Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Ten years since first deadly drone strike, industry gathers in London

11/22/2011

Ten years earlier and almost to the day, the first known lethal drone strike took place, in Afghanistan. The precise date is still a US state secret, since the CIA carried out the killing. The most likely first target was Mullah Akhund, the Taliban number three, who was attacked by a drone some time around November 8 2001. Akhund survived but others were reported to have died.

National Guard makes case to keep citizen-soldiers operational, relevant

11/22/2011

The chief of the National Guard said Friday that after 10 years of war, the Guard is stronger than it's been in its 350-year history. With those wars drawing down, he said he's trying to make the case inside the Pentagon that the Army and Air Guard shouldn't get left behind by budget cuts.

Aquino asks South Korea for military hardware

11/22/2011

President Benigno Aquino III on Monday asked visiting South Korean President Lee Myung-bak for aircraft, boats and other hardware to help boost the country’s military, amid rising tensions with China over the Spratly Islands. Mr. Aquino said he and Lee discussed their respective regional security concerns, which for the Philippines was the situation in the disputed West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), where China has been accused of bullying.

Hollowed out military or empty threats?

11/22/2011

In the budget clash over national defense, the money is in the billions but the rhetoric soars even higher. And the gloom-and-doom forecasts of possible military cuts seem to get more alarming by the day. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has warned that additional cuts would erode national security and even lead to war, encouraging America's enemies to attack.

Air Force issues potential $7.4 billion contract for F-22 upgrade

11/22/2011

The Pentagon announced that it awarded a contract worth as much as $7.4 billion to aerospace giant Lockheed Martin Corp. to upgrade the Air Force's fleet of problem-plagued F-22 Raptor fighter jets. The announcement said that the Bethesda, Md., company would “add new capabilities and enhance the performance" of the aircraft.

Lockheed Martin Demonstrates Advanced Airborne Border Surveillance in Europe

11/22/2011

During a recent European exercise, Lockheed Martin demonstrated advanced border surveillance capabilities from an optionally piloted vehicle. Lockheed Martin and its team showcased how traditional defense focused integrated airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities can be quickly adapted to address dynamic border protection as well as maritime search and rescue needs.

Mideast Setback for Rafale, Dassault

11/21/2011

A stinging rebuke by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to French efforts to sell the Rafale will pressure fighter maker Dassault to smarten up its commercial approach, particularly as the company is a contender in India's bid for a new warplane, analysts said.

Harriers in the Taiwan Strait?

11/20/2011

Despite the Obama administration’s recent rejection of Taipei’s request for new sales of F-16C/D multirole craft, elements of the U.S. government continue to support the future sale of various combat weapons systems to the island nation. Looking at the situation strategically, most observers agree that Taiwan needs new fighters. As it currently stands, the air forces of the Republic of China operates a mix of F-16A/B jets, Mirage 2000s and the domestically-produced Indigenous Defense Fighter.

Lockheed snags $7.4B F-22 support deal

11/20/2011

Lockheed Martin Corp. has landed a $7.4 billion deal to support the U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor program. On Friday, the Defense Department announced the multi-year contract, which was issued by Aeronautical Systems Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Under the deal, Lockheed Martin will be asked to work on a variety of tasks that include developing upgrades, incorporating new requirements, adding capabilities and boosting performance in the F-22 weapon system.

Worries over fighter jet costs ‘clatter and noise’

11/20/2011

Worries over the costs and need of the F-35 fighter jet program are merely "clatter and noise," Defence Minister Peter MacKay said Friday as he reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to the high-tech multi-role aircraft. MacKay and his American counterpart, U.S. Secretary of Defence Leon Panetta, tried to downplay concerns surrounding the multibillion-dollar procurement program, saying they’re confident it is not in jeopardy.

Black box of crashed military jet located

11/20/2011

The "black box" of a military training aircraft that crashed into the Gulf on Friday near the Palm Deira has been located and will be retrieved today. The retrieval of the crash recorder from the wreckage of the Italian M-346 will bring an end to the search operations.

Costly Aircraft Suggests Cuts Won’t Be Easy

11/20/2011

Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta shoved his head into a snug aviator helmet topped with goggles one September morning and swooped into Lower Manhattan on a V-22 Osprey, a $70 million aircraft that Marines use for battlefield assaults in Afghanistan.

Costly Hybrid Craft Symbolizes Hurdles to Military Budget Cuts

11/20/2011

Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta shoved his head into a snug aviator helmet topped with goggles one September morning and swooped into Lower Manhattan on a V-22 Osprey, a $70 million aircraft that Marines use for battlefield assaults in Afghanistan. “How’d you like that gizmo?” Mr. Panetta said after landing at the Wall Street heliport in the Osprey, which takes off like a helicopter, flies like an airplane — and has been responsible for the deaths of 30 people in test flights.

Military plane crashes in Dubai

11/19/2011

A military training aircraft returning to Italy after the Dubai Airshow crashed in the sea near Deira about midday yesterday, less than half an hour after take-off. The two pilots from the Italian-made trainer M-346 ejected from the aircraft just before it went down in the Gulf near the Palm Deira, which is under construction.

Indonesia to buy 24 refurbished US F-16 fighters

11/19/2011

The United States plans to supply 24 refurbished F-16C/D fighter aircraft to Indonesia, the presidents of the two countries announced in Bali on Friday on the fringes of an Asia-Pacific summit.

Israel has fingers crossed on F-35 deal

11/19/2011

Israeli defense officials say they're confident the first squadron of Lockheed Martin's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter will be delivered on time in late 2016 despite problems that have set back the project for at least two years. The officials' optimism, reported in Israel's media, flew in the face of the constant technical setbacks that have plagued the development of the stealthy fifth-generation fighter and suggestions in Congress the high-profile project be scrapped because of massive cost overr

India to wrap up MMRCA deal in four weeks: IAF

11/19/2011

The IAF will make public in four weeks the winner of India's biggest-ever Rs 42,000 crore military contract to acquire 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft ( MMRCA), Air Chief Marshal N A K Browne said.

MacKay dismisses fears about F-35 jet program

11/19/2011

Fears that the F-35 fighter jet program is in jeopardy are nothing more than "clatter and noise," says Defence Minister Peter MacKay. MacKay, who is meeting with U.S. Defence Secretary Leon Panetta in Halifax Friday, said the program is vital to Canadian security and will proceed despite concerns about the cost and need of the 65 jets Canada plans to purchase.

U.S. tests hypersonic weapon

11/19/2011

The U.S. Army has conducted the first flight test of a new weapon concept designed to fly within the earth’s atmosphere at hypersonic speed and long range, the Pentagon said. The U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command launched the Advance Hypersonic Weapon (AHW), “a first-of-its-kind glide vehicle,” at 17:30 GMT Thursday from the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Hawaii. It hit its designated target at the Reagan Test Site at Kwajalein Atoll, about 2,300 miles away.

Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy Review

11/18/2011

After months of average titles and mediocre releases, the Nintendo 3DS is finally beginning to morph into the handheld system that Nintendo always claimed it was. The biggest issues was (and continues to be) the software, but that is slowly beginning to change as more and more franchises are looking to dip their collective toes into the potentially lucrative pool of Nintendo’s waters.

Russia's MiG Aircraft Company develops 3D flight simulator for the MiG-29 Jet Fighter

11/18/2011

MiG is claiming a major first in military aviation with the launch of a 3D flight simulator at the Dubai Air Show, providing volumetric visualization of beyond-the-cockpit space for trainee top guns. The simulator comes complete with the MiG-29's cockpit and actual control systems.

Australia requests C-17 buy

11/18/2011

Australia has asked the United States for the sale of one C-17 Globemaster III aircraft and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support.

Sikorsky Meets Accelerated UH-60M BLACK HAWK Helicopter Deliveries for Sweden

11/18/2011

Sikorsky Aircraft, a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX), today delivered to the U.S. Army the fourth of 15 UH-60M BLACK HAWK aircraft for further transfer to the Swedish Defence Material Administration (FMV).

Kenya asks U.S. for help with Somalia offensive

11/18/2011

Kenya's government has made an urgent appeal to the Obama administration for the Pentagon to provide intelligence and logistical support to Kenya's faltering month-old military operation in Somalia against the Shabab, a powerful Al Qaeda-linked militia.

House panel urges President Obama to sell Taiwan newest version of F-16

11/18/2011

A House panel on Thursday approved two measures urging the White House to sell Taiwan the newest version of the F-16 fighter jet.?? The bills were approved by the House Foreign Affairs Committee weeks after the Obama administration announced in September it was moving forward with a $5.9 billion arms package for its Asian ally.