Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

South Korea is looking for buyers of its new 'semi-stealth' fighter jet that could rival China's warplanes

08/12/2022

South Korea is seeking a niche market for its semi-stealth fighter jets praised for their high agility and low maintenance costs, which are likely to emerge as a cost-effective alternative to Chinese warplanes, analysts in the country have said. The KF-21 Boramae, meaning "hawk" in Korean, is likely to provide stiff competition for China's J-10 CE and FC-31 fighters in the global market, especially in Africa, the observers said.

Snowbirds Grounded Indefinitely

08/12/2022

The Royal Canadian Air Force Snowbirds air demonstration team has been grounded indefinitely because of a runway accident in early August. The RCAF says it will “conduct a deliberate, detailed and broad risk analysis, with the aim of enabling the safe resumption of CT-114 flying operations.” No timeline has been offered to get the aircraft flying again. The team has 10 airshows booked for the balance of the season.

Northrop Grumman asked to supply 31 AESA radar systems and avionics for U.S. Air Force F-16 jet fighters

08/12/2022

U.S. Air Force aerial radar experts are ordering 31 modern active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar systems for F-16 jet fighters under terms of a $88.2 million order announced in July. Officials of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Fighter Bomber Directorate, F-16 Division, at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, are asking the Northrop Grumman Corp. Mission Systems segment in Linthicum Heights, Md., to build 31 AN/APG-83 AESA radar systems and spare parts for the F-16.

Crimea Base Blast Deals a Blow to the Russian War Machine

08/12/2022

Explosions at a Russian airbase in Crimea that Ukraine says destroyed nine fighter aircraft may indicate new Ukrainian offensive capabilities that complicate Kremlin efforts to support its invading forces, according to European intelligence officials and defense analysts.

Unmanned program could suffer if Congress blocks F-22 retirements, Hunter says

08/12/2022

A congressional push to block the U.S. Air Force’s plan to retire 33 F-22s could have ripple effects for one of the service’s top priority programs, the Collaborative Combat Aircraft. The Air Force’s proposal to cut the F-22s is part of a broader plan to divest 150 aircraft in fiscal 2023 to free funds for higher priorities such as the B-21 bomber, hypersonic weapons programs and Next-Generation Air Dominance systems.

Russian Surveillance Aircraft Spotted Near Alaskan Air Space

08/11/2022

The U.S. military says Russian military surveillance aircraft entered the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone on two separate occasions over the past two days. U.S. F-22 fighter jets intercepted the second aircraft upon entering the airspace, a defense official told VOA. Both entries involved the same type of Russian surveillance aircraft, the official added.

Mali Receives Military Aircraft from Russia

08/11/2022

Mali’s military government has received several fighter jets and helicopters from Russia, which has become a close and controversial ally in its fight against Islamist militants. The aircraft were handed over during a ceremony at Bamako’s airport, with Malian President Assimi Goita and Russian Ambassador Igor Gromyko present.

Air Force Set to Get Rid of Small A-29, AT-6 Fleets, Program Official Says

08/11/2022

Just over two years ago, the Air Force announced it was buying limited quantities of Textron’s AT-6s and Sierra Nevada Corp.’s A-29s. Now, the service is seemingly set to get rid of the aircraft, most likely in the form of a foreign military sale. Should such a sale occur, it would mark the end of a prolonged back-and-forth. At the moment, Air Force Special Operations Command and Air Combat Command operate three A-29s and two AT-6s, respectively.

Indian and Egyptian air forces participate in key leadership programme in Cairo

08/11/2022

In a first-of-its-kind interaction between their respective Fighter Weapon Schools, the Indian Air Force (IAF) carried out a month-long engagement with the Egyptian Air Force (EAF) at Egyptian Fighter Weapon School, located in Cairo West Air Force Base.

Ukraine air force claims up to a dozen Russian jets destroyed in Crimea raid

08/11/2022

Ukraine’s air force said it believed that up to a dozen Russian aircraft were destroyed on the ground following Tuesday’s dramatic explosions at the Saky airbase in Crimea, which Russia said killed one, wounded 13 and damaged dozens of nearby houses. Political sources in Ukraine said the country had carried out the attack – but no public claim of responsibility was made by Kyiv of the incident that one expert believes may have been the product of a daring raid rather than a missile strike.

Taiwan tracks 39 Chinese military aircraft, 13 warships around nation

08/10/2022

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked 39 Chinese military aircraft and 13 warships around the country as of 5 p.m. on Monday (Aug. 8). Of the 39 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, 21 entered Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ), with 14 crossing the median line, including eight Sukhoi Su-30 fighter planes and six Shenyang J-11 fighter jets, according to the MND.

Korea Aerospace Industries forecasts a market for up to 100 FA-50 in Egypt

08/10/2022

Korea Aerospace Industries is looking to establish an industrial partnership for the production and marketing of the FA-50 in Africa and the Middle East, and Egypt is a strong candidate. The Black Eagles aerobatic team of the Republic of South Korea Air Force (ROKAF) performed the first aerobatics demonstration during the recent Pyramid Air Show 2022.

New fighters needed after F-5, MiG-29 retired, says former RMAF commander

08/10/2022

The number of fighter jets, which are viewed as national defence assets for the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), needs to be increased. Former RMAF commander, General (R) Tan Sri Rodzali Daud said the country's capability was affected after the F5-E Tiger II and MiG-29 were retired (end of service). According to him, the addition of these assets need to be done immediately because the country is lagging behind in the aspect of owning air defence assets compared to other countries in the Asian r

Knocking Out Russian Air Defense, US Dispatches ‘Super Lethal’ High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles To Ukraine

08/10/2022

The US Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Colin Kahl, said in a press conference on August 8 that the US has sent “a number of anti-radiation missiles that can be fired off of Ukrainian aircraft that can have effects on Russia radars and other things.” Kahl’s remarks came shortly after Russian Telegram channels released the images of what is allegedly the destroyed AGM-88 HARM, and the missile in question was reportedly fired at a Russian position.

Stealth technology a driving force in military fixed-wing market

08/10/2022

A report released by GlobalData has revealed growth in the global military fixed-wing market will see a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.12% between 2022 and 2032, reaching $98.3bn, driven by developments in stealth technologies.

India tells China: Don't fly your combat jets close to Line of Actual Control

08/06/2022

India has firmly conveyed its concerns to China over certain instances of Chinese combat jets flying close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, official sources said on Friday. They claimed that on August 2, the concerns were expressed at a special round of military negotiations. The Indian delegation vigorously pushed for both sides to refrain from flying activities within 10 kilometres of the LAC during the discussion that took place at the Chushul-Moldo border crossing.

“The F-15EX Eagle II can shoot farther than any other fighter in the USAF arsenal,” Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center says

08/06/2022

Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center Detachment 6 team members recently analyzed two of the first developmental and operational test missile shots for the F-15EX Eagle II. Engineers and analysts from the AFOTEC Detachment 6 F-15 division traveled to Eglin Air Force Base and Tyndall AFB, both in Florida, to draw results from the AIM-120D and AIM-120C3 missile shots performed as part of the Weapons System Evaluation Program, or WSEP, conducted by Eglin’s 53rd Wing.

The “Non-Stop” Flow of Arms to Ukraine Amidst Reports of Black Marketeering

08/06/2022

The flow of weapons to battle-scarred Ukraine has been “non-stop”, says Rear Admiral Duke Heinz, the European Union’s chief logistician, as the fighting continues uninterruptedly ever since the Russian invasion last February. And US Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III was quoted as saying: “Ukraine needs the firepower and the ammunition to withstand its barrage and to strike back at the Russians launching these attacks from inside Ukraine’s own territory”.

India bids to sell fighter jets to Malaysia, says six other countries interested

08/06/2022

India has offered to sell 18 light-combat aircraft (LCA) "Tejas" to Malaysia, the defence ministry said on Friday, adding that Argentina, Australia, Egypt, the United States, Indonesia, and the Philippines were also interested in the single-engine jet. The Indian government last year gave a $6 billion contract to state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HIAE.NS) for 83 of the locally produced Tejas jets for delivery starting around 2023 - four decades after it was first approved in 1983.

Ukraine Needs NASAMS to Defend Against Russian Cruise Missiles

08/06/2022

Ukraine’s network of surface-to-air missile systems has helped. The Norwegian-built National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS), which is also used to protect Washington, D.C., will be an added advantage. But two systems announced by President Joe Biden on July 1 and under contract by the U.S. government for Ukraine are believed to be months away from delivery.

F-15EX missile shots examined to verify combat capability

08/05/2022

Engineers and analysts from the AFOTEC Detachment 6 F-15 division traveled to Eglin Air Force Base and Tyndall AFB, both in Florida, to draw results from the AIM-120D and AIM-120C3 missile shots performed as part of the Weapons System Evaluation Program, or WSEP, conducted by Eglin’s 53rd Wing. These missile shots conducted Jan. 25, showed how the F-15 EX can be employed in theater and provided the context needed for Detachment 6 to verify its combat capability.

Fighter pilots will don AR helmets to train with imaginary enemies

08/05/2022

In the near future, “Top Gun” may get a reboot. Roughly one year from now, fighter pilots will begin flying with helmets outfitted with visors that can augment reality and place digital replicas of enemy fighter jets in their field of vision. For the first time, pilots will get to fly in the air and practice maneuvering against imitations of highly advanced aircraft made by countries like China and Russia.

Dueling bids for US-made fighter jets could inflame tensions between 2 of NATO's least friendly members

08/05/2022

Turkey and Greece, two of NATO's most valuable but least friendly allies, are pursuing new US-made fighter jets, but their diverging relationships with Washington mean they might not both get what they want. In June, Greece submitted a request to the US for the purchase of 20 F-35 stealth fighters with the option for 20 more jets in the future. The request comes as Athens's ties with Washington, especially their defense relationship, grow closer.

AFOTEC Detachment 6 participates in first F-15EX live-fire missile shots

08/04/2022

Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center Detachment 6 Morale Patch. Detachment 6 team members recently participated in two of the first developmental and operational test missile shots for the F-15EX Eagle II.

China Puts Its J-20 Stealth Fighters In ‘Action Mode’ For The Very 1st Time; PLAAF Sends Dozens Of Warplanes Into Taiwan ADIZ

08/04/2022

As tensions soared with the US over Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, China commenced joint military exercises surrounding Taiwan, featuring J-20 stealth fighters for the very first time, Chinese media reported. China released a video released showing J-20 stealth fighter jets participating in the military drills. The stealth jets flew from an airfield on Tuesday, with Beijing deploying rockets and missiles to thwart Pelosi’s visit.