Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Ukraine not getting jet fighters ‘under any circumstances’ in coming weeks – Macron

02/11/2023

Macron said priority should be given to “more useful” and “faster” types of weapons, in the later case meaning ones that could quickly be brought into battle by Ukraine. Despite Ukraine having already requested fighter aircraft several times over the past few months, Macron said that in his opinion the supply of combat aircraft “today does not meet (Ukraine’s) needs.”

Why China's and Russia's 5th-generation stealth jets don't quite live up to the hype, according to a former US Navy pilot

02/11/2023

Beijing and Moscow have increasingly close military ties, sharing hardware and technology. Each has also touted the capabilities of their respective latest jet fighters — even as some experts have continued to downplay the purported attributes.

Fighter jets for Ukraine: The challenges of giving warplanes to Kyiv

02/11/2023

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky spent much of the past week touring European capitals, appealing to leaders to send his country fighter jets. At the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukraine was believed to have around 120 combat capable aircraft - mainly consisting of aging Soviet-era MiG-29s and Su-27s. But officials say they need up to 200 jets to match Moscow's air-power - which is thought to be five or six times greater than Kyiv's.

U.S. Shoots Down High-Altitude Object Over Alaska

02/11/2023

The Pentagon shot down an unidentified object over frozen waters around Alaska on Friday at the order of President Biden, according to U.S. officials, less than a week after a U.S. fighter jet brought down a Chinese spy balloon over the Atlantic. U.S. officials said they could not immediately confirm whether the object was a balloon, but it was traveling at an altitude that made it a potential threat to civilian aircraft.

Sweden's Saab pitches both single, 2-seater variants of Gripen fighter jet to IAF

02/11/2023

As India continues its hunt for 114 combat jets, Swedish aerospace and defence major Saab on Thursday pitched its single- and two-seater variants of the Gripen combat aircraft to the Indian Air Force.

Britain to train Ukraine combat fighter pilots

02/10/2023

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has committed to training Ukrainian combat jet pilots, according to a statement made ahead of a Feb. 8 visit to London by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Sunak also offered to bolster other initiatives, including training Ukrainian marines and supplying unspecified longer-range weapons. The deal could also be expanded to include military helicopter pilots, according to recent testimony given to lawmakers.

Ukraine war: Zelensky takes fighter jet bid to EU leaders

02/10/2023

Ukraine's leader has called on EU leaders to provide fighter jets and arms for the war against Russia, on his second trip abroad since the war began. "We have to enhance the dynamics of our co-operation, we have to do it faster than the aggressor," said Volodymyr Zelensky. He was earlier given a standing ovation at the European Parliament in Brussels.

North Korea's antique fighter jets are still keeping the US and South Korea on their toes

02/09/2023

North Korea's missile program had a record-setting year in 2022, but Pyongyang has been using its aging air force to keep its neighbors on their toes as well. On October 6, 12 North Korean jets were detected practicing air-to-ground attacks near the DMZ, prompting South Korea to scramble 30 of its fighters. Two days later, North Korea conducted a massive aerial drill reportedly involving as many as 150 aircraft.

Dual-use airfields and expressway strips: A great asset for air power and nation building

02/07/2023

Airport development being a capital intensive and ‘long lead time’ project of national interest, it is desirable that requirements of both Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Civil Aviation converge so as to optimally utilise the newly constructed airports

US Air Force Prepares For ‘Ultimate Clash’ With China’s J-20 Stealth Fighters; USAF Gets 1st Fifth-Gen Aggressor Pilot

02/07/2023

The US Air Force (USAF) has finally got its first fifth-generation aggressor pilot for the recently reactivated 65th Aggressor Squadron (AGRS) at Nellis Air Force Base (AFB), Nevada. The Commander of the USAF’s Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center (AFOTEC), Brig. Gen. Trey “Lou” Rawls has become the first general officer to be certified as a fifth-generation aggressor pilot on the F-35A Lightning II aircraft with the 65th AGRS.

Ukraine working on receiving first squadron of foreign combat aircraft Foreign Minister

02/07/2023

Kuleba specified that the base model for Ukraine, considering the supply and access to maintenance, is the American F-16. But this will not necessarily be the first foreign combat aircraft that Ukraine will receive. "I have no doubt that we will open the possibility of supplying combat aircraft," Kuleba emphasised. He added that the only barriers for partners to provide combat aircraft to Ukraine are psychological.

India’s LCA Navy And MIG-29K Trap Aboard New Aircraft Carrier Vikrant

02/07/2023

The Indian Ministry of Defense announced the maiden landing of an LCA Navy and MIG-29K fighters aboard the Indian Navy's new aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. INS Vikrant is the first indigenous Aircraft Carrier and the most complex warship ever built by our country. It is a matter of pride that the ship has been designed in-house by Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and constructed by M/s Cochin Shipyard Limited. The ship had sailed for maiden Sea Trials on 04 Aug 21.

Canada deploys military aircraft over Haiti to disrupt gangs

02/06/2023

The Canadian government said on Sunday it deployed a military aircraft over Haiti to address what it called a "dire security situation" and to support efforts to disrupt the activities of Haitian gangs. Canada said in a statement that it supports the Haitian National Police and deployed a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) CP-140 Aurora long-range patrol aircraft in response to Haiti's request for support as violence continues to escalate in the country.

Western Combat Aircraft Could Deter Russian Attacks, Report Says

02/06/2023

Ukraine will need Western-made combat aircraft if it is to resecure its skies against Russian invaders, an examination of the air war over Ukraine has concluded. Kyiv’s ground-based air defense missiles have done well in repelling air attacks and preventing the Russian Air Force from achieving air superiority.

Egypt efforts to modernise aircraft inventory to drive defence expenditure at 3.9% through 2028

02/06/2023

The US provides Egypt with $1.3 billion of military assistance annually to facilitate the transition from the outdated Soviet era equipment to advanced equipment made in the US and other Western nations. Against this backdrop, Egypt’s defence expenditure spending, inclusive of the US military funding, is forecast to register a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.9 percent from $9.4 billion in 2024 to $11 billion in 2028, says GlobalData, a data and analytics company.

A Swedish-made fighter jet could tip the scales against Russia in Ukraine, but it might not get there any time soon

02/06/2023

Contrary to all expectations, Ukraine's air force remains in the fight almost a year after Putin launched his shambolic invasion. Yet feats of force preservation and adaptation mustn't obscure that the Air Force's Soviet-vintage MiG-29 and Su-27 fighters remain badly outranged by the radars and weapons of modernized Russian Su-30SM and Su-35S fighters and MiG-31BM interceptors. And while transfers of Soviet aircraft and aircraft parts have helped replace Ukrainian losses.

KF-16 Fighter Jet ‘Fires’ During US Defense Secretary’s Visit To Seoul; South Korea To Investigate The Incident

02/04/2023

On January 31, a South Korean KF-16 multi-role fighter aircraft accidentally fired a flare while in flight, prompting the country’s Air Force to investigate the incident, reported South Korea-based Hankyoreh daily. The misfire happened on the same day when Lee Jong-sup, the South Korean defense minister, and Lloyd Austin, the US defense secretary, met in Seoul’s Yongsan Defense Ministry building.

Manned Naval Aircraft

02/04/2023

In the naval domain, both fixed and rotary wing types perform a wide range of missions. These range from fast-jets flying from aircraft carriers for air-to-air and air-to-surface sorties to helicopters being used. One of the most prolific users of manned naval aircraft is the United States Navy and its NIMITZ class aircraft carriers.

What happened in the Russia-Ukraine war this week? Catch up with the must-read news and analysis

02/04/2023

Kyiv’s forces are preparing for the war’s most intense phase, world affairs editor Julian Borger reported from the Ukrainian town of Huliaipole 60 miles (100km) east of Zaporizhzhia city. Russia is relentlessly building up its forces while Vladimir Putin is moving the economy towards a war footing to churn out new tanks and missiles. The chief of the Russian general staff, Valery Gerasimov, has been put in direct charge of Ukrainian operations, a move seen by many analysts as presaging a major o

Stunning ‘Kill Rate’ In Ukraine, Germany To Include IRIS-T Systems In Its $18.5B Missile Defense Shield Program

02/03/2023

According to a defense ministry paper accessed by Reuters, Germany intends to buy eight IRIS-T air defense systems for its armed forces. The defense deal is listed as one of several planned purchases anticipated to be submitted for approval to parliament in the second quarter of 2023.

US, India seek joint production of GE jet engines for HAL’s combat aircraft

02/03/2023

President Joe Biden’s administration has promised to fast-track the approval the General Electric Company of the United States sought to produce in India the engines to power the combat aircraft manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. The Biden Administration also agreed to work with the American Congress to lower the barriers for the export of High-Performance Computing technology and source code from the US to India.

53rd Wing’s MUSTANGS: the future of agile data capture and ACE capability

02/03/2023

The 59th Test and Evaluation Squadron hit major milestones in the development and testing of their Multi-Utilization Secure Tactical and Network Ground Station, or MUSTANGS, through its recent participation in Pacific Edge 22. During the exercise, MUSTANGS proved its ability to process, curate, and send F-35A Lightning II data over-the-horizon to a reprogramming laboratory, all in a matter of minutes.

Air Guard Updates 148th Fighter Wing F-16s with Radar Pods

02/03/2023

Subject matter experts from Air Combat Command, Air Force Materiel Command, the Air National Guard, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Air Force Reserve Test Center and the 148th Fighter Wing exercised end-to-end employment of the recently fielded AN/ASQ-236 radar pod and planned how the Air National Guard will operationalize the pods for all ANG F-16 fighter aircraft.

Taiwan scrambles jets, missile systems after Chinese PLA aircraft cross median line

02/02/2023

Taiwan activated its missile systems and sent fighter jets into its skies after Chinese aircraft swarmed towards the democratic nation. It’s the latest in a series of provocative moves by Beijing, which views Taiwan as its own territory despite it never having been under Communist rule. Taiwan offers an alternative version of a China that is Western aligned with multi-party elections.

Air Force Says It Needs More Survivable Tankers By 2040

02/02/2023

The U.S. Air Force says it would like to have a fleet of next-generation aerial refueling tankers in service by 2040. At least for the time being, the service says that it is willing to consider a wide range of options for what the tankers might actually look like, but says they will need to be able to provide support in "contested scenarios." Lockheed Martin and Boeing have already been exploring relevant design concepts with blended wing-body planforms and that are at least somewhat stealthy.