Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Breathing AIR into MDF reprogramming

04/01/2023

The Crows at the 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing (SWW) are evaluating a new process that could change how the U.S. Air Force approaches Electromagnetic Warfare Integrated Reprogramming (EWIR) to better adapt to wartime reprogramming timelines and support Agile Combat Employment (ACE) operations through a process called Agile Integrated Reprogramming (AIR).

CAS aircraft arrive in Middle East

04/01/2023

The first A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft arrived in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, March 31, 2023. The combat air support aircraft arrived ahead of schedule following the approval for the platform to return to theater. They will fall underneath the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing at Al Dhafra AB.

Seven allied nations conduct joint training over Baltic states

04/01/2023

The Nato Allied Air Command has announced that more than 20 fighter planes from Finland and other allied nations have carried out a large-scale training exercise. Conducted over the Baltic states, the exercise was undertaken by air forces from the UK, the US, Estonia, France, Finland, the Netherlands and Germany.

Airbus’s Drone Aerial Refueling Demo Is A Glimpse Of Air Combat Future

04/01/2023

An Airbus A310 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) testbed aircraft has demonstrated its ability to guide and control drones while in flight without direct human interaction, according to the company. The test has laid the early groundwork for Airbus’ future plans to provide its MRTTs with the ability to autonomously refuel uncrewed aircraft, a concept that many air forces around the globe will have to adopt as airpower rapidly evolves towards uncrewed operations.

ALLIED AND FINNISH FIGHTERS INTEGRATE OVER THE BALTIC STATES

03/31/2023

Allied and Partner fighter aircraft conducted a large-scale training exercise over the Baltic States, March 29. Finnish F/A-18s landed in Amari Air Base, Estonia and took part in large-scale training drills over the Baltic States with up to 20 fighters involved. Allied units based along NATO’s eastern flank including French Rafales, US F-15s, Dutch F-35s, Estonian L-39s and Eurofighters from the joint British and German detachment in Estonia were involved in the exercise.

F-35s Arrive at Kadena as F-15 Withdrawl Continues

03/31/2023

F-35 Lightning II fighters arrived on Okinawa this month as the Air Force continues to swap out its permanently deployed F-15 Eagles at Kadena Air Base, Japan. The 18th Wing at Kadena said the 355th Fighter Squadron from Eielson Air Base, Alaska began the deployment on March 28. It is unclear how many F-35s are now operating there. Air Force officials declined to provide the exact number of F-35s at Kadena or say when more F-15s would depart, citing operational security.

Sweden and Brazil benefit as Saab tests oxygen and anti-gravity system for Gripen F

03/31/2023

Saab, the Swedish aerospace and defence company, is testing the oxygen and anti-gravity system of its new Gripen F aircraft in extreme conditions to identify potential deficiencies early in development. The tests are being conducted in the Life Support rig at Saab’s facility in Linkoping, Sweden, where the Gripen aircraft’s systems are pushed to their limits. The Life Support rig is installed in a high-altitude chamber that enables Saab engineers to simulate high altitude with extremely low pre

19 AW pioneers new C-130 Hot-Integrated Combat Turn capabilities

03/30/2023

The 19th Airlift Wing demonstrated their newly developed concept of operations for C-130 Hot-Integrated Combat Turns, March 27, 2023, at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas. A C-130 Hot-Integrated Combat Turn focuses on a minimum turnaround of aircraft and recovery launch times through simultaneous fueling and loading/unloading of cargo, aircraft reconfiguration and other servicing with all engines running.

USAF adds 54 AESA radars to F-16 modernisation order

03/30/2023

The US Air Force (USAF) has ordered an additional 54 air combat radar systems as part of the service’s bid to modernise its fleet of Lockheed Martin F-16 fighters. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center on 28 March disclosed a contract with Northrop Grumman for 54 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars.

US F-35 Fighters From Alaska Land In Japan To Guarantee Continuous Fighter Presence In The Volatile Region

03/30/2023

On March 28, the US Air Force announced the arrival of advanced multi-role F-35A Lightning II fighter planes at Kadena Air Base. These cutting-edge aircraft are being deployed to replace the outdated F-15 Eagle fleet. According to the statement from the service, the deployment of F-35s will guarantee a continuous fighter presence as the F-15C/D Eagles fleet of Kadena is gradually brought back to the United States.

Lightning IIs arrive at Kadena to maintain advanced fighter presence

03/29/2023

F-35A Lightning IIs from the 355th Fighter Squadron, Eielson Air Force Base, arrived at Kadena Air Base, Japan, March 28, 2023, to ensure continuous fighter presence through the phased return of Kadena’s fleet of F-15C/D Eagles to the United States. While deployed to the Keystone of the Pacific, the Lightning IIs will work in conjunction with other fighter units at Kadena Air Base to ensure continued steady-state fighter capabilities in the region.

Netherlands open to supplying combat jets to Ukraine, says PM

03/29/2023

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said Monday that his country remains open to sending fighter jets to Ukraine. “In the Netherlands, we don't see any taboos, we don't rule anything out, and we consult intensively with our partners. But at the moment, no decisions have been made to train pilots for combat aircraft with us. Nothing has been decided here yet,” Rutte said at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in the Dutch port city of Rotterdam.

Kendall: Air Force ‘More Committed’ to HACM After Latest Unsuccessful ARRW Test

03/29/2023

While the Air Force released scant details about the latest test of its AGM-183 Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon late last week, Secretary Frank Kendall told a Congressional panel it was “not a success”—and given ARRW’s checkered test history overall, Kendall indicated the service may shift focus to its other hypersonic program, the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile.

UK F-35 fleet will receive logistical support

03/29/2023

The US Department of Defence has awarded Lockheed Martin with a $210m modified contract on 27 March to provide wide-ranging logistical support for the F-35B Lightning II fleet in the UK Royal Air Force (RAF).

Part-Time Wingmen: CCAs Won’t Always Be ‘Tethered’ to Crewed Platforms

03/29/2023

Collaborative Combat Aircraft will be able to carry out missions without direction from crewed aircraft and may not always fly as their “wingmen,” in order to maximize employment flexibility, Air Force leaders developing and testing the new platforms said March 27.

Ukraine crews conduct 'scary' missions in aged Soviet helicopters

03/28/2023

Anatoliy points to the few reinforced panels inside one of Ukraine's Mi-8 helicopters where he spends five-week shifts firing rockets at Russian positions. "This is a joke, not armour," says the 39-year-old gunner, who has taken part in some 300 combat missions since last spring. As President Volodymyr Zelensky pushes Western allies for modern weapons, pilots in eastern Ukraine admit their ancient Soviet-made helicopters are outplayed technologically by Russia.

USS Nimitz carrier to arrive in S. Korea in apparent warning to N. Korea

03/28/2023

An imposing U.S. aircraft carrier is set to arrive in the southeastern port city of Busan on Tuesday, officials here said, in yet another show of America's military might against growing North Korean threats. The nuclear-powered USS Nimitz carrier is slated to dock at ROK Fleet Command in the city, 325 kilometers south of Seoul, after its strike group trained with the South Korean Navy in the international waters south of the southern island of Jeju the previous day.

Poland won’t send all its MiG-29 jets to Ukraine, says Polish deputy FM

03/28/2023

“No, I don’t think we’ll give all MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine,” he said. Jablonski noted the transfer of combat aircraft to Ukraine would take place gradually. “First of all, for these deliveries to be effective,” the official said. “At the same time, we must bolster Poland’s security.”

How Self-Flying F-16s Will Enable Future Fighter Drones

03/28/2023

The Air Force is rigging F-16s to fly autonomously, but that’s not the main point of automating one of the service’s most numerous fighter jets, the commander of the Air Force Test Center said Monday. Instead, the Venom project aims to refine an AI engine to fly a wide variety of today’s and tomorrow’s aircraft.

F/A-XX Future Navy Fighter’s Big Funding Points To Prototypes

03/28/2023

The U.S. Navy plans to request more than $9 billion in funding for its Next Generation Fighter aircraft, or F/A-XX, over the next five fiscal years. This, together with other details from the service's latest budget request for the 2024 Fiscal Year, may point to possible plans to acquire prototypes of its next-generation stealth combat jet design, or at least get closer to doing so, before the end of the decade. Of course, it's very possible that early developmental demonstrator test articles ha

Ukraine's army aircraft inflicting significant losses on Russians – Ground Forces commander

03/27/2023

Ukraine's army aircraft are continuously inflicting significant losses on Russian invaders despite the powerful countermeasures of the enemy's air defense system. According to Ukrinform, Ukrainian Ground Forces Commander Oleksandr Syrskyi said this in a Telegram post. According to him, in the first days of the large-scale invasion, the Russians expected to destroy Ukrainian army aircraft. However, even one year on, Ukrainian helicopters continue to strike enemies wherever needed.

Ukraine War: Russia Ramps Up Production Of Tu-160M ‘White Swan’ Nuclear Bombers That Can Now Carry ‘Modern Weapons’

03/27/2023

Following a visit by its Director General Sergey Chemezov to the Gorbunov Aviation Plant in Kazan, Russia’s state firm Rostec announced on March 24 that the upgrades to the Tu-160M strategic missile-carrying bomber would allow it to carry new weaponry, including modern armaments.

USAF Aerospace Engineer explains how Serbs Were Able to Shoot Down An F-117 Stealth Fighter during Operation Allied Force

03/27/2023

The F-117 Nighthawk was developed in response to the urgent national need for a jet fighter that could operate completely undetected by the enemy. In true Skunk Works fashion (Skunk Works is Lockheed Advanced Development Projects in Burbank, California) it was developed rapidly and in complete secrecy.

Myanmar’s military jet fuel supplies hit by latest US sanctions

03/26/2023

Jet fuel for Myanmar’s armed forces has been targeted in the latest sanctions imposed by the United States on the country’s military regime and crony businesses. The US Treasury Department said on Friday that it had imposed sanctions on two people and six entities connected to Myanmar’s military, who had enabled the regime’s continuing atrocities.

Putin says Russia will station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus

03/26/2023

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced plans on Saturday to station tactical nuclear weapons in neighboring Belarus, a warning to the West as it steps up military support for Ukraine. Putin said the move was triggered by Britain's decision this past week to provide Ukraine with armor-piercing rounds containing depleted uranium.