Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

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.

Belgium delays Chad’s plans to arm it’s Cessna 208 aircraft

02/02/2023

The Chadian Air Force trying to improve its firepower by upgrading and arming two of its US-donated Cessna 208 ISR aircraft, as it awaits delivery of Turkish Hükus trainer and light attack aircraft. But the effort is facing stiff resistance from the Belgium government which are worried over Chad’s spotty human rights track record.

AN/ASQ-236 Modernizes Air National Guard and 148th Fighter Wing F-16 capabilities

02/02/2023

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 (AATC) and 148th Fighter Wing gathered at the Duluth-based Air National Guard flying unit to exercise the end-to-end employment of the recently fielded AN/ASQ-236 Radar pod and create a plan how the Air National Guard will operationalize the AN/ASQ-236 radar pod for all ANG F-16 fighter aircraft, January 24-26, 2023.

Fighter Jet Training At Salt Ash Air Weapons Range

02/01/2023

Operations are scheduled for Monday to Thursday between 9:00am to 5:00pm and Fridays 9:00am to 3:00pm. PC-21 aircraft also operate intermittently on the range in support of Number 4 Squadron combat control and joint terminal attack training. 4 Squadron has programmed training from 31 January to 2 February. Training will run up to 10:30pm to achieve essential night time objectives.

An F-35 Engine Swap Might not Fly Down Under

02/01/2023

An upcoming international airshow in Geelong, Victoria calls attention to a high-stakes domestic U.S. aerospace industry competition with profound ramifications for Australian defense. As the former chief spokesman for the U.S. 7th Fleet in Japan and later, the U.S. Pacific Fleet in Pearl Harbor, I want to highlight for airshow attendees that the most significant aviation asset available to deter possible Chinese aggression is the F-35A Lightning II.

January 30, 2023 Russia-Ukraine news

01/31/2023

The "constant" fighting in and around the eastern Ukraine city of Bakhmut has been "a living hell" as Russian forces try to take control of the Kostiantynivka-Bakhmut highway, a Ukrainian commander said in an interview on Ukrainian television Monday.

122nd Fighter Wing trains to win during Guardian Blitz

01/31/2023

The 122nd Fighter Wing executed Guardian Blitz, a training exercise with approximately 180 Airmen and ten A-10C Thunderbolt II aircraft with the main force located at MacDill Air Force Base and a smaller, contingency force located at Moody Air Force Base, Jan. 23 - Feb. 4, 2023. The 122nd FW performed Guardian Blitz with proactive airpower maneuvers called Agile Combat Employment.

France not ruling out fighter jets to Ukraine, US says no to F-16

01/31/2023

On Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that he would not completely rule out the possibility of France sending fighter jets to Ukraine. During a news conference after Macron met with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte in The Hague, Macron was questioned about the possibility of handing over fighter jets to Ukraine as a deterrent against Russia’s invasion of the country. “Nothing is excluded in principle,” he said.

One Dead, One Missing After Fighter Jet Crashes in Greece

01/31/2023

The body of the co-pilot of an F-4 Phantom fighter jet of the Hellenic Airforce that crashed on Monday morning in the Ionian Sea, off western Greece has been recovered. The pilot is still missing as a major search and rescue operation is currently underway to locate and rescue him.

China’s ‘Best Selling’ Fighter Jet, Notorious For Crashes Like India’s MiG-21, Nears Full Retirement

01/31/2023

China started to retire the J-7 in earnest since the year 2018. However, Chinese experts have now opined that the legacy aircraft may be decommissioned entirely from the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force this year, state-run Global Times reported. The reason cited for this is China’s burgeoning sophisticated fighter jet production.

Ukraine news – live: Russian mercenary group claims it has taken village as Zelensky hopes for fighter jets

01/30/2023

Ukraine has said its forces repelled an attack in the area of Blahodatne in the eastern part of the Donetsk region on Sunday, responding to claims by Russia’s Wagner private military group that it took control of the village. “Units of Ukraine‘s Defence Forces repelled the attacks of the occupiers in the areas of ... Blahodatne ... in the Donetsk region,” the General Staff of Ukraine‘s Armed Forces said in its daily morning report, referring to fighting over the weekend.

Scholz doubles down on refusal of fighter jets for Ukraine

01/30/2023

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz doubled down on his rejection of demands by Kyiv to supply Ukraine with fighter jets on the heels of Berlin’s agreement to send battle tanks. “The question of combat aircraft does not arise at all,” Scholz said in an interview with Tagesspiegel published on Sunday. “I can only advise against entering into a constant competition to outbid each other when it comes to weapons systems.”

At the Pentagon, push to send F-16s to Ukraine picks up steam

01/29/2023

A contingent of military officials is quietly pushing the Pentagon to approve sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine to help the country defend itself from Russian missile and drone attacks, according to three people with knowledge of the discussions.

Ukraine: 'Fast-Track' Talks Underway for Missiles, Planes

01/29/2023

Ukraine and its Western allies are engaged in “fast-track” talks on the possibility of equipping the invaded country with long-range missiles and military aircraft, a top Ukrainian presidential aide said Saturday. Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said Ukraine’s supporters in the West “understand how the war is developing” and the need to supply planes capable of providing cover for the armored fighting vehicles that the United States and Germany pledged.

India, Japan conclude 16-day air exercise ‘Veer Guardian 2023’

01/29/2023

The inaugural edition of the 16-day bilateral air exercise between the Indian Air Force and the Japan Air Self-Defence Force has concluded in Japan. The exercise, ‘Veer Guardian 2023’, involved precise planning and skilful execution by both the air forces, the Indian Air Force said on Friday. The exercise concluded on Thursday.

IAF's Sukhoi, Mirage aircraft crash in MP; 1 pilot killed

01/29/2023

In a rare and tragic accident, two frontline combat aircraft of the Indian Air Force crashed during a training mission in Madhya Pradesh's Morena district on Saturday, resulting in the death of a wing commander while two other pilots ejected safely. Defence experts said it is probable that the Russian-designed Sukhoi-30MKI jet and the French Mirage-2000 had a mid-air collision, but there was no official comment on it from the IAF.

FRENCH RAFALE JOINS GERMAN EUROFIGHTERS FOR SHORT-TERM DEPLOYMENT

01/28/2023

The French Air and Space force conducted a temporary deployment of one Rafale fighter aircraft from Siauliai Air Base, Lithuania, to join the German fighter detachment at Ämari Air Base, Estonia, to practice dispersed operation drills and aircraft cross-servicing.

Poland reportedly delivered MiG-29 fighters to Ukraine as ‘spare parts’

01/28/2023

Poland has already delivered operational MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine in secret, local media has reported. Since the initial invasion of Ukraine by Russia, Ukrainian authorities have been asking their allies for the delivery of combat aircraft, both Soviet and Western. In March 2022, shortly after the beginning of the war, a plan to transfer the whole Polish fleet of MiG-29 fighters officially fell through, after Poland and the United States failed to reach an agreement.

It’s Official! Italian Defense Industry Signs Contract For 6th-Gen, UK-Japan-Italy GCAP Fighter Jet Program

01/28/2023

The Global Combat Air Program is a multilateral initiative by the United Kingdom, Italy, and Japan to develop a sixth-generation stealth fighter jet akin to American Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) and the Franco-German Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programs. It was announced in December 2022 after merging existing next-gen fighter programs.

Ukraine Requests Two Squadrons Of F-16s But Giving ‘Vipers’ to Kyiv Is Easier Said Than Done

01/28/2023

After being able to obtain large numbers of Western tanks (potentially up to 175 so far, including M1 Abrams, Challenger 2 and Leopard 2 tanks), Ukrainians negotiations are now focusing on the supply of Western fighter aircraft and something might already be in motion. In fact, on Jan. 24, Colonel Yuriy Ignat, the speaker of the Ukrainian Air Force, said that a cooperation in this area is being actively discussed.

Ukraine says pilots would need six months for F-16 combat training

01/28/2023

Ukraine said on Friday it would take its pilots about half a year to train for combat in Western fighter jets such as U.S. F-16s, as Kyiv steps up its campaign to secure fourth-generation warplanes in the wake of Russia's invasion last February. Ukraine got a huge boost this week when Germany and the United States announced plans to provide heavy tanks to Kyiv, which is now hoping the West will also provide long-range missiles and fighter jets.

Unwise divestments are crippling US Marine Corps aviation

01/27/2023

U.S. Marine Corps aviation is being significantly and needlessly decimated, another unforced error of Force Design 2030. Newly procured aircraft have been tossed aside; identical blows to state-of-the-art helicopters and strike/fighter jets are on the way. The losses in aircraft are significant. The reductions are not the result of insufficient funding or mandated cuts in personnel; the wounds have been self-inflicted.