Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Gripen Finds Its Flaws In Combat

11/18/2011

The Swedish made JAS-39 Gripen jet fighter [PHOTO] got its first combat experience over Libya recently, as part of the UN sponsored humanitarian bombing campaign. As with most aircraft, the first time in combat, problems show up that were not revealed during tests or training. For example, the encrypted radios, fitted out to communicate with NATO aircraft (Sweden is not a member, but is equipped to operate with the alliance), had problems.

Defending Defense: Defense Spending, Super Committee, and The Price of Greatness

11/18/2011

The future of America’s national security hangs in the balance. Facing a looming Thanksgiving deadline, a select bipartisan panel of 12 lawmakers is struggling to hammer out legislation that would reduce the federal deficit by more than $1.2 trillion over the next 10 years. However, it remains unclear if they will succeed.

ADASI joins alliance to support ScanEagle

11/18/2011

Abu Dhabi Autonomous Systems Investments Company signed a deal at the show to create an alliance with American unmanned air systems(UAS)specialist Insitu to provide support and sustainment of Insitu's intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) UAS products and services in the Middle East.

UAE commander confirms Rafale deal is a non starter

11/18/2011

The supreme commander of the UAE armed forces and Crown Price of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al Nayhan spoke publicly about the collapsed deal between Dassault and the UAE Defence Force for its Rafale fighter aircraft saying all the diplomatic and political will in the world would not overcome uncompetitive and unworkable commercial terms.

Mexico takes delivery of its first Airbus Military CN235 MPA

11/17/2011

The Mexican Navy has taken delivery of the first of four CN235 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) ordered from Airbus Military through a contract with EADS North America under the Mérida Initiative, a joint program between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Mexico. The remaining three aircraft will be delivered in the first half of 2012.

Tekkenize Your Planes in Ace Combat: Assault Horizon's DLC

11/17/2011

If there's one problem with today's aircraft it's that they aren't colorful enough. Why fly the skies in a camoflaugh or silver covered aircraft that people have a hard time seeing? You want to be bright, colorful and gaudy as possible so those bogies see you coming a mile away. That way - they know you mean business.

Azerbaijan interested in purchase of Pakistani-Chinese JF-17 combat aircraft

11/17/2011

As Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC), which displayed its products in Dubai Airshow-2011 in UAE, told APA, Azerbaijan shows interest in JF-17 Thunder combat aircrafts jointly produced by Pakistan and China and announced its intention to purchase aircrafts of this type.

UAE says Rafale proposal 'unworkable'

11/17/2011

A long-awaited French deal for Dassault to sell at least 60 Rafale fighter jets worth an estimated $10 billion to the United Arab Emirates hit a new snag on Wednesday when it said proposed terms were "uncompetitive and unworkable."

Beyond Australia, U.S. quietly builds military capabilities in Pacific

11/17/2011

The U.S. military gave new details Wednesday of U.S. military capabilities in the Pacific, amid fresh warnings that China continues to upgrade its navy and weaponry. The details follow the announcement earlier Wednesday by President Obama of new military cooperation with Australia, including the rotation of U.S. Marines to an Australian base near Darwin.

Skyhawk fighters finally sell to US buyer

11/16/2011

The Government may finally get some money out of the long-stalled sale of its mothballed air combat aircraft. A US company JDI Holdings has bought the last eight of its mothballed Skyhawk fighter bombers for $7.9 million and says it is planning to use them for aerial displays and for US Defence Department contracts. JDI has paid a $1m deposit but the deal, which includes spare engines and parts, depends on approval by the US Government.

Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Review

11/16/2011

Namco Bandai wants to do everything in its power to link Ace Combat: Assault Horizon with the uber popular Call of Duty franchise and for the most part, it works as engaging and globe-trotting action fest.

UAE planning to buy more F-16s?

11/16/2011

That's what Flight International reporter Stephen Trimble suggests in a post on the Dew Line blog out of the Dubai Air Show. After years of negotiations, UAE was widely expected to buy Dassault Rafale fighters to go along with its combat jets, notably the special version of Lockheed Martin F-16 developed for the country a decade or so ago, the Block 60.

Apache Block III, latest evolution of the attack helicopter among the most lethal

11/16/2011

The latest version of the most lethal attack helicopter used by the US Military is being managed out of "Redstone Arsenal". According to the product manager Lieutenant Colonel Dan Bailey, Apache Block III is the fastest and most powerful of any aircraft that American soldiers have ever used, and describes it as an "unstoppable horse".

Deals on the ground for mastery of the skies

11/16/2011

Cruising near the speed of sound across the skyline, a fighter jet twists and climbs at a seemingly impossibly sharp angle, several hundred feet in seconds, leaving behind a trail of smoke that dangles in the sky. Onlookers crane their necks, squinting in the sunshine for a better view of the aerobatics.

India’s Big Military Challenge

11/16/2011

As India has put tremendous effort into modernizing its armed forces, so the United States, Russia and the European Union have sought to be the principal providers of advanced military equipment. With a growing defense budget, India is being wooed like never before.

Minister defends F-35 program despite possible U.S. cuts

11/16/2011

Despite signs that budget cuts may signal the end of plans in the U.S. to procure a fleet of new generation high-tech fighter jets, Canada is standing behind the besieged F-35 program and hailing its benefits to the economy and the military. NDP MPs hammered the government over yet another indication Tuesday that the F-35 program, which has been hit by delays and cost overruns, is on shaky ground.

As U.S. Looks to Asia, It Sees China Everywhere

11/16/2011

The last time the remote Australian city of Darwin played a significant role in American military planning was during the early days of World War II, when Gen. Douglas MacArthur used the port as the base for his campaign to reclaim the Pacific from the Japanese.

Russia’s Su-30MK maker boasts order portfolio for 300 fighters

11/16/2011

Russia’s Irkut corporation said on Tuesday it had secured orders for at least 300 Su-30MK fighters and that it had already delivered over half of them. Orders have been placed by India, Algeria and Malaysia, Irkut’s marketing director Andrei Alyoshin said at the Dubai Airshow 2011.

Dubai 2011: UK building stronger bonds in Gulf

11/16/2011

The importance of the Gulf region to the UK has been underlined here at the Dubai Airshow, particularly with ongoing Typhoon export campaigns in the UAE, Qatar and Oman.

Israel, South Korea scrap over jet deal

11/15/2011

Israel and South Korea are increasingly at odds over a $1 billion contract for the Israeli air force's new advanced jet trainer to replace its venerable A-4 Skyhawks, amid reports that Israel has already signed a preliminary deal with Italy to buy a rival aircraft. How this dispute is resolved is likely to determine potentially lucrative Israeli defense contracts with one of the two countries.

Lockheed Martin Recieves $383M Contract From U.S. Army to Maintain Aerostat Detection System

11/15/2011

The U.S. Army awarded Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] a $383 million contract to maintain, operate and sustain the Persistent Threat Detection Systems (PTDS). The tethered aerostat provides real-time, around-the-clock reconnaissance and surveillance of broad geographic areas for warfighters in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Malaysia plans to buy 18 Russian fighter jets

11/15/2011

The Malaysian defense ministry plans to buy 18 Russian Su-30MKM fighters fit to carry Russian-Indian BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, the Izvestia daily said on Tuesday. The paper said, citing military sources, that Malaysian Defense Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi plans on Tuesday to visit the Irkut aviation plant, producing Su-30MKI fighters for India. According to Izvestia, one such aircraft would cost Malaysia about $50 million, future maintenance included.

Russia may sell air defense systems, helicopters to Saudi Arabia

11/15/2011

Russia is close to signing new contracts with Saudi Arabia on the export of helicopters and air defense missiles systems in addition to recent arms deals with Riyadh, state-run arms exporter Rosoboronexport said on Monday.

Dubai 2011: V-22 Osprey makes first appearance in Dubai

11/15/2011

Fresh from operations over Iraq and Afghanistan, the US Marine Corps Bell-Boeing MV-22 Osprey is making its regional airshow debut at Dubai.

Dubai 2011: Production Master M-346 makes Dubai debut

11/15/2011

Though the Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master prototypes have been a regular sight at international air shows, Dubai sees the public debut of the production aircraft, in the shape of the first T-346 to be delivered to the Italian Air Force's Reparto Sperimentale Volo at Pratica di Mare.