Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Boeing Steady with Chinook Orders

01/13/2012

For foreign military sales (“FMS”), The Boeing Company (BA) has received a contract for the delivery of 14 CH-47F Chinook helicopters worth $370 million from the U.S. Army. Per the FMS contract, the U.S Army will deliver these to Australia and the United Arab Emirates (“UAE”).

Why Russia's aircraft carrier visits Syrian port

01/13/2012

On Jan. 7, the politically unstable Syria received a special visitor – Russia's only aircraft carrier, Admiral Kuznetsov. The aircraft carrier's visit to Syria during such a sensitive period immediately sparked various reactions.

Netherlands asks Denmark, Norway to join F-35 buy

01/13/2012

The Netherlands has asked Denmark and Norway to join it in acquiring and maintaining future F-35 fighter jets, Dutch Minister Hans Hillen said Thursday after meetings at the Pentagon. The move was an example "of how far the Netherlands is prepared to go in cooperating with other countries in order to keep up NATO military capabilities," Hillens said at an address to the Atlantic Council during a brief US visit.

1 in 3 US warplanes a drone, congress report says

01/13/2012

Nearly one in three US warplanes is a drone, with robots accounting for 31 per cent of all military aircraft, according to a congressional report. The Congressional Research Service paper, obtained by Wired, said the US military had 7,494 drones and 10,767 traditional manned aircraft.

Panetta: Military Will Be Smaller, More Agile, Deployable

01/13/2012

To accomplish the new mission sets for the 21st century, the United States needs a smaller, quicker, more agile military, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said today. That is the basis behind the recently released strategy review that will set the stage for the fiscal 2013 Defense Department budget request.

The Global Military Aircraft Market Will Be USD 71.9 Billion by 2021

01/13/2012

Top level overview of the global military aircraft market. A breakdown of the regional spending patterns for military aircraft over the forecast period 2011 through 2021. A breakdown of the military aircraft market by segment forecasted from 2011 through 2021. Insights on the armed forces modernization and defense spending pattern by region. Extensive analysis on the emerging technological and market trends in the military aircraft market

Growing Sino-Pakistan military ties ring alarm bells in India

01/13/2012

India Today reported on January 4, that a secret report prepared by the government's joint intelligence committee has confirmed India's worst fears - China is planning a military base in Pakistan. The paper said that the report, based on inputs from the (Indian Intelligence agency) Research and Analysis Wing, is meant for the Prime Minister, members of the cabinet committee on security and the national security adviser.

Unmanned aircraft popularity soars

01/13/2012

Sheppard Air Force Base is a premier pilot-training base with one of the busiest airfields in the Air Force, but the military is intent on expanding its fleet of unmanned aircraft remotely piloted from the ground. Almost all pilots trained at Sheppard go on to fly manned aircraft. Flying a UAV was considered a huge step down from being at the controls of a manned aircraft not long ago in Air Force culture.

Lockheed Martin F-35 Program Exceeds 2011 Flight Test Goals

01/13/2012

The Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] F-35 System Development and Demonstration 2011 flight test program resulted in the completion of more test flights and test points than in any year.

Secretary Clinton condemns Marines behavior in Afghan video

01/13/2012

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has expressed “total dismay” at a video appearing to show U.S. Marines urinating on the bloodied corpses of several Taliban fighters. The 40-second footage, which was posted on YouTube and other websites, features four men in combat gear standing over the three corpses with their genitals exposed as they relieve themselves. The men can be heard joking.

US offers Stinger missiles to India

01/12/2012

The United States has offered the air-to-air version of its famous Stinger missile to India as part of the weapons package proposed for the 22 attack helicopter deal of the Indian Air Force (IAF). The surface-to-air version of the Stinger missile is widely credited for the collapse of Russian helicopter fleet in Afghan war in 1980s and was also used by Pakistani troops to bring down an IAF Mi-17 helicopter during the Kargil war in 1999.

VP-16 ‘War Eagles’ train with Philippine military

01/12/2012

Sailors from VP-16 paid a visit to Diosdado Macapagal Airport near Manila, Philippines to participate in an exercise designed to build ties with the Philippine military Dec. 31-Jan. 4. “War Eagles” aircrew flew several flights in cooperation with the Philippine Navy.

Greece still splashes out billions on defence

01/12/2012

The man who goes in and out of Greece's Defence Ministry has the ministry’s wish list in his head: up to 60 fighter aircraft of the Eurofighter class, for perhaps €3.9 billion. French frigates for over €4 billion, patrol boats for €400 million.

Pakistan ready to receive 18 F-16 Block 52 fighter aircraft

01/12/2012

Pakistan Air Force (PAF) will receive 18 F-16 block 52 aircraft from Lockheed Martin later this month as part of a contract for the sale of 36 F-16C/D block 50/52 aircraft announced in June 2005. Lockheed Martin had been awarded a contract for 12 F-16C and six F-16D block 52 aircraft in December 2006.

U.S. military moves carriers, denies Iran link

01/12/2012

The U.S. military said on Wednesday that a new aircraft carrier strike group had arrived in the Arabian Sea and that another was on its way to the region, but denied any link to recent tensions with Iran and portrayed the movements as routine.

Brazil Eurocopter deal in full swing

01/12/2012

Brazil's Eurocopter EC725 Super Cougar production program is set to go into full swing this year after a deal worth more than $1 billion that saw off competition from rival U.S. and Russian manufacturers. Brazil launched its extensive military modernization program a few years ago with the express aim of becoming a major hub for international technology transfers and a regional exporter of defense hardware and integrated software.

Boeing Awarded US Army Contract for 14 Additional CH-47F Chinook Helicopters

01/12/2012

The Boeing Company has received a U.S. Army contract valued at approximately $370 million for 14 CH-47F Chinook helicopters to support Foreign Military Sales efforts. The aircraft will be delivered to the U.S. Army beginning in 2014; all but one are intended for Australia and the United Arab Emirates.

Lockheed Martin Delivers First Two Marine Corps F-35s To Eglin

01/12/2012

The first two Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] production model F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft were delivered to the U.S. Marine Corps today. The two jets are now assigned to the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing's Marine Fighter/Attack Training Squadron 501 residing with the host 33d Fighter Wing at Eglin AFB, Fla.

Russia to complete delivery of 21 helicopters to Afghanistan by July

01/12/2012

Russia will fulfill a contract to deliver 21 helicopters to Afghanistan in the first half of the year, the Federal Military-Technical Cooperation Service said on Wednesday. Last May, the United States signed a $367.5 million contract with Russia to buy 21 Mi-17V5 military transport helicopters for the Afghan army. By December 30, 2011, nine helicopters were delivered to Afghanistan. They are currently being assembly and tested for flightworthiness.

For Tejas, the wait continues

01/11/2012

January 10, 2011, was supposed to be a big day for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas programme as it was on this day that the aircraft—under development for more than two decades—was to get the Initial Operational Clearance (IOC), signalling that it has crossed the first hurdle to join Indian Air Force (IAF). However, on that day, the aircraft was given only partial clearance (IOC-1) for failing to meet the IAF’s requirement. A year after, it is stuck with the IOC-1 tag.

Hawker Beechcraft announces first sale of T-6C+ aircraft

01/11/2012

Hawker Beechcraft announced Monday the first sale of its new Beechcraft T-6C+ military trainer to the Mexican Air Force (FAM). The T-6C+, an enhanced version of the T-6 military trainer aircraft, is capable of carrying external stores and delivering practice weapons for training purposes. The first two of six contracted FAM T-6C+ aircraft will be delivered to an advanced training base in Mexico's northern region in early 2012. The new T-6C+ trainers will replace the FAM’s aging PC-7 fleet.

N.L. wants search-and-rescue aircraft

01/11/2012

New Canadian military search-and-rescue aircraft should be based in Gander for safety's sake, say officials in the central Newfoundland town. Reports indicate the federal cabinet approved a $3.7-billion plan to purchase new fixed-wing search-and-rescue aircraft for the military just before Christmas, after almost a decade of bureaucratic wrangling.

$1.5 billion US aircraft deal

01/11/2012

A $1.5 billion contract to buy 10 so-called "battlefield airlifters" will be signed in the first half of this year, and, according to insiders, it will be a sole-source deal under US foreign military sales laws to obtain the Alenia C-27J Spartan. The US has quoted about $950 million under a foreign military sales deal for 10 planes that are due in RAAF service by 2014.

Matt Gurney: Canada needs more than 65 F-35s

01/11/2012

Japan has announced that it will purchase 42 F-35 stealth fighter jets. The planes, which have experienced production delays and cost overruns, have also been selected by the Conservative government to replace Canada’s aging CF-18 fighters, starting (the government hopes) by 2017, when the CF-18s will reach the end of their expected usefulness.

Afghanistan Airdrops in 2011 Hit Record Levels

01/11/2012

In 2011, mobility Airmen delivering airdrops reached a new annual record with 75,956,235 pounds of cargo delivered. That's nearly 16 million more pounds delivered than the previous record set in 2010 of 60,400,000. At more than 75.9 million pounds - that's the equivalent of standing on a mountain top and watching 553 Army M1 Abrams tanks - or even 11,868 Chevrolet Silverado trucks - floating down from the sky with parachutes to a landing zone.