Military Aviation News Archive

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.

Korea issuing final proposal in IAF deal

01/20/2012

Israeli defense companies stand to gain from billions of dollars in contracts with South Korea which recently increased its defense budget to $30 billion a year, Korea’s ambassador to Israel Ilsoo Kim said on Thursday.

US Forces Poised to Deal with Iran Threat

01/20/2012

The United States says its military forces in the Persian Gulf region are prepared to deal with any threat from Iran. Top Iranian officials have said they might close the Strait of Hormuz, a move that would disrupt world oil supplies.

US, Filipino forces plan combat drills at oil rigs near South China Sea waters Beijing claims

01/20/2012

U.S. and Philippine marines plan to hold combat drills at an oil rig in the South China Sea to bolster the defense of such sensitive facilities in a bold move that may provoke protests from China, which claims waters in or near the location.

Largest Lockheed Martin F-35 Fleet Now Resides at Eglin Air Force Base

01/20/2012

Piloted by U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Joseph Bachmann, BF-7 departs Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base at 2:07 p.m. CST on its 90 minute ferry flight to Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. With the delivery of BF-7, a F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) jet, Eglin is now the home of the largest F-35 fleet in the Department of Defense (DoD).

Lockheed Martin F-35A Performs First Night Flight

01/20/2012

The first night flight in the history of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Program was completed Wednesday at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Piloted by Lockheed Martin Test Pilot Mark Ward, AF-6, an F-35A conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variant, launched at 5:05 p.m. PST and landed after sunset at 6:22 p.m.

Russian Knights to Display New Program at Bahrain Air Show

01/20/2012

The Russkiye Vityazi (Russian Knights) aerial display team will perform a new program at the 2012 Bahrain Air Show and it will be the team’s first foreign performance in four years, Defense Ministry spokesman Col. Vladimir Drik said on Thursday.