Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Inclement weather forces BAF to postpone air-to-air firing exercise

10/04/2022

Bangladesh Air Force on Monday had to postpone its air-to-air live shell and missile firing exercise, slated for October 2-6, due to inclement weather. The firing exercise planned at Kutubdia firing range VGD-2 and VGD-43 by different combat aircraft of BAF was postponed due to bad weather, the Inter Services Public Relation (ISPR) Directorate said on Monday.

Swedish jets play defensive role in Finnish Air Force exercises

10/04/2022

The Finnish Air Force's main exercise of the year began on Monday. Around 3,700 personnel in various parts of Finland will take part, including some 2,400 reservists. The annual six-day exercise is dubbed Ruska, referring to autumn foliage. All units of the Finnish Air Force are involved in the manoeuvres, flying about 50 aircraft, mostly US-built F-18 Hornet multirole combat aircraft.

Chinese Military Aircraft Violated Korea’s Air Defense Zone Over 70 Times Last Year, Defense Ministry Reveals

10/04/2022

Chinese aircraft incursions have been a persistent source of conflict with its neighbors, including Taiwan and Japan. In the last few years, these incursions have grown in frequency and ferocity, with the majority of the incursions serving as evidence of the “new normal.” Furthermore, dozens of Chinese and Russian aircraft flew into Korea’s air defense identification zone (KADIZ) in 2021, according to the latest data from the Korean Defense Ministry.

Preliminary FARE kit test on KC-135

10/03/2022

The Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Test Center (AATC) - KC-135 Test Detachment, working with the 151st Air Refueling Wing, Salt Lake City, Utah, continues its transformation and modernization efforts on the KC-135R Stratotanker by testing the MICRO Forward Area Refueling Equipment (FARE) Kit on the 65-year-old aircraft, ensuring it has the best warfighting capabilities.

Russo-Ukrainian War. Day 221: The Ukrainian army liberates Lyman

10/03/2022

The Ukrainian army liberates Lyman. Ukrainian troops are continuing to conduct counteroffensive operations in Kherson Oblast and setting conditions for future advances. Russian forces conducted ground attacks in the Bakhmut and Avdiivka areas of Donetsk Oblast. The Russian army launched 4 missiles, 16 air strikes, carried out more than 75 rounds of anti-aircraft fire at military and civilian objects on the territory of Ukraine and used the Iranian-made “Shahid-136” UAV.

Indian MiG-21 fleet that shot down PAF F-16 received MiG-29s

10/03/2022

India has four squadrons of Soviet Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 supersonic jet fighters. The four MiG-21 squadrons of the Indian Air Force are called Bison. New Delhi has already decided that the four MiG-21 Bison squadrons will be equipped with MiG-29s, thereby consigning the famous MiG-21s to history.

Ominous sign China is quietly preparing to invade Taiwan

10/03/2022

China’s flashy displays of combat aircraft and warships circling Taiwan are more about propaganda than practicality. But the quiet practicality of preparing civilian car ferries for war shows Beijing is getting serious about invading. For months, international military analysts have been connecting the dots.

Indo-Pacific Component Commanders Stress Importance of Partners

10/02/2022

All the military component commanders of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command stress the need for partnership in the immense region of the world. Reporters traveling with Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III interviewed with the component commanders: Air Force Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach, the commander of Pacific Air Forces; Navy Adm. Samuel Paparo, commander of the Navy's Pacific Fleet, and Army Maj. Gen. Peter N. Benchoff, the chief of staff of U.S. Army Pacific.

N.Korea fires fourth missile in a week as South flexes military muscle

10/02/2022

North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea off its east coast on Saturday, hours before South Korea staged a large military show, displaying stealth fighters and its own missiles. Pyongyang’s fourth launch in a week comes amid a flurry of military muscle-flexing by countries in the region, including joint anti-submarine exercises on Friday by the navies of South Korea, the United States and Japan.

Russia retired SEAD MiG-25BM, which could have won in Ukraine

10/02/2022

The expectations after February 24 were as follows – that Russia would disable Ukraine’s air defense systems in a short time. It kind of worked, but today we count the completion of that mission as a failure. Ukraine had and received from partner countries the Soviet S-300s. The US supplied [and continues to supply] low-altitude handheld systems such as the Stinger.

Russia withdraws its troops from a key city encircled by Ukrainian forces

10/02/2022

After being encircled by Ukrainian forces, Russia pulled troops out Saturday from an eastern Ukrainian city that it had been using as a front-line hub. It was the latest victory for the Ukrainian counteroffensive that has humiliated and angered the Kremlin.

Short On Rafales, France To Order ‘Most Advanced’ 42 F4 Standard Dassault Fighter Jets In 2023

10/01/2022

France’s Ministry of Defense has revealed a 2023 budget worth billions more than the previous year to start a new “war economy,” driven by a directive to make significant investments in its defense industrial base. The €43.9 billion ($42.8 billion) projected for the French military is an increase of 36% over the 2017 budget and 7.4% over 2022 finances.

US and five allied nations participate in European Partnership Flight event

10/01/2022

The US, along with five allied and partner nations participated in a week-long event to discuss the F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft’s maintenance and operations. The five participant nations included Bulgaria, Poland, Belgium, Portugal and Romania. The multilateral event, known as European Partnership Flight (EPF), was held in Bucharest, Romania, on 19 September.

‘It has to work’: Inside the military’s race to solve an ejection seat safety conundrum

10/01/2022

It was during a routine inspection in April that an Air Force technician found a single faulty Cartridge Actuated Device in the ejection seat of an F-35 at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The device — known colloquially as CAD — contained no magnesium powder, a necessary material for generating the explosive charge that allows a pilot to begin ejecting from an aircraft.

Kuwait Receives Another Two Eurofighter Typhoon Aircraft

10/01/2022

The Kuwait Air Force has taken delivery of another two Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft, bringing the total in the country to six. The delivery is part of a larger order for 28 fighters to boost the country’s military capabilities. The arrival of two new Kuwaiti Eurofighters was made possible with the support of the Italian Air Force, which provided air-to-air refueling through a KC-767A tanker aircraft.

Indonesia Reiterates Commitment To KF-21 Fighter Amidst Progress With Testing

10/01/2022

Indonesia has reiterated its commitment to the KF-21 Boramae fighter under co-developed by South Korea and Indonesia. Indonesia’s deputy defense Muhammad Herindra visited Sacheon Air Base in South Korea on September 28. He met Korea’s defense minister Lee Jong-Sup as well as Minister of Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) Eom Dong Hwan. The successful flight testing of the KF-21 is a tangible manifestation of the successful development of this fighter and is a long-awaited progress

Air exercise in the Baltic: between defense and deterrence

09/30/2022

For two days, two dozen aircraft and ground forces jointly trained for air defense operations in the Baltic. This exercise is part of NATO's recently adopted defense and deterrence policy. It is also taking place not far from the Kaliningrad exclave, whose Russian military potential is constantly monitored by numerous reconnaissance and electronic warfare aircraft.

Ukraine Said To Have Mauled A Russian Fighter Regiment, Shooting Down A Quarter Of Its Crews

09/30/2022

The Ukrainian armed forces’ aggressive counterattacks in the south and east starting in late August have chewed up several of the Russian military’s most important formations. The elite 1st Guards Tanks Army and its supporting 144th Guards Motor Rifle Division, to name two. Also, the essential 3rd Army Corps—the Kremlin’s main reserve formation for the Ukraine war.

Iwakuni-based Marine Squadrons Conduct AIM-9X Missile Live Fire

09/30/2022

Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 12 conducted an AIM-9X missile live fire from the southern coast of Japan to exercise their air-to-air warfare capabilities. Fourth generation F/A-18 Hornets and 5th generation F-35B Lightning II aircraft from the group’s fighter squadrons, Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA(AW)) 533, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121, and VMFA-242 respectively, participated in the exercise.

The F-22 prototype first flew 32 years ago. Now Congress and the Air Force are at odds over the stealth jet's future.

09/30/2022

On September 29, 1990, a unique aircraft took off for the first time in Palmdale, California. During its 18-minute flight, it reached a speed of about 290 mph and a height of 12,500 feet before landing at Edwards Air Force Base. The aircraft was the YF-22, the test demonstrator for what would become the F-22 Raptor stealth fighter.

With a mix of donated weapons, Ukraine’s defenders adapt in war

09/29/2022

Following Kyiv’s successful counteroffensive against Russia’s invading forces, U.S. defense officials say Ukrainians have found new ways to use a patchwork of donated weaponry more effectively. The war has edged closer to a stalemate as it passes the seven-month mark. Faced with recent battlefield setbacks for his forces in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has tried to raise the stakes by threatening to use the nuclear arsenal and calling up military reservists.

Report: Egypt tops list of arms importers from France

09/29/2022

Egypt has topped the list of arms importers from France in 2021 thanks to an order of 30 Rafale fighter jets, making the Middle East the largest arms buyer from France last year, according to an annual parliamentary report published yesterday. In 2021, Egypt requested the purchase of French weapons worth €4.5 billion, ($4.5 billion) followed by Greece (€2 billion), Croatia (€971 million), India (€492 million) and Saudi Arabia (€381 million), according to the report published by Challenges magazi

South Korea emerges as major defense industry player

09/29/2022

As Japan’s defense industry struggles, South Korea’s is thriving, driven not only by the need to counter Pyongyang’s growing military threats but also by Seoul’s ambition to make the country one of the world’s top defense exporters. Just how determined the government is to help the industry expand was highlighted in recent statements made by President Yoon Suk-yeol, who last month expressed his intention to make his country one of the world’s top four weapons suppliers.

Jacksonville Area Ships and Aircraft Sortie Ahead of Hurricane Ian

09/29/2022

The commander of U.S. 4th Fleet has ordered all ships and aircraft to make preparations for Hurricane Ian’s expected arrival. Ships began departures from Naval Station Mayport today (Sept. 27, 2022) and will complete heavy weather mooring if required to stay in port. Aircraft will initiate evacuations from area airfields or be secured in hangars rated to withstand hurricane force winds. Four ships and multiple rotary and fixed-wing aircraft are expected to relocate and remain out of the local

Pentagon inspector general has questions about the Air Force’s sixth-gen fighter

09/28/2022

The Air Force’s sixth generation fighter program hasn’t produced a single operational aircraft yet, but the Defense Department inspector general is already looking into whether the service is moving too fast with untested tech.