Military Aviation News Archive

Bahrain 2012: Al Fursan Knights stage Bahrain debut

01/20/2012

The UAEAF&AD decided to form its own formation team after witnessing the success of the Saudi Hawks and the long-established Royal Jordanian Falcons teams.

How China is advancing its military reach

01/19/2012

As the US shifts its focus to Asia, Alexander Neill, head of the Asia Security Programme at the Royal United Services Institute, sets out the Chinese military advances challenging the regional balance.

Electronic Arts sues to use aircraft images

01/19/2012

A U.S. video game maker says it wants a court to rule it can use images of modern weapons and aircraft without paying licensing fees to their manufacturers.

Sikorsky Aircraft Selects GE Aviation

01/19/2012

GE Aviation has been selected by Sikorsky Aircraft as a member of a newly-formed team that is building a next-generation helicopter for evaluation by the U.S. military.

Russia to start special military maneuvers

01/19/2012

Russia’s Defense Ministry has begun preparations for the Caucasus 2012 strategic command-and-staff exercise (SCSE). According to the ministry’s official announcement, this year’s exercise will be held on a larger scale and more in line with the current military and political situation than the one held in 2011.

Afghan air force learns to fly - and fix aircraft

01/19/2012

The challenge of forging a modern, technically proficient air force in a country at war is an immense but essential element in the West's exit strategy. The target date for having an Afghan Air Force able to operate fully independently, with about 8,000 trained personnel and 145 aircraft, is 2016.

Bahrain 2012: Fighter contenders line up

01/19/2012

Dassault's Rafale and Eurofighter's Typhoon briefly sat side-by-side in the static display here at the show, with a US Navy Boeing Super Hornet close by. The Typhoon was later moved to a less controversial location, near the Royal Bahraini Air Force F-16.

Night Hunter: An all-new combat helicopter

01/18/2012

The global market for helicopter machinery is one of the biggest in both the civil and military segments, and customers are very demanding. A striking example of the fierce competition in this market is the Indian defence ministry’s recent international tender for 22 attack helicopters.

Russian Knights arrival marks beginning of BIAS 2012

01/18/2012

Preparations for the Bahrain International Air Show 2012 began with the Russian Knights touching down at the Shaikh Isa Airbase at Sakhir in their blue-coloured Sukhoi combat aircraft, followed by the Russian transport aircraft.

Air Force F-35s, Drones May Square Off in Budget Battle

01/18/2012

Unmanned aerial vehicles have become a potent portion of the U.S. Air Force inventory and an indispensable weapon in the global war on terror. But a budget crunch and turf wars with old-guard pilots could threaten progress made during 10 years of combat, experts said.

Mexico’s T-6C+ Turboprop Planes: SIVA’s 1st Counterpart

01/18/2012

On Jan 9/12, Hawker Beechcraft announced that it had sold 6 new T-6C+ military trainers to the Mexican Air Force (FAM), with deliveries to begin to “an advanced training base in Mexico’s northern region” in early 2012. This is almost certainly Santa Gertrudis, in Chihuahua.

Navy’s Unmanned Combat Aircraft Flying Under Cloud of Uncertainty

01/18/2012

The Navy expects to invest a growing share of its aviation research dollars in unmanned aircraft as it seeks to extend the reach and endurance of its carrier-based air wings. The science behind unpiloted flying is well understood by now, after years of progressively more frequent deployments of drones by the U.S. military.

New AWACS Plane Enters Russian Air Force Service

01/18/2012

A modernized A-50U airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft entered service with the Russian Air Force on Tuesday, Defense Ministry spokesman Col Vladimir Drik said.

Russia’s 3rd Su-35S fighter starts test flights

01/18/2012

Russia's Sukhoi aircraft manufacturer started test flights of its third series-produced Su-35S Flanker-E multirole fighter on Tuesday, the company said. The aircraft took off from the Komsomolsk-on-Amur airfield in Russia's Far East, spending more than two hours in the air testing propulsion and control systems.

Carrier Ready for India After Eight Year Wait

01/18/2012

A Russian aircraft carrier which is being refurbished for the Indian Navy will begin sea trials in May for the first time in two decades and is to be handed over to India by December 2012, a shipyard official said on Tuesday.

South Korea Creates A Jet Fighter

01/17/2012

South Korea has ordered twenty locally made FA-50 fighter-bombers, for $30 million each. The aircraft will be equipped with South Korean, American and Israeli electronics. The single engine, single seat aircraft is intended to eventually replace South Korea's aging fleet of 150 F-5 fighters.

Embraer Leads Brazilian Aviation Industry to Banner Year in 2011

01/17/2012

Brazilian Aircraft maker Embraer saw a 28% growth in sales of its E-jet line alone, delivering 204 jets and leaving a backlog of 249 firm orders worth more than US$15 Billion.

Mission Impossible: F-35C jet fighter unable to land on carriers

01/17/2012

A design flaw in the US Marine Corps version of the F-35 Lightning II, which prevents it from landing on an aircraft carrier, could see the highly advanced vehicle grounded indefinitely.

Not much there there: A small, defensive military “build-up”

01/17/2012

The administration appears to be doing what it thinks will avert one. Military force is playing a quiet and relatively minor role. There has been more “messaging” about force in the last few weeks than actual force activity.

SIMPSON: Bureaucracy killing U.S. troops in Afghanistan

01/17/2012

The U.S. military has developed the best system in the world for dealing with combat casualties. As medical technology has advanced, new methods of treatment have been developed, and the speed and efficiency of transport from the battlefield to essential medical services has greatly increased chances for combat wounded to survive.

Russian air force to buy 30 Ka-226 helicopters by 2020

01/17/2012

The Russian Air Force is to acquire up to 30 Kamov Ka-226 light helicopters for courier and communications duties by 2020, Defense Ministry spokesman Vladimir Drik said on Monday. “By the end of January the (Torzhok) center will get four light Ka-226 helicopters. By 2020 we plan to buy 30 of them,” he said.

New airframe adds strike capability to Afghan air force

01/16/2012

In the Afghanistan government's continued effort to independently battle counterinsurgency, a new tool will be added to their arsenal designed to allow versatility, reconnaissance and precision weapons placement to the growing Afghan air force. Announced Dec. 30, the U.S. Air Force has approved a contract worth more than $350 million that will provide the Afghan air force with at least 20 A-29 Super Tucano light air support aircraft, ground training devices and all associated maintenance.

Decision on Multi Role Combat Aircraft deal in 10 days

01/16/2012

The winner of the multi billion dollar deal to procure 126 combat planes for the Indian Air Force is expected to be announced in the next ten days. European EADS Eurofighter and Desault Rafale are in the final race for the Air Force global tender for the Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA). The process to determine the L1 (lowest bidder) is under progress and is expected to be decided in another ten days, top IAF sources said here today.

Top ten military strategic issues from Obama's 'pivot' to East Asia

01/16/2012

The Obama Administration recently released a military strategic guidance document, which calls for a strategic “pivot” from the Middle East to East Asia. This bold move replaces President George W. Bush’s “long war” against violent Islamic extremism with a new, ongoing effort to shape China’s military rise.

BAE and L-3 Join Forces on Bidding Hawk Training Jet For U.S. Air Force Program

01/16/2012

BAE Systems, Inc. and L-3 Communications today announced that L-3 Link Simulation & Training, a division of L-3 Communications, is joining the Hawk Advanced Jet Training System (AJTS) team as an exclusive partner to compete for the U.S. Air Force’s T-X program. As a principal supplier to BAE Systems, Inc., L-3 Link will lead the design and integration of the Hawk AJTS Ground Based Training System (GBTS) for the United States Air Force.