Türkiye's unmanned combat aircraft ANKA III makes its maiden flight

12/29/2023

Türkiye's new generation air combat fighter ANKA III made its maiden flight, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced. ANKA III is a system that is faster thanks to its jet engine, has a high payload carrying capacity, and is less visible on radar with its tailless structure, according to the producer Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI).

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Burst tyre sends MiG 29K fighter jet skidding off runway at Goa Airport

12/28/2023

A Mikoyan MiG-29K fighter jet skidded off a runway at Dabolim Goa International Airport (GOI) after suffering a bust tyre just before it was about to perform a routine sortie on December 26, 2023. An Indian navy spokesperson told local media that the airport’s fire brigade arrived immediately after the incident. No injuries were reported.

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South Korea expands F-35A fighter fleet

12/28/2023

South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration, or DAPA, has officially signed a deal to acquire 20 additional F-35A stealth jets. This procurement, executed under the U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, builds upon South Korea’s previous acquisition of 40 F-35As in the program’s inaugural phase between 2019 and 2022, underscoring the nation’s commitment to enhancing its aerial combat capabilities.

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Su-57 Stealth Fighter: Difficult To Manufacture, Russia Says State Order For 5th-Gen Jets Doubled In 2023

The Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked four Chinese naval vessels and two military aircraft around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Sunday (Dec. 24) and 6 a.m. on Monday (Dec. 25). In response, Taiwan sent aircraft and naval ships and deployed air defense missile systems to track the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) activity, according to the MND. No PLA aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line or entered the southwest corner of Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) during that ti

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Eight Chinese jets crossed median line border

12/03/2023

In March 2019, the United States Air Force didn't just conduct just another "elephant walk" – the term for taxiing a large number of aircraft before takeoff. Instead, the close formation and minimum interval takeoff of fifth-generation Lockheed Martin F-22 air superiority fighters could have rightfully been described as a march of the Raptors. Maybe we should call this a Raptor walk.

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NGAD: The Air Force's New $300 Million Fighter Could Be a Game Changer

12/03/2023

Will NGAD Be Worth It? While few nations even can develop and field a fifth-generation fighter, the United States is already working on a sixth-generation fighter. Known as the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, the sixth-generation fighter is expected to be technologically advanced – and fiscally prohibitive, leading some to question whether the advanced airframe is worth the sticker price.

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6th-Gen Fighter Program: UK Employs Artificial Intelligence To Support Development Of Tempest

12/03/2023

The UK is reportedly utilizing state-of-the-art technology, including Artificial Intelligence, to bolster the advancement of its next-generation fighter aircraft, Tempest. Slated to be a vital component of the UK’s future combat air system, FCAS is envisioned as a supersonic stealth fighter incorporating state-of-the-art technologies, including advanced integrated sensing and protection capabilities.

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CCA loyal wingman could lose ‘a year’ of progress due to Congressional budget logjam: Kendall

The first B-21 Raider took off at dawn from Palmdale, Calif., Nov. 10 on its premier flight, touching down at nearby Edwards Air Force base more than 90 minutes later, after using a circuitous route to check out basic handling qualities. Edwards will be the bomber’s home for the next several years, as pilots and engineers test and assess its performance.

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Eurofighter Typhoon electronic combat aircraft set to replace German Tornadoes

12/01/2023

Germany is set to replace its Tornado electronic combat/reconnaissance (ECR) aircraft with Eurofighter Typhoon Elektronischer Kampf (EK) for the task of suppression of enemy air defence (SEAD) following parliamentary approval by the Budget Committee. The Typhoons will be fitted with Saab’s Arexis Electronic Warfare (EW) suite, a missionised pod, and the supersonic, medium-range, air-launched tactical missile Northrop Grumman/MBDA's AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile.

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Boeing Wins $2.3B Contract to Build KC-46A Tanker Jet

11/30/2023

The Boeing Company’s Defense, Space & Security business segment recently secured a modification contract involving the KC-46A Tanker aircraft. The award has been offered by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH.

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Why Iran Still Flies the Ancient F-4 Phantom Fighter (Made in USA)

11/30/2023

How Iran still flies the F-4 Phantom Since Hamas’ October 7 massacre in Israel, Iranian-backed militias across the Middle East have launched scores of attacks targeting the U.S. and its assets in the region. As America’s self-declared top adversary, the Islamic Republic of Iran poses perhaps the largest threat to U.S. national interests in the Near East.

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Romania receives first F-16s from Norway

11/30/2023

Romania has received from Norway the first of 32 surplus Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon combat aircraft it contracted in November 2022. The Norwegian Armed Forces announced the transfer of the first three aircraft on 28 November, saying the jets were flown by Romanian Air Force pilots from Rygge Air Station to their future home operating station at the 86th Fetesti Air Base in eastern Romania.

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US military aircraft with six aboard crashes off Japan island

11/29/2023

A US military aircraft with six people on board has crashed off Yakushima Island in south-western Japan. Japan's Coast Guard said one person had been found dead near the crash site. Japan's NHK broadcaster said the CV-22 Osprey hybrid plane had been trying to land at Yakushima Airport with one engine on fire. There is no US comment. Ospreys - which can function as a helicopter and a turboprop aircraft - have been involved in a string of fatal crashes over the years.

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Russia's huge Air Force is still mostly intact, but it hasn't been building the jets it needs to win on the ground in Ukraine

11/29/2023

Despite its losses in the Ukraine, Russia's air force is still quite robust. It began the war with about 900 fighters and other combat aircraft and is estimated to have lost only about 90 jets between February 2022 and September. What Russia doesn't have is the support aircraft needed to find and attack enemies on the ground.

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Iran Says ‘Deal Done’ To Acquire Russian Military Aircraft Inc Su-35 Fighters, Mi-28 Choppers

11/29/2023

Iran’s Deputy Defense Minister, Brigadier General Mahdi Farahi, announced that the arrangements to acquire a range of advanced Russian military aircraft, including Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets, Mil Mi-28 attack helicopters, and Yak-130 jet trainers, have been finalized, reported Tasnim News.

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Su-57 For India: Lethal Capabilities, Enticing Economic Benefits Could Make IAF Relook At Russian Jets?

11/28/2023

India and Russia had once joined hands to develop the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) together under a contract signed in 2007. Under the agreement, it was envisaged that the Indian aerospace maker Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will collaborate with the Russian Sukhoi Design Bureau to develop an improved variant of the Su-57 stealth fighter. However, the project fell through the cracks over the years.

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Russia's MiG-31: Hypersonic Missile Truck or Obsolete?

11/28/2023

The MiG-31 is Still a Capable Combat Aircraft - Even as the Kremlin has been seen more as a paper tiger than a truly fearsome bear after it failed to achieve a quick victory in Ukraine, it still fields some impressive combat platforms. Among those is the Mikoyan MiG-31 (NATO reporting name "Foxhound"), a warplane that was developed during the Cold War era as a home defense interceptor

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France offers its fighter aircraft to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan

11/27/2023

France offers its Rafale fighters to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, Azernews reports, citing French sources. According to the publication, the French Dassault Aviation company has been working in this direction for "several months", while Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have begun to show interest in Rafale fighters.

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German unions back Turkey’s effort to buy Eurofighters amid fears workforce will be lost

11/27/2023

Aviation unions in Germany are backing Turkey's efforts to buy 40 Eurofighter Typhoons over fears its specialist workforce will be lost if contracts for the jets are not drawn up and signed. The Eurofighter Typhoon jets are built by a consortium of Germany, Britain, Italy and Spain, represented by Airbus, BAE Systems and Leonardo. Turkey's Defence Minister Yasar Guler said he has been in talks with Britain and Spain to buy the Typhoons but Germany has objected to the idea.

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Chinese fighter jets 'orbit' Philippine patrol aircraft, Manila says

11/27/2023

Two Chinese fighter jets were monitored "orbiting" a Philippine aircraft participating in patrols with Australia in the South China Sea but did not cause any untoward incident, Manila said on Sunday. The militaries of the Philippines and Australia carried out a second day of sea and air exercises in the Southeast Asian country's exclusive economic zone, days after Manila held patrols with the U.S. as Pacific nations warily eye an increasingly assertive China.

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MiG-35s Join Ukraine War! Top Russian Official Says Bid To Revive Capable But Forgotten Successor To Legendary MiG-29s

11/27/2023

Russia has used its MiG-35 fighter in air strikes against Ukraine, according to its top aeronautical designer. Over the years, the fighter has nearly gone out of prominence in operational service in Russia and has also not found foreign customers. Only Ukraine has used the model’s predecessor in the war, the Soviet-era MiG-29, from both its own and Polish inventory.

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3rd Fleet: Aircraft Intact as Navy Prepares to Investigate P-8 Poseidon Mishap in Hawaii

11/26/2023

The Navy will convene an investigation into Monday’s incident in Hawaii where a Navy P-8A Poseidon reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft overshot a runway and ended up in Hawaii’s Kaneohe Bay, officials said. Three pilots along with a crew of two officers and four enlisted personnel were aboard the aircraft at the time, but no injuries were reported, officials said.

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Embraer delivers upgraded fifth E-99 aircraft to the Brazilian Air Force

11/25/2023

Gavião Peixoto, Brazil, November 23, 2023 – Embraer (NYSE: ERJ, B3: EMB3) has delivered to the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) its fifth EMB 145 AEW&C aircraft, upgraded and designated as E-99M in the FAB. The aircraft has been updated to perform Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) functions, as well as participate in intelligence, surveillance, and airborne reconnaissance missions.

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F-22 Raptor: How Fast Can This 5th Generation Stealth Fighter Fly?

11/25/2023

How fast can the F-22 Raptor fly? Just how fast is the F-22 Raptor stealth fighter, the plane that took out China's Spy Balloon? Widely regarded as the most capable air superiority fighter in service anywhere in the world, the Lockheed Martin F-22 was developed to be capable of both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. It has been designed to combine stealth, performance, agility, and integrated avionics in a single and highly capable airframe.

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MBDA and KAI sign agreement on fighter missile integration

11/25/2023

MBDA and Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) have signed an agreement to deepen cooperation, which will see new missile systems integrated into South Korea’s fighters, as well as potential joint export opportunities. In a 24 November release, European missile manufacturer MBDA stated that the company is already working with KAI to integrate its Meteor beyond visual range air-to-air missile on the KAI-led KF-21 Boromae fighter aircraft.

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F-15EX: The U.S. Air Force’s Missile Truck Has Arrived

11/24/2023

The U.S. House of Representatives in July voted on the National Defense Authorization Act. As part of the bill, Congress accepted an amendment to add $30.6 million to the funds allocated for the U.S. Air Force to procure the F-15EX. The funding is slated for two Eagle IIs that would be delivered to the 127th Wing based at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Michigan.

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Turkey sought Eurofighters after uncertainty over U.S. F-16 buy -source

11/24/2023

Turkey began talks with European states on buying 40 Eurofighter Typhoon jets after recognising that its request for F-16 jets from the United States might not work out, a Turkish defence ministry source said on Thursday. Defence Minister Yasar Guler said last week that Turkey was in talks with Britain and Spain to buy Typhoons, though Germany objected to the idea.

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US approves South Korea missile requests

11/23/2023

The US State Department has approved two potential Foreign Military Sales (FMS) packages to the South Korea for air- and ship-launched missiles. The Defense Security and Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 14 November that approval had been given to South Korea’s request to buy up to 38 Standard Missile 6 (SM-6) Block I missiles, MK.21 Vertical Launch System (VLS) canisters and other associated equipment and support. The estimated total program cost is US$650 million (A$1.005 billion).

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Taiwan reports Chinese fighter planes, bombers nearby as election campaign heats up

11/23/2023

Taiwan again reported Chinese military activity around the island on Nov 22, with 11 aircraft crossing the sensitive median line of the Taiwan Strait as the island’s election campaign kicked into high gear. Democratically governed Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has complained for the past four years of regular Chinese military patrols and drills near the island.

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From Russia With Love: Soviet MiG Defector Dies at Age 76

11/23/2023

Classes for the fall high school semester had just begun when on September 6, 1976, a "special report" flashed across the airwaves in that pre-internet, pre-24-hours cable news era. A young fighter pilot had landed the then-Soviet Union’s most advanced combat aircraft, a Mikoyan MiG-25 (NATO codename Foxbat), on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido. He announced his intention to defect and to hand the aircraft to the United States with both man and machine.

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Uzbekistan reportedly eyes acquisition of 24 Rafale fighters from France

11/23/2023

Uzbekistan expressed interest in acquiring 24 Dassault Rafale multirole fighters during French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to the country on November 2, 2023. The prospect, first reported by Intelligence Online citing French governmental sources, would mark a significant diplomatic shift for Uzbekistan, a country historically aligned with and armed by Russia.

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Russian Aerospace Forces gets additional combat aircraft

11/23/2023

The Novosibirsk Aircraft Production Association’s (NAPO) plant, part of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) within the Rostec State Corporation, has completed the manufacturing and delivery of another series of Su-34 bombers to the Russian Ministry of Defense, as confirmed by the corporation’s press service.

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Philippines launches joint sea, air patrols with US military

11/22/2023

The militaries of the Philippines and the United States launched joint patrols on Tuesday in waters near Taiwan, officials of the Southeast Asian nation said, a move likely to fan further tension with China. Security engagements between the treaty allies have soared this year, including a decision to almost double the number of Philippine bases the American military can access, some facing Taiwan, and their largest-ever joint military drill in April.

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Ukrainian pilots already undergoing F-16 training in Denmark – Ihnat

11/22/2023

Ukrainian pilots are already undergoing training to fly the F-16 fighter aircraft in Denmark. The relevant statement was made by Spokesperson for the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Yurii Ihnat during a briefing at Media Center Ukraine - Ukrinform. “Prior to that, there were NATO-standard light-engine aircraft, which help to transition more easily to the F-16s. Now these are already dual flights.

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ANALYSIS: Russia Registers Two-Seater Patent of Su-57 Stealth Fighter: What’s the Significance?

11/22/2023

In the patent, the company outlined the technical specifications of the new design as well as the details surrounding its role and capabilities, namely, that it’s an aerial command center capable of launching and/or controlling unmanned aerial vehicles capable of carrying bombs and other combat aircraft.

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A ‘Swiss Army knife’ for the skies: Ukrainian pilot races to get to grips with F-16 jet

11/22/2023

It can take years to fully train an F-16 fighter pilot. “Moonfish” – a Ukrainian military aviator – has about six months. Moonfish is the call sign of a Ukrainian pilot who is training to fly the United States-designed multirole aircraft. He spoke with CNN via Zoom from an undisclosed location, where he is in his second month of training.

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British intel: Russia will likely bring the Soviet-era M-55 high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft back into service

11/20/2023

According to British Intelligence, Russia is likely considering bringing the Soviet-era M-55 MYSTIC B high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft back into service to rectify a critical failure to establish an adequate Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) capability.

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Taiwan reports increased Chinese military drills nearby

11/20/2023

Taiwan has reported renewed Chinese military activity including nine aircraft crossing the sensitive median line of the Taiwan Strait and warships carrying out “combat readiness patrols”. Democratically governed Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has complained for the past four years of regular Chinese military patrols and drills near the island, as Beijing seeks to pressure Taipei over its sovereignty claims.

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Ukraine’s Air Force says F-16 fighter jets will turn the tide of war with Russia

11/20/2023

F-16 fighter jets will change the course of the war very seriously, as they will help push back Russian aircraft and cover Ukrainian ground troops from the air, Ukrainian Air Force spokesman said on Sunday. “I would like to argue with all the critics of this jets issue. The planes will change the course of the war and they will change it very seriously,” Yurii Ihnat said as cited by state news agency Ukrinform.

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Has Russia Deployed Sukhoi Su-57 Fifth-Generation Stealth Fighters in Ukraine?

11/19/2023

Russia’s first and only operational stealth fighter, the Sukhoi Su-57 twin-engine multirole fighter (NATO code name Felon), experienced a ten-year development hell when it officially entered service with the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) in 2020.

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Norwegian F-35 jets scramble to intercept Russian planes

11/19/2023

NATO Air Command disclosed on Friday an urgent scramble of Norwegian F-35 fighter jets from Evenes base as Russian military aircraft encroached upon the fringes of NATO Allied airspace. The Norwegian 5th Generation F-35 fighters were mobilized in response to the identification of two Tu-160 strategic bombers, accompanied by two MiG-31 interceptors and two Il-78 Midas aerial refueling aircraft.

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Pakistan in talks to buy Chinese light combat jet

11/19/2023

During the 2023 Dubai Airshow, China’s Hongdu Aircraft Company confirmed that Pakistan is engaged in formal negotiations to acquire light attack aircraft from China. This potential acquisition aims to replace the aging F-7PG fighters currently used by the Pakistan Air Force for combat pilot conversion. According to Hongdu, Pakistan wants to buy a light attack aircraft version of the L-15 trainer.

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NATO Picks E-7 as Its New AWACS; Six Aircraft to Start

11/18/2023

NATO has selected Boeing’s E-7 Wedgetail as its next airborne moving target indicator and air battle management aircraft, succeeding the aging Boeing E-3 Sentry AWACS, the alliance announced this week. The first of six aircraft will be operational by 2031, but the fleet may grow beyond that number.

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Boeing's F/A-18 Block III Super Hornet Is a Special Fighter Plane

11/14/2023

The U.S. Air Force conducted its first aerial refueling of fighter aircraft by a commercial tanker on Nov. 6. The commercial refueling of F-16 Fighting Falcons from Osan Air Base in South Korea took place as part of the Commando Sling 23 joint exercise conducted in Singapore. The bilateral training event with the Republic of Singapore Air Force is sponsored by Pacific Air Forces and is intended to improve how the island nation operates with the United States.

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Europe opens F-16 warplane training center for Ukrainian pilots

11/14/2023

The European training center to teach Ukrainian pilots how to operate F-16 combat planes was officially opened on Monday in Romania. "The center will be an international hub for the training of F-16 pilots and will facilitate increased interoperability among allies," the Romanian defense ministry said. It was inaugurated by Romanian Defense Minister Angel Tîlvar and his Dutch counterpart Kajsa Ollongren at an air base east of Bucharest.

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China’s J-10 Firebird Looks To Eat Into Rafale’s Market As Many Nations Not Keen On US, Russian Warplanes

11/12/2023

The upcoming Dubai Airshow 2023 is poised to witness a showdown between one of the world’s most popular 4+ generation fighter jets, the French Dassault Rafale, and one that is looking for a breakthrough in the international markets, i.e., the Chinese J-10C.

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US military aircraft crashes over eastern Mediterranean Sea

11/12/2023

A US military aircraft has gone down over the eastern Mediterranean Sea, US European Command said Saturday. The command said in a statement that the aircraft crashed while conducting training operations. It said the cause is under investigation, but there are no indications of any hostile activity involved.

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A military jet crashes in eastern Myanmar. Ethnic resistance groups claim they shot it down

11/12/2023

A Myanmar military jet fighter crashed Saturday in a combat zone in the eastern state of Kayah, a military officer and a member of an anti-military resistance organization said. The resistance group said the plane had been shot down, but its claim could not immediately be confirmed.

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Boeing Announces Arrival Of ‘World’s Best Dogfighter’ – F-15QA In Dubai; Here Is What Makes Them The ‘Best’

11/12/2023

On November 10, US aerospace manufacturer Boeing announced that its advanced F-15QA Ababil fighter aircraft, operated by the Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF), successfully touched down in Dubai for their inaugural participation in the Dubai Air Show.

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Emirati firm to put missiles on MQ-9B, as US official says SkyGuardian, F-35 deal still ‘on the table’

11/11/2023

General Atomics plans try adding missile systems made by the Emirati defense conglomerate EDGE Group to its MQ-9B SkyGuardian unmanned aerial vehicle, as a multi-billion dollar deal between the United Arab Emirates and General Atomics to buy several of the drones remains stalled but alive.

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The AC-130J Ghostrider Might Lose Its Big Gun

11/11/2023

The U.S. Air Force has noted that the AC-130J's close air support missions include troops in contact, convoy escort, and point air defense. In contrast, its air interdiction missions are conducted against pre-planned targets or targets of opportunity and include strike coordination and reconnaissance and overwatch mission sets.

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America’s Next Stealth Bomber Got Airborne This Morning

11/11/2023

A short video shot by a freelance photojournalist this morning confirms that Northrop Grumman’s B-21 has taken to the skies. The stealth bomber took off from Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California at 7 am local time and climbed away on a test flight that reportedly lasted 90 minutes before the aircraft landed at nearby Edwards Air Force Base at approximately 8:30 am.

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Turbulence Hits UK’s 6th-Gen Fighter Jet Program, Sweden’s Involvement In GCAP Is Officially Over – Reports

11/11/2023

While long assumed, the reported Swedish disinterest pointed towards problems with the other rival projects — France, Germany, and Spain’s Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program. The development comes amid speculative reports about Germany wanting to quit the FCAS and wanting, ironically, to join the Tempest project. This followed long-running differences with France over the project’s techno-industrial aspects.

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Ukraine’s Security Forces thwart illicit trade in fighter jet and helicopter parts

11/11/2023

Ukrainian security forces, in a series of coordinated operations across multiple regions, have dismantled two transnational smuggling networks attempting to export components of military aircraft illegally. The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) has detained several individuals involved in these illicit activities, safeguarding national security and preventing the unlawful transfer of equipment.

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Iranian Su-35 Fighter Deal Could Prompt Gulf Defense Rethink

11/10/2023

At a time of exceptionally heightened global security tensions, Iran might be on the cusp of a historic acquisition of Russia’s Sukhoi Su-35 Super Flanker fighter. The anticipated deal could immediately affect defense planning among other Gulf states that have long viewed their neighbor as a primary threat.

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F-22 Raptor: Meet What Might Be the Best Fighter Plane on Earth

11/09/2023

In July 2023, the United States Air Force deployed several Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptors to the Middle East as a show of strength amid escalating tensions between the U.S. and Russian forces. Sending one of the most advanced fighters was meant to bolster U.S. firepower further if needed – as no one would want to mess with one. Moreover, despite being the world's greatest air superiority fighter, the Raptor, in its nearly 20 years in service, has never been employed in aerial combat.

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Spain ‘Rejects’ US F-35 Stealth Fighters; To Focus On ‘Made In Europe’ Eurofighter Typhoons

11/09/2023

The Pentagon’s hopes have been dashed as Spain withdrew its earlier declaration of intent to acquire the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II as a possible substitute for its existing McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II and Boeing EF-18 Hornets.

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US Reaper drone shot down near Yemen by Iran-backed Houthi rebels, official says

11/09/2023

An unmanned US military drone was shot down off the coast of Yemen by Houthi forces, a defense official told CNN. The official said the MQ-9 Reaper drone was operating in international airspace and over international waters when it was shot down. US Central Command is investigating the incident, the official said.

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U.S. Strikes Iran-Linked Facility in Syria in Round of Retaliation

11/04/2023

The Israel Defense Forces said that it used F-35I Adir fighter jets to shoot down a cruise missile this week, the first known cruise missile intercept by the American-made stealth fighter. “In recent days, a cruise missile launched from the southeast toward Israeli airspace was detected by the IAF’s control and detection systems. After tracking the cruise missile’s trajectory, Adir fighter jets were scrambled and successfully intercepted the missile,” the IDF said today, while releasing video o

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Industry ‘We missed our mark’: Next Boeing F-15EX delivery coming in November

11/03/2023

Boeing expects to deliver the U.S. Air Force’s next F-15EX Eagle II fighter by the end of November, nearly a year after the company originally planned and four months behind its revised estimate. This F-15EX, the third Boeing has so far produced for the Air Force, took its first two flights on Oct. 27 at Boeing’s St. Louis, Missouri, factory, the company said, and published a video of a flight in a social media post.

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KAI plans loyal wingman role for KF-21

11/03/2023

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has revealed that it plans to develop a family of uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAV), culminating in an Uncrewed Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) that will be controlled and/or monitored from its indigenous KF-21 fighter. The KF-21 Boramae (‘Young Hawk’ or ‘Fighting Hawk’) is a 4.5 generation fighter with stealth characteristics under development by KAI to replace the Republic of Korea Air Force’s ageing F-4E Phantom II and F-5E Tiger II fighter jets.

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Middle East: USAF Jets, Ships Race to Middle East to Deter Expanded War

11/03/2023

In the wake of Hamas’ attack on Israel, U.S. forces mobilized to try to deter any expansion of the war to other fronts, in particular Israel’s northern border with Lebanon, where Hezbollah militants aligned with Iran—which analysts believe coordinated and funded the Oct. 7 attack—skirmished with Israeli border forces.

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US F-15EX ‘Dents’ KF-21 Fighter Aircraft; Indonesia Reportedly Losing Interest In Korean Jet Program

11/03/2023

Indonesia’s recent shopping spree to acquire Western fighter jets, notably the US-made F-15 fighter aircraft, seems to have dented its interest in South Korea’s KF-21 stealth fighter jet. The KF-21 is a joint effort between South Korea and Indonesia to create a next-generation supersonic combat aircraft, incorporating South Korea’s domestically developed technology.

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S.Korea mulls plan B as Indonesia falls behind on KF-21 project payments

11/02/2023

Indonesia, a partner of South Korea’s KF-21 fighter jet development project, has failed again to notify the Korean government of its plan to pay its share of the project's cost, putting their partnership in jeopardy. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), Seoul’s arms procurement agency, said on Wednesday that Indonesia didn’t provide its payment plan by the end of October as promised.

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Air Force Plans RFP for New Tanker in Fiscal 2025, But Is Still Building Its Acquisition Strategy

11/02/2023

The Air Force aims to release a request for proposals for the KC-135 Recapitalization Program—formerly called the “bridge tanker”—in fiscal 2025 but has yet to set an acquisition strategy for the aircraft, waiting for more industry input, a service spokesperson said. Service officials have previously forecast an acquisition strategy to be ready by mid-2024.

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Still reliant on Russia, India swaps MiG-21 for Su-30 MKI fighter jet

11/02/2023

Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots are converting from the MiG-21 to the Su-30 MKI, with the IAF Number 4 Squadron on 30 October flying the last sortie of the supersonic jet fighter that was in service for 60 years. The formal induction of the Su-30 MKI happened on the same day, joining the Mig-21 in its final flypast.

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Ukraine had just 40 operational fighter jets in February 2022 — Zaluzhnyi

11/02/2023

At the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine had 120 combat aircraft, of which only 40 were airworthy, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi wrote in an article for The Economist on Nov. 1. According to him, thanks to the material and technical assistance from partner countries, Ukraine has been able to strengthen its air force and air defenses.

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French Rafales ‘Trounce’ Eurofighters As Germany Blocks Sale Of Typhoon Jets To Saudi Arabia – Reports

11/02/2023

Germany loosened export restrictions against Saudi Arabia earlier this year. Still, it refused to allow the sale of the 4.5th generation Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet to the kingdom, despite the UK government’s intense lobbying. Berlin’s refusal, unfortunately, poses a significant challenge to Britain’s production lines.

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Su-75: Russia's Cheap Stealth Fighter Is Now a Giant Question Mark Now

10/30/2023

Russia’s Su-75 Checkmate fighter has had a troubling life. Initially envisioned as a cheap fifth-generation fighter intended for export, it has so far failed to get off the ground – both figuratively and literally.

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Ukraine's combat aircraft land five strikes on clusters of Russians – General Staff report

10/30/2023

Ukraine’s Air Force launched five strikes on clusters of Russian military personnel, weapons and equipment. In addition, Ukraine’s air defence assets and personnel destroyed three Iskander-K ground-based cruise missiles.

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China dispatches 1 military aircraft, 5 navy ships around Taiwan

10/29/2023

A relatively low-key day for China sending military aircraft and navy ships near Taiwan was reported by the Ministry of National Defense on Saturday (Oct. 28). A defense ministry post on X (formerly Twitter) said just one aircraft and five ships were detected by 6 a.m. Saturday morning. It added that the Chinese incursions were tracked by Taiwan’s military.

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USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Now in the Mediterranean Sea, Bataan ARG in the Red Sea

10/29/2023

The Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group is headed toward the mass of U.S. naval power in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea after transiting the Strait of Gibraltar on Saturday. Meanwhile, two ships of the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group are now in the Red Sea. The Navy confirmed aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) and its escorts made the transit early Saturday via social media.

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Deploying additional support

10/28/2023

he Australian Government has deployed additional ADF personnel and aircraft to the Middle East as part of Operation Beech. Operation Beech is Defence’s support to the Australian Government response to the Hamas-Israel conflict. Deploying in a non-combat role, Australian Army personnel from Townsville and Brisbane, and two Royal Australian Air Force C-130J aircraft from Sydney, will join a C-17A Globemaster heavy transport aircraft and the ADF contingent already in the region.

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Ukraine Situation Report: Signs Longer-Range ATACMS Will Be Sent Grow

10/28/2023

There are growing indications that Ukraine could get longer-range Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) short-range ballistic missile variants from the U.S. military as early as January of next year. Ukraine's Ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova, said today that her country's military needs more "game changers" like ATACMS to keep up the pressure on Russian forces.

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Kuwait boosts combat readiness with new Eurofighter typhoon jets

10/28/2023

10/26/2023

Dropping SEALs to confront a hostile mob at an embassy and battling Russian helicopters are just some of the tasks the nation's top military pilots face as they train in the real-life version of 'Top Gun.' The pilots at the elite Marines' Weapons and Tactics Instructor course are the best the US military has to offer. But their skills come at a price of $200,000 per student for the seven-week course - the same as an Ivy League education.

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RAAF Wedgetail to protect vital supply lines to Ukraine

10/26/2023

A Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail early warning aircraft will use its highly effective radar system to search for missiles launched from hundreds of kilometers inside Russia and Belarus as it watches over Ukraine’s supply lines from Europe. The chief of the RAAF, Air Marshal Robert Chipman, tells The Strategist that the US decision to call in the Wedgetail to help protect the flow of military and humanitarian supplies Ukraine relies on as it battles Russia’s invasion.

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U.S. and Australia agree to cooperate with Japan on military drones

10/26/2023

The U.S. and Australia will join hands with Japan to develop next-generation military drones, the leaders of the two countries announced Wednesday, stepping up efforts in the field of "collaborative combat aircraft." U.S. President Joe Biden and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese released a joint statement after their White House meeting, noting that the two allies will "explore trilateral cooperation with Japan" on unmanned aerial systems.

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F-16s Deploy from Germany to Iceland for Air Policing Mission

10/25/2023

A quartet of F-16 fighters and some 100 Airmen from the 480th Fighter Squadron at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, arrived in Keflavik, Iceland, on Oct. 22 to take over the NATO Air Policing mission there—the first deployment of U.S. Air Force fighters to Iceland in two years. The arrival of the F-16s detachment comes a month after three B-2 bombers departed Keflavik, wrapping up a month-long Bomber Task Force deployment there.

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Pentagon: China Working on Upgrades to Top Stealth Fighter, Manned-Unmanned Teaming

10/25/2023

The People’s Liberation Army Air Force is upgrading the Chengdu J-20 Mighty Dragon, China’s answer to the Lockheed Martin F-22, and is experimenting with manned-unmanned teaming concepts, much in the same way the U.S. Air Force is doing, according to the Pentagon’s latest assessment of Chinese military power.

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New delivery of Korean FA-50 fighter jets has reached Poland

10/25/2023

More Korean aircraft for the Polish Air Force. Two FA-50s have checked in at Warsaw Okecie. A total of 8 FA-50s have been delivered to date, and by the end of the year, there will be 12. Wrote the head of the Ministry of Defense. “With determination, we are modernizing the Polish Army and increasing the security of the Polish skies,” Minister Blaszczak wrote.

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Sweden to upgrade its Gripen fighter jets

10/25/2023

Saab, the Swedish aerospace and defense company, has secured an additional order from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) to ensure the continuous operation and capability improvement of the Gripen C/D fighter aircraft. The order is valued at SEK 579 million ($52.7 million).

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More F-16s Arrive in Middle East as AFCENT Fighter Footprint Grows to 6 Squadrons

10/25/2023

More U.S. Air Force F-16s arrived in the Middle East, the service announced Oct. 24, as threats to American forces in the region continue to grow. The New Jersey Air National Guard’s 119th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron’s arrival in the U.S. CENTCOM region increases the Air Force’s fighter footprint in the Middle East to six squadrons. U.S. bases in the Middle East have begun to come under attack from militia groups aligned with Iran, and officials have voiced concerned about possible region-wid

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Increased USAF fighter presence for the Middle East

10/24/2023

As expected, recently more USAF, consisting of Air Combat Command (ACC), United States Air Force Europe (USAFE) and Air National Guard (ANG) fighter aircraft departed the Continental United States (CONUS) to be embodied into the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing at Al Dhafra Air Base (United Arab Emirates) and Muwaffaq Salti/Al Azraq Air Base (Jordan).

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Future of Colorado Air National Guard unit at Buckley is at risk as F-16s near retirement, officials say

10/24/2023

The year 2028 looms large for the Colorado Air National Guard at Buckley Space Force Base in Aurora. The guard’s F-16s — fighter jets referred to as Fighting Falcons — are getting old, with most expected to start running out of useful life in about five years. Many of them were built in the late 1980s, and while updates potentially could extend their use for another three to four years, the planes’ retirement is on the horizon.

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France Says Talking to Saudi About Rafale Fighter Sale

10/24/2023

The French government is talking to Saudi Arabia about selling the kingdom Rafale fighter jets, France’s defense minister said on Monday. Sebastien Lecornu told reporters there were “discussions” between Rafale maker Dassault Aviation and Saudi Arabia about a potential sale but gave no details.

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This is the Most Widely Used Military Aircraft on Earth

10/24/2023

In these days when single aircraft can cost billions of dollars, technological sophistication can often be more important than numbers. (This is the most expensive aircraft in the U.S. Military) But that doesn’t mean that certain jets, bombers, transports, and helicopters don’t serve an important role in large numbers. And some aircraft, despite being expensive, have been proven to be so effective relative to their cost, that they are owned by dozens of militaries around the world in the hundred

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Russia’s Air Force ‘eating into’ aircraft lifespans, with no easy solution

10/24/2023

As the ground war in Ukraine continues to grind ahead of the winter months, the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) are experiencing falling availability rates with their existing fleet of combat aircraft. The culprit is a combination of a high number of losses of fixed-wing aircraft combined with a drop in mission-capable rates due to the higher-than-normal number of flight hours being flown by those aircraft remaining.

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China's fighter jet fleet is growing in size and appears to have made a big jump in capability, new Pentagon report shows

10/24/2023

A new report from the Pentagon details China's expanding military power, including the growth of its fighter jet fleet, which appears to have also experienced a jump in capability. Last week, the US Department of Defense released its annual China Military Power Report, a congressionally-mandated update of unclassified material and assessments on the People's Liberation Army.

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Air Force: Ukrainian pilots undergoing training nearly ready to fly F-16s

10/23/2023

The first group of Ukrainian pilots are almost ready to move from F-16 flight simulators to combat planes, Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said in a televised address on Oct. 22, Ukrinform reported. "We expect that the first group of F-16 pilots, who are already training on flight simulators today, will transfer to the cockpit of a training and combat aircraft in the near future,” Ihnat said.

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Rafales For Riyadh: Saudi Arabia Considers Buying French Fighter Jets For First Time

10/23/2023

Saudi Arabia is reportedly exploring a purchase of 54 multirole Dassault Rafale fighter jets from France, which could mark the first purchase by Riyadh of a French-made combat aircraft, despite decades of Paris attempting to win a deal with the kingdom. Riyadh has officially requested a detailed quote from Dassault Aviation for a potential acquisition of 54 Rafales, the French weekly La Tribune financial newspaper reported Sunday. It has given the aerospace giant until Nov. 10 to respond.

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Giant Russian military plane explodes in fireball as it takes off from remote airbase with mystery cargo

10/22/2023

A giant Russian military plane exploded in a fireball as it took off from a remote airbase carrying a mystery cargo. The 164ft Il-76 plane was on the runway when an engine erupted in flames, according to reports. The aircraft rolled off the runway as the inferno spread, with dramatic video from the scene showing the 72-tonne jet engulfed in flames.

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At 12 New Military Bases, Taiwan To Deploy Indigenous Sky Bow-III Missiles To Counter PLAAF Warplanes – Reports

10/22/2023

As intrusions into its Air Defense Identification Zone by Chinese warplanes become more frequent, the Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense plans to deploy its locally-produced Sky Bow-III missiles at 12 new bases. In a report, Liberty Times said the strategy was driven by the need to confront China’s threat and bolster the country’s large-scale production of missiles. The idea is reportedly to provide the new bases with information about Chinese missiles using a long-range early warning radar

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Where's the Su-57? The war in Ukraine is what fifth-generation fighter jets were made for, but Russia's Felon has largely been missing in action

10/22/2023

Russia's air force has yet to break through Ukraine's formidable air defenses and achieve air superiority, which is somewhat surprising given that the Russians supposedly have something the Ukrainians do not — a fifth-generation fighter jet.

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Jets on highways: Why European militaries are expanding ‘dispersed’ road exercises

10/21/2023

"Let’s say enemy strike plans are based around them going in and taking out a whole air wing at an airfield within a morning. Well that is not going to happen if they [friendly aircraft] are dispersed around the country and moving from A to B to C to D the whole time," said Gary Waterfall, a former UK Royal Air Force air vice-marshal.

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Ukrainian Partisans Infiltrate Russian Airfield, Expose Fighter Jet Hideout

KC-135 Stratotankers have arrived in Saudi Arabia to replace the KC-10s which recently left the region for good after 30-plus years of service. The aerial tankers from Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., arrived at Prince Sultan Air Base on Oct. 2. The 384th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron (EARS) will support combat operations throughout the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.

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Joint integration between Marines, Air Force, and Navy prepares use of unmanned aircraft systems for expeditionary flight during SLTE 5-23

10/18/2023

U.S. service members conducted flight training with both Air Force MQ-9A and Navy MQ-8C unmanned aircraft systems during Service Level Training Exercise 5-23, July 27, 2023. This is the first instance of MQ-8C flight operations at the Combat Center. SLTE 5-23 is designed to challenge commanders to operate in a notional littoral environment simulated in the training areas at The Combat Center. Integrating the MQ-9A and the MQ-8C into SLTE 5-23.

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KOREA AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES SELECTS THALES SCORPION® HELMET MOUNTED DISPLAY TO AUGMENT FA-50 FIGHTER FOR POLAND

10/18/2023

Thales today announced that it has been awarded a contract by Korea’s Aerospace Industries (KAI) to equip FA-50 fighters for Poland with its highly successful Scorpion® Helmet Mounted Display (HMD). Under the terms of this contract, Thales is responsible for adapting, integrating, and qualifying the Scorpion® HMD onto KAI’s FA-50 Fighting Eagle, as well as installing production systems, to support the Republic of Korea’s FA-50 contract with Poland.

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Ahead Of F-16 Fighter Deal, Argentina To Sign Pact For Four P-3C Aircraft To Regain Anti-Submarine Capability

10/18/2023

Four years after losing anti-submarine and maritime surveillance capability, Argentina will re-acquire it soon as it signs an agreement with Norway for Lockheed Martin-built P-3 Orions on October 18, ahead of a much-awaited purchase order for F-16 fighters.

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Pentagon accuses China’s fighter jets of ‘coercive’ acts in Indo-Pacific

10/18/2023

Chinese fighter jets conducted several hundred “risky and coercive” aerial intercepts against aircraft flown by America and its allies in the Indo-Pacific over the past two years, the US defence department said on Tuesday. Speaking at the Pentagon, Ely Ratner, the top Asia defence official, said the manoeuvres were not the acts of rogue pilots and instead a “centralised and concerted” effort by the Chinese military to pressure the US and its allies.

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Homegrown fighter jet KF-21 makes public debut at Seoul defense exhibition

10/17/2023

South Korea's homegrown fighter jet KF-21 made its public debut on Monday, ahead of an international defense exhibition set to open at the Seoul Air Base this week. The KF-21, developed by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), staged an aerial demonstration at the Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, just south of Seoul, during a press day event for the Seoul International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition (ADEX) 2023, which opens Tuesday for a six-day run.

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Polish warplane appetite prompts jockeying by US, European vendors

10/17/2023

As Poland awaits the first units of its 2020 order of 32 F-35 fighter jets, Warsaw is considering further expanding its combat aircraft fleet with a purchase of 32 additional warplanes, according to Polish defense officials.

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Canada accuses China fighter jets of ‘reckless’ interception of military plane

10/17/2023

Canada’s defence minister has accused China fighter jets of carrying out a “dangerous and reckless” interception of a Canadian military plane over international waters. Bill Blair spoke after Canada’s Global News said a Chinese jet had come within five meters (16ft) of a Canadian surveillance plane taking part in a UN operation to enforce sanctions against North Korea.

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As Israeli jets devastate Gaza, air force photos show fighter aircraft armed with what look like unguided 'dumb' bombs

10/17/2023

Israeli fighter aircraft have been bombing the Gaza Strip, often with precision-guided weapons like Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs), but photos and videos posted by the Israeli Air Force suggest it's also using less accurate, unguided munitions, experts told Insider.

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From Hypersonic Missiles To Stealth UUVs – 5 Battlefield Tech That Have Emerged From Ukraine-Russia War

10/16/2023

Wars bring new weapons and battlefield platforms that can change future warfare. The Ukraine-Russia war is no different. Fighting a much larger and well-equipped Russian force, Ukraine has tested and proven the use of many low-value technologies on the battlefield.

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Seoul defense exhibition aims to boost arms exports

10/16/2023

10/15/2023

F-15Es arrived in the Middle East on Oct. 13, as the U.S. continued to bolster its forces in the region, the U.S. Air Force announced. The planes, which deployed from RAF Lakenheath, U.K., are part of a broader package of forces that have been deployed after Hamas’ attack on Israel, including an increased number of A-10 Thunderbolt II close air support aircraft and F-16 Fighting Falcon multirole fighters.

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US A-10 attack planes arrive in Middle East in bid to deter wider war

10/14/2023

American A-10 “Warthog” attack planes arrived in the Middle East on Thursday as the Pentagon scrambles to keep the nascent war between Israel and Hamas from sparking a broader regional conflict. Airmen from the 354th Fighter Squadron at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, deployed as part of a larger effort to rush firepower to U.S. Central Command, a senior defense official told reporters Thursday.

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This October, the “Frisian Flag” exercise took place at Leeuwarden Air Base in the Netherlands

10/14/2023

The international air exercise Frisian Flag 2023 took place from Monday 2 to Friday 13 October 2023 at Leeuwarden Air Base, The Netherlands. Unrest around the world and the ongoing war on Europe’s eastern border show a once again clearly that peace and security cannot be taken for granted. Well-trained units are therefore of great importance to ensure the security of the Netherlands and NATO territory and to defend them if necessary, now and in the future.

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GameX: Shaw helps modernize MCA data collection

10/14/2023

Shaw Air Force Base hosted eSports tournament ‘GameX: Mission Generation Under Attack,’ an Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center (AFIMSC) initiative designed to test Airman and Guardian decision-making in a contested environment through video gaming, Sept. 22-23, 2023.

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General Staff: Ukrainian troops destroy second Russian Su-25 fighter jet in a week

10/14/2023

Ukraine’s Armed Forces shot down a Russian SU-25 fighter jet and an Orlan-10 reconnaissance drone on 13 October. In its evening update, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said: “Over the past day, the Air Force carried out 12 strikes on areas where enemy personnel, weapons, and military equipment were concentrated, as well as on an enemy bridge. Our defenders also destroyed a Russian Su-25 fighter and an Orlan-10 operational-tactical level UAV.”

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Nigerian Air Force Takes Delivery of Two Combat Aircraft

10/13/2023

The Nigerian Air Force Headquarters, on Wednesday, said it had taken delivery of two combat aircraft, Diamond-62 (DA-62), procured by the federal government. A statement by the Spokesman of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, said combat the planes would add impetus to ongoing air operations across the country.

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US regulators approve transfer of Danish F-16s to Argentina

10/13/2023

Arms regulators in Washington have approved the transfer of US-made Lockheed Martin F-16As from Denmark to Argentina. The US Department of State said on 11 October it delivered a formal letter to Argentinian ambassador Jorge Arguello saying Washington signed off on the deal, which reportedly covers 24 of the multi-role fighters. “The transfer reaffirms our close defence ties and steadfast support for Argentina’s air force modernisation efforts,” the state department says.

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China sends 20 military aircraft, 6 navy ships around Taiwan

10/12/2023

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked 20 Chinese military aircraft and six naval vessels around the country between 6 a.m. Wednesday (Oct. 11) and 6 a.m. Thursday (Oct. 12). The defense ministry said that 20 People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) military aircraft and six People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels were detected. Of the detected aircraft, 14 entered the north and southwest sectors of Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).

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Denmark to send first F-16s to Ukraine in early 2024

10/12/2023

Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said on Wednesday that the transfer of the first F-16s to Ukraine will take place in early 2024. Thar’s according to Breaking the news, Ukrinform reports. "We expect that in March or April, we will be able to transfer the first batch of combat aircraft to Ukraine. But there is a lot of work to be done to ensure that the Ukrainians can exploit them,” Lund said.

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Op tempo, training complexity pose risk to aircrews, per aviation boss

10/11/2023

A few months ago, the Army’s aviation community appeared to be facing a dire situation. A series of deadly helicopter crashes killed 14 soldiers between February and April, interrupting one of the safest periods in the Army’s flying history. That led the service’s leaders to order an Army-wide safety stand down in May — the rare move grounded all non-deployed flying units until they completed a mandatory safety training program led by their commanding generals.

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After 30+ Years in Middle East, KC-10 Completes Final Deployment

10/11/2023

The KC-10 Extender took another step toward retirement last week, as the venerable tanker finished off its last ever deployment. A KC-10 from Travis Air Force Base, Calif., conducted the aircraft’s final combat sortie from Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, on Oct. 3. The 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, which has flown the KC-10 since 2003, then held a formal deactivation ceremony Oct. 4, and the last KC-10 departed the base Oct. 5.

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China sends 14 military aircraft, 5 naval ships around Taiwan

10/11/2023

10/06/2023

The U.S. Air Force Central Command (AFCENT) operating in the Middle East in the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility, needs to evolve to meet modern-day near-peer adversarial threats, such as from China, while at the same time keeping at bay risks from Iran and ISIS-related terrorist organizations.

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DOD Remains Focused on Deterring Conflict in Indo-Pacific

10/06/2023

The U.S. remains fully committed to its strategy of integrated deterrence in the Indo-Pacific while keeping a close eye on China's provocations in the region, a senior Pentagon official said today. Ely S. Ratner, assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific security affairs, said conflict with China is not inevitable despite indications that Beijing is increasingly leveraging its military to spread its malign influence abroad.

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China sends 1 military aircraft, 3 ships around Taiwan despite typhoon

10/06/2023

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked one Chinese military aircraft and three naval vessels around the country between 6 a.m. Wednesday (Oct. 4) and 6 a.m. Thursday (Oct. 5) as Typhoon Koinu's storm circle enveloped much of the country.

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XQ-58 Valkyrie Is Now Flying With The Marine Corps

10/06/2023

The U.S. Marine Corps has begun flying its stealthy Kratos' XQ-58A Valkyrie drones, making it the second known operator of the type beyond the U.S. Air Force. The Marines now plan to evaluate the drones as highly autonomous surveillance and reconnaissance assets, electronic warfare platforms, and wingmen for crewed fighters, including in kinetic roles.

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A US F-16 fighter jet shot down a Turkish drone, taking out another NATO ally's aircraft over Syria

10/06/2023

A US military F-16 fighter jet downed a Turkish drone operating above Syria on Thursday, marking a rare clash between Washington and a NATO ally. The American aircraft shot down the drone because it was considered to be a threat to US troops in the northeastern part of the country, The Wall Street Journal first reported, citing a person familiar with the incident. An American official told the outlet that US knew the drone — which was armed with air-to-ground munitions — belonged to Turkey befor

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Deep Inside Taiwan’s ADIZ, China’s Chengdu GJ-2 UAV Conducts First-Ever Recorded Flight Activity

10/05/2023

The drone’s presence was detected on October 4 by the Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense (MND), which included this development in its daily update. According to the Ministry, as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8), 29 PLA aircraft and five PLAN vessels were identified near Taiwan.

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Northrop Grumman modernises E-2D Advanced Hawkeye ISR aircraft

10/05/2023

The US Navy (USN) has contracted the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft, Northrop Grumman (NG), to evolve the platform’s cockpit and digital architecture. Operating from an altitude more than 25,000ft, the Hawkeye alerts the naval task force to approaching air threats, while also providing threat identification and positional data to fighter aircraft.

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Turkey Takes to the Skies with the Groundbreaking KAAN Fighter Jet

10/05/2023

In a determined bid to modernize its Air Force and achieve self-sufficiency in military capabilities, Turkey has embarked on a groundbreaking journey with the development of the Turkish Fighter jet. This fifth-generation marvel represents a significant milestone in Turkey’s aerospace industry. Not only does it signify the nation’s technological prowess but also its resolve to carve its own path in the elite club of fifth-generation fighter aircraft developers.

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New Acquisition Report: F-15EX Unit Cost Will Be $94 Million

10/05/2023

10/03/2023

Croatia received the first of 12 Dassault Rafale combat aircraft from France on 2 October, the Croatian Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced. Aircraft tail number 170 was officially handed over to the Croatian MoD during a ceremony at the French Air and Space Force (Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace: AAE) base at Mont-de-Marsan.

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China’s J-20 Stealth Fighter, Flying Under AWACS Cover, Very Dangerous; Best Avoided By India’s Rafale: OPED

10/03/2023

To use a cliche, comparing the J-20 and the Rafale is like comparing oranges and apples. The two fighters were conceived and developed for entirely different roles. However, the adversarial deployment of the two fighters in the context of the simmering India-China border dispute has fanned nationalist fervor and clamor for comparison to such an extent that comparing oranges and apples seems perfectly logical.

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RAF Fighter jets deploy to Poland for joint exercises ahead of Warsaw Security Forum

10/02/2023

Four Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jets have deployed to Poland to conduct joint training exercises alongside allied aircraft from Poland, Spain, and Italy. The deployment will provide an opportunity for RAF pilots to practice dogfighting against different types of aircraft, and develop tactics to exploit their weaknesses.

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Royal Danish Air Force And Lockheed Martin Celebrate Arrival Of First Four Danish F-35 Aircraft

10/02/2023

The Kingdom of Denmark officially celebrated the in-country arrival of its first four permanently based F-35A Lightning II aircraft at Skrydstrup Air Base, Denmark. During the ceremony, Lockheed Martin officially handed over the certificate of ownership of Denmark's F-35s to the Danish Ministry of Defense Acquisition and Logistics Organization. More than 450 Danish and allied government, military and industry leaders gathered to commemorate the milestone, and over 10,000 local citizens participa

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Last F-18 training squadron is decommissioned at Miramar marking the end of an era

10/01/2023

An air squadron that for 50 years has been training pilots to fly F/A-18 Hornets was decommissioned at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar during a “sundowner ceremony” on Friday, marking the end of an era for the Department of the Navy.

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Watch, Read: CSAF Brown on ‘The State of the Air Force’

09/30/2023

In his last major speech before ascending to the role of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown delivered a keynote address on “The State of the Air Force,” at AFA’s Air, Space & Cyber Conference on Sept. 11, 2023. Watch the video or read the transcript below.

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NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania

09/30/2023

This July, the NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, was yet another historical gathering for Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. After facing years of dilemmas with regard to Russia, the allies agreed to bolster NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) battlegroups and established brand-new defense plans. An agreement was reached on Sweden’s path to NATO, and Finland was welcomed as the Alliance’s 31st member.

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F-35 program completes key combat simulations, could pave way for full-rate production

09/30/2023

A series of delayed simulated combat trials for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter have been completed, a key step toward wrapping up the fighter’s initial operational testing phase and approving it for full-rate production (FRP).

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Russian Su-35 Fighter Jet Downed by Own Air Defense, Video Appears to Show

09/30/2023

Russian air defenses close to the frontlines in Ukraine's southern Zaporizhzhia region have shot down one of Moscow's own advanced fighter jets, footage circulating online appears to show. Russian air defense systems took out a Russian Su-35 multirole fighter jet around the occupied Ukrainian city of Tokmak, Russian and Ukrainian military bloggers as well as open-source intelligence accounts reported on Friday.

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Russia has lost 90 aircraft in combat since war started – British intel report

09/29/2023

“The Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) have lost approximately 90 fixed-wing aircraft in combat since February 2022. It has also been flying some of its combat aircraft types far more intensively than in peace time,” the UK Ministry of Defence posted on X, referring to intelligence data. Analysts note that all aircraft have a projected lifespan, in flying hours, so Russia is highly likely eating into many of its airframes’ lifespans far more quickly with extra wartime use.

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Ukraine asks France for Rafale or Mirage and radars for Su-27s

09/29/2023

Opex360 reports that French MP Julien Bayou made the comment on the sidelines of the French Parliament. “There is a pressing request that we are asked to pass on: supply of Rafale and/or Mirage 2000D, as well as radars to equip Sukhoi and Ukrainian MiGs,” opex360 wrote, quoting Bayu as saying.

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Czech gov’t plans to buy 24 F-35 stealth fighters in $6.5bn defence spend

09/29/2023

The Czech government has approved a plan to buy 24 US-made F-35 advanced fighter jets in a deal valued at approximately $6.5bn, the largest defence contract ever signed by the Czech Republic that will see the country significantly boost its military capabilities and integration with NATO.

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Weekly Frontline Update: Ukrainian attacks paralyze Russian army command

09/27/2023

Last week, the Ukrainian Army advanced further on the southern front and continued to decimate Russian military targets in Crimea and other occupied territories of Ukraine. According to Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces, the Ukrainian missile attack on the Russian Black Sea Fleet headquarters in occupied Sevastopol (Crimea, southern Ukraine) allegedly eliminated 34 Russian officers.

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Another Ukraine’s MiG-29 Parked Fighter Jet ‘Falls Prey’ To Russian Lancet-3 Kamikaze Drone

09/27/2023

Around a week after a Russian Lancet-3 loitering munition destroyed a parked Ukrainian Air Force (UAF) fighter, another MiG-29 jet was hit in the same way and, coincidentally, in the same region where the UAF air bases are located. The attacks are another landmark moment for drone warfare in general and Russian and Iranian kamikaze UAVs like the Lancet and the Shahed-136 in particular, that have consistently redefined warfare throughout multiple stages in the war.

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Romania Begins Largest Ever Arms Deal with Request to Buy F-35 Jets

09/27/2023

Romania has begun the process for the most expensive purchase in the history of the armed forces by officially requesting legislative approval in a document sent to the parliament’s leadership to launch the program to buy 32 F-35 fighter jets worth 6.5 billion dollars. The Supreme Council of Defence of the Country, CSAT, decided in April that Romania would purchase the stealth multirole combat aircraft from the US in a government-to-government deal.

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‘Cash Cows’ Saudi Arabia & Japan Could Dramatically Boost GCAP Fighter Jet Program; Eclipse Franco-German FCAS

09/27/2023

After Japan, resource-rich Saudi Arabia has expressed interest in jointly developing the 6th generation fighter jet, which is expected to take to the skies by 2035 and could eclipse the best contemporary fighter jets.

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Japan’s growing military power will help the West challenge China’s threat

09/26/2023

Last December, the UK, Italy and Japan agreed to combine their respective projects and build next-generation military fighter aircraft in a scheme dubbed the Global Combat Aircraft Programme (GCAP). At the DSEI international arms fair in London earlier this month, the three principal contractors, BAE Systems, Leonardo SpA and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries concluded a Collaboration Agreement to develop long-term working arrangements and capability requirements for GCAP.

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Air Capabilities of the Taliban: A Geospatial Analysis

09/26/2023

When the Taliban overran the last government held positions, the bulk of the Afghan Air Force departed for Tajikistan. After the fall of Kabul, the United States likewise left an inordinate amount of military hardware. A good amount of that hardware included rotorwing assets. Attention has now turned towards whether or not the Taliban are capable of fielding offensive air assets.

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Generate Airpower, Check: Kadena ACEs no-notice exercise

09/26/2023

The U.S. Air Force’s ability to rapidly generate airpower at a moment’s notice was put to the test at Kadena Air Base, when the 18th Wing conducted a no-notice agile combat employment exercise Sept. 22, 2023. Airmen from the 18th Wing partnered with deployed Airmen from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, and Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, to launch multiple F-15C/D Eagles, F-15E Strike Eagles and F-35A Lightning IIs without prior notice.

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In Argentina’s fighter competition, Washington and Beijing fight for regional influence

09/26/2023

The global influence struggle between the United States and the People’s Republic of China has quietly arrived in America’s backyard, with Washington attempting to fend off Beijing establishing a sizeable military relationship with Argentina. The competition, as it so often does between large powers, is playing out through a defense industrial decision: Namely, whether Buenos Aries buys second-hand Danish F-16 A/B Fighting Falcons or newly-made Chengdu JF-17 Thunder Block Three fighters from Chi

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ASEAN concludes first-ever joint military drills in Indonesia

09/24/2023

Members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have strengthened cooperation in maritime security through their first-ever joint military exercise on Indonesian islands in the South China Sea, where China has been increasing maritime activities. Indonesia hosted the military drills that took place from Tuesday through Saturday on the Natuna Islands and elsewhere. Jakarta holds this year's rotating chair of ASEAN.

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A Month After Prigozhin’s Suspicious Death, the Kremlin Is Silent on His Plane Crash and Legacy

09/24/2023

Why Yevgeny Prigozhin's private jet plummeted into a field northwest of Moscow is still a mystery. The Russian military leaders he tried to oust with his armed rebellion remain in power. His mercenary army is under new management. And President Vladimir Putin, whose authority was badly dented by the short-lived mutiny, seems as strong as ever, with Prigozhin's fiery death sending a chilling message to anyone challenging him.

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Germany and France: Still keen on joint defense projects?

09/23/2023

The development of the Franco-German battle tank MGCS has taken a step forward this week. Army inspectors from both countries signed a document on the requirements for the joint main battle tank of the future. "This is a milestone that will enable the work to come," said German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius at a joint press conference with his French counterpart Sebastien Lecornu.

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U.S. fighter jet flew 100 km unpiloted, pilot tried to explain to perplexed 911 operator

09/23/2023

A military pilot whose advanced fighter jet went temporarily missing last weekend is heard repeatedly requesting an ambulance in a perplexing 911 call from the South Carolina home where he had parachuted to safety, according to an audio recording released Thursday to The Associated Press.

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Taiwan says detects 24 Chinese military aircraft in air defence zone

09/22/2023

Taiwan's defence ministry said on Friday that over the previous 24-hour period it had detected 24 Chinese air force aircraft entering into Taiwan's air defence zone, part of a regular pattern of what Taipei calls Chinese harassment. At least 17 of the aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, according to a map the ministry published.

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Norwegian F-35 Fighters Landed on a Finnish Highway for the First Time

09/22/2023

After training with Finland's F/A-18 Hornet fighter, two of Norway's F-35A fighters landed for the first time on a Finnish highway on Thursday. This is reported by the Norwegian Armed Forces. More specifically, this took place in Tervo, North Savo – which is located in central Finland.

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Saboteurs 'blew up' aircraft at a Russian base in the latest in a string of attacks, causing 'hysteria,' Ukrainian military intelligence reports

09/21/2023

Unknown saboteurs "blew up" several Russian military aircraft at a base near Moscow earlier this week, Ukraine's military intelligence agency said on Wednesday. The reported attack marks the latest in a string of assaults specifically targeting airfields inside Russia's internationally recognized territory, which have taken place hundreds of miles away from active fighting along the Ukraine war's front lines and exposed major shortcomings in Moscow's domestic security apparatus.

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A-10 Pilot’s Compelling Case For Replacing Warthogs With Super Hornets

09/21/2023

The U.S. Air Force wants to retire the A-10 Warthog, an aircraft I have ?own for years around the globe, by the end of the decade. While many may think all of us in the A-10 community want to hold onto our beloved mount for dear life, that isn’t necessarily the case. What many of us do want is a suitable replacement, of which there is none currently planned. This new aircraft should be relatively economical while also bringing additional capabilities to the ?ght, especially one in the Paci?c aga

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Australia to upgrade maritime surveillance fleet in $965m deal

09/20/2023

The Australian government has said it will buy a new drone and upgrade existing patrol and response aircraft in a 1.5 billion Australian dollar ($964.88m) deal to enhance its maritime surveillance capabilities. The military will buy a fourth MQ-4C Triton drone and upgrade the air force’s existing fleet of 14 P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, Pat Conroy, minister for defence industry, said in a statement on Tuesday.

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Japan's new jet fighter alliance pushes limits of defense policy

09/20/2023

About an hour by train from downtown Tokyo, two five-story office towers in the quiet suburb of Akishima are an unlikely hub for Japan's jet engine industry. Inside, 2,000 employees of IHI, Japan's largest maker of jet engines, design everything from turbines for business jets to fan modules for Airbus and Boeing passenger liners.

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China flies 103 military planes toward Taiwan in a new high in activity the island calls harassment

09/19/2023

China’s military sent 103 warplanes toward Taiwan in a 24-hour period in what the island’s defense ministry called a recent new high. The planes were detected between 6 a.m. on Sunday and 6 a.m. on Monday, the ministry said. As is customary, they turned back before reaching Taiwan. Chinese warplanes fly toward the self-governing island on a near-daily basis but typically in smaller numbers. The Taiwan ministry didn’t explain what time period it meant by a “recent” high.

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US finds debris from fighter jet one day after crash

09/19/2023

The U.S. military said it finally found debris from a crashed F-35 fighter jet in South Carolina on Monday, a day after asking for the public's help in locating the elusive wreckage. The pilot of the F-35B Lightning II jet had safely ejected from the aircraft on Sunday afternoon. Joint Base Charleston on Sunday asked people on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, to "please call the Base Defense Operations Center" with any information to assist the recovery teams.

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Russia updates Tu-22M3 bombers’ missiles to receive new payload: Aviation Commander

The Mali Air Force lost another Su-25 Frogfoot in a crash on September 9, months after it received the aircraft from Russia. According to reports from the African country, tragedy hit Mali when the country’s sole Sukhoi Su-25 strike plane crashed in the Gao region. However, the aircraft’s pilot managed to escape and is reportedly safe. Unfortunately, the crash wiped out Mali’s Su-25 attack fleet.

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Tensions on the Belarus border: A look at military spending and arms import patterns

09/14/2023

Relations between Belarus and its NATO neighbours deteriorated further over the summer. Troops have been deployed on both sides of the Belarus–Poland border, and each country has accused the other of escalating tensions. Lithuania this month closed two of six border crossings with Belarus. Belarus’s defence minister, Viktor Khrenin, went as far as suggesting that ‘the possibility of a direct military clash with NATO in the future has become quite obvious’.

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Chinese Aircraft Carrier, Warships Massing for Major Exercise Near the Philippines

09/14/2023

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy Shandong Carrier Strike Group is operating in the Philippine Sea, being shadowed separately by Republic of China Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) destroyers, according to both countries.

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Israeli tech-transfer to China turns the J-10 into a ‘Chinese’ F-16

09/13/2023

The first prototype of the J-10 was completed in June 1997. Its first launch, a significant event in aviation history, occurred on 23rd March 1998. Despite the J-10 fighter jet’s status as the highlight of China’s native fighter jet program, various reports suggest a possible connection between Israel Aerospace Industries and the Chinese Aeronautical Construction Consortium during the J-10’s design phase.

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With JF-17 ‘Out Of Action’, Russian Su-30SME Fighters Supplied To Myanmar Can Support Combat Ops – Expert

09/13/2023

Charlie Chan, the trade minister of the Myanmar junta government, shared details about the delivery of Su-30SME fighter jets with a Russian media outlet on September 10, as reported by Reuters. Chan made this revelation while attending the Eastern Economic Forum, an annual event held in Russia to promote regional economic cooperation and attract foreign investments.

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US Air Force receives first new Compass Call electronic warfare plane

09/13/2023

The U.S. Air Force has received its first EC-37B Compass Call electronic warfare aircraft from contractors BAE Systems and L3Harris Technolgies, industry officials announced Tuesday. BAE Systems said in a release that the Air Force will next start combined developmental and operational testing for this Compass Call, the first of 10 aircraft planned for the Air Force.

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UK, Japanese, Italian partners agree next steps for fighter jet

09/13/2023

Britain's BAE Systems, Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and Italy's Leonardo have agreed the next steps to deliver the concept phase of a next-generation combat aircraft, BAE Systems said on Tuesday. The three nations agreed in December 2022 to collaborate to build an advanced front-line fighter to enter service around the middle of the next decade.

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Rafale For Bangladesh? 1st Time In 33 Years, French President Visits Dhaka As Dassault & Eurofighter Compete For BAF Deal

09/12/2023

Bangladesh plans to modernize its armed forces under the Forces Goals 2030. Under the plan, the BAF already inducted 16 Chengdu J-7 fighter jets from China. Apart from this, Bangladesh floated a tender for eight Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) in the financial year 2017-2018. The tender can order four more aircraft in the second tranche.

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Boeing to integrate BAE Systems electronic warfare (EW) avionics aboard upgraded Japan F-15 jet fighter

09/12/2023

Electronic warfare (EW) avionics experts at the Boeing Co. will produce EW avionics for modernized Japan air force F-15 jet fighter aircraft that will help protect the aircraft from radar-guided missiles. Officials of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, announced a $474.5 million five-year order Thursday to Boeing Defense, Space & Security segment in St. Louis to add the BAE Systems Eagle Passive Active Warning and Survivability System.

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AFA NEWS: Collaborative Combat Aircraft Will Be 'In A Lot of Places,' Air Force General Says

09/12/2023

To confront potential threats in the Indo-Pacific, Pacific Air Forces is focused on expanding agile combat employment — an operational scheme to develop network of small bases and facilities. One component of the scheme is the collaborative combat aircraft, or CCA, and a top Air Force official said a lot are coming.

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Insight: What does the future hold for the Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft?

09/12/2023

The Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 3A has been adopted by Middle Eastern air forces as well as the European partner nations. Shephard Defence Insight analyses its next-generation radar, cockpit technology and future upgrade plans.

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Frustrated China steps up warship and fighter plane activity around Taiwan

09/12/2023

China has sent a carrier strike group and dozens of warplanes into the region around Taiwan in one of its biggest operations in months. The activity comes as Beijing accuses the US and Canada of “inciting conflict” by sailing through the Taiwan Strait, and as Xi Jinping calls for “comprehensive” military combat readiness of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

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The Rise, Fall & Rise Of F-15 Fighters: How Eagles Continue Their Relevance Even After Decades In Service

09/11/2023

Boeing Aerospace announced on September 7 that Poland was actively interested in buying the F-15EX Eagle II fighters. The announcement was made at the press conference at the annual MSPO defense trade exhibition without divulging specific details. Tim Flood, Boeing’s senior director of Global Business Development for Europe and Americas, said in a statement: “Poland’s interest in the F-15EX confirms its dedication to the preparedness and effectiveness of its military forces.

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Myanmar receives first shipment of Russia's Su-30 fighter jets, RIA reports

09/11/2023

Myanmar has received the first shipment of two Russian Su-30 fighter jets, Charlie Than, Myanmar's trade minister, told the Russian RIA state news agency in remarks published on Sunday. "Two aircraft have already been delivered," Than told RIA on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum, Russia's annual forum aimed at developing economic cooperation in the region and encouraging foreign investment, which starts on Sunday in the port of Vladivostok.

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S. Korea and Turkey seek defense industry partnerships in drones, armored vehicles

09/10/2023

President Yoon Suk Yeol held a summit with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the Group of 20 (G20) Summit in New Delhi, Saturday, and discussed ways to expand partnerships in the defense industry focusing on drones, military transport aircraft and other weapons.

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Japan To Become Third-Largest Military Spender By 2027; Plans To Spend $315B Over Next 5 Years

09/10/2023

Japanese government officials and representatives of four domestic startups in emerging technologies with potential defense applications met in Tokyo on Sep. 6. It was to discuss ways to help the fledgling companies working on drones and robots.

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India, Nigeria Ink $1B Military Deal; Delhi To Help The African Nation Boost Its Defense Industry – Reports

09/09/2023

The Indian diplomatic blitzkrieg of the past couple of years to further defense ties with African countries has started bearing fruits. India and Nigeria have inked an unprecedented US $1 billion deal to boost the defense industry in the African country. Nigeria has expressed interest in the Indian Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, drones, and armored personnel carriers.

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Ukrainian Armed Forces have success near Bakhmut and Robotyne – General Staff report

09/09/2023

Thirty-nine combat clashes took place over the past 24 hours. Russia launched seven missile attacks, 74 air strikes, and 46 multiple-launch missile attacks on the positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements. The Russian Federation launched another missile and air strike overnight on 7-8 September on Ukraine. Information about the aftermath of this is being updated. The operational situation in Ukraine's east and south remains difficult.

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Belgium will not deliver F-16 fighters to Ukraine, citing ancient airframes

09/09/2023

After consideration, Belgium has now decided not to deliver its aging F-16 aircraft to the Ukrainian military. Belgian officials cited the fleet condition as a primary reason for their reluctance, estimating that the airframes have accumulated too many flight hours and are at the end of their service life. Coincidentally, Belgium will retire the first F-16A, registered FA-95, from service on August 8, 2023, after it reaches 8,000 flight hours, the end of structural life set by Lockheed Martin.

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Boeing offers F-15EX for Poland, but details are scant

09/08/2023

Boeing today announced it is actively seeking to sell its F-15EX fighter aircraft to Poland — but for now, both sides are keeping their cards close to their chest. Boeing held a Thursday press conference at the annual MSPO defense trade exhibition, although offered little in the way of details about what a potential F-15EX buy would look like.

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Rafales on the upswing? French fighter eyes additional Mideast sales

09/08/2023

The United States’ dominance of the combat aircraft industry could see increased competition as the French hope to bolster their slice of the pie. With a German veto blocking Eurofighter deliveries to Saudi Arabia, and amid Israel’s persistent opposition to any F-35 sale to Qatar, this may be French firm Dassault’s opportunity to further push its fighter in the region.

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First F-16 Block 70/72 aft fuselage manufactured in Poland

09/07/2023

In a symbolic return to the tradition of manufacturing military jet aircraft, the F-16 structures are being built in a renovated hall where training and combat aircraft were produced more than 20 years ago. The completed F-16 aft fuselage, similar to smaller F-16 components also manufactured in Mielec, is destined for export to Lockheed Martin’s production line in Greenville, South Carolina, where F-16 Block 70/72 fighter aircraft are currently being manufactured for customers around the world.

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Upgraded F-35 Deliveries Delayed to Mid-2024; USAF Prioritizes New Units in the Meantime

09/07/2023

09/05/2023

Lockheed Martin is partnering with the governments of Romania and the Netherlands to establish a European F-16 training center in Bucharest. The facility would help ensure the safety and effectiveness of Romanian military personnel flying and operating the multi-role fighter aircraft. It could also expand to training aviators from other European nations, including Ukraine.

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Israel requests U.S. approval to purchase more F-35 aircraft

09/05/2023

Israel has submitted an official request to the United States to purchase a third squadron of F-35 stealth combat aircraft, the Israeli Defense Ministry said on Sunday. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant submitted a Letter of Request to the U.S. Department of Defense in order to sign the deal "in the next few months," according to a statement released by the Israeli Defense Ministry.

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Russian Su-34 Fighter Can Now Fire Hypersonic Missiles; The 1st Crew That Made It Possible To Be Awarded

09/05/2023

An informed defense official told Russian state news agency TASS, “The Su-34 fighter jet used the Kinzhal hypersonic missile in the special military operation. The first crew who accomplished such a task will receive state awards.” The official did not, however, disclose the time and location of the attack.

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RAF conducts first F-35B forward refuelling trial

09/03/2023

The capability trial is central to the Royal Air Force’s Agile Combat Employment (ACE) strategy. According to the press release, ACE focuses on the “ability to refuel and re-arm aircraft at austere locations.” Based at RAF Wittering, 1 ELS ensures that the Royal Air Force is adequately equipped and fueled during deployed air operations.

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Like India’s Astra BVRAAM, Japan Is Also Developing A New Air-To-Air Missile For Its Sixth-Gen Fighter

09/03/2023

This achievement catapults India into an exclusive league of nations with the capability to develop and launch their indigenous air-to-air missile from fighter aircraft developed on home turf. Following a similar trajectory, Japan appears to be planning to design a new air-to-air missile intended for the next-generation fighter aircraft being co-developed with Britain and Italy.

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Iran Reportedly Receives Russian Jets, But They Aren’t The Long-Sought-After Su-35 Flanker

09/03/2023

Jets Iran ordered from Russia have begun arriving in the country, according to Iranian media reports. However, these aircraft are not the Su-35 Flanker fighter jets Tehran had hoped to begin receiving this year. On Saturday, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported the country received subsonic Yak-130 trainer jets, citing undated imagery and video purportedly showing the new aircraft bearing IRIAF (Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force) markings.

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Is the West’s influence waning in South America?

09/02/2023

Against a long-standing absence of interstate conflicts, South American armed forces largely focus on domestic operations, including fighting organized crime. However, the region’s defense and security capabilities are undermined by aging equipment amid reduced fiscal space.

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Australian and Thai fighters in joint combat air exercise

09/02/2023

09/01/2023

The first aircraft of Turkey’s indigenous fighter program, the TF-X, sits in a hangar ahead of its maiden flight at the end of the year. But fiscal problems could stand in the way of its success, according to an analyst, even as the country’s president seeks partners for the program.

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Next-Gen Fighter: Co-Developed With UK & Spain, Japan Intends To Export Its 6th-Gen Aircraft To Other Nations

08/30/2023

In a strategic maneuver geared toward facilitating the export of next-generation fighters to other countries, the Japanese government conveyed its intention to the ruling parties to expand the scope of permissible exports for jointly developed defense equipment, including lethal weapons.

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Pakistan fails to find solution to Myanmar’s military junta JF-17 nightmare

08/30/2023

In what could be good news for the resistance movement and Myanmar’s National Unity Government (NUG), there appears to be shimmering tensions between Islamabad and Naypyitaw over the supply of a set of newly acquired JF-17s fighter planes.

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Taiwan warns of surge in tensions as Chinese fighter jets cross median line

08/30/2023

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence has warned of a possible “sharp increase” in military tensions after reporting renewed Chinese military activity, including fighter jets crossing the sensitive median line of the Taiwan Strait. Democratically governed Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has complained for three years of increased military pressure from Beijing, mostly in the form of China’s air force flying near the island.

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Japanese F-35 fighter jets visit Australia in 1st deployment abroad

08/29/2023

Two Japanese Air Self-Defense Force's F-35A fighter jets have arrived at a military base in Australia for training, marking the first time Japan deployed the aircraft overseas, the Australian Defense Department said Monday. The move comes as the two nations seek to boost security ties amid China's growing military assertiveness in the region and marks the first activity under a new agreement to facilitate reciprocal access and cooperation between their defense forces.

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Saudi fighter plane crashes during training mission

08/29/2023

A fighter plane in Saudi Arabia has crashed during a training mission, according to the Ministry of Defense in the Kingdom. The crew aboard the Royal Saudi Air Force combat aircraft 'Tornado' fighter plane survived, the ministry said.

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Pentagon Wants to Buy 1,000s of Small, Cheap, Autonomous Drones in Next Two Years

08/29/2023

The Pentagon is launching a new effort to build up mass with inexpensive autonomous systems, Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks announced Aug. 28. And the department wants lots of those systems fast—within 18-24 months. The goal, Hicks said, is simple: “small, smart, cheap, and many.”

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The US Air Force wants $5.8 billion to build 1,000 AI-driven unmanned combat aircraft, possibly more, as part of its next generation air dominance initiative

08/29/2023

The Air Force is seeking a multibillion-dollar budgetary allowance to research and build at least a thousand, but possibly more, unmanned aircraft driven by AI pilots, according to service plans. The XQ-58A Valkyrie aircraft, a potential contender for the Air Force's collaborative combat aircraft program, is meant to serve as a robotic wingman to human-piloted aircraft able to provide cover and maneuver around in scenarios where a flesh-and-blood pilot might struggle, The New York Times reported

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Ukraine-Russia war: Russia scrambles fighter jet to intercept US drone

08/28/2023

Russia said it scrambled a fighter plane to deter a US air force reconnaissance drone from crossing its borders over the Black Sea. “As the Russian fighter approached, the foreign reconnaissance UAV made a U-turn away from the state border of the Russian Federation,” Russia’s defence ministry said.

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U.S., Australia, Japan Drill with the Philippines in South China Sea; China Flies Military Drone Near Taiwan

08/28/2023

The U.S., Australia, Japan and the Philippines carried out a joint exercise in the waters off Manila on Thursday involving the Australian and Japanese large-deck ships on deployment in the region. Meanwhile, Chinese bombers flew near Japan while a Chinese unmanned air vehicle conducted a flight off Taiwan’s east coast, according to Japan Ministry of Defense press releases.

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Ukrainian Air Force flew more than 14,000 combat air sorties

08/28/2023

08/25/2023

The Ukrainian Armed Forces have a problem. In the twenty-first century, no land power—regardless of the potency of its heavy armor, infantry, or artillery—can prevail in war without a bare minimum of air superiority. Even the chief of Ukraine’s General Staff, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, admitted this in a recent interview with the Washington Post.

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Northrop Grumman to develop and demonstrate infrared search and track sensors for use on military aircraft

08/25/2023

U.S. Air Force researchers needed help in developing infrared sensors to enable combat aircraft to search wide areas covertly. They found their solution from the Northrop Grumman Corp. Mission Systems segment in Linthicum, Md. Officials of the Multispectral Sensing & Detection Division of the Air Force Research Laboratory Sensors Directorate at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, announced a $8.1 million follow-on contract to Northrop Grumman last week.

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US Will Train Ukrainian Pilots, Maintainers on the F-16 at Air National Guard Base

08/25/2023

The U.S. will train Ukrainian pilots and maintainers on F-16s at Morris Air National Guard Base, Ariz., in October, Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Patrick S. Ryder announced Aug. 24—the most direct American involvement yet in the international effort to equip and train Ukraine with fighter aircraft.

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Norway gives F-16 jets to Ukraine, joining Denmark, Netherlands

08/25/2023

Norway will donate U.S.-made F-16 combat aircraft to Ukraine, the Norwegian prime minister announced during a visit to Kyiv on Thursday, joining an effort led by the Netherlands and Denmark. F-16s have been on Ukraine's wish list for a long time because of their destructive power and global availability. The fighter jet is equipped with a 20mm cannon and can carry bombs, rockets and missiles.

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Ukrainian forces damage Russian plane in combat near Zmiinyi Island – Ukraine's Defence Intelligence

08/24/2023

Recently, the Armed Forces of Ukraine attacked a Russian plane over the Black Sea when it tried to destroy a Ukrainian military boat near Zmiinyi (Snake) Island; the Russian jet was damaged in the fight.

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Brazil to double air fleet as part of $10.6 billion investment

08/24/2023

Brazil plans to invest 52.8 billion reals (U.S. $10.6 billion) for research, development and equipment acquisition efforts for its military, including nearly doubling the size of its Gripen fighter fleet and financing projects by local aircraft manufacturer Embraer for aerial refueling planes, the government announced earlier this month.

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Russia says fighter jet intercepts Norwegian plane over Barents Sea

08/24/2023

A Russian fighter jet intercepted a Norwegian military plane over the Barents Sea on Wednesday, the Russian defence ministry said. It said the Norwegian aircraft, a U.S.-made P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance plane, was nearing the Russian border but turned back after being approached by the Russian MiG-29 fighter.

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How many F-16 jets will Ukraine get and how will they change war?

08/24/2023

The Netherlands and Denmark have led a push to train Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16s and deliver the fighter jets to Ukraine to help counter Russia's air superiority. Here are some facts about the alliance of Western countries that will supply aircraft and training:

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Russian ‘Bear Bombers’ Intercepted By Eurofighter Typhoons Near Scotland; RAF Practices Covert Relocation Drills

08/23/2023

The Russian reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft, Tu-142 Bear-F and Tu-142 Bear-J, were monitored by the Typhoon jets launched from RAF Lossiemouth in Moray. RAF Lossiemouth is one of the RAF’s two Quick Reaction Alert stations, where jets are always available to respond to threats at short notice.

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Another one of America's adversaries just unveiled a new drone that closely resembles the US military's combat-proven MQ-9 Reaper

08/23/2023

Iran unveiled a new drone this week that closely resembles the US military's MQ-9 Reaper, becoming the latest country to produce an aircraft that looks like the formidable American combat drone. State-run media on Tuesday published a video unveiling Iran's new drone, called the "Mohajer 10," full of glitzy footage showcasing the aircraft alongside strobe lights and a fog machine, as well as shots of the drone taking off, flying, and landing back on a runway.

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South Korean ‘Rookie’ FA-50 Fighters Get Into Action Mode, Holds Drills With F-35A Jets To Warn North

08/23/2023

South Korea’s newest light fighter jet, the FA-50, appears to be preparing for combat as part of the South Korea-US joint military drills that kicked off on August 21. The exercises aim to test combat readiness against a supposedly belligerent North Korea.

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Indonesia Inks Memorandum of Understanding for F-15EX Purchase

08/23/2023

Indonesia is in the midst of a recapitalization of its combat aircraft fleet. The country retired its legacy F-5E/F Tigers and has opted for a two-pronged approach to modernizing its inventory. This involves the procurement of the Dassault Rafale and now, most likely, the Boeing F-15EX.

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After Tu-95 Bomber, Russia’s Tu-22 M3 Backfire Destroyed In Ukraine Drone Attack – Reports

08/22/2023

A drone attack targeted the Russian Tu-22M3 Backfire swing-wing bomber based at Soltsy-2 on August 19. As soon as the news broke out, visuals appeared on social media showing thick black smoke billowing from the air base. However, it was initially unknown what asset at the base caught fire.

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State Department approves AH-64E Apache sale to Poland, part of $12 billion package

08/22/2023

The US State Department has signed off on a potential $12 billion sale of military equipment to Poland, including 96 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters and other military equipment. The announcement, posted on the website Defense Security Cooperation Agency today, does not represent a final sale. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) cases announced like these have been approved by the executive branch for review by Congress.

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Ex-Russian Colonel: Any Ukrainian F-16 airfield will be wiped out during construction

08/22/2023

Any attempts by Ukraine to build airfields and facilities to accommodate the F-16 fighter jets that Western allies provide will be met with targeted attacks by Russian forces destroying the infrastructure during the construction before they are fully built, according to retired Russian Colonel Viktor Litovkin.

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A potential first-of-its-kind fighter-jet purchase could be a sign Saudi Arabia isn't happy with what it's getting from the US

08/22/2023

Saudi Arabia has spent decades building an enormous air force composed exclusively of advanced US and British fighter jets. But Riyadh's reported interest in potentially purchasing a large number of French jets may be a sign it doesn't think its longtime patrons are as reliable as before.

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Ukraine Will Get F-16 Fighter Jets From Denmark and Netherlands

08/21/2023

The Netherlands and Denmark said Sunday that they would donate F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine — the first countries to do so — in what President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine said was a breakthrough in his nation’s quest to acquire the aircraft considered imperative in the war against Russia.

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China military drills send ‘stern warning’ to Taiwan after US visit

08/20/2023

China has launched air and sea military exercises around Taiwan to send a “stern warning” to separatist forces on the island following a recent visit by Taiwan’s Vice President William Lai to the United States. Taiwan responded on Saturday saying the drills highlighted Beijing’s “militaristic mentality” and that combat aircraft, naval ships and land-based missile systems had been tasked with monitoring Chinese forces.

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Drone attacks russian airfield in novgorod oblast and damages combat aircraft

08/20/2023

The Ukrainian Defense Forces attacked a military airfield in the novgorod oblast of the russian federation with drones, at least one aircraft was damaged. The Ministry of Defense of russia informs about this.

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Zelensky: We are getting closer to Swedish Gripen aircraft appearing in our skies

08/20/2023

Ukrainian pilots have started testing Sweden’s Griping fighter jets, and Ukraine is getting closer to these fighter jets flying in Ukrainian skies. President Zelensky said this in his video address late on Saturday evening, August 19, Ukrinform reports with reference to the president’s press service.

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For the first time F-15E Strike Eagle fighter bombers (flown by Raytheon Trophy winners) will take part in William Tell Competition

08/20/2023

After a 19-year hiatus, the 2023 William Tell Air-to-Air Competition is scheduled to take place Sep. 11-15, 2023, at the Air Dominance Center in Savannah, Georgia. As told by Airman 1st Class Rebecca Sirimarco-Lang, 4th Fighter Wing, in the article 4th Fighter Wing selects team to participate in William Tell competition, the historic fighter aircraft competition is named after legendary Swiss archer, William Tell.

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Kicking Mules validate, verify hot refueling procedures

08/19/2023

The 95th Reconnaissance Squadron validated and verified recently developed RC-135 hot refueling procedures at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England, Aug. 14, 2023. Hot refueling is when an aircraft is refueled after landing and parking, while also leaving an engine running. “This was part of a larger system safety engineering analysis process we are going through with Air Force Life Cycle Management Center,” said Capt. Jon Comer, 95th RS maintenance director of operations.

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Japan mulls long-range missiles on transport aircraft

08/19/2023

Based on available information, it is likely that the upgraded air-launched variant of Japan's Type 12 missile and the US-origin Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile-Extended Range could be used to turn Japan's cargo aircraft into lethal platforms. (Janes) Transport aircraft of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) could be equipped with long-range missiles to improve the country's stand-off strike capabilities.

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Ukraine war prompts new US air tactics in Europe

A newly built airstrip on a disputed island in the South China Sea is only long enough for China to stage patrol aircraft, but it could still boost Beijing’s ability to collect intelligence over an area that includes Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone, a security analyst told Radio Free Asia. Satellite photos from Earth imaging company Planet Labs PBC this week showed that a 600-meter (2,000-foot) airstrip was built on Triton Island in the Paracel chain between July 12 and Aug. 15.

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Sweden offers JAS-39 aircraft for PH Air Force modernization

08/17/2023

Sweden has again offered its Saab JAS 39 "Gripen" multi-role fighter aircraft for the modernization needs of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) which is looking to beef up its fleet. This developed following Monday's courtesy call of Sweden Ambassador to Manila Annika Thunborg to Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. at the DND headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

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Russia Pitches Su-57 ‘Felon’ & Su-75 ‘Checkmate’ To Key Partners; Keen On Co-Production Of Stealth Fighters

08/17/2023

08/12/2023

Dassault Aviation delivered 18 Rafale multirole fighter jets to Indonesia as part of a $2.3-billion acquisition program signed in April 2023. The handover supports an effort to replace the Indonesian National Army Air Force’s aging F-5 light combat aircraft. In 2021, France offered the Rafale to sustain the service’s airspace dominance.

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Saudi Arabia pushes to join fighter jet project with UK, Italy and Japan

08/12/2023

Saudi Arabia is pushing the UK, Japan and Italy to allow it to become a full partner in the landmark next-generation fighter jet project that the three countries signed in December. The request, confirmed by five senior officials in London, Tokyo and Rome, has already created strains within the tri-national alliance. While the UK and Italy are open to the idea of Saudi membership, Japan is firmly opposed and has made its position clear to the other two.

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Russia Boosts Su-57 Fighter Production Rate & Capabilities With A More Powerful Engine In Quest For Increased Air Dominance

08/11/2023

Ahead of Army 2023, Vladimir Artyakov, First Deputy General Director of Rostec, told Izvestia that Russia plans to significantly increase the rate of production of the Su-57, which is currently undergoing operational trials in Ukraine. “We fully fulfill our obligations to the Ministry of Defense. Now the aircraft is undergoing a trial operation in the Russian Aerospace Forces. This year, our cooperation led by UAC plans to significantly increase the pace of production of these aircraft under the

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First Air Force Reserve Unit to Get the F-35 Marks a Final Milestone with the F-16

08/11/2023

The end of an era is swiftly approaching for the Air Force Reserve’s 301st Fighter Wing. One of its units, the 457th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, is finishing its final deployment with the F-16 Fighting Falcon, widely known as the Viper. When the squadron returns home to Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas, later this month after its deployment to Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, the unit will begin transitioning to the F-35A stealth fighter.

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Russian Tu-160 strategic bombers with Su-35 fighters fly over Arctic waters: Moscow

08/11/2023

Two Russian Tupolev Tu-160 strategic missile-carrying bombers performed a scheduled flight over the neutral waters of the Barents Sea and the Arctic Ocean, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Thursday. “Two Tu-160 strategic missile-carrying bombers performed a scheduled flight in the airspace over the neutral waters of the Barents Sea and the Arctic Ocean. The flight lasted about eight hours,” the ministry said.

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F-35, Rafale & Su-30MKI: China Threat Prompts Japan To Conduct ‘First Time’ Drills With New Allies, World’s Toughest Jets

08/10/2023

The joint aerial exercise, which saw the arrival of four Italian Air Force F-35As in Japan, commenced on August 7 at Komatsu Air Base in Ishikawa Prefecture, situated along the coast of the Sea of Japan. On August 8, a display of coordinated maneuvers took place, featuring Japan’s F-15 fighter jets alongside Italy’s F-35 fighters, accompanied by a diverse array of additional military aircraft.

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Taiwan reports second large-scale China air force incursion this week

08/10/2023

Ten Chinese air force aircraft entered Taiwan's air defence zone on Wednesday accompanying five Chinese warships engaged in "combat readiness" patrols, the island's defence ministry said, the second such incursion this week. Taiwan, which China claims as its territory, has repeatedly complained of Chinese military activity near it over the past three years, as Beijing steps up pressure to try to force the island to accept its sovereignty.

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Ukraine desperately wants F-16s because without them all it has are Soviet-era fighter jets that simply aren't cutting it

08/10/2023

Ukraine wants desperately to add American-made F-16s to their arsenal of Soviet-made fighter jets, asserting that the Western fighter jets will be critical assets, even if they won't necessarily be silver bullets. F-16s "would be a massive improvement on what the Ukrainian fighter pilots are flying today," Justin Bronk, a professor at the Royal Norwegian Air Force Academy and senior research fellow for airpower and technology in the military sciences team at Royal United Services Institute, tol

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Taiwan tracks 11 Chinese military aircraft, 5 naval ships around nation

08/09/2023

11 Chinese military aircraft and five naval vessels were tracked around Taiwan between Monday and Tuesday by the Ministry of National Defense, according to Taiwan News. The Chinese military aircraft and naval vessels were tracked from 6 a.m. on Monday (Aug. 7) and 6 a.m. on Tuesday (Aug. 8).

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KA-52 Alligators Lose Fizz; Russia Deploys Tactical Fighters, Heavy Bombers To Support Troops – UK

08/09/2023

Published by the UK MoD on August 7, the update read, “The Russian Air Force continues to consistently deploy considerable resources in support of land operations in Ukraine but without decisive operational effect.”

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Provision Of AIM-120 Missiles Would Greatly Enhance Iraq’s F-16s

08/09/2023

Iraq’s F-16C/D Block 52 Viper fighter jets have become indispensable for Baghdad’s ongoing air campaign against Islamic State (ISIS) remnants. They could become even more invaluable for Iraq if the U.S. supplies more advanced air-to-air missiles than it has hitherto proved willing.

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Ukrainian fighter jets unharmed in Russian missile attack on Starokostiantyniv airfield, Ukraine’s Air Force spox says

08/07/2023

Ukrainian fighter jets were not damaged by the Russian missile attack on the Starokonstiantyniv airfield in Khmelnytskyy Oblast (western Ukraine) last night, Ukraine’s Air Force spox Yurii Ihnat said, Ukrainska Pravda reported. During the national telethon, Yurii Ihnat explained that in case of flight risks, Ukrainian pilots redeploy aircraft to other airfields in Ukraine.

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China’s ‘Triangle Of Death’: India To Counter PLA By Solidifying Ties With Bangladesh And Sri Lanka

08/06/2023

The three Chinese-run ports in South Asia – Chittagong in Bangladesh, Hambantota in Sri Lanka, and Gwadar in Pakistan – are called a “triangle of death” encircling India. New Delhi, striving to maintain strategic dominance in its backyard, is forging power, maritime, and connectivity relationships with Dhaka and Colombo to woo them back into its corner through energy and military hardware deals.

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Chinese Military Breakthrough: PLA YU-20 Tanker Refuels Carrier-Based J-15

08/06/2023

The Chinese military has now demonstrated aerial refueling in waters over the Pacific with its YU-20 Tanker and a J-15 carrier-based fighter jet, an extremely significant development which could over time greatly impact the strategic and tactical circumstances in the Pacific theater.

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U.S., Australian Air Force Units Emphasize Interoperability

08/05/2023

For the U.S. and Australian pilots and ground crews operating out of a secluded base in the far reaches of Australia's Northern Territory, Exercise Talisman Sabre 23 has provided a critical opportunity to train for the future of air warfare. Throughout the 15-day exercise aimed at enhancing interoperability among key allies, U.S. Air Force pilots flew a series of elaborate training missions with their Royal Australian Air Force counterparts, involving multiple fighter, tanker and patrol aircraft

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Taiwan Mulls Mirage Fighter Service Extension Amid F-16 Delivery Delays

08/05/2023

The Taiwanese military is considering extending the service life of its Mirage 2000-5 fighter aircraft as it awaits the delivery of American F-16 jets. The island nation ordered 66 advanced F-16V combat aircraft from Lockheed Martin after receiving approval from the US State Department in 2019. However, the initial delivery of two F-16Vs scheduled for 2023 has been postponed until the third quarter of 2024 due to production issues.

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After Azerbaijan, will Pakistan also join Turkey’s 5th generation fighter program?

08/05/2023

Just a week after Turkey signed an agreement to add Azerbaijan to its fifth generation fighter jet program, a senior Turkish official suggested that Pakistan, too, could join in. “Pretty soon, within this month, we will be discussing with our Pakistani counterparts to officially include Pakistan in our national fighter jet program, KAAN,” deputy defense minister Celal Sami Tufekci announced Wednesday.

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Biden Administration notifies Congress on potential sale of 38 F-16s to Argentina in a move aimed at countering the JF-17 fighter jets offered by China

08/04/2023

In a move aimed at bolstering Argentina military capabilities, the US Congress was notified in July of the potential transfer of crucial defense equipment to the South American nation. The proposed arms package includes the sale of up to 38 F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets from Denmark and four P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft from Norway.

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Azerbaijan’s Su-25s Receive Turkish Smart Bombs, Missiles

08/03/2023

Azerbaijan’s defense ministry has tapped the services of Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) to modernize the country’s fleet of Sukhoi Su-25 twin-engine fighter aircraft. An agreement was signed between the two during the 2023 International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF) in Istanbul last week. According to the ministry, the modernization includes integrating ground-breaking technologies to boost the aircraft’s operational capability.

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MiG-31: Russia ‘Prepares’ For NATO Intervention, Adds Another Batch Of Hypersonic Missile-Firing, Upgraded MiG-31 Jets

08/03/2023

07/31/2023

As China ramps up military activity along the Taiwan Strait, the United States recently announced US$345 million in military aid for Taiwan even as the total aid to the self-ruled island state is nearing a whopping $20 billion.

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US Agrees to Reinforce Honduras’ Military Aircraft and Naval Forces

07/30/2023

Honduras announced this Friday that the United States has promised to help strengthen its air and naval forces, during a visit by the head of the Southern Command, General Laura Richardson, to President Xiomara Castro. The Honduran Minister of Defense, José Manuel Zelaya, indicated that Castro and Richardson reached “important” agreements to “reinforce our aircraft” and “our Naval Force”.

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Airframe With Zero Tech! Experts Decode N.Korea’s MQ-9 Reaper, RQ-4 Global Hawk ‘Duplicate Drones’

07/30/2023

North Korea recently showcased its latest technological developments in the military arena, revealing two new drone models that look strikingly similar to US-manufactured RQ-4 Global Hawk and MQ-9 Reaper drones.

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US Rushes To Sell F-16 Fighters To Argentina; End Of Road For Chinese JF-17 & Indian LCA Tejas?

07/30/2023

Recent reports suggest that the Capitol is seeking Congress’ authorization to allow Denmark to sell F-16 fighters to Argentina. Argentina has been actively scouting for fighter jets to add to its inventory to fill the gap left by the retirement of Mirage aircraft in 2015. Its current operational inventory includes at least 10 A-4 fighter bombers, which armed IA-63 Pampa jet trainers supplement.

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F-35 Crashed Due to Computer Glitch Caused by Turbulence: Accident Report

07/29/2023

In just 10 seconds, a normal training mission became a nearly fatal accident when an F-35 fighter jet crashed while landing at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, on Oct. 19, 2022. An investigation published July 27 found the crash was caused by a glitch in the aircraft software system which occurred after the pilot, who survived with minor injuries after ejecting from the stricken jet, flew too close into the turbulence left by the wake of the F-35 ahead of him.

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Su-75 ‘Checkmate’: Russia Finds A Potential Customer For Its 5th-Gen Stealth Fighter Aircraft

07/29/2023

Super FAST! Two FA-50 Fighter Aircraft Delivered To Poland By South Korean KAI In Record Time

07/22/2023

Just over ten months after Poland signed an agreement for the FA-50 with emerging Asian defense giant Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), the first two aircraft have already been handed over to Polish authorities. They will be given to the Polish Air Force (PAF) next month.

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Elephant Walk Near Dragons Den! US, Five Military Allies Display ‘Raw Power’ At Military Base Near China

07/21/2023

The US and its five allied military forces recently staged an impressive “elephant walk” at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam, displaying a diverse fleet of military aircraft, including frontline fighter jets, transport planes, aerial tankers, and bombers. The images of the elephant walk were released by the Pacific Air Force (PACAF), featuring US and Allied aircraft at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, on July 19, 2023.

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Draken International is likely to train Ukrainian F-16 pilots in Romania

07/21/2023

Private military company Draken International, which trains pilots for the US Air Force, has begun hiring instructors with flight experience on F-16 fighters in Romania. This is probably related to the training of Ukrainian pilots. This is reported by Militarnyi.

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China sends 22 military aircraft around Taiwan on Thursday morning

07/21/2023

The Ministry of National Defense (MND) said early Thursday morning (July 20) that it had detected an additional 22 Chinese military aircraft and seven Chinese naval vessels around Taiwan since its report earlier the same day.

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1st Deal For India? Argentina To Sign Letter Of Intent To Acquire 20 Light Combat Helicopter ‘Prachand’ – Argentine Media

07/20/2023

The deal to sell Light Combat Aircraft ‘Tejas’ (Brilliance) to Argentina is stuck over the British part in the fighter jet. But during the ongoing visit of the Argentinian defense minister Jorge Taiana is expected to sign a letter of intent for purchasing 20 Light Combat Helicopters ‘Prachand’ (Fierce).

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With Hundreds Of JAS-39 Fighters At Disposal, ‘Military-Powerhouse’ Sweden To Boost NATO’s Power, Ruffle Russia

07/20/2023

Despite its impeccable record of military neutrality, Sweden is a military powerhouse. Since Sweden submitted its papers for admission into the NATO alliance, experts have emphasized that the country is “armed and ready to fight” any country that threatens its security.

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Japan, France to Conduct First Joint Fighter Jet Drill

07/20/2023

Japan’s Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) announced on July 18 that Japan and France will hold their first-ever joint fighter jet drill in Japan next week. That marks a historic milestone in the two nation’s defense and security ties amid China’s military buildup and regional assertiveness.

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The Super Hornet flies on

07/19/2023

07/18/2023

A Russian Su-25 fighter jet crashed into sea moments before the newly qualified pilot ejected from the doomed plane in front of astonished tourists close to the Ukrainian frontlines. Unverified videos on social media appear to show the stricken warplane travelling at speed at a dangerously low height before it plunged into the Sea of Azov near the Russian town of Yeysk.

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UK left with ‘extremely limited’ numbers of combat equipment

07/17/2023

The six-month inquiry into Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), led by Sub-Committee Chair Mark Francois MP, found that the UK’s defence procurement system is “broken” and that “multiple, successive reviews have not yet fixed it.” The Sub-Committee discovered “a UK procurement system which is highly bureaucratic, overly stratified, far too ponderous, with an inconsistent approach to safety, very poor accountability and a culture which appears institutionally averse to individual responsibility.

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Of modern Russian fighters, Su-34 is the easiest target in Ukraine

07/17/2023

Did you know that the most frequently shot-down Russian fighter jet in Ukraine is the Su-34 Fullback fighter bomber? Since the beginning of the conflict, 21 Su-34 units have been intercepted, shot down, or damaged during a mission.

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4 major fighter-jet deals could reshape the Middle East's biggest militaries for decades to come

07/17/2023

For decades, Middle Eastern countries have imported advanced fighter jets in large, sometimes record-breaking, numbers. Saudi Arabia bought 84 F-15SA fighters for $60 billion in 2017 in what was the US's largest foreign arms sale. In 2021, the United Arab Emirates placed a $19 billion order for 80 Dassault Rafales, the largest foreign order Dassault has ever received for the jet.

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UK’s military procurement system comes under fire from MPs

07/16/2023

British MPs have criticised the country’s military procurement system, saying it is “well and truly broken” and puts troops in “harm’s way” just two days before the Ministry of Defence is due to publish its strategy for the UK’s armed forces.

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Taiwan's Hawk missiles reportedly being sent to Ukraine via US

07/15/2023

The U.S. will repurchase decommissioned missiles it sold to Taiwan and provide them to Ukraine as part of a military aid package, according to a local news outlet. The China Times quoted an unnamed source on Friday (July 14) who said that the Phase III MIM-23 Hawk missiles, decommissioned in June, will be sold to the U.S.

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Chinese military’s three-day show of force increases headache for Taiwan

07/15/2023

China’s military has been on a surge of activity around Taiwan this week, sending dozens of warplanes past the median line of the Taiwan Strait and into the key regions of the island’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ). The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) activity has a range of implications, none of them positive for Taiwan or cross-strait stability, analysts say.

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U.S. Air Force Leaders Talk Export Policy For New Programs At RIAT

07/15/2023

A sweeping U.S. Air Force modernization program is underway, and the time has come to start discussing options for sharing the technology with allies. Export policy for some of the Air Force’s “more sensitive” new technology is being discussed this weekend at the Royal International Air Tattoo with the leaders of international partners, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said July 14.

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GCAP cooperation with Aussies and US? UK official touts ‘unique’ options for next-gen fighter

07/15/2023

The UK Ministry of Defence’s Director of Future Combat Air sees “unique opportunities” for future partnerships on the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) program — but indicated that doesn’t have to mean adding more nations to the core membership of the UK, Italy and Japan.

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India Clears The Way For Naval Rafale Fighter Purchase

07/14/2023

The French-made Rafale M from Dassault Aviation is set to be the Indian Navy’s next-generation carrier fighter after New Delhi gave the initial go-ahead to purchase 26 of the jets. The navalized Rafale M — the land-based is already flown by the Indian Air Force — seems to have fought off competition from Boeing’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and is planned to be acquired as part of a major French arms package that will also include three Scorpène class diesel-electric attack submarines.

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US Military Aircraft ‘Roars & Soars’ Over Taiwan Strait As Chinese Fighter Jets Watch Like A Hawk

07/14/2023

With the Chinese military drills in full force near the self-ruled Taiwanese Island, the Chinese military reportedly monitored a P-8A maritime reconnaissance aircraft flying over the Taiwan Strait yet again. On July 13, as China conducted a third day of continuous military drills to the south of the island that began earlier this week, Chinese fighter planes watched the US Navy patrol plane fly across the contested Taiwan Strait, which China continues to claim as its sovereign territory.

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Next Swedish Fighter Decision Remains Several Years Away

07/14/2023

A decision point remains several years away for the Swedish Air Force’s acquisition strategy for a next generation fighter, the commander of the Swedish Air Force told Aviation Week on July 13. Although advanced studies have been started by government and industry teams, the Air Force has no need in the near-term to decide whether to buy or join a foreign program, develop a new Swedish fighter or continue buying more JAS-39E Gripens from Saab, Maj. Gen. Jonas Wikman said on the sidelines.

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How North Korea’s Fighter Fleet Re-emerged From Obscurity

07/13/2023

On July 10, the North Korean Defense Ministry alleged that U.S. military drones and reconnaissance aircraft had conducted close-up surveillance of North Korea for eight consecutive days from July 2 to 9, with one aircraft having “illegally intruded into the inviolable airspace of the DPRK… [by] tens of kilometers.” (DPRK is an abbreviation of North Korea’s formal name: the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.)

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Chinese air force, navy stage large-scale drill, Taiwan says

07/12/2023

China’s air force and navy staged another large-scale drill involving fighters, bombers and warships to Taiwan’s south and southwest on Tuesday, the island’s defense ministry said, as Beijing keeps up its military pressure on Taipei. China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, has over the past three years regularly sent warplanes into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone, or ADIZ, to try and force the island to accept Chinese sovereignty.

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Australia will send a Boeing E-7A Wedgetail to Germany to support surveillance in Ukraine

07/12/2023

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed on June 10 that his country will send a Boeing E-7A Wedgetail to Germany to support aerial surveillance on the border with Ukraine – which has been fighting to retake territory seized by Russia since February 2022. . The early warning and air control (AEW&C) aircraft, accompanied by 100 crew and support personnel, will be deployed in Germany from October. The aircraft will be in Europe for about six months.

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Turkey Finally Looks Set To Get New F-16s

07/12/2023

Turkey looks set to receive the F-16 fighters that it’s long sought from the United States, as part of an apparent deal in which Ankara has finally conceded to Sweden’s entry into NATO. Turkey had requested a $20-billion deal for 40 new F-16s, as well as around 80 modernization kits for existing jets, since October 2021, but the deal had been held up by Congress amid worsening relations between Ankara and Washington.

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Indonesia-S Korea in a turbulent fighter jet marriage

07/12/2023

Cash-strapped Indonesia is staying the course of its participation in South Korea’s KF-21 Boramae advanced jet fighter program, underscoring Jakarta’s perceived urgent need to modernize and improve its air force. This month, Janes reported that Indonesian state-owned aircraft manufacturer PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) said that Indonesia is still committed to South Korea’s KF-21 Boramae 4.5 generation fighter, despite missing a payment deadline for the project.

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Ukrainian pilots' F-16 training to start in August, officials say

07/12/2023

A coalition of 11 nations will start training Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16 fighter jets in August in Denmark, and a training centre will be set up in Romania, officials said on Tuesday on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Lithuania. NATO members Denmark and the Netherlands have been leading international efforts to train pilots as well as support staff, maintain aircraft and ultimately enable the supply of F-16s to Ukraine in its war with Russia.

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Chinese J-10 Fighters Participate In Joint Air Combat Drills ‘Falcon Strike 2023’ As Beijing Bolsters Military Ties With Thailand

07/12/2023

On July 9, China and Thailand commenced an annual joint air combat exercise to strengthen military cooperation between the two nations and uphold “regional peace and stability.” During the joint air combat exercise, the air forces of China and Thailand will engage in training activities related to joint air defense, air support, and large-scale deployments, Chinese media reported.

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Sweden seeks hundreds of AMRAAM air-to-air missiles

07/11/2023

07/09/2023

According to Ukrinform, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said this in an evening update published on Facebook. According to the update, throughout the day, the Russian military used S-300 guided missiles and Iranian-made Shahed attack drones against Ukraine. Units of Ukraine's air defense forces destroyed five Shahed attack UAVs.

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Fighter aircraft from Pakistan: Iraq fifth country to initiate deal for JF-17

07/09/2023

Iraq has become the fifth country that initiated deal for purchasing JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft from Pakistan and concluded it successfully. Pakistan has been jointly manufacturing the aircraft with China as Islamabad is also set to export its JF-17 Block III aircraft to Malaysia, Nigeria, Azerbaijan, and Myanmar. Sensing the Thunder’s might, several countries have shown interest in Pakistan’s pride. Earlier, Argentine had also studied the combat aircraft.

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A looming US-Turkey F-16 deal is about much more than Sweden’s NATO bid

07/09/2023

The NATO Summit in Vilnius starting on July 11 will mark milestones in several strategic processes of vital importance to the Alliance. These include assessing progress on the Strategic Concept adopted in Madrid last year, recognizing Finland’s successful accession, debating the path forward on Ukraine’s application, and consideration of the end game towards Swedish membership.

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Keeping up pressure, China sends warships and fighter jets near Taiwan during Yellen’s Beijing visit

07/09/2023

China’s People’s Liberation Army sent 13 aircraft and 6 vessels into airspace and waters around Taiwan over the past 24 hours as of early Saturday, overlapping with United States Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s visit to Beijing aimed at mending strained relations.

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Russian aircraft harass US drones over Syria for third time this week

07/08/2023

Russian aircraft once again harassed US MQ-9 Reaper drones over Syria Friday, the Air Force said, in a sign of increasing friction between the two countries in Middle East airspace. The incident marked the third time this week that US drones over Syria were intercepted by Russian aircraft.

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UK eyes Red 6’s augmented-reality technology for BAE Hawk trainers

07/08/2023

The UK government, through its internal venture capital fund, is investing in American technology firm Red 6, which is seeking to deliver augmented-reality solutions for fighter pilot training. Red 6 says it entered an agreement with the UK’s National Security Strategic Investment Fund (NSSIF) and the Royal Air Force (RAF) in June to “supply augmented-reality technologies in support of the UK military flying training system”.

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Putin's nuclear warning to the West: Russian nuke bombers engage in war games drill ahead of NATO summit over Ukraine in latest WW3 sabre-rattling

07/08/2023

Vladimir Putin sent up two supersonic White Swan Tu-160 nuclear bomber planes as part of a 12-hour war game mission, it was disclosed today, ahead of a NATO summit in neighbouring Lithuania. The two planes flew more than 5,600 miles before landing at an Arctic base after the marathon flight, which involved two refuelling sessions by Il-78 aircraft.

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Russian Su-35 ‘Clashes’ With French Rafale Fighters; Comes After ‘Dangerous Encounter’ With MQ-9 Reaper Drone

07/08/2023

On July 6, the Operations Directorate of the French Ministry of Defense took to Twitter to announce that two Rafales engaged in a protection mission along the Iraqi-Syrian border had encountered a non-professional interaction from a Su-35. In response, the French pilots maneuvered to mitigate the risk of an accident before resuming their patrol activities.

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IAF’s global air reach: Why it is a prerequisite for India's great power ambitions

07/06/2023

Indian Air Force (IAF) recently carried out three long-range missions to train for and showcase its long-range strike and air patrol capability. These were flown by the Su-30 MKI and Rafale fighters. They were supported by the IAF’s IL-78 Flight Refueller Aircraft (FRA) for inflight refuelling, and the IL-76-based Phalcon Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft for aerial radar cover, and command and control.

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F-22 stealth fighter jets are back in the Middle East as a US commander warns of 'buffoonery' by Russian pilots

07/06/2023

The US Air Force's top commander in the Middle East warned in June of increasingly aggressive actions by Russian fighter pilots over Syria. It was only the latest warning of such activity, and it reflects a long history of contentious interactions between US and Russian forces in Syria that will persist amid broader tensions, experts say.

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2 pilots killed in Russian MiG-31 fighter jet crash

07/06/2023

Two pilots of a Russian military aircraft were killed Tuesday when their jet crashed during a routine training flight in the far east of the country, the local source said. Russian propagandist Ilya Tumanov also confirmed that pilots were killed on his influential Fighterbomber Telegram channel.

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LOCKHEED MARTIN SHOWS OFF MYSTERIOUS AIRCRAFT, IGNITING SPECULATION IT COULD BE COMPANY’S SECRET NEXT-GEN FIGHTER

07/06/2023

Lockheed Martin has once again sparked intrigue and speculation on social media by potentially offering a tantalizing glimpse at its enigmatic Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter jet. The aerospace and defense giant recently marked the 80th anniversary of its renowned advanced projects division, Skunk Works, by posting an Instagram story showing a series of silhouettes for some of Skunk Works’ most iconic aircraft.

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Three Russian fighter jets harassed US drones over Syria: US Air Force

07/06/2023

07/04/2023

Israel has approved the purchase of a third squadron of F-35 stealth fighter jets in a deal worth $3 billion, the Ministry of Defense said on Sunday. The additional 25 aircraft manufactured by Lockheed Martin will bring the number of F-35s in Israel's air force to 75, the ministry said, adding that the deal will be financed through the defense aid package Israel receives from the United States.

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Russian-Origin 4.5-Gen Air Superiority Fighter – Su-30SM2 – That Even The US Admires, Goes Down, One Pilot Dead

07/04/2023

A Russian-made Su-30 fighter jet crashed in mountainous northern Venezuela while practicing ahead of the country’s independence day. A pilot died in the accident. “I regret to inform you that during the practice maneuvers… an aircraft of our Bolivarian Military Aviation fell to the ground, causing the physical loss of the distinguished pilot Col. Paulino Jose Millan Sabino,” Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro wrote on Twitter. Both the aircraft crew members managed to eject, but one of the pilo

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US MQ-9 Drone Involved In Another Confrontation With Russia; Comes After Su-27 Fighter ‘Downed’ The Reaper

07/01/2023

On June 29, a high-ranking Russian official said that the Russian Armed Forces had observed ten violations of the flight of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) belonging to the “international anti-terrorist coalition” led by the US during the day in Syria. The announcement was made by Rear Admiral Oleg Gurinov, the Deputy Head of the Russian Center for the Reconciliation of Warring Parties and Controlling the Movement of Refugees in the Syrian Arab Republic (CPVS).

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The best of the best back in action

07/01/2023

Exercise High Sierra is back gracing Townsville airspace once again, following a two-year hiatus, to graduate the latest cadre of F-35A Lightning II pilots. Exercise High Sierra is a 2 Operational Conversion Unit (2OCU) training exercise, and is the final component of the F-35A Lightning II Operational Conversion Course. Commanding Officer of 2OCU, Wing Commander Philip Eldridge, said this was the first time 2OCU has held the exercise at RAAF Base Townsville using the F-35A Lightning II.

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Czech Request for F-35A Combat Aircraft Gets U.S. Approval

07/01/2023

A Czech Republic government-to-government foreign military sales (FMS) request for procurement of 24 F-35A Lightning II stealth combat aircraft has been given the go-ahead by Washington. Formal notification of approval was announced by the Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) on June 29. The estimated $5.62 billion FMS proposal includes the 24 aircraft, plus 25 Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 engines and associated weapons and support equipment.

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China’s-20 Stealth Fighter Zooms With Indigenous, Powerful WS-15 Engine For The Very First Time – Reports

07/01/2023

Images and videos recently surfaced on social media indicate that China’s J-20 stealth fighter, fitted with two newly developed WS-15 jet engines, has successfully completed its inaugural flight. According to reports, the first flight of the Chinese J-20 stealth fighter equipped with WS-15 engines took place on June 28. The flight was conducted from Chengdu’s primary test airfield, situated alongside its production facility in the city of Chengdu.

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Ukraine: Concerns mount over influx of weapons and growing civilian casualties

06/30/2023

Since her last briefing in May, said Izumi Nakamitsu, the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, reports from open sources indicate an influx in the transfer of heavy conventional weapons, including battle tanks, combat aircraft, artillery and missile systems. “There are reports that the supply of arms and ammunition has accelerated and expanded ahead of the reported counteroffensive by Ukrainian forces,” she noted.

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The A-10 is retiring and the Air Force has no close air support replacement

06/30/2023

The Air Force plans to retire its legendary A-10 Warthogs within the next five years and it’s still not clear how the service will be able to provide troops on the ground with the level of close air support that the A-10 brings to the fight. Although Congress has prevented the Air Force from retiring all or part of its A-10 fleet five times since 2014, the opposition from lawmakers appears to be softening.

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‘Performs Like A Fighter’! Boeing-SAAB T-7A Red Hawk Aircraft Takes Maiden Flight; Could Emerge As A Big Competitor To China’s JF-17

06/30/2023

The T-7A Red Hawk’s Air Force flight testing began with a USAF pilot taking off from St. Louis, Missouri, facilities of the contractor Boeing. The T-7A flown by the pilot was a pre-production engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) aircraft. The first of five aircraft supplied by Boeing to support the Air Force’s T-7A test program, 21-7005, was the one that took the inaugural flight. The aircraft has been developed together in partnership with Swedish contractor Saab.

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T-7 Makes Its First Official Flight with an Air Force Pilot

06/29/2023

Air Force flight testing for the T-7A Red Hawk kicked off June 28, with a USAF pilot flying the advanced trainer from contractor Boeing’s St. Louis, Mo., facilities. The event, announced by Boeing, marks the first official test flight conducted by an Air Force pilot and the beginning of the T-7’s engineering and manufacturing development phase.

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Boise-based Idaho Air National Guard wing to transition to F-16 mission

06/29/2023

Within the next few years, the Idaho Air National Guard at Gowen Field may be flying a different kind of fighter jet. The 124th Fighter Wing based in Boise is expected to transition to an F-16 Fighting Falcon mission starting in spring 2027, the U.S. Air Force announced this week. The mission is subject to review, including an environmental impact analysis.

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Raytheon to build 571 infrared-guided AIM-9X air-to-air missiles for combat aircraft in $263.7 million order

06/29/2023

U.S. Navy aerial warfare experts are asking Raytheon Technologies Corp. to build 571 AIM-9X precision short-range infrared-guided air-to-air missiles for jet fighters and other combat aircraft under terms of a $263.7 million order announced earlier this month. Officials of the Naval Air Systems Command at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Md., are asking the Raytheon Missiles & Defense segment in Tucson, Ariz., to build lot 23 AIM-9X block II air-to-air missiles.

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Time Flies: Marking 100 Years of Aerial Refueling

06/29/2023

The Air Force marked the 100-year anniversary of the first aerial refueling with flyovers across all 50 states, honoring the aviators who pulled off the seemingly impossible in 1923 and celebrating the promise of current and future airmen.

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Wagner revolt: How many planes and people did Russia lose?

06/28/2023

President Putin referred to "fallen hero pilots" in a statement on 26 June. However, he didn't go into detail about the number of casualties or aircraft lost. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the boss of the Wagner mercenary group, said his forces had hit Russian aircraft which "were dropping bombs and launching rocket attacks" in a bid to stop their advance towards Moscow. He voiced regret for having had to shoot down Russian planes.

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Large-Scale Tanker Flyovers Celebrate 100th Anniversary of First Air Refueling

06/28/2023

While U.S. Air Force’s jets and bombers are the nation’s fight-tonight force, aerial refueling before and after those forces go into the fight is often the key to those missions. On the 100th anniversary of the first aerial refueling mission, the Air Force sought to highlight the behind-the-scenes efforts of some of its most essential planes with Operation Centennial Contact. More than 150 tankers from 26 installations were involved in large-scale flyovers across the country.

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Russian fighter aircraft hold combat drills over Baltic Sea

06/28/2023

Russia has started tactical fighter jet exercises over the Baltic Sea with the goal of testing readiness to perform combat and other special operations, the country’s defence ministry has said, a day after Moscow said its jets had scrambled to intercept United Kingdom military planes over the Black Sea.

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KONGSBERG to establish new depot for F-35 maintenance in Norway

06/27/2023

Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace has together with the Norwegian Armed Forces decided to build a new depot in Rygge, Norway for the maintenance of airframes on the Norwegian F-35 combat aircraft. KONGSBERG is investing about NOK 500 million in the new depot, which will be part of the global maintenance solution and contribute to strengthened national capabilities and increased operational availability of the Norwegian F-35 fleet, when the depot is completed in the second half of 2025.

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Polish pilots finish air combat training in South Korea

06/27/2023

Polish pilots have completed air combat training in South Korea, Mariusz Blaszczak, the Polish Defense Minister, reported on Monday, adding that “the pilots will soon return to the country, take over the FA-50 aircraft entering the air force’s equipment and begin flying in our airspace.”

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Lockheed Delivers Two New F-35B Fighter Jets to Royal Air Force

06/27/2023

06/24/2023

South Korea has concluded a deal with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on mutual recognition of certification of military aircraft airworthiness for flight safety. The country is the first in Asia pushing for such recognition with NATO.

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Air Mobility Command celebrates 100th year of air refueling with community flyovers across the U.S.

06/24/2023

The United States Air Force will be conducting flyovers across 50 states on June 27 to honor 100 years of aerial refueling excellence. More than 150 tankers from 26 Total Force installations are scheduled to participate with KC-135 Stratotankers, KC-10 Extenders, and KC-46 Pegasus aircraft.

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Michigan Flyovers Honor 100 Years of Aerial Refueling

06/23/2023

The Michigan Air National Guard will conduct flyovers of nine Michigan communities on June 27, as part of the United States Air Force’s commemoration of 100 years of aerial refueling excellence. Tuesday’s flyovers will allow Michigan residents to witness this key aspect of the Air Force mission as KC-135 Stratotankers fly in formation with A-10 Thunderbolt IIs

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GE to jointly produce fighter jet engines in India

06/23/2023

General Electric's aerospace unit said on Thursday it has signed an agreement with India's state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HIAE.NS) to make fighter jet engines for the Indian Air Force. The development comes at a time when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on an official state visit to the United States.

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Michigan Airmen Practice Combat Turns in Latvia

06/22/2023

Over four days, approximately 30 Michigan Air National Guard Airmen traveled from Michigan to Germany and then Latvia, practicing deploying for future fights. Simulating a deployment to a contingency location, the 127th Wing’s Agile Combat Employment team practiced receiving, turning and launching A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft in ways similar to being close to the front line of combat.

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British fighter jets intercept 3 Russian military aircraft near NATO airspace

06/22/2023

Britain's Royal Air Force (RAF) scrambled its fighter jets in Estonia to intercept Russian military aircraft flying close to NATO airspace, the RAF said on Wednesday. “RAF Typhoons from 140 Expeditionary Air Wing (EAW) in Estonia were scrambled to intercept a Russian Navy Tu-134 and 2 Su-27 ‘Flanker’ Bs flying close to NATO airspace,” the British air force said on Twitter.

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Polish pilots on transition from flying Soviet jets to S. Korea's FA-50

06/22/2023

06/20/2023

In an unprecedented touchdown, Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II’ Warthog’ of the US Air Force landed in Vietnam. This is the first citing of the ‘tank killer’ and a Close Air Support (CAS) aircraft in Vietnam since the normalization of its ties with the US.

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Sweden Preparing For Future Combat Aircraft Studies

06/20/2023

Sweden’s defense materiel agency FMV is awaiting political approval to begin studies into a new-generation combat aircraft beyond the new Saab Gripen E. The studies, to be carried out by the FMV, are due to get underway in the near future. They will primarily be a fact-finding effort and involve discussions with other air forces, an examination of other national programs and exploring the capabilities of national industry, Brigadier General Lars Helmrich.

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Nigeria’s Arsenal: A Look at the Country’s Most Powerful Weapons

06/19/2023

These powerful weapons not only bolster Nigeria's ability to defend its sovereignty but also play a crucial role in combating insurgency, terrorism, and other security challenges. They provide Nigeria's armed forces with the necessary tools to protect its citizens and maintain stability within the region.

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LESSONS FROM UKRAINE: SECURING THE MUNITIONS SUPPLY CHAIN

06/19/2023

06/17/2023

On June 14, the U.S. Air Force deployed fifth-generation F-22 Raptors to Syria to deter what U.S. Central Command described as “increasingly unsafe and unprofessional behavior by Russian aircraft in the region.” The Raptor, an advanced air-superiority fighter that is renowned for its stealth capabilities, is intended to increase the U.S. military’s ability to defend the 900 U.S. servicemembers that remain deployed in the war-torn country.

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Belgium flirts with joining FCAS fighter program

06/17/2023

The Belgian government has hinted it is open to joining a multinational European sixth-generation fighter program, despite its previous commitment to the U.S.-led F-35 program. Over the last few months, the Belgian defense industry has called for the government to decide which sixth-generation combat aircraft program it intends on joining and in what capacity.

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Estonia holds combat aircraft exercise between two largest islands

06/16/2023

A combat aircraft accuracy exercise was organized between Estonia's two largest islands this week. The Estonian armed forces used U.S. Fairchild A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft during them, ERR TV reported on Thursday.

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Ukraine already using Polish and Slovakian MiG-29 fighters to protect Ukrainian skies

06/16/2023

“In June, MiG-29 fighters received as part of international technical assistance from Poland and Slovakia were added to the arsenal,” he noted. Hromov expressed gratitude to the partners for their support of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and expressed hope for the transfer of F-16 fighters.

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Wittman proposes way to keep Next-Generation Air Dominance on track

06/16/2023

A measure in the House’s fiscal 2024 defense policy bill aims to keep various technologies related to the Next Generation Air Dominance program moving forward in sync, even as one lawmaker said the Navy has fallen behind its Air Force counterparts here.

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Russian Aerospace Forces a Shadow of Former Self

06/15/2023

The performance of the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) in the Ukraine war has proved to be the opposite of original expectations. The Russian force failed to disable Kyiv’s defenses in the first few weeks due to the Ukrainian air force and its air defense units' extensive preparations when the shooting began. Ukraine has prevailed since, however, thanks to U.S. and European-provided anti-aircraft weapons and technology.

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Arctic Challenge 2023: Nordic defense requires the F-35’s advanced capabilities

06/15/2023

The U.S. Air Force’s 493rd Fighter Squadron from the United Kingdom’s RAF Lakenheath forward deployed to Norway’s Ørland Air Base to take part in Arctic Challenge Exercise 2023 alongside Norwegian, Dutch and Italian F-35A Lightning II advanced stealth fighters and other coalition aircraft supporting the two-week exercise occurring May 29 through June 9 across Scandinavia.

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Global Combat Aircraft Program (GCAP)

06/15/2023

The Global Combat Aircraft Program is a multinational collaborative project aimed at producing a sixth-generation fighter aircraft by the United Kingdom, Italy, and Japan. GCAP is the merging result of the respective three nations to replace their previous generation fighters. BAE’s Team Tempest, the U.K.-led and Italian-supported program to replace the Eurofighter Typhoon, and Japan’s Mitsubishi F-X initiative to replace its Mitsubishi F-2 fighter officially consolidated under the GCAP umbrella

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Air Force sends F-22s to Middle East to deter aggressive Russian pilots

06/15/2023

The Air Force has sent some of its most advanced air superiority fighter aircraft to the Middle East to make the Russians think twice about harassing U.S. forces in the air and on the ground, military officials announced on Wednesday. “U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors deployed to U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility as part of a multifaceted show of U.S. support and capability in the wake of increasingly unsafe and unprofessional behavior by Russian aircraft in the region,” a CENTCOM news re

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Indonesia buys Qatari Mirage jets to plug fighter gap

06/15/2023

ndonesia has confirmed it signed a contract this year to buy Qatar’s fleet of French-built fighter jets in an effort to plug a long-standing air defense gap. The Indonesian Air Force said in a news release it had signed a $795.14 million contract in January to buy the Qatar Emiri Air Force’s fleet of 12 Dassault Mirage 2000 fighters. The Middle Eastern nation operates a fleet of nine, single-seat Mirage 2000-5EDA aircraft and three, twin-seat Mirage 2000-5DDA aircraft.

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U.S., European Defense Suppliers Play Critical Role in Ukraine

06/14/2023

The ability of Ukraine’s armed forces to hold back the Russian invasion of February 2022 has provided a stunning show of bravery and determination on the part of Kyiv’s armed forces. Since the early days of the conflict, the outnumbered Ukrainian military has fought against Russian armed forces equipped with the most modern hardware that Moscow’s industry could turn out.

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Wings Over Muskegon announces USAF Heritage Flight and MiG demonstration

06/14/2023

Wings Over Muskegon Air Show has been selected for a United States Air Force Heritage Flight July 8-9 at the Muskegon County Airport. Established in 2010, the Air Force Heritage Flight Foundation matches a modern fighter/attack aircraft, in this case the A-10C Thunderbolt II, with a historic fighter, which will be a World War II P51D Mustang.

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KC-135s Pull Off ‘Monumental’ Air Bridge to Get Scores of Aircraft to Exercise in Europe

06/14/2023

Air Defender 23, the German-led air exercise that is the largest in NATO history, kicked off June 12 with roughly 100 of the 250 participating aircraft coming from Air National Guard units across the U.S.—and just getting all of those USAF planes across the Atlantic Ocean presented a unique challenge.

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As it plans NGAD fighter, Pentagon must learn from past failures

06/14/2023

The U.S. Air Force has officially begun to accept proposals for the sixth-generation Next Generation Air Dominance fighter and plans to award the contract in 2024. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall ominously stated that the classified and secretive NGAD will cost “multiples” of the F-35, meaning each aircraft will cost hundreds of millions of dollars. While its fifth-generation fleet offers unsurpassed capability, it is vital that the Department of Defense correct the mistakes incurred in its de

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On Monday, June 12, NATO Air Defender 23 exercises are beginning in Germany.

06/13/2023

These are the largest air exercise of the Alliance since its foundation.About 250 aircraft from 25 countries, including 5th generation F-35 fighters, will be involved in the aviation training. Air Defender 23 will run from June 12 to 23, with up to 10,000 people participating.Only from the USA, 2,000 National Guard servicemen and about 100 aircraft will take part in the maneuvers. According to the mass media, transport aircraft of the Japanese Air Force will also be engaged in the exercises.

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Kongsberg extend contract to upgrade F-16 aircraft to Romania

06/13/2023

A handful of former German fighter pilots are reportedly working as military trainers in China and receiving enormous salaries, indicating yet another incident of “poaching” by China after similar patterns were recorded in the US, the UK, and France.

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China defends its actions in warship incident involving U.S., Canada in Taiwan Strait

06/05/2023

China’s defense minister defended sailing a warship across the path of an American destroyer and Canadian frigate transiting the Taiwan Strait, telling a gathering of some of the world’s top defense officials in Singapore on Sunday that such so-called “freedom of navigation” patrols are a provocation to China.

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Ukraine Situation Report: Long-Range Strike Hits Russian-Held Port City On Sea Of Azov

06/03/2023

The Russian-occupied Azov Sea port city of Berdyansk in Zaporizhzhia Oblast was struck by a Ukrainian missile on Friday, an occupation official said. Located about 60 miles from the front lines, Berdyansk is the latest example of long-distance targets Ukraine can now hit thanks to donated weapons. This is at least the fourth attack on the port city in the past few weeks.

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US Air Force denies report of AI-powered UAV attacking operator

06/03/2023

The US Air Force (USAF) is denying reports that an unmanned aerial system (UAS) powered by artificial intelligence turned against its operators during an exercise. Recent comments by a USAF test pilot at a Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) summit in London appeared to indicate such an event had occurred during a training exercise simulation.

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'Substantially more capable': A closer look at Malaysia's upcoming South Korean-made fighter jets

06/03/2023

The blazing Langkawi sun did little to deter the crowds that had gathered on the tarmac to catch a glimpse of the ear-busting action unfolding above them at the Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre, right beside the island’s airport.

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Misawa exercises joint tactics in PAC WEASEL

06/02/2023

Team Misawa hosted the latest iteration of a PACIFIC WEASEL exercise over Draughon Range near Misawa Air Base, Japan, May 26, 2023. PAC WEASEL is a recurring air combat exercise that allows joint and bilateral partners to discover innovative solutions for any given mission. This exercise series supports the U.S. commitment to defend a free and open Indo-Pacific region by enhancing the readiness and tactical capabilities of U.S. Forces Japan and Japan Self-Defense Forces.

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Poland will help Ukraine train F-16 combat aircraft pilots: Polish PM

06/02/2023

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said that Poland will help Ukraine train F-16 combat aircraft pilots, After speaking with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and several other European officials at the meeting of European leaders in Moldova.

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Korean Aerospace Industries eyes new fighter designs, FA-50 sales in Pacific

06/02/2023

Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) had the distinction of signing the largest contract for an export sale to the armed forces of Malaysia during the May 23-27 Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA). The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) will acquire 18 of the FA-50 Block 20 “Fighting Eagle” trainer/light combat aircraft, a jet jointly developed by KAI with Lockheed Martin in the US. These aircraft will replace the BAE Systems Hawk 208 light fighters already in service.

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US Warns 'Alarming Increase' in Aggressive Chinese Intercepts

06/01/2023

05/31/2023

The Botswana Defence Force is in talks with India’s state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) with a view to acquiring several of its Tejas fighter planes. In a move aimed at enhancing its defence capabilities, the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) is currently engaged in talks with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), India’s state-owned aerospace and defense company.

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USINDOPACOM Statement on Unprofessional Intercept of U.S. Aircraft over South China Sea

05/31/2023

05/24/2023

The United States Department of Defense has reportedly turned down Thailand’s request to procure advanced fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets, reported Bangkok Post, citing a Royal Thai Air Force source. However, the US has extended an alternative proposal, offering the Southeast Asian nation the opportunity to purchase F-16 Block 70 and F-15 Eagle fighters, the report said.

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Portugal will avoid supplying F-16 fighters to Ukraine

05/23/2023

During a meeting with his European Union counterparts in Brussels, the head of the Portuguese diplomacy considered his nation lacks available combat aircraft to send to Ukraine, although it is open to train pilots for the F-16s, according to television reports. Portugal does not have an unlimited number of combat aircrafts, only the necessary ones, in order to fulfill national defense tasks and commitments within the framework of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the official noted.

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Japan’s fighter jet ambitions soaring with GCAP

05/23/2023

In December 2022, Japan, Italy and the United Kingdom signed an agreement to partner in the development of a sixth-generation stealth fighter aircraft. The goal of the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) is to produce aircraft ready for export and deployment by 2035. This represents a new frontier for Japanese weaponry co-development and is a prime opportunity to enhance regional security cooperation.

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Air Force Will Pick Just One NGAD Design in 2024, Kendall Says

05/23/2023

Only one company will be chosen next year as the overall designer and developer of the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) crewed fighter, despite years of prototype work on different designs by several companies, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said May 22.

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F-16 fighter jets: Biden to let allies supply warplanes in major boost for Kyiv

Northrop Grumman has once again incorporated what seems to be its notional Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) crewed platform concept into its latest advertisements. This follows another ad from 2021 that teased the same design, although that ad didn’t offer a wide-angle view of it.

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South Korea boosts capabilities with indigenous fighter jet and helicopter

Ukraine has no permanent seat at the G7 leaders’ summit. But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has already made sure his talking points will dominate discussions at the G7’s annual get-together in Japan this weekend. Zelenskyy arrived in the U.K. unexpectedly Monday morning after visiting Italy, Germany and France as part of a diplomatic blitz designed to ramp up military support for his country and — crucially — to build the case among Western allies for modern jet aircraft to be shipped

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U.S. fighter jets intercept Russian planes near Alaska

05/15/2023

05/14/2023

The MiG-21 LanceR was the longest serving fighter jet in Romanian Air Force. After 61 years of career, the iconic MiG-21 LanceR, the longest-lived fighter aircraft in the history of the Romanian Air Force, successfully completed its final flight mission at Boboc, in eastern Romania. The last flight was celebrated with the traditional passage under a water tunnel.

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How the US Air Force Is Preparing to Fight Under Bombardment in the Pacific

05/13/2023

The U.S. Air Force has since the early 2010s concentrated a growing portion of its investments into preparations for a potential hot war against a major state adversary in the Western Pacific. The shift followed the Obama administration’s “pivot to Asia,” aimed at reorienting American military and diplomatic attentions toward countering China.

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How prepared is Taiwan for a potential Chinese attack?

05/13/2023

Taiwan's air defense capabilities have come into focus in recent weeks, after the Washington Post reported that Taiwan would struggle to handle aerial offensive operations from China, citing classified documents leaked by a 21-year-old American man who was a member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard.

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TURKIYE HOSTS EXERCISE ANATOLIAN EAGLE WITH ALLIES AND PARTNERS

Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall insists the service needs to modernize rapidly to face the threat of China. But modernization does not just mean fielding new aircraft, Kendall and other service leaders argue—the Air Force also needs to retire its aging airplanes. “The truth is the Air Force needs things like electric warfare, battle management, intelligence, cyber capabilities, all of these things,” Kendall said at the Ash Carter Exchange defense conference May 9. “It doesn’t just need airplan

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NATO Air Police on high alert after Russian fighter jet approaches Polish aircraft

05/10/2023

NATO Air Policing troops have been put on high alert after a Russian fighter jet approached a Polish Border Guard aircraft over the Black Sea, the Polish press agency PAP reported on Tuesday. The Polish crew reportedly lost control of the aircraft for a moment but landed safely, said Polish Border Guard spokeswoman??????? Anna Michalska. The plane landed safely at Mihail Kogalniceanu Airport and none of the crew members on board were injured as a result of the incident, she said.

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How the US Air Force's 2 newest fighter jets stack up

05/10/2023

The F-35 and F-15EX are so different in so many respects that comparing them might not make sense. Yet, the two aircraft have been analyzed in relation to one another for years, given the ongoing debates about whether it makes sense to add a fourth-generation "plus" plane in more significant numbers and reduce the size of the F-35 buy.

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With 150 fighter jets and support planes, 14 nations ready for massive Nordic air force drills

05/10/2023

Finland is in charge this year as the planes now start to arrive at the four different military air bases in the three countries. Kick-off is May 29 and the exercise will see daily combat training in the skies until June 9. Playgrounds for the war games are from near the border with Russia in the east to the coast of the Norwegian Sea in the west.

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DO I HEAR THE SOUND OF THUNDER IN ARGENTINA?

05/08/2023

05/06/2023

For most of the past year, one of the central mysteries of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has been the question of why the Kremlin’s much-vaunted air force didn’t show up to the fight. Russia’s fifth-generation Sukhoi fighter jets were even absent from the Kremlin’s last Victory Day parade commemorating the end of World War II, and U.S. defense officials believed that the war had ground down the defense industrial base churning out fighters and bombers.

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The F-22 Raptor now has a boarding ladder that can be collapsed and stowed inside the cockpit

05/06/2023

We can assume that the F-22’s new integral ladder means that Raptor’s CONOPs have changed and that the aircraft can be now operated out of unprepared locations. Five Air National Guard wings are conducting agile combat training as part of an exercise called Operation Hoodoo Sea in the coastal southeast of the US. Airmen from multiple job specialties will be tasked to operate as multi-capable Airmen, supporting the F-22, KC-135, C-17 and strategic bomber aircraft active in the exercise.

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Taiwan and China plan to turn F-5E and J-7 fighter aircraft into unmanned jets

05/06/2023

Taiwan’s National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology President, Zhang Zhongcheng, said he can “unmanned” the F-5 fighter jets being retired by the Taiwan Air Force to deal with frequent incursions of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft into Taiwan’s airspace.

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Combat training F/A-259 - step towards mastering NATO aircraft by Armed Forces of Ukraine

05/06/2023

Ukrainian aviation industry to start producing aircraft for military purposes in cooperation with Czech colleagues. During his visit to Kyiv on April 28, 2023, President of the Czech Republic Petr Pavel announced his intention to develop cooperation with Ukraine in the defense sector in six areas. The President noted that this cooperation could include partial or complete transfer of technologies and production to Ukraine, as well as an appropriate level of localization.

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USAF commandos land MC-130, A-10s on Wyoming highway

05/05/2023

Commandos and pilots with the US Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) successfully landed a range of aircraft on a rural highway in Wyoming during recent training exercises. The drills on 2 May near Rawlins, Wyoming, included a Lockheed Martin MC-130J Commando II multi-role special operations transport, Fairchild Republic A-10 ground attack jets, a General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and two Boeing MH-6M Little Bird helicopters from the US Army.

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Russian Missile Damaged MQ-9 Over Syria, US Reveals

05/04/2023

A Russian surface-to-air missile came close to striking an American MQ-9 Reaper drone over Syria in November, passing and detonating within 40 feet and damaging the aircraft, according to new details disclosed by a U.S. official to Air & Space Forces Magazine. The U.S. had already revealed the launch of a Russian SA-22 Pantsir surface-to-air missile against the drone but previously did not disclose the damage or how close the missile came to downing the aircraft Nov. 27. The drone was able to re

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Su-75 Checkmate: Did Russia Use ‘Untested’ Fighter Jets Against Ukraine? Ukrainian Air Force Official Explains

05/04/2023

Colonel Yuriy Ihnat, the spokesperson for the Air Force, disclosed this information at a press conference held at the Ukraine-Ukrinform media center, according to local media reports. The Air Force spokesperson claimed the Russian military possesses two advanced aircraft – the Su-57 Felon and Su-75 Checkmate. He added that these advanced planes, dubbed “super-planes,” are considered sixth-generation fighters and have been showcased at exhibitions.

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RAF Fighter Jets Intercept Russian Military Aircraft Operating Near UK's Airspace

05/04/2023

05/02/2023

Poland has struck a landmark agreement with the UK to acquire MBDA CAMM missiles and iLaunchers to equip 22 PILICA+ air defense batteries, as it continues a major military spending spree to deter Russian aggression.

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If USAF’s oldest F-22 Raptors are retired they could be Stored at AMARG, scrapped, Retired to museums or used as Gate Guards

05/02/2023

Air Combat Command (ACC) told Air & Space Forces Magazine, that if Congress agrees with the US Air Force (USAF) ’s request to retire 32 Block 20 F-22 Raptor stealth fighter jets as part of its fiscal 2024 budget, the aircraft will be used as trainers a while longer, then stored for an undetermined period at the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base’s Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) “Boneyard” in Arizona.

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The RAF fighter to rival all others: Take a look at Britain's deadly new supersonic jet, which is armed with state-of-the-art AI-controlled fleet of drones to shoot enemies out of the skies and hypersonic missiles... set to enter service in the 2030s

05/02/2023

Top guns flying in Britain's new supersonic stealth jet will go to war with a fleet of 'Terminator-style' drones capable of detecting and destroying enemies by themselves, with developers today insisting: 'Nothing is off the table.' The Tempest fighter jets will be the most sophisticated warplanes on Earth, armed with an array of deadly weaponry, including hypersonic missiles and Star Wars-style 'energy-directed' weapons, as well as kit that will help them evade enemy radar.

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Türkiye's homegrown 5th-generation fighter jet named KAAN

05/02/2023

04/30/2023

The United States usually sells a good part of its advanced combat aircraft to friendly countries, including fighters such as the F-15 Eagle and even the F-14 Tomcat, whose only foreign customer was Iran, shortly before the fall of its ally, the Xa Reza Pahlavi. There are, however, exceptions. The F-117A stealth attack aircraft and the F-22 Raptor fighter are exclusive to the US Air Force (USAF) as are their strategic bombers.

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Russian official: Ukrainian drones strike Crimea oil depot

Indonesia will order 18 additional Rafale fighter jets from France as part of a $2.3-billion deal, according to a report by La Tribune, citing procurement sources. The order is part of 42 aircraft Jakarta plans to purchase to modernize its air force. According to the report, the Southeast Asian nation has already secured funding for the additional Rafales and to arm them with air-to-air missiles.

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Videos capture Russian MiG-31 jet bursting into flames before it crashed into a lake

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The next arms race: China leverages AI for edge in future wars

04/21/2023

The U.S. has enjoyed superiority in military technology since the end of the Cold War. But this edge is being rapidly eroded by its main rival, China, which seems determined to become a global leader in technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) that could potentially revolutionize warfare.

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Kadena Bids Farewell to the mighty F-15C/D Eagle after 44 Years of Air Superiority in the Indo-Pacific

04/21/2023

In recognition of the US Air Force (USAF) F-15 Eagle’s legacy, the 18th Wing hosted the Kadena Eagle Sunset Celebration, April 14-15. The event gathered F-15 pilots, intelligence professionals, maintainers, families, and others who directly contributed to the success of the F-15C/D the last 44 years.

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DECISION TO UPGRADE F-35 ENGINE PROGRAM A WIN FOR AIR FORCE, NAVY, AND ALLIES

04/21/2023

After the world witnessed three days of large-scale combat exercises around Taiwan from China, an area I’ve seen personally during my Navy days, I can say this as a former naval aviator: It was a pleasure to see Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall recently announce that the U.S. Air Force will upgrade the F-35’s current engine rather than switch to an entirely new design — a major win for the Air Force, Navy and our 17 allies and partners.

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Blast Rocks Russian City as Fighter Jet Loses Ammunition

04/21/2023

Russia said one of its fighter jets lost ammunition over Belgorod near the Ukrainian border on Thursday, after local authorities reported a blast that injured two people and left a huge crater in the city. Russian jets have regularly flown sorties over Belgorod since the launch of Moscow's offensive in Ukraine in February 2022.

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Ukrainian forces repel over 40 Russian attacks in four sectors — General Staff

04/20/2023

Ukraine's defense forces on Wednesday repelled more than 40 enemy attacks in four areas, with the fiercest battles being fought in the cities of Bakhmut and Marinka in the Donetsk region. According to Ukrinform, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said this in an evening update posted to Facebook.

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US Air Force, Navy conduct ICBM test aboard nuclear command aircraft

04/20/2023

The U.S. Air Force and Navy on Wednesday morning conducted a test launch of an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile in California using an airborne control center. The weapon, which contained a test reentry vehicle, was controlled from an Airborne Launch Control System in a Navy E-6B Mercury aircraft, the Air Force said in a statement.

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Saudi Arabia and NATO learning to work together

04/20/2023

04/15/2023

It’s finally happening—the Air Force has begun to retire its A-10 Thunderbolt IIs. An A-10 from the 74th Fighter Squadron at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., arrived at the Boneyard at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. on April 5, the service said. The aircraft is the first of 21 A-10s that will be leaving service by the end of September.

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Rafales Replace Russian Sukhois As India’s Frontline Fighters; Fly To France For 1st Multi-Nation Wargames

On April 11, 2023, the Myanmar military is said to have killed at least 100 people in one of the deadliest airstrikes in the ongoing civil war. The attack targeted a village in the north-western Sagaing region. Witnesses report that among those killed were many women and children. The numbers of those killed are yet to be confirmed as the bodies are being collected.

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Saab and Embraer to collaborate on C-390 and Gripen fighter

04/13/2023

Swedish aerospace and defence company Saab and Brazilian aerospace conglomerate Embraer have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 11 April to strengthen collaboration in several domains, including engineering and business development opportunities for the C-390 transport aircraft and future Gripen fighters. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was unveiled at the LAAD defence and security exhibition held in Rio de Janeiro.

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Defense Minister: Sending Finnish combat aircraft to Ukraine currently irrelevant

04/13/2023

Talks about the possible transfer of Finnish combat aircraft to another country “currently irrelevant". Finnish Defense Minister Antti Kaikonen said this in an interview with local media, Xinhua reports, according to Ukrinform "The fighter jets will be used by our defense forces for the coming years, after which their life cycle will end," Kaikonen replied to a question about Ukraine's request for the transfer of F-18 aircraft.

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US-Philippines discuss ‘roadmap’ for weapon buys, including potential multi-role fighter sale

04/13/2023

The United States is helping the Philippines to develop an acquisition plan for a fleet of multi-role fighter aircraft as part of a broader “roadmap” for the next decade of defense acquisitions, top officials from both countries announced Tuesday in Washington, as the two countries continue to tighten up military ties.

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North Korea fires ballistic missile, South Korea says

04/13/2023

North Korea fired a ballistic missile into waters off its east coast on Thursday, prompting an evacuation order that was later lifted in northern Japan. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said North Korea fired one mid-range or longer ballistic missile from near Pyongyang into the waters off the east coast of the Korean Peninsula at around 7:23 a.m. local time Thursday. Japan’s government initially urged residents in the country’s northern prefecture of Hokkaido to take shelter after the North

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Bulgaria Can Transfer Its MiG-29s To Ukraine, But Only If It Receives Western Fighter Jets - Media

04/12/2023

Bulgaria is ready to transfer its MiG-29 fighters to Ukraine, but only if it receives guarantees of receiving modern aircraft from Western partners. Interfax-Ukraine writes about this with reference to the EFE agency. According to the agency, 16 MiG-29 fighters are in service with Bulgaria. At the same time, only 6 aircraft are in working order.

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USAF begins long-sought A-10 retirements

04/12/2023

The US Air Force (USAF) has finally begun the long-sought retirement of its Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II ground attack jets. The service said on 10 April it had retired the first A-10C, commonly known as the Warthog, from the 74th Fighter Squadron at Moody AFB after the airframe had logged 43 years of operational service.

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China continues 'combat training' around Taiwan after drills end

04/12/2023

The Chinese navy continued with "actual combat training" around Taiwan on Tuesday, state media said, a day after Beijing announced the end of drills and as Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen criticised China for its "irresponsible" behaviour. China began the exercises on Saturday after Tsai returned to Taipei following a meeting in Los Angeles with U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

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Massive German-Hosted Air Exercise Will Feature 220 Aircraft, Simulated Combat

04/12/2023

U.S. and European allies will conduct a massive air exercise in Germany this June on a scale unseen since the end of the Cold War, military officials said. Some 220 allied aircraft and 10,000 personnel will take part in Air Defender 23, against the backdrop of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

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First Polish crews of F-35 combat aircraft complete training

04/12/2023

Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak attended a ceremony at the 31st Tactical Air Base in Poznan, celebrating the completion of a specialist training cycle of Several Polish F-35 combat aircraft crews, during which he emphasized that Poland is consequently “creating a system that will deter an aggressor.”

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USAF Deploys F-22 Raptors Close To Russian Border After Su-27 Downed MQ-9 Reaper Drone Over Black Sea

04/12/2023

In a show of force, American F-22 Raptor fighter jets landed in Poland on a rotational mission to enhance NATO’s defense capabilities and counter potential threats from Russia. With the latest deployment, the Raptors are poised to soar over NATO’s Eastern Flank, close to Russia.

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Raptor pilots test AF's next-gen helmet

04/11/2023

Developmental flight tests are underway for the Air Force’s new Next Generation Fixed Wing Helmet here. Engineers with the 46th Test Squadron and the 28th Test and Evaluation Squadron oversee the helmet’s testing. Approximately five F-22A Raptor pilots from the 301st Fighter Squadron, a Reserve unit with the 43rd Fighter Squadron here, fly with the new lighter, cooler and more readily equipped helmet.

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Turkey launches its largest warship, the world's first 'drone carrier'

04/11/2023

The Turkish navy officially added the TCG Anadolu light aircraft carrier and amphibious assault ship to its arsenal on Monday, touting it as the world's first "drone carrier". Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the ship is a turning point for the country’s defence industry, as 70 percent of the vessel was built using local resources over seven years.

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F-15Es Deploy to Kadena as F-22s, F-16s Head Home

04/11/2023

F-15E Strike Eagles deployed to Kadena Air Base, Japan in April, joining F-35s to bolster the Air Force’s fighter fleet on the strategically important island in the western Pacific. Meanwhile, the F-16CMs and F-22s that were previously forward deployed to Kadena have returned home, according to their respective home bases. The Air Force is rotating fighters through Kadena as it sends the aging F-15C/D fleet back to the United States after more than 40 years of permanent Eagle operations on the i

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The Last of Them: The boneyard receives final MC-130H

04/11/2023

On April 2, the final MC-130H Combat Talon ll made its last flight, arriving at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona to retire at the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG). This aircraft was the last of the final six MC-130Hs transferred for storage at the 309th AMARG, known as the boneyard.

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Japan Scrambles Jets After Chinese Planes Take Off From Aircraft Carrier

04/11/2023

Japan said Monday it had scrambled jets in recent days as Chinese fighter planes landed and took off from an aircraft carrier deployed near southern Japan and Taiwan. The Shandong aircraft carrier has been moving in waters southeast of Taiwan as China responds to a meeting between the island's president and the US House speaker.

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China conducts simulated strikes on Taiwan as second day of military drills end

04/10/2023

China’s military conducted mock attacks on key targets in and around Taiwan on Sunday, state media said, the second day of its planned three days of “encirclement” patrols and joint drills near the self-ruled island. Chinese state-run television said that the “combat readiness patrols” and drills — which came just days after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen’s landmark meeting with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California — were ongoing.

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India, US forces to hold air exercises with Japan as observer

04/10/2023

04/08/2023

Leonardo is participating at the 13th edition of LAAD Defense & Security, in Rio de Janeiro 11-14 April, the most important trade exhibition in Latin America. After the recent selection of the Centauro II 120mm armoured vehicle made by the CIO Consortium - of which Leonardo has an equal share with Iveco Defense Vehicles – and in the frame of the Brazilian programme “VBC Cav - MSR 8×8”, the company is now focused on its land defence systems.

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3rd Light Combat Aircraft production line opened, 100th Su-30 MKI ROH handed over to IAF

04/08/2023

Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane on Friday inaugurated the third light combat aircraft (LCA) production line and also handed over the 100th Sukhoi-30 MKI repaired and overhauled (ROH) aircraft to the Indian Air Force at the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's Nashik Division. Aramane appreciated the HAL's efforts in taking up the challenge of setting up an ROH facility for Su-30 MKI and also establishing a new production line for LCA manufacturing.

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Russia believed to have sabotaged Slovak MiG-29s provided to Ukraine

04/08/2023

The minister said that while there were parts of the engine Slovak experts could access, there were also parts only accessible to Russian experts. Defects appeared only in the parts where the Russian experts could access, he said. The Slovak army stopped using the planes in August 2022 and they were transferred to Ukraine in March 2023.

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Russia To Arm Its MiG-31D Jet With Anti-Satellite Missiles, IL-76 With Combat Lasers To Down Hostile Space Assets

04/08/2023

04/03/2023

On 2 April 2022, the Russian army was forced to retreat from the vicinities of the Ukrainian capital. After more than a month of heavy fighting, Ukrainian defenders partially destroyed the invading force around Kyiv and pushed the Russians back to neighboring Belarus. What was supposed to be an overwhelming blitzkrieg became a complete debacle for the Russian forces.

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Rafale F4.1 Standard Qualified For Fielding

04/03/2023

The French Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) announced that the new Rafale F4.1 standard has been qualified and is now ready for fielding. While the announcement was released just few days ago, the qualification arrived on March 13, 2023, shortly after the first aircraft in the new configuration was delivered to the Base Aérienne 118 at Mont-de-Marsan.

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Air force downs unidentified aircraft in north amid escalating tensions with Iran

The US Department of Defence has awarded Lockheed Martin with a $210m modified contract on 27 March to provide wide-ranging logistical support for the F-35B Lightning II fleet in the UK Royal Air Force (RAF).

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Part-Time Wingmen: CCAs Won’t Always Be ‘Tethered’ to Crewed Platforms

03/29/2023

Collaborative Combat Aircraft will be able to carry out missions without direction from crewed aircraft and may not always fly as their “wingmen,” in order to maximize employment flexibility, Air Force leaders developing and testing the new platforms said March 27.

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Ukraine crews conduct 'scary' missions in aged Soviet helicopters

03/28/2023

Anatoliy points to the few reinforced panels inside one of Ukraine's Mi-8 helicopters where he spends five-week shifts firing rockets at Russian positions. "This is a joke, not armour," says the 39-year-old gunner, who has taken part in some 300 combat missions since last spring. As President Volodymyr Zelensky pushes Western allies for modern weapons, pilots in eastern Ukraine admit their ancient Soviet-made helicopters are outplayed technologically by Russia.

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USS Nimitz carrier to arrive in S. Korea in apparent warning to N. Korea

03/28/2023

An imposing U.S. aircraft carrier is set to arrive in the southeastern port city of Busan on Tuesday, officials here said, in yet another show of America's military might against growing North Korean threats. The nuclear-powered USS Nimitz carrier is slated to dock at ROK Fleet Command in the city, 325 kilometers south of Seoul, after its strike group trained with the South Korean Navy in the international waters south of the southern island of Jeju the previous day.

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Poland won’t send all its MiG-29 jets to Ukraine, says Polish deputy FM

03/28/2023

“No, I don’t think we’ll give all MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine,” he said. Jablonski noted the transfer of combat aircraft to Ukraine would take place gradually. “First of all, for these deliveries to be effective,” the official said. “At the same time, we must bolster Poland’s security.”

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How Self-Flying F-16s Will Enable Future Fighter Drones

03/28/2023

The Air Force is rigging F-16s to fly autonomously, but that’s not the main point of automating one of the service’s most numerous fighter jets, the commander of the Air Force Test Center said Monday. Instead, the Venom project aims to refine an AI engine to fly a wide variety of today’s and tomorrow’s aircraft.

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F/A-XX Future Navy Fighter’s Big Funding Points To Prototypes

03/28/2023

The U.S. Navy plans to request more than $9 billion in funding for its Next Generation Fighter aircraft, or F/A-XX, over the next five fiscal years. This, together with other details from the service's latest budget request for the 2024 Fiscal Year, may point to possible plans to acquire prototypes of its next-generation stealth combat jet design, or at least get closer to doing so, before the end of the decade. Of course, it's very possible that early developmental demonstrator test articles ha

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Ukraine's army aircraft inflicting significant losses on Russians – Ground Forces commander

03/27/2023

03/26/2023

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Army practiced air defense with the PLA Air Force (PLAAF). The Air Force sent a J-20 stealth fighter jet as a mock enemy in a move experts said could simulate attacks by a US F-35, a stealth aircraft that poses threats to the country’s national defense.

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Furthering agility and lethality: McChord C-17s refuel, re-arm F-35s

03/25/2023

03/24/2023

Planned to fly in 2023, the first images of the National Combat Aircraft were shared by Ismail Demir, President of Defense Industries. Turkey continues to make its name known to the world with its domestic and national productions. Turkey continues to make its mark in defense production in 2023, the 100th anniversary of the Republic.

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US moving advanced aircraft to Asia, Europe from Middle East

03/24/2023

The United States plans to deploy ageing A-10 attack planes to the Middle East as a replacement for more advanced combat aircraft that will be shifted to the Pacific and Europe as tensions with China and Russia intensify, a news report says. The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday the move, scheduled for April, is part of a broader plan that also calls for retaining modest naval and ground forces in the Middle East region, according to American officials.

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B-52 Bomber’s ‘MALD Tech’ Or Miniature Air-Launched Decoy A Game-Changer For Aerial Battles – Ex MiG-29 Pilot

03/24/2023

The near-sighted, myopic military strategists and experts believed the days of crewed fighter aircraft were over. The United Kingdom was then in the process of developing a multi-role combat jet code-named TSR-2. They had come up with two prototypes of the TSR-2. Yet, the then British Member of Parliament Duncan Sandys initiated a vitriolic against manned fighters and bombers and prophesied that the heat-seeking air-to-air missiles would shoot down every fighter/bomber.

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Four Slovakian MiG-29s Flown Directly To Ukraine To Join Its Air Force

03/24/2023

In a move bound to raise hackles in Moscow, four Ukrainian pilots climbed into MiG-29 Fulcrum fighter jets in Slovakia and flew them home to join their own air force, the Slovakian Ministry of Defense (MoD) announced Thursday. The Fulcrums were the first tranche from a total of 13 promised last week by Slovakia to Ukraine, which has had dire need of combat aircraft since the full-scale Russian invasion began.

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What difference will Polish, Slovakian fighter jets make to Ukraine?

03/24/2023

03/21/2023

Turkey’s Victory Day (March 18), which commemorates the battle of Çanakkale (Gallipoli), coincided this year with the 100th anniversary of the founding of modern Turkey by Kemal Atatürk. Given the date's significance, Turkish Aerospace (TAI) chose it to unveil its Milli Muharip Uçak (MMU, National Combat Aircraft) fifth-generation fighter, formerly known as the TF-X. The aircraft taxied under its own power on March 16 before a low-key rollout ceremony two days later.

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Japan Self-Defense Forces, US military hold joint air, sea drills

03/20/2023

Japan's Defense Ministry says the Air Self-Defense Force and the US Air Force conducted a joint drill on Sunday. The ministry says a total of ten aircraft - F-15 fighter jets from Japan and US B-1 bombers and F-16 fighters - took part in the exercise over the Sea of Japan. It says Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force and the US Navy also carried out a joint exercise with ships equipped with the Aegis missile-tracking system on Saturday and Sunday.

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North Korea launches missile into sea amid US-SKorea drills

03/20/2023

03/16/2023

With Congress starting to go along with the Air Force’s wish to retire its aging A-10 fleet, Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr.’s “4+1” fighter plan of two years ago is “probably just ‘4’ now,” he said March 15. “We’re retiring A-10s faster than we originally thought”, Brown said at the annual McAleese defense forum in Washington, D.C. “I think that’s probably the right answer.”

(Read More...)

RAF and German jets intercept Russian aircraft near Estonian airspace

03/15/2023

03/14/2023

Since Russia attacked Ukraine last year, US airmen have been on the phone with their Ukrainian counterparts, discussing ways to operate against Russian forces and how to use US-made weapons, US Air Force officials said this month. While Russia has some aerial advantages, both sides have effective air-defense systems that have kept the other from gaining air superiority, but Ukraine's air force continues to receive US-made weapons that allow it to strike valuable targets.

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Chinese fighter J-10C is a contender to replace the American F-16

03/14/2023

Hidden from the eyes of the general public, an impending decision could rewrite history. Perhaps for the first time, a Chinese fighter will be chosen over an American one. Such a decision, however, will not be because of the indicators of the two destroyers, but because of political, including budgetary differences.

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US Air Force pursues major aircraft retirements in 2024

03/14/2023

The Air Force wants to retire 310 aircraft, including 42 A-10 Warthogs, as part of its fiscal 2024 budget to free up money for its modernization programs. The proposed FY24 budget calls for buying 72 fighters — 48 Lockheed Martin-made F-35As and 24 Boeing F-15EX Eagle IIs — and spending more on the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider stealth bomber, the Boeing E-7A battle management and command-and-control aircraft.

(Read More...)

KAI Unveils First ‘Gap-Filler’ Light Fighter for Poland

03/13/2023

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has unveiled the first FA-50 light fighter/attack aircraft for Poland. The East European nation signed for 48 FA-50s in July 2022, making the first down-payment in November. Under a $705 million contract KAI is delivering a batch of 12 aircraft that it had been manufacturing for the Republic of Korea Air Force in order to kick-start the Polish air force’s replacement program for its aging and difficult-to-support MiG-29s and Sukhoi Su-22Ms.

(Read More...)

Teal Group: Chinese military aircraft getting better up to a point

03/13/2023

Chinese aircraft are a mixed story. Historically, the country has operated and sold a variety of legacy aircraft that can be charitably termed “inadequate”. But in recent years, this has been changing, with considerable resources provided to create a series of fourth and fifth generation aircraft.

(Read More...)

Bahrain becomes first country to receive F-16 Block 70 aircraft

03/13/2023

Bahrain on Sunday received the first aircraft of the advanced F-16 Block 70, becoming the first nation in the world to get the combat jet. According to the state news agency BNA, the Royal Bahraini Air Force has been handed over the first F-16 Block 70 fighter jet. A handover ceremony was held at the Lockheed Martin headquarters in Greenville, South Carolina.

(Read More...)

Türkiye not without options on F-16 fighter jets: Defense chief

03/13/2023

Türkiye on Sunday reiterated its frustration over the prolonged process of its request to acquire F-16 fighter jets from the United States, again signaling it could look elsewhere in case Washington fails to provide it with the warplanes. “We want everyone to know that we are not desperate in this matter; we have options in our hands,” Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said, stressing they were waiting for approval by the U.S. Congress and that “there is a constructive environment in general.”

(Read More...)

Anti-Russia Guerrillas in Belarus Take on 'Two-Headed Enemy'

03/12/2023

After Russia invaded Ukraine, guerrillas from Belarus began carrying out acts of sabotage on their country's railways, including blowing up track equipment to paralyze the rails that Russian forces used to get troops and weapons into Ukraine. In the most recent sabotage to make international headlines, they attacked a Russian warplane parked just outside the Belarusian capital.

(Read More...)

Ukraine ‘Unleashes’ US-Made JDAM Smart Bomb For The Very 1st Time; Aims To Integrate With MiG-29 Fighters

03/12/2023

The military-political expert and advisor to the acting DPR leader, Yan Gagin, told TASS news agency on March 10 that the Ukrainian military dropped a JDAM bomb on the area of Kurdyumovka near the Bakhmut region of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) to test the viability of employing it from Soviet-made aircraft. Gagin told the media, “These are air- launched bombs. Originally, they were made for NATO aircraft. Ukraine has no such aircraft. This could have been a combat test with a non-standar

(Read More...)

Media Reports Say Finland Is Open To Providing Fighter Jets To Ukraine

03/12/2023

Media in Finland have reported that Prime Minister Sanna Marin is prepared to discuss providing U.S.-made fighter jets to Ukraine. Marin, who visited Kyiv on March 10, said Helsinki plans to purchase 64 modern F-35A fighters to replace 62 Hornet fighters. The Hornets could be provided to Ukraine, Marin has said, although she noted that discussions are at a preliminary stage.

(Read More...)

F-22 Raptors Rearmed in Demonstration of ACE Capabilities

03/11/2023

03/09/2023

Japan is mulling the use of drones for aerial interception missions as the cost of scrambling manned fighter aircraft becomes increasingly unsustainable amid intensified Chinese air incursions.

(Read More...)

Indonesia Air Force Expands Fleet With Used Foreign Fighter Jets

03/09/2023

Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto at the Halim Perdanakusuma airbase on Wednesday assured that Indonesia’s military air fleet will continue to be expanded. The latest plan, he elaborated, is to acquire a number of used military planes that are still considered to be in good condition. “We plan to acquire a number of aircraft from overseas that are not too old,” said Prabowo after the official handover of the Super Hercules C-130 Type J at the airbase on March 8.

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F-35s to Operate Out of Denmark for First Time

03/09/2023

In a first for the country, five US Air Force F-35 fighter jets will operate out of the Skrydstrup airbase in Denmark. The aircraft arrived at the base in Southern Jutland on Monday, where they will be hosted until March 16 in preparation for the arrival of Denmark’s first F-35s from the US in the autumn. The new planes will replace the Royal Danish Air Force’s current fleet of F-16s.

(Read More...)

Two Italian Air Force planes collided in mid-air on Tuesday, killing both pilots during training exercises northwest of Rome, officials said.

03/08/2023

The two pilots were on board U-208 training aircraft and were participating in a training mission according to a statement from Italy’s air force, the Aeronautica Militare. The cause of the collision was not immediately known. Four aircraft were flying in formation when two of the planes collided, witnesses told local media.

(Read More...)

Kendall Reveals New Details on Air Force Plans: 1,000 CCAs, 200 NGAD Fighters

03/08/2023

The Air Force will field 200 Next-Generation Air Dominance aircraft and notionally 1,000 Collaborative Combat Aircraft, and will request funds in the fiscal 2024 budget to develop these new systems, Secretary Frank Kendall said in his keynote address at the AFA Warfare Symposium on March 7.

(Read More...)

Which fighter jet is best for Ukraine as it fights off Russia?

03/08/2023

When Russia invaded Ukraine a year ago, the Kremlin had an air force that could draw on hundreds of MiG and Sukhoi fighter jets in reserve. Ukraine’s fighter fleet was, by some estimations, far more meager, with 69 jets at most. Experts say that put it at about one-tenth the size of Russia’s.

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Preparing for Russia: Inside NATO fighter pilot training in Texas

03/07/2023

More than 5,000 miles from NATO’s eastern flank, a new generation of allied fighter pilots is coming of age in North Texas. After decades of peace at home, American and European airmen here face a new reality: They are the frontline flyers who will keep Russia’s war in Ukraine from spilling across NATO’s borders, and the instructors who will teach the new pilots how to do it.

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DARPA moves General Atomics’ ‘LongShot’ drone pitch to phase 2

03/07/2023

General Atomics’ pitch for the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency’s LongShot program — a three-phased effort to build a turducken-like unmanned aircraft system (UAS) dropped from a bomber or fighter that can launch missiles of its own — is still on the menu for DARPA, following its selection by the agency to move into the program’s second phase, the company told Breaking Defense.

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British, German fighter aircraft to jointly police skies of NATO ally Estonia

03/07/2023

British and German air forces will patrol the skies over Estonia together for the first time as Britain prepares to take the lead of NATO's mission in the former Soviet Republic, the Ministry of Defense said Monday. In a show of "unity," Royal Air Force and German Air Force Typhoon jets will fly integrated missions with the eventual aim of carrying out full joint and integrated NATO Air Policing missions in the future, the Defense Ministry said in a news release.

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Turkey's powerhouse drone industry is on the verge of another milestone: a stealthy unmanned fighter jet for its new aircraft carrier

03/07/2023

In less than a decade, Turkey has become a drone powerhouse. Unmanned aerial vehicles were its defense industry's single largest export last year, totaling $871.5 million — an 80% increase over 2021. Much of that market is served by the firm Baykar, which produces the TB2 model widely known for its use in recent conflicts, including in Ukraine. Baykar has built more than 400 TB2s for 24 countries. But the TB2 is just one of Baykar's models. On January 23, the company announced that the Kizile

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Sanctions leave Russia unable to produce vital radar plane - Ukraine intel

03/06/2023

Russia has been met with a roadblock - foreign suppliers of crucial aircraft are hesitant to provide for Russia amidst sanctions. Russia is unable to further produce vital A-50 radar aircraft due to a defense industry crippled by foreign sanctions, the Ukrainian Intelligence Directorate said on Friday. Russia has 6 or 7 operational A-50s according to a UK Defense Ministry Tuesday intelligence update.

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RAAF crews offered counselling after tense encounters with Beijng's military over South China Sea

03/03/2023

Slovakia is considering transferring 10 of its 11 Soviet-made MiG-29 aircraft to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which were withdrawn from service last year. Slovak Defense Minister Jaroslav Nad announced this in an interview with AP, Ukrainian News Agency reports. A decision can be made within the coming days or weeks. "We will never use the MiGs anymore. They have no real value for us. If we give them to Ukraine, they can help save their lives,” he said.

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US Deploys F-22 Raptors From Japan To Mariana Islands As USAF Trains For Battle In Contested Environment

03/03/2023

For the first time, an unspecified number of F-22 fighters from the 525th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron at Kadena Air Base in Japan have been stationed in the Northern Mariana Islands, a strategically important location close to China. The Raptors are positioned there to participate in Exercise Agile Reaper 23-1 (AR 23-1). The information regarding the deployment was published on the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service website on March 1.

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The Air Force’s upcoming radar aircraft is already a combat veteran

03/03/2023

The jet which the U.S. Air Force will soon use to coordinate air battles has already earned its stripes helping the Royal Australian Air Force fight the Islamic State. The E-7A Wedgetail, which is based on the Boeing Next Generation 737-700 commercial jet, is an airborne early warning and control aircraft, meaning it has a large multi-role electronically scanned array radar mounted to the fuselage which helps the crew see hundreds of miles in all directions.

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Video Shows Drone Landing On Russian A-50 Radar Jet That Was Supposedly Attacked

03/03/2023

A video has emerged showing a drone that is claimed to have been launched by a Belarusian partisan group, landing on the radar dome of a Russian A-50 Mainstay airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft at Machulishchy Air Base, Belarus. The video was released by BYPOL, the organization of Belarusian military dissidents opposed to the Lukashenko government that claims it struck the A-50, damaging it in two critical places its radome and its upper forward fuselage area on February 26.

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Fleet Readiness Center Southeast innovates to support fleet need for air combat training aircraft

03/03/2023

Since Fleet Readiness Center Southeast (FRCSE) inducted its first F-5N Tiger II, the depot has forged forward despite the challenges associated with standing up a new product line. The F-5s were initially purchased in the 1970s by the Air Force and then sold through foreign military sales to Switzerland. In 2002, the Department of Defense decided to repatriate many of these aircraft back to the Navy. The F-5 is a twin-engine tactical fighter aircraft that provides air-to-air combat training.

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US Approves ‘Big Batch’ Of HARMs, AMRAAMs For Taiwan’s F-16 Vipers Amid Boiling Tensions With China

03/03/2023

The Biden administration formally notified the US Congress of the proposed sales of F-16 missiles and associated equipment on March 1, 2023. The announcement comes days after Pentagon’s top China official, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Michael Chase, visited Taiwan, drawing sharp criticism from China.

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Taiwan sees second Chinese air incursion as US agrees arms sale

03/03/2023

Taiwan has reported a large-scale Chinese air force incursion into its air defence zone for a second day running, just as the United States approved the potential sale of $619m in weapons to the island – including hi-tech missiles for Taiwan’s F-16 fighter jets. Taiwan’s defence ministry said a total of 21 Chinese combat planes – 17 Chengdu J-10 multirole fighters and four advanced Shenyang J-16 strike fighters – had flown into the southwestern corner of the island’s ADIZ on Thursday.

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Russian Il-76 military aircraft reportedly delivers spare parts for damaged A-50 plane in Belarus

03/01/2023

The monitoring group stated that a Russian Air Force Il-76 (RF-86843) and an An-26 military transport aircraft arrived at the Machulishchy airfield late on Feb. 26. Early on Feb. 27, the Il-76 flew to Russia’s Ivanovo Severny airfield. The planes arrived on the day a Russian Air Force A-50U AEW aircraft was reported to have been attacked and damaged.

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Australia requests sale of AARGM-ER missiles from US

03/01/2023

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has notified Congress of a potential foreign military sale (FMS) of AGM-88E extended-range anti-radiation missiles to Australia. Valued at approximately $506m, the proposed deal has already been approved by the US State Department.

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US Navy prioritizes sustaining and modernizing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet for future combat readiness

03/01/2023

As the backbone of the US Navy’s carrier air wing, the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet remains a top priority for Naval Aviation. The Navy expects the final delivery of new Super Hornets to occur in 2025, ensuring the strike fighter’s capabilities remain at the nation’s service for decades to come.

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Singapore to buy eight more F-35B jetsSingapore to buy eight more F-35B jets

02/28/2023

Singapore will exercise a contractual option to acquire eight more F-35B fighter jets, bringing it fleet to 12 aircraft that manufacturer Lockheed Martin will deliver by the end of the decade. Speaking to lawmakers during a budget hearing, Singaporean Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said the decision came after a “full evaluation” of the F-35, which followed increased access to the aircraft program thanks to the country’s initial order.

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Russia ‘Shot Down’ Several Of Its Own Fighter Jets; Now Faces Severe Shortage Of Experienced Pilots – New Reports

02/28/2023

In the initial stages of its invasion of Ukraine, Moscow shot down several of its own military aircraft, leading to a shortage of experienced pilots required for Russia to establish air superiority over Ukraine, The Financial Times recently reported. Despite having a large fleet of fourth-generation fighters and cutting-edge aircraft like the Su-57, which British intelligence earlier claimed had not yet been used for operations within Ukraine’s airspace, Moscow has struggled to maintain control

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Belarusian partisans damage russian A-50 AWACS aircraft

02/28/2023

On February 26, 2023, a Russian A-50 AWACS aircraft was damaged at Minsk’s military airfield near Minsk, according to Reuters and Militarnyi with reference to the opposition Belarusian channels Belarusian Hajun and BYPOL. Belarusian sources mentioned the use of two UAVs, which were controlled from the territory of Belarus. Operators are reported to be safe outside the country. It is claimed that the A-50 has received serious damage and will not fly anywhere.

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Ukraine Says Fighting in Eastern Mining Town Becoming More Difficult

02/28/2023

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday the situation is becoming increasingly difficult in the eastern city of Bakhmut, where Ukrainian and Russian forces are engaged in heavy fighting. "The situation is getting more and more complicated," Zelenskyy said Monday during his nightly address. He said Russian forces are "constantly destroying everything that can be used to protect our positions."

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What’s the future for crewed aircraft in combat?

02/28/2023

Russia’s war on Ukraine, with its images of helicopters trailing flames, has demonstrated their vulnerability to effective air defences and triggered debate on the future of crewed aircraft sent to penetrate enemy airspace. Former Australian Army major general Mick Ryan, who has studied the conflict closely since Moscow’s 2014 invasion, says Russia is no longer flying crewed aircraft over Ukraine because of its potent air- and missile-defence regime.

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Volodymyr Zelensky: We need modern combat aircraft to protect the entire territory of Ukraine from Russian terror

02/28/2023

The day began with an attack by Iranian drones. Most of them were shot down. Eleven out of fourteen. Unfortunately, there were also hits. Three employees of the State Emergency Service in Khmelnytskyi were wounded, two were killed. In fact, that is why we need the aviation component of air defense – modern combat aircraft – to protect the entire territory of our country from Russian terror. Air defense is complete only when it is backed by aviation. Modern aviation.

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War update: Ukraine’s Air Force launches four strikes on enemy positions

02/27/2023

In the past 24 hours, Ukraine’s Air Force has launched four strikes on enemy personnel and military equipment clusters. Russian troops attempted to conduct offensive actions in five directions but failed. The relevant statement was made by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

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The spring-summer period will be tough, but we are ready for any development in the situation

02/27/2023

The Armed Forces, defense forces, and all defenders of Ukraine are ready for any scenario during the spring-summer campaign, which will be extremely difficult. This was said by the Deputy Chief of the Main Directorate of Intelligence, Vadym Skibitsky, at an event on the occasion of the anniversary of the beginning of the Russian Federation’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine, organized on February 24 at the residence of the Federal President of Germany in the Bellevue Palace in Berlin.

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CJTF-HOA conducts joint FARP exercise on African continent

02/27/2023

Various U.S. units under Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa, or CJTF-HOA, and the 449th Air Expeditionary Group pooled their resources to conduct the first simulated joint branch Forward Arming and Refueling Point, or FARP, exercise on the African continent, Feb. 22.

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Ukraine War ‘Thwacks’ SAAB; JAS-39 Fighter Jets Take A Hit Due To Pilot Shortage, Export Losses — New Report

02/27/2023

The maker of JAS-39 Gripen fighter jets, Saab, is facing an acute supplier shortage, according to a newly published annual report. As per the report, Sweden has been facing supplier shortages due to the Ukraine war, which have caused struggles with the maintenance of military equipment and “major delivery deviations,” such as delayed delivery of the new signals intelligence ship “HSwMS Artemis.”

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'American aircraft, this is the PLA Air Force': Moment Chinese fighter jet and guided-missile destroyer threaten U.S. reconnaissance aircraft in heart-stopping confrontation over the South China Sea as tensions between the nations escalate

02/26/2023

A Chinese fighter jet together with a guided-missile destroyer warship in the South China Sea warned a U.S. military reconnaissance aircraft to turn away from Chinese airspace in a heart-stopping confrontation all caught on camera.

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C-130 airlifter used to refuel an M1A2 Abrams tank for the first time

02/26/2023

The 317th AW successfully passed fuel from a C-130 to an M1A2 utilizing an Emergency Response Refueling Equipment Kit, marking the first time in USAF history that a C-130 has been used to refuel an Abrams tank.

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Air-To-Air Missiles Extend Combat Engagement: As Missiles Evolve In Range & Tech, Dogfighting Goes Down

02/26/2023

The latest use of an Air-to-Air missile (AAM) was by the US Northern Command F-22 Raptor fighter jet launching an AIM-9X Sidewinder missile to take down a car-sized object flying above Alaska on February 10. The same combination of jet and missile destroyed the Chinese balloon on February 4. While there have been a few air combat engagements in the initial days of the war in Ukraine, missile usage is not clear.

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Lightning ‘Strikes’ Asia: F-35 Fighters Proliferate In China’s Neighborhood As New Orders Mount With More In Pipeline

02/26/2023

02/25/2023

Iran’s backing of Russia’s war efforts in Ukraine is expanding to include “unprecedented defence cooperation” that will see the Islamic Republic purchase advanced weaponry from Moscow in exchange for providing Russian forces with equipment meant for use on Ukrainian territory, the White House has said.

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MINDEF TO ACQUIRE EIGHT MORE F-35B FIGHTER AIRCRAFT

02/25/2023

The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) will purchase eight more F-35B Joint Strike Fighters, to be added to its fleet by the end of the decade. This follows the agreement of purchase of four F-35Bs first, which was inked in 2020. Since then, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) was given exclusive access to information and facilities of the aircraft, allowing them to conduct robust evaluations.

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Malaysia picks South Korea’s FA-50 light combat jet over Indian bid

02/25/2023

Korea Aerospace Industries has won a competition to supply light attack aircraft to Malaysia, the company announced, marking its latest export for the line of trainer/light attack jets. The South Korean company said the contract, worth $920 million, will see it deliver 18 FA-50 jets to the Southeast Asian country, with the first due for delivery in 2026.

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Lockheed Plans To ‘Ramp Up’ Production Of F-16 Fighters As Ukraine Looks To Acquire Dozens Of Jets From The West

02/24/2023

While US President Joe Biden’s historic surprise visit to Ukraine on the eve of the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of that country and his new offer of $460 million of the military to boost the country’s defense has raised the spirit of the Ukrainians enormously, Kyiv’s request to get F-16 fighter aircraft at the earliest remains pending for Washington’s approval.

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Ukraine Situation Report: Kyiv Claims New Combat Aircraft Has Been Determined

02/24/2023

Ukrainian pilots have visited the U.S. and the specific type of aircraft to be provided to Ukraine has already been selected, the top spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force claimed on Tuesday. “Our military pilots went to the United States, funds were allocated for the training of our pilots,” Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuri Ignat said, according to ArmyInform an information agency of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine (MoD).

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Serbia eyes Rafale fighter aircraft

02/24/2023

The current serviceability and related maintenance issues of the Ratno vazduhoplovstvo i protivvazduhoplovna odbrana Vojske Srbije (Serbia Air Force and Air Defence) MiG-29 fighter aircraft is causing headaches for the Serbian Ministry of Defence (MoD).

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The fighter jet featured in ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ with Tom Cruise is going into retirement after 40 years

02/24/2023

Boeing Co. plans to end production of its F/A-18 Super Hornet, the fighter jet that wowed movie audiences in last year’s Top Gun: Maverick, after more than 2,000 deliveries over 40 years. The aerospace giant will stop manufacturing the fighters after it hands over the last Super Hornet to the US Navy in late 2025, according to a statement Thursday.

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Ukraine Military Intelligence Aviation Receives UH-60A Black Hawk Helicopter

02/23/2023

If it has not yet convinced the United States to pass on some Lockheed Martin F-16 fighters to its air force, Ukraine at least already has a new American aircraft. Military Intelligence Aviation, linked to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence, revealed that it had received a Sikorsky UH-60A Black Hawk helicopter.

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Potential F-35, Reaper deal with UAE not completely dead, senior US official says

02/23/2023

“We have a continuing and robust dialogue with the [United Arab Emirates] on these sales," senior State Department official Stanley Brown told Breaking Defense. "We remain committed to them, even as we continue consultations to ensure that we have a clear, mutual understanding with respect to Emirati obligations."

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Royal Navy F-35 pilot tells of ejecting seconds before crash

02/23/2023

The pilot of a British fighter jet that rolled off a Royal Navy aircraft carrier has spoken of his relief at managing to eject from the £100m F-35. Speaking soon after the incident in November 2021, the pilot, known as Hux, recalled having only seconds to react. An official investigation concluded the sudden loss of power on take-off was probably caused by a cover being left on one of the aircraft's jet intakes.

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Ukraine fighter jets: What are the pros and cons of supplying military aircraft?

02/23/2023

When Finland’s airforce switched from Soviet fighter jets to US-made aircraft, Jarmo Lindberg led the first group of experienced pilots to be trained in California to fly F18 hornets. That training took a full year including English lessons, flight simulations, emergency procedures and learning to use the aircraft to fight, the former fighter pilot and chief of defence told Euronews.

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Political Momentum Grows for Sending F-16 Jets to Ukraine

02/22/2023

Since the early days of Russia's full-scale invasion of his country, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's pleas to the U.S. for advanced fighter jets have gone largely unanswered, but even as experts warn that the planes might not make much of a near-term difference in the conflict, the idea is gaining support.

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KAI will attempt to export fighter jets, helicopters to Middle East, says CEO

02/22/2023

South Korean defense company Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) is aiming to export its combat jets and helicopters, including the KF-21 stealth fighter jet, to the Middle East, the company’s CEO Kang Goo-young said. Speaking at the IDEX defense exhibition in Abu Dhabi on February 21, 2023, the CEO said one of the main priorities for KAI is continuing with the MC-X, a joint project to develop a twin-engine military transport aircraft, according to a report published by The Korean Herald.

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CHINA / MILITARY China seals deal to export L15 trainer jet to UAE, displays Y-20 cargo plane & FC-31 stealth fighter at expo

02/22/2023

China's aviation industry announced on Tuesday that a deal to export the domestically developed L15 advanced trainer jet to the UAE has been sealed, as it put the latest, aerial refueling-capable variant of the aircraft on display at an ongoing defense expo in Abu Dhabi, with experts hailing the aircraft as one of the best trainers in the world.

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Airbus Stares At ‘Death’ Of Eurofighter Typhoons While Lockheed Martin Walks Away With Monstrous European Deals

02/22/2023

European defense consortium Airbus is staring at a shortage of orders, including for the Eurofighter Typhoon, when European countries are making new military purchases to combat potential Russian threats. Airbus SE’s defense unit revealed recently that the company has been planning to increase production of its Eurofighter jet and other important weapons systems but has been held back due to the inability of governments to commit to orders, Bloomberg reported.

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Belarus to make Su-25 attack aircraft as Russia eyes industry takeover

02/22/2023

In another sign of tightening defense ties between Belarus and Russia, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has announced his country’s defense industry is ready to kick off the manufacturing of Sukhoi Su-25 ground attack aircraft. Some analysts suggest the move could be related to Moscow’s plan to streamline Minsk’s defense industry capacities towards its war against Ukraine.

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S. Korea's first two-seater fighter jet KF-21 succeeds 34-minute maiden flight

02/21/2023

The fourth prototype of South Korea's homemade fighter jet KF-21 successfully conducted its flight about seven months after the first prototype made its 33-minute maiden flight in July 2022. The first two-seater fighter jet will be used for various missions such as testing the performance of a computer-controlled array antenna system that determines the survival of fighter jets in a combat situation.

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Italy Ready To Provide Ukraine With Modern Aircraft, But Only On Its Own Terms - Media

02/21/2023

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni may raise the issue of providing Ukraine with modern combat aircraft during her upcoming visit to Kyiv, which is due to take place before February 24. The Italian publication Repubblica reported this with reference to its own sources writes.

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US conducts combat drills with Japan and South Korea

02/21/2023

The US has carried out separate air exercises with both the Japanese and South Korean air forces to build quick response capability to any regional threat. According to a US Forces Japan’s media statement, the bilateral exercise between Japan and US was conducted on 19 February to demonstrate the combined rapid capabilities of both nations in countering a wide range of regional adversaries.

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Hindustan Aeronautics Unveils Lead-in Fighter Trainer Project

02/21/2023

Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) displayed a model of its company-funded HLFT-42 (Hindustan Lead-in Fighter Trainer) concept at the recent Aero India show, despite the apparent lack of a formal Indian Air Force requirement for the jet. The project is being positioned as a lead-in fighter training aircraft that will have performance and systems representative of frontline types, allowing it to download training from operational aircraft while exposing pilots to modern sensors, weapons and roles at low

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War update: Ukrainian forces shoot down enemy Su-25 aircraft, three drones

02/20/2023

Ukraine’s Defense Forces have shot down another Russian Su-25 aircraft, two unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and one Lancet-3 loitering munition. The relevant statement was made by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

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The United States announced progress on the transfer of fighter jets to Ukraine

02/20/2023

The likelihood of US transfer of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine is gradually increasing. Such an opinion on Sunday, February 19, on the air of the TV channel CNN expressed the head of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives of the US Congress Michael McCall (R-Texas).

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Under Cover Of Su-35, Su-30SM Fighters, Russia Deploys ‘Highly Modified’ Su-25 Attack Aircraft To Strike Ukraine

In December 2022, media reports indicated that the production of the new T-7A Red Hawk training jet for the Air Force had been delayed until 2024 due to design and testing issues. Pre-production flight testing is planned this year.

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Air Force jets intercept Russian aircraft near Alaska

02/15/2023

Four Russian aircraft, including a fighter jet and bomber, flew into a buffer zone of international airspace near Alaska Monday, according to a release from the North American Aerospace Defense Command on Tuesday, prompting a handful of U.S. Air Force jets to scramble and intercept them.

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AI Has Successfully Piloted a U.S. F-16 Fighter Jet, DARPA Says

02/15/2023

On Monday, the US Department of Defense’s research agency, DARPA, announced that its AI algorithms can now control an actual F-16 in flight. The fighter aircraft that was first introduced in 1978 has now seemingly evolved into an autonomous plane.

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DoD artificial intelligence agents successfully pilot fighter jet

02/14/2023

A joint Department of Defense team executed 12 flight tests in which artificial intelligence, or AI, agents piloted the X-62A Variable Stability In-Flight Simulator Test Aircraft, or VISTA, to perform advanced fighter maneuvers at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Dec. 1-16, 2022. Supporting organizations included the U.S. Air Force Test Center, the Air Force Research Laboratory, or AFRL, and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA.

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Air Force mulls remote control of drone wingmen

02/14/2023

The Air Force is studying whether drone wingmen flying alongside piloted fighter aircraft could be controlled by operators in nearby battle management aircraft or refueling tankers, according to Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown. The future fleet of collaborative combat aircraft, or CCA, as the service calls the concept, could involve them being partially guided from nearby aircraft such as the KC-46 Pegasus or E-7 Wedgetail, Brown said in a discussion at the Brookings Institution on Monday.

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US F-16s Could Pose ‘Serious Challenge’ To Russia’s Su-35, MiG-31 Jets; Its Kill Must Be Incentivized — Russian Captain

02/14/2023

According to Vasily Dandykin, the West failed to break Russia last year despite providing Ukraine with a host of weapon systems, and therefore have resorted to delivering the tanks, long-range Ground Launched Small Diameter Bombs (GLSDBs), and maybe after that, even the combat aircraft.

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Winning the battle for the skies of Ukraine

02/13/2023

Winning the battle for the skies of Ukraine is just as important as winning the fight on the ground. Despite recent moves by the United States and NATO allies such as Germany to end their previous objections to supplying Ukraine with heavy armor, their reticence to do the same for aircraft remains.

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Taiwan reveals Chinese military balloons fly ‘very frequently’ into its airspace

02/13/2023

Taiwan has observed dozens of Chinese military balloon flights in its airspace in recent years, far more than previously known, adding to concerns that Beijing could be preparing for an attack on the country. “They come very frequently, the last one just a few weeks ago,” said a senior Taiwanese official. Another person briefed on the matter said such incursions were happening on average once a month.

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Russian soldier death rate highest since first week of war - Ukraine

02/13/2023

Russian soldiers are dying in greater numbers in Ukraine this month than at any time since the first week of the invasion, according to Ukrainian data. The Ukrainian data shows 824 Russian soldiers dying per day in February. The figures were highlighted by the UK's Ministry of Defence. The figures cannot be verified - but the UK says the trends are "likely accurate". The increase comes as Ukrainian officials say that Russia has launched a "big offensive".

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US military shoots down another flying object over Lake Huron

02/13/2023

The US has shot down another unidentified flying object, this time over Lake Huron near the Canadian border, in what is the fourth such incident this month. It was downed by Air Force and National Guard pilots on Sunday, Michigan Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin said. "Great work by all who carried out this mission," she wrote on Twitter.

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U.S. F-22 Has Shot Down An Unidentified Object That Violated Canadian Airspace

02/12/2023

02/11/2023

The Pentagon shot down an unidentified object over frozen waters around Alaska on Friday at the order of President Biden, according to U.S. officials, less than a week after a U.S. fighter jet brought down a Chinese spy balloon over the Atlantic. U.S. officials said they could not immediately confirm whether the object was a balloon, but it was traveling at an altitude that made it a potential threat to civilian aircraft.

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Sweden's Saab pitches both single, 2-seater variants of Gripen fighter jet to IAF

02/11/2023

As India continues its hunt for 114 combat jets, Swedish aerospace and defence major Saab on Thursday pitched its single- and two-seater variants of the Gripen combat aircraft to the Indian Air Force.

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Britain to train Ukraine combat fighter pilots

02/10/2023

02/06/2023

Ukraine will need Western-made combat aircraft if it is to resecure its skies against Russian invaders, an examination of the air war over Ukraine has concluded. Kyiv’s ground-based air defense missiles have done well in repelling air attacks and preventing the Russian Air Force from achieving air superiority.

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Egypt efforts to modernise aircraft inventory to drive defence expenditure at 3.9% through 2028

02/06/2023

The US provides Egypt with $1.3 billion of military assistance annually to facilitate the transition from the outdated Soviet era equipment to advanced equipment made in the US and other Western nations. Against this backdrop, Egypt’s defence expenditure spending, inclusive of the US military funding, is forecast to register a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.9 percent from $9.4 billion in 2024 to $11 billion in 2028, says GlobalData, a data and analytics company.

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A Swedish-made fighter jet could tip the scales against Russia in Ukraine, but it might not get there any time soon

02/06/2023

Contrary to all expectations, Ukraine's air force remains in the fight almost a year after Putin launched his shambolic invasion. Yet feats of force preservation and adaptation mustn't obscure that the Air Force's Soviet-vintage MiG-29 and Su-27 fighters remain badly outranged by the radars and weapons of modernized Russian Su-30SM and Su-35S fighters and MiG-31BM interceptors. And while transfers of Soviet aircraft and aircraft parts have helped replace Ukrainian losses.

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KF-16 Fighter Jet ‘Fires’ During US Defense Secretary’s Visit To Seoul; South Korea To Investigate The Incident

02/04/2023

On January 31, a South Korean KF-16 multi-role fighter aircraft accidentally fired a flare while in flight, prompting the country’s Air Force to investigate the incident, reported South Korea-based Hankyoreh daily. The misfire happened on the same day when Lee Jong-sup, the South Korean defense minister, and Lloyd Austin, the US defense secretary, met in Seoul’s Yongsan Defense Ministry building.

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Manned Naval Aircraft

02/04/2023

In the naval domain, both fixed and rotary wing types perform a wide range of missions. These range from fast-jets flying from aircraft carriers for air-to-air and air-to-surface sorties to helicopters being used. One of the most prolific users of manned naval aircraft is the United States Navy and its NIMITZ class aircraft carriers.

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What happened in the Russia-Ukraine war this week? Catch up with the must-read news and analysis

02/04/2023

Kyiv’s forces are preparing for the war’s most intense phase, world affairs editor Julian Borger reported from the Ukrainian town of Huliaipole 60 miles (100km) east of Zaporizhzhia city. Russia is relentlessly building up its forces while Vladimir Putin is moving the economy towards a war footing to churn out new tanks and missiles. The chief of the Russian general staff, Valery Gerasimov, has been put in direct charge of Ukrainian operations, a move seen by many analysts as presaging a major o

(Read More...)

Stunning ‘Kill Rate’ In Ukraine, Germany To Include IRIS-T Systems In Its $18.5B Missile Defense Shield Program

02/03/2023

According to a defense ministry paper accessed by Reuters, Germany intends to buy eight IRIS-T air defense systems for its armed forces. The defense deal is listed as one of several planned purchases anticipated to be submitted for approval to parliament in the second quarter of 2023.

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US, India seek joint production of GE jet engines for HAL’s combat aircraft

02/03/2023

President Joe Biden’s administration has promised to fast-track the approval the General Electric Company of the United States sought to produce in India the engines to power the combat aircraft manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. The Biden Administration also agreed to work with the American Congress to lower the barriers for the export of High-Performance Computing technology and source code from the US to India.

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53rd Wing’s MUSTANGS: the future of agile data capture and ACE capability

02/03/2023

The 59th Test and Evaluation Squadron hit major milestones in the development and testing of their Multi-Utilization Secure Tactical and Network Ground Station, or MUSTANGS, through its recent participation in Pacific Edge 22. During the exercise, MUSTANGS proved its ability to process, curate, and send F-35A Lightning II data over-the-horizon to a reprogramming laboratory, all in a matter of minutes.

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Air Guard Updates 148th Fighter Wing F-16s with Radar Pods

02/03/2023

Subject matter experts from Air Combat Command, Air Force Materiel Command, the Air National Guard, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Air Force Reserve Test Center and the 148th Fighter Wing exercised end-to-end employment of the recently fielded AN/ASQ-236 radar pod and planned how the Air National Guard will operationalize the pods for all ANG F-16 fighter aircraft.

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Taiwan scrambles jets, missile systems after Chinese PLA aircraft cross median line

02/02/2023

01/31/2023

The "constant" fighting in and around the eastern Ukraine city of Bakhmut has been "a living hell" as Russian forces try to take control of the Kostiantynivka-Bakhmut highway, a Ukrainian commander said in an interview on Ukrainian television Monday.

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122nd Fighter Wing trains to win during Guardian Blitz

01/31/2023

The 122nd Fighter Wing executed Guardian Blitz, a training exercise with approximately 180 Airmen and ten A-10C Thunderbolt II aircraft with the main force located at MacDill Air Force Base and a smaller, contingency force located at Moody Air Force Base, Jan. 23 - Feb. 4, 2023. The 122nd FW performed Guardian Blitz with proactive airpower maneuvers called Agile Combat Employment.

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France not ruling out fighter jets to Ukraine, US says no to F-16

01/31/2023

On Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that he would not completely rule out the possibility of France sending fighter jets to Ukraine. During a news conference after Macron met with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte in The Hague, Macron was questioned about the possibility of handing over fighter jets to Ukraine as a deterrent against Russia’s invasion of the country. “Nothing is excluded in principle,” he said.

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One Dead, One Missing After Fighter Jet Crashes in Greece

01/31/2023

01/28/2023

The Global Combat Air Program is a multilateral initiative by the United Kingdom, Italy, and Japan to develop a sixth-generation stealth fighter jet akin to American Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) and the Franco-German Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programs. It was announced in December 2022 after merging existing next-gen fighter programs.

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Ukraine Requests Two Squadrons Of F-16s But Giving ‘Vipers’ to Kyiv Is Easier Said Than Done

01/28/2023

After being able to obtain large numbers of Western tanks (potentially up to 175 so far, including M1 Abrams, Challenger 2 and Leopard 2 tanks), Ukrainians negotiations are now focusing on the supply of Western fighter aircraft and something might already be in motion. In fact, on Jan. 24, Colonel Yuriy Ignat, the speaker of the Ukrainian Air Force, said that a cooperation in this area is being actively discussed.

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Ukraine says pilots would need six months for F-16 combat training

01/28/2023

Ukraine said on Friday it would take its pilots about half a year to train for combat in Western fighter jets such as U.S. F-16s, as Kyiv steps up its campaign to secure fourth-generation warplanes in the wake of Russia's invasion last February. Ukraine got a huge boost this week when Germany and the United States announced plans to provide heavy tanks to Kyiv, which is now hoping the West will also provide long-range missiles and fighter jets.

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Unwise divestments are crippling US Marine Corps aviation

01/27/2023

U.S. Marine Corps aviation is being significantly and needlessly decimated, another unforced error of Force Design 2030. Newly procured aircraft have been tossed aside; identical blows to state-of-the-art helicopters and strike/fighter jets are on the way. The losses in aircraft are significant. The reductions are not the result of insufficient funding or mandated cuts in personnel; the wounds have been self-inflicted.

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Ukraine Army aircraft launch 16 strikes on enemy positions

01/27/2023

The aircraft of the Ukrainian Defense Forces launched 14 strikes on Russian military personnel concentration areas and two strikes on the positions of the enemy's anti-aircraft missile systems on January 25.

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Air Force Aggressors More Relevant Than Ever At 50

01/27/2023

I would say we are more valid now than ever before. With the Secretary of the Air Force and Secretary of Defense saying their focus is China, China, China, that’s what we are here for. We are here to embody and replicate our enemies to the best of our ability,” says Lt. Col. Christopher “Vön” Finkenstadt, F-16 pilot, and commander of the U.S. Air Force’s 64th Aggressor Squadron (AGRS), at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.

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India Navy's MiG-29K to start trials on aircraft carrier INS Vikrant

01/27/2023

The Mikoyan MiG-29K is a fourth-generation, twin-engine, multirole fighter aircraft developed by the Soviet Union's Mikoyan design bureau. It is the naval variant of the MiG-29, and is designed for aircraft carrier operations. The aircraft was first introduced in the late 1980s and has been in service with the Russian Navy since the 1990s.

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Air Force to upgrade Sukhoi jets for 4 billion dollar to increase its capacity

01/26/2023

The Indian Air Force needs 4 billion dollar to upgrade its fighter aircraft Sukhoi fleet. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has already proposed the upgrade program, which is expected to be approved by the government soon. As a HAL nodal agency, about 150 fighter aircraft will upgrade fifth generation fighter jet as ‘Super Sukhoi’, after which the Indian Air Force’s fighter capacity will increase manifold, reported HS.

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US military orders 3 new F-35 test aircraft to replace current force – Pentagon

01/26/2023

Lockheed Martin has won a $320 million US Navy modification contract to construct three new F-35 Joint Strike Fighters to be used as flight science test aircraft to replace the current aging testing force, the Defense Department announced in a press release.

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Rwanda fires on Congo military aircraft accused of violation

01/26/2023

Rwanda has fired on a Congolese military aircraft it alleges violated its airspace in a new escalation of tensions between the neighbors that has set off alarm across central Africa. A Rwandan government statement said “defensive measures” were taken against a Sukhoi-25 from Congo on Tuesday evening, and it urged Congo to “stop this aggression.” Rwanda’s state broadcaster shared unverified video of what appeared to be a projectile fired at an aircraft.

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Ukraine eyes fighter jets after tanks: ‘This is what we want’

01/26/2023

Ukraine says it will now push for Western fourth-generation fighter jets such as the American F-16 after securing dozens of high-end battle tanks from NATO allies. Ukraine won a huge boost for its troops as the United States and Germany announced plans to provide heavy tanks for Kyiv on Wednesday.

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DoD delays key F-35 tests, lowering chance of 2023 production decision

01/25/2023

01/23/2023

Nigeria’s Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Oladayo Amao, on Saturday said the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) was expecting the delivery of additional new platforms, which President Muhammadu Buhari approved for the service. Amao, who made the disclosure during an operational visit to the Nigerian Air Force Institute of Safety and 209 Quick Response Group, Ipetu-Ijesa, Osun State, stated that the NAF had effectively operationalised the usage of new and modern platform in the battlefield.

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Ukraine is fighting for all of us. Now Europe must fight Putin too

01/23/2023

Europe must fight. The realisation has been slow in coming. Yet almost one year after Russia invaded Ukraine, most western governments finally understand Kyiv’s war for survival is their war, too. It’s a fight to the death for Ukraine, but also for European democracy, rights and values. It’s a fight against the historical evils of fascism and imperialism embodied by Vladimir Putin, a dictator for our age.

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J-10CE AND JF-17 – PAKISTAN’S EMERGING HIGH-LOW MIX

01/23/2023

Through this decade, the J-10CE and JF-17 Block-3 will form the new mainstay of the Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) combat aircraft fleet. However, one can readily guess that the J-10CE and JF-17 will make up a “high-low mix” – i.e., a combination of a larger, “high-end” fighter complemented by a smaller, “low-end” fighters in greater numbers. In fact, with every generation, the PAF had always built a high-low mix, at least since the start of its own jet age when it inducted both the F-86 and F-104.

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Beyond Su-35s: The Russian Helicopters And Missile Systems Iran Might Soon Acquire

01/23/2023

Iran expects to receive the first of the 24 Su-35 Flanker-E fighter jets it ordered from Russia as soon as Mar. 21, the Persian New Year. Tehran also claims it has ordered helicopters and missile systems. Shahriar Heidari, a member of the Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, told Iranian state media that Iran has ordered other Russian military equipment, including helicopters, air defense systems, and other missile systems, and expects to receive them soon.

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Israel said to send formal request to US for 25 advanced F-15-EX fighter jets

01/22/2023

Israel has sent a formal request to the United States to purchase 25 advanced F-15-EX fighter jets with an eye to boosting its capabilities to strike Iran, the Breaking Defense news site reported. The Defense Ministry sent an official Letter of Request (LOR) to the US last week, the Thursday report said, citing industry sources. The LOR is the first step in the process that will now see Israel and the US negotiate over the exact number of jets and the price of the Boeing-manufactured warplanes.

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Eye on China, Indian Air Force to conduct air combat drill in northeast

01/22/2023

Amid heightened tension with China in the eastern sector of the Line of Actual Control due to the 32-month-long military confrontation in eastern Ladakh, the Indian Air Force (IAF) will conduct a major air combat exercise with frontline fighters, helicopters, other aircraft, and drones in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and other northeastern states early next month, reported TOI.

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Up Close And Personal With The One And Only Kawasaki EC-1 Electronic Warfare Aircraft

01/22/2023

The Kawasaki C-1 is a twin-engine military transport aircraft developed and manufactured by Kawasaki Heavy Industries for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF). Developed beginning in 1966 with production started in 1971, the Kawasaki C-1, between 1971 and 1981, the JASDF was delivered 31 C-1s that served with three squadrons: the 401 Hikotai at Komaki, 402 Hikotai at Iruma and 403 Hikotai at Miho.

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Germany Allocates A Whopping $43 Billion For Its Sixth-Gen Fighter Jet Project, The FCAS

01/22/2023

The report said that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron would discuss the German-French initiative, known as the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), when they meet on January 22 in Paris. However, the report does not disclose which aspects of the project will be examined in depth by the two leaders. FCAS plans to produce a prototype by bringing together Dassault Aviation, the developer of the Rafale fighter, and Airbus, one of the firms behind the Eurofighter Typhoo

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Jordan inks deal for 12 Block 70 F-16s from Lockheed Martin

01/22/2023

The Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF) Command has signed a deal to buy 12 Block 70 F-16 fighter jets from the US in a bid to help modernize its aging air force. As announced by the armed forces’ official website, the deal was signed Thursday by Royal Air Force Commander Brigadier General Pilot Muhammad Fathi Hiasat and US Deputy Chief of mission in Amman Rohit Nepal.

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RAF jets arrive in Nevada for major exercise alongside US and Australia

01/20/2023

01/18/2023

The 122nd Fighter Wing in Fort Wayne has been officially approved for conversion to the F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft under passage of the National Defense Authorization Act. The move sets events in motion to replace the 122nd FW’s 21 A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft with the F-16, a news release said.

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Ukraine Eyes 93 Tornado Fighter Jets From Germany That Bundeswehr Is Replacing With F-35 Warplanes

01/18/2023

01/16/2023

Russian Su-35 fighter jets ordered from the Kremlin by Tehran should arrive in Iran at the start of the next Persian calendar year (starts March 21), Shahriyar Heydari, a lawmaker who is a member of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of the Iranian Parliament (Majlis), has informed Iranian news agency Tasnim.

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Top U.S. lawmaker objects to potential F-16 sale to Turkey

01/14/2023

The Biden administration has told Congress it is preparing the potential $20 billion sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey, sources familiar with the matter said on Friday, sparking an immediate objection from a senior U.S. lawmaker who has long opposed the deal. The State Department sent the informal notice to Congress on Thursday, three sources said, informing committees overseeing arms sales in the Senate and House of Representatives of its intention to proceed with the proposed deal.

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HH-60W Jolly Green II combat rescue helicopter Makes First Combat Saves

01/14/2023

A combined force of deployed US assets coordinated to save two lives of partner forces outside the wire in the Horn of Africa late this last December. The force consisted of HC-130J recovery aircraft and Guardian Angels from the 347th Rescue Group, as well as HH-60W Jolly Green II combat rescue helicopters in their first real-world casualty evacuation operation in the African area of responsibility (AOR).

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Indispensable Asset! US Navy’s F/A-18 Super Hornets, F-35 Stealth Jets Get New Facility In Indo-Pacific To ‘Hit’ China

01/13/2023

It would serve as a new training facility for US carrier-based F/A-18 Super Hornets and F-35 fighters to simulate aircraft carrier landings close to China. The SDF will also employ the site as a logistic and maintenance depot to defend Japan’s Nansei southwest islands. The ministry also intends to construct a runway, hangars, and pier facilities for ships used by the Self-Defense Forces. Although the development is anticipated to take roughly four years.

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F-15EX Fires Air-to-Air Missiles From New Weapon Stations For The First Time

01/13/2023

The U.S. Air Force recently announced that, on Nov. 29, 2022, the two F-15EX Eagle II fighter jets delivered to Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, launched air-to-air missiles for the first time from their new outer wing weapon stations. According to the press release, the 96th Test Wing’s pilots fired an AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile from Station 1 and an AIM-9X from Station 9 over the Eglin Test and Training Complex’s water range.

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Russia is scared to fly its best jets over Ukraine in case they're shot down and NATO gets hold of the wreckage, expert says

01/13/2023

01/12/2023

Combat aircraft designers at Lockheed Martin Corp. are preparing to build 118 F-35 jet fighter-bombers for U.S. military services and allies under terms of a $1.1 billion order announced on in December. Officials of the U.S. Naval Air Systems Command at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Md. - the organization handling F-35 aviation technology procurement for all military forces - are asking the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics segment in Fort Worth, Texas, to procure long lead items for 118 Lot 18 F-

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‘Retired’ F-117 Nighthawks Will Fly For Another Decade

01/11/2023

Nearly 14 years after officially 'retiring' its F-117A Nighthawk stealth combat jets, the Air Force may now be looking to keep them flying through at least 2034. A portion of the remaining F-117A fleet, flown by Air Force test pilots, has been very actively used for research and development, test and evaluation, and training purposes in recent years. This has included using the jets as 'red air' aggressors and as surrogates for stealthy cruise missiles during large-scale exercises.

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OPINION: A Mercenary Air Force for Ukraine? It’s not as Far-fetched as it Sounds

01/11/2023

Ukraine’s desire for additional combat air assets is soberingly real. After 11 months of war, neither Ukraine nor Russia has secured any semblance of air superiority. As the West struggles to figure out how to resource Ukraine’s requirement for air power, some are suggesting a transfer of aircraft, such as F-16 Falcons, F-15E Eagles, JAS-39 Gripens or others.

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F-35 Conducts First Flight with TR-3

01/11/2023

A developmental test team from the 461st Flight Test Squadron conducted the first flight of an F-35 in the Technology Refresh 3 (TR-3) configuration on January 6, at Edwards Air Force Base, California. Maj. Ryan “BOLO” Luersen, a U.S. Air Force experimental test pilot, piloted the mission in tail number AF-7, a specially instrumented flight test aircraft and the first with TR-3 upgrades installed. He executed a functional check flight (FCF) profile to verify aircraft airworthiness and system st

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Raytheon to build 408 AIM-9X Block II infrared-guided air-to-air missiles for U.S. Navy, Air Force, allies

01/11/2023

01/09/2023

China's military said it had carried out combat drills around Taiwan on Sunday, the second such exercises in less than a month, with the island's defence ministry reporting it detected 57 Chinese aircraft. China views democratically-governed Taiwan as its own territory and has been ramping up military, political and economic pressure to assert those claims.

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TF-X/MMU: Turkey’s future fifth-generation fighter is taking shape

Taking advantage of Russia’s growing reliance on low-cost Iranian weapons amidst its stumbling campaign in Ukraine, Iran is now set to procure dozens of Russian Su-35 aircraft. While some Western assessments tend to downplay the gravity of the acquisition, claiming that it would not drastically alter the airpower balance in the Gulf, the Su-35 would give an unprecedented boost to Tehran’s control over the Iranian airspace.

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The Race for the Indian Naval Fighter Contract

01/07/2023

November 2022 saw the visit of the French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu as well as the US Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro to India. Lecornu was in New Delhi for the Fourth India–France Defence Dialogue, where both countries decided to enhance military industrial cooperation with a focus on Make In India (MII).

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The new F-15EX took a 'major step' closer to carrying more air-to-air missiles than all other US Air Force fighters in testing

01/06/2023

The US Air Force's newest fighter aircraft — the F-15EX Eagle II — recently conducted a successful missile test that brought the aircraft closer to being able to hold more air-to-air missiles than any other jet in the service. During a testing in late November, two F-15EX fighter jets from the 96th Test Wing fired air-to-air missiles over a training range in the Gulf of Mexico, Eglin Air Force Base revealed in a statement Wednesday.

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French Air Force faces a shortage of Rafale, AESA radars and pilot training hours

01/04/2023

General Stéphane Mille, Chief of Staff of the Armée de l’air et de l’espace [CEMAAE], testified on Rafale Aircraft shortages in the armed forces during his hearing in the Senate on the occasion of the end-of-year budget discussions, the report for which was just issued – two months later. CEMAAE forecasted that the number of active fighter aircraft would drop to a low point as a consequence of the retirement of the Mirage 2000C from active duty and the export of 24 Rafales.

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US B-52 Stratofortress Bombers Conduct Three-Day Bomber Task Force Mission From Andersen AFB, Guam

01/04/2023

The Two USAF B-52 Stratofortress bombers from Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, recently conducted a three-day bomber task force operating out of Andersen Air force Base, Guam. The mission was carried out within USINDOPACOM’s operational domain. The USAF bombers arrived at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, on December 18, 2022.

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New E-11A Communications Aircraft Handed Over to US Air Force

01/04/2023

The US Air Force has received a new E-11A aircraft with a battlefield airborne communications node payload at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia. The plane will be integrated into the air force’s 430th Expeditionary Electronic Communications Squadron, the “Black Wolves,” which supports combat communications. The BACN’s “WiFi in the sky” capability allows the E-11A to function similarly to a low-Earth satellite, maintaining aerial command and control capabilities for airborne and ground units.

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Navy Buys 2 ‘Loyal Wingman’ XQ-58A Valkyrie Drones for $15.5M

01/04/2023

The Navy is buying two stealth unmanned aerial systems – originally developed for the Air Force – that could operate with a manned fighter, as the service pursues the manned-unmanned teaming concept officials say is central to the future of naval aviation. The service issued a $15.5 million contract to Kratos for the XQ-58A Valkyrie unmanned aerial system, according to a Dec. 30 Defense Department contract announcement.

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Pentagon should better study risks of swapping older fighter jets for new ones, watchdog finds

01/04/2023

The Pentagon needs to do a better job managing the risks of replacing aging fighter jets and should share information with Congress so it can make better spending decisions and avoid gaps in air superiority, a top federal watchdog concluded in a recent report. Federal and independent analysts have determined some fixed-wing tactical attack aircraft are outliving their life spans and, in some cases, there aren’t planes to replace them yet, according to a study by the Government Accountability Off

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Only 3 countries have managed to build 5th-generation fighters, but nearly a dozen are already working on 6th-gen jets

01/04/2023

Some 20 years after their first appearance in the skies, fifth-generation fighters remain both the most advanced and rarest aircraft in service. Only four models from three countries — the US's F-22 and F-35, China's J-20, and Russia's Su-57 — have been officially introduced. But many other countries are determined to have their own next-generation models. At least nine countries are already developing sixth-generation aircraft, either on their own or in cooperation with other countries.

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Ukraine’s army commander sums up military results of 2022

01/03/2023

“A year that changed us, our present and future forever,” he said. “A year that entered world history – in the name of Ukraine and its Armed Forces.” Zaluzhnyi said the Defense Forces had liberated 40% of the territories occupied after Feb. 24 and 28% of all of the Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia.

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China’s future carrier-borne stealth fighter J-35 images emerge

01/03/2023

01/01/2023

The Russian occupation forces have now lost more military equipment and weapons in Ukraine than they had in their possession at the time of the full-scale invasion on 24 February. Source: Brigadier-General Oleksii Hromov, Deputy Chief of the Main Operational Department of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, talking to Ukrinform

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China Attacked US Naval Targets During Mock Drills When Its J-11 Fighter Almost Rammed Into US RC-135 Aircraft

01/01/2023

On December 21, the same day that a Chinese J-11 fighter jet intercepted a US Air Force RC-135 reconnaissance plane in what the Pentagon called an “unsafe maneuver,” the Chinese Navy practiced an attack on a US Navy task group in the South China Sea. The US released a video of the dangerous intercept only on November 30.

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