Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Tanker, F-35 and Korea Transfix USAF

11/28/2010

Could bad luck be coming in threes for the U.S. Air Force? This month, officials were sacked from the tanker-replacement program, concern grew about another slip in the F-35’s initial operating date, and South Korea is enduring the worst attack by North Korea in more than 50 years.

Russian-made cargo plane crashes in Pakistan, 8 crew dead

11/28/2010

A Russian-made Il-76 cargo plane crashed early Sunday in a Karachi residential neighborhood, killing all eight crewmembers and destroying several buildings under construction, CNN reported.

US delivers six F-16 aircraft to Pakistan

11/27/2010

Pakistan on Saturday received six new F-16 C/D Block 52 high tech aircraft from the United States.

Russia denies US reports of slip in Iraq helicopter deal

11/27/2010

Russian helicopter deliveries to Iraq are proceeding as planned, a source in the Russian aircraft industry said on Thursday, in response to American claims that deliveries are over-budget and late.

Russia wants NATO to resolve Afghan helicopter deal

11/27/2010

Russia hopes that NATO will resolve the problems in financing a deal on the delivery of Mi-17 multipurpose helicopters to Afghanistan, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday.

India made electronic warfare systems for IAF Mig-29s and LCA

11/25/2010

Indian Air Force(IAF)’s Mig-29 and the home-made ’Tejus’ Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) will have electronic warfare(EW) systems developed by India’s DRDO from next year onwards. The older Mig-27 fighters are being equipped this year and operational trials are scheduled next year.

LCA Tejas Falls Short of Earlier Expectations

11/25/2010

As India’s homegrown Light Combat Aircraft (LCA Tejas) nears critical initial operational clearance next month, Indian air force officials say the aircraft will fail to meet performance requirements laid down by the service for the limited-profile Mk.1 platform.

Dive, dive, dive! How amateur pilot in a Cessna caused chaos to 29-plane RAF formation marking the Queen's Birthday

11/25/2010

An amateur pilot in a Cessna caused chaos to an RAF fly-past marking the Queen's Birthday when he strayed into its flight path.

Sweden to Sell More Gripen Fighters to Thailand

11/24/2010

Sweden Tuesday reached an agreement with Thailand on selling another six JAS 39 Gripen fighters with peripheral equipment, according to a statement from Swedish Ministry of Defense.

North Korea bombs South Korea's Yeonpyeong island; Seoul scrambles F-16 jets

11/23/2010

South Korea has launched F-16 fighter jets and returned fire after North Korea shot around 200 artillery shells on to a populated South Korean island near the countries' western border.

Poland to host U.S. jets and C-130s

11/23/2010

A senior military official in Poland says the U.S. Air Force will deploy F-16 jet fighters and C-130 Hercules transport planes in the country by 2013.

Pilot dies as UAE military plane crashes in RAK

11/23/2010

A UAE military aircraft crashed in Wadi Al Bih in Ras Al Khaimah on Monday morning, killing its pilot who was the only person on board.

Second prototype fifth-generation fighter to fly before yearend

11/23/2010

Flight trials of the second prototype of Sukhoi's fifth-generation T-50 fighter aircraft are due before the end of the year, Sukhoi holding CEO Mikhail Pogosyan said on Monday.

Lockheed Martin Receives $15.6 Million to Produce Paveway II Enhanced Laser Guided Trainings Rounds for the U.S. Navy

11/23/2010

Lockheed Martin received a $15.6 million contract to produce paveway II Enhanced Laser Guided Training Rounds (ELGTR) for the U.S. Navy. This award is for the first year of a planned three-year procurement that will maintain continuous production on the ELGTR, with work under this contract beginning in the third quarter of 2011 at Lockheed Martin’s Archbald, PA, operation.

Lockheed Martin’s JAGM Hits Target From 6 Kilometers

11/23/2010

Lockheed Martin scored a hit on a main battle tank at six kilometers in a company-funded, multiple-mission firing of its Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM). The complex flight test, at White Sands Missile Range, NM, demonstrated the ability of the imaging infrared (I2R) sensor in the missile’s cooled tri-mode seeker to lock on before launch at extended range.

Chengdu J-10 Next Variant Developing

11/22/2010

The J-10’s evolution mirrors that of another famous single-engine fighter aircraft, the Lockheed Martin F-16 in more than one respect.

US to deliver six F-16 Pak

11/22/2010

Pakistan, increasing its fleet of warplanes, is all set receive six more new F-16 from the US on Saturday, the defence sources said.

Tejas' debut flight in operational configuration

11/22/2010

India's light combat aircraft Tejas, in its march towards operational status, achieved an important milestone today when it made its first flight.

U.S. Air Force Should Buy New C-17s, Not Fixed-Up C-5s

11/22/2010

When does a promise to cut government spending result in $8 billion of new government waste? When Defense Department procurement is involved.

Chinese Combat Aircraft Exports Hit 2010 Milestones

11/22/2010

This year has seen several notable achievements in China’s progression as a manufacturer and supplier of front-line military aircraft to export customers. Much positive publicity was earned by the public debut of Pakistan’s JF-17 fighters at the Farnborough Airshow—with JF-17s again featuring here at Airshow China.

China emerging as player in global arms trade

11/21/2010

China is emerging as a competitor in the international arms market, offering increasingly sophisticated fighter jets, missiles and equipment that are beginning to rival Russia and other longtime exporters.

Russian MiG-31 fighter crashes in Urals, pilots eject

11/21/2010

A Russian MiG-31 Foxhound interceptor/fighter crashed on Friday in the Perm region of the Urals, but the pilots ejected safely.

Iran test-fires new air-defense missile

11/21/2010

Iran has successfully test-fired a domestically designed air-defense system that has the same capabilities as the Russian-made S-300, a top Iranian military official said on Saturday.

$3.5 Billion Full-Funding Contract Awarded For Fourth Lot Of Lockheed Martin F-35s

11/21/2010

Lockheed Martin has received a $3.5 billion contract modification from the U.S. Department of Defense to manufacture 31 F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters in the fourth lot of low-rate initial production (LRIP). The contract also funds manufacturing-support equipment, flight test instrumentation and ancillary mission equipment. Including the long-lead funding previously received, the total contract value for LRIP 4 is $3.9 billion.

Boeing Delivers US Navy's 10th C-40A Derivative Aircraft

11/21/2010

Boeing today delivered the 10th C-40A transport/cargo aircraft to the U.S. Navy. The Boeing 737-700 commercial derivative was modified at the company’s Wichita facility for its Navy mission.