Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Nellis Air Force jets gear up battle exercises

04/15/2011

Southern Nevada and Southern California residents will continue to see increased military aircraft activity as the Air Force flies Green Flag West 11-6. Missions, which take place April 15-29 at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif., will be flown between 3 p.m. and midnight the first week and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. the second week. The exercise flight path includes areas within the Las Vegas valley, to and from Nellis AFB and the NTC, near Mount Charleston, and north of Pahrump in Nevad

Canada mulls call for more jets for Libya campaign

04/15/2011

NATO has made an appeal for more aircraft as the war against the regime of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi appears to have stalled. But the Canadian Forces has yet to indicate whether more CF-18 fighter jets will be joining the campaign. Britain and France have been lobbying NATO members to provide more military resources while NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen told a foreign ministers' summit the alliance needs more aircraft for the Libyan mission.

Aero lands major contract for Brazilian military plane

04/15/2011

In a statement, the major Brazilian producer of civil and military aircraft said that Aero would supply rear fuselage sections, crew and parachute doors, emergency doors, hatches and cargo ramps for prototypes of the KC-390 and for future commercial production.

UK uses Typhoon jet in attack role for first time

04/14/2011

Britain used the Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet in active combat for the first time, a senior military official said on Wednesday. British Air Vice-Marshal Phil Osborn said the aircraft had been used on Tuesday to bomb targets over Libya, where NATO forces are attacking military assets belonging to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, and enforcing a no-fly zone and arms embargo.

Jet Catches Fire Aboard USS Carl Vinson

04/14/2011

On the heels of a recent explosion and fire aboard one aircraft carrier, the Navy reports a second fighter jet fire aboard San Diego-based USS Carl Vinson. An F/A-18C Hornet made an emergency landing using one engine on USS Carl Vinson April 11. Once the jet landed on deck, it engulfed into flames.

U.S. jets have struck at Libyan targets, even after NATO takeover

04/14/2011

U.S. fighter jets have been flying bombing and strike missions against Libyan air defenses even after control of the operation was handed over to NATO, Pentagon spokesman Col. David Lapan said Wednesday. The U.S. aircraft assigned to NATO for these roles include six F-16 fighter jets and five EA-18 jets, which are equipped to jam electronic signals but also are capable of firing missiles. They have flown 97 sorties since April 4, and on three occasions U.S. aircraft fired ordnance, according to

Lockheed-Martin F-35 fighter program cut by budget compromise

04/14/2011

The budget compromise up for consideration by Congress cuts $2.16 billion from Lockheed Martin Corp.'s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program and doesn't include money for the jet's alternative engine being developed by General Electric Co. and Rolls Royce Group PLC.

Kandahar Air Wing achieves medical evacuation milestone

04/14/2011

A combined team of Afghan air force and coalition members conducted the first dedicated Mi-17 medical evacuation mission April 11 here. The team moved an Afghan National Army officer, who incurred a compound leg fracture, from Camp Bastion back to Kandahar.

Brazil to decide on Russian helicopter supplies by end of month

04/14/2011

The Brazilian Defense Ministry will decide by the end of the month whether its contract on the supply of Russian helicopters will be affected by planned massive military budget cuts, a ministry source said. "This year's ministry plan stipulates that the contract on the supply of Russian Mi-35M helicopters should be fulfilled, and we cannot say now which of the projects may be affected by the cuts," the source said.

Russia aims to expand presence on Latin American arms market

04/14/2011

The arms market in Latin America, especially in Brazil, show a great potential for exports of Russian weaponry, a senior Russian defense industry official said. More than 300 types of weaponry are being showcased by Russia at the Latin America Aero and Defense 2011 (LAAD-2011) arms show in Rio de Janeiro on April 12-15.

General Dynamics Awarded $18 Million for U.S. Navy F/A-18 Mission Computers

04/13/2011

The U.S. Navy awarded General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems a $17.9 million contract to produce Type-3 advanced mission computers (AMC) for the F/A-18E/F and E/A-18G Super Hornet aircraft. General Dynamics has delivered F/A-18 advanced mission computers since 2002. General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems is a business unit of General Dynamics.

Scandinavian and other “neutral” states support assault on Libya

04/13/2011

Eight Swedish SAAB JAS 39 Gripen fighter aircraft joined the NATO operation against Libyan government forces last week. Based in Sicily and backed up with a transport aircraft and 130 support staff, it is the Swedish Air Force’s first airborne combat operation since 1963. The deployment follows the Swedish government’s decision in March to freeze €1 billion of Libyan assets and its refusal to recognise the Libyan embassy.

Fighter jets carry out drill on freeway

04/13/2011

The Republic of China Air Force yesterday used a closed-off motorway as a runway in a rare drill simulating a surprise attack from China that had wiped out its major airbases. In all, six fighter aircraft landed and took off from Freeway No. 1 in an emergency landing and takeoff exercise, under the watchful eye of hundreds of spectators.

Indonesia to Buy South Korean Fighter Jets

04/13/2011

Indonesia chose South Korea's state-run aircraft maker as the preferred supplier for a set of fighter jets that will be used to train military pilots, South Korean officials said Tuesday, the first time Seoul has been able to export a military jet it developed.

Russian Helicopters plan to raise $500 mln in IPO

04/13/2011

Russian Helicopters, which designs and manufactures civil and military helicopters, plan to place Global Depositary Receipts representing existing shares in both London and Russia to raise $500 million in an initial public offering, the firm said on Tuesday.

Lockheed Martin Delivers Second Production C-5M Super Galaxy To U.S. Air Force

04/13/2011

Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] completed delivery of the second production C-5M Super Galaxy at a ceremony here Monday with a crew from Dover Air Force Base, Del. The fifth C-5M overall to be delivered to the Air Force, this aircraft will undergo internal paint restoration at Stewart Air National Guard Base, N.Y., before traveling to its home base at Dover.

GE-Rolls continue fight for second F-35 jet engine

04/12/2011

General Electric Co and Britain's Rolls Royce on Tuesday vowed to continue work on a second engine for the Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) F-35 fighter jet despite news that a compromise fiscal 2011 defense budget will not fund the program.

India Now World’s Largest Arms Importer

04/12/2011

India has surpassed its neighbor China to become the world’s largest importer of conventional weapons during the 2006 to 2010 period according to statistics released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). While Asia and Oceania remained to be the major arms recipients over the five-year period – accounting for 43 percent of global conventional weapon imports – India received the largest volume of international arms transfers during the period, seeing a 21 percent surge

T-50 Makes a Splash at Dubai Air Show

04/12/2011

Korea's first domestically produced supersonic training aircraft, the T-50, made its formal debut to great reviews at the Dubai Air Show on Sunday. Nicknamed the Golden Eagle, the plane performed demonstration fly-bys at the Gulf state's Airport Expo and was also displayed on the ground. Representatives of the Korean government, military and industry pushed to get exports of the T-50 to the UAE rolling. Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan will also do his part by visiting the show and meeting the UAE's

First M-346 trainer jet for Italian Air Force takes to skies

04/12/2011

The first M-346 advanced fighter trainer aircraft for the Italian Air Force has made its maiden flight last month, the aircraft’s manufacturer Alenia Aermacchi announced. The aircraft, designated T-346A by the Italian Air Force, successfully took to the skies on March 31. The flight lasted for 40 minutes and the aircraft reached a maximum altitude of 15,000 feet, covering the planned flight envelope in terms of speed, angle of attack and load factor.

Iraqi parliament assures corruption in aircraft deals

04/12/2011

The Integrity Committee in the parliament revealed Thursday about evidences and documents that confirm the existence of financial and administrative corruption in the Iraqi Defense Ministry, particularly with regard to contracts to buy military aircraft, stressing on that it will begin investigating these files at the beginning of next week.

Dutch MoD cuts key capabilities

04/12/2011

On 8 April defence minister Hans Hillen announced the official government paper, ‘A Smaller Military in a Troubled World’, which outlined cuts that included: two MBT battalions, 19 F-16 fighter aircraft, one supply ship, four mine detection ships, and some 12,000 personnel.

Grading the guardians: NORAD evaluations a vital requirement

04/12/2011

They’re heard before they’re ever seen. Even over the engines of an Airbus A310, a distinct roar causes a vibration a person can feel in their chest, prompting them to look out the window and find that the airplane they’re sitting in is now sharing airspace with an F-16 fighter jet. Close enough to see that, even as they’ve turned to look at the fighter’s helmeted pilot, that pilot has turned to look at them.

C-130J Flight Line Shows Multi-Mission Flexibility

04/12/2011

Special mission versions of the C-130J Super Hercules are becoming a regular sight on the Lockheed Martin flightline.

Dutch F-16s En Route to Chile

04/11/2011

The second batch of F-16 fighters that Chile has purchased from the Netherlands today took off from Volkel air base for their new home. In total, the South American country is buying an additional 18 Dutch combat aircraft of this type.