Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

US military orders 3 new F-35 test aircraft to replace current force – Pentagon

01/26/2023

Lockheed Martin has won a $320 million US Navy modification contract to construct three new F-35 Joint Strike Fighters to be used as flight science test aircraft to replace the current aging testing force, the Defense Department announced in a press release.

Rwanda fires on Congo military aircraft accused of violation

01/26/2023

Rwanda has fired on a Congolese military aircraft it alleges violated its airspace in a new escalation of tensions between the neighbors that has set off alarm across central Africa. A Rwandan government statement said “defensive measures” were taken against a Sukhoi-25 from Congo on Tuesday evening, and it urged Congo to “stop this aggression.” Rwanda’s state broadcaster shared unverified video of what appeared to be a projectile fired at an aircraft.

Ukraine eyes fighter jets after tanks: ‘This is what we want’

01/26/2023

Ukraine says it will now push for Western fourth-generation fighter jets such as the American F-16 after securing dozens of high-end battle tanks from NATO allies. Ukraine won a huge boost for its troops as the United States and Germany announced plans to provide heavy tanks for Kyiv on Wednesday.

DoD delays key F-35 tests, lowering chance of 2023 production decision

01/25/2023

The Pentagon’s chief weapons tester fears a crucial test for the F-35 program is in danger of slipping further, perhaps into fiscal 2024. And even the best-case scenario for carrying out the series of tests in the Joint Simulation Environment means the chances of an F-35 full-rate production decision happening in fiscal 2023 are rapidly dwindling.

Ukrainians claim they shot down 3 'deadliest' Russian helicopters in half an hour

01/25/2023

The Ukrainian Air force on Tuesday claimed via a tweet that they downed three Russian helicopters in just half an hour. Reportedly, the three Ka-52 choppers, also known as The Black Shark, a single-seat aircraft costing £12 million, arguably the best combat helicopters in the world, were brought down on Monday night.

Leaders Detail Future of National Guard

01/25/2023

The National Guard remains an integral part of U.S. military might, and it's changing to remain effective for the future, Army Gen. Daniel R. Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau, said today. Hokanson and Senior Enlisted Advisor Tony L. Whitehead, the senior enlisted advisor to the chief of the National Guard Bureau, held a wide-ranging news conference on the challenges facing the National Guard and its 430,000 service members.

Marines Buy 2 XQ-58A Valkyrie Drones for ‘Collaborative Killer’ Concept Testing

01/25/2023

The Marine Corps used a new Pentagon program designed to quickly prototype systems for conflict in the Pacific to buy two unmanned aerial vehicles last month for $15.5 million, a service official told USNI News on Tuesday.

First F-16 Block 70 Jet Makes Maiden Flight

01/25/2023

On Jan. 24, 2023, at 09.17AM ET, the first F-16 Block 70 jet carried out its inaugural flight from the Lockheed Martin’s Greenville, South Carolina site. Piloted Lockheed Martin test pilots Dwayne “Pro” Opella and Monessa “Siren” Balzhiser, the aircraft remained airborne for about 50 minutes conducting various airworthiness checks, including engine, flight control and fuel system checks, as well as basic aircraft handling.

Turkish 'Bayraktar Kizilelma' UAV carries out second flight successfully (PHOTO/VIDEO)

01/24/2023

The Turkish ‘Bayraktar Kizilelma’ (Red Apple Fighter) UAV has successfully completed the second flight, the Baykar Technology company told Trend. According to the company, the identification of unmanned combat aircraft systems was tested during the second flight. The ‘Bayraktar Kizilelma’ project was launched in 2021 and in less than a year, in record time, after one month of testing, the first flight took place.

The Air Force is swapping out Eielson’s aging fighter jets

01/24/2023

The Air Force has begun replacing Eielson Air Force Base’s aging fleet of F-16’s with upgraded models of the fighter jet. The first two of the newer jets arrived last week. The two newer F-16 Fighting Falcons are both about 35 years old, a couple of years younger than the jets they’ll replace. More importantly, the incoming F-16s have avionics that were updated five years ago, nearly a decade after then the old jets got their last upgrade.

Norway to continue Nato’s Air Policing mission in Iceland

01/24/2023

The Nato Allied Air Command (AIRCOM) has announced that Norwegian F-35 aircraft have been certified to continue their Air Policing mission in High North region. Provided by Nato’s Combined Air Operations Centre in Uedem, Germany, the certification will allow the Norwegian forces to continue the Air Policing task until February.

F-16 Modernization Increasingly Important For Turkey As Greece Gradually Gains Unprecedented Airpower Advantage

01/24/2023

Turkey is gradually coming to terms with the reality that the Greece's air force could soon field a more technologically advanced fighter fleet in just a few years. "If our project to modernize the F-16 aircraft fails and Greece realizes its own projects, the Greek side will gain the upper hand in terms of combat aircraft in 2025," said retired Turkish Air Force commander General Abidin Unal. "Therefore, our program to procure 40 F-16 Viper aircraft and modernize up to 80 F-16s is vital."

Apparently, Russia has arms: amid Ukraine war, it supplies to Africa

01/23/2023

Apparently, Moscow has no intention of severing military-political ties established years ago, but against the background of its war with Ukraine. Last Friday showed similar intentions. On January 19, Mali received a new arms shipment from Russia. Training aircraft used as light attack aircraft, helicopters, and fighter aircraft. Although the weapon is Soviet-era and quite outdated, it raises questions about the stockpiles of the Russian Federation.

Nigeria Expecting Delivery of 27 Fighter Jets, Attack Helicopters to Boost Fight against Terrorism

01/23/2023

Nigeria’s Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Oladayo Amao, on Saturday said the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) was expecting the delivery of additional new platforms, which President Muhammadu Buhari approved for the service. Amao, who made the disclosure during an operational visit to the Nigerian Air Force Institute of Safety and 209 Quick Response Group, Ipetu-Ijesa, Osun State, stated that the NAF had effectively operationalised the usage of new and modern platform in the battlefield.

Ukraine is fighting for all of us. Now Europe must fight Putin too

01/23/2023

Europe must fight. The realisation has been slow in coming. Yet almost one year after Russia invaded Ukraine, most western governments finally understand Kyiv’s war for survival is their war, too. It’s a fight to the death for Ukraine, but also for European democracy, rights and values. It’s a fight against the historical evils of fascism and imperialism embodied by Vladimir Putin, a dictator for our age.

J-10CE AND JF-17 – PAKISTAN’S EMERGING HIGH-LOW MIX

01/23/2023

Through this decade, the J-10CE and JF-17 Block-3 will form the new mainstay of the Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) combat aircraft fleet. However, one can readily guess that the J-10CE and JF-17 will make up a “high-low mix” – i.e., a combination of a larger, “high-end” fighter complemented by a smaller, “low-end” fighters in greater numbers. In fact, with every generation, the PAF had always built a high-low mix, at least since the start of its own jet age when it inducted both the F-86 and F-104.

Beyond Su-35s: The Russian Helicopters And Missile Systems Iran Might Soon Acquire

01/23/2023

Iran expects to receive the first of the 24 Su-35 Flanker-E fighter jets it ordered from Russia as soon as Mar. 21, the Persian New Year. Tehran also claims it has ordered helicopters and missile systems. Shahriar Heidari, a member of the Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, told Iranian state media that Iran has ordered other Russian military equipment, including helicopters, air defense systems, and other missile systems, and expects to receive them soon.

Israel said to send formal request to US for 25 advanced F-15-EX fighter jets

01/22/2023

Israel has sent a formal request to the United States to purchase 25 advanced F-15-EX fighter jets with an eye to boosting its capabilities to strike Iran, the Breaking Defense news site reported. The Defense Ministry sent an official Letter of Request (LOR) to the US last week, the Thursday report said, citing industry sources. The LOR is the first step in the process that will now see Israel and the US negotiate over the exact number of jets and the price of the Boeing-manufactured warplanes.

Eye on China, Indian Air Force to conduct air combat drill in northeast

01/22/2023

Amid heightened tension with China in the eastern sector of the Line of Actual Control due to the 32-month-long military confrontation in eastern Ladakh, the Indian Air Force (IAF) will conduct a major air combat exercise with frontline fighters, helicopters, other aircraft, and drones in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and other northeastern states early next month, reported TOI.

Up Close And Personal With The One And Only Kawasaki EC-1 Electronic Warfare Aircraft

01/22/2023

The Kawasaki C-1 is a twin-engine military transport aircraft developed and manufactured by Kawasaki Heavy Industries for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF). Developed beginning in 1966 with production started in 1971, the Kawasaki C-1, between 1971 and 1981, the JASDF was delivered 31 C-1s that served with three squadrons: the 401 Hikotai at Komaki, 402 Hikotai at Iruma and 403 Hikotai at Miho.

Germany Allocates A Whopping $43 Billion For Its Sixth-Gen Fighter Jet Project, The FCAS

01/22/2023

The report said that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron would discuss the German-French initiative, known as the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), when they meet on January 22 in Paris. However, the report does not disclose which aspects of the project will be examined in depth by the two leaders. FCAS plans to produce a prototype by bringing together Dassault Aviation, the developer of the Rafale fighter, and Airbus, one of the firms behind the Eurofighter Typhoo

Jordan inks deal for 12 Block 70 F-16s from Lockheed Martin

01/22/2023

The Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF) Command has signed a deal to buy 12 Block 70 F-16 fighter jets from the US in a bid to help modernize its aging air force. As announced by the armed forces’ official website, the deal was signed Thursday by Royal Air Force Commander Brigadier General Pilot Muhammad Fathi Hiasat and US Deputy Chief of mission in Amman Rohit Nepal.

RAF jets arrive in Nevada for major exercise alongside US and Australia

01/20/2023

A large Royal Air Force detachment of more than 300 personnel has arrived in the US to take part in a major training exercise. Typhoon and Voyager ground crews and pilots from RAF Lossiemouth and RAF Brize Norton have deployed to Nevada, together with ground support personnel from across the Air Force. Exercise Red Flag 2023 will see RAF jets join forces with combat aircraft from the United States Air Force, US Navy, US Marine Corps and the Royal Australian Air Force.

US, China ‘Mid-Air Scare’: PLAAF Is Using Fresh, Out Of College Fighter Pilots To Challenge USAF Warplanes – State Media

01/20/2023

Chinese fighter pilots fresh out of training college have been assigned to combat-ready patrol missions around the country’s southeast coast as the air force battles an increase in close-range surveillance flights by foreign aircraft, Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported citing a CCTV report.

Ukrainian Super Puma Helicopter Crash Near Kyiv Kills 18, Including Ukraine’s Ministry Of Interior

01/19/2023

A Ukrainian H-225 Super Puma helicopter has crashed at 08:20AM LT on Jan. 18, 2023, in Brovary, an eastern suburb of the capital Kyiv, Ukraine. The building of the National Emergency Service was damaged with subsequent fire, glazing in a fourteen-story residential building and three cars. At 09:06AM, the fire in the building was contained to an area of ??500 square meters, and at 09:28AM it was extinguished.