Military Aviation News Archive

Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Review

11/16/2011

Namco Bandai wants to do everything in its power to link Ace Combat: Assault Horizon with the uber popular Call of Duty franchise and for the most part, it works as engaging and globe-trotting action fest.

UAE planning to buy more F-16s?

11/16/2011

That's what Flight International reporter Stephen Trimble suggests in a post on the Dew Line blog out of the Dubai Air Show. After years of negotiations, UAE was widely expected to buy Dassault Rafale fighters to go along with its combat jets, notably the special version of Lockheed Martin F-16 developed for the country a decade or so ago, the Block 60.

Apache Block III, latest evolution of the attack helicopter among the most lethal

11/16/2011

The latest version of the most lethal attack helicopter used by the US Military is being managed out of "Redstone Arsenal". According to the product manager Lieutenant Colonel Dan Bailey, Apache Block III is the fastest and most powerful of any aircraft that American soldiers have ever used, and describes it as an "unstoppable horse".

Deals on the ground for mastery of the skies

11/16/2011

Cruising near the speed of sound across the skyline, a fighter jet twists and climbs at a seemingly impossibly sharp angle, several hundred feet in seconds, leaving behind a trail of smoke that dangles in the sky. Onlookers crane their necks, squinting in the sunshine for a better view of the aerobatics.

India’s Big Military Challenge

11/16/2011

As India has put tremendous effort into modernizing its armed forces, so the United States, Russia and the European Union have sought to be the principal providers of advanced military equipment. With a growing defense budget, India is being wooed like never before.

Minister defends F-35 program despite possible U.S. cuts

11/16/2011

Despite signs that budget cuts may signal the end of plans in the U.S. to procure a fleet of new generation high-tech fighter jets, Canada is standing behind the besieged F-35 program and hailing its benefits to the economy and the military. NDP MPs hammered the government over yet another indication Tuesday that the F-35 program, which has been hit by delays and cost overruns, is on shaky ground.

As U.S. Looks to Asia, It Sees China Everywhere

11/16/2011

The last time the remote Australian city of Darwin played a significant role in American military planning was during the early days of World War II, when Gen. Douglas MacArthur used the port as the base for his campaign to reclaim the Pacific from the Japanese.

Russia’s Su-30MK maker boasts order portfolio for 300 fighters

11/16/2011

Russia’s Irkut corporation said on Tuesday it had secured orders for at least 300 Su-30MK fighters and that it had already delivered over half of them. Orders have been placed by India, Algeria and Malaysia, Irkut’s marketing director Andrei Alyoshin said at the Dubai Airshow 2011.

Dubai 2011: UK building stronger bonds in Gulf

11/16/2011

The importance of the Gulf region to the UK has been underlined here at the Dubai Airshow, particularly with ongoing Typhoon export campaigns in the UAE, Qatar and Oman.

Israel, South Korea scrap over jet deal

11/15/2011

Israel and South Korea are increasingly at odds over a $1 billion contract for the Israeli air force's new advanced jet trainer to replace its venerable A-4 Skyhawks, amid reports that Israel has already signed a preliminary deal with Italy to buy a rival aircraft. How this dispute is resolved is likely to determine potentially lucrative Israeli defense contracts with one of the two countries.

Lockheed Martin Recieves $383M Contract From U.S. Army to Maintain Aerostat Detection System

11/15/2011

The U.S. Army awarded Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] a $383 million contract to maintain, operate and sustain the Persistent Threat Detection Systems (PTDS). The tethered aerostat provides real-time, around-the-clock reconnaissance and surveillance of broad geographic areas for warfighters in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Malaysia plans to buy 18 Russian fighter jets

11/15/2011

The Malaysian defense ministry plans to buy 18 Russian Su-30MKM fighters fit to carry Russian-Indian BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, the Izvestia daily said on Tuesday. The paper said, citing military sources, that Malaysian Defense Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi plans on Tuesday to visit the Irkut aviation plant, producing Su-30MKI fighters for India. According to Izvestia, one such aircraft would cost Malaysia about $50 million, future maintenance included.

Russia may sell air defense systems, helicopters to Saudi Arabia

11/15/2011

Russia is close to signing new contracts with Saudi Arabia on the export of helicopters and air defense missiles systems in addition to recent arms deals with Riyadh, state-run arms exporter Rosoboronexport said on Monday.

Dubai 2011: V-22 Osprey makes first appearance in Dubai

11/15/2011

Fresh from operations over Iraq and Afghanistan, the US Marine Corps Bell-Boeing MV-22 Osprey is making its regional airshow debut at Dubai.

Dubai 2011: Production Master M-346 makes Dubai debut

11/15/2011

Though the Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master prototypes have been a regular sight at international air shows, Dubai sees the public debut of the production aircraft, in the shape of the first T-346 to be delivered to the Italian Air Force's Reparto Sperimentale Volo at Pratica di Mare.

Dubai 2011: Pakistan commander 'Thunders' his approval

11/15/2011

Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman, Pakistan's Chief of the Air Staff, underlined the importance of the new JF-17 Thunder which, he said, “represented a much-needed capability for the Pakistan Air Force”.

Dubai 2011: Russia displays its wares in own pavilion

11/15/2011

The joint Russian exhibition (pavilion: W560) has been organised by the state corporation Russian Technologies. Rosoboronexport, the sole Russian exporter and importer of military and dual-purpose products, technologies and services, is representing a host of products from the Russian aerospace industry, including the Su-35 and MiG-29M/M2 multifunctional fighters, Yak-130 combat trainer and the Be-200 amphibious aircraft.

Dubai 2011: Paveway WiPak-ing a punch by WiFi

11/15/2011

Raytheon has completed the development and testing of a new 'WiPak' method of wirelessly integrating its Paveway family of laser-guided and dual-mode (laser/GPS) bombs.

Dubai 2011: RAF Typhoon pilot outlines his longest mission

11/15/2011

Taking off from Gioia del Colle in Italy, Patounas met up with his wingman (in this event in a Tornado) off the Libyan coast, from where they were directed to Bani Walid. They located and attacked a tank, loitering in the area for an hour. Reports of gunfire then resulted in them being vectored to Sirte, where they discovered nothing more lethal than a local firework display, patrolling for another hour.

Africa: America's Role in Continent's Strife

11/14/2011

As Kenyan troops push their way into Somalia's hinterland in pursuit of Al-Shabaab militants, several security analysts and observers allege an unseen hand behind Operation Linda Nchi. The allegations have been riding on the wave of unconfirmed reports in the early days of the incursion that claimed that unmanned American drones had attacked several targets inside the lawless nation.

DUBAI: Irkut boss touts Yak-130 credentials for Middle East

11/14/2011

Irkut is at the show promoting its Yakovlev-designed Yak-130 advanced jet trainer for the Middle Eastern market, as it also nears the receipt of a new order from the Russian air force and first deliveries to export customer Algeria.

High Speed Blackouts Are Deadly

11/14/2011

The U.S. Air Force recently revealed that an F-16 pilot, killed when his aircraft dove into the ground during an air combat training exercise, appears to have passed out because high G-forces while making a high-speed turn at 6,000 meters (18,000 feet). Fighter pilots are equipped and trained to deal with handling up to 9 Gs. But some of these methods require the pilot to contract abdominal muscles and take a deep breath to maintain consciousness.

X360 Review - 'Air Conflicts: Secret Wars'

11/14/2011

The current console space has its fair share of World War II flight combat games. Early on, there was the arcade action of both Blazing Angels games followed by Heroes Over Europe and the simulation title, IL-2 Sturmovik. All four games had both good and bad qualities, but ever since, developers have preferred the comfort of modern flight combat. Air Conflicts: Secret Wars revisitsthat heroic era, and although it's a budget title, there is some fun tucked away here.

PAF participate in Dubai Air Show 2011

11/14/2011

Pakistan Air Force is participating in Dubai Air Show-2011, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister of UAE, Sheikh Muhammad Bin Rashid Al-Makhtum, on Sunday. Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force also attended the inaugural ceremony along with a large number of delegations from different countries including Air Chiefs of a number of Air Forces, said a press release.

Bell-Boeing Sees Mideast Interest For V-22 Military Aircraft -Execs

11/14/2011

The Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey, a tiltrotor military transport aircraft, is likely to get its first international customer from the Middle East, where its debut at the Dubai Airshow received interest from United Arab Emirates royals, program executives said Sunday. "The first international customer will come from the Middle East," said John Garrison, president and chief executive of Bell Helicopter, which runs the program in an alliance with Boeing Co.