Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

New Russian weapons: To build or not to build?

03/02/2012

On the last Sunday of February, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin once again reiterated the need for breakthrough ideas for building new weapons. A shortage of cutting-edge military equipment is believed to be one of the main problems faced by the Russian Armed Forces. However, fascination with new technologies could prove to be as dangerous.

Russian Defense Ministry to Buy 92 Su-34 Fighters

03/02/2012

The Russian Defense Ministry has signed a deal for 92 Su-34 Fullback fighter-bombers from the Sukhoi aircraft maker, the ministry said on Thursday. The deal under which the warplanes are to be delivered by 2020 was signed by Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov and Sukhoi General Director Igor Ozar.

Military aircraft. USAF reverses the agreement with Embraer

03/01/2012

USAF reverses its contract for the turbo-engined Embraer Super Tucano, a twin-seated fighter aircraft for ground attack. The decision re-opened the competitive tender for LAS (Light Air Support), or rather an aircraft for close light support, a role assigned for years, since Korea to Vietnam, to the A-1 "Skyraider".

Rafale Revolution in Indian Airspace

03/01/2012

The Rafale deal has the potential to either make or break the country's future in aerospace manufacturing. India's defence procurement orders are a game for the patient. For over five years, a bunch of companies with ambition to grab a chunk of offsets that would accrue to our fledgling aerospace industry have awaited the decision on the multi-role fighter aircraft. The suspense ended when French aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation's fighter plane Rafale was chosen as the preferred bidder.

How the US is Addressing China’s Military Strategy

03/01/2012

President Barack Obama unveiled the new national security strategy on Jan. 5 that directs the military to focus on potential adversaries in Asia and the Pacific. The military shift to the Asia-Pacific is carrying out the Defense Department’s Air-Sea Battle concept, which was laid out in the 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR)—a strategy to “defeat aggression in anti-access environments” and to “deter, defend against, and defeat aggression by potentially hostile nation-states.”

Celebrating 100 years of Marine Corps aviation: Osprey’s long journey to the fleet

03/01/2012

The MV-22 Osprey is a new aircraft with a long story. NASA, the Army and numerous corporations worked to create an aircraft that could land like a helicopter and fly like a plane since the 1970’s. In September 2007, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 became the first Marine squadron to deploy to combat with this capability.

Afghan Forces Lead Air Assault for First Time

03/01/2012

As Afghan National Security Forces begin to take the lead in providing security for their people, coalition forces have moved forward into a mentoring role while conducting joint combat missions. In Regional Command-South, the Kandahar Air Wing, or KAW, took its first steps toward conducting independent operations. On Feb. 21, KAW executed its first air assault operation in Kandahar Province to disrupt and counter Taliban efforts.

Boeing Receives Contract for AC-130U Components

03/01/2012

Boeing has received an $11.4 million indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract from the U.S. Air Force. The first delivery order under this contract is worth $4.6 million and will provide parts to be used to complete installation of 25mm Ammunition Storage and Handling Systems (ASHS) on four AC-130U gunships. The contract also includes spares to support sustainment of the ASHS. The Boeing Fort Walton Beach facility will build the components for delivery to Robins Air Force Base, G

Kyrgyz President 'Mixed Up' Over Russian Military Bases

03/01/2012

Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev confused Russian military facilities when he demanded that Russia pay off a $15-million debt for leasing an air base in the former Soviet republic, Kommersant daily reported on Thursday. Atambayev told Kommersant earlier there was "no need" for the base at Kant. He accused Russia of walking out on its obligations and said the base did nothing but flatter the "vanity of Russian generals."

Tokyo May Cancel Order for U.S. Combat Jets if Price Rises

03/01/2012

Japan may cancel its order to buy 42 U.S.-made F-35 Lightning II stealth combat aircraft if prices grow or delivery is delayed, the Kyodo News Agency said on Wednesday. “If the U.S. side makes an unrealistic proposal, we will cancel the purchase or consider [buying] other types of aircraft,” the agency quoted Japanese Defense Minister Naoki Tanaka as saying.

Russia’s Baltic Radar to Go on Stream 2014

03/01/2012

Russia’s new radar in the Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad will go into operation in 2014, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said on Wednesday. The Voronezh-DM facility was unveiled in November to counter the perceived threat from a U.S.-NATO missile defense system in Europe. “This is a new radar station, which is now on trial duty and will be put on full alert in two years,” he said.

Russia Signs Contract for Navy MiG-29K Fighter

03/01/2012

The Russian Defense Ministry has signed a contract with aircraft maker MiG for the delivery of 20 MiG-29K and four MiG-29KUB carrier-based fighter aircraft, MiG said on Wednesday. "Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov and MiG General Director Sergei Korotkov have signed the contract for the delivery of MiG-29K and MiG-29KUB carrier-based fighters," MiG said in a statement. MiG wil deliver the aircraft from 2013-2015.

US Getting a New Bomber

02/29/2012

The U.S. Air Force is making progress on a new long-range bomber, Air Force Secretary Michael Donley said at a trade conference in Florida last week. “There’s a competition,” Donley said, according to DoDBuzz. “The program is underway, the requirements, the cost parameters have been set by the Secretary of Defense and we’re executing in that direction…we’ve identified the target delivery for the mid ‘20s.”

The Air Force Still Doesn’t Know What’s Choking Its Stealth Fighter Pilots

02/29/2012

America’s newest stealth fighters have a major problem: their pilots can’t breathe, due to some sort of malfunction in the planes’ oxygen-generation systems. For months, the Air Force has been studying the problem, which temporarily grounded the entire fleet of F-22 Raptors and may have contributed to a pilot’s death. Today, the Air Force admitted they still don’t know exactly what’s causing the issue.

Conflict looms in South China Sea oil rush

02/29/2012

When Lt.-Gen. Juancho Sabban received an urgent phone call from an oil company saying two Chinese vessels were threatening to ram its survey ship, the Philippine commander’s message was clear: don’t move, we will come to the rescue. Within hours, a Philippine surveillance plane, patrol ships and light attack aircraft arrived in the disputed area of Reed Bank in the South China Sea. By then the Chinese boats had left after chasing away the survey ship, Veritas Voyager, hired by U.K.-based Forum

Defense Market Survey: U.S. Firms Continue to Rule Global Arms Sales

02/29/2012

The world’s top suppliers of military hardware and combat support services scored sales of $411.1 billion in 2010, and 60 percent of that business went to U.S. companies, according to a study published today by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

The MQ-9's Cost and Performance

02/29/2012

Because of Reaper’s nature, unit-cost estimates can be tricky. Various media reports cite a per-unit cost from $4 million to $5 million. They are quite incorrect.

US Air Force cancels deal for Brazilian-made aircraft

02/29/2012

The US Air Force has canceled a $355 million contract for a light attack aircraft made by Brazil's Embraer, saying it would open an investigation after protests from a rival US aerospace firm, officials said Tuesday. The contract for 20 Embraer AT-29 Super Tucano aircraft was awarded in December as part of plans to arm the Afghan military amid a NATO troop drawdown.

Su-30 Caught Fire Before Crash – Investigators

02/29/2012

The crew of a Su-30 fighter that crashed earlier on Tuesday in Russia’s Far East reported an engine fire before the crash, a spokesman for the Main Military Investigative Directorate said. The Su-30MK2 fighter jet crashed 130 km northeast of Komsomolsk-na-Amure during a post-construction test flight. Both pilots ejected safely, although one of them was hurt on landing.

Su-24 Bombers Resume Flights After Crash

02/29/2012

Russia has partially resumed flights of Su-24 Fencer tactical bombers after one of them crashed in Russia’s Urals, Defense Ministry spokesman Col Vladimir Drik said on Tuesday. “After tests, unit commanders… will receive permission to resume flights of this type of aircraft,” he said. All Su-24s were grounded after one of them crashed in the woods of the Kurgan region during a routine flight on February 13. Both pilots ejected safely.

Despite Weak Economies, Global Military Industrial Complex Sales Still Rising

02/28/2012

Nations around the world are still buying anti-aircraft missiles and fighter plans, no matter the social turmoil or declining economic output their country’s are facing. The total arms sales including sales of military services of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’s annual top 100 international defense contractors maintained their upward trend in 2010, although at just a 1% gain in real terms.

Boeing B-1 Bomber Completes 10,000th Combat Mission

02/28/2012

The Boeing B-1 bomber aircraft has completed its 10,000th combat mission. The heavy bomber entered service with the U.S. Air Force on June 29, 1985, and has been in nearly continuous combat for the past 10 years. The milestone mission took off from a base in Southwest Asia and was flown in support of operations over Afghanistan before returning to base.

Su-30 Fighter Jet Crashes, Crew Ejects Safely

02/28/2012

Two crew members ejected safely after their Su-30 fighter jet crashed 130 km northeast of Komsomolsk-na-Amure during a test flight on Tuesday, according to sources in the regional administration. "Both crew members ejected safely but one was hurt on landing," a regional administration source said. The aircraft belonged to the Komsomolsk-na-Amure factory where Su-30s are manufactured.

Russia Upgrades Syrian Radars to Warn of U.S., Israeli Attack

02/28/2012

Russia has modernized two radars in Syria and Lebanon that could threaten U.S. or Israel’s ability to launch a surprise attack against Syria and Iran, Israeli DEBKAfile portal said on Monday. The range of the Jabal Al Harrah electronic and surveillance station south of Damascus has been increased to cover all parts of Israel and Jordan, the Gulf of Aqaba and northern Saudi Arabia.

Azerbaijan Makes Massive Israeli Weapons Purchase - But Not Because Of Iran

02/27/2012

Azerbaijan has agreed to buy $1.6 billion in weapons from Israel, a massive deal that is likely Azerbaijan's largest single arms purchase ever. The deal will include drones, anti-aircraft and missile defense systems, Israeli officials have told news agencies. The deal would be almost equal to Azerbaijan's stated 2012 defense budget of $1.7 billion (though will certainly be spread out over many years).