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IDF planes attacked two terrorists in northern Gaza early Wednesday, shortly after terrorists fired two rockets at Israeli targets. The two terrorists were targeted specifically by the planes, an IDF statement said. “The IDF will not tolerate any attempt to harm Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers, and will respond with determination to any attempt to use terror against the State of Israel,” the IDF statement said.

Israel Air Force fighter jets eliminated a terrorist squad in northern Gaza late Saturday afternoon. Military sources confirmed a direct hit on the terrorist cell, which had apparently just finished launching a mortar attack on southern Israel. Israeli fighter pilots on Friday night attacked two terrorist tunnels, a weapons factory in southern Gaza and a terrorist training center as well. Direct hits were confirmed on all targets, and all IDF personnel returned safely to their bases. “The IDF will not tolerate any attempts to harm Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers and will respond with determination to any attempt to use...

Copter hunt gets hotter- Race between US & Russian choppers as army, IAF weigh options SUJAN DUTTA New Delhi, Aug. 14: The army and the air force are now totting up the scores in a competition between American and Russian helicopter gunships, one of which will replace the attack copters in the Indian armed forces. The attack helicopter fleet, currently made up of ageing Soviet-origin Mi 25s and Mi 35s, is in the custody of the IAF but is meant to support land operations of the army. The IAF will initially procure 22 attack copters — either the Boeing-made AH64...

The commanders of the IDF, especially those in the Air Force, are making "increasingly loud" demands to strike Iran's nuclear program, a German news source reported Wednesday. According to Der Spiegel, the question of how Israel will eventually deal with the threat of a nuclear Iran depends in part on a battle of prestige between the military and the Mossad – the latter being in charge of assassinations, and favoring them as a result. Mossad is behind the killings of three Iranian scientists in the last 18 months, the paper claimed. A fourth scientist was wounded and subsequently appointed to...

<p>Fighter jet purported to be one of most advanced jets in world with ability to fly undetected in enemy territory; IAF pilots to train in US.</p> <p>The Israel Air Force plans to purchase a second squadron of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters during the upcoming IDF multi-year procurement plan that is currently under review within the General Staff.</p>

India's Mirage upgrade: a prelude to a Rafale MMRCA win? It looks as if India is serious about upgrading its Dassault Mirage 2000Hs to Mirage 2000-9 standard. This is a major upgrade that will affect most systems in the aircraft. The bill, estimated at $2.2 billion, is staggering, working out to about $43 million an aircraft. One wonders if India would be better off buying new aircraft. In his MMRCA report earlier this year Ashley Tellis pegged the flyaway cost of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet (with APG-79 AESA radar) at $60 million. Anyway, the timing of the upgrade (first mooted...

China Among Indian Air Force Concerns May 31, 2011 By Asia-Pacific Staff NEW DELHI — The Indian Air Force (IAF) has long had big ambitions, and the pending arrival of a new service chief with a broad agenda indicates there will be no easing up in efforts to improve the breadth of the service’s capabilities. The first major restructuring of the IAF’s order of battle, a revival of border air bases to counter Chinese air force deployments and quick acquisitions of weapons and systems to plug capability gaps will be the operational priorities of the IAF’s next chief, Air Marshal...

U.S. disappointed over IAF deal, but respects process PTI With its fighters losing out in the bid for India’s multi-billion dollar deal, the U.S. on Thursday said it was “deeply disappointed” over it but was “respectful” of the procurement process. In a statement in New Delhi, Ambassador Timothy Roemer said he had been assured at the highest levels in the Indian government that the procurement process for the fighters “has been and will be transparent and fair”. He said the U.S. looked forward to continuing to grow and develop defence partnership with India. “The U.S. Embassy in New Delhi was...

IAF losing edge over PAF Shiv Aroor & Durga Nandini New Delhi, April 20, 2011 The Pakistan Air Force is stronger than ever. Since the last Indo-Pak air war of 1971, the Pakistan Air Force has with steely determination built up numbers, lethal capabilities and a combat force now counted as one of the most disciplined and well-trained air forces in the world. Headlines Today has a disturbing proof that all this has made India worried. A recent presentation by the defence intelligence establishment paints a morbid picture of how the numbers and capability advantage that the Indian Air Force...

IDF spokesperson says attack aimed at terrorist group planning to kidnap Israelis over Passover; 3 bodies, critically injured man, reportedly brought to Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital near Khan Younis. GAZA - Israeli aircraft killed three Palestinian gunmen, a critically wounded one, in the southern Gaza Strip early on Saturday, medical officials and the Israeli army said. Residents said the planes fired on a car in which the three men were traveling in the town of Khan Younis. According to Palestinian news source Maan, local residents of Khan Younis reported to both hearing and feeling the single-missile strike. An Israeli military spokesman...

They will stop at nothing… The International Association of Firefighters is using tasteless images from the Oklahoma City Bombing to fight a state bill which changes how public safety labor unions and cities handle contract disputes. Posted by Jim Hoft on Thursday, March 24, 2011, 12:02 PM They will stop at nothing… The International Association of Firefighters is using tasteless images from the Oklahoma City Bombing to fight a state bill which changes how public safety labor unions and cities handle contract disputes. NewsOK reported: A state senator today blasted a firefighter union television advertisement as “horrific and tasteless” for...

Israelis debating value of F-35s amid problems affecting delivery TEL AVIV — Israel expects additional delays in the Joint Strike Fighter program. The Institute for National Security Studies asserted that problems in the U.S. F-35 program would affect the delivery schedule for Israel. In a report, author Yiftah Shapir pointed to a U.S. decision to postpone the target date for the F-35A and F-35C to at least 2016. "This change will undoubtedly affect the date of delivery of the planes to Israel," the report, titled "The F-35 Deal: An Enlightened Purchase?" said. Authored by Yiftah Shapir, the report questioned the...

US pushes deal, secrecy hitch on IAF screen SUJAN DUTTA New Delhi, Feb. 21: The US’s strong pitch to sell its fighter aircraft to India for an estimated $12 billion has run into a hurdle with the Indian Air Force telling the government that it does not favour the signing of agreements that risk compromising its operational secrecy. Air Chief Marshal Pradeep Vasant Naik said in Yelahanka earlier this month that price negotiations for the medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) deal could start as early as next month and a contract would be signed by September. The setting of a...

EMBRAER UNVEILS THE NEW EMB 145 AEW&C PLATFORM DEVELOPED FOR THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT It is the first of three aircraft that will incorporate the DRDO-developed surveillance equipment São José dos Campos, February 21, 2011 – Embraer presented the first of three EMB 145 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) platforms, today, to representatives of the Indian government at a ceremony held at its headquarters in São José dos Campos, Brazil. Based on the proven Embraer ERJ 145 regional jet, the aircraft features an in-flight refueling system, SATCOM capability, a significant increase in electrical and cooling capacities, and a comprehensive set...

A broader concept and theology of ministry was emerging from Vatican II, one which gave new status and recognition to lay Catholics. The role of the clergy within this emerging theology was less than clear and a massive exodus from the priesthood began. In the U.S. an estimated 3,413 priests resigned from diocesan and religious priesthood between 1966 and 1993.(29) The departure of large numbers of men and women religious paralleled the departure from the priesthood.(30) Thus the acculturation of U.S. Catholics occurred amid a time of profound uncertainty, crisis, and change. The Impact of Vatican II For U.S. Catholics,...

Rolls Royce, Honeywell may enter fray to sell IAF engines Rolls Royce and Honeywell Aerospace are expected to submit proposals for fitting new engines to Indian Air Force (IAF) Jaguar aircraft by March-April Bhargavi Kerur & Aman Malik Bangalore/New Delhi: Rolls Royce and Honeywell Aerospace are expected to submit proposals for fitting new engines to Indian Air Force (IAF) Jaguar aircraft by March-April, according to three people with knowledge of the situation. The requests for proposal (RFPs) for new engines on the deep penetration strike aircraft (DPSA) were issued towards the end of November or early December, they said. Jaguars...

US may allow India to acquire its fifth generation jets PTI, Jan 28, 2011, 05.36am IST WASHINGTON: The US is open to Indian participation in its Joint Strike Fighter programme that would finally lead to its purchase of fifth generation F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter, a top Pentagon official said Thursday. "There is nothing on our side, no principle which bars that on our side, Indian participation in the Joint Strike Fighter. Right now, they're focused on these aircraft which are top-of-the-line fourth-gen fighters," under secretary of defence for acquisition, technology and logistics Ashton Carter said. Headed to India in...

IAF Jaguar Fleet to be Equipped with ASRAAM Missile 26 January 2011 The Indian Air Force Jaguar fleet is to be equipped with MBDA's advanced short-range air-to-air missile (ASRAAM) to provide both short and within-visual-range protection. The weapon system is an operational capability enhancement that would enable a Jaguar pilot to see, engage and kill the target before it had the chance to respond. The missile's ability to fire upwards to a very high altitude is ideally suited to Jaguar's mission as the aircraft operates at a lower altitude than an in-coming threat. Currently, the missile is fully operational on...

IAF to get midair refueling tanker By YAAKOV KATZ 21/01/2011 Capability needed for possible strike on Iran; Boeing 707 will be converted into a midair refueling tanker. Bracing for a possible confrontation with Iran, the IAF is set to receive a major boost to its long-range capabilities later this month with the expected arrival of a Boeing 707 that will be converted into a midair refueling tanker. The air force bought the plane several months ago and it will be sent to Israel Aerospace Industries, where it will be reconfigured. RELATED: As Iran talks begin, Israel urges forceful action IAF...

IAF looks to Korea, Italy for training aircraft By YAAKOV KATZ 12/30/2010 02:10 Pilot school cadets would use trainers before advancing to combat jets. The Israel Air Force has issued an official request for information from Korean and Italian aerospace companies for new training aircraft that pilot school cadets would use before advancing to combat jets. The request was issued several weeks ago after it was delayed due to the Antitrust Authority’s concerns that a proposal for leading industries to buy the aircraft and lease them to the air force was illegal. The two leading candidates to replace the Skyhawk...