December 22, 2015 Military Aviation News

Enlisted Airmen Will Now Get To Fly Drones

12/22/2015

For the first time since World War II, the Air Force will use enlisted airmen as pilots. Rather than climbing into cockpits, though, they'll be seated at workstations in places like Beale Air Force Base north of Sacramento, CA.

Aquino pledges a stronger, more capable military

12/22/2015

Philippine President Benigno Aquino has vowed leave behind a stronger and a more capable armed forces to face maritime challenges in the South China Sea when he leaves office next year. Aquino, ineligible to run for re-election under the constitution, promised to spend about 83.90bn pesos ($1.77bn) in a five-year period until 2017 to strengthen the military as China asserts its claims to most of the waters.

F-35 Rising: The Pentagon's Biggest Weapon Program Made Major Progress In 2015

12/22/2015

The F-35 fighter, destined to replace the Cold War tactical aircraft of three U.S. military services and ten overseas allies, is ending 2015 on a positive note. An omnibus spending bill passed by Congress last week to fund government programs for the rest of the fiscal year added $1.33 billion for eleven more of the planes.

Afghan air force awaits arrival of first fixed-wing attack aircraft

12/22/2015

Afghanistan’s air force will be getting its first block of fixed-wing aircraft in early 2016, expanding the force's limited close-air support capability, defense officials said. The delivery of the first four A-29 Super Tucanos, a turbo prop light attack aircraft, will arrive in Afghanistan in January, and a total of eight are due before the end of 2016. A fleet of 20 will be in place by 2018, according to a senior U.S. defense official.

U.S. Air Force Receives Two Additional Super Hercules

12/22/2015

U.S. Air Force crews recently ferried two additional C-130J Super Hercules aircraft from the Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) facility here. These aircraft are a C-130J-30 Super Hercules assigned to Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, and an HC-130J Combat King II assigned to Moody Air Force Base, Georgia.

Saudi Arabia Intercepts Missile Fired from Yemen

12/22/2015

Despite a ceasefire and peace talks, attacks have continued in Yemen between rebels and a Saudi-led coalition, which on Monday said it had intercepted a missile targeting Saudi Arabia’s southern border region.

War Train: China Tests Rail-Based Long-Range Missile Capable of Hitting US

12/22/2015

China this month tested a new rail-car-mounted long-range missile capable of hitting targets in the United States, according to American intelligence agencies monitoring the test. A canister ejection test for a DF-41 missile mounted on a rail launch platform was detected December 5 in western China, defense officials familiar with reports of the test told the Washington Free Beacon.

Turkish Defense Industry Successfully Conducts Armed Drone Test

12/22/2015

The Turkish defense industry has successfully conducted a test of an armed tactical drone amid the country’s plan to launch a serial production of unmanned aerial vehicles with firepower, US media reported on Friday.

Kremlin Denies HRW Allegations Russia Using Cluster Bombs in Syria

12/22/2015

Moscow denies allegations its Aerospace Forces have used cluster bombs in the fight against terrorism in Syria, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday.

India May Buy Over $7Bln's Worth of Arms From Russia During Modi's Visit

12/22/2015

In late November, the Indian Foreign Ministry told Sputnik that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to visit Moscow on December 24-25. According to the Kommersant newspaper, breakthrough deals in the military-technical sphere could be expected from Modi’s visit. The total package of contracts is estimated to be worth more than $7 billion.

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