January, 2024 Military Aviation News
01/31/2024
As tensions between Washington and Beijing continue to ramp up, the arms race to develop the world’s first next-generation fighters is on. From submarines and fighters to bombers and main battle tanks, the U.S. and China are prioritizing the development of advanced and cutting-edge technologies. Perhaps the most anticipated sixth-generation designs are the upcoming Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, the B-21 stealth bomber and the F/A-XX airframe.
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01/31/2024
A U.S. Air Force fighter jet crashed into the waters off South Korea’s southwestern coast on Wednesday, officials said. The pilot safely ejected from the F-16 aircraft. According to a news release from Kunsan Air Force Base in South Korea, the F-16 assigned to the 8th Fighter Wing experienced an “in-flight emergency” over the West Sea, crashing at approximately 8:41 a.m. local time.
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01/31/2024
A Russian Su-34 fighter jet was shot down on Monday over the eastern Luhansk region, Ukraine’s military has reported. No further details have been reported but the aircraft was listed on the daily update from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook.
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01/31/2024
The JF-17 fighter jet, a product of collaboration between Pakistan and China, is often portrayed as a powerful competitor to India’s Rafale fighter jet. Considered the “crown jewel” of Sino-Pak aviation relations, the JF-17 is a crucial asset for the Pakistani Air Force.
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01/30/2024
The Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked nine Chinese military aircraft and four naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Monday (Jan. 29) and 6 a.m. on Tuesday (Jan. 30). In response, Taiwan sent aircraft and naval ships and deployed air defense missile systems to monitor the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, according to the MND. No PLA aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line during that time.
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01/30/2024
After months of deliberations, the U.S. State Department has greenlighted Turkey’s request for scores of upgraded F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets. We are talking about a huge order worth tens of billions of dollars.
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01/29/2024
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has proposed a potential exchange with Greece, offering to facilitate the transfer or sale of weaponry to Ukraine in return for Washington’s consideration of providing additional aid to Athens, amounting to a possible US$200 million.
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01/29/2024
Japan and the United States have recently agreed to begin joint research on artificial intelligence in the hope of using the technology for drones that would work in tandem with the Asian nation's next fighter jet.
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01/29/2024
The Houthi rebels’ strange air force boasts of a single F-5 supersonic fighter jet, which once dominated the skies. The Russians procured one F-5 aircraft from Vietnam to assess its capability against its newly minted MiG-21 interceptor. The F-5 in the Houthi rebels’ air force was seized from the Yemen government during the civil war. It made an appearance on a flyover during a Houthi parade in Sanaa in 2023.
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01/28/2024
The U.S. State Department on Friday approved the potential sale of up to forty F-35 fighter jets and respective equipment to Greece, in a $8.6 billion deal. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in a video statement that, as part of the deal, the Greek state will also receive significant military aid, at no extra cost. This would include frigates, C-130 transport aircraft, armoured tanks and vehicles.
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01/27/2024
Singapore's decision to bolster its air defense capabilities by acquiring additional F-35B fighter jets could have significant strategic implications in the Southeast Asian region, particularly in the context of potential geopolitical tensions, such as a hypothetical Chinese invasion of Taiwan.
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01/27/2024
HH the Amir made a tour during which he was briefed on the newly manufactured Ababil F15 QA aircraft and their combat capabilities, and the most prominent methods of modern technology used in it. The Abadil fighters feature next-generation combat aircraft technologies, such as electronic flight controls, an all-glass digital cockpit, state-of-the-art sensors, advanced radar technology, and electronic warfare capabilities backed by digital engineering and advanced manufacturing.
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01/27/2024
U.S. President Joe Biden's administration on Friday formally informed Congress of its intention to proceed with the $23 billion sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey, taking a major step toward completing a long-delayed process that tested ties with Ankara. The State Department sent the notification to advance the sale of 40 Lockheed Martin), opens new tab F-16s and nearly 80 modernization kits to Turkey, a day after Ankara fully completed ratification of the NATO membership of Sweden.
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01/26/2024
Just a day after the Turkish parliament voted to approve Sweden's NATO membership bid, President Joe Biden called upon lawmakers on Capitol Hill to approve the sale of the Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon to Turkey.
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01/26/2024
As Ukraine awaits the delivery of F-16s in 2024, a U.S. defense official revealed new details on the training of Ukrainian pilots and maintainers in America. There are currently four Ukrainian pilots undergoing F-16 training in the United States, the official told Air & Space Forces Magazine.
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01/26/2024
Scott Air Force Base recently hosted a pair of F-35A Lightning II aircraft from the 388th Fighter Wing based at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, as a part of an Air Force-wide push to expand hot-pit refueling capabilities, Jan. 18, 2024. Hot-pit refueling is the practice of refueling an aircraft immediately after landing while keeping the engines running to minimize time spent on the ground. Hot-pit refueling allows sorties to be generated faster, allowing more effective power projection capabilities.
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01/26/2024
Anduril – a US autonomous systems start-up – has been selected as one of five defence industries to help develop the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). The US Air Force (USAF) intend to operate uncrewed autonomous aircraft – known as CCAs – as part of a network alongside other aerial platforms such as fifth or sixth-generation aircraft.
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01/26/2024
International partners are ready to provide Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets, but comprehensive measures to prepare for their effective use are still underway. That’s according to Air Force Command spokesman Yuriy Ihnat, who spoke on the air of the national telethon, Ukrinform reports.
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01/25/2024
Russia accused Ukraine on Wednesday of deliberately shooting down a Russian military transport plane carrying 65 captured Ukrainian soldiers to a prisoner exchange in what it called a barbaric act of terrorism that had killed a total of 74 people. Ukraine called for full clarification of the circumstances of the incident and did not directly confirm it had shot down the plane.
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01/25/2024
Germany has unveiled its plans to equip its Eurofighter combat aircraft with the MBDA Brimstone air-to-surface missile, according to government sources. Outlined in Bundeswehr budgetary documents, the Luftwaffe is set to procure 274 of these air-to-surface missiles to equip its Eurofighter fleet. The contract signing for this procurement is anticipated in the second quarter of this year.
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01/25/2024
One of Russia's leading manufacturers of fighter jets and civilian aircraft continued to import parts and other equipment from European and U.S. suppliers despite the imposition of Western sanctions following the start of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
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01/24/2024
Japanese defense forces flew 555 fighter jet scrambles during the last nine months of 2023, according to the Joint Staff Office of Japan’s Ministry of Defense. The JSO said 98 percent of scrambles were against Chinese and Russian aircraft according to data released by the Ministry of Defense on Tuesday.
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01/24/2024
The F-16 Fighting Falcon, known affectionately by many pilots as the Viper, is the most widely operated fighter aircraft on the planet for a reason. In an era when fighter designs were largely focused on what could be argued were glamour metrics like top speed and service ceiling, the F-16 emerged as the embodiment of a new approach to air warfare.
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01/23/2024
The Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked seven Chinese military aircraft and three naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Monday (Jan. 22) and 6 a.m. on Tuesday (Jan. 23). Of the seven People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, one jet fighter crossed the Taiwan Strait median line in the northeast sector of the country’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ), according to the MND. In response, Taiwan sent aircraft and naval ships and deployed air defense missile systems to monitor th
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01/23/2024
The Lebanese Air Force’s number seven squadron, at Hamat/Wujah Al Hajar AB, operates the six Embraer A-29B Super Tucanos delivered to Lebanon from May 2018. Among its pilots is the first Lebanese female fighter pilot, second lieutenant Jana Sader, who graduated from the USAF’s undergraduate pilot training (UPT) programme (a nearly two-year-long training course) on February 3 2023.
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01/23/2024
The journey begins at Undergraduate Pilot Training or maybe long, long before, but for this account an Air Force pilot starts the road to the cockpit at Laughlin Air Force Base in Texas, in the T-6 Texan, a 1,200 horsepower propeller-driven trainer. From there, they have to find their way in a T-38 supersonic jet trainer, if they make the cut for fighter aircraft.
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01/21/2024
The Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked 10 Chinese military aircraft and four naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Friday (Jan. 19) and Saturday (Jan. 20) the same time. Of the 10 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, two fighter jets entered the southwest corner of Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) or crossed the median line, according to the MND. The jet types were not identified.
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01/21/2024
Following the reported recent loss of its A-50 AWACS over the Sea of Azov, Russia appears to have deployed another A-50 Mainstay, this time conducting activities within Russia’s borders, according to the UK Ministry of Defense. On January 14, reports surfaced on various Telegram channels asserting that the Ukrainian Air Force had successfully downed a Russian A-50 AWACS military aircraft.
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01/21/2024
The F-16 jet fighter took its first ever flight in 1974, but it is still as important an aircraft now as it was then. Were it not for one test pilot's quick thinking 50 years ago, the entire F-16 programme might never have made it past its first fateful flight.
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01/20/2024
Pakistan’s plan to acquire the Chinese FC-31/J-31 twin-engine stealth fighter aircraft will put it a generation ahead of its neighbors and make it one of the most advanced air forces in the region, experts believe. The fighter jet has been flying since 2014 and is ready to be acquired by Chinese or other militaries, while India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) is still in the design stage.
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01/20/2024
Is the F-35 the best fighter jet ever? 1,000 built, and nations all over the world want them: It is safe to say that many experts now believe that the American-made F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is in the realm of conversation to be the best fighter jet ever to fly. For years, the U.S. Air Force’s F-22 Raptor took the air superiority title as the first fifth-generation jet to enter service. Over the years, Moscow and Beijing have developed their parallel fifth-gen programs culminating in the Su-57
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01/20/2024
The Ethiopian Air Force has acquired an undisclosed number of Akinci unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from Turkey and Russian-made Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jets. During the handover ceremony, two Su-30 planes were displayed as the Akinci UAVs were formally inducted. The drones have been in Ethiopian service since as early as November 2023.
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01/19/2024
Two USAF B-1B Bombers arrived in Singapore on 18 January 2024 and will stay till early next week for a stopover, during which they will conduct air-to-air refuelling training with the RSAF's A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT).
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01/19/2024
The Islamic Republic of Pakistan carried out retaliatory air strikes against its neighboring Islamic Republic of Iran using Chinese-built fighter jets JF-17 ‘Thunder’ and J-10C’ Vigorous Dragon’ early Thursday. Pakistan also deployed Chinese Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Wing Loong II in its operation named ‘Marg Bar Sarmachar’, which loosely translates to “death to the guerrilla fighters”.
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01/19/2024
New Weapons to be Employed on the RAF's F-35s - It was almost three years ago, in March 2021, that the UK's Ministry of Defence announced it would cut its order of the Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II by 65 percent. The UK Royal Air Force saw its purchase decline from a planned 138 to just 48 of the short/vertical takeoff and landing (S/VTOL) variant of the fifth-generation stealth fighter.
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01/18/2024
Norway will conduct the first of three NATO fighter deployments to Iceland this year, sending four F-35 combat aircraft to Keflavík Air Base. Half of the regiment will be on standby at the air base at all times, ready to scramble to safeguard NATO and international airspace in the region.
The Norwegian units will also participate in training and alert drills that include identifying unknown aircraft to ensure the alliance’s defense.
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01/18/2024
Russia has patented a unique paint and camouflage scheme exclusively designed for the under-development Su-75 Checkmate. It allows the aircraft to be indistinguishable from the shape of the clouds and ground above and below it. The effort to make the aircraft undetectable by preventing visual identification is a unique approach in stealth warfare doctrine that also hints at the role and manner in which the jet is likely to be employed.
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01/17/2024
Three B-2 Spirit bombers made their return for the first Red Flag exercise of 2024 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., this week, alongside the U.K.’s Royal Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force. More than 30 units and 2,000 personnel are participating in the air combat training, deemed by the participating allies as one of the “most advanced” and “toughest” training opportunities in the world.
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01/17/2024
The United States military’s fifth-generation stealth fighter will be integrated with the legacy HARM missile platform instead of the upgraded AARGM platform. The Naval Air Systems Command awarded a $97.3 million contract to aerospace giant Lockheed Martin to integrate the AGM-88 HARM on the F-35A/B/C aircraft, to include procuring associated incidental hardware for the USAF, Navy, Marine Corps, Foreign Military Sales customers, and non-Department of Defense participants.
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01/17/2024
The Houthi rebels in Yemen have one of the world's strangest fighter jet fleets — a single, aged F-5 fighter jet. It is unlikely to be much good helping it against the US-led coalition, which carried out air raids last week. A US official summed up the likely threat the jet poses, calling it "not combat effective."
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01/16/2024
No More NGAD? We have covered the U.S. Air Force’s Next-Generation Air Dominance fighter extensively. The NGAD has whiz-bang characteristics and is a sixth-generation airplane that will be highly-stealthy and chock full of modern weapons. But the NGAD could cost the military hundreds of millions a piece, according to the Secretary of the Air Force.
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01/16/2024
With a resurgence of ISIS activity, Iraq is hoping to enhance its defence capabilities. The commander-in-chief of Iraq’s armed forces, major general Yehia Rasool, has confirmed that modernising its air force is a priority, and that the fighter force is in particular need of renewal.
Iraq regained a fast jet combat air capability in 2015 with the delivery of the first of 36 Lockheed Martin F-16s.
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01/16/2024
Yemen’s Houthi rebels fired an anti-ship cruise missile toward an American destroyer in the Red Sea on Sunday, but a U.S. fighter jet shot it down in the latest attack roiling global shipping amid Israel’s war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, officials said. The attack marks the first U.S.-acknowledged fire by the Houthis since America and allied nations began strikes Friday on the rebels following weeks of assaults on shipping in the Red Sea.
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01/15/2024
Ukrainian air-defenses reportedly shot down two of the Russian air force’s rarest and most valuable command aircraft on Sunday: a Beriev A-50 radar early-warning plane and an Ilyushin Il-22 airborne command post. Ukrainian media has cited government officials confirming the purported shoot-downs, but there’s little hard evidence of the incidents.
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01/15/2024
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is preparing for Exercise Red Flag Nellis 24-1, alongside counterparts from the United States and United Kingdom. Exercise Red Flag Nellis was established in 1975 and recreates the first ten missions of a modern air campaign within a training environment, providing invaluable experience for participants.
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01/15/2024
Ukraine will not be able to give up Soviet aircraft in favour of Western ones overnight, and French military jets may coexist on Ukrainian airfields with American and Soviet ones, the head of the Ukrainian Air Force said on Sunday. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February, 2022, Kyiv has pressed Western allies to supply increasingly sophisticated arms and ammunition, including armoured vehicles, tanks, long-range missiles and U.S.-made F-16 fighters.
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01/14/2024
Taiwan, in response, sent aircraft and naval ships and deployed air defence missile systems to monitor the PLA activity. On the day of the election, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence (MND) detected that Chinese military aircraft entered Taiwan’s Southwest Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ). Additionally, two Chinese balloons crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait.
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01/14/2024
President Tsai Ing-wen, who is nearing the end of her final term in office, said Sunday that Taiwan is preparing to develop the next generation of indigenous jet fighters, to ensure continuity of her administration's national defense policy. In an interview with Era News in which she reflected on her two terms in office, Tsai highlighted the government's resolve to build Taiwan's autonomy in the area of defense systems.
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01/14/2024
The news about Pakistan showing interest in the Chinese FC-31 Gyrfalcon (formerly known as the J-31) has generated quite a buzz in South Asia, with military watchers talking about it altering the balance of power in the Indian sub-continent. But experts feel that, at best, it is a tempest in a teacup.
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01/13/2024
Three days following the military aircraft crash in the central province of Qu?ng Nam, Captain Ð? Ti?n Ð?c, the aircraft pilot, has recalled the life-and-death moments when his aircraft suffered a sudden loss of control. Captain Ð?c, leader of Squadron 1, Fighter Squadron 929 of the Air Defence and Air Force Division 372, managed to divert the Su-22 aircraft away from residential areas before safely parachuting out.
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01/13/2024
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., told the Free Press on Thursday that Selfridge Air National Guard Base will be home to a new squadron of 12 KC-46A refueling tanker aircraft, per a conversation with Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall. The announcement, Peters said, ensures that Selfridge, based in Harrison Township in Macomb County, will continued to have a flying mission even as the Air Force phases out the current eight KC-135 tankers at the base.
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01/13/2024
Türkiye has started work on a sixth-generation fighter jet that will be integrated with artificial intelligence (AI), a top defense official said Friday, in an announcement that comes as the country prepares to send its first homegrown warplane to the sky for the first time in the coming days. The domestically developed fifth-generation combat aircraft, named Kaan, will perform its inaugural flight "very soon," Haluk Görgün, the head of the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB), told reporters.
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01/13/2024
France has ordered 42 Rafale fighter jets from Dassault Aviation in a deal worth more than €5 billion (U.S. $5.5 billion), the Armed Forces Ministry announced Friday. The purchase comes as French lawmakers express concerns about the Franco-German project to develop a successor to the Rafale. The Future Combat Air System, as it’s known, isn’t expected to enter service before 2045 or 2050, according to the French Senate’s defense committee.
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01/12/2024
On January 10, 2024, the Pakistan Air Force officially announced that Qatari Eurofighter Typhoons and Pakistani Chengdu J-10Cs are currently engaged in joint air exercises known as Zilzal-II, hosted by Qatar. The exercise aims to simulate a “realistic aerial warfare scenario” to evaluate both air forces’ operational readiness.
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01/12/2024
OJ Sanchez, vice president and general manager of the Integrated Fighter Group at Lockheed Martin, highlighted the significance of this milestone, stating, “The delivery of the first two F-16 Block 70 jets to Slovakia signifies a crucial starting point in bolstering the country’s defense capabilities. We are proud to be part of this endeavor and are committed to delivering a total of 14 jets to Slovakia.”
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01/11/2024
After debuting at the Dubai Air Show in December 2023, the Y-20 E multi-role transport aircraft is ready to be exported. Media reports suggest that the largest military aircraft currently in production and nicknamed “Chubby Girl” is being offered to Nigeria. This comes after reports that Beijing is planning to sell its stealth J-31 fighters to Pakistan.
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01/11/2024
Greece Wants the F-35 – But Turkey and Sweden Could Delay That Acquisition - Currently, ten NATO members, along with another half a dozen partner nations, either operate or plan to adopt the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II. Two NATO alliance countries would like to join the program. One likely will never operate the fifth-generation stealth fighter, while the other is currently in a related "holding pattern."
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01/11/2024
The Air Force’s two newest fighters, F-15EX Eagle IIs, known as EX3 and EX4, touched down at Eglin Dec. 20, 2023, just minutes from each other. The new arrivals bring the Air Force’s total F-15EXs to four, all located at Eglin. The two aircraft belong to the 96th Test Wing (EX3) and 53rd Wing (EX4), who also own the initial two fighters.
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01/11/2024
The F-16 fighter jet is famous for its maneuverability, and the A-10 attack jet for its armor and armaments. But one of the most important features protecting those aircraft in combat is an unassuming grey cylinder slung beneath their bellies: the ALQ-184 Electronic Countermeasure pod, which protects the jets in the electromagnetic spectrum.
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01/10/2024
The Ministry of National Defense tracked eight Chinese military aircraft and five naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Jan. 9 and 6 a.m. on Jan. 10. Of the eight People’s Liberation Army aircraft, one BZK-005 reconnaissance drone crossed the Taiwan Strait median line in the southwest corner of the country’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ), according to the MND. In response, Taiwan sent aircraft and naval ships and deployed air defense missile systems to monitor the PLA activity.
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01/10/2024
South Korea is set to begin production of the KF-21 fighter jet this year as planned, the state arms procurement agency said Wednesday, in what would be a major milestone in the country's pursuit of an advanced homegrown fighter. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) seeks to sign a contract with Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. (KAI), the jet's manufacturer, within the first half of the year to pave the way for the KF-21's large-scale production, according to a DAPA official.
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01/10/2024
The Ukrainians have fought ardently to keep the Russian invaders at bay – but the Ukrainian resistance has depended mainly on foreign military aid. Wisely, the Ukrainians have vigorously lobbied the Western powers for cash and equipment donations. And at the top of the Ukrainian’s wish list was the multi-role F-16, an American fourth-generation fighter that has been exported throughout NATO.
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01/10/2024
Indonesia has signed a contract to buy 18 more Rafale fighter-jets from France, the Defense Ministry said Tuesday, as Jakarta completed a 2022 order for 42 of these warplanes, in upgrading its air force fleet amid regional security challenges.
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01/09/2024
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense will spend 10.2 billion New Taiwan dollars ($329 million) to purchase spare engine parts for its Mirage 2000-5 fleet. A government source told local media outlets that the contract aims to ensure the French-made fighter jets will remain mission-capable for years to come.
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01/09/2024
Saudi Arabia bought 72 Eurofighters in 2007 from BAE Systems for approximately £4.4 billion; those planes have been delivered, but Riyadh wants an additional 48 fighters. However, Germany blocked further deliveries of the fighter — a joint British, German, Italian and Spanish project — due to Saudi Arabia's role in the Yemen civil war and the 2018 murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
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01/09/2024
China’s J-31 has joined Russia’s Su-75 ‘Checkmate’ to emerge as a competitor to the American F-35 fighter jet following Pakistan’s announcement to acquire the Chinese combat aircraft over the next few years.
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01/08/2024
The Taiwanese armed forces have detected 13 Chinese military aircraft, five vessels and two balloons near the island nation over the past day, the Taiwanese Defense Ministry said on Saturday.
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01/08/2024
Two weeks after the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) lost Su-34 fighter jets to Ukrainian air defenses, an intelligence update released by the UK Ministry of Defense (UK MoD) claims that RuAF operations have been hampered due to losses.
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01/08/2024
Despite a recent thaw in relations with Turkey, Greece was still eager to purchase advanced F-35 fighter jets from the US, as affirmed by the country’s foreign minister in an interview on Saturday. Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis spoke highly of Greece’s relations with Turkey but insisted on upgrading the country’s military by purchasing F-35 fighter jets from the US, whom he described as a major player in the region and a “superpower.”
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01/07/2024
Previously, Russia’s tactical air power had been playing a key role in the south of Ukraine, especially attacking Ukraine’s bridgehead on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River. However, the downing of Russian combat aircraft made it impossible for Russia to conduct offensive operations in this area.
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01/06/2024
The Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked eight Chinese military aircraft and four naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Thursday (Jan. 4) and 6 a.m. on Friday (Jan. 5). Of the eight People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, one Shaanxi Y-8 anti-submarine warfare plane and one Shaanxi Y-8 reconnaissance plane entered the southwest corner of Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ), according to the MND. No PLA aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line during that time.
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01/06/2024
An Air Force bomber jet crashed during a training mission at a South Dakota base Thursday, officials confirmed. All four aircrew members on board safely ejected from the B-1B Lancer before it smashed into the ground just before 6 p.m. at Ellsworth Air Force Base, a spokesperson from the unit said. The crew had been attempting to land the heavy bomber jet during a training mission when it lost control of the aircraft. The Air Force could not say whether any injuries were reported.
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01/06/2024
The Pentagon’s relentless journey into the future of air dominance has for generations been informed by technological breakthroughs that redefine military aviation capabilities. The most recent instance of anticipated breakthroughs can be associated with the mysterious and still somewhat unknown Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, a new platform likely to change technical paradigms defining air dominance.
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01/06/2024
The US Department of Defense (DoD) has initiated the ‘site activation’ of F-35 A, B and C fighter jets to the US Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps as well as foreign military sales customers.
Site activation – a DoD phrase – refers to the process by which systems and equipment are delivered to an put into service by operational units in the field.
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01/06/2024
The Indonesian government has shelved its planned procurement of 12 Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets previously owned by Qatar due to budget constraints. A defense ministry spokesperson told local media outlet TV One that neither the Indonesian Defense Ministry nor the country’s Ministry of Finance can financially support the controversial acquisition “for the time being.” He added that the military will just opt to retrofit its Sukhoi and F-16 combat jets to fill current capability gaps.
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01/05/2024
"Belgium will send two F-16s to Denmark and around fifty personnel to train Ukrainian pilots between March and September. [...] for two eight-week periods. The training mission is part of the F-16 coalition, made up of thirteen countries and led by Denmark, the Netherlands and the U.S. The aim is to equip the Ukrainian Air Force with these types of fighter jets from the 1980s and 90s," the report reads.
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01/04/2024
The Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked nine Chinese military aircraft and four naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Tuesday (Jan. 2) to 6 a.m. on Wednesday (Jan. 3). Of the nine People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, two crossed the Taiwan Strait median line, including one Xian JH-7 fighter bomber in the northeast air defense identification zone (ADIZ) and one BZK-005 reconnaissance drone in the southwest sector of the ADIZ, according to the MND.
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01/04/2024
The Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter jet is still in the limelight over 40 years after its first flight. Shephard sums up the latest developments and tells you everything you need to know about the aircraft in the 2020s. The list of countries that would like to get their hands on the jet constantly grows. Ukraine, after lobbying hard for acquiring enhanced air power, is now in the process of training its pilots for the F-16 as the invaded country waits for the arrival of the jets from Europe.
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01/04/2024
In a strategic move to fortify Ukraine’s air capabilities, the United Kingdom has successfully concluded basic training for Ukrainian combat air pilots, enabling them to embark on F-16 fighter jet proficiency in Denmark. Simultaneously, the Netherlands has pledged 18 F-16 fighter aircraft, solidifying international support against Russian aggression.
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01/04/2024
Pakistan could acquire China’s other stealth fighter, the Shenyang FC-31 (or J-31), according to its air force and army chiefs. The news comes just as the fighter is also being readied to operate from China’s Fujian aircraft carrier and become Beijing’s second carrier-borne strike fighter after the J-15.
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01/03/2024
According to a statement from the Polish Armed Forces Operational Command, Poland scrambled F-16 fighter jets early Tuesday morning to “ensure the security of Polish airspace” amid “intense long-range air activity by the Russian Federation connected with carrying out strikes on the territory of Ukraine.”
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01/03/2024
The Israelis still want the F-15EX fighter. The Israeli Ministry of Defense officially requested 25 F-15EX fighters from the US last January, but sources suggest that Israel intended to purchase upwards of 50.
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01/03/2024
The F-35 Lighting II is the most popular fifth-generation fighter jet in the skies today. Its technological edge and capabilities are mainly why the aircraft is so highly sought after by many countries. And, in some respects, that creates a problem.
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01/03/2024
Tavria sector: Enemy intensifies aircraft activity, 35 strikes per day 02.01.2024 12:50
In the area of the Tavria operational and strategic grouping of troops, the Russian occupation forces reduced the number of combat engagements and intensified tactical aircraft activity. At the same time, the Defense Forces eliminated 357 invaders and 50 pieces of enemy military equipment over the day.
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01/03/2024
The third and fourth airframes of the Boeing F-15EX Eagle II have arrived at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., for testing, the Air Force said Dec. 30. To hold the program schedule, six more need to be delivered before July. The new aircraft, dubbed EX3 and EX4, arrived at Eglin on Dec. 20, the Air Force said. EX1, EX2, and EX4 belong to the 53rd Wing, while EX3 belongs to the 96th Test Wing.
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01/02/2024
The Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked four Chinese naval vessels and four military aircraft around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Sunday (Dec. 31) and the same time on New Year's Day. Of the three People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, one Shaanxi Y-8 anti-submarine warfare plane entered the southwest sector of the country’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ), according to the MND. No PLA aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line during that time.
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01/01/2024
A clash between Iranian-backed Houthi fighters who were attacking a commercial freighter and U.S. Navy helicopters responding to the ship’s distress call ended on Sunday morning with the killing of all the crew members on three Houthi boats, the Pentagon said, a sharp escalation of violence at a moment when the White House is considering direct strikes on Iran’s proxies in the Middle East.
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01/01/2024
Robin Olds, the first USAF pilot to score four combat victories with F-4s in Southeast Asia was Col. Robin Olds, a World War II ace. Thanks to its boldness, courage and leadership he gained widespread fame and respect as the aggressive commander of the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW) during the Southeast Asia War.
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01/01/2024
The training of Ukrainian pilots and personnel to fly the F-16 fighter aircraft continues as agreed within the air coalition. The relevant statement was made Spokesperson for the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Yurii Ihnat during a nationwide telethon, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.
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