Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

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.

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.

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.

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

06/22/2023

A team of Polish pilots is bidding farewell to its Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter jets. They are instead transitioning to South Korea's FA-50 light combat aircraft, with training support and guidance from the South Korean Air Force. Two groups, each comprising four Polish pilots, have undergone monthslong training in Korea. The primary aim of this training is to provide them with the essential skills and knowledge required to operate the FA-50 light combat aircraft, which will be delivered to Poland

Airbus, Leonardo Team On Offering M-346 Training Tony Osborne June 21, 2023

06/22/2023

Airbus and Leonardo are teaming up to offer pilot training using Leonardo’s M-346 jet trainer. The unlikely partnership, agreed to through a memorandum of understanding signed at the Paris Air Show here on June 21, will see the two companies deepen ties and further cooperate around training.

Need for Speed: F-16 Pilot Calls the Fighter Jets Sought by Ukraine 'Easy to Fly'

06/22/2023

F-16 fighter jets hurtle pilots through the sky at up to 2,000 kilometers per hour (1,243 miles per hour). In tight turns or sudden climbs, gravity is pressing so hard on their bodies that some of them might even pass out. Even so, it’s an experience Ukraine is seeking for its own pilots after getting U.S. approval to train and eventually receive the American-made jets to bolster its more than year-old fight against Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had long pressed Western allies

PARIS AIR SHOW NEWS: Europe’s Next-Gen Jet Fighter Makes Little Progress in Four Years

06/21/2023

High above La Bourget Airport north of Paris, a Dassault Aviation Rafale jet fighter on day one of the Paris Air Show carried out a series of maneuvers to the delight of the crowds on the tarmac, who captured every moment with their camera phones as it roared by. It was only four years ago on day one of the last Paris Air Show when the leaders and captains of industry from three nations with great fanfare announced that they would be working together on a sixth-generation aircraft.

10 Years with the F-15C Eagle

06/21/2023

The 144th Fighter Wing has been home to F-15C/D Eagles for the past ten years. This fourth-generation aircraft first flew in 1976 and was originally designed to permit the U.S. Air Force to gain and maintain air supremacy. By June 18, 2013, when the first Eagle arrived at the Fresno Air National Guard Base, it had already provided air superiority for nearly 40 years.

Ukraine says fighting ‘difficult’ in east as Russia massed large forces on that front

06/20/2023

Ukraine said on Monday that the battles on the eastern front were “difficult”, as Russia’s forces were massing large numbers of troops in that direction in an attempt to reclaim the initiative. Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Defense Hanna Malyar said: “The situation in the east is difficult. The enemy has increased its forces and is conducting an active offensive in the Lyman and Kupiansk directions, trying to seize the initiative from us.”

Warthog In Warzone! US A-10 Thunderbolt Lands In Vietnam; Could ‘Tank Killer’ Attack Aircraft Go To Ukraine?

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.

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.

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.

LESSONS FROM UKRAINE: SECURING THE MUNITIONS SUPPLY CHAIN

06/19/2023

Though Kyiv’s repeated requests for advanced weaponry – like new main battle tanks (MBT) or F-16 multi-role combat aircraft – populate news headlines, its call for ammunition is just as important, if not more so for the day-to-day maneuvers of its main operations, like the ongoing counter-offensive.

147th Attack Wing MQ-Reaper completes first ACE movement in Europe

06/18/2023

The Texas Military Department’s 147th Attack Wing demonstrated an MQ-9 Reaper agile combat employment (ACE) movement from Caslav air base to Ostrava airport during Exercise Air Defender June 13, 2023 in Caslav AB, Czech Republic. This ACE movement displayed the effectiveness of the MQ-9 Reaper in a remote location.

Denmark ready to transfer F-16 fighters to Ukraine - Defense Minister

06/18/2023

The Danish government is ready to transfer F-16 fighters to Ukraine, but only if the United States, which produces these aircraft, approves this step. That's according to Radio 4, Ukrinform reports. Today, acting Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said that Denmark would support the transfer of fighter jets to Ukraine. But this will only happen if the United States, which produces the F16, approves.

Revolutionizing Air Power: Agile Combat Employment, Multi-Capable Airmen enable swift adaptation in evolving mission requirements

06/17/2023

In an era of rapid global shifts and evolving near-peer adversaries, the United States Air Force has embraced an operational concept known as Agile Combat Employment (ACE). This innovative approach emphasizes flexibility, adaptability, and the effective utilization of Multi-Capable Airmen (MCA) to enhance air power.

Ukraine plans to train 'several dozen' combat pilots to fly F-16s

06/17/2023

Ukraine plans to send "several dozen" combat pilots for training to fly U.S.-manufactured F-16 fighter jets, Ukrainian air force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat said on Friday, as western allies prepared the necessary training programmes. "Everything is being done to get it started as early as possible," Ihnat told Ukrainian national television, adding that the pilots picked for training would have combat experience.

Eurofighter Tranche 4 Offers New Tech and Retrofit Capabilities

06/17/2023

In an effort to maintain the Eurofighter’s relevance to the air combat environment until the German-French FCAS and the Italy-Japan-UK GCAP/Tempest enter production, program partners have kept busy upgrading onboard systems for retrofit. The upgrades, which will come as part of the configuration for new-build aircraft for Germany, will first appear on existing aircraft in the UK and among the other partners.

Stealth Fighters to Syria: Why America Is Sending in the F-22s

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.