s will escort a Gulf Air Airbus A330. Though the Royal Bahraini Air Force’s three-squadron fast jet force is one of the smallest in the region, and though its aircraft are among the oldest, the wing has an enviable reputation for professionalism, capability and competence.

Sukhoi tests new fighter

01/21/2012

Russian aircraft manufacturer Sukhoi has flight tested its Serial Three Su-35S Flanker-E multipurpose jet fighter for the first time. During the test Tuesday, which lasted more than two hours, the aircraft's propulsion and control systems were put through their paces and "proved to be flawless," the company said.

Pentagon Said to Propose Ending $6.8 Billion Missile, Satellite

01/21/2012

The Pentagon will propose canceling a potential $6.8 billion Army missile program that pits Lockheed Martin Corp. against Raytheon Co., a Northrop Grumman Corp. weather satellite, and an Air Force light-attack aircraft, according to a government official.

U.S. auxiliary power unit for KC-390

01/21/2012

A medium-lift transport being developed for the Brazilian air force will carry an auxiliary power unit by U.S. company Hamilton Sundstrand's Power Systems. The APU to be supplied to Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer for the KC-390 is a militarized version of a commercial Hamilton Sundstrand product.

Military salutes member of historic fighter pilot group 'Red Tails'

01/21/2012

The military saluted one of the group's few survivors today at Arlington National Cemetery. Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, a member of the storied group also known as the "Tuskegee Airmen," was laid to rest at age 90, exactly three years after the nation's first black president was inaugurated, an event for which many of the "Red Tails" feel they laid the groundwork.

Panetta says military committed to F-35 fighter but program 'not out of the woods'

01/21/2012

The U.S. military is committed to developing the Marine Corps version of the next-generation strike fighter jet, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Friday, but he warned that the program is "not out of the woods yet."

Bahrain 2012: RSAF driving Typhoon forward

01/21/2012

When the Saudi Ministry of Defence was asked to send an aircraft to BIAS, it naturally chose an example of its latest fighter – the Eurofighter Typhoon. It was flown into the show by one of the Third Squadron’s senior pilots, Lieutenant Colonel Khalid Almaki.

Bahrain 2012: Showing off the UH-60M Black Hawk

01/21/2012

Bahrain was the first export customer for the UH-60M Black Hawk, currently the most advanced variant in the UH-60/S-70 family, and is proudly displaying one of its new helicopters at BIAS.

Russia Denies Paying Fine on Iran Missile Contract

01/21/2012

Russia has returned a prepayment it received for S-300 surface-to-air missile systems it ultimately refused to deliver to Iran but has paid no penalty, Russian Technologies chief Sergei Chemezov said on Friday. “The prepayment to the manufacturer was returned to the Iranians because the delivery was not made in accordance with a UN Security Council resolution,” he said.

Aviastar to Build 'Dozens' of Il-476 Transports by 2020

01/21/2012

Aviastar SP, one of Russia's largest aircraft-building enterprises, is to build 10 super-heavy Antonov An-124 and dozens of Ilyushin Il-476 cargo aircraft by 2020, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said on Friday at a meeting of the United Aircraft Corporation on military aviation.

Helicopter crash in southern Afghanistan kills 6

01/20/2012

A NATO helicopter crashed in southern Afghanistan on Thursday, killing six members of the international military force, the U.S.-led coalition said. The coalition said in a release early Friday morning that there was no enemy activity in the area at the time of the crash in southern Afghanistan.

Russia & CIS Defense Update

01/20/2012

The Russian Air Force began flight testing of a modernized version of the A-50U airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft. The aircraft was improved with new on-board computers, satellite communications, and an improved radar system installed in its rotodome.