Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Support growing for F-16 sale

04/07/2011

A virtual gale of support is blowing through Washington this week to boost Taiwan’s request to buy F-16C/D aircraft. However, despite the pressure, there is no indication that US President Barack Obama’s administration would sell the fighter aircraft anytime soon.

Army unveils new military aircraft

04/07/2011

Military history was made yesterday as the army unveiled an aircraft, the first to be bought brand new and tailored to its requests.

Jordan sends three military aircraft to enforce the no-fly zone over Libya

04/07/2011

They come to three the Arab countries taking part in the international operation against the regime of the Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi: after Qatar and United Arab Emirates now also Jordan left an unknown number of military aircraft to assist in the imposition of the no-fly zone declared by NATO on Libya and to protect humanitarian aid flights direct to the Hashemite kingdom from North African country.

U.S. fighter expert slams F-35 deal

04/07/2011

One of the Conservative government's most expensive and controversial promises is under attack from an unlikely source - a U.S. military expert. Speaking in Ottawa on Tuesday, Winslow Wheeler says Prime Minister Stephen Harper's pledge to purchase 65 F-35 fighter jets for just $9 billion is "hogwash."

Defence future in the balance as commercial aerospace thrives claims PwC

04/07/2011

The world's defence sector must act now to preserve its innovation, specialist skill-set and research and development work, according to a new report out today.

F-35C CF-1 Catapult Hookup

04/07/2011

Navy F-35 flight test aircraft CF-1 approaches the TC-7 catapult at Naval Air Station Patuxent River March 22. With U.S. Marine Corps test pilot Lt. Col. Matt "Opie" Taylor at the controls, CF-1 completed functional checks and performed the first test hookup of the F-35C to the catapult.

Boeing to Feature Advanced Maritime Solutions at Navy League Expo

04/07/2011

At this year's Navy League Sea-Air-Space Exposition, The Boeing Company will display a broad range of proven and emerging maritime and air capabilities to support U.S. Navy readiness . Sea-Air-Space - the world's largest maritime exposition - will take place April 11-13 at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Md.

Pilot hospitalized after Su-27 crash in Russia's Far East

04/07/2011

A pilot from the Russian Su-27 Flanker combat aircraft that crashed earlier on Wednesday during a training flight near the city of Vladivostok in Russia's Far East has been hospitalized, a Defense Ministry official said.

Super Hornet Down In California

04/07/2011

The two occupants of a Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet died when the jet crashed about a half mile from NAS Lemoore in central California Wednesday. The Navy told various media outlets the aircraft was on a routine training mission prior to deployment. The crash happened just after noon. The plane went down in a field but it wasn't immediately stated what phase of flight it was in at the time. There was also no word about whether the the crew tried to eject.

Sudan accuses Israel over Port Sudan air strike

04/06/2011

The Sudanese government says Israel carried out an air strike on a car near the city of Port Sudan on the Red Sea coast which killed its two passengers.

MC-130J rollout accelerates AFSOC recapitalization

04/06/2011

Air Force Special Operations Command officials welcomed the latest variant of the MC-130 at a rollout ceremony held at Lockheed Martin's Marietta, Ga., factory recently. The rollout accelerates AFSOC commander Lt. Gen. Donald C. Wurster's priority to recapitalize the fleet by acquiring MC-130J Combat Shadow IIs to replace aircraft that have been flying combat missions for up to 45 years.

Nato lacking strike aircraft for Libya campaign

04/06/2011

Nato is running short of attack aircraft for its bombing campaign against Muammar Gaddafi only days after taking command of the Libyan mission from a coalition led by the US, France and Britain.

Brazil's Rousseff, mulling jet deal, touts defense

04/06/2011

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, who is deliberating a multi-billion dollar jet fighter deal, on Tuesday defended the need to spend money on defense at a time when she is making big budget cuts in other areas. Rousseff's comments at a military ceremony in Brasilia are one of the clearest signs to date that she could move forward soon on a deal to buy at least 36 fighter jets from either U.S.-based Boeing (BA.N), France's Dassault Aviation (AVMD.PA) or Sweden's Saab SAAB.ST.

'Jordanian fighters protecting aid mission'

04/06/2011

Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh confirmed on Tuesday that Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF) fighter aircraft landed in a European military base two days ago to protect the Jordanian humanitarian aircraft dispatched to Libya.

Russia delivers 2 combat helicopters to Peru

04/06/2011

Russia has delivered two Mi-35P Hind E attack helicopters to Peru under a contract to provide the South American country with air power to combat cocaine production and terrorism.

Boeing Delivers 2 F-15K Slam Eagles to the Republic of Korea

04/06/2011

The Boeing Company today announced that it delivered F-15K 47 and F-15K 48 to the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) at Daegu Air Base on March 15. The two F-15K Slam Eagles departed St. Louis on March 8 and made stops in Palmdale, Calif., Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, and Anderson Air Force Base, Guam.

First five Rooivalk now in service

04/05/2011

The first five Denel Aviation Rooivalk Mark 1 combat support helicopters are now in service with 16 Squadron of the South African Air Force following the conclusion of a development and manufacturing programme dating back 27 years to March 1984. The cost of the programme, Project Impose, remains elusive but is said to have been over R8 billion by 2006.

US planes attack as US cuts back Libya mission

04/05/2011

U.S. Air Force and Marine attack planes struck targets in Libya on a stretch of Mediterranean coastline near the cities of Sirte and Brega on Monday, the final day of planned U.S. combat missions in the North African nation, U.S. officials said.

Boeing steps up military business in emerging markets

04/05/2011

Boeing, the world's largest aircraft maker, has a "historic window of opportunity" to boost its military business in the Middle East and Asia-Pacific as countries such as the UAE upgrade their defence systems, the company says. The aerospace giant is seeking to increase international defence sales within its overall defence business from 10 per cent last year to 25 per cent by 2013, at a time when it faces incremental growth in the US.

Dover Airmen support Operation Odyssey Dawn

04/05/2011

Three C-5M Super Galaxy aircrews from here delivered cargo March 23 to 27 in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn.

Lockheed Martin F-35 Flight Test Program Shows Progress In First Quarter

04/05/2011

Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II test jets made considerable flight test progress during the first quarter of 2011, conducting 199 test flights versus a plan of 142 flights. Additionally, the F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) variant logged six times more vertical landings in the first quarter than in all of 2010.

Britain mulls sending non-combat equipment to Libya

04/05/2011

Britain is considering supplying Libyan rebels with non-lethal equipment, Foreign Secretary William Hague said on Monday. "We are prepared to supply non-lethal equipment which will help with the protection of civilian lives and the delivery of humanitarian aid," Hague told the House of Commons.

Which fighter will the Indians choose?

04/04/2011

The competition for the multibillion-dollar contract to supply all-purpose fighter jets to the Indian Air Force is hotting up. America is making some strong moves, Europe is honing its lobbying potential, and Russia, too, is nursing hopes of winning.

Designers insist Tejas will belie all sceptical questioning

04/04/2011

In an exclusive interview with Business Standard, P Subramanyam, director of the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), which is developing the LCA and the AMCA, responded to IAF criticism that the Tejas was not yet a world-class fighter. He said the Tejas Mark-I, still being flight-tested, had been flown to just 85 per cent of its full capability. The Tejas Mark-II - in which a more powerful GE-414 engine will replace the current GE-404 engine -- would perform another 15 per cent better.

Selfridge Air Museum Soars into Open Season

04/04/2011

Instead of watching the A-10s and fighter jets roar above Macomb County skies, people can get an up-close and personal look at the Selfridge Military Air Museum. The museum held its grand opening Saturday afternoon and it will be open on weekends until the end of October, except for when the air show takes place in late August.