Military Aviation News Archive

NATO to take control of military operation in Libya

03/25/2011

NATO will take over control of military operations to ensure a no-fly zone in Libya early next week, diplomatic sources in Brussels said on Thursday.

The Qatar Armed Forces Order Three EMS-Configured AW139s

03/24/2011

AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that the Qatar Armed Forces have signed a contract for three AW139 medium twin helicopters plus a comprehensive logistics support package. These aircraft will be operated by the Qatar Emiri Air Force to perform emergency medical service missions.

New contract for AERO Vodochody worth several million Euros

03/24/2011

Aero Vodochody received business worth several million Euros from Swedish company SAAB Aeronautics for production of pylons for Swedish and Thai air forces.

NATO Coalition Attack Hits Libyan Air Defenses

03/24/2011

Last night the joint task force ‘Odyssey Dawn’, comprising U.S. Navy and Royal Navy surface ships and submarines launched a massive attack on Libya, firing 112 Tomahawk sea-launched cruise missiles. The missiles were fired from U.S. and British attack submarines and U.S. Navy surface ships. An airstrike with Storm Shadow cruise missiles was also launched by RAF Tornado GR4, flying straight from Marham airbase in the U.K., a 3,000 mile return flight. The attack targeted about 20 radar and anti-ai

U.S. jet crew safe after crash in Libya

03/24/2011

U.S. forces safely recovered the two-man crew of an American fighter jet after it crashed during a mission against a missile site in eastern Libya, Pentagon officials said Tuesday.

Family Members Charged In Conspiracy To Export Fighter Jet Engines To Iran

03/24/2011

Miami’s U.S. Attorney announced that four family members were charged in a five-count indictment alleging they illegally attempted to export 22 F-5 jet fighter engines to Iran, violating sanctions.

Libya no-fly zone leadership squabbles continue within Nato

03/24/2011

A flotilla of warships has begun patrolling the Mediterranean under Nato command to block attempts by Colonel Muammar Gaddafi to replenish his combat forces with arms and mercenaries. But the attempt at a Nato show of unity in policing a UN arms embargo was undermined by a third day of squabbling at alliance headquarters in Brussels over who should be in charge of the air campaign.

Naval strike aircraft to be part of Russian Air Force

03/23/2011

Naval strike aircraft will be reassigned to the Russian Air Force by the end of 2011, a high-ranking Navy source told RIA Novosti on Wednesday. Naval strike aircraft include Tu-22M3 Backfire long-range bombers, MiG-31 Foxhound interceptors, Su-27 Flanker fighter jets, and Su-24 Fencer attack aircraft.

Teams Sped to U.S. Crash Site

03/23/2011

The F-15E Strike Eagle fighter was flying just before midnight Tuesday at 22,000 feet over northeastern Libya when its engines pitched out. In the frantic seconds that followed, the plane's pilot and weapon systems officer decided they had no choice but to eject.

Canadian fighter jets fly first mission in Libyan no-fly zone

03/23/2011

Canadian jet fighters have flown their first mission in the skies over Libya as part of a coalition effort to rein in Moammar Gadhafi’s crackdown on pro-democracy rebels.

Gates cites efforts to avoid civilian casualties in Libya

03/23/2011

Coalition forces enforcing a no-fly zone in Libya to halt the slaughter of citizens by Moammar Gadhafi "have gone to great lengths to avoid civilian casualties," Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said here March 22.

NATO to take overall control of Libyan mission - top EU diplomat

03/23/2011

NATO should assume overall command of the international operation in Libya, the EU top diplomat said.

Gates expects fighting in Libya to recede within days

03/23/2011

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Tuesday the significant military fighting going on in Libya now "should recede in the next few days."

HC-130J Completes Developmental Testing

03/23/2011

The new HC-130J personnel recovery aircraft, developed for the United States Air Force Air Combat Command, has completed developmental testing. The final test point was air-to-air refueling and was achieved on March 14. This was the first refueling of an HC-130J, and the first ever boom refueling of a C-130 where the aircraft’s refueling receiver was installed during aircraft production.

F-15E incident in Libya; crew recovered

03/22/2011

Two crew members ejected from their U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle when the aircraft experienced equipment malfunction over northeast, Libya, March 21, at approximately 5:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.

Typhoon makes history in Libya with first combat mission

03/22/2011

A pair of British F2 Typhoon aircraft took off from southern Italy on their first patrols to enforce the UN-imposed no-fly zone over Libya.

Canada's CF-18 Hornets

03/22/2011

The CF-18 Hornet was commissioned in 1980 by the Canadian military, which in 1977 issued a call for tender for the manufacture of 130 to 150 new fighter jets in order to replace its aging fleet.

From Libyan airspace, civilians hard to define

03/22/2011

For the aviators flying over Libya and deciding whether to press the button, the three-day-old U.S. military-led mission over Libya can be hard to define.

UPDATE 2-FACTBOX-Military assets in play in Libya crisis

03/22/2011

European and U.S. forces have unleashed warplanes and cruise missiles against Libyan targets under a U.N. Security Council resolution authorising military action to protect civilians from leader Muammar Gaddafi's forces. (Adds Qatar, updates Italy, Spain, Denmark, France, Britain)

No-fly zone in place, but danger remains, admiral says

03/22/2011

While the attacks on Libya's integrated air and missile defense system have been successful, thousands of anti-aircraft artillery emplacements and portable missile launchers still pose threats to coalition air crews, the director of the Joint Staff said March 21.

U.S. Air Force aircraft strike Libya

03/21/2011

U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirits, F-15E Strike Eagles and F-16CJ Fighting Falcons launched during the early hours of March 20 in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn to enforce U.N. Security Council Resolution 1973, which is centered on protecting Libyan citizens from any further harm from Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's regime.

Sweden's house backs Libya involvement

03/21/2011

The Swedish government can count on the broad support in parliament to send Jas Gripen aircraft to assist the UN-backed Libyan operation, with only the Sweden Democrats expressing a dissenting opinion.

Qatar fighter jets expected at Greek base

03/21/2011

Greece expects four fighter aircraft from Qatar to land at a military base on the island of Crete on Monday or Tuesday, a Defence Ministry official told Reuters.

Spanish fighter jets join Libya mission

03/21/2011

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said earlier in the day Spain would contribute four F-18 fighter jets to carry out air patrol missions and also send an F-100 frigate and a submarine for maritime surveillance to help impose an international arms embargo on the Muammar Gaddafi regime.

Russia not to participate in no-fly zone operations in Libya - Medvedev

03/21/2011

Russia will not participate in any operations in regard to the no-fly zone in Libya, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Monday.