February, 2022 Military Aviation News
02/28/2022
Eight Chinese military aircraft entered Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on Saturday (Feb. 26), marking the 15th intrusion this month. Four People’s Liberation Army Air Force Shenyang J-11 fighter jets, two Shenyang J-16 fighters, and two Shaanxi Y-8 anti-submarine warfare aircraft flew into the southwest corner of the ADIZ, according to the Ministry of National Defense (MND). In response, Taiwan sent aircraft, issued radio warnings, and deployed air defense assets to track them.
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02/28/2022
As per videos going viral on social media, it appears the Ukrainian military shot down two Ka-52s on the very first day of the Russian invasion. Called ‘Alligator’, Ka-52 is touted as Russia’s most sophisticated attack helicopter. The choppers are frequently compared with the US Army’s AH-64 Apache. Last year, several publications including The EurAsian Times and South China Morning Post reported that China was considering buying the Russian attack chopper.
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02/28/2022
The United States and NATO on Sunday condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin's order to put his nuclear forces on high alert as dangerous and unacceptable, while the White House said it has not ruled out imposing new sanctions on Russia's energy sector.
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02/28/2022
Ukraine agreed on Sunday to hold talks with Russia on the former’s border with Belarus, near Chernobyl city, after mediation efforts by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. Russian forces continued their advance into Ukraine for the fourth day of their offensive, while western powers imposed heavy sanctions on Moscow.
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02/28/2022
Today, bombardment and assault aviation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine fired missiles at six columns of military equipment of the Russian aggressor. "This day was quite difficult for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The occupiers continue shelling in almost all directions of the front line. The Air Force opposes the aggressor both in sky and on earth. The aviation garrison in Vasylkiv heroically defends itself, withstanding massive shelling and enemy attacks.
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02/28/2022
There’s yet another victim of the conflict underway in Ukraine: the only Antonov An-225 ‘Mriya’ (‘Dream” in Ukrainian). The Mriya (NATO reporting name: Cossack) was designed at the end of Cold War and its purpose was to carry the Soviet “Buran” space shuttle and parts of the “Energia” rocket on its back. It operated as the primary method of transporting the Buran-class orbiters from 1988 to 1991. After remaining unused for some years, it was put back in service by Antonov Airlines, a Ukrainian c
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02/28/2022
Ukraine has received and will continue to receive military aid from NATO and European Union nations. While additional equipment could be supplied in the near future, the Ukrainian Air Force has recently received resupplies of air-to-air missiles used by its combat planes that continue to fight against the Russian Air Force in the skies over Ukraine.
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02/27/2022
In a dramatic escalation of East-West tensions over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian nuclear deterrent forces put on high alert Sunday in response to what he called “aggressive statements” by leading NATO powers.
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02/27/2022
“Beginning tomorrow Italy will strengthen the its presence in Romania, doubling the number of aircraft already supporting the Air Policing mission” Italy Minister of Defense Lorenzo Guerini said. In other words, four additional Eurofighter Typhoon jets will deploy to Mihail Kogalniceanu airbase bringing to 8 the total number of Italian Air Force fighters supporting NATO’s eAPA-S (Enhanced Air Policing Area South).
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02/27/2022
Three days after the invasion there are signs that Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine is not quite going to plan. In the Sumy region, close to the border with Russia, a local resident came across an extraordinary sight. On a country road lined with birch trees, a Russian armoured vehicle had broken down.
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02/27/2022
As the sun rises on day three of the Ukrainian war with Russia, reports have surfaced that two Russian Ilyushin Il-76 heavy transports were shot down by Ukrainian air defenses. Russia has not acknowledged the loss of any of its Il-76 aircraft. On Friday, Feb. 25, 2022, Ukrainian air defenses claimed to have shot down one Russian Il-76 transport near Vasylkiv, south of the capital in Kyiv. Ukrainian reports claimed the aircraft was carrying a “landing force” but did not specify any number of casu
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02/27/2022
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Saturday he has authorized $350 million in new US military assistance to Ukraine. “This package will include further lethal defensive assistance to help Ukraine address the armored, airborne, and other threats it is now facing. It is another clear signal that the United States stands with the people of Ukraine as they defend their sovereign, courageous, and proud nation,” he added.
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02/27/2022
In response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg today announced activation of the alliance's defense plans, which means also that it can deploy the NATO Defense Force. The U.S. Defense Department now stands ready to provide capabilities to help fill that defense force, if asked to do so, said Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby.
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02/27/2022
Under attack from Russian forces on three fronts and subjected to a heavy barrage of airstrikes and land-based fires in Europe’s largest security crisis since the Second World War, Ukraine has proven itself capable of meaningful resistance and inflicted equipment losses on invading forces that give credibility to prior forecasts suggesting a quick Russian victory would not transpire, despite the substantial asymmetric advantage held by Moscow.
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02/26/2022
American defence major Lockheed Martin will be showcasing its diverse portfolio of defence capabilities and solutions at the 12th biennial edition of India’s DEFEXPO 2022, starting from 10 March at Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The company’s exhibit this year includes a broad span of advanced technologies from aeronautics, rotary and mission systems, and missiles and fire control business areas.
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02/26/2022
"The first column of troops and combat equipment from the US Army's 3rd Cavalry Regiment crossed the Lithuanian border near Kalvarija at around 3 a.m.," the Lithuanian Armed Forces said. The troops and equipment, including infantry fighting vehicles, armored SUVs and trucks, will be taking part in the Saber Strike drills in the Baltic states and Poland, it said.
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02/26/2022
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a new video message Friday morning, urging resistance to the Russian invasion and criticizing Ukraine's allies for the second time in just a few hours.
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02/26/2022
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace today ruled out NATO enforcing a no-fly zone over Ukraine as he warned such a move would likely plunge the entire European continent into war. There have been calls from Ukraine, and from some Tory MPs, for the UK to provide air support to Kiev as it tries to beat back the Russian invasion.
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02/26/2022
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Friday the alliance was deploying parts of its combat-ready response force and would continue to send weapons to Ukraine, including air defences, while saying that Russia was trying to topple the Ukrainian government. "We see rhetoric, the messages, which is strongly indicating that the aim is to remove the democratically elected government in Kyiv," he told a news conference following a virtual meeting of NATO leaders.
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02/25/2022
Vadym Prystaiko, speaking in London this afternoon, promised there will be fighting in the streets of Ukraine if Russia's Vladimir Putin continues with his apparent expansion plans. He appeared to thank the UK, revealing that British-supplied military kit has been used to shoot down Russian aircraft. Prystaiko called for a no-fly zone to be put in place over his country, saying he wanted “something which only NATO can provide”.
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02/25/2022
The Army’s first manned spy plane and an Air Force “nuke sniffer” have been among the surveillance aircraft watching Russia’s military movements during the Kremlin’s planning and execution of its latest invasion of Ukraine. For weeks, aviation spotters have been following the Air Force’s RQ-4 Global Hawk, RC-135 Rivet Joint, WC-135 Constant Phoenix and E-8C, an Army prototype called ARTEMIS, as well as other U.S. and NATO aircraft flying in Ukraine or in neighboring areas.
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02/25/2022
In an apparent warning to North Korea and China, the United States has deployed an unspecified number of F-35A stealth fighter jets to Okinawa, Japan, its military said Thursday.
The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said the F-35A jets from the 354th Fighter Wing in Alaska had been moved to Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, on Sunday to take part in “integrated air operations.”
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02/25/2022
Germany is ready to extend and expand its support of NATO's air policing mission in Romania and also to comply with further requests from the alliance, the German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht announced Thursday. "I have given (an) order to expand and extend our engagement in the air policing in Romania," Lambrecht told reporters after briefing Germany's parliament defense committee.
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02/25/2022
Two U.S. Air Force EC-130H Compass Call aircraft arrived at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait to demonstrate a continued U.S. presence in theater to our partners and adversaries, and support a commitment to security and stability in the region. The EC-130 aircraft were redeployed to the United States where they postured as an immediate response force following the 41st Expeditionary Electronic Combat Squadron’s inactivation from Al Dhafra Air Base in Sept. 2021, after a 20-year-long standing deploym
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02/25/2022
Bell Textron has commenced the manufacture of the first AH-1Z Viper twin-engine attack helicopter for the Czech Republic Air Force. The aircraft is being built at the company’s assembly centre in Amarillo, Texas, US. The development follows after Bell Textron started production of the UH-1Y Venom helicopters for the country in July last year, marking the first production for an international operator of the UH-1Y.
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02/25/2022
Amid tensions in Ukraine due to Russia, Taiwan media reported that two Chinese military planes entered the region's Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) on Wednesday, February 23, marking the 12th intrusion this month. As per Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence (MND), two People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) Shenyang J-16 fighter jets flew into the southwest corner of Taiwan’s ADIZ.
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02/25/2022
“In Lithuania, on February 24, armed US F-35 military aircraft landed at the airbase of the Lithuanian Army Air Force in Siauliai, where additional US military forces are deployed. In response to the current security situation, the US has also taken an important and necessary decision – the rotation of the heavy 3-66 armor battalion continues in Lithuania,” the ministry said in a statement. Earlier in the day, the Netherlands dispatched two F-35 fighters to protect NATO airspace over Eastern Eur
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02/25/2022
On Thursday, Russian troops launched their anticipated attack on Ukraine. Big explosions were heard in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odessa as world leaders decried the start of an invasion that could cause massive casualties and topple Ukraine’s democratically elected government. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared martial law, saying Russia has targeted Ukraine’s military infrastructure. He urged Ukrainians to stay home and not to panic.
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02/25/2022
Ukraine’s defence ministry claims to have destroyed several Russian aircraft during its early efforts to defend the country from invasion by Moscow’s military. “The enemy suffers losses. Currently, six Russian air force planes and two helicopters have been shot down,” the defence ministry claimed, just hours after Moscow had launched strikes against Ukrainian military facilities in the early hours of 24 February.
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02/24/2022
The latest as Vladimir Putin orders the invasion of Ukraine, with explosions heard in the country's capital Kyiv; The UN Security Council's pleas for peace fall on deaf ears as Mr Putin threatens other countries with "consequences they have never seen" should they interfere.
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02/24/2022
Russian President Vladimir Putin, in an early Thursday morning address in Moscow, announced that Russia would launch a military action in Ukraine. NBC News reported that explosions were heard in Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital.
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02/24/2022
The United Arab Emirates has said it plans to buy a dozen Chinese L15 aircraft, as it seeks to bolster its defences after a series of attacks by Yemeni rebels. The UAE defence ministry said it intended to sign a contract with China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC) to buy 12 of the L15 training and light combat aircraft, with the option for 36 additional jets of the same type, the official Emirati news agency WAM reported Wednesday.
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02/24/2022
Pakistani retired general AvM Dr Rizwan Riaz and TAI General Manager Prof. Dr. Temel Kotil announced that the MMU (National Combat Aircraft) project was carried out in cooperation between Turkey and Pakistan. Pakistan's savings within the scope of the AZM project will be used jointly with Turkey's savings within the scope of MMU, and both countries will take part in the design and manufacture of the aircraft.
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02/24/2022
One of the aircraft competing for a Malaysian trainer contract made its debut at the Singapore Airshow last week, taking part in static and flying displays. While the other competitors opted to maintain a lower profile, three of India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited-made Tejas showed off their capabilities, courtesy of the No. 18 “Flying Bullets” Squadron based in Sulur. Two of the aircraft participated in aerial displays during the air show, which took place Feb. 15-18 at the Changi Exhibition
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02/24/2022
U.S. military researchers are moving forward on a project that relies heavily on artificial intelligence (AI) and machine autonomy in complex air combat maneuvering that involves manned aircraft and combat unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
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02/23/2022
With Russian tanks said to be rolling down the streets of the occupied Ukrainian cities of Donetsk and Luhansk, and Russia now in breach of the Minsk accords a full-scale conflict in the region is an increasingly realistic prospect. Thus far, the majority of Western coverage on the Ukraine crisis has focused on the number of Russian troops on the country’s frontiers, with as many as 190,000 said to have been amassed at its borders, whether ready to embark on an all-out invasion or utilized as a
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02/23/2022
The US Department of Defense has announced that Thailand is purchasing an undisclosed number of AH-6 light attack and reconnaissance helicopters as part of a $103.8 million contract. Developed by Boeing, the AH-6 reportedly possesses “superior” performance and is equipped with “flexible” equipment ideal for precision attacks, close combat, security and escort, troop insertion and extraction, and combat search and rescue operations.
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02/23/2022
President Joe Biden has announced heavy financial sanctions against Russian banks and business leaders just one day after Russian President Vladimir Putin deployed troops into two separatist-held regions in Ukraine. "I'm announcing the first tranche of sanctions to impose costs on Russia in response to their actions yesterday,” Biden said Tuesday. "We'll continue to escalate sanctions if Russia escalates.”
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02/23/2022
THE Turkish bidders for the hotly contested Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) fighter aircraft said they are offering Malaysia co-production of a new fighter jet as part of their offerings. Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc management said it will also provide technology transfer and is willing to cut its bid price by as much as 30%, in order to secure RMAF’s open tender for military aircraft.
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02/23/2022
Another round of U.S. troops has been mobilized in support of Eastern European countries as Russia further invades Ukraine. Joining 6,000 troops already activated in Germany, Poland and Hungary, the Defense Department announced Tuesday that a spate of combat aircraft and infantry troops will head to the Baltics and Poland.
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02/23/2022
The 43d Fighter Squadron was the first unit to receive the F-22 Raptor and remains the only squadron in the U.S. Air Force to train and prepare pilots to operate one of the world’s most advanced 5th-generation aircraft.
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02/23/2022
As a key part of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), the A400M demonstrated its drone launch capability from its cargo hold. Airbus Defence & Space conducted a successful test flight in which an A400M deployed a drone from its cargo ramp, validating its ability to launch drones from the air.
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02/22/2022
In a situation reminiscent of the Cold War, the last few weeks have seen a continuous stream of military aircraft across Europe in response to the growing tensions around Ukraine and the fear of an imminent Russian invasion. NATO and partner nations quickly deployed additional fighters in support of the ones already performing air policing duties in Eastern Europe.
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02/22/2022
While a Russian invasion of Ukraine appears to be a matter of hours, U.S. and NATO combat aircraft continue to operate in the eastern Europe region. In particular, on Feb. 21, 2022, shortly after 15.00LT, one of the four B-52H Stratofortress bombers deployed to RAF Fairford, UK, as part of BTF (Bomber Task Force) 22-2 carried out a quite unusual visit to Leoš Janácek Airport in Ostrava, Czech Republic.
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02/22/2022
China says it will impose new sanctions on United States defence contractors Raytheon Technologies and Lockheed Martin due to their arms sales to Taiwan, stepping up a feud with Washington over security and Beijing’s strategic ambitions.
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02/22/2022
The self-declared people's republics of Donetsk and Luhansk are home to Russia-backed rebels who have been fighting Ukrainian forces since 2014. Russia's move is likely to end peace talks in the region, which has been under a tenuous ceasefire for years. Western powers also fear it could pave the way for Russian military forces to enter Ukraine's eastern regions.
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02/22/2022
The NATO Tiger Meet (NTM) is a multinational exercise attended by air force squadrons with tiger (or feline) emblems. The main difference between NTM and conventional exercises is that most aircraft have Tiger insignia, special tails, or extravagant tiger-themed paint schemes on their airframes.
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02/22/2022
The U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) has completed the deployment of the newest Apache attack helicopters to South Korea, its aviation unit said, as the allies have stepped up joint efforts to counter Pyongyang's evolving military threats. In a Facebook post last Friday, the 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade said that the process to deploy the latest AH-64E Version 6 helicopters to Camp Humphreys, a main USFK base in Pyeongtaek, 70 kilometers south of Seoul, was completed two days earlier.
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02/22/2022
Russian forces stepped up shelling against portions of Ukraine, but stopped short of an invasion that many experts predicted might come on Sunday. Experts had widely viewed Feb. 20 as a potential day for an invasion of Ukraine, the date official exercises in Belarus between Belarusian and Russian military personnel were slated to end. Belarusian Minister of Defense Viktor Khrenin said in a statement Sunday that the presidents of Belarus and Russia decided to continue assessing their forces.
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02/22/2022
The Hawk Lead-In Fighter will continue to train Australia’s frontline fighter pilots through to 2031 following a $1.5 billion commitment by the government. The new contract includes the continuation of the existing in-service support, providing maintenance, engineering and supply chain services to the RAAF and will be the foundation for progressive upgrades of mission systems.
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02/21/2022
The Nigerian military has killed and wounded children in an air attack in neighbouring Niger, according to a local governor in Niger, state television and an aid agency. The attack took place in the village of Nachade in the region of Maradi, Niger, on Friday, a few kilometres from the border with Nigeria, said Chaibou Aboubacar, the governor of Maradi.
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02/21/2022
In a phone call with President Emmanuel Macron, Mr Putin also agreed that foreign ministers from both countries would meet "in the coming days". Western nations believe Russia is ready to invade Ukraine, which Moscow denies. Meanwhile, Ukraine says talk of an imminent invasion is "inappropriate". President Macron's call on Sunday was the latest effort to prevent military action by Russia, which has amassed tens of thousands of troops on Ukraine's borders.
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02/20/2022
On Feb. 17, 2022, an RAAF P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft was illuminated by a laser from a People’s Liberation Army – Navy warship. The lasing was carried out by a Luyang-class guided missile destroyer at 12.35AM LT, Australia’s Defence Department announced.
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02/20/2022
Two U.S. Air Force F-16CM Fighting Falcon aircraft belonging to the 555th Fighter Squadron of the 31st Fighter Wing, based at Aviano Air Base, Italy, took part in a mission over Eastern Europe carrying Live weapons, on Saturday Feb. 19, 2022. The shots in this post, taken by photographer Claudio Tramontin outside Aviano, show the two aircraft, serials #89-2035 and #89-2039, loaded with AIM-120C/D AMRAAM and AIM-9X air-to-air missiles along with external fuel tanks.
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02/20/2022
As the United States and NATO begin to deploy more combat aircraft to Poland—including an undisclosed number of U.S. Air Force F-15 Eagle fighters—Russia may be responding by permanently stationing its most advanced air defense system near the Belarusian capital.
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02/19/2022
Amid tensions on the ground, the aircraft of these cold war adversaries came very close to each other on multiple occasions over the past few weeks. Quoting Pentagon sources, The New York Times reported that US and Russian jets flying in the eastern Mediterranean Sea got perilously close to each other in three different incidents last weekend, including one in which the planes approached within five feet of each other.
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02/19/2022
China will deliver 25 J-10C fighter jets to Pakistan within weeks as part of a deal that will bolster Islamabad’s military capabilities against mutual rival India. Beijing’s first export of the advanced jets marks a big step-up in its decades-old arms relationship with Islamabad and entails providing its ally with some of the latest equipment that China’s own armed forces are using. China will also broaden its support to Pakistan’s navy.
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02/19/2022
A dozen F-35A Lightning II fighter jets and 350 airmen from Hill Air Force Base in Utah have arrived in Germany, marking the latest deployment of American aircraft to Europe as tensions mount between Russia and Ukraine. The airmen from the active-duty 388th and Reserve 419th Fighter Wing arrived at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, on Wednesday, according to an Air Force Reserve statement.
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02/19/2022
The United Kingdom and Japan have agreed to the joint development of sensor technology for both the Tempest and F-X future combat aircraft programs, expanding the military-technology partnership between the two nations.
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02/18/2022
While the United States has responded to Russia's military buildup on the Ukrainian border with the deployment of B-52 Stratofortress bombers and F-15 Eagles to Europe, Russia has also deployed combat aircraft to bases outside of its national borders.
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02/18/2022
Turkey’s landmark national fighter jet is on display at Asia’s biggest airshow as the country seeks to expand its defense engagement in the region. The mock-up of the National Combat Aircraft (MMU) is being exhibited at the Singapore Airshow, which kicked off on Tuesday and will last until Friday.
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02/17/2022
Three U.S. P-8A Poseidon surveillance aircraft flying over the Mediterranean Sea encountered “unprofessional intercepts” from Russian aircraft over the weekend, according to the Navy. “We can confirm that over the course of last weekend, three U.S. Navy P-8A aircraft experienced unprofessional intercepts by Russian aircraft,” said Navy Capt. Mike Kafka, director of Defense Press Operations, in a statement Wednesday.
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02/17/2022
Last week, the United States approved a possible sale of $100 million worth of military equipment and services to Taiwan. If it is completed, the deal will include engineering services to support legacy Guidance Enhanced Missiles (GEM) and Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missiles.
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02/17/2022
A Myanmar fighter jet on Wednesday crashed into a lake in the country's northwest, state-run media reported, blaming the incident on a technical malfunction. The crash took place in a region where there is active combat between Myanmar's army and forces opposed to army rule. The military later said in a statement the pilot had died.
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02/17/2022
A pair of U.S. F-35 fighter jets are on display at an airshow in Singapore this week, vying for potential customers in a volatile region. But Washington won’t sell its most-advanced warplanes to just anyone. Several key U.S. allies already have F-35s, including South Korea, Australia and Japan, and Singapore is set to follow suit. Next in line could be Thailand, America’s long-standing treaty ally in Asia. But analysts say there’s no guarantee that Washington will approve the sale.
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02/16/2022
The latest reports and rumors about Iraq’s planned future acquisitions of fighter jets are an apt reminder of how, throughout its history, the Iraqi Air Force (IQAF) has long gone back and forth between east and west. According to a source cited by Defense News in mid-February, Iraq intends to buy 14 Dassault Rafale multirole fighter jets from France for $240 million, which Baghdad plans to pay for with oil instead of hard cash.
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02/16/2022
A study from 2003 – now available in exclusive English translation – contains important insights on China’s fifth-generation (and beyond) fighter development. The Chinese fifth-generation J-20 remains one of the world’s more enigmatic and poorly understood modern combat aircraft, even 11 years after its maiden flight and some six years after it entered initial service with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force. Deliberate PLA opacity and operational security is arguably the greatest cause
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02/16/2022
Air forces around the globe are looking to balance quality and quantity. Range and speed are the major focus of next-generation aircraft and weapons, driven by the United States’ increased focus on the Indo-Pacific region, according to the 2022 “Military Balance” report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
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02/16/2022
After years of speculation and countless online rumors, the first Chinese-made J-10 multi-role fighter jets for the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) have appeared in China. Once delivered to the PAF, the single-engine J-10 medium-weight fighter will help modernize that service and further deepen the military relationship between Pakistan and China. Furthermore, it’s a major milestone as the first export sale of the J-10.
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02/16/2022
F-22s from the 1st Fighter Wing landed at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, on Feb. 12, fulfilling a pledge by Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III to deploy fifth-generation aircraft to the Gulf nation. The fighters are from the 27th Fighter Squadron based out of Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., the Air Force announced in a release.
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02/15/2022
Two Chinese military aircraft entered Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on Monday (Feb. 14), marking the eighth intrusion this month. One People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) Shenyang J-16 fighter jet and one Shaanxi Y-8 anti-submarine warfare plane flew into the southwest corner of Taiwan’s ADIZ, according to the Ministry of National Defense (MND). In response, Taiwan sent aircraft, issued radio warnings, and deployed air defense missile systems to track the PLAAF planes.
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02/15/2022
The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) will continue flying its F-16C/D fighter jets for "at least another decade", Chief of Air Force Major-General (MG) Kelvin Khong said on Monday (Feb 14), adding that the RSAF has been following the developments of F-35 stealth fighter jets "closely". Singapore announced in 2019 that it will buy four F-35B fighter jets for complete testing with the option for eight more. The plan is for the F-35s to replace the RSAF's ageing F-16s.
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02/15/2022
The Philippines’ defense secretary late last year ordered 32 Black Hawk helicopters for the country — part of an ongoing defense modernization effort driven by territorial disputes and a need for several aerial capabilities.
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02/15/2022
More American F-15 combat aircraft landed at the Lask airbase in central Poland on Monday to help patrol the skies of the Baltic states. The arrival of the eight aircraft comes amid fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.
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02/14/2022
The Turkish Air Force had been denied the opportunity to purchase fifth-generation F-35 stealth jets as a result of its acquisition of Russia’s S-400 air missile defense system. Despite being a NATO member, Turkey was sanctioned by Washington under the CAATSA. It was also expelled from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program.
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02/14/2022
The Defense Ministry said Sunday it has discovered the body of one of the two pilots who were aboard the Air Self-Defense Force F-15 fighter jet that crashed into the Sea of Japan late last month. The ASDF is continuing its search for the other pilot.
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02/14/2022
n late January, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that Russian and Syrian warplanes had conducted joint patrols along the Golan Heights and the Euphrates River. "The mission route included the Golan Heights, the southern border of Syria, the Euphrates River and northern Syria," the statement said. "The Russian pilots took off from Khmeimim Air Base, while the Syrians took off from the Sayqal and Al-Dumayur bases near Damascus."
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02/14/2022
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) will provide Morocco with the Barak MX air and missile defense system. The deal is worth over $500 million, Israeli daily Globes reported. A source told Morocco World News that the Israeli aircraft manufacturing company IAI has reached an agreement with Morocco to supply it with the Barak MX missile defense system. The Barak MX missile defense system is flexible and modular and can protect against a range of missile threats and unmanned drones.
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02/13/2022
India will showcase its Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA) at the four-day Singapore Air Show next week with an eye on the possible export potential of the indigenously-developed jet to friendly countries in years to come. Three Tejas fighter jets and a 44-member contingent of the Indian Air Force (IAF) reached Singapore on Saturday to participate in the air show to be held from February 15 to 18.
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02/13/2022
U.S. F-22 fighter jets arrived in the United Arab Emirates on Saturday, part of an American defense response to recent missile attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels targeting the country. The Raptors landed at Al-Dhafra Air Base in Abu Dhabi, which hosts some 2,000 U.S. troops. American soldiers there launched Patriot interceptor missiles in response to the Houthi attacks last month, the first time U.S. troops have fired the system in combat since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.
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02/12/2022
Four more U.S. Navy destroyers are on their way to the Mediterranean Sea, part of a wider buildup of U.S. and NATO forces in Eastern Europe that alliance leaders hope will reassure NATO’s most vulnerable members. The deployments might not deter Russia from escalating its war in eastern Ukraine, however. U.S. President Joe Biden told NBC News on Thursday there was no conceivable scenario where American and Russian troops exchange fire. “That's a world war,” Biden said.
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02/12/2022
The sorties consisted of 8 Shenyang J-16 fighter jets, along with three electronic intelligence aircraft on the Y-8 platform. Taiwanese officials said that their responses to the PLA sorties included the scrambling of combat aircraft, the employment of air defense assets to further monitor the situation, and the issuing of warning messages to the Chinese aircraft via radio.
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02/12/2022
A fighter jet operated by a military contractor crashed west of Phoenix Thursday but the pilot ejected and no one on the ground was hurt, a spokesman for the contractor and Air Force officials said. The French-made Mirage F1 crashed near Buckeye, a growing community about 30 miles west of Phoenix. Officials in the area and the Federal Aviation Administration were referring all inquiries to Luke Air Force Base in nearby Glendale.
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02/12/2022
China’s progress toward military superpower status continues to accelerate. It already poses significant air and space power challenges to the U.S., but its expansionist strategies also affect all the adjacent countries, both in southeast Asia and farther north.
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02/12/2022
The State Department approved the potential sale of as many as 36 new F-15EX fighter jets built by Boeing Co. to Indonesia, bolstering U.S. ties with a key ally and Southeast Asia’s biggest economy. The proposed sale is valued at about $9.5 billion for the aircraft and approximately $4.4 billion for related equipment, according to a statement Thursday from the State Department.
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02/11/2022
The US Air Force’s (USAF) Air Combat Command (ACC) has announced that its latest sensor pod on the F-15C Eagle has reached initial operating capability (IOC). The infrared search and track (IRST) pod, known as the Legion Pod, is a sensor system that leverages infrared spectrum to help pilots to track enemy aircraft in radar-denied environments. The Lockheed Martin-developed pod also enables the pilots to identify and monitor enemy aircraft from extended ranges.
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02/11/2022
THE Turkish bidders for the hotly contested Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) fighter aircraft said they are offering Malaysia co-production of a new fighter jet as part of their offerings. Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc management said it will also provide technology transfer and is willing to cut its bid price by as much as 30%, in order to secure RMAF’s open tender for military aircraft.
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02/11/2022
American F-15 combat aircraft flew into the 32nd Tactical Air Base in Lask, central Poland, on Thursday to take part in Nato's Air Policing mission in the airspace of the Baltic states. Nato countries are supporting Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia, which lack warplanes able to patrol their airspace. The mission is currently in its 58th deployment, with Poland contributing its Orlik contingent for the tenth time.
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02/11/2022
Bangladesh has a requirement for 16 new multirole combat aircraft (MRCA) to augment and eventually replace its aging Chengdu F-7s and MiG-29s, and the nation wants to turn westward after decades of purchasing its fighter aircraft from Russia and China. The impetus for the shift came in 2015, with the appointment of a new Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Abu Esrar, who wanted to phase out the Bangladesh Air Force fleet of Russian and Chinese fighters and replace them with Western aircraf
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02/11/2022
B-52 Stratofortress aircraft, support equipment, and personnel from the 5th Bomb Wing, Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, arrived at RAF Fairford, England, today to execute a long-planned Bomber Task Force mission.
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02/10/2022
Russian and Belarusian warplanes conducted a new round of joint air patrols amid simmering military tensions in Eastern Europe. The press office of Belarus’ defense ministry reported this week that Su-30SM fighters belonging to Russia and Belarus conducted joint air patrols in leader-wingman pairs.
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02/10/2022
The government decided on Tuesday to increase the Armed Forces’ readiness in response to “the unacceptable Russian military pressure on Ukraine”. This follows a recommendation from the Defence Command, the defence ministry wrote in a press release.
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02/10/2022
Maintaining strategic deterrence through multiple avenues, including intercontinental ballistic missiles and a bomber presence that is unmatched, Air Force Global Strike Command’s mission is the cornerstone of the United States’ defense. To maintain force readiness AFGSC and several other major commands throughout the U. S. Air Force participate in a multi-national training exercise called Red Flag.
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02/10/2022
Spain will send four combat aircraft and 130 troops to Bulgaria to carry out air patrol missions amid tensions over Ukraine, the Bulgarian Defense Ministry said, Reuters reports. The first Spanish Eurofighters are expected to land in Bulgaria by the end of the week to protect the airspace along with the Bulgarian Air Force until the end of March.
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02/10/2022
It said the initial order is undoubtedly small but is significant for the jet manufacturer since it provides a foothold in a country that had never purchased combat aircraft from France. French Minister of the Armed Forces Florence Parly may be able to secure a larger order for 30-36 aircraft during her visit to Indonesia on February 9-10, the French newspaper speculated. Last month, she had postponed her visit.
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02/09/2022
The U.S. Marine Corps stationed in Japan's southernmost prefecture of Okinawa announced on Feb. 7 that it will conduct training using Osprey and other military aircraft from Feb. 8-13, and the prefectural government responded on the same day by requesting that the Marines, the Okinawa Defense Bureau and other authorities cancel the unprecedented large-scale training at the Naha Port Facility located in an urban area.
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02/09/2022
The Israeli military said it attacked missile batteries in Syria on Wednesday after an anti-aircraft missile was fired towards Israel during what Syrian state television reported was an earlier strike around Damascus. A military spokesperson declined to comment on the Syrian report of an initial Israeli attack near the Syrian capital which reportedly killed one soldier and injured five.
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02/09/2022
As the West and Russia confront each other over the Ukraine crisis, both sides are mobilizing cutting-edge weaponry. However, Russia appears to have heightened the tensions by deploying A video shared on social media shows the fighter jet armed with a Kinzhal missile landing at the Chkalovsk naval airbase in Kaliningrad, sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania.
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02/09/2022
It is said that the Rafale-m or Marine, which is currently stationed on the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, was rerouted to Malta on February 6 evening after the nozzle of the refueling probe came off and the fighter jet could not acquire enough fuel to return to the ship.
A spokesperson of Malta International Airport also confirmed to The Malta Independent that a French Dassault Rafale military plane landed there at 19.30 on Sunday as it did not have sufficient fuel to complete its
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02/08/2022
The United States has approved the sale of further 16 Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon combat aircraft to Jordan, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 3 February. The State Department approval covers 12 single-seat F-16C Block 70 and four twin-seat F-16D Block 70 aircraft, as well as related equipment, weapons, services, and training for an estimated USD4.21 billion.
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02/08/2022
The naval variant of the Rafale jet demonstrated its operational capabilities at the shore-based test facility at INS Hansa, the naval air station in Goa recently. This comes against the backdrop of the Navy’s plan to procure fighter jets that it will operate from Vikrant, which is likely to be commissioned in August.
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02/07/2022
Russia on Saturday sent a pair of long-range nuclear-capable bombers on patrol over its ally Belarus amid spiralling tensions over Ukraine. The Russian Defence Ministry said the two Tu-22M3 bombers practised interacting with the Belarusian air force and air defence during a four-hour mission. The flight followed several similar patrols over Belarus, which borders Ukraine to the north.
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02/07/2022
A deal between aerospace giant Boeing and the Indian Navy seems likely, with the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet emerging as the top contender to supply the Indian Navy with twenty-six Multirole Carrier Borne Fighter (MRCBF) aircraft.
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02/07/2022
A plane carrying U.S. troops landed in Poland on Sunday, a Reuters witness said, as Washington reinforces its NATO allies in Eastern Europe amid a Russian military build-up on Ukraine's border. U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday ordered nearly 3,000 extra troops to Poland and Romania, as Washington moves to reassure jittery NATO allies.
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02/07/2022
The fact is that while modern aircraft are very capable, they are also extremely expensive and their technological sophistication is an unnecessary luxury for most countries in the world. In the past, the United States and the Soviet Union had aircraft which they could provide for free or at subsidized rates but that happy state of affairs no longer exists and the air forces of the west have not shown an interest in having export fighters or cheap combat aircraft. Yet there is a pressing need fo
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02/06/2022
A plane of the Canadian Armed Forces, C-17 Globemaster, carrying non-lethal military equipment departed for Ukraine, Ukrinform reports, referring to the Department of National Defense of Canada.
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02/06/2022
A Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) Mitsubishi-Boeing F-15DJ Eagle fighter aircraft crashed into the Sea of Japan on January 31, resulting in the loss of two pilots. The twin-seat conversion trainer aircraft, tail number 32-8083, disappeared from radars about 5 kilometers west-northwest of Komatsu Air Base in Ishikawa Prefecture, soon after taking off at around 5:30 p.m. on Monday. The fighter was on its way to a routine training mission.
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02/06/2022
Of late, the UAE has been a target of a series of drone and missile assaults from Iran-backed Houthi rebels as the conflict in Yemen has escalated. Yemen-based militant groups launched three drone and one missile strikes against the UAE recently, according to Emirati officials. The attacks began in January, when UAE-backed Yemeni forces launched an offensive against the Houthis in Marib, in the country’s central region.
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02/06/2022
A German defence source told Reuters on Feb. 3, 2022 that the Luftwaffe (German Air Force) is moving toward buying the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter to replace its ageing Tornado in the role of nuclear sharing. However, a final decision has not been taken. A claim confirmed also by another source close to the Germany military that said that a possible F-35 purchase was “back on the table”, but no decisions were expected anytime soon.
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02/05/2022
France will provide military support to the UAE to protect their airspace against any intrusion, the French Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly said on Friday. The French minister said that Rafale combat aircraft, which belong to France’s permanent organization based in Abu Dhabi, are engaged alongside the UAE armed forces in surveillance, detection and interception missions when necessary.
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02/05/2022
The US State Department has approved a potential foreign military sale (FMS) of F-16 fighter jets and related equipment to Jordan. The possible sale is estimated to cost around $4.21bn.
Following the approval, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has notified US Congress regarding the move.
The Government of Jordan previously placed a request for 12 F-16 C Block 70 aircraft and four F-16 D Block 70 aircraft.
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02/04/2022
A few years ago, Russian state media Sputnik had criticized China’s J-15 aircraft for its many drawbacks. Moscow also accused Beijing of reverse-engineering a Russian Su-33 that it brought from Ukraine to produce its own carrier-capable aircraft, the J-15. However, this is neither about Su-33 nor about Russia. Both the countries have left the animosity behind to rework a relationship that challenges the United States, their common adversary.
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02/04/2022
During the Cold War, many powerful, interesting, and strange weapons appeared in the world. The military industries of both the United States and Russia were working day and night improving their equipment, developing new weapons, and producing them in sufficient quantity. One of the aircraft that stood out during this period was the Tu-160 Blackjack.
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02/04/2022
Romania plans to buy Lockheed Martin's latest generation F-35 aircraft as part of its Air Force modernization programme, president Klaus Iohannis said. "The new types of aircraft fitted to the Army, especially the F-16 aircraft, allow for a highly efficient execution of all specific missions. The process of modernizing the Air Force will not stop here, as we intend to purchase F-35 state-of-the-art aircraft," Iohannis said in a televised news conference on Wednesday.
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02/04/2022
The Ethiopian Air Force is reportedly set to become the second export client for China’s L-15 lightweight fighter jet, after the Defence Ministry reportedly placed an order for the aircraft in 2021. The aircraft are expected to replace the country’s ageing fleet of MiG-23 variable swept wing third generation fighters, which form one of its two squadrons alongside a larger unit of Russian-supplied Su-27 Flanker jets acquired in the 1990s.
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02/03/2022
While mainstream media coverage of the mobilization of Russian troops on the border with Ukraine has recently been confused by public disagreements between U.S. President Biden and Ukraine President Zelensky over the imminence of the threat, the possibility of conflict with Russia has been a daily reality for most Ukrainians, ever since the Euromaidan uprising of 2013–14 succeeded in overthrowing the pro-Russian government of Viktor Yanukovych.
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02/03/2022
Six years after the Indian Air Force (IAF) allowed women pilots to fly fighter planes on an experimental basis, the government has decided to make it a permanent feature, defence minister Rajnath Singh said on Tuesday.
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02/03/2022
More Russian military helicopters appear to be arriving in Russian-occupied Crimea, on Ukraine’s southern border, as concerns that Moscow could be preparing some kind of new invasion of Ukrainian territory continue undiminished. The build-up of Russian troops and materiel into different border areas has been well documented but, until now, additional deployments of military aircraft, specifically, from elsewhere in the country have not been closely observed.
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02/03/2022
Pilots from the 36th Fighter Squadron receive extensive Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) training in order to become an F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter pilot during their duty assignment at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea. Pilots undergo a four-segment training, which provides them with an advanced understanding of aircraft capabilities further equipping them to become a mission capable SEAD fighter pilot.
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02/02/2022
The United States will send a guided-missile destroyer and fifth-generation fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the wake of recent missile attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, Washington’s top military official has said. In a phone call on Tuesday, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin told Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Abu bin Zayed Al Nahyan the Pentagon would send the “guided-missile destroyer USS Cole to partner with the UAE Navy before making a port call in Abu Dhabi”.
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02/01/2022
There is a multitude of videos of military jets flying low and fast or employing ordnance. No doubt, they are exciting to watch. Even after a full career of flying U.S. Navy fighters, I still look up in the sky every time I hear a jet — the louder the better. But military jets are not designed to just go out and fly for show. They were built to accomplish a mission that ultimately involves employing ordnance to destroy a target.
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02/01/2022
The US Air Force's newest fighter jet, the F-15EX Eagle II, recently hit a significant milestone — it fired a weapon for the first time. The jet, which is assigned to the 40th Flight Test Squadron, let loose an AIM-120D Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile in pursuit of a BQM-167 target drone while flying over the Gulf of Mexico on January 25.
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02/01/2022
Iraq’s Defence Minister Juma Inad confirms the purchase of combat aircraft from Pakistan. He made the revelations in a recent interview with Al Arabiya, an international Arabic television news channel based in Dubai. During the interview, the talk turned to the Pakistani JF-17 Thunder fighter deal. To clarify, last year reports emerged that Pakistan received an international defense order from Iraq for the sale of 12 fighter jets JF-17 Thunder Block III, manufactured at the Pakistan.
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02/01/2022
The South Caucasus nation of Azerbaijan might decide to expand its small air force in the foreseeable future with affordable acquisitions from neighboring Turkey and Georgia. Turkey and Azerbaijan have dramatically increased military ties in recent years. Turkish arms exports to Baku surged six-fold in the months leading up to the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, in which Azerbaijan dealt Armenia a stinging defeat.
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