August 12, 2015 Military Aviation News

Night Fighting Tests of China's J-11 Aircraft in Tibet

08/12/2015

China has conducted night combat training of its J-11 regiment of the PLA air force in Tibet. “A group of J-11 heavy fighters were seen taking off amid twilight on August 9. They were engaged in a confrontation drill carried out at night,” Chinamil reported Tuesday. The regiment has carried out various night training of air battle as part of its annual training plan.

USAF's first two combat-coded F-35s take flight

08/12/2015

The US Air Force’s first two combat-coded Lockheed Martin F-35s have come off the assembly line at Fort Worth in Texas, with the second aircraft completing its first flight last week. Those aircraft, AF-77 and AF-78, are being prepped for delivery to Hill AFB in Utah where they will be operated by the 34th Fighter Squadron, the air force’s first operational F-35 group.

U.S. F-16 crashes in Germany; pilot safe

08/12/2015

A pilot ejected from a U.S. F-16 before it crashed Tuesday morning in a forested area in Germany's Bavaria region, the U.S. Air Force said. The pilot was safe, though it wasn't immediately clear if there were any injuries, the Air Force said.

The Saudi-Led Coalition Exploits Success

08/12/2015

Anti-Houthi forces supported by the Saudi-led coalition have built up significant momentum in Yemen. To the south, Southern Resistance fighters have renewed their efforts after capturing Aden, pushing north and northeast from the port city. Greatly assisted by an influx of combat power, including Saudi-operated armored units, they captured Lahj and al-Anad air base last week and are advancing.

Why the F-35 Is Particularly Ill-Suited to Succeed in the Asia-Pacific

08/12/2015

A new report titled “Thunder without Lightning,” (PDF) authored by Bill French and Daniel Edgren for the National Security Network (NSN), argues that the United States’ fifth-generation fighter, the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), has major shortcomings that will leave it particularly ill-suited to project air power in the Asia-Pacific region.

MH17 Crash Investigators Examine Possible Missile Parts

08/12/2015

Dutch officials investigating the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over eastern Ukraine are examining parts recovered in the area that are suspected of having come from an antiaircraft missile. The recovery of such parts, if confirmed, would be the clearest indication on what brought down Flight 17 on July 17, 2014, while it was cruising at 33,000 feet.

Russian Defense Ministry to Sign Major Contract for Purchase of Su-35 Jets

08/12/2015

The Russian Defense Ministry and the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) will sign a contract for the delivery of 48 Sukhoi Su-35 aircraft (NATO reporting name Flanker-E) at the MAKS-2015 air show in late August, local media reported Tuesday.

Serbia Eyes Contract to Purchase 2 Russian Helicopters This Week

08/12/2015

The Serbian Ministry of Defense announced that the country was awaiting the signature of an agreement with Russia on the purchase of two new helicopters. The Republic of Serbia is awaiting the signature of an agreement with Russia on the purchase of two new helicopters this week, the Serbian Ministry of Defense announced Tuesday.

Chinese Motorists Spot Enormous New Missile Transport and Launch Vehicle

08/12/2015

Transporter Erector Launcher (TEL) vehicles are used to quickly transport and fire surface-to-air, cruise and ballistic missiles. Chinese drivers have recently spotted a new version of the vehicle, which appears similar to the military's standard TEL, except that the latest model is "much, much larger," according to Popular Science.

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