Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Israel and Russia in UAV Deal?

06/02/2009

"Syria Buying MiG-31s, MiG-29s for $1 billion" covers ongoing speculation about a potential fighter deal with Iranian financing; some reports even place the Islamic Republic of Iran as the ultimate recipient. Recent reports say that Russia has put the deal on the backburner, though Syria denies this. What’s even more interesting are the parallel reports that Israel may be selling UAVs to Russia, and speculation that the 2 sets of events may be related.

Boeing Submits Proposal for USMC Unmanned Cargo Aircraft Demonstration

06/02/2009

The Boeing Company on June 1 submitted a proposal offering its A160T Hummingbird for the U.S. Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory's Immediate Cargo Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Demonstration Program.

Extreme Altitude Bird Strike Prompts Action

06/01/2009

The Indian air force has slanted to a more ornithologically conscious approach to flight planning following a bird strike involving one of its aircraft and reported in the flight levels. A huge four-engine IAF IL-76 transport was flying at more than 22,000 feet when it struck a yet-unidentified bird.

IAF May Replace AWACS with Modern Aircraft In Future

06/01/2009

After inducting its first Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS), the IAF is planning to replace the Russian IL-76 aircraft with some other "modern aircraft" as the platform for the system in future. India is the first country in South Asia to own an AWACS, popularly called 'an eye in the sky'.

India floats tender for combat, heavy lift helicopters

05/30/2009

To replace its ageing helicopter fleet, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has released the much-awaited tenders for 22 combat and 15 heavy lift choppers to US, European and Russian manufacturers.

Egypt Intends To Purchase 24 More Lockheed Martin F-16s

05/29/2009

The U.S. Department of Defense formally notified Congress on April 12 of Egypt's intent to purchase 24 more F-16 aircraft. This begins a 30-day review period.

Russia to upgrade military transport fleet, buy new planes

05/29/2009

The acquisition of new aircraft for Russia's military transport aviation will begin in 2012, while modernized Il-76, An-22 and An-124 aircraft will remain in service for another 20-30 years, a senior Air Force official said on Friday.

Russian govt. approves Kyrgyz airbase lease extension to 49 years

05/29/2009

The Russian government has approved the 49-year term of its lease of an airbase in Kyrgyzstan, with an automatic prolongation every 25 years.

Gripen policing the Baltic States’ airspace

05/29/2009

The Czech Air Force is now responsible for protecting the airspace of the Baltic countries. Czech Gripens are therefore policing the skies over Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

Pakistan fighter jet crashes

05/29/2009

A CHINESE-BUILT Pakistan Air Force FT-7 fighter jet crashed in central Pakistan on Friday during a training run but the pilots ejected safely, officials said.

Indian MiG-21 crashes in Rajasthan; pilot safe

05/29/2009

In the third crash of a fighter plane in Rajasthan in a month, a MiG-21 went down in a village about 40km from Jodhpur on Wednesday. The pilot was brought down by villagers from a tree into which he fell after ejecting safely.

Iraq Orders C-130Js

05/29/2009

In August 1990, Iraq’s Air Force had more than 500 aircraft in their inventory. The IqAF was decimated in 1991, after Saddam invaded Kuwait and ended up facing the US military and its allies. What remained was hobbled by extensive, and expensive, no-fly zones, until the war formally concluded in 2003 with a US-led invasion that eliminated Saddam’s regime. Rebuilding it under the new Iraqi government has been a slow process.

IAF practicing MIG-29/F-16 dogfights

05/29/2009

Israel Air Force test pilots are flying MIG 29 jets and conducting dogfights against the IAF's F-16 fighters.

Rolls-Royce awarded $80 million contract for C-130J engine

05/28/2009

Rolls-Royce, the global power systems company, has been awarded a contract worth $80 million by the U.S. Air Force to provide AE 2100D3 spare engines and parts to power Lockheed Martin C-130J military transport aircraft for the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps, the Royal Norwegian Air Force and the Indian Air Force.

First Russian AWACS plane put in service with Indian air force

05/28/2009

The first Russian-made A-50 Mainstay AWACS aircraft developed on the basis of Il-76MD military transport plane officially entered service on Thursday with the Indian Air Force (IAF).

Iran, Israel ready to go to war

05/27/2009

On April 18, the London Times reported that "the Israeli military is preparing itself to launch a massive aerial assault on Iran's nuclear facilities within days of being given the go-ahead by its new government."

EMBRAER DELIVERS 100th SUPER TUCANO AIRCRAFT

05/27/2009

Embraer delivered the 100th Super Tucano aircraft, today, at the Company’s headquarters in São José dos Campos, State of São Paulo, Brazil. The Brazilian Air Force (Força Aérea Brasileira – FAB) established the technical-operational requisites for this advanced turboprop, designated as the A-29 by the FAB, which has ordered 99 aircraft, and now receives this commemorative unit.

US bomber violates Pakistani airspace

05/26/2009

A United States B-52 bomber aircraft on Tuesday violated Pakistan’s airspace over North Waziristan Agency.

In an extreme situation N. Korea could sell its nuclear capability to al-Qaeda

05/26/2009

The latest North Korean nuclear test was not just a political act. Pyongyang is actively developing its nuclear capabilities. This is the opinion of Dr. Charles M. Perry, which he expressed in an interview with RIA Novosti. Dr. Charles M. Perry is vice president and director of studies at the Institute for Foreign Policy Analysis, Inc., and vice president of National Security Planning Associates, Inc.

Fifth-generation fighter to be developed in joint project

05/26/2009

The development of the fifth-generation jet fighter is one of the most widely discussed issues in Russia's military. What's more, with its potential involvement in developing the jet fighter, India, one of Russia's long-standing partners in military technical cooperation, confirms its interest in Russia's future project.

India rejects Russian aerial tankers over poor maintenance

05/26/2009

India has dropped Russia from a $1-bln tender to supply six aerial tankers for the Indian Air Force due to poor after-sales maintenance services, the Hindustan Times cited the air force chief as saying.

Boeing KC-767J Aerial Refueling Tankers Join Active Air Wing in Japan

05/26/2009

The Boeing Company today announced that three KC-767J aerial refueling tankers recently achieved Initial Operational Capability (IOC) and have been placed in an active air wing in the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF).

Pakistani Immigrant Leads Air Department Aboard Carrier

05/26/2009

A USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) officer has broken stereotypes in the Navy across all ranks during the past 22 years.

UAE still in talks to buy Rafale planes from France

05/26/2009

The United Arab Emirates and France are continuing negotiations on the Gulf Arab state's potential purchase of French Rafale fighter planes, the UAE's foreign minister said on Monday.

IAF's first AWACS arrives from Israel

05/26/2009

Escorted by combat jets, the first of three Indian Air Force (IAF) "eye-in-the-sky" airborne warning and control systems (AWACS) flew in from Israel to the Jamnagar airbase in Gujarat Monday and will be formally inducted into the force here Thursday.