Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Kenyan Military Says It Plans to Attack 10 Towns in Somalia ‘Continuously’

11/03/2011

Kenya’s military said it plans to “continuously” attack 10 towns in Somalia including Baidoa, where it said two unidentified aircraft delivered weapons to the al Qaeda-linked al-Shabaab group. Other towns that are being targeted include Baydhabo, Afgooye, Afmadow and the port city of Kismayo, MajorEmmanuel Chirchir, spokesman for the Kenya Defence Forces, said in statements on his Twitter account.

Faster, Meaner Apaches Allow Pilots to Control Drones in Battle

11/03/2011

Crews piloting the latest version of the Army’s Apache attack helicopter will be able to fly faster and higher, all while controlling unmanned aircraft during battles, according to Army officials. The first of nearly 700 new or upgraded AH-64D Longbow Apache Block III helicopters that the Army is acquiring under a near $700 million deal with Boeing are set to roll off a production line on Wednesday, according to Sofia Bledsoe, a public affairs officer with Program Executive Office Aviation.

Bell Boeing Team Congratulates Joint V-22 Program on DOD Cost Reduction Award

11/03/2011

The Bell Boeing V-22 Program, a strategic alliance between The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and Bell Helicopter - Textron, today congratulated the Naval Air Systems Command Joint V-22 Program (NAVAIR PMA-275) on receiving the U.S. Department of Defense 2011 Packard Award for acquisition excellence. NAVAIR PMA-275 earned the honor for significantly reducing costs-per-flight-hour (CPFH) across the operational V-22 Osprey fleet.

Boeing, US Army Mark Delivery of 1st AH-64D Apache Block III Combat Helicopter

11/03/2011

The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] celebrated delivery of the first AH-64D Apache Block III multi-role attack helicopter to the U.S. Army today in Mesa. The Block III Apache begins a new era in combat aviation by delivering advanced technologies and capabilities to benefit soldiers and battlefield commanders.

Lockheed Martin’s C-130 Hercules Program Hits Another Historic Milestone

11/03/2011

Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] yesterday celebrated the rolling out of the 250th C-130J Super Hercules built at its facility here. This C-130J is destined for Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, which is scheduled to receive a total of 28 C 130Js. This aircraft is the 2,404th C-130 of all makes and models to be built in Marietta.

Russian missile contract with Syria remains valid – official

11/03/2011

A contract on the supply of advanced Russian anti-ship missiles to Syria is being implemented, head of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation Mikhail Dmitriyev said on Wednesday. Russia has repeatedly said it would honor a 2007 contract on the delivery of several Bastion anti-ship missile systems armed with SS-N-26 Yakhont supersonic cruise missiles to Syria, despite efforts by Israel and the United States to stop the deal.

US ready to offer F-35 JSF stealth jet to India

11/03/2011

Washington is prepared to offer India its latest F-35 Lightning II stealth combat aircraft, otherwise known as the Joint Strike Fighter, according to India’s IANS news agency, after U.S. companies lost a tender earlier this year to sell 126 fighter aircraft to Delhi. If India is interested in the JSF, the United States is prepared to supply information about the aircraft as part of the sales process, according to a Pentagon report on cooperation with India presented to Congress.

US under pressure on F-16 sale

11/02/2011

The administration of US President Barack Obama came under new pressure on Thursday to sell advanced F-16C/D aircraft to Taiwan. While Obama has refused to sell the fighters as part of an arms package announced last month, the White House has said that a sale is still under consideration. That consideration is likely to be boosted by a new report from Stephen Fuller, an economist at George Mason University in Virginia.

Finmeccanica deals eyed as Italian minister visits Qatar

11/02/2011

Italian junior defence minister Guido Crosetto leaves for Qatar on Tuesday on a visit during which he is hoping to help sell M346 military trainers built by Finmecanicca's aircraft unit Alenia Aermacchi, the minister told Reuters.

“Omnirole” Rafale Steals Lead Over Eurofighter Typhoon in Libyan Operations

11/02/2011

While NATO forces fielded the Dassault Rafale and the Eurofighter Typhoon in the UN-mandated war against Gaddafi’s forces in Libya, details emerging from briefings by the U.K. and French air forces about the use of their respective fighters tell that the Rafale was the primary attack plane while the Eurofighter Typhoon provided intelligence through its targeting pods.

India Revises Air Force Training Regime

11/02/2011

That the frequency of Indian combat aircraft crashes is galling would be a bit like calling the Taj Mahal a nice hut. The Indian air force (IAF) is now rebuilding its training regime to finally cure the long-running problems that have attrited men and machines.

RCAF worried Ottawa buying too few F-35 stealth fighters

11/02/2011

Military planners are concerned the Harper government is buying too few F-35 fighters with almost no room for any loss of the stealth jets throughout their projected lifetimes, according to internal Defence Department briefings. “Canada is the only country that did not account (for) attrition aircraft” in its proposal, said an undated capability-and-sustainment briefing given to senior officers late last year.

Hero pilot lands crippled plane

11/02/2011

A Boeing 767 with 231 people on board has made an emergency landing, skidding down the runway on its belly at Warsaw Airport after its landing gear failed. Fire and ambulance crews were deployed and all 220 passengers and 11 crew on the plane of national carrier LOT Polish Airlines were able to disembark safely.

NATO officially ends Libya operations

11/02/2011

NATO has ended its Libyan military campaign after thousands of combat sorties and billions of dollars of alliance and individual participant expenditures. The alliance's no-fly zone and naval blockade, which began in March, were terminated at midnight Monday after the U.N. Security Council closed the book on the mandate authorizing military action to protect Libya's people from the Moammar Gadhafi regime.

Stealth Jet Could Be Unsafe for Flight Training

11/02/2011

The military could be putting pilots’ lives at risk in its hurry to begin training with the next-generation F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

Investigation Finds U.S. Military Drones Have Flown Close to 3 Million Hours

11/02/2011

They fly over Africa, Asia and Europe, as well as North and South America. Some are literally thrown into the air by human hands. Others take off like traditional airplanes. Some carry only simple video cameras. Then there are those packing 3,750 pounds worth of bombs and missiles whose operators “fly” the planes from air-conditioned trailers located thousands of miles from the war zone.

New Kyrgyz president calls for closure of U.S. air base

11/02/2011

Kyrgyzstan’s President-elect Almazbek Atambayev has called for the closure of the United States’ airbase at Manas in the central Asian republic. “I don’t think the base at Manas guarantees the security of our country. I would not want to see another country carry out a retaliatory strike against the base. A civil airport is a civil object, and it should remain so,” he said.

Pentagon concludes "should cost" review of F-35

11/01/2011

The Defense Department on Monday said it had finished an initial review of what the next batch of F-35 fighter jets should cost, and would brief the manufacturer, Lockheed Martin Corp, shortly.

India asks for C-130J aircraft

11/01/2011

India has asked the United States for six Lockheed Martin C-130J aircraft in a Foreign Military Sales deal worth a total of $1.2 billion.

United Arab Emirates (UAE)... A Mind To Acquisition (Satellite)

11/01/2011

The United Arab Emirates has reopened negotiations with France regarding the acquisition of a military surveillance satellite that would allow the Gulf Arab nation to monitor Iranian activity. Talks between UAE and France regarding the satellite may be tied to a larger $10 billion defense deal involving the purchase of 60 Rafale combat aircraft from French manufacturer Dassault Aviation.

Pentagon may shift focus to Asia-Pacific

11/01/2011

The Pentagon is considering investing more of its funding in military platforms for the Asia-Pacific region and less on tools for counterinsurgency, defense sources say. The change in thinking is being spurred by a soup-to-nuts strategy review at the Pentagon that was initiated last spring to help the Defense Department navigate budget cuts.

S. Korea Pursues Stealth Drone Demonstrator

11/01/2011

When you have a mountain to climb, it makes sense to get an early start. With that in mind, South Korea is moving rapidly into the demonstrator phase for a stealthy combat drone that it does not expect to field until late in the next decade.

Explosions damage four Yemeni fighter jets at Sanaa airport

11/01/2011

Explosions that damaged four Yemen military aircraft and temporarily closed Sanaa's airport is under investigation, a military official said yesterday. "I can confirm the blast inside the base did not occur by any shelling. We are still investigating the reasons behind the blast," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to media.

Boeing Receives Contract to Upgrade B-1 Bomber Avionics Software

11/01/2011

The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has received a follow-on contract from the U.S. Air Force for additional upgrades of the B-1 bomber fleet's avionics software.

Russia’s new AWACS plane enters service

11/01/2011

A modernized A-50U airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft entered service with the Russian Air Force on Monday, an AF spokesman said. The aircraft has an advanced onboard computer, satellite communication and radar systems, Col. Vladimir Drik said.