Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

A400M backers agree profit-sharing deal

04/09/2011

The seven countries that are funding the latest Airbus military transport aircraft have agreed on a profit-sharing formula for its export sales. The contract, which was signed in Seville on Thursday by the countries’ armament directors, marks the final stage in the normalisation of the €31bn ($44bn) A400M project that is already four years late and more than €11bn over budget.

FACTBOX-NATO military operations against Libya's Gaddafi

04/09/2011

Following are latest available details of Western military operations in Libya. The following NATO countries are participating in the alliance's operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR: Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Denmark, France, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Qatar, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Britain, United States. NATO forces have total of 195 aircraft at their disposal.

India Secures The Seychelles

04/08/2011

India is sending a Dornier 228 maritime reconnaissance aircraft to the island nation of Seychelles, to help in dealing with Somali pirates. This aircraft will remain for at least two years. Last year, India had offered to give Seychelles a Dornier 228 and two Chetak helicopters for anti-piracy duty, but tiny Seychelles preferred that India simply operate this equipment on their territory until the Somali piracy threat is gone.

Safety Investigation Board convenes for A-10 crash

04/08/2011

A Safety Investigation Board tasked with investigating the A-10 Thunderbolt II crash that occurred April 1 in a field outside Laufeld, Germany, a town north of Wittlich convened here April 5. The team, led by Col. Michael Winters, the 100th Air Refueling Wing vice commander and SIB president, will take investigative control of the crash site and begin the board's inquiry into the cause of the crash.

Norway is buying four F-35 jets

04/08/2011

Norwegian F-16 aircraft are ripe for replacement after 31 years of service. Norway's 72 F-16 aircraft were delivered between 1980 and 1984, while two attrition aircraft was delivered in 1989. Acquisition of the four planes is an important step to maintain a satisfactory operational combat aircraft capacity in the transition phase between the F-16 and F-35, says the defense minister Grete Faremo.

Jordan joins Libya mission in non-combat role

04/08/2011

Officials said Jordan's military was transporting non-combat equipment as part of humanitarian missions in Libya. They said the Jordanian role would continue indefinitely. On April 5, the Royal Jordanian Air Force transported 10 tons of medical and humanitarian supplies to Libya. Officials said two unidentified air transports arrived in the Libyan city of Benghazi, which has been under rebel control.

Libya forces David Cameron to rethink defence cuts

04/08/2011

The Prime Minister is “actively engaged” in a reassessment of Britain’s military capabilities and planned reductions in equipment and manpower, sources have disclosed. The rethink has raised hopes that some of the cuts to military aircraft and ships in the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) could be postponed or even reversed. Insiders said it was not too late for a change of mind on the decision to cut the number of RAF Tornados and scrap surveillance planes. Some Royal Navy frigates

Eurofighter back in Danish jet competition

04/08/2011

The Eurofighter consortium wants back into the race to outfit Denmark's armed forces with a new fighter jet. "What we're saying is that while there is no official Danish tender at present, Eurofighter wants to participate in such a competition when the new tender is launched," military news Web site Defensenews.com quoted Eurofighter spokesman Marco Bonelli as saying.

Navy releases names of 2 killed in CA jet crash

04/08/2011

Navy officials on Thursday identified the two pilots who were killed when their fighter jet crashed in a field near a Central California air base. Lt. Matthew Ira Lowe, 33, and Lt. Nathan Hollingsworth Williams, 28, died when their F/A-18F Super Hornet went down during a routine training flight Wednesday, officials said. The jet crashed in a grassy field about a half-mile from the Naval Air Station in Lemoore.

Probe into Russian Su-27 jet crash could take 30 days

04/08/2011

It would take Russian investigators at least a month to establish the cause of an accident with a Su-27SM Flanker fighter jet that crashed in Russia's Far East on Wednesday, a military source said. The jet crashed during the landing at an airbase near Vladivostok after a routine training flight. The pilot ejected successfully and was hospitalized with minor injuries.

Nato 'apologises for hitting Libya rebels'

04/08/2011

Nato said it was investigating the incident, noting that the area where the attack occurred was "unclear and fluid with mechanised weapons travelling in all directions". Meanwhile, a different rebel spokesman said Thursday's fatal air strike was carried out by pro-government forces rather than by Nato. "This was not a Nato air-strike; on the contrary, it was conducted by Gaddafi's brigades using SIAI Marchetti SF-260 planes," Col Ahmad Bani told al-Arabiya television.

British Team Completes 600mph Ejection Tests for F-35 Aircraft

04/07/2011

A British industry team led by BAE Systems has completed the final tests on the ejection or escape system for all variants of the F-35 Lightning II combat aircraft. The system has been certified as safe for flight after a series of rigorous tests. The escape system, used in emergency situations, ensures pilots can eject safely and will be fitted to all 3000+ F-35 aircraft which will be flown by armed forces across the globe.

T-38 arrives to supplement F-22 training

04/07/2011

Following a successful test run in March 2010 and approval by Air Combat Command officials, the first of several T-38 Talons from Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., arrived here April 1 for the beginning of the 1st Operations Group's T-38 Adversary Air Program.

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.