Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

India takes delivery of first of 80 Mi-17s

11/09/2011

India has taken delivery of the first batch of 80 Mi-17V-5 tactical transport helicopters ordered under a $1.345 billion deal in 2008, Russian arms sales agency Rosoboronexport said on Tuesday. The helicopters are being built by Russian Helicopters' Kazan Helicopter Factory (KVZ) subsidiary.

Russian Air Force to receive 65 Yak-130 jet trainers by 2017

11/09/2011

The Russian Defense Ministry will sign a contract with aircraft construction company Irkut on the delivery of 65 YakovlevYak-130 advanced jet trainers within the next two weeks, the commander-in-chief of the Russian Air Force, Col. Gen. Alexander Zelin, said on Tuesday. The contract is expected to be fulfilled by 2017, he said, without elaborating on the contract price of the jets.

MV-22 makes Dubai debut in bid for export deals

11/08/2011

The Bell Boeing joint venture will bring the MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor to the Dubai air show for the first time, as it continues to push for the type's first export sale.

Phony U.S. military electronics traced to China

11/08/2011

The U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee is planning to crack down on counterfeit electronic parts, which more often than not originate in China and eventually make their way to U.S. military weapon systems. The committee, led by Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., released the results of a months-long investigation on Monday.

USAF general: Iraqi air defenses to have two-year ‘gap’

11/08/2011

The U.S. general in charge of training Iraq’s fledgling air force said Monday that there are no plans to have American aircraft protect the country’s airspace when U.S. forces depart next month.The Iraqi air force is in the process of acquiring 18 F-16 fighter jets from the U.S., but the jets and pilots won’t be ready for at least two years, according to Maj. Gen. Russell J. Handy, commander of the 9th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force-Iraq, and director of the Air Component Coordination El

Spain extends Airbus Military maintenance contract for C212 fleet

11/08/2011

The Spanish Ministry of Environment, Rural Affairs and Fisheries has extended its existing contract with Airbus Military for the maintenance of three C212 aircraft for two more years. These C212 aircraft are used by the Fisheries Inspections Department for the surveillance of Spanish territorial waters.

Israel, U.S. to hold largest-ever joint aerial defense drill next year

11/08/2011

With Iran said to be on its way to obtaining a nuclear weapon, Israel and the United States plan to hold the largest-ever joint exercise aimed at testing their defense against ballistic missiles. The drill, dubbed "Austere Challenge," is scheduled to take place in May 2012, and will simulate Israel's ballistic missile defense in action, the Israel Hayom daily reported on Monday.

Military transport aircraft modernized for Kazakh Air Defence Forces

11/08/2011

Kazakhstan’s Air Defence Forces have received the first modernized Antonov An-12 military transport aircraft. It was repaired and re-equipped at an aircraft factory in the Russian city of Taganrog. Among other things, navigational equipment was installed to ICAO standards in the cargo aircraft, which allows it to fly outside Kazakhstan. The An-12 is also referred to as a similar aircraft to the American Lockheed C-130 Hercules which is widely used around the world.

General: National Guard is a bargain in these challenging times

11/08/2011

We are at a critical point regarding our nation’s security. The weak U.S. economy and massive national debt are currently the biggest threats to our country. Attempts to decrease our nation’s debt will result in the Department of Defense budget reductions of $400 billion and future cuts to our military are expected to increase over $1 trillion in the next 10 years.

Lockheed Martin to Modernize 29 U.S. Air Force Early Warning Long-Range Surveillance Radars

11/08/2011

The U.S. Air Force awarded Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] $46.8 million in contract options to begin modernizing 29 long-range radars which provide advanced warning and air traffic control surveillance over North America’s airspace.

New ATC tower equipment goes operational at Iraqi air bases

11/08/2011

The procurement, integration, testing, and installation of the new equipment was carried out by Arinc Engineering Services of the USA. The new technology allows Iraq’s Air Force to establish efficient operational control with modern equipment in the towers at the two airbases, as part of the rebuilding of Iraq. Arinc performed the work under a US Air Force Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract, awarded by the USAF Electronic Systems Center (ESC) Aerospace Management Systems Division.

Russian planes spark NATO scramble in Baltic

11/08/2011

NATO jets were scrambled Monday as four Russian air force planes flew near the territory of the Baltic states, Lithuania's defence ministry said, adding that the unusual number was a cause for concern, AFP reported. Defence ministry spokeswoman Ugne Naujokaityte said that four Danish F-16 fighters, which currently police the skies of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, took to the air twice to escort the Russian planes.

Missing MiG-29 pilot’s remains found in Himachal

11/07/2011

The remains of the pilot of the MiG-29 combat jet that crashed in Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul Valley last month have been recovered after a fortnight-long combing operation in the snow-capped mountains, the Indian Air Force (IAF) said Nov 6.

Another reason Israel can postpone attack on Iran

11/07/2011

When you add up F-4 (Phantom), F-16 and F-15, you get F-35. The next fighter plane of the Israel Air Force is taking shape on Lockheed Martin's production line and flight lanes here, in Dallas' sister city. The industrial and technological prowess of the largest military corporation in the world, with annual revenues exceeding $40 billion, cannot fail to impress visitors from Israel. The thorn in the rose is a financial one: The F-35 will be right on the money, but only if paid in full.

Brigadier General Dick Lord

11/07/2011

Brigadier General Dick Lord, the Fleet Air Arm pilot who has died aged 75, was instrumental in the development of America’s Top Gun fighter pilot academy, made famous by the film of the same name.

Multiple missteps led to drone killing U.S. troops in Afghanistan

11/06/2011

On the evening of April 5, a pilot settled into a leather captain's chair at Creech Air Force Base in southern Nevada and took the controls of a Predator drone flying over one of the most violent areas of southwestern Afghanistan. Minutes later, his radio crackled. A firefight had broken out. Taliban insurgents had ambushed about two dozen Marines patrolling a bitterly contested road.

Improving the F-18 Super Hornet

11/06/2011

The details are emerging as Boeing and rival Lockheed Martin, with its Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), move from being cut out of the Indian Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft and look to non-JSF partners like Japan for new business. Along those lines, Boeing’s concept for a newer Super Hornet is intended to improve the basic airframe in terms of thrust/weight ratio, acceleration, agility, maneuverability, combat persistence, low-observable characteristics and sensor capabilities.

MMRCA deal: Europe versus France contest begins for world's biggest combat aircrafts

11/06/2011

Now, battle-lines for the Europe versus France contest, after elimination of US and Russia in earlier rounds, have been clearly drawn. India on Friday opened the financial bids of the two fighters left in the fray for the world's biggest combat aircraft deal, but promptly declared it would take at least two-three weeks to declare the eventual winner since tons of data had to be computed.

Last of Canadians enforcing Libya no-fly zone return home

11/06/2011

The last of the Canadian pilots and aircrew who helped enforce a UN-sanctioned no-fly zone over Libya have returned home to a military air base in Nova Scotia.

Ace Combat: Assault Horizon PlayStation 3 Review

11/06/2011

The Ace Combat series has long been known for its heavy action bent and disregard for the more accurate side of flight sim territory, and the latest instalment, Assault Horizon, is no different, and once more discards any pretence at real flight mechanics in favour of total arcade thrills.

Air Force modernization takes B-2 to North Pole

11/05/2011

A B-2 Spirit flew from Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., to the North Pole and back Oct. 27 on a mission to test the aircraft’s hardware and software upgrades, endurance and its performance at extremely high latitudes.

Boeing Submits Multiyear Contract Proposal to US Army for CH-47F Chinook Production

11/05/2011

The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has submitted a proposal to the U.S. Army for a multiyear contract for the production and delivery of 155 CH-47F helicopters.

India fighter jet deal soars to $20bn

11/05/2011

An Indian contract to buy 126 fighter jets from one of two European bidders could be worth more than $20bn, almost double the original estimate, according to government officials. The defence ministry revised up its initial $11bn estimate after opening bids on Friday from the Eurofighter Typhoon consortium and France’s Dassault, the maker of the Rafale aircraft, a ministry official told the Financial Times.

Ace Combat Assault Horizon Presents F-16C Patriot Skin

11/05/2011

Namco Bandai, in conjunction with the United States Air Force (USAF) and partner GameStop, have joined forces to bring even more intensity to Ace Combat Assault Horizon, the top-flight action shooter. Namco Bandai is giving fans even more than they already have – including exclusive video content and a custom aircraft skin, the F-16C Patriot.

Rethink U.S. military base plans for Japan

11/05/2011

On his inaugural trip to Asia as secretary of defense, Leon Panetta offered reassuring words throughout the region that America’s presence in the Western Pacific will not decline as a result of the ongoing military budget reduction process in the United States.