Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

South Korea Plans A ‘Drone Command’ To Thwart North’s UAV Threat; Why Seoul’s Move Is Logical But Not Ethical

01/09/2023

The lesson from the ongoing war in Ukraine is that drones, costing not even one percent of a fifth generation of fighter aircraft, can create problems for South Korea in more senses than one seems to have been well realized by the North Korean strongman Kim Jong-un.

Eight lessons air forces are learning from the war in Ukraine

01/09/2023

Ten and a half months have passed since Russia started its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The resulting war became the most intense and large-scale conflict of recent decades, and the one that subverted many expectations on both sides. Recently, there has been a multitude of reports and analyses, delving into various details of air campaigns waged by both Russia and Ukraine.

China hell-bent on achieving air superiority

01/09/2023

While much has been written about the two armies’ capabilities amid the India-China standoff, a comparison between the air forces has been scarce. A recent article in Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post has raved about the touted ‘supermanoeuvring’ capabilities of the upgraded J-20B ‘Mighty Dragon’ Generation 5 interceptor/air superiority fighter, reportedly slated for mass production since last July.

China carries out combat drills around Taiwan again

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.

TF-X/MMU: Turkey’s future fifth-generation fighter is taking shape

01/09/2023

Turkey is making progress in the development of its own fifth-generation fighter aircraft, the TF-X or MMU project, intended to replace the F-16s of its Air Force as of 2030/35. The Turkish Defense Agency published an image on its social networks showing the degree of preparation progress of the first prototype, which should leave the assembly line to have its roll-out on March 18 this year.

India to hold joint military exercise 'Veer Guardian' with Japan

01/08/2023

Even as regular clashes between the Indian Army and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China continue to take place along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), India is taking part in several joint military exercises with several nations. An Indian Air Force (IAF) contingent will depart on Sunday for Hyakuri Air Base, Japan for the maiden edition of the Exercise Veer Guardian to be held with Japan Air Self Defence Force (JASDF) from January 12 to 26.

Negotiations between Colombia, France’s Dassault Aviation, and Sweden’s Saab to replace FAC Israeli-made Kfir aircraft collapsed

01/08/2023

The Colombian government said on Jan. 2, 2023 that initial negotiations between Colombia, France’s Dassault Aviation and Sweden’s Saab to replace part of the aging fleet of Israeli-made Kfir fighter jets of the Colombian Air Force (FAC, Fuerza Aérea Colombiana) have collapsed.

430th EECS begins operations with new E-11A BACN

01/08/2023

For the 430th Expeditionary Electronic Communications Squadron, delivering communication coverage to the American warfighter, the nation’s allies and coalition partners is a primary objective. The 430th EECS is the only unit in the USAF that operates the E-11A aircraft with the Battlefield Airborne Communication Node payload. As such, the 430th EECS strives to provide consistent and effective communication channels for air, ground and maritime forces in the U.S. Central Command area of responsi

Fueling the fight at RIMPAC 22

01/07/2023

More than 180 Airmen from the 507th Air Refueling Wing here participated in Joint exercise Rim of the Pacific 2022, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, July 27-Aug. 2, 2022. During the exercise, 186 Okies and five KC 135R Stratotankers flew 32 sorties totaling over 133 flight hours and offloaded more than 1,000 pounds of fuel.

Chinese Military Experts Alarmed By US Air Force’s Capability To Launch Cruise Missiles From Cargo Aircraft

01/07/2023

The Chinese military leaders appear alarmed by the novel tactics employed by the US Air Force (USAF). In particular, the USAF’s efforts to launch cruise missiles out of cargo aircraft have been perceived as a worrying development by military experts in China.

Iran’s Su-35 Aircraft Procurement Is More Dangerous Than You Think

01/07/2023

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

China’s future carrier-borne stealth fighter J-35 images emerge

01/03/2023

New images of one of the J-35 prototypes have appeared on Chinese social networks, evidence that the development program continues to advance at a good pace. China, from time to time, makes its defense progress known by leaking poor quality images of the prototypes of its military aircraft under development on the social networks it controls.

Japan: Jets scrambled to watch Chinese aircraft carrier's operation in Pacific

01/03/2023

The Japanese government said it had to scramble fighter jets and send aircraft along with warships as it monitors the operation of China's Liaoning aircraft carrier conducting naval exercises in the Pacific. Japan said it sent warships and aircraft over the last two weeks to keep an eye on five Chinese warships and the Liaoning aircraft carrier as it conducts maneuvers.

US Air Force & US Navy Fighter Jets Engage In Dogfight; F-15 Eagle Battled F/A-18 Super Hornet In Mock Drills

01/03/2023

Cruise shared a promotional picture on Twitter featuring ‘Maverick’ (the callsign of Tom Cruise’s character in the movie) looking at a F/A-18E/F Super Hornet with the phrase “Feel the Need” superimposed on it. The USAF responded to this tweet, saying, “If Maverick had a need for speed, he’d hop into one of our F-15E Strike Eagles! #DYK: They have a top speed of 1,875 miles per hour.”

US Air Force temporarily deploys six fighter jets to Israeli airbase

01/03/2023

The United States Air Force on Monday deployed six fighter jets to an Israeli Air Force base in southern Israel, as part of a military tactic to constantly disperse its aircraft at various airbases. According to the IAF, during the deployment at the Nevatim Airbase, the six F-15s would conduct joint drills with Israel’s fleet of F-35 stealth fighters and a squadron of intelligence-gathering Gulfstream G550 planes.

Russia targets Ukraine facilities involved in drones production: MoD

01/02/2023

Russia's Defense Ministry confirmed that it hit "the facilities of the military-industrial complex of Ukraine," which is involved in the production of drones. In a statement, the Russian Ministry said the strikes destroyed "storage facilities and launch sites" for the drones, adding that "the aim of the strike was achieved."