Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Government forced into U-turn over Royal Navy fighter jets

05/10/2012

The Ministry of Defence is to abandon plans to buy the preferred fighter for the Royal Navy's new aircraft carriers, in an embarrassing a U-turn for David Cameron. The prime minister personally endorsed the decision to equip the over-budget carriers with "cats and traps" so they could catapult and recover a version of the F-35 joint strike fighter (JSF) from their decks.

House committee nixes more military base closings

05/10/2012

The House Armed Services Committee on Wednesday soundly rejected the Pentagon's call for military base closings to cut costs as lawmakers worked on a defense budget that adds billions to President Barack Obama's spending proposal. The committee fleshed out a blueprint that calls for a base defense budget of $554 billion, including nuclear weapons spending, plus $88 billion for the war in Afghanistan and counterterrorism efforts.

Embraer and Hawker prepare for new dogfight

05/10/2012

Brazil’s Embraer and US rival Hawker Beechcraft are set to rejoin hostilities in their fight over a politically charged contract to provide the US Air Force with light attack aircraft. Embraer, the world’s third largest commercial aircraft builder, said late Tuesday that it was preparing to file a new bid to win back the contract to supply the aircraft for use in Afghanistan, which it won last year only to see it abruptly cancelled earlier this year.

First Travis C-5B Inducted

05/10/2012

Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] last week inducted into its facilities here the first C-5B Galaxy from Travis Air Force Base, Calif., to become a C-5M Super Galaxy. This aircraft is the twelfth to enter the Reliability Enhancement and Re-Engining Program production line. Throughout its career, this aircraft has supported the warfighter’s operations across the globe.

Deployment Extended For K-MAX Unmanned Aerial Cargo Hauler As It Exceeds Million-Pound Milestone

05/10/2012

Two unmanned K-MAX helicopters have delivered more than one million pounds in less than four months in support of the U.S. Marine Corps in Afghanistan and will remain in theater until September on a deployment extension. The aircraft, a joint effort by Lockheed Martin and Kaman Aerospace [NYSE: KAMN], is the first unmanned helicopter to deliver cargo and resupply troops in a combat zone.

Defense spending bill includes provision to keep Air Guard jets

05/09/2012

A defense spending bill proposed Monday in the U.S. House would block the Air Force from eliminating F-16 aircraft at the 132nd Fighter Wing in Des Moines until a cost-benefit analysis can be completed. U.S. Rep. Tom Latham said the legislation would freeze the proposed retirement of Air Force aircraft, including the Iowa Air National Guard’s F-16s.

USAF Reviews CSAR Helo Fleet Plan

05/09/2012

The U.S. Air Force is updating plans for its combat search and rescue (CSAR) needs that will determine whether current fleet-sizing assumptions for the Sikorsky HH-60G Pave Hawk and eventual replacement Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH) still reflect operational requirements.

U.S. to Fulfill Afghan Contract with Russia despite Syria

05/09/2012

The United States does not intend to change the terms of its contract or cancel agreements with Russia on the delivery and maintenance of helicopters for Afghanistan’s armed forces, State Department spokesman Mark Toner said on Monday. At Monday’s press briefing, journalists asked Toner to comment on letters human rights organizations sent to Congress and the U.S. Department of the Treasury demanding that deals allegedly worth $1 billion with Russia be canceled because Russia supplies arms to S

Lockheed Martin Completes Delivery Of 17 CC-130J Super Hercules Aircraft To Canada

05/09/2012

The Royal Canadian Air Force formally accepted the 17th Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] CC-130J Super Hercules in ceremonies here today, completing the order placed in December 2007. The aircraft will be flown to Canadian Forces Base Trenton later this week.

F-35 Lightning II Flight Test Update

05/09/2012

Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning II flight test program continues to make progress during the first four months of 2012. In March, the program completed 123 test flights totaling 223 flight hours, setting a record for the most System Development and Demonstration (SDD) flights and flight hours for a single month.

Lockheed Martin's DAGR Successfully Engages Moving Target in Apache Demonstration

05/09/2012

Lockheed Martin’s Direct Attack Guided Rocket (DAGR) successfully tracked and engaged a moving target in a recent demonstration at Yuma Proving Ground, Ariz. “DAGR hit a moving target from 3.5 kilometers,” said Hady Mourad, DAGR program director in Lockheed Martin’s Missiles and Fire Control business. “Defeating high-value targets on the move is a critical capability, and demonstrating this ability is a significant milestone for the precision-strike DAGR.”

Boeing KC-46 Tanker Program Successfully Completes Preliminary Design Review

05/09/2012

The Boeing KC-46 Tanker program has completed a Preliminary Design Review (PDR) with the U.S. Air Force, a key milestone in the development of the next-generation aerial refueling tanker. The review, which began March 21 and ended April 27, demonstrated that the preliminary design of the KC-46A Tanker meets system requirements and establishes the basis for proceeding with detailed design. Boeing remains on plan to deliver 18 combat-ready KC-46A Tankers by 2017.

Cobham's kit on MD5230F helicopters set for Afghanistan

05/09/2012

Three Cobham business units are to provide critical components for six MD530F training helicopters bound for Shindand Air Base in Afghanistan, the company said today. Via its partner, EDMO Distributors, Cobham Aerospace Communications will supply four N301A audio controllers; Cobham Antenna Systems will provide VHF communications, VOR/LOC/GS V-Dipole, DME, and Navigation Splitter Antennas.

Abandon F-16s, seek F-35s: senior military officials

05/08/2012

Senior military officers may be considering abandoning a long-stalled bid to procure F-16C/D aircraft from the US because of rising costs and could instead reserve budgets for an eventual F-35B bid, reports said yesterday. The Ministry of National Defense maintains that the air force remains committed to acquiring 66 F-16C/Ds, but the rising costs associated with the package — now estimated at US$10 billion, from an initial US$8 billion, according to local reports.

hales New Generation Inertial Navigation System and GPS Selected for the KC-390

05/08/2012

Thales has been awarded a contract by Embraer Defence and Security to provide the Inertial Navigation System (INS) and the GPS of the KC-390 military transport aircraft. Thales HPIRS (High Performance Inertial Reference System) is a real breakthrough in inertial navigation, as it combines the advantages of a civil certified product with the performances expected by military aircraft.

EASA certification for new airlifter

05/08/2012

The European Aviation Safety Agency has given Airbus Military of Spain initial type certification for the A400M airlifted. The certification, officially called the Restricted Type Certification, is critical for the aircraft to later receive full civil certification and military operating clearance.

Military Aircraft Parts Reverse Engineered Using 3D Laser Scanning, Structured Light Scanning & GD&T Best Practices

05/08/2012

3D Engineering Solutions Used Reverse Engineering, 3D Laser Scanning, Structured Light Scanning, and Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing Best Practices to Recreate Military Aircraft Components, Including Parts for Britain’s Harrier Jump Jets Sold to U.S.

Gaps in China's area-denial strategy

05/08/2012

uch is being said about the Chinese military dramatically improving its combat capability to keep United States forces at arm's length. Anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) is the magic slogan, meaning that the People's Liberation Army's (PLA's) new shore-based artillery, aircraft and naval assets could deny a rapid deployment by United States forces into the Pacific in the event of a conflict, since the US would face heavy losses. But exactly how concerned is the US?

AMC aims to increase casualty survivability in Afghanistan

05/08/2012

Air Mobility Command is working jointly with other U.S. military services to improve emergency care for service members critically injured in combat by employing newly-developed Tactical Critical Care Evacuation Teams. These are three-member teams, each comprised of a highly-trained emergency medicine physician and two certified registered nurse anesthetists or critical care nurses, now providing point-of-injury care and treatment during tactical evacuation of severely-injured troops in Afghanis

US selling combat drones to undisclosed countries

05/08/2012

The unmanned aerial vehicle industry is expected to bring in billions for domestic drone makers over the next few years. Where are the robotic aircraft manufacturers sending their stealth spy plans though? They aren’t saying. The American Independent reports that Texas’ Vanguard Defense Industries, a US Defense Department contractor that outfits the Pentagon with unmanned aerial drones, has inked agreements with several overseas governments.

Boeing Brings Nine Decades of Aviation Innovation to iPad

05/08/2012

Boeing announced today the launch of its first official app for iPad, 'Milestones in Innovation', now available on the App Store. The app brings nine decades of aviation innovation to iPad through beautiful imagery and an interactive timeline.

Soaring commercial aviation market drives best year yet for aerospace and defence industry

05/08/2012

The aerospace and defence (A&D) industry experienced a record year in 2011 on the strength of a surging commercial aviation market, according to the Aerospace and Defence 2011 year in review and 2012 forecast report from PwC. In 2011, the Top 100 A&D companies reported $677 billion in revenue, a 5% increase compared to the previous year, and $60 billion in operating profit, an increase of 2% from 2010.

KADDB to open service centre for L-3 Wescam products in Jordan

05/08/2012

L-3 WESCAM a major player in the design and manufacture of stabilized, multi-spectral airborne imaging systems is set to sign a service centre agreement with King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau (KADDB) in Jordan. The Bureau will open a Wescam authorised service center (WASC) in Amman. The deal will be formally signed on Wednesday at the SOFEX trade show in Amman.

Australia issues tender for F/A-18 Hornet maintenance

05/07/2012

Australia has issued a request for tender (RFT) related to its fleet of 71 Boeing F/A-18A/B Hornet aircraft. The contract will cover deep maintenance for 55 single-seat A-model combat aircraft and 16 twin-seat trainers, says Australian minister for defence materiel Jason Clare. The package also covers operational flight trainers, computer-based training systems, maintenance training systems, and testing and ground equipment unique to the Hornet.

U.S. Navy Joins India's Light Combat Aircraft Project

05/07/2012

The U.S. Navy has agreed to come on board India’s much delayed Naval Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) program and will audit tests and provide feedbacks to the Indian team. The U.S. will join the Russians and the Europeans who were earlier roped in to realize the LCA project which has been delayed by over 15 years.