Military Aviation News Archive

First Moroccan F-16 pilots to complete training in Arizona

06/30/2011

In July, the Kingdom of Morocco, a strategic partner for U.S. forces in North Africa, will become the 25th country to own and operate F-16s. The pilots tapped to fly them are scheduled to finish training here in time to bring them home, July 30.

IAF to get 5th generation fighter planes

06/29/2011

The induction of 126 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) will enhance the capability of the Indian Air Force which will be procuring the 5th generation fighters by 2017 and by 2027. The country will then have 42 to 45 squadrons as compared to present 34 squadrons, said Chief of Air Staff, Indian Air force, Air Chief Marshal Pradeep Vasant Naik. He was speaking to the media here on Tuesday.

Behind The Eritrean Regime’s Panicked Reaction

06/29/2011

According to the Eritrean regime, the United States has pressured Pakistan to abort a pending aircraft lease and management deal it was negotiating with Eritrea.Citing an un-named “senior Foreign Ministry official”, the Eritrean state media claimed that “Washington is resorting to such illegal acts as part of its hostile attempts of stiffening anti-Eritrea sanctions.” The senior foreign ministry official is reported to have explained that the United States is arguing that the “planes could be u

RAF Tornado ground attack jets clock up one million flying hours

06/29/2011

The Royal Air Force's (RAF) ground attack Tornados currently serving in Afghanistan and Libya have clocked up a staggering one million flying hours over the course of their service. Number 617 Squadron, 'The Dambusters', took the aircraft through the landmark in Afghanistan last week.

Today's laser weapons buzz may mean military deployment will be sooner than we think

06/29/2011

There's suddenly a lot of buzz in our industry about laser weapons development. Several different technological advances and upcoming laser weapons tests has me thinking that the first field deployments of laser weapons may be sooner than we think.

News from Bell

06/29/2011

ell Helicopter has announced its OH-58 Block II demonstrator successfully proved hover out of ground effect performance that exceeds the maximum gross aircraft weight of 5,500 lbs at 6k95 during test flights conducted in Colorado.

Bagdogra IAF meet to discuss China threat

06/29/2011

A two-day commanders' conference of the Eastern Air Command (EAC) will begin at Air Force Station Bagdogra from Wednesday. Air chief marshal PV Naik, IAF chief of air staff, and other officers from Delhi Air headquarters will hold meetings with officers from this part of the country at this conference, which is being hosted by Air marshal KK Nohwar, AOC-in-C, EAC.

The battle to sell fighter aircraft

06/28/2011

"Incredible India" is the title of a ubiquitous advertising campaign that promises surprises around every corner, and the motto certainly applies to the country's ongoing fighter jet competition.

Who’s to blame for Czech L-39 fighter engine failure?

06/28/2011

Czech Defense Ministry partly blames LOM Praha for crash; the state-owned firm says Ukrainian-made engine has structural defect.

PAF to receive P14 billion for modernization

06/28/2011

About P14 billion of the P40 billion allotted by Malacañang to upgrade military capability will go to the Philippine Air Force, PAF chief Lt. Gen. Oscar Rabena said over the weekend.

Indo-US jet trainer - the Indus moment

06/28/2011

A US-India basic trainer would replace some 450 T-38s currently flying in the US Air Force. Add to that an assured market of at least 200 trainer aircraft in India and there is an excellent business case for partnering India in developing the T-38’s successor.

From Tippu Sultan to AK Antony, a French connection

06/28/2011

At the expansive exhibition area at the Le Bourget airport where the Paris Air Show has just concluded, Indian visitors could not but cast a long gaze at the gleaming new French fighter aircraft Rafale, one of the final two short listed for India's $11 billion medium multi-role combat aircraft deal.

Massive Cost Estimate For Fighter Program Is Misleading

06/28/2011

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is the most expensive weapons program the U.S. Department of Defense is currently funding. The reason it’s so costly is that the Clinton Administration decided in 1993 to replace a slew of cold-war combat aircraft operated by three different military services with a single family of planes. The new planes were supposed to be agile, stealthy and versatile — a single-engine airframe produced in three variants that could be sold by the thousands both at home and abroad

UAE looks to purchase five UH-60M Blackhawk helicopters

06/28/2011

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified the US Congress last week of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of the United Arab Emirates of five UH-60M Blackhawk VIP helicopters and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $217 million.

FORMATION AIRDROP PROVIDES NEEDED SUPPLIES, SAVES LIVE

06/27/2011

"We flew a two-ship formation airdrop of C-130s supporting Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force in southern Afghanistan," said the 774th EAS Commander Lt. Col. Rich Adams from Anchorage, Alaska. "We supported them by carrying food, fuel, ammunition and water to support forward operating bases in southern Afghanistan."

nternational procurement network members indicted for supplying Iran with US military aircraft components

06/25/2011

Seven individuals and five corporate entities based in the United States, France, the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) and Iran have been indicted in the Middle District of Georgia for their alleged roles with illegally exporting military components for fighter jets and attack helicopters from the United States to Iran.

US grounds fleet of F-22 fighter jets, indefinitely

06/25/2011

The US Air Force has grounded its entire fleet of F-22 fighters, the most sophisticated combat aircraft in the world, after problems emerged with the plane's oxygen supply, officials said Friday. The radar-evading F-22 Raptors have been barred from flying since May 3 and Air Force officials could not say when the planes would return to the air.

U.S. House Defeats Resolution Authorizing U.S. Military Mission in Libya

06/25/2011

The House voted against authorizing President Barack Obama to continue U.S. air support for allied bombardment against forces loyal to Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi and moved to try to restrict funds for the operation. After defeating, on a 295-123 vote, the Democratic- sponsored resolution to authorize military support for the bombing operation, the House debated separate legislation to bar U.S. forces from combat in Libya.

RAF Tornado: It's a world leading combat aircraft

06/25/2011

From its outset Tornado was designed as a world-class combat aircraft and it is a testament to the design and the outstanding military and civilian personnel who operate, maintain and support it that it continues to provide world class capability in the modern combat environment.

Lockheed ponders F-35 sale to India

06/25/2011

Lockheed indicated it could still be in the running for an $11 billion fighter jet sale to India despite the government rejecting its F-16 aircraft. Lockheed Martin's stealth F-35 Lightning II, still in the development stage, could be on the table if the foreign sale is approved by the U.S. government, although no firm decision has been made by Lockheed, a spokesman for Lockheed said at the Paris Air Show.

Missing SAMs in Libya alarms the West

06/24/2011

The United States and its allies are concerned that al-Qaida and other terrorist groups may have got their hands on scores, if not hundreds, of shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles plundered from Libyan military bases after the civil war erupted there in March.

Marines, Air Force train together to refuel

06/24/2011

Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 533 pilots and weapon systems operators conducted aerial refueling training with Air Force KC-135 Stratotankers here June 13. Aerial refueling extends the range of fighter aircraft on transits across great distances, increasing the operability of pilots and weapon systems operators to complete missions and training operations.

A military show, Paris is not

06/24/2011

While there are many military aircraft on display from the U.S. and aroudn the world and the Eurofighter entertains the spectators with its aerial acrobatics, the Paris Air Show is all about the commercial jets.

IAF seeks direct control of HAL to stem eroding combat-edge

06/24/2011

With an eye on the future and fed up with the "bureaucratic culture" pervading Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), the country's only aircraft manufacturer, IAF now wants the control of the navratna defence PSU.

Italian firm favours government route for military sale

06/24/2011

Seeking to increase its share in the growing Indian defence spending, Finmeccanica, an Italian conglomerate, hopes that Italy could sell military and other equipment to India through the government instead of through the current commercial engagement.