Military Aviation News Archive

‘Norwegian jets bombed Gadhafi’

04/27/2011

American media outlets are reporting that the bombing of Libyan leader Colonel Gadhafi’s headquarters on Monday was carried out by two Norwegian F16 fighter jets.

IAF to procure long-range missiles to enhance striking range

04/27/2011

Aiming at enhancing the striking range of its combat aircraft, the Indian Air Force is planning to procure long-range missiles to hit hostile fighter jets without engaging them in close aerial combat. A request for information (RFI) has been issued by the IAF for long-range stand-off missiles fitted with light warheads which can take out enemy fighters from beyond visual ranges, IAF officials said.

Decks cleared for $5.8-bn C-17 Globemaster deal

04/27/2011

The deal to buy 10 C-17 Globemaster-III aircraft from Boeing of the US is a step closer to being clinched. The finance ministry, after initial objections, has sanctioned the money for the acquisition.

China to put new fighter aircraft to test soon

04/27/2011

The aircraft has passed the factory test and now awaits fighting test. The new aircraft is equipped with advanced anti-ship radar, self-guiding missiles, in contrast to gravity controlled bombs that largely populate China's existing 3200 aircraft fleet. When deployed, J15 will signal the dawn of a new ability by China to assert authority over its coastline, the New York Times (NYT) in a report said today.

Botswana buys Swiss trainers

04/26/2011

The Botswana military is buying PC-7 MK II turboprop trainer aircraft from Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. of Switzerland. The contract for five the aircraft is worth about $45.1 million. Pilatus Aircraft said the new trainers, which will replace the Pilatus PC-7 fleet used by the Southern African country since 1990, will be delivered in 2013.

U.S. Air Force to Launch Competition for 93 New Helicopters

04/26/2011

The U.S. Air Force today announced it’s launching a competition for 93 new helicopters that would protect U.S. intercontinental ballistic missile sites and evacuate government officials in case if an attack. The Air Force anticipates releasing a draft request for proposals between mid-June and September and final request later this year, officials said in an on-line article posted on a service website.

PRC aircraft carrier could set sail this year: NSB

04/26/2011

The head of the National Security Bureau (NSB) yesterday said China’s first aircraft carrier would likely start training exercises at sea toward the end of this year. Bureau Director Tsai Der-sheng told a meeting of the the legislature’s National Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee that while the aircraft carrier — an old carrier purchased from Ukraine in 1998, which has undergone refurbishing work in Dalian since 2002.

Iran Boosts Combat Capability of Strategic Aircraft

04/26/2011

A senior Iranian Air Force commander announced on Monday that the Iranian experts have successfully revived the capabilities of the country's strategic Sukhoi-24 aircraft, including its laser missile capabilities.

Boeing delivers last remanufactured helo

04/26/2011

The last remanufactured MH-47G Chinook has been delivered to the U.S. Army by Boeing's Military Aircraft Mobility Division in Pennsylvania. The handover of the 65th Special Operations Aviation aircraft marked the completion of the Service Life Extension Plan that has been in existence for more than 10 years.

US arms industry makes strong comeback to Turkish market

04/26/2011

Turkey’s utility helicopter program has been designed for maximum local industry contribution. As a result Turkish Aerospace Industries, or TAI, the programs’ prime contractor, and other Turkish companies will manufacture 50 percent of the platform in financial terms. This means, half of the $3.5 billion priced tag will remain in Turkey.

Chinese State Media Publishes Photos of J-15 Fighter Jet

04/26/2011

The J-15 Flying Shark is China’s newest attack jet, a sinuous fighter with the folding wings, shortened tail cone and bulked-up landing gear it needs to serve on China’s first aircraft carrier, which is expected to start sea trials soon. It is indisputable evidence of China’s growing mastery of military technology.

Boeing-built GPS Operational Control Segment Enters Service with US Air Force

04/26/2011

Boeing today announced that its GPS Operational Control Segment (OCS) has gained full operational status with the U.S. Air Force 50th Space Wing, Schriever Air Force Base, Colo. OCS keeps the GPS system operational within specified accuracy to provide secure and precise navigation around the world for military, humanitarian and commercial applications.

NATO warns Libyan civilians to get out of its Predator firing range

04/25/2011

Despite NATO having justified its attacks against Libya with the UN Security Council resolution 1973 allowing the imposition of a no-fly zone in order to protect civilians, it is now warning Libyan citizens to flee in order to avoid its attacks with unmanned military aircraft. In a written statement released by Rear Admiral Russ Harding, Deputy Commander of the military offensive against Libya called Operation Unified Protector, he warned that NATO would continue to use the unmanned Predator air

Sikorsky develops agile helo on its own dime

04/25/2011

Sikorsky is betting its own money on a radical new helicopter design, a gambit some observers say might become more common in austere budgetary times. The S-97 Raider will have a pusher propeller meant to send it zooming past the roughly 200-mph top speed of conventional rotorcraft — and, the company hopes, win Pentagon contracts. The Connecticut-based company intends to furnish a prototype for testing by U.S. service officials.

New shipborne navy jet fighter makes waves among analysts

04/25/2011

Photos of a domestic-made shipborne J-15 heavy fighter were released on Sunday afternoon on Internet defense forums, prompting many military observers to coo about China's aircraft carrier capacity. "Heavy shipborne fighters will boost the aircraft carrier fleet's air defense capability and enhance the fleet's strike ability," said Lan Yun, editor of the Modern Ships, a Beijing-based magazine following the latest developments in warships and defense equipment.

Senior Iran military confirm upgraded air defence system now ready

04/25/2011

The announcement was made by Commander of Khatam ol-Anbia Air Defense Base, Brigadier General Farzad Esmayeeli, where he cited increased range and optimized guiding system as two main features of the mid-range Mersad air defense system. "These features make the Mersad defense shield different from the Hawk air-defense system," the General told the FARS news agency.

Kiowa scout helicopters are still flying, still fighting

04/24/2011

The first time an Army helicopter pilot flew a Bell Helicopter OH-58 Kiowa into harm's way was 1969, during the height of the Vietnam War. It's been nearly 40 years since the Army last received a brand new OH-58 from Bell's Fort Worth factory. And between the Army and Bell, there are plans to keep them flying and fighting until 2030 - and perhaps well beyond. The OH-58D Kiowa Warrior, the designation given the aircraft when they were last rebuilt beginning in the mid-1980s, has been the workhors

'Non-slip paint' is a clue to possible reprieve for threatened Harrier jets

04/24/2011

Refitted aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious is being prepared to accommodate combat aircraft, prompting further speculation that the government is preparing to perform a U-turn on the mothballing of the Harrier fleet. The Scotsman has learned that the ship's deck, which has been earmarked as a helicopter carrier, has been painted with special paint which would allow for Harriers to fly from it.

Death Pods Swarm Towards North Korea

04/24/2011

South Korea has received more of the several dozen AN/AAQ-33 Sniper Targeting pods it had ordered for its F-15K fighter-bombers. The growing threat of war with North Korea has led to the speeding up of orders for many critical items of military equipment. South Korea wants as many of its F-15Ks as possible equipped with the Sniper pod, and the pilots trained in its use. The U.S. Air Force buys Sniper XTP targeting pods for about $2 million each, and currently has over 500 of these pods, which ar

Dream Cruise, Air Show to be linked

04/24/2011

An unfortunate scheduling quirk set the Air Show and Dream Cruise on the same Aug. 20-21 weekend, but Hackel saw the misstep as an opportunity to simultaneously promote both events and urge people from throughout Michigan and the Midwest to make plans to attend both events.

Qaddafi abandons Misrata

04/23/2011

Libyan rebels said Saturday afternoon that they now fully controlled the key city of Misrata. The United States launched its first Predator drone strike in Libya on Saturday, the Defense Department said in a statement. It did not provide details on the target of the strike, saying only that it occurred in the early afternoon local time in Libya, according to Reuters.

The danger of drones - and war without risk

04/23/2011

It's fairly common for lazy journalists to invoke comparisons with Hollywood movies when discussing complicated scientific issues. But when an internal Ministry of Defence report warns that the increasing usage of unmanned drones in war is part of an "incremental and involuntary journey towards a Terminator-like reality" it makes the world sit up and take notice.

Sukhoi jet to bid in Brazilian tender

04/23/2011

The Russian Sukhoi-35 fighter jet will be taking part in a new Brazilian Air Force tender for the purchase of a large batch of multifunctional combat aircraft, a source in the Brazilian defence-industrial complex said to the RIAN news agency.

US plans more drones for Pacific

04/23/2011

The Pentagon is planning to move a number of armed drone aircraft to its Pacific Command force from where they could be used in part to support Taiwan’s security and guard against a surprise attack by China. Equipped with state-of-the-art surveillance cameras, the Predator and Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) would monitor China’s military buildup and North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs.

Air Force on track with KC-46A program

04/23/2011

Air Force and Boeing Company officials met for the KC-46A program post-award conference recently to discuss program specifics, including a technical overview of the program.