Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Fighter Jets From Germany, Denmark & Sweden Scrambled To Intercept A Private Aircraft That Flew Erratically & Crashed Into The Baltic Sea

09/06/2022

According to the German daily Bild, the plane reported an issue with cabin pressurization immediately after takeoff. Later, officials lost radio communication with the plane, and fighter jets from Germany, Denmark, and Sweden scrambled to intercept it.

Russia ‘shots’ its most advanced fighter – the MiG-35 Fulcrum-F

09/06/2022

Russia is about to fail the most advanced fighter in its fleet. The MiG-35 Fulcrum-F was designed for air superiority, but six prototypes and eight production aircraft have been produced to date. The MiG-35 Fulcrum-F is no ordinary fighter. Little attention is paid to it, both apparently by the Russian government and the Russian media. However, there are no orders. First, it was Egypt, which became interested in this combat aircraft, but subsequently purchased the MiG-29M.

An unexpected air-to-air battle is raging over Ukraine. Here's what we know about the losses on both sides

09/06/2022

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has resulted in the most sustained air-to-air combat in decades, pitting the Ukrainian Air Force's prewar fleet of roughly 110 operational Soviet-era warplanes (not one purchased after the collapse of the Soviet Union) vs. roughly 1,200 fixed-wing Russian Aerospace Force (VKS) combat aircraft, many relatively new and the rest extensively modernized.

US Navy Assault Ship Takes Part in Baltic Sea Training

09/05/2022

U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge is taking part in international training in the Baltic Sea amid Russia's war in Ukraine and tensions in the region. The Kearsarge is the first ship of the Wasp class to take part in international training in the Baltic in at least two decades. Associated Press journalists visited the ship last week.

Lightning-Speed Deal. Germany to Purchase F-35 for Nuclear Sharing

09/05/2022

In July 2022, the Department of State and the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) approved the sale of F-35A Lightning II multirole combat aircraft to Germany. This came as a climax of quite a protracted and a rather tragicomic story of Germany’s Luftwaffe purchasing a new carrier of nuclear weapons to carry out “NATO nuclear sharing.”

How the F-35 swept Europe, and the competition it could soon face

09/05/2022

The past four years have proved fruitful for Lockheed Martin in Europe, as six nations have hitched their wagons to the American company’s fifth-generation F-35 fighter jet. Despite calls from French leaders for its neighbors to “buy European,” the F-35 has consistently beat out homegrown candidates in the most recent fighter jet competitions, including the Dassault Rafale, Saab’s JAS 39 Gripen, and the Eurofighter Typhoon developed by Airbus, BAE Systems and Leonardo.

Iran wants to purchase the ex Egyptian Su-35S fighter aircraft from Russia

09/05/2022

The commander of the Iranian Air Force, Brigadier General Hamid Vahedi, says Iran does not refuse to buy Su-35 fighters from Russia. The deal is on the table, but the final decision has not been made yet. Speaking to Barna news agency, he said that Iran is not thinking about buying Su-30SM fighters from Russia, as had been said many times before. Instead, the priority is to buy Su-35 fighters, which can be used for multiple roles.

China's four warplanes, five naval ships cross Taiwan Strait median line as tensions with Taipei simmer

09/04/2022

After the US approved USD 1.1 billion arms package to Taiwan, four aircraft and five ships from China`s military crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait. The Ministry of National Defence said it had tracked four aircraft and five ships from China`s military around the country by 5 pm Saturday (September 3), reported Taiwan News.

ALLIED JOINT TACTICAL ATTACK CONTROLLERS TRAIN SKILLS IN CZECH-LED EXERCISE AMPLE STRIKE

09/04/2022

The Czech Armed Forces are hosting the multinational exercise Ample Strike II/Resilient Sky 2022 across the southern parts of the Czech Republic offering theatre-realistic Air-Land Integration (ALI) training. More than 700 participants from the Czech Armed Forces will host approximately 200 international participants from Estonia, Germany, Latvia Slovakia, Slovenia and the United States of America.

Iran Boosts Civil Defense, Lifts Anti-Aircraft Readiness

09/04/2022

Iran has equipped 51 of its cities with civil defense systems and boosted readiness at air defenses to thwart any possible foreign attack, military officials said on Saturday, amid an escalation of tensions with Israel and the United States. The civil defense equipment will enable Iran to “identify and monitor threats by using round-the-clock software according to the type of the threat and risk,” Deputy Defense Minister Brigadier General Mehdi Farahi was quoted as saying by Iranian media.

Germany says it will expand military presence in Indo-Pacific

09/04/2022

Germany will expand its military presence in the Indo-Pacific by sending more warships and joining drills with allies as it keeps an eye on the "enormous" build-up of China's armed forces, the German defence chief told Reuters. Germany is joining other Western nations in showing more muscle in the region amid growing alarm over Beijing's territorial ambitions.

4 Myanmar fighter aircraft reportedly cross into Bangladesh’s air space in Bandarban

09/04/2022

Making the claim, Bandarban Superintendent of Police (SP) Tariqul Islam, said that the incident occurred around 9:20am in the district's Ghumdhum area today (3 September). "Eight to 10 rounds were fired from one of the aircraft. Whereas another aircraft shot 30-35 times.

Ukrainian aviation made more than 40 combat sorties over past day

09/04/2022

This is stated in the report of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as of 06:00, September 3, published on Facebook. "The enemy continues to focus its efforts on establishing full control over the territory of Donetsk region, maintaining the captured districts of Kherson, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Mykolaiv regions. Over the past day, the enemy launched six missile and more than 20 airstrikes on military and civilian objects in the territory of our country.

Exercise Pitch Blank 2022 Is In Full Swing

09/03/2022

After four years of wait the biennial exercise Pitch Blank is back with its largest edition ever. The Australian multi-national large force exercise is now underway, spanning from Aug. 19 to Sept. 8, 2022, and sees over 100 aircraft and 2,500 personnel from 16 countries around the world training together with Australian forces to enhance interoperability and develop strong relationships between participating military forces.

Ukrainian Armed Forces shoot down Russian ground attack aircraft in Kherson region Operational Command Pivden (South)

09/03/2022

An Su-25 ground attack aircraft belonging to the Russian forces, which struck Ukrainian Armed Forces positions in Kherson Oblast has been shot down. "The Su-25 aircraft that was damaged yesterday near Sukhyi Stavok, is confirmed to have been decommissioned from the enemy forces."

US Approves ‘Game Changing’ Military Aircraft For IAF; Experts Hail It As Big Acquisition After F-35 Stealth Fighters

09/03/2022

Of the 19 aerial refuelers, the USAF has ordered 15 under a $2.2 billion production contract. The remaining four will be delivered to Israel, for which the cost must not exceed $927 million. The work on the KC-46A production will take place in Boeing’s Seattle facility and is expected to be completed by November 30, 2025.

Lockheed Martin and USAF Stir the Secret Sauce of Innovation

09/03/2022

Early morning, April 18, 1943. A formation of 16 P-38 Lightning aircraft cruises 50 feet above the Solomon Sea en route to a fixed point 400 miles northwest of Guadalcanal. Secrecy and detection avoidance demand complete radio silence and a roundabout route that adds 200 miles to the trip. Operation Vengeance is underway. Its target: Adm. Isoroku Yamamoto, commander in chief of the Imperial Japanese Combined Fleet.

Swedish Gripen E fighter jet fires its first Meteor missile

09/02/2022

The Meteor missile was launched from Gripen E at an altitude of approximately 16500 ft above the Vidsel test range in northern Sweden. “It feels very good that we have now completed the first test firing with Meteor from Gripen E. It is a very important milestone both for the program and for Saab. It shows that the weapon capability of Gripen is at the absolute forefront,” says Mikael Olsson, Head of Flight Test & Verification, Saab.

Despite cuts, HH-60W and F-15EX not at risk of ‘critical’ budgetary breach, cancellation

09/02/2022

The Air Force announced huge cuts to the F-15EX and HH-60W Jolly Green II programs this year, but neither of those efforts is headed for a “critical” cost overrun that would trigger the programs to be rebaselined or canceled, the service confirmed to Breaking Defense.

Russia Puts Su-35, Su-30SM, MiG-31 Fighter Jets On Combat Alert As Moscow Hosts Vostok 2022 Drills

09/02/2022

On the first day of the Vostok 2022 strategic command and staff exercises, fighter aircraft from the Eastern Military District went on combat alert at operational airfields, TASS reported, citing the ministry of defense. Russia’s top-tier Su-35S, Su-30SM, and MiG-31 fighters from the Eastern Military District participated in the mission.

A Guide To China’s Increasingly Impressive Air-To-Air Missile Inventory

09/02/2022

The rapid pace of development across China’s military aircraft scene has been well documented, with Western observers keenly awaiting new designs and variants of existing ones, while manufacturing plants keep up a seemingly relentless pace of deliveries. What’s been less well covered, however, is the domestic production of air-launched weapons to arm these aircraft. For many years, Chinese progress in air-to-air missiles, or AAMs, in particular, was overlooked or achievements downplayed.

Argentina’s Top Army Official Visits Pakistan to Inspect JF-17 Thunder Fighters

09/01/2022

Argentina’s Chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Juan Martin Paleo, recently visited Pakistan to inspect PAF’s JF-17 Thunder fighter jets, which Argentina will procure in the coming months. During his visit, General Juan toured Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) Kamra where he was briefed about the capabilities of JF-17 Thunder Block III 4+ generation multirole fighter aircraft.

Bangladesh imports 36 F-7BGI aircraft from China to boost military supplies

09/01/2022

China has been trying since a long time to emerge as a major defence exporter to India's neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan etc. The F-7 BGI is a multi-role capable aircraft manufactured by Chengdu Aircraft Corporation, China. It was specially designed to meet the requirements of Bangladesh Air Force for cost-effective multi-role fighter aircraft. It is said to be the most advanced version of the F-7 fighter aircraft ever.

Video: Ukraine Air Force retrofits modern anti-radar missiles into analog cockpits

09/01/2022

The Ukraine Air Force only has access to the Soviet-era MiG aircraft in its defense against Russian aggression. However, a recent video shared by the military outfit shows the MiG-29s firing U.S. supplied anti-radar missiles. Six months into the ongoing conflict, Ukraine has held its ground against the mighty Russian onslaught. We have previously reported how Ukrainian drones have troubled Russian supply lines and how munitions supplied by Ukraine's Western allies have been helpful.

DOD Must Field Capabilities Faster, Hicks Says

09/01/2022

In the face of the pacing challenge from China and threats from Russia, Iran, North Korea and extremist groups, the Defense Department must transition from experimentation and prototyping to fielding capabilities much more quickly, Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen H. Hicks said.?