Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Ukraine won't be given fighter jets until after counter-offensive against Russia, top NATO admiral tells LBC

07/04/2023

Speaking exclusively to LBC's Tonight with Andrew Marr, admiral Rob Baeur, chairman of military committee of NATO, said providing Ukraine with the fighter jets they have been asking for "will not be solved in the short term". Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been pleading with Western nations to provide his war-torn country with fighter jets, including F-16s, which a number of NATO members possess.

Israel to buy 25 more F-35 stealth jets in $3 billion deal

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.

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

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

‘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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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

06/27/2023

Lockheed Martin has delivered two new F-35B Lightning II stealth multirole combat aircraft to the UK Royal Air Force in Marham, Norfolk. The fighters were received from Lockheed’s F-35 manufacturing facility in Fort Worth, Texas, and were assisted by a Voyager air-to-air refueling tanker from RAF Brize Norton. The handover is part of a contract order for 48 F-35Bs for the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy.

Senate Panel to Allow the retirement of 42 A-10 CAS aircraft, but not that of the 33 not combat-coded F-22 fighter jets

06/27/2023

On Jun. 23, 2023 the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) announced that it will allow the Air Force to retire 42 A-10s as part of its 2024 National Defense Authorization Act, approved last week. As reported by Air & Space Forces Magazine, the Senate panel’s decision follows on a similar one by the House Armed Services Committee, indicating that lawmakers are prepared to let the A-10 go after years of defending the venerable close air support aircraft from divestment.

South Korea Seeking Laser Designators for Combat Aircraft

06/27/2023

outh Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has signed an agreement with a local defense firm to supply laser designators for the country’s fighter aircraft. Valued at 86.7-billion won ($66.5 million), the contract requires Gyeonggi-based Hancom Lifecare Inc. to design a device that can designate a hostile target to aid precision strike missions.

Ukraine War: Denmark Prepones Retirement Of F-16 Fighters; Starts Training Ukrainian Pilots On Fighting Falcons

06/27/2023

Denmark’s acting Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen stated that the retirement of the F-16 fighters will now take place in 2025 instead of the previously planned 2027. This adjustment is attributed to the fact that the replacement fighters, F-35s, can be phased in and made operational earlier than anticipated.

Russian mercenaries shot down military plane

06/25/2023

Russia’s Wagner mercenary group reportedly shot down military transport aircraft in the Voronezh region. Video emerging on social media showed a burning Russian plane crashing down. Based on the plane’s silhouette in the video, it could have been a special mission aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces.

Taiwan tracks 27 Chinese military aircraft, 10 naval ships around country

06/25/2023

In addition to eight Chinese military aircraft and five naval vessels tracked around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Friday (June 23) and Saturday (June 24) at 6 a.m., a further 19 aircraft were detected after 8 a.m., eight of which crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and approached the 24-nautical-mile line. One of the aircraft, a Z-9 anti-submarine warfare helicopter, entered Taiwan's ADIZ from the east, the military said.