Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

USAF at 75: ANG Commanders of the Pacific reflect on their path to leadership and shared mission challenges

09/17/2022

With an old family photograph of a man he never met, Brig. Gen. Gent Welsh Jr. can trace the footprints of his military career back to his grandfather, William Gent Welsh. His impression of a determined B-25 pilot flying combat missions in China during World War II set in motion the restless curiosity of the younger Welsh. Soon after completing high school, the Vale, Oregon teenager enlisted in the Air Force, launching his own military journey in 1988.

Ukrainian aircraft hit 25 strong points and concentrations of Russians in one day Luhansk Oblast Military Administration

09/16/2022

Ukrainian combat aircraft carried out 33 strikes on amassments of Russian troops and their strong points on 9 September, in order to support the actions of ground forces.

KC-46A performs first operationally-tasked combat refueling sortie

09/16/2022

Approximately 100 Airmen and four KC-46A Pegasus aircraft conducted 24-hour operations during Air Mobility Command’s multi-week Employment Concept Exercise 22-08 at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, from August 27 through mid-September, 2022. Airmen from the 22nd Air Refueling Wing and 931st Air Refueling Wing participated in the ECE, working in two teams to operate around-the-clock, testing the KC-46A’s ability to support real-world missions and assess its capabilities.

Swiss Parliament instructs Federal Council to purchase F-35A fighter jets

09/16/2022

The acquisition of the 36 F-35A combat aircraft was fiercely debated in the National Council, especially with regard to the passage providing for the signing of the purchase contract no later than the end of March 2023 (expiry date of the validity offers). The National Council’s Security Policy Commission here supports the Council of States’ proposal. Concretely, this means that the Federal Council must sign the contracts before the popular initiative “Stop F-35!”, launched on August 31, 2021 an

U.K. And Japan Team Up To Develop Next-Generation Fighter Engines

09/16/2022

Japan and the U.K. have decided to collaborate on next-generation fighter jets, pooling their technology and resources to get the greatest bang for their money. Japan's F-X program and the United Kingdom's Tempest, both of which are scheduled to fly in the early 2030s, will be the world's first sixth-generation fighters. So far that co-development includes jet engines and sensors for next-generation fighters.

Lockheed investing $100M into F-35 controlled combat drones under ‘Project Carrera’

09/16/2022

On a battlefield a decade or so in the future, a C-130 drops a pallet loaded with small, expendable drones, which break off and immediately begin flying toward a formation of F-35s. As the F-35 pilots fly toward an enemy surface-to-air missile site, they issue commands to the drones under their control: “Collect data,” “go forward and draw fire,” or “find this target.” Based on data gathered by some of the drones, the pilots are alerted to a probable threat, and an alternate route is suggested

Russian forces are demoralized and degraded — now we just have to ‘drive the enemy out,’ Ukraine says

09/15/2022

After Ukraine’s stunning successes in recapturing Russian-occupied territory in northeast and southern Ukraine over the last week, the pressure is now on Kyiv to maintain the momentum in its counteroffensive. Western governments have hailed Ukraine’s “significant progress” in the war after Kyiv announced it had reclaimed more than 8,000 square kilometers (3,088 square miles) of Russian-occupied territory since the start of September.

First F-16V Block 72 Fighters Delivered To Greece

09/15/2022

The Hellenic Air Force took delivery of the first two fully upgraded F-16V Block 72 Viper fighter jets during a ceremony at Tanagra Air Base on Sept. 12, 2022. The aircraft are the first of 83 that will be upgraded from the Block 52+ to the latest standard, with the works being done locally by the Hellenic Aerospace Industries (HAI) at Tanagra, supported by Lockheed Martin.

The US Air Force Is Turning 75: Take a Look at the Aircraft It's Flown

09/15/2022

In honor of the Air Force's 75th anniversary on Sept. 18, here are its high-flying craft, from the sound barrier-shattering X-1 to today's cutting-edge F-35 to the upcoming B-21.

Iranian minister of Defense has confirmed that IRIAF will receive the Sukhoi Su-35SE Flanker-E fighter jets originally ordered by Egypt

09/15/2022

The Iranian minister of Defense has confirmed that Iran will receive the Sukhoi Su-35SE Flanker-E fighter jet, Scramble Magazine reports. The original order of 24 Su-35SE for the Egyptian Air Force (EAF) will now be diverted to the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF).

See aircraft at the Pitch Black air combat drill

09/15/2022

Defense News attended the multinational air combat exercise Pitch Black, which took part in Australia from Aug. 19 to Sept. 8. Our Asia correspondent, Mike Yeo, was onboard an Australian KC-30 tanker, during which he was able to take some of these photos. He took other shots from a control tower at RAAF Base Darwin or on the ground during the exercise.

Russo-Ukraine War - 13 September 2022 - Day 202

09/14/2022

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.

Commentary: How F-35B fighter jets can boost Singapore’s air defence amid upcoming Paya Lebar Air Base move

09/14/2022

At the multinational air combat exercise Pitch Black in northern Australia that recently concluded on Thursday (Sep 8), the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) was able to engage the stealthy F-35B fighter jet in the skies. The head of the RSAF Next-Generation Fighter Project Office Major Zhang Jian Wei said, during a media session, that the F-35B’s ability to take off on short runways and land vertically was a key capability.

Upgraded F-16 Fighters For Pakistan – Is Indian Air Force Worried By China, US Arming India’s Key Adversary?

09/14/2022

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) recently informed Congress of the decision to permit the potential sale of the F-16 Case for Sustainment and associated equipment to Pakistan for an estimated price of US$450 million. The DSCA also notified that the planned transaction would not change the regional military balance and does not involve any new capabilities, weapons, or munitions.

Air Force asks Raytheon to build long-range ASARS-2 imaging radar for U-2 Dragon Lady reconnaissance jet

09/14/2022

U.S. Air Force aerial surveillance experts are asking the Raytheon Co. to build super-high-resolution imaging radar for long-range target detection, radar mapping, and bomb damage assessment. Officials of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, announced a $184 million five-year contract Friday to the Raytheon Intelligence & Space segment in El Segundo, Calif., for the Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar System-2 -- better-known as ASARS-2.

Where do the Eagles go when they retire? F-15C fleet prepares to stand down after 50 years of vigilance

09/14/2022

For 24 years the F-15 Eagle has roared over the city of Klamath Falls, Ore., flying countless training missions and supplying air superiority pilots to the U.S. Air Force. This aircraft is special in its own right boasting an undefeated record in combat and a service life reaching back 50 years—a remarkable lifespan for a fighter aircraft.

‘Every flight might be our last’: The Ukrainian pilot fighting for his homeland

09/13/2022

Yuriy is flying sorties against what was initially viewed as overwhelming odds, with Russia said to have vast numerical and technological superiority. The Su-27 pilot, who has lost friends and mentors during the conflict, spoke as Ukrainian forces made some of the war’s most significant gains.

Top Aces Wins Contract to Train USAF with F-16 Advanced Aggressor Fighter Fleet

09/13/2022

Top Aces Corp. (Top Aces), the world's only commercial owner/operator of F-16 fighter aircraft, today announced that it was selected under the US Air Force (USAF) Combat Air Force Contracted Air Support program to provide advanced adversary air training to pilots at Eglin Air Force Base (AFB) in Florida and Luke AFB in Arizona.

US Air Force warns of aging fighters, poor purchasing efforts

09/13/2022

The F-16 Fighting Falcon was the backbone of allied air power in Europe for a generation. Three squadrons on the continent fought over Serbia during the Kosovo War in the late 1990s, repeatedly deployed to the Middle East and Afghanistan during the last two decades, and served as a deterrent to keep Russia from making moves in Eastern Europe.

Air Force starts installing EPAWSS advanced electronic warfare (EW) avionics aboard F-15E combat aircraft

09/13/2022

Military avionics experts from the Boeing Co. have begun installing an advanced electronic warfare (EW) system on the U.S. Air Force fleet of F-15E jet fighter-bomber aircraft. The Air Force supervised the first installations of the F-15 Eagle Passive/Active Warning and Survivability System (EPAWSS) on operational F-15E aircraft in July at the Boeing facility in San Antonio.

Ukraine says its military shot down Russian Su-34 strike aircraft

09/12/2022

The Ukrainian military stated that they shot down Russian Aerospace Forces Su-34 Fullback strike aircraft. The statement did not specify whether the crew had survived or if they had been captured after the plane was shot down. Open-source-intelligence analysts conclude the aircraft is Su-34 bort number of Red 20, RF-95004, a modern Russian strike aircraft presumably of the 47th Bomber Aviation Regiment.

Wing completes aircraft modernization with arrival of eighth C-130J Super Hercules

09/12/2022

The 123rd Airlift Wing welcomed its eighth C-130J Super Hercules aircraft to the Kentucky Air National Guard Base here Aug. 25, completing the unit’s transition from legacy C-130H transports. The wing had been flying H models since 1992. It said farewell to the last of those on Sept. 24, 2021, and began receiving new J models from Lockheed-Martin Corp. on Nov. 6.

Stories From The Eyes In The Sky On 9/11

09/12/2022

On the 21st anniversary of the tragic and world-altering events of 9/11, we look to two unique perspectives, separated by thousands of miles, of those who were in the air in the aftermath of the terror attacks. Simon Radley had only been a member of the Royal Air Force’s E-3D Sentry force for four months when the events of September 11 began to unfold. A Communications Operator, Simon worked alongside a Communications Technician to process all messages coming to and going from the rotating-radar

Russian Forces Flee Ukraine’s Kharkiv Offensive In Stunning Rout

09/11/2022

Russian forces are withdrawing from Kharkiv Oblast and elsewhere en masse with Ukrainian forces retaking territory across the eastern frontline. Ukrainian troops have raised the flag over critical cities of Izyum, Lyman, and Kupiansk after nearly a week of gains with a mix of mechanized, special forces, and motorized troops punching through and overrunning Russian positions.

Spanish and German Eurofighters in Estonia begin alert missions

09/11/2022

An alert mission means that aircraft assigned to this activity must respond to a threat at any time. I.e. it is a network of aircraft loaded and ready for combat upon arrival at a moment’s notice. The news is significant as it means that communication alignment has been achieved between the Spanish and German fighters. Upon receiving a moment’s notice, they will be able to act together in mixed crews.