Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

F-35 program gains some support

10/25/2011

A lobbying effort to keep Joint Strike Fighter aircraft and repair work flying toward Cherry Point continues in earnest, spurred on by warnings that scrapping the F-35 program could compromise the nation’s defense. A Friday column by nonprofit Lexington Institute CEO Loren B. Thompson warns that “very few politicians or pundits seem to grasp the pivotal role that F-35 plays in future military plans.”

After setbacks, U.S. military tries to rebuild ties with Pakistani military

10/25/2011

When Lt. Gen. Curtis M. Scaparrotti was the U.S. military commander in eastern Afghanistan last year, he toured the battlefield with his counterparts from Pakistan along both sides of the porous border. U.S. and Pakistani troops conducted coordinated operations to squeeze Taliban insurgents seeking sanctuary in the rugged mountains along the border.

Pakistani military forces Indian helicopter to land

10/24/2011

The Pakistani military forced an Indian army helicopter to land for violating Pakistani airspace and detained four Indian army officers. The helicopter intruded into Pakistani territory in the Olding sector of the northern Skardu region at around 1pm (9am BST) on Sunday.

New advanced training aircraft for the Afghan Air Force

10/24/2011

After receiving a month ago the first initial training aircraft for the Afghan Air Force Undergraduate Pilot Training, this morning the first three of six new Cessna C-208B advanced trainers have arrived at Shindand Air Base. Capable of carrying a combination of ten passengers and up to 3000 pounds of cargo, they can serve in a light transport aircraft role, and as such twenty more will be acquired by the AAF to be stationed across Afghanistan.

New stealth fighters lack ability to communicate from Canada’s north

10/24/2011

Canada's new multibillion-dollar stealth fighters are expected to arrive without the built-in capacity to communicate from the country's most northerly regions — a gap the air force is trying to close.

NORAD: 2 aircraft intercepted in DC region; 1 in restricted airspace, 2nd lost communication

10/24/2011

NORAD says military aircraft intercepted two civilian aircraft in separate incidents in the Washington region.

Tejas LSP-7 all set for its launch

10/24/2011

Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots will officially get a taste of home-grown Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas with the 12th aircraft from the project flight-line and the seventh from the limited series production (LSP-7) block set to kiss the skies soon.

Glitches downed QF-4, Predator report says

10/24/2011

Technical glitches led to two aircraft crashes this summer within eight days of each other, according to separate accident investigations. An unmanned MQ-1B Predator was destroyed during a June 28 crash near Jalalabad, Afghanistan. A QF-4 crashed July 6 about 70 miles east of Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., with the pilot safely ejecting and suffering minor injuries.

Aiming for a leaner, meaner military

10/24/2011

Pentagon leaders are hoping a mandate to cut at least $350 billion from the defense budget over the next 10 years won’t disrupt plans for a more agile, efficient and modern force that still can reach across the globe to deliver a crushing blow when needed. That’s what they hope. The only thing for sure is that the military will be smaller when the budget-cutters get done.

Review: 'Ace Combat: Assault Horizon'

10/24/2011

Well, with the wounds closing up from last week’s flogging at the hands of Dark Souls, I decided to drop the sword and shield for a while and hopped into the cockpit to take on Ace Combat: Assault Horizon. Hilariously enough, it's published by Namco-Bandi, the same company that made Dark Souls.

IAF Chief Urges Development of AESA radar and Engine

10/24/2011

Indian Air Force (IAF) chief, Air Chief Norman Anil Kumar Browne motivated defense scientists, to realize the importance of manufacturing a military aircraft engine for the home made Light Combat Aircraft (LCA).

German Military to Administer Deep Cuts in Manpower, Procurement

10/24/2011

Bowing under economical burden the german Government plans deep cuts in defense spending, dramatically reducing planned procurement of main weapon systems and platforms. Overall the personnel level in military services will be reduced from 185,000 to 65,000, to include only professional service members. Among the hardest hit industry group will be EADS, with its Eurofighter Typhoon, NH90, Tiger helicopters and Euro Hawk drones affected, all programs are managed by EADS subsidiaries.

Troops to Exit Iraq by Year-End

10/22/2011

President Barack Obama said Friday he was bringing all U.S. forces home from Iraq by the new year, ending a war that stretched nearly nine years, divided the country, transformed the military and left an enduring mark on American history.

Eurofighter delivers 300th Typhoon

10/22/2011

The 300th Eurofighter Typhoon produced by four partner companies has been delivered by Cassidian to the Spanish air force. Eurofighter GmbH, which has headquarters in Germany, called the delivery a production milestone. The Eurofighter Typhoons - developed and manufactured by Cassidian in Germany and Spain, BAE Systems in Britain and Alenia Aeronautica in Italy - are in service with six air forces, replacing 11 aircraft types.

Seeing Limits of ‘New’ War

10/22/2011

For all its success, NATO’s intervention in Libya had several significant flaws that highlight why future offensives, against a stronger adversary, could be far more difficult. Even as Washington put a European mask of command on the operation — an effort described as “leading from behind” — shortages in allied intelligence-gathering aircraft, aerial refueling tankers and precision-guidance kits for bombs proved the United States remained the backbone of any NATO offensive.

Recovered wreckage belongs to MiG-29: IAF

10/22/2011

The Indian Air Force (IAF) Friday said it has recovered wreckage of a MiG-29 jet that crashed in the inhospitable Himalayan terrain of Lahaul Valley in Himachal Pradesh three days ago. But it failed to locate the entire combat aircraft. "Some locals have sighted parts of the wreckage in the hills of Thirot, and IAF experts matched these with the MiG-29," Lahaul and Spiti Deputy Commissioner Rajeev Shankar told IANS.

Khadhafi killing: A successful UAV mission

10/22/2011

On Thursday, Col. Moamar Khadhafi's military convoy was bombed by an American predator drone and then attacked by French jets before the deposed dictator was finally apprehended and killed by rebel fighters, the Pentagon disclosed yesterday.

NATO plans to end military operation in Libya on October 31

10/22/2011

NATO is planning to end its military operation in Libya on October 31, the alliance's secretary general, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, said on Friday. NATO made the preliminary decision during a meeting of its governing body earlier in the day. Speaking after the meeting, Rasmussen said the formal decision is expected to be announced next week.

Tech transfer vital for fighter jet project

10/21/2011

Attention is being drawn to what technology foreign competitors can offer for South Korea’s next generation fighter procurement. Under the “FX-III” project, the Seoul government plans to purchase a high-end fleet of about 60 fighter jets with a budget of around 8.3 trillion won ($7.3 billion), seeking to deploy them from 2016.

Last Super Hornets touch down under budget

10/21/2011

Australia's last four Super Hornets will touch down at RAAF Amberley on Friday with all 24 aircraft now delivered ahead of the original schedule and for less than the contracted cost.

Canada's military contribution in Libya

10/21/2011

Canada has been involved in the NATO-led mission in Libya since March. During the seven-month conflict, it has committed a total of 635 personnel, seven jet fighters, two patrol aircraft, two tankers and two frigates. The air component of Operation Mobile, as Canada's mission is known, has been focused on enforcing the no-fly zone imposed on Libya by the UN Security Council on March 17 and protecting civilian-populated areas.

Germany Said to Cancel Billions in Military Plane Orders

10/21/2011

EADS, the parent company of Airbus, is bracing for months of thorny negotiations with Germany as the country seeks to cancel billions of dollars’ worth of orders for military aircraft in an effort to cut its defense budget.

The scary prospect of global drone warfare

10/21/2011

Drone technology is spreading rapidly. As many as 50 countries are developing or purchasing these systems, including China, Russia, India, Pakistan, and Iran. Even non-state actors are involved. Hezbollah reportedly has deployed an Iranian-designed drone. Iran is developing a new drone aircraft with a range of more than 600 miles.

EADS Defence Unit Wants To Reduce Eurofighter Production

10/21/2011

Aircraft maker European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co NV (EADS) said it will manufacture fewer military aircraft in coming years than previously, in response to cost-cutting measures by the German defence ministry. A report in the Financial Times stated Wednesday the government's austerity measures include reducing the size of its armed forces, and buying 140 instead of 177 Eurofighters, 40 instead of 53 A400Ms, 80 instead of 122 NH-90s, and 40 instead of 80 Tigers.

Eurocopter aims for S. Korean contracts

10/21/2011

Eurocopter is planning to offer two defense aircraft platforms to South Korea in response to possible requests for proposals. The company, which has headquarters in France, said the aircraft would be the Panther platform for the Light Attack Helicopter program and the Tiger for the Heavy Attack Helicopter program. The two formal Requests for Proposal are expected to be issued by Seoul next year.