Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

U.S. Air Force To Upgrade 300 F-16s

11/04/2011

The U.S. Air Force will upgrade between 300 and 350 F-16C Block 40 and 50 fighters with new avionics and increased airframe life, a three-star general said before Congress. Testifying Nov. 2, Lt. Gen. Herbert "Hawk" Carlisle, Air Force deputy chief for operations, plans and requirements, also said the service doesn't have enough trained UAV pilots, and that the U-2 isn't quite ready for retirement.

Turkey seeks helicopter deal

11/04/2011

The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency reports that Turkey is seeking the sale of Bell AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopters. The total Foreign Military Sale package includes three AH-1Ws; seven T700-GE-401 engines; inspections and modifications; spare and repair parts; personnel training and training equipment; publications and technical documentation; U.S. government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics personnel support services.

Chinese State Media Threatens Military Action on South China Sea

11/04/2011

China's official media published a strongly worded article on Oct. 25, asking countries who have conflicts with China over the South China Sea region to get prepared for a military resolution. On the same day, however, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced that they will “do their best to peacefully solve,” the conflicts in the South China Sea. The contradictory statements drew attention.

Recent Development Efforts for Military Airships

11/04/2011

During the past decade’s operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, the U.S. military has come to rely heavily on the continuous or nearly continuous presence overhead of both manned and unmanned aircraft to support ground troops. Unmanned aircraft that remain aloft in particular locations (or “orbits”) have been primarily used to provide timely information about activities on the ground and to attack ground targets on short notice.

Pentagon chiefs: bigger defense cuts would hurt US

11/04/2011

Military leaders warned Congress on Wednesday that steeper cuts in defense spending, as either a policy choice or a consequence of political gridlock, will gut the armed forces and sap U.S. global influence.

Iran nuke fears may stir attack plans

11/04/2011

NATO has "no intention whatsoever" of intervening in Iran, the alliance's top official said in response to reports that some governments may be planning a military strike against Tehran's nuclear program. One of those reports came from the Guardian newspaper, which claimed the U.K. military is preparing "contingency planning for potential military action against Iran amid mounting concern about Tehran's nuclear enrichment programme."

Homing in on helicopter defense system

11/04/2011

The Army is looking for a lightweight way to protect its helicopters from shoulder-fired missiles such as those that went missing in Libya during the battles to overthrow Muammar Qadhafi.

A Brief History: One Century of Military Airpower

11/04/2011

Before humans were capable of heavier-than-air-powered flight, thinkers were already conceiving of ways that airpower could be used in warfare. Two years before the Wright Brothers conducted their first successful flights in December 1903, H.G. Wells published his bestselling work of futurology, Anticipations: Of the Reaction of Mechanical and Scientific Progress Upon Human Life.

Lockheed Martin employees, suppliers and officials get a chance to fly fighter jet

11/04/2011

Step into the cockpit of the world's most advanced fighter jet. It's the F-35 Lightning II. Not only can the fifth-generation fighter cruise across the sky at more than 1,200 mph, but the aircraft's stealth capabilities also enable it to fly deep into enemy territory unnoticed.

Quick-acting, effective military doesn't come cheap: top soldier

11/04/2011

The country's top soldier says that the speed with which Canada contributed to the mission in Libya and post-earthquake relief in Haiti would not have been possible without a trained and well-equipped military. But Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Walter Natynczyk, whose department is struggling with pending budget cuts during the first real lull in combat operations since 2006, said such capabilities do not come cheap.

Israel test fires missile; Iran in crosshairs

11/03/2011

An Israeli official said Wednesday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to persuade his Cabinet to authorize a military strike against Iran's suspected nuclear weapons program — a discussion that comes as Israel successfully tests a missile believed capable of carrying a nuclear warhead to Iran.

Airbus Military Targets Southeast Asia

11/03/2011

Airbus Military is betting a new agreement with state-owned Indonesian Aerospace will revive the fortunes of its tactical transport business, by helping it to secure aircraft orders there and elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific region.

ISRAELI JETS IN ITALY NATO BASE SIMULATED LONG RANGE ATTACK

11/03/2011

Israeli jets exercised a long range attack simulation at the NATO Decimomannu base in Sardinia last week. Israeli media reported the event today after news emerged of a possible military strike by Israel against Iranian nuclear sites.

Kenyan Military Says It Plans to Attack 10 Towns in Somalia ‘Continuously’

11/03/2011

Kenya’s military said it plans to “continuously” attack 10 towns in Somalia including Baidoa, where it said two unidentified aircraft delivered weapons to the al Qaeda-linked al-Shabaab group. Other towns that are being targeted include Baydhabo, Afgooye, Afmadow and the port city of Kismayo, MajorEmmanuel Chirchir, spokesman for the Kenya Defence Forces, said in statements on his Twitter account.

Faster, Meaner Apaches Allow Pilots to Control Drones in Battle

11/03/2011

Crews piloting the latest version of the Army’s Apache attack helicopter will be able to fly faster and higher, all while controlling unmanned aircraft during battles, according to Army officials. The first of nearly 700 new or upgraded AH-64D Longbow Apache Block III helicopters that the Army is acquiring under a near $700 million deal with Boeing are set to roll off a production line on Wednesday, according to Sofia Bledsoe, a public affairs officer with Program Executive Office Aviation.

Bell Boeing Team Congratulates Joint V-22 Program on DOD Cost Reduction Award

11/03/2011

The Bell Boeing V-22 Program, a strategic alliance between The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and Bell Helicopter - Textron, today congratulated the Naval Air Systems Command Joint V-22 Program (NAVAIR PMA-275) on receiving the U.S. Department of Defense 2011 Packard Award for acquisition excellence. NAVAIR PMA-275 earned the honor for significantly reducing costs-per-flight-hour (CPFH) across the operational V-22 Osprey fleet.

Boeing, US Army Mark Delivery of 1st AH-64D Apache Block III Combat Helicopter

11/03/2011

The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] celebrated delivery of the first AH-64D Apache Block III multi-role attack helicopter to the U.S. Army today in Mesa. The Block III Apache begins a new era in combat aviation by delivering advanced technologies and capabilities to benefit soldiers and battlefield commanders.

Lockheed Martin’s C-130 Hercules Program Hits Another Historic Milestone

11/03/2011

Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] yesterday celebrated the rolling out of the 250th C-130J Super Hercules built at its facility here. This C-130J is destined for Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, which is scheduled to receive a total of 28 C 130Js. This aircraft is the 2,404th C-130 of all makes and models to be built in Marietta.

Russian missile contract with Syria remains valid – official

11/03/2011

A contract on the supply of advanced Russian anti-ship missiles to Syria is being implemented, head of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation Mikhail Dmitriyev said on Wednesday. Russia has repeatedly said it would honor a 2007 contract on the delivery of several Bastion anti-ship missile systems armed with SS-N-26 Yakhont supersonic cruise missiles to Syria, despite efforts by Israel and the United States to stop the deal.

US ready to offer F-35 JSF stealth jet to India

11/03/2011

Washington is prepared to offer India its latest F-35 Lightning II stealth combat aircraft, otherwise known as the Joint Strike Fighter, according to India’s IANS news agency, after U.S. companies lost a tender earlier this year to sell 126 fighter aircraft to Delhi. If India is interested in the JSF, the United States is prepared to supply information about the aircraft as part of the sales process, according to a Pentagon report on cooperation with India presented to Congress.

US under pressure on F-16 sale

11/02/2011

The administration of US President Barack Obama came under new pressure on Thursday to sell advanced F-16C/D aircraft to Taiwan. While Obama has refused to sell the fighters as part of an arms package announced last month, the White House has said that a sale is still under consideration. That consideration is likely to be boosted by a new report from Stephen Fuller, an economist at George Mason University in Virginia.

Finmeccanica deals eyed as Italian minister visits Qatar

11/02/2011

Italian junior defence minister Guido Crosetto leaves for Qatar on Tuesday on a visit during which he is hoping to help sell M346 military trainers built by Finmecanicca's aircraft unit Alenia Aermacchi, the minister told Reuters.

“Omnirole” Rafale Steals Lead Over Eurofighter Typhoon in Libyan Operations

11/02/2011

While NATO forces fielded the Dassault Rafale and the Eurofighter Typhoon in the UN-mandated war against Gaddafi’s forces in Libya, details emerging from briefings by the U.K. and French air forces about the use of their respective fighters tell that the Rafale was the primary attack plane while the Eurofighter Typhoon provided intelligence through its targeting pods.

India Revises Air Force Training Regime

11/02/2011

That the frequency of Indian combat aircraft crashes is galling would be a bit like calling the Taj Mahal a nice hut. The Indian air force (IAF) is now rebuilding its training regime to finally cure the long-running problems that have attrited men and machines.

RCAF worried Ottawa buying too few F-35 stealth fighters

11/02/2011

Military planners are concerned the Harper government is buying too few F-35 fighters with almost no room for any loss of the stealth jets throughout their projected lifetimes, according to internal Defence Department briefings. “Canada is the only country that did not account (for) attrition aircraft” in its proposal, said an undated capability-and-sustainment briefing given to senior officers late last year.