Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Boeing to Build 10 C-17 Airlifters for Indian Air Force

06/16/2011

Boeing today announced that India’s Ministry of Defence has signed an agreement with the U.S. government to acquire 10 Boeing C-17 Globemaster III airlifters. The Foreign Military Sale -- approved by the U.S. Congress in May 2010 -- establishes India as the C-17's largest international customer. According to the agreement, India will take delivery of its C-17s in 2013 and 2014.

House panel OKs funding for 32 F-35s but not alternative engine

06/15/2011

The House Appropriations Committee passed a $649 billion defense spending bill Tuesday for fiscal 2012 that trims $9 billion from President Barack Obama's budget while boosting ground combat vehicles and special operations programs.

Libyan air campaign continues amid fears over resources

06/15/2011

NATO on Tuesday said it had sufficient resources to continue its air campaign in Libya despite fears the alliance could run out of steam as Moammar Gadhafi digs in his heels.

PAK-FA to be built jointly by India, Russia

06/15/2011

After Air Chief, PV Naik, saw the fifth generation fighter aircraft flight in Russia last month, on Tuesday secretary of defence production, RK Singh, was given a flight demonstration of the PAK-FA (Prospective Airborne Complex of Frontline Aviation).

Canada's Hercs star in dangerous ballet of mid-air refuelling

06/15/2011

A pair of needle-nosed warplanes suddenly appear, needing fuel before they make the last dash across the Libyan coast to their targets. In the next few minutes, the bomb-laden Italian Tornados will stage a delicate, high-speed, close encounter with lumbering Canadian Hercules, and as a matter of practised routine transfer 10 tonnes of fuel in midair.

Exercise Northern Edge 2011 blasts into the last frontier

06/15/2011

Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, began participating in the U.S. Pacific Command’s Northern Edge 2011 exercise June 13. The exercise runs through June 24 and will focus on strategic capabilities that enable the joint-military world to be adept in detection and tracking in air, land and sea spaces.

France's Rafale fighter proves its 'omnirole' skills

06/15/2011

France's Rafale fighter programme is midway through what could be a pivotal year in the Dassault type's potentially half-century service history. Already involved in NATO-led combat operations over Libya, the aircraft will return to frontline duty in Afghanistan inside the next two months. Its industrial backers are, meanwhile, edging seemingly closer to a long-awaited first export sale.

India’s withdrawal of helicopters from Congo points to wider trend

06/15/2011

India is preparing to withdraw its four remaining Mi-35 attack helicopters from the United Nations mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo early next month, ending years of Indian air superiority in the war-racked nation and depriving the U.N. of its most vital military asset as the country heads into a landmark presidential election.

Lockheed Martin F-35 Program Flight Test Update

06/15/2011

Overall, the F-35 program remains ahead of the overall goals for test flights and test points year-to-date. Through May 31, the program accomplished 378 flights versus a plan of 297 and accomplished 3,342 test points against a plan of 2,217.

'India to buy more than 16 C-17 airlifters'

06/14/2011

The IAF chief, Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik told India Strategic defence magazine (www.indiastrategic.in) in an interview that while the government had accorded approval earlier this month to buy 10 aircraft, the air force was now processing a case for six more of these airlifters. At a later date, "we will add some more," he disclosed but did not specify the number.

Mobility Airmen take C-5M on first direct Arctic overflight to Afghanistan

06/14/2011

Fourteen mobility Airmen teamed together to fly a C-5M Super Galaxy on a direct, non-stop mission from Dover Air Force Base, Del., here June 5 and 6, 2011. The flight was the first time a U.S. Air Force plane flew this northern route from the U.S., over Canada and into the Arctic Circle, then back down through Russian and Kazakhstan airspace to Afghanistan.

Secret US and Afghanistan talks could see troops stay for decades

06/14/2011

American and Afghan officials are locked in increasingly acrimonious secret talks about a long-term security agreement which is likely to see US troops, spies and air power based in the troubled country for decades.

Boeing Still Coy on U.S. Tanker Design

06/14/2011

Since winning the $4 billion contract from the U.S. Air Force for development and engineering of the KC-X refuelling tanker last February, Boeing has provided only generalities on the design of its KC-46A. Last week, during a series of media briefings in Philadelphia and St. Louis preceding the Paris Air Show, Dennis Muilenburg, CEO of Boeing Defense & Space CEO, said, “We don’t do airplane design in the public realm.”

House Appropriators Cut $8.9B from Pentagon Request

06/14/2011

The House Appropriations Committee cut $8.9 billion from the Pentagon's 2012 budget request, according to the panel's defense appropriations bill, which was released a day before lawmakers meet to mark up the legislation. The panel, which meets Tuesday, is providing $530 billion for the Pentagon's 2012 base budget.

CIA Plans Yemen Drone Strikes

06/14/2011

The Central Intelligence Agency plans to use armed drones to try to kill al Qaeda militants in Yemen, where months of antigovernment protests, an armed revolt and the attempted assassination of the president have left a power vacuum, U.S. officials say.

Dust, bugs, heat among Afghan exit crew's challenges

06/14/2011

Canada's combat role in Afghanistan is on track to end in July, and troops are beginning to wind down their military operations and prepare for the journey home. But for a group of specialized military "movers" tasked with staying behind to prepare, pack up, and 'rack and stack' the gear for shipping, months of work is just beginning.

China upgrading air force rapidly, says IAF chief

06/14/2011

The Indian Air Force could lose its combat edge over rivals in the neighbourhood in the next 10 years if it fails to keep pace with its modernisation targets, Air Chief Marshal PV Naik has warned. He said China had embarked on a "modernisation spree" and there had been "considerable development" of infrastructure and "induction of assets across India's northern and eastern borders".

U.S., Poland sign military aviation accord

06/14/2011

NATO allies Poland and the United States signed a deal on Monday for the stationing of U.S. airforce personnel on Polish soil, a symbolically important move for Warsaw as it keeps a nervous eye on neighbouring Russia.

Royal Navy pilots forced to learn French

06/13/2011

Royal Navy fighter pilots are being forced to learn French in order to operate on board France’s flagship aircraft carrier.

Indo-Russian ties too deep to be affected by MiG-35 deal rejection: Kadakin

06/13/2011

Russia's Ambassador to India, Alexander M. Kadakin, has said that the Indian Government's decision to reject his country's MiG-35 fighter jets would not affect bilateral ties between the two countries.

Highly touted F-22 Raptors still grounded

06/13/2011

After more than $77 billion and five years, the F-22 Raptor has never been to war and now can’t even get off the ground. With wars in Iraq and Afghanistan ongoing and bombing raids over Libya, the jet that was once touted as one that “can never be matched” sits, immobile. On Wednesday, Air Command Communications in Langley, Va., had three words regarding the plight of the F-22 Raptor: “Still grounded, sir.”

RNoAF F-16s to exit Libya operations

06/13/2011

The RNoAF will reduce its F-16 contribution to four jets and will totally withdraw it forces from the NATO-led operation by August 1st, the government said Friday. Defense Minister Grete Faremo said she expects understanding from NATO allies because Norway has a small air force and cannot "maintain a large fighter jet contribution for a long period."

Taiwan may prove undefendable

06/13/2011

In some alarming remarks, U.S. Sen. Dan Inouye was reported as saying in a recent speech that "the U.S. should get ready for continued struggle with China." As relayed by Star-Advertiser columnist Richard Borreca, the context makes clear Sen. Inouye did not just mean political struggle but military struggle, for he said he has concluded over his many years of service "that war is nearly unavoidable" ("Inouye warns against U.S. letting down its guard in Asia,").

Arms race between India and Pakistan takes to air

06/11/2011

India’s plans to modernise its ageing air force have triggered a tit-for-tat Pakistani programme that could exacerbate strategic tensions in South Asia, officials and analysts told "The National". Defence analysts said the planned air force expansions were part of an arms race between India and Pakistan that dates back to the 1960s and the height of the Cold War.

India successfully test fires Astra interceptor missile again in Orissa

06/11/2011

For the second time in two days, India today successfully test fired indigenously developed air-to-air Astra interceptor missile with an 80 km range from Chandipur in Orissa.