Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Russian warships leave Syrian port of Tartus

01/11/2012

A Russian naval task force, led by the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier, has left the Syrian port of Tartus after a three-day visit, Russia’s Northern Fleet said in a statement on Tuesday. The task force called on the Syrian port on Sunday amid ongoing bloody protests in Syria against the rule of President Bashar al-Assad.

Russian Air Force completes Su-25UBM flight tests

01/11/2012

The Russian Air Force has completed flight tests of the modernized Sukhoi Su-25UBM ground attack-trainer aircraft, Defense Ministry spokesman Col. Vladimir Drik said on Tuesday. “Air Force commander Col. Gen. Alexander Zelin signed off on the completion of flight tests for the Su-25UBM at the end of December 2011,” Drik said.

Indonesia signs $500 mln contract to buy six Russian jet fighters

01/11/2012

Indonesia has signed a $470 million contract with Russia to buy six Sukhoi Su-30MK2 jet fighters for the Indonesian Air Force, The Jakarta Post daily has reported. The deal was confirmed by Russian defense-industry and diplomatic sources, but the Sukhoi aircraft maker and arms exporter Rosoboronexport declined to comment. Deliveries will start after 2013.

Factbox: Strait of Hormuz

01/10/2012

Here are some details about the Strait of Hormuz, the world's most important oil export route, which Iran has threatened to block if it faces sanctions on crude exports.

China says U.S. defence policy stance misjudges Beijing intent

01/10/2012

The United States' expanded military presence in Asia is based on a miscalculation of Beijing's intent to modernise its military defences, China said on Monday, taking a tempered stance in its first official response to Washington's plan. The United States unveiled a defence strategy last week to boost capacity in Asia, an attempt to counter China's growing ability to check U.S. power in the region, that comes with a pledged reduction in the overall size of U.S. forces.

France Plans Buying Airbus Tankers; Optimistic on Rafale Sales

01/10/2012

France plans to buy airborne refueling tankers made by the military arm of Airbus, and there are no obstacles in the way of sales of French-made Rafale multirole combat jets to India, the United Arab Emirates and Brazil, Defense Minister Gerard Longuet said Monday.

DRG awarded fighter training contract

01/10/2012

Oklahoma City-based defense contractor DRG has been awarded the Air Combat Command Fighter F-15C, F-15E, F-16 and F-22A Contract Aircrew Training contract with the U.S. Air Force. The five-year prime contract is in excess of $50 million. The company will hire at least an additional 45 employees. By March 1, the company will have nearly 600 employees.

Lockheed Martin Awarded $24 Million to Upgrade U.S. Air Force C-130 Training Devices

01/10/2012

The U.S. Air Force awarded Lockheed Martin a $24 million contract to upgrade weapons systems trainers used in the C-130 Aircrew Training System (ATS) II. The C-130 ATS II program provides a comprehensive academic and simulation training program for C-130 aircrews worldwide. The visual system and imagery databases in the weapons systems simulators will be updated to provide the most advanced and realistic training. The improvements are scheduled to take place through 2014.

Russian Military Fleet Arrives in Syria - Report

01/09/2012

The group of Russian military ships that set sail for violence-grippled Syria has reached its destination on Sunday, report agencies. The fleet, reported to include carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, has arrived in the Syrian port of Tartus, according to Israeli newspaper Haaretz, quoting official agency SANA. SANA has reported that the ships will stay in Tartus for six days as a sign of support for the Syrian people.

Chinese Troops in Seychelles: An Analysis

01/09/2012

The republic of Seychelles has come in news with the stationing of the Chinese troops in Mahe. The archipelago nation is located at a strategic location as it lies in the path of major shipping lines. This has raised a pertinent question as to what has provoked China to station troops in Seychelles. Is piracy the only reason for this or there are other ulterior motives behind the stationing of the troops?

U.S. Navy and U.K. Royal Navy F-35 unable to get aboard ship

01/09/2012

The U.S. Navy F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) known as the F-35C is at serious risk of never being able to land aboard an aircraft carrier. This also poses a risk to the U.K. aircraft carrier program which is supposed to use the F-35C at the end of the decade.

Anti-G suit questioned in crash that killed Nellis pilot

01/09/2012

Air Force investigators who probed the June 28 crash of an F-16C fighter jet that killed Capt. Eric Ziegler should have focused more on the life-support garment he was wearing when he blacked out over the Nellis training range moments before the crash, according to a lawyer for a company that makes the anti-G suits.

Seoul Orders 20 FA-50 Attack Aircraft In a $600 Million Deal

01/08/2012

With the New Year barely underway, South Korea is once again demonstrating a determination to build a formidable military force capable of dealing with potential enemies. The government has signed a $600 million deal with Korea Aerospace Industries (KIA) for 20 FA-50 fighter/attack aircraft based on the highly regarded T-50 advanced jet trainer.

UK concern over future of US F-35 fighter jets

01/08/2012

British Defence Minister Philip Hammond has voiced concern about possible cuts or delays in the US F-35 fighter program as London plans to equip a future aircraft carrier with the stealthy aircraft. In a visit to the US capital, Hammond said he wanted to hear from Defense Secretary Leon Panetta about the potential effect of a new US military strategy and budget plan on the future of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

Military reveals revolutionary pilotless cargo drone that can deliver supplies to territories plagued by roadside bombs

01/08/2012

The U.S. military is testing a revolutionary new drone for its arsenal, a pilotless helicopter intended to fly cargo missions to remote outposts where frequent roadside bombs threaten access by road convoys. Surveillance drones for monitoring enemy activity and armed versions for launching airstrikes have become a trademark of America's wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere in the Middle East.

China gets a 'giant' to reach out to inaccessible highlands

01/07/2012

Asia's largest helicopter, built by China and weighing about 13 tonnes, on Thursday received the stamp of approval from the Civil Aviation Administration of the country. The move means that the massive helicopter - AC313 - is officially approved to enter the market, according to the Aviation Industry Corporation of China, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Turkey Formally Decides to Buy US Made F-35 Fighter Aircraft

01/07/2012

Turkey has officially decided to purchase Lockheed Martin’s F-35 fignter jets. As a member of the international F-35 consortium, this was the country’s first official expression of commitment in buying the aircraft. The top decisive body of Turkish defense has also chosen Bell Helicopter as the next generation light copter for police

Seoul downplays impact of new U.S. military strategy on Korean security

01/07/2012

Washington’s new strategy for a “leaner” military that goes in line with its belt-tightening efforts is drawing keen attention here as it could affect the troop level and their operations in a contingency on the Korean Peninsula. Its moves to abandon a long-held strategy to have the ability to fight and win two wars at once have also caused concerns that the U.S. may not be able to mobilize massive ground troops in the event of a war here should it engage in another.

Defense in an Age of Austerity

01/07/2012

Among the possible cuts to defense spending, are those to the F-35 program, which has suffered extreme cost overruns. Alternative jets continue to be effective and diminishing the size of the F-35 program could help control costs without compromising American air superiority.

ITT Exelis moves ahead with AIDEWS airborne electronic warfare systems development and tests

01/07/2012

Electronic combat experts at the ITT Exelis Electronic Systems division in Clifton, N.J., have installed and tested an advanced self-defense airborne electronic warfare system on an international F-16 jet fighter aircraft. The company did not name the specific country for which its engineers performed the tests. The ITT Exelis ALQ-211 Advanced Integrated Defensive Electronic Warfare System (AIDEWS) completed several F-16 sorties against several different kinds of radar threats, company officials

US cuts may raise cost of new fighter planes

01/07/2012

Australia plans to buy as many as 100 of the revolutionary F-35 Lightning II aircraft, and over the past decade estimates of its likely cost have grown from about $50 million each to close to $120m. The US has assured Australia's ambassador to Washington, Kim Beazley, its latest defence cuts will not affect its promised continued focus on the Asia-Pacific and increased presence in Australia.

Boeing Marks Delivery of 1st C-130 AMP Aircraft Modified by Warner Robins Air Logistics Center

01/07/2012

Boeing and Warner Robins Air Logistics Center on Jan. 3 marked delivery of the first C-130 Avionics Modernization Program (AMP) aircraft modified by Warner Robins. The aircraft is the fourth to be delivered to Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark.; the first three were modified by Boeing. The C-130 AMP cockpit upgrade simplifies and standardizes the multiple C-130 configurations operated by the U.S. Air Force.

New Air Force Stealth Bomber Backed by Obama in Defense Plan

01/06/2012

President Barack Obama's military strategy calls for development of a new long-range stealth bomber even as the Pentagon seeks about $490 billion in reductions in the next decade. The bomber is part of the administration's goal to have weapons that are able to reach areas far from bases and where "our access and freedom to operate are challenged," according to Obama's updated defense strategy released today.

Czechs deny plans to buy old German Eurofighters to replace Gripens

01/06/2012

The Czech Republic and several other Eastern European countries have all expressed interest in buying “almost new” Eurofighter military aircraft from Germany, Financial Times Deutschland, the local version of the UK business daily, reported on Thursday, with Berlin looking to offload eight planes, which, if new, would cost some €60 million to €80 million each.

China Takes Aim at U.S. Naval Might

01/06/2012

Now China is engaged in a major military buildup. Part of its plan is to force U.S. carriers to stay farther away from its shores, Chinese military analysts say. So the U.S. is adjusting its own game plan. Without either nation saying so, both are quietly engaged in a tit-for-tat military-technology race.