Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

US Air National Guard Trains in Austria with F-35 Lightning II Multirole Combat Aircraft.

09/04/2024

The Vermont Air National Guard (VTANG) is preparing to deploy a contingent of Airmen and F-35 Lightning II aircraft to Austria. The deployment, scheduled for the morning of Wednesday, September 4, 2024, will see VTANG participating in the prestigious Airpower Air Show, followed by a multinational training exercise.

Scalability and versatility of combat aircraft, a bad calculation for the armies?

09/04/2024

According to Lockheed Martin, the F-35 fighter will continue to represent the backbone of Western air forces until 2080. At that date, the 5th generation fighter, which entered service in 2015, will be 65 years old, and will have seen more than three generations of pilots. This dynamic is far from exclusive to the F-35. Thus, the Rafale Dassault Aviation, which entered service in 2000, will continue to fly with the French air force until 2060, as will the Typhoon European or the American F-15EX.

International collaboration unlocks true potential for collaborative combat aircraft

09/03/2024

That’s why interest among responsible powers is growing in collaboration generally but also with advanced new programs specifically. A case in point is with collaborative combat aircraft, known as CCAs. These highly capable autonomous unmanned fighters are set to revolutionize air dominance and other fields in the coming decades. Understanding how will also help explain allied nations’ desire to work together on building them.

Why the Air Force Needs 6th Generation NGAD 'System'

09/03/2024

Maintaining air superiority is critical for U.S. military success, especially against near-peer adversaries with advanced integrated air defense systems. The F-22 Raptor, with its unmatched stealth, speed, and situational awareness, exemplifies America’s air superiority capabilities, but the limited number of combat-coded F-22s and their aging structures necessitate the development of the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) system.

Czech Republic to lease Gripen fighters beyond 2027

09/03/2024

The Czech Republic has signed a Joint Declaration with Sweden to extend its lease of 14 JAS 39 Gripen combat aircraft beyond 2027. Two double-seated and 12 single-seated units were delivered to Prague on the 31 August 2005; the fleet is stationed at Cáslav Air Base.

Rare Chinese Y-9LG ELINT Aircraft Spotted In Thailand

09/02/2024

China has deployed an Electronic Warfare/Electronic Intelligence (EW/ELINT) aircraft for an overseas exercise for the first time, with the deployment of one of its newest dedicated special mission aircraft to Thailand for a bilateral air exercise.

F-16 fighter jet in Ukraine unlikely shot down by 'friendly fire,' NYT suggests

09/02/2024

"Friendly fire" from a Patriot missile battery is unlikely to have caused the downing of a U.S.-made F-16 fighter jet, the New York Times reported on Aug. 31, citing two undisclosed senior U.S. military officials. Ukraine's General Staff confirmed on Aug. 29 that the F-16, which had been recently delivered to the country and was being operated by pilot Oleksii Mes, had crashed while defending against a mass Russian drone and missile attack on Aug. 26. Mes was killed in the crash.

Le Rafale faces a potential export market of 324 aircraft by 2035.

09/01/2024

With more than 300 combat aircraft ordered for export to date, the Rafale of Dassault Aviation has become, since 2015, a great international success for the aircraft manufacturer and the entire French defense aeronautical industry. The commercial spearhead of Dassault has already exceeded the total export sales of the Mirage 2000 by 281 aircraft, and now aims to do better than the Mirage F1, sold in 450 units on the international scene.

U.S. Air Force Awards RTX $1 Billion Contract to Upgrade F-22 Sensors

09/01/2024

Amid the acute need for 5th generation fighters in modern combat scenarios against peer adversaries, the U.S. Air Force is looking to upgrade its F-22 Raptor with a series of sensors to make it more survivable and relevant. The service announced on Aug. 29, 2024, the award of a $1 billion contract to RTX‘s Raytheon for new sensors that are categorized as “Group B hardware”, together with spares and support equipment.

Zelenskiy fires head of air force after fatal crash of donated F-16 fighter jet

08/31/2024

Volodymyr Zelenskiy has fired the head of Ukraine’s air force a day after it emerged that a recently delivered F-16 jet had crashed earlier this week, killing the pilot. “I have decided to replace the commander of the air forces … I am eternally grateful to all our military pilots,” Zelenskiy said in his evening video address on Friday, without giving a reason for the dismissal of Mykola Oleshchuk.

Serbia to buy 12 Rafale fighter jets in nod to European industry

08/31/2024

Serbia agreed to buy 12 Rafale fighter jets from France’s Dassault Aviation to replace its MiG-29 fleet, in a deal which French President Emmanuel Macron called a strategic change for the Balkan country that maintains ties with Russia and China. The contract for nine single-seater Rafales and three two-seaters is worth €2.7 billion (US$3 billion), according to French media, citing Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.

Romanian Ministry of Defence has requested funds to purchase F-35A fighter jets

08/30/2024

The Romanian Ministry of Defense has requested funds from the government to purchase the latest F-35A fighter jets. The relevant document with the budget request from the Romanian Ministry of Defense was published on the official website of the Romanian government. The funding allocation stage is now the last step for Romania to officially start purchasing new fighter jets.

Ukrainian F-16 Crashes in Combat, Killing Pilot

08/30/2024

A Ukrainian Air Force pilot was killed when his F-16 fighter crashed Aug. 26, Ukraine’s military announced Aug. 29. The incident occurred during a massive Russian missile and drone attack that day that saw Ukraine’s F-16s make their combat debut. But the mission came at a high cost. Ukraine has only a handful of F-16s, and the pilot, Oleksiy “Moonfish” Mes, was a prominent aviator who was one of the first Ukrainians trained to fly the F-16.

Thai air force favours Swedish Gripen fighter jets over F-16s

08/29/2024

Thailand wants to renew its fleet of combat aircraft with Gripen fighter jets, the air force said, favouring the Swedish-made planes over American F-16s. A procurement committee weighed the choice for 10 months before deciding the JAS 39 Gripen E/F was the most suitable, the Royal Thai Air Force said in a statement issued Tuesday.

Serbia Leader Plans To Seal French Fighter Jet Deal With Macron

08/29/2024

Serbia expects to sign a "huge" deal for French fighter jets during a visit this week from France's leader, President Aleksandar Vucic told AFP on Wednesday, in an agreement estimated to be worth billions of dollars. Vucic made the comments ahead of President Emmanuel Macron's two-day visit to Serbia that kicks off on Thursday, with the duo expected to sign a range of bilateral deals.

Lockheed unveils Polish F-35 “Husarz”

08/29/2024

The F-35 stealth combat aircraft being produced by Lockheed Martin for Poland has been unveiled at the US defence giant’s aeronautics headquarters in Texas, at a ceremony attended by Polish and US officials. The Polish version of the aircraft has been named “Husarz” in reference to Poland’s famous “Winged Hussar” heavy cavalry units that operated from the 16th to the 18th century.

Russian fighter jet downed over eastern Ukraine as oil depot set ablaze

08/29/2024

Ukrainian troops have dramatically downed a Russian fighter jet over eastern Ukraine as an oil depot was set ablaze by a drone strike more than 100 miles away in Russia. The Soviet-designed Su-25, nicknamed “Frogfoot” by Nato, was brought down over Kramatorsk, Donetsk, as it fired on Ukrainian troops. In footage released by Ukraine’s 28th Brigade, it was seen bursting into flames in mid-air while flying alongside another aircraft and then crashing into the ground.

F-117A Nighthawk Stealth Fighter Could Make a Big 'Comeback'

08/28/2024

The U.S. Air Force faces a dilemma as its advanced but aging fleet, including the F-117 Nighthawk, is gradually retired. Despite being officially decommissioned in 2008, the Nighthawk has continued to serve in classified testing, highlighting its enduring value.

Thai air force wants to acquire Swedish Gripen 39 fighter jets

08/28/2024

The Thai Air Force said on Tuesday it wanted to acquire Gripen 39 fighter jets built by Sweden's SAAB to replace its ageing jet fighters. The Air Force said it had spent 10 months weighing all options before deciding "the JAS 39 Gripen E/F has the capability to match the demand of the military doctrine and the Air Force's strategy,” the statement said.

Embraer to Supply Super Tucano Combat Aircraft to Uruguayan Air Force

08/28/2024

Brazilian aerospace company Embraer has received a contract to deliver up to six A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft to the Uruguayan Air Force. The deal covers an initial aircraft, integrated logistics, mission equipment, and a flight simulator. The plane is expected to operate for its usual applications in reconnaissance, aircrew preparations, border monitoring, and anti-illegal activities.

Indian-Built Russian Su-30 Fighter Could Soon Be a Game Changer on Export Markets

08/28/2024

Indian state-owned aerospace company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has been reported by local media outlets to have begun talks with Russia on the possible joint production of Su-30 fighter aircraft in India for export. This development has the potential to be a game changer for the fighter export profiles of both countries, as Russia has struggled to sustain fighter exports as clients are threatened with Western economic sanctions.

Sweden’s sixth generation fighter studies

08/27/2024

Dagens Nyheter (‘news of the day’) a Swedish daily newspaper published an interview with Peter Nilsson, Saab’s Head of Advanced Programmes, timed to coincide with the Försvarsmakten Flygdagen 2024 (Armed Forces Aviation Day 2024) celebrations. In the article, Nilsson set out for a domestic Swedish audience how Saab is undertaking future fighter options work for the governments, and pointing out that Saab is ready (and an excellent choice) to do so.

Japan scrambles jets after Chinese aircraft 'violated' airspace

08/27/2024

Japan said it scrambled fighter jets on Monday after a Chinese military aircraft "violated" its airspace in a further escalation of regional tensions. The two-minute incursion into Japanese airspace by the Y-9 surveillance aircraft at 11:29 a.m. was the first by a Chinese military plane, local media reported. The aircraft "violated the territorial airspace off the Danjo Islands in Nagasaki Prefecture", prompting Japan to deploy "fighter jets on an emergency basis", Japan's defense ministry said.

New Batch of Su-30s Delivered to Kazakhstan

08/27/2024

Kazakhstan has received a new batch of Su-30SM fighter jets from Russia, as seen in recent posts on the Kazakh Ministry of Defense’s Telegram page. Several posts from August 17-18 showed Su-30s bearing bort numbers 51-54, and Scramble reported that red 55 and 56 have been spotted as well, making for an apparent delivery of six jets.

Russian military aviation faces growing threat from Ukrainian FPV drones

08/26/2024

Tumanov’s remarks underscore a growing concern within the Russian military circles about the effectiveness of these drones in countering their aircraft. “It is now safe to say that drones are becoming a real problem for helicopters,” Tumanov stated. He went on to note, “In recent times, the number of aircraft hit by drones has surpassed those hit by anti-aircraft missiles.”