Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

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.

Germany to send more Gepard anti-aircraft systems to Ukraine

06/25/2023

The plan was announced by the head of the Ukraine Situation Center of the German Defense Ministry, Brigadier General Christian Freuding, in the June 25 edition of the newspaper Die Welt in comments seen in advance by dpa. According to the report, Germany intends to provide Ukraine with 45 more Gepard systems by the end of the year in its defensive struggle against Russia.

A US Aircraft Carrier Will Make a Rare Vietnam Port Call as Countries Compete for Favor in SE Asia

06/24/2023

An American aircraft carrier was due to make a port call in Vietnam on Sunday — a rare visit by one of the U.S. Navy's biggest ships that comes as Washington and Beijing both step up efforts to bolster ties with Southeast Asian nations.

S.Korea's military aircraft exports to NATO get major boost

06/24/2023

South Korea has concluded a deal with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on mutual recognition of certification of military aircraft airworthiness for flight safety. The country is the first in Asia pushing for such recognition with NATO.

Air Mobility Command celebrates 100th year of air refueling with community flyovers across the U.S.

06/24/2023

The United States Air Force will be conducting flyovers across 50 states on June 27 to honor 100 years of aerial refueling excellence. More than 150 tankers from 26 Total Force installations are scheduled to participate with KC-135 Stratotankers, KC-10 Extenders, and KC-46 Pegasus aircraft.

Michigan Flyovers Honor 100 Years of Aerial Refueling

06/23/2023

The Michigan Air National Guard will conduct flyovers of nine Michigan communities on June 27, as part of the United States Air Force’s commemoration of 100 years of aerial refueling excellence. Tuesday’s flyovers will allow Michigan residents to witness this key aspect of the Air Force mission as KC-135 Stratotankers fly in formation with A-10 Thunderbolt IIs

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.