Military Aviation News Archive

Hawker Beechcraft Sues Over Air Force Bidding

12/28/2011

Aircraft manufacturer Hawker Beechcraft Corp. filed suit Tuesday in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims after it was excluded from an Air Force contest to supply a small number of attack planes to Afghanistan and other allies.

Venezuela ranked top importer of Russian arms

12/28/2011

Venezuela became the largest importer of Russian arms for ground forces in 2011, the Moscow based Center for Analysis of World Arms Trade (CAWAT) said on Tuesday. Russia delivered a large consignment of arms to Venezuela under contracts signed in 2009 and 2010, CAWAT head Igor Korotchenko said without offering any figures.

Indian Pilots Fear Their Russian Aircraft

12/27/2011

The commander of the Indian Air Force recently took an hour-long flight in one of Indias Russian made Su-30MKI jet fighters. This was to reassure Indian pilots that the Su-30MKI was safe. One had crashed recently, and there were widely publicized reliability problems with the engines used in the Su-30MKI, and many of the other Russian designed and built components of the aircraft.

IAF may buy jets used by US in Iraq

12/27/2011

Advantage in purchasing military equipment, senior IDF officer explains, is in the price, which would likely be dramatically lower than buying same equipment new. Due to the ongoing upheaval in the Middle East and potential delays to existing procurement plans, the IDF is looking at the possibility of purchasing fighter jets and other platforms used by the United States military in Iraq.

Harrier Gets AMRAAM

12/27/2011

For the first time, U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B STOVL (vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft are being armed with long-range AMRAAM air-to-air missiles. Although the AV-8B is primarily a ground attack aircraft, it can also be quite effective in air-to-air combat. The first AMRAAM equipped AV-8Bs are aboard the amphibious ship (which looks like a small carrier) USS Makin Island.

Unmanned Helo Makes First Delivery to Marines

12/27/2011

Unmanned systems have revolutionized combat aviation, providing a colossal advantage in the fight against terror with surveillance and close-air support. Recently, a detachment of Marines from Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 1 in Afghanistan added aerial resupply to the list of UAV capabilities. The detachment completed its first unmanned aerial system cargo delivery in a combat zone using a helicopter in Afghanistan, Dec. 17.

Govt to announce winner for 126-plus combat jets in 2012

12/27/2011

The government is all set to announce the winner of the Indian Air Force (IAF) competition for 126-plus combat jets early in 2012. Authoritative sources told India Strategic defence magazine that the process was nearing completion but there were volumes of paperwork and the complicated costs involving Transfer of Technology (ToT), Offsets, Lifecycle Upgrades and Maintenance Support. Every detail was being looked into as this was India’s - and the world’s - single biggest defence tender yet in t

Life and death of American drones

12/27/2011

The drone had been in the air for close to five hours before its mission crew realised that something was wrong. The oil temperature in the plane’s turbocharger, they noticed, had risen into the “cautionary” range. An hour later, it was worse, and it just kept rising as the minutes wore on. While the crew desperately ran through its “engine overheat” checklist trying to figure out the problem, the engine oil temperature, too, began skyrocketing.

Europe loses out in Asian arms market

12/27/2011

It was the second win in Asia for the JSF (in 2007, Australia placed an initial order for 24 F-35s, and Canberra could acquire up to 100 aircraft). This order was the latest in a string of losses for the leading European fighter aircraft programmes, the Eurofighter Typhoon and the French Rafale. If these programmes do not secure an export order soon, it could be the end of their chances to sell to one of the world's most lucrative arms markets: Asia.

Iran vows to counter ‘US covert war’

12/27/2011

Iran has capability to disrupt any military plots the U.S. may seek to implement against it, Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi said on Monday. Iran has the requisite technology and equipment, including unmanned aerial vehicles, to “counter electronic and covert warfare,” Vahidi was quoted by Press TV as saying.

Israel Cancels Military Contract With Turkey to Supply Aerial System

12/26/2011

The Israeli government has canceled a $141 million contract to supply Turkey with an advanced aerial intelligence system, Israeli officials confirmed on Friday. The move appeared to reflect a profound reassessment of strategic ties with Turkey, a former ally, months after Turkey downgraded diplomatic relations with Israel.

Avantel communication system for Boeing

12/26/2011

The first batch of P-81 maritime reconnaissance aircraft being purchased by the Indian Navy from Boeing Corporation of US will carry a vital and innovative mobile satellite service (MSS)-based communication system developed by Hyderabad-based firm, Avantel.

Iran starts massive naval exercise

12/25/2011

Iran launched a large-scale 10-day naval exercise on Saturday in an area stretching from the east of the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Aden, Press TV reported. The exercise, codenamed Velayat 90, will feature advanced weapon systems and technology, including Tareq and Ghadir submarines, ground-to-sea missile systems and torpedoes.

ND Air National Guard to get four new aircraft

12/23/2011

$480 million in funding will bring a C-27 J Spartan Aircraft here to Fargo. Senator John Hoeven says this aircraft gives North Dakota's National Guard empowerment and a stronger voice in shaping the nation's defense policies. This new aircraft provides key support for our nation's defense and homeland security operations. It's a versatile cargo aircraft used to transport materials in support of combat operations.

Unmanned cargo helicopter operating in Afghanistan

12/23/2011

An unmanned helicopter capable of carrying more than 3,500 pounds of cargo (1.6 tonnes) has begun supplying troops in Afghanistan, US military officials said Thursday. It is hoped the K-MAX, which conducted its maiden flight with cargo in a combat zone on Saturday, will help save lives by reducing the need for vehicle convoys which are often a target of roadside bombs.

F-35 Will 'Revolutionize' Combat Power In The Pacific

12/23/2011

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter will be a cornerstone of Japanese defense. The Japanese know something about technology. And as a leader in technology worldwide, the Japanese decision validates the cutting edge role of the F-35.

Philippines seeks second-hand F-16s from United States

12/22/2011

The Philippines has asked the United States, its closest security partner, to give it at least a squadron of second-hand F-16 fighters to help upgrade its territorial defences, the foreign secretary said on Wednesday. The Philippines has no air power to speak of, with its 40-year-old F-5A/Bs fighter jets retired from service several years ago. It has no bombers or surveillance aircraft and still flies Vietnam War-era UH-1H helicopters.

IAF Chief flies Sukhoi to restore confidence

12/22/2011

India's Air Chief on Wednesday flew a one-hour sortie in a Sukhoi combat jet in a bid to restore his pilots' confidence after doubts were raised over the aircraft's safety following a crash on December 13, the third since the plane was inducted in 1997.

Small air force with a big reputation

12/22/2011

Never colonised, Oman has benefited from a long and close alliance with Britain, which helped transform the tribal levies and palace guard of Muscat and Oman into modern armed forces.

North Korea's idle war machine

12/22/2011

News of the death of Kim Jong-il was accompanied by conspicuous muscle flexing by the North Korean military. The “Dear Leader” left behind an enormous war machine, the maintenance of which consumes the bulk of the country’s daily activities. How does this machine work and what does the future hold for it?

The Drone That Fell From the Sky

12/22/2011

The drone had been in the air for close to five hours before its mission crew realized that something was wrong. The oil temperature in the plane’s turbocharger, they noticed, had risen into the “cautionary” range. An hour later, it was worse, and it just kept rising as the minutes wore on. While the crew desperately ran through its “engine overheat” checklist trying to figure out the problem, the engine oil temperature, too, began skyrocketing.

F-35 fighter deal brings Japan multiple benefits

12/22/2011

With its Dec. 20 decision to purchase Lockheed-Martin's Joint Strike Fighter F-35 Lightning II as Japan's next generation fighter aircraft, the Japanese government gets to have its cake and eat it too. What Japan wants is simple: the most advanced military technology available (or at least better than what China has); activity in the domestic weapons industry; and good relations with the United States. They get all this and then some with the F-35.

Saudi Hawk crashes during training mission

12/22/2011

A Saudi Hawk jet aircraft of the Royal Saudi Air Force crashed during a training mission in the north-western region (Tabuk) yesterday morning, the Saudi Telegraph has reported. The newspaper reported that an official source of the Ministry of Defence said the crash was caused by a bird collision, which led to a malfunction in one of its engines. The source said the pilot managed to eject safely in a parachute.

Oman orders second squadron of F-16s

12/22/2011

The US Department of Defense has announced that Lockheed Martin has been awarded a $600 million fixed-price foreign military sales contract for the supply of 12 additional Block 50 F-16 C/D fighters (eight single-seat F-16Cs and four two-seat F-16Ds) to the Royal Air Force of Oman.

Fifth Airbus Military A400M development aircraft makes first flight

12/21/2011

The fifth Airbus Military A400M military airlifter has made its first flight, marking the end of a highly successful year for the programme and meaning that the full fleet of Grizzly development aircraft is now in the air, completing the flight-test programme. Known as Grizzly 5, the aircraft took off from Seville, Spain with a take-off weight of 125 tonnes at 08:55 local time (GMT+1) and landed back at Seville 2 hours 10 minutes later.