Military Aviation News Archive

News from Bell

06/29/2011

ell Helicopter has announced its OH-58 Block II demonstrator successfully proved hover out of ground effect performance that exceeds the maximum gross aircraft weight of 5,500 lbs at 6k95 during test flights conducted in Colorado.

Bagdogra IAF meet to discuss China threat

06/29/2011

A two-day commanders' conference of the Eastern Air Command (EAC) will begin at Air Force Station Bagdogra from Wednesday. Air chief marshal PV Naik, IAF chief of air staff, and other officers from Delhi Air headquarters will hold meetings with officers from this part of the country at this conference, which is being hosted by Air marshal KK Nohwar, AOC-in-C, EAC.

The battle to sell fighter aircraft

06/28/2011

"Incredible India" is the title of a ubiquitous advertising campaign that promises surprises around every corner, and the motto certainly applies to the country's ongoing fighter jet competition.

Who’s to blame for Czech L-39 fighter engine failure?

06/28/2011

Czech Defense Ministry partly blames LOM Praha for crash; the state-owned firm says Ukrainian-made engine has structural defect.

PAF to receive P14 billion for modernization

06/28/2011

About P14 billion of the P40 billion allotted by Malacañang to upgrade military capability will go to the Philippine Air Force, PAF chief Lt. Gen. Oscar Rabena said over the weekend.

Indo-US jet trainer - the Indus moment

06/28/2011

A US-India basic trainer would replace some 450 T-38s currently flying in the US Air Force. Add to that an assured market of at least 200 trainer aircraft in India and there is an excellent business case for partnering India in developing the T-38’s successor.

From Tippu Sultan to AK Antony, a French connection

06/28/2011

At the expansive exhibition area at the Le Bourget airport where the Paris Air Show has just concluded, Indian visitors could not but cast a long gaze at the gleaming new French fighter aircraft Rafale, one of the final two short listed for India's $11 billion medium multi-role combat aircraft deal.

Massive Cost Estimate For Fighter Program Is Misleading

06/28/2011

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is the most expensive weapons program the U.S. Department of Defense is currently funding. The reason it’s so costly is that the Clinton Administration decided in 1993 to replace a slew of cold-war combat aircraft operated by three different military services with a single family of planes. The new planes were supposed to be agile, stealthy and versatile — a single-engine airframe produced in three variants that could be sold by the thousands both at home and abroad

UAE looks to purchase five UH-60M Blackhawk helicopters

06/28/2011

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified the US Congress last week of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of the United Arab Emirates of five UH-60M Blackhawk VIP helicopters and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $217 million.

FORMATION AIRDROP PROVIDES NEEDED SUPPLIES, SAVES LIVE

06/27/2011

"We flew a two-ship formation airdrop of C-130s supporting Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force in southern Afghanistan," said the 774th EAS Commander Lt. Col. Rich Adams from Anchorage, Alaska. "We supported them by carrying food, fuel, ammunition and water to support forward operating bases in southern Afghanistan."

nternational procurement network members indicted for supplying Iran with US military aircraft components

06/25/2011

Seven individuals and five corporate entities based in the United States, France, the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) and Iran have been indicted in the Middle District of Georgia for their alleged roles with illegally exporting military components for fighter jets and attack helicopters from the United States to Iran.

US grounds fleet of F-22 fighter jets, indefinitely

06/25/2011

The US Air Force has grounded its entire fleet of F-22 fighters, the most sophisticated combat aircraft in the world, after problems emerged with the plane's oxygen supply, officials said Friday. The radar-evading F-22 Raptors have been barred from flying since May 3 and Air Force officials could not say when the planes would return to the air.

U.S. House Defeats Resolution Authorizing U.S. Military Mission in Libya

06/25/2011

The House voted against authorizing President Barack Obama to continue U.S. air support for allied bombardment against forces loyal to Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi and moved to try to restrict funds for the operation. After defeating, on a 295-123 vote, the Democratic- sponsored resolution to authorize military support for the bombing operation, the House debated separate legislation to bar U.S. forces from combat in Libya.

RAF Tornado: It's a world leading combat aircraft

06/25/2011

From its outset Tornado was designed as a world-class combat aircraft and it is a testament to the design and the outstanding military and civilian personnel who operate, maintain and support it that it continues to provide world class capability in the modern combat environment.

Lockheed ponders F-35 sale to India

06/25/2011

Lockheed indicated it could still be in the running for an $11 billion fighter jet sale to India despite the government rejecting its F-16 aircraft. Lockheed Martin's stealth F-35 Lightning II, still in the development stage, could be on the table if the foreign sale is approved by the U.S. government, although no firm decision has been made by Lockheed, a spokesman for Lockheed said at the Paris Air Show.

Missing SAMs in Libya alarms the West

06/24/2011

The United States and its allies are concerned that al-Qaida and other terrorist groups may have got their hands on scores, if not hundreds, of shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles plundered from Libyan military bases after the civil war erupted there in March.

Marines, Air Force train together to refuel

06/24/2011

Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 533 pilots and weapon systems operators conducted aerial refueling training with Air Force KC-135 Stratotankers here June 13. Aerial refueling extends the range of fighter aircraft on transits across great distances, increasing the operability of pilots and weapon systems operators to complete missions and training operations.

A military show, Paris is not

06/24/2011

While there are many military aircraft on display from the U.S. and aroudn the world and the Eurofighter entertains the spectators with its aerial acrobatics, the Paris Air Show is all about the commercial jets.

IAF seeks direct control of HAL to stem eroding combat-edge

06/24/2011

With an eye on the future and fed up with the "bureaucratic culture" pervading Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), the country's only aircraft manufacturer, IAF now wants the control of the navratna defence PSU.

Italian firm favours government route for military sale

06/24/2011

Seeking to increase its share in the growing Indian defence spending, Finmeccanica, an Italian conglomerate, hopes that Italy could sell military and other equipment to India through the government instead of through the current commercial engagement.

Why Moslem Women Got To Fly

06/24/2011

Britain has sent its youngest female RAF (Royal Air Force) pilot to Afghanistan, to supervise the initial instruction of four Afghan women selected to train to be helicopter pilots. Afghans are, in general, not enthusiastic about women joining the military, or piloting aircraft.

On Armed Forces Day, we should reflect on Britain's military decline

06/24/2011

Tomorrow is Armed Forces Day, when we celebrate the accomplishments of our servicemen and women. Yet it is also an appropriate time to reflect on the increasingly parlous state of our military.

Fridge-sized war raygun for US bombers gets $40m

06/24/2011

A long-running US military project aimed at producing a "refrigerator sized" laser raygun capable of being mounted on US combat aircraft has received further funding of just under $40m.

Russian MiG-29 fighter jet crashes, two killed

06/24/2011

Two pilots were killed on Thursday when a Russian Air Force MiG-29 fighter jet crashed in the Astrakhan region on Thursday, law enforcement sources said. “At 4.43 p.m. the aircraft went off the radar screens around 43 km from the town of Akhtubinsk in Astrakhan region,” the source said.

Paris Airshow: TAI launches an unmanned armed helicopter

06/24/2011

Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) has launched a small, armed, unmanned helicopter which it says could prove attractive to Middle Eastern countries as an attractive alternative to the products being produced in Israel.