Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Sukhoi gets contract to build latest lot of Su-34 jet fighter bombers as part of 92-aircraft deal through 2020

03/05/2012

The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation in Moscow has signed a contract with Sukhoi Co. JSC in Moscow to build the latest production lot of 32 Su-34 jet fighter-bombers for the Russian air force, Sukhoi officials announced. The Su-34, which NATO calls the Fullback, is being designed to replace the Sukhoi Su-24 Fencer and the Tupolev Tu-22M Backfire bombers as Russia's front-line jet strike fighter.

Indian Air Force holds war games in northeast part of India

03/05/2012

Preparing to meet military threats from China, the Indian Air Force has been conducting a major war exercise in the northeast, in coordination with the army, to test their combat potential. "The Indian Air Force's (IAF) Shillong-based Eastern Air Command commenced the exercise codenamed 'Pralay' (Apocalypse) on Feb 29,"a air force officer said.

Plane blows up at Yemen air force base

03/05/2012

A "mysterious" blast ripped through a Yemeni military plane at an air force base near Sanaa international airport on Sunday without causing any casualties, an airport technician told AFP. "An Antonov aircraft blew up in mysterious circumstances while it was on the tarmac at Dulaimi air force base," the technician said, adding that no one was reported hurt in the explosion.

Sikorsky offers military choppers to India

03/05/2012

Sikorsky's Executive Vice President for India and South Asia, Air Vice Marshal Arvind Jeet Singh Walia (retd), told India Strategic defence magazine (www.indiastrategic.in) that at present the offer was to make a naval variant of the famous Black Hawk, designated MH-70B Sea Hawk, if the Indian Navy opts to buy this aircraft.

Northern Fleet Gets Modernized Anti-Submarine Plane

03/05/2012

The Russian Navy's Northern Fleet has accepted into service a modernized Ilyushin Il-38N anti-submarine warfare aircraft, which will also carry out electronic intelligence (ELINT) duties, the Northern Fleet's press spokesman Captain Vadim Serga said on Monday.

Sources: General approves F-35 flight ops

03/04/2012

The head of Air Education and Training Command has approved test pilots at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., to begin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter flight operations next week, sources said Friday. Eglin’s two qualified test pilots, Air Force Lt. Col. Eric Smith and Marine Maj. Joseph Bachmann, will take to the air on Tuesday, weather permitting. The decision was made by Air Force Gen. Edward Rice, commander of Air Education and Training Command.

Defense manufacturer changes course to LED lighting

03/04/2012

Marine Electric Systems, a South Hackensack-based maker of parts for aircraft carriers and other military equipment, had a problem. The company had to find a way to defend itself against a shrinking defense budget. It found a solution by building what could be described as a better non-bulb light. It has retooled to sell light panels that use light-emitting diodes — LEDs — to illuminate construction sites, mining operations and other places calling for high-powered lighting.

Helicopter makers such as Boeing, Sikorsky Aircraft Corp, Bell Helicopter eye Indian military deals

03/04/2012

A raft of helicopter makers such as Boeing, Sikorsky Aircraft Corp, Bell Helicopter, Eurocopter and AgustaWestland are hovering over the civil market in India. But they are also eyeing a bigger prize: military deals. The Indian armed forces are upgrading their ageing fleet and that means big orders and big money, running into billions of dollars, for these companies.

China military budget tops $100bn

03/04/2012

China's official defence spending will rise by 11.2% in 2012, pushing it above $100bn (£65bn) for the first time, the government has announced. Beijing's defence budget has risen each year for two decades to become the world's second-biggest, behind the US. It is developing an aircraft carrier, a stealth fighter jet, and missiles that can shoot down satellites.

SLAF rebuilds North and East

03/04/2012

On March 2, 1951, against all the odds that happened in the world simultaneously, Sri Lanka got its safety wings fixed. It was the establishment of a native air force to protect the sovereignty of the country which was then known as Ceylon.

‘HAL slipping up on deliveries as it handles too many projects'

03/04/2012

Are too many projects spoiling the broth for defence enterprise Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd? On a day its new Chairman from outside the organisation took charge four months after the previous one retired, the junior Defence Minister clearly said HAL was not meeting critical aircraft delivery schedules of its primary customer - the Air Force - as it had far too many projects on its plate.

India sets date for scrapping MiG-21 jets

03/03/2012

India will begin phasing out its dreaded MiG-21 fighter jets - nicknamed "the flying coffin" - in 2014, Defense Minister A.K. Antony told a parliamentary committee. Pilots, former pilots and families of pilots who have died in MiG-21 crashes have been pressing the government for years to scrap the aircraft. India purchased 946 of the aircraft, many of them made in India, in the past 45 years.

Fifth generation fighters crucial to air superiority

03/03/2012

The Air Force is the world's most advanced air and space force and, with the integration of fifth generation aircraft, is gaining new tactical advantages that transcend beyond just stealth into areas such as enhanced maneuverability, multi-role capabilities and fused sensor and avionics systems that can communicate with other weapons systems.

US Air Force to spend $9 million on up to 18,000 iPads

03/03/2012

Air Mobility Command, which provides transport and refueling services to the US military using cargo planes and other military aircraft, announced on Friday that the US Air Force will be buying as many as 18,000 iPads worth over $9 million to be used as electronic flight bags by its pilots. Apple’s tablets will replace the bulky paper-based flight bags traditionally used by its pilots.

Obama and Israel: Setting the Record Straight

03/03/2012

When President Obama addresses the annual conference of the influential American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) next week, he will be given an important opportunity to set the record straight on his administration's handling of U.S.-Israel relations. The president's outreach to the Arab and Muslim world, as well as his policy and personal differences with Prime Minister Netanyahu, have led to charges that he is either insufficiently "pro-Israel" or downright "anti-Israel."

More cash for less flash: Reaper UAVs said much more costly than manned aircraft

03/03/2012

The MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle isn't cheaper to buy than some manned military aircraft it's frequently compared with; the UAV is from two to six times more costly, Winslow Wheeler writes in Time Magazine's Battleland blog. Media reports cite a per-unit cost from $4 million to $5 million for the Reaper, but they're wrong, writes Wheeler, the director of the Straus Military Reform Project of the Center for Defense Information in Washington.

Boeing scores another Air Force production contract for Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System

03/03/2012

U.S. Air Force aviation experts needed helmet-mounted targeting systems for the U.S. Navy, as well as for air forces in Pakistan, Belgium, Australia, Canada, Switzerland, and Finland. They found their solution from the Boeing Co. Defense, Space & Security segment in St. Louis.

Indian Air Force holds war games in northeast part of India

03/03/2012

The Indian Air Force has been conducting a major war exercise in the northeast part of the country in coordination with the army to test their combat potential, reported a local daily Friday in Guwahati, state capital of Assam. "The Indian Air Force's (IAF) Shillong-based Eastern Air Command commenced the exercise codenamed 'Pralay' (Apocalypse) on Feb. 29," an air force officer was quoted as saying.

Upgraded Il-76 Plane to Make Maiden Flight in Summer

03/03/2012

Russia’s modernized Ilyushin Il-76MD-90A aircraft, also known as the Il-476, will conduct its maiden flight by the end of June, Ulyanovsk-based Aviastar aircraft maker said on Friday. The Il-476 is an extensively modified variant of the Il-76 freighter, with new engines, reinforced wing, modernized cockpit, and heavier payload. The aircraft will be primarily built for the Russian Armed Forces and Emergencies Ministry.

Indian navy purchasing 9 more recon planes

03/02/2012

The Indian government has allocated its navy funds to buy an additional nine mid-range reconnaissance airplanes for nearly $1 billion. The new aircraft will assist in maintaining India's Indian Ocean security and supplement the Indian navy's earlier order of P-8I Poseidon long-range reconnaissance airplanes from U.S. defense manufacturer Boeing.

Boeing wins support deal for Seoul's F-15s

03/02/2012

Boeing has won a $300 million performance-based logistics support contract with the South Korean military to maintain the air force's F-15K Slam Eagle fighter jets. The five-year deal will ensure long-term viability of the Boeing F-15K aircraft, of which South Korea is believed to have around 60.

Swedish military: New jets needed

03/02/2012

Sweden's military says it needs up to 80 new Gripen fighter jets to replace its indigenous aging fleet of fighter aircraft. The Swedish Ministry of Defense said in a statement that it needs 60-80 planes because the upgrade program for the fighter jet system isn't to begin until 2020 and will take about 10 years.

Cold War still lives for U-2 aircraft

03/02/2012

As a sleek black U-2 roared back from a mission, Pontiac muscle cars zoomed along the runway to help it touch down using a low-tech method dating back more than half a century to when this Cold War-era aircraft was cutting-edge. "It's notorious for being hard to land," the pilot said after climbing out of the cockpit.

Airbus Military Signs Contract with Kazakhstan for Two C295 Aircraft

03/02/2012

Airbus Military has signed a firm contract with Kazspetsexport, a State Company belonging to the Ministry of Defence of Kazakhstan, to supply two C295 military transport aircraft plus the related service support package for spare parts and ground support equipment. The aircraft will be operated by the Air Forces of Kazakhstan in support of their transport missions throughout the nation’s vast territory.

US Still Interested in Brazilian Military Aircraft

03/02/2012

The United States is still interested in the Brazilian-made Super Tucano light aircraft, a top State Department official said Thursday, days after the U.S. Air Force said it was rescinding a $354 million contract for such aircraft. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns said the U.S. "is in the midst of some internal processes" related to the deal for 20 light air-support aircraft by Brazil's Embraer.