Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Drone hits cargo plane in Afghanistan

08/23/2011

There are new concerns about the safety of drone technology, after an unmanned aircraft hit a military cargo plane over Afghanistan. No one was hurt, but as drone technology expands, some are concerned a disastrous drone accident is just waiting to happen. The American drone that collided with a huge air force cargo plane was only 12 feet long. But the collision forced the huge Air Force plane to make an emergency landing in Afghanistan, and it's raising questions about the safety of UAVs.

China threatens US blue waters

08/23/2011

The chief worry is China’s new DF-21D whose primary target is America’s huge aircraft carriers. According to Chinese sources, the DF-21D anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) has recently become operational in limited numbers. Originally developed for submarines, the DF-21D is said to have a range of 2,700km and at least some capability to strike moving targets.

Turkey holding rival talks on aircraft with Koreans, Swedes

08/23/2011

Besides an ongoing plan to develop a fighter jet program with the US or Europe, Turkey is seeking to broaden its fleet with a second option. South Korea’s KAI and Sweden’s Saab are the two possible partners, according to a Turkish procurement official. Turkey is supposed to take part in the design of the possible project.

Nato may never get the chance to go this far again

08/23/2011

In PROSECUTING the air campaign against the forces of Colonel Muammar al-Gaddafi there can be no doubt Nato far exceeded the action mandated by UN Resolution 1973. Only in a reading so broad as to make a mockery of language could the phrase "all necessary measures to protect civilians" be taken to justify the punitive ground-attack sorties undertaken by assorted warplanes.

NATO Campaign Won't Be a Model for Future Action

08/23/2011

NATO officials say the campaign won't necessarily be seen as a template for further intervention in the Middle East. The Libyan campaign had United Nations backing, giving it a legitimacy that the U.N. isn't likely to bestow too readily on other interventions, observers say. Cash-strapped Western governments and their war-weary publics have little appetite for more costly and riskier military adventures.

Is Typhoon the end of history for UK aerospace?

08/23/2011

No question about it — the Brits have given the world some classic combat aircraft: The Spitfire. The Harrier. The Fairey Gannet. The Buccaneer. Their joint ventures with European partners have also been successful, including the Jaguar, the Tornado and most recently, the Eurofighter Typhoon. But the outgoing boss of UK aerospace supplier GKN warns that with the realities of the defense world today, the Typhoon could be Britain’s last fighter — and it’s only a portion British to begin with.

Boeing CONECT Upgrade Successful in Flight Test Aboard B-52

08/23/2011

Boeing on Aug. 3 successfully completed an evaluation flight of the B-52 Combat Network Communications Technology (CONECT) interphone system. The six-hour flight from Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., evaluated the interphone system's readiness for formal flight tests and accomplished formal flight tests of other CONECT capabilities. The interphone system enables crew members to communicate with one another, other aircraft and the ground.

Boeing Receives UK Contract for 14 New Chinooks

08/23/2011

Boeing has received a $1.64 billion (£1 billion) contract from the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) to provide 14 new CH-47 Chinook helicopters and associated support for the first five years to the Royal Air Force (RAF). The new-build CH-47 Mark (Mk)-6 Chinooks are part of the MOD's Strategic Helicopter Vision to modernize its helicopter force structure, and will expand the RAF fleet to 60 Chinooks.

DARPA Reveals Fate of Hypersonic Mach 20 Plane

08/22/2011

A superfast unmanned military plane traveled at 20 times the speed of sound and managed to control itself for three minutes before crashing into the Pacific Ocean in a recent test, military officials said.

RAF strikes around Tripoli intensify as Col Gaddafi loses grip on power

08/22/2011

In the last 48 hours RAF strikes around Tripoli have intensified dramatically with both Tornado and Typhoon jets bombarding multiple targets around the Libyan capital.

War costs may top $3.7 trillion

08/22/2011

When congressional cost-cutters meet later this year to decide on trimming the federal budget, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq could represent juicy targets. But how much do the wars actually cost U.S. taxpayers?

US deports Taiwanese for China exports plan

08/21/2011

A Taiwanese who was convicted of conspiring to export defense articles from the US to China on Tuesday was deported and returned to Taiwan, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said on Wednesday.

US expert urges F-16 sale

08/21/2011

A leading US expert on the Chinese military says that by 2020, Beijing could have 2,000 or more missiles, nearly 1,000 modern combat aircraft, 60 modern submarines and a potential invasion force of many hundreds of thousands of troops “pointed at Taiwan.”

Denel to probe Cheetah in-flight incident

08/19/2011

One of 12 former South African Air Force (SAAF) fighter aircraft, sold to Ecuador for more than R550-million, has been quarantined following an unspecified "in-flight" incident in the South American country. On Thursday Denel Group spokesperson Sinah Phochana confirmed that a Fuerza Aérea Ecuatoriana (FAE) pilot was hospitalised after suffering injuries on Monday.

Superfast Military Aircraft Hit Mach 20 Before Ocean Crash, DARPA Says

08/19/2011

A superfast unmanned military plane traveled at 20 times the speed of sound and managed to control itself for three minutes before crashing into the Pacific Ocean in a recent test, military officials said. The prototype Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle 2 (HTV-2), billed as the fastest aircraft ever built, splashed down in the Pacific earlier than planned on Aug. 11 shortly after launching from California's Vandenberg Air Force Base on its second-ever test flight.

Boeing gives guarantees to Brazil in fighters bid

08/19/2011

Boeing Co. says it will provide a full transfer of technology to Brazil if the U.S.-based company wins a $5 billion fighter-jet bid. The president of Boeing Military Aircraft tells Brazil's Senate that the South American country would be able to fully produce the F-18 Super Hornet if it purchases the planes from Boeing.

Grand Illusion: The Era Of Manned Aircraft Is Ending

08/19/2011

Earlier this week, the Associated Press released a story on the outlook for military contractors that ended with an absurd observation by Brookings Institution senior fellow Michael O'Hanlon. The widely quoted military analyst said, "the era of manned airplanes should be seen as over," and he went on to imply that politics is the main reason Washington hasn't acknowledged the inexorable trend away from use of human pilots.

Taiwan in the Lurch

08/19/2011

According to a report in Defense News, the Obama administration quietly informed Taiwanese officials last week that Washington won't supply Taipei with new fighter jets. Since 2006, Taipei has asked to buy 66 new F-16 C/D fighters, but it will only get an upgrade of its older F-16s with better radar.

Boeing Demonstrates 'Swarm' Reconnaissance with Unmanned Aircraft

08/19/2011

Boeing today announced the successful autonomous communications and operation of dissimilar unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in flight tests over the rugged terrain of eastern Oregon.

Boeing to Provide Simulator-based Training for Australian Army Kiowa Pilots

08/19/2011

Boeing today announced that it will use a Helimod helicopter simulator leased from Ryan Aerospace to help train Australian Army pilots to fly Bell 206B-1 Kiowa helicopters. Delivery is expected before the end of this year.

Russia to get 2nd aircraft for Open Skies inspections in 2012

08/19/2011

Next year Russia will build its second aircraft specially equipped for international aerial inspections under the Open Skies Treaty, Vladimir Verba, the director general of Vega concern, said on Thursday. Russia's first-built Tupolev Tu-214ON aircraft with installed equipment for aerial inspections was showcased for the first time at the MAKS-2011 International Air Show in the Moscow Region running between August 16 and 21.

Selfridge Air Show

08/18/2011

Aviation buffs and military fans will have a rare opportunity to get up close and personal with military aircraft and the performers during the Selfridge Air Show. The event, set for Saturday and Sunday at Selfridge National Air Guard Base, will feature a mix of military and civilian aircraft.

Russian military pilots offer U.S. colleagues joint demo flight at MAKS show

08/18/2011

Representatives from the United States Air Force are pondering a proposal from their Russian colleagues to perform a joint demonstration flight at the tenth international aerospace show, MAKS 2011, which opened in Zhukovsky near Moscow on Tuesday, a source from the flight control unit at the show told Interfax-AVN.

BAE Systems in Fife secures £20m Eurofighter Typhoon deal

08/18/2011

Electronics workers in Fife have landed a £20m order to help build one of the world's most advanced radar systems. BAE Systems at Hillend near Dunfermline will embark on building the next generation of the Typhoon combat aircraft. That will mean about 200 jobs will be secured for the next two years.

Russia sees orders for fifth generation jet from 2015

08/18/2011

Russia expects initial orders for its fifth-generation T-50 fighter jet to be booked from 2015, United Aircraft Corporation's chief said on Tuesday. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is due to watch the first public display of the stealth fighter at the MAKS airshow, where Russia is showcasing its top-of-the-line fighter jets and hoping to win civil aircraft contracts.