Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

China signs deal for 150 Russian fighter jet engines

09/26/2011

Russia's top jet engine-maker has signed an agreement to supply over 100 high powered engines for China's new fleet of fighter jets, but Beijing is yet to ratify the deal as it is apparently miffed by some stiff conditionalties of the deal, a media report said.

Kazakh minister performs first flight on supersonic fighter jet (PHOTO)

09/26/2011

Kazakh Defense Minister Adilbek Jaksibekov flew to the area of the large-scale joint strategic exercises "Center-2011" on a supersonic jet fighter of four plus generation Sukhoi Su-27 from the Astana airport, the Defense Ministry reported on Friday.

Poland Tweaks Its MiG-29s

09/26/2011

Poland has been replacing its Cold War era MiG-29s with F-16s. Currently Poland has 48 F-16s and 32 MiG-29s in service, and those remaining MiG-29s are in serious need of upgrading. There is not a lot of money available to upgrade aircraft. So as a compromise, 16 of the MiG-29s will undergo a basic upgrade. At a cost of about $3 million per aircraft, the MiGs will get new electronics, including jam-resistant GPS and fire control computers.

Upgrades to German military aircraft transponders completed by Cassidian

09/26/2011

Cassidian in Unterschleissheim, Germany, has finished upgrading the identification equipment of all German military aircraft, and has handed over the last installment of its STR 2000 military transponders to the German Procurement Authority BWB. Cassidian, the defense and security division of European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company N.V. (EADS) in Leiden, The Netherlands, has delivered more than 650 transponders were delivered since 2002 to German military forces since 2002, Cassidian offic

BAE Systems plans to cut 3,000 more jobs as defence budgets are squeezed

09/26/2011

Union leaders will seek urgent talks with the defence group BAE Systems after it emerged the firm is planning to axe a further 3,000 jobs in a "shocking" and "devastating" blow to the industry.

F-22s return to flying ops

09/25/2011

Residents in the communities surrounding Holloman Air Force Base can expect the periodic sonic boom to return to the skies over the next two weeks as the base returns to regular F-22 flying operations.

Lockheed Martin Delivers New Personnel Recovery Capability to U.S. Air Force With HC-130J Delivery

09/25/2011

Lockheed Martin today delivered the first HC-130J Combat King II to the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command (ACC). The aircraft was flown from Lockheed Martin Aeronautics' facility to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., by Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force. This aircraft is the first of 11 currently on order.

Tejas undergoes weapon trials

09/25/2011

In a key step towards attaining final operational clearance (FOC) from the India Air Force, the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas is undergoing weapon trials, including firing air-to-air missiles to test its capability to bring down enemy planes.

Typhoon, F/A-18, F-35 could duel in Japan fighter bid

09/24/2011

They don’t want to say it out loud, but here’s what Boeing and Lockheed are thinking right now: “Not again!” According to a report this week in the Financial Times, Japan says it would be open to choosing the Eurofighter Typhoon as its new front-line fighter jet, setting up a possible three-way battle between it, Boeing’s F/A-18 Super Hornet and Lockheed’s F-35 Lightning II.

U.S. sees China fallout from Taiwan arms, no breach

09/24/2011

The United States expects some fraying of relations with China over its $5.3 billion plan to upgrade Taiwan's F-16 fleet but not as "shrill" a reaction as if it had met the request for new fighter jets, the top U.S. military commander in the region told Reuters on Friday.

As drones proliferate, Navy avoids the rush

09/24/2011

With armed drones now deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, Libya and Yemen, there’s huge demand in the U.S. military and CIA to acquire “hunter-killer” unmanned aircraft such as Predators and Reapers. But one branch of the military is generally keeping its distance.

Brazilian aircraft and radars to combat drug trafficking in Central America

09/24/2011

Guatemala will purchase six Brazilian military aircraft Super Tucano, radars and other equipment to combat the narcotics trade traffic of which the Central American country is considered a crucial link between South America and the United States.

Egyptian Air Force becomes new Airbus Military C295 operator

09/24/2011

The Egyptian Air Force has today has taken delivery of its first Airbus Military C295. The aircraft in military transport configuration, was delivered ahead of contract schedule and is part of a three aircraft order placed by the EAF in October last year. The other two aircraft are to be delivered during the last quarter of 2011.

C-130Js improve Bagram's airlift, airdrop capabilities

09/23/2011

The 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron recently filled its ranks with C-130J Hercules aircraft and aircrews as two new units joined the squadron. Almost two dozen C-130Js and a full complement of aircrew and maintenance personnel, split between California Air National Guard's 146th Airlift Wing and Rhode Island Air National Guard's 143rd Airlift Wing, replaced C-130H-model Guard units from Alaska and New York.

Trainers and helicopters stuck in USAF budget limbo

09/23/2011

Three aviation programmes - the Boeing KC-46A tanker, Lockheed Martin F-35A fighter and a next-generation bomber - have received firm and explicit backing from US Air Force leaders against sweeping new budget cuts.

Indian Air Force to seek engine upgrade for fighter aircraft

09/23/2011

The Indian Air Force will seek a more powerful engine for the Sukhoi T-50 fifth-generation stealth fighter jet that is being jointly developed by Russia and India for delivery in 2018, a top government official said. The air force is aiming to induct 250 Sukhoi T-50s with stealth technology, 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft and 120 indigenously built light combat aircraft, known as the Tejas, in addition to upgrading RAC MiG-29, Dassault Mirage 2000H/TH and Jaguar fighter jets.

More aircraft delivered to Afghanistan

09/23/2011

The Afghan air force has received three more G222 aircraft from Alenia North America. The aircraft delivered were the 12th, 13th and 14th of 20 G222 aircraft ordered by the U.S. Air Force for Afghanistan. Alenia North America, a subsidiary of Italy's Alenia Aeronautica and part of the Finmeccanica group, said one aircraft deployed to Kabul this month and the second and third will deploy before the end of September.

Taiwan Requests an Foreign Military Sales Order II in support of different Taiwanese Military Aircraft

09/23/2011

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified U.S. Congress Sept. 21 of a possible Foreign Military Sales Order II (FMSO II) to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States for an estimated cost of $52 million.

RAF Valley Hawk TMK2 fighter jets bring virtual battlezone to skies

09/23/2011

A £17M fighter jet that will create a “virtual battlezone” in the sky is revolutionising the way pilots are trained at RAF Valley. The Hawk TMK2 is now in the process of replacing the existing Hawks at the Anglesey airbase – with state-of-the-art simulated technology bringing warfare into the cockpit. RAF chiefs have now started training-up experienced former frontline pilots that will instruct the first recruits on the new aircraft next April.

Japan says ‘open’ to Eurofighter deal

09/23/2011

Japan is open to choosing a European aircraft as its long-awaited new air defence fighter, despite decades of reliance on the US for imports of sophisticated weapon systems, according to new Japanese defence minister, Yasuo Ichikawa.

Business council urges F-16C/D sale

09/23/2011

The new arms package offered by the US to upgrade Taiwan’s F-16A/B aircraft is not enough to meet Taiwan’s security needs, the US-Taiwan Business Council said in a special commentary on Wednesday. The commentary by US-Taiwan Business Council president Rupert Hammond-Chambers was written in response to a US announcement on Wednesday that it had decided to offer an upgrade of Taiwan’s F-16A/Bs as part of a US$5.85 billion arms deal for Taiwan.

Air Force's F-22 back in service after 4-month grounding

09/22/2011

The U.S. Air Force on Wednesday cleared its F-22 Raptor fleet to return to service following a four-month grounding over concerns that the jets' pilots weren't getting proper oxygen. Bases are cleared to start flying the fighter jets under a "return to flight" plan - with new rules including daily inspections of the life-support systems - that the Air Force announced earlier in the week, said Staff Sgt. Heidi Davis, spokeswoman for the Air Force's Air Combat Command.

IAE Wins New Military Application -- V2500 to Power New Brazilian KC-390

09/22/2011

International Aero Engines arrives at this year's Beijing Air Show with a wider market venue than it has in the past. For the first time in its history, V2500s will be powering military aircraft -- having captured the opportunity to power Embraer's new KC-390 tanker/transport.

A Lose-Lose Fighter Decision

09/22/2011

The Obama administration’s decision to offer upgrades to Taiwan’s aging F-16 fighter fleet will annoy Beijing and unsettle Taiwan. On Wednesday, the Obama administration officially notified the US Congress of its decision to only offer Taiwan an upgrade of existing F-16 A/Bs, rather than the sale of 66 new F-16 C/Ds as the government in Taipei had requested.

Air Force faced with 'new reality': fewer pilots

09/22/2011

U.S. Air Force officials say the number of fighter pilots is likely to decline in coming years, due in part to fewer aircraft and training opportunities, fighter pilots increasingly assigned to non-flying jobs and the lure of lucrative jobs in commercial aviation.