Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Egypt, South Korea signs agreement on Golden Eagle aircraft

12/09/2022

Egypt’s Arab Organization for Industrialization (AOI) has entered a cooperation agreement with Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) to localize the manufacturing technology of T-50/FA-50 Golden Eagle advanced trainer jet and light combat aircraft. KAI pushes to sell its FA-50/T-50 Golden Eagle jet to the North African nation, while Egypt plans on exporting the aircraft to third parties.

UK, Italy and Japan team up for mind-reading jet

12/09/2022

Rishi Sunak is set to announce a collaboration between the UK, Italy and Japan to develop a new fighter jet that uses artificial intelligence. The prime minister says the joint venture aims to create thousands of UK jobs and strengthen security ties. The nations will develop a next generation fighter - due to enter service in the mid-2030s - that will eventually replace the Typhoon jet. It is hoped the new Tempest jet will carry the latest weapons.

US Air Force Completes Key Testing Of Hypersonic Missile On B-52H Bomber; Likely Deployment By 2023

12/07/2022

The US Air Force’s 2nd Bomb Wing is based at Barksdale Air Force Base in northwestern Louisiana. The service said the Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon, or ARRW, is anticipated to be prepared for deployment as early as the fall of 2023. The Lockheed Martin AGM-183A ARRW is a long-range hypersonic missile developed for the United States Air Force.

The Croatian Air Force will replace the MiG-21 with the new Dassault Rafale.

12/07/2022

At around 13:00 local time (12:00 UTC) on Dec. 5, 2022, a flight of five MiG-21s of the Croatian Air Force took off for routine military activity (training flights) from Pleso (Zagreb Airport), where all the Fishbed assigned to the 91st Air Force Base are based. The aircraft had planned a sortie inside LDTR1 and LDTR2, two training areas usually used for the MiG-21 training activities.

First trip to Singapore for fighter jets

12/07/2022

The Royal Australian Air Force’s F-35A Lightning II made its debut in Singapore, visiting Paya Lebar Air Base late last month. Personnel from 75 Squadron trained alongside their Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) counterparts in the air and on the ground, further enhancing the bilateral relationship while integrating 4th- and 5th-generation fighter aircraft.

Turkish firm to aid in mass production of S. Korea's fighter jet

12/07/2022

Turkish technology company SDT Space and Defense Technologies Inc. will continue to contribute to South Korea's domestically developed fighter jet during the mass production process after already providing a simulation link system to the project during the prototype stage.

After months of drama, France, Germany resolve industrial fight over next-gen fighter

12/07/2022

After two false alarms in as many weeks, Dassault Aviation and Airbus have finally reached an industrial agreement for the study phase of the Future Combat Aircraft System (SCAF), removing the blockage that brought the program to a standstill in summer 2021.

Korea Aerospace Industries signs agreement with Egypt over Golden Eagle aircraft

12/06/2022

Egypt’s Arab Organisation for Industrialisation (AOI) and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) have signed a cooperation and partnership agreement as KAI pushes to sell its FA-50/T-50 Golden Eagle jet to the North African nation. The agreement, signed last week, covers the localisation of technology should Egypt acquire the Golden Eagle. Egypt is understood to be looking to replace its ageing Alpha Jet and K-8 jet trainers with 100 new jets, of which 70 will be manufactured locally.

Russo-Ukraine War - 05 December 2022 - Day 285

12/06/2022

The UK Ministry of Defence reported that in recent months, the number of sorties conducted by Russian tactical combat aircraft over Ukraine has reduced significantly. Russian aircraft now probably conducts tens of missions per day, compared to a high of up to 300 per day in March 2022. Russia has now lost over 60 fixed-wing aircraft in the conflict, likely including an additional Su-24M FENCER fighter-bomber and a Su-25 FROGFOOT ground attack aircraft last week.

Drone Strikes Show Putin His Homeland Isn’t Safe

12/06/2022

Reports of significant attacks against two Russian air bases are a new and dangerous twist in the Ukraine war. One of the explosions was at the Engels-1 air base in the Saratov region, the other at Dyagilevo in the Ryazan area — both hundreds of miles inside the Russia-Ukraine border. Several Russians were reportedly killed or wounded, and at least two aircraft damaged. Moscow immediately blamed Ukraine for the strikes, which appear to have been conducted using unmanned aerial vehicles.

Myanmar Junta Takes Delivery of FTC-2000G Fighter Jets from China

12/06/2022

Myanmar’s military regime has taken delivery of six FTC-2000G fighter jets purchased from China, according to Myanmar-based observers monitoring the regime’s air force. The six fighter jets arrived in November and are currently being checked over at Meiktila airbase in Mandalay Region before their deployment to Namhsan airbase in southern Shan State, according to regime air force sources.

Chinese warplanes cross Taiwan Strait’s median

12/05/2022

Twenty-five Chinese military aircraft and four naval ships were detected around Taiwan from 6am Saturday to 6am yesterday, including eight airplanes that had crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and another two that entered Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ). The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft that entered Taiwan’s southwestern ADIZ were a Y-8 anti-submarine plane and a BZK-005 uncrewed aerial vehicle, the Ministry of National Defense said.

French Air Force Rafale deploy in Lithuania

12/05/2022

On 25 November 2022, the Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace (AAE, French Air and Space Force) 30e escadre de chasse (EC-30, 30th fighter wing) from Base Aérienne 118 Mont-de-Marsan air base started its deployment of four Dassault Rafale F3R fighter aircraft and around one hundred personnel to Šiauliai air base (Lithuania) for a period of four months as part of the NATO Baltic Air Policing Mission.

Advanced Tactical Leadership Course UAE

12/05/2022

Recently, from 10 October to 25 November 2022, a large TLP-like exercise (Tactical Leadership Programme) took place at Al Dhafra Air Base, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The so called Advanced Tactical Leadership Course (ATLC) No.32 UAE was hosted by the Air Warfare and Missile Air Defence Centre on the air base. The ATLC exercises are organised in the UAE since 2004, under the framework of a Military Cooperation Programme with international collaborations of the Armed Forces.

Concerns mount about Germany's F-35 jet purchase plan

12/05/2022

Germany's defence ministry has raised serious concerns about the planned purchase of U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets, part of the country's military modernisation drive, according to documents seen by AFP. Berlin announced in March it would buy 35 of the warplanes made by Lockheed Martin to replace its aging Tornado fleet, in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

US-China Conflict: Experts Propose XQ-58 Valkyrie As ‘Best Option’ To Swarm China Before Attacking With F-22, F-35 Jets

12/05/2022

Close on the heels of US Air For (USAF) F-15C/D fighters being withdrawn from Kadena Air Force Base (AFB) in Japan’s Okinawa, the experimental Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie has been suggested as the next credible alternative as a part of an effort to introduce drone swarms to overwhelm China.

Russia uses an airframe from the 80s to build MiG-35 Fulcrum-F

12/04/2022

So the widely advertised Russian MiG-35 fighter is not exactly generation 4++. The Michigan-based writer Mr. Peter Suciu explains why the MiG-35 is primarily a 4th generation fighter and a Kremlin publicity stunt. The MiG-35 Fulcrum-F is a project of the Mikoyan Design Bureau, a subsidiary of the state-owned United Aircraft Corporation [UAC]. The Russians tout it as a capable light highly maneuverable fighter capable of engaging moving and stationary targets, day and night, in all weather condi

New 'Spirit Realm’ B-2 Spirit software factory keeps fleet operational — enabling combat relevancy for years to come

12/04/2022

B-2 Spirit technology consists of more than its unique shape. There are underlying software and hardware advancements that enable long-range low-observable penetrating nuclear capability delivery around the world. The B-2 system continues to improve and modernize as international threats advance.

Türkiye's 1st unmanned fighter jet edges closer to maiden flight

12/04/2022

The Turkish pioneering drone maker has announced Saturday its unmanned fighter jet would soon perform its maiden flight as it edged closer to the landmark with a successful takeoff test where it lifted off the ground for a short duration of time. Named Kizilelma, the National Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle System (MIUS) had completed its first runway run and autonomous taxiing test last month at an air base in northwestern Tekirdag province.

First New American Bomber Since the Cold War Unveiled: Stealthy B-21 Raider Fixes Issues With Troubled B-2

12/03/2022

On December 2 Northrop Grumman unveiled the first prototype of the B-21 Raider intercontinental range strategic bomber, an aircraft which is expected to replace the U.S. Air Force’s fleets of B-1B and B-2 aircraft and potentially form entirely new bomber units. The bomber is the first to be unveiled in the United States or any Western country since 1988 when the B-2, also developed by Northrop Grumman, was first shown publicly at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California.

Hungary transfers Nato’s BAP mission to Poland and France

12/03/2022

The Hungarian Air Force has officially handed over the responsibility of NATO ’s Baltic Air Policing (BAP ) mission to the Polish and French air forces. This was announced by the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence (MND ). After the takeover, Poland and France will now carry out the policing mission to safeguard the Lithuanian airspace.

Russian Aircraft Losses Near 300, “Destroyed” Ukraine Air Force Still Deadly

12/03/2022

What Are Russian Aircraft Losses During The Invasion Of Ukraine in 2022? Before the Russian Federation launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February, most military analysts predicted Russia’s massive fleet of fighter jets and attack helicopters would blast its opponents out of the skies and quickly take control of Ukraine’s air space. Nine months on, and still more of the Kremlin’s war chickens have come home to roost.

Russia’s Su-57 Stealth Fighters Get Their 1st Operational Division; Enters Service With 23rd Fighter Aviation Regiment

12/02/2022

The Su-57 is a multirole fighter developed for taking on land, maritime, and airborne targets. It features stealth technology and is currently one of the few fifth-generation fighter jets operational in the world. According to reports, the 23rd Fighter Aviation Regiment (Istrebitelnyi Aviatsionnyi Polk, IAP) based at Dzyomgi near Komsomolsk-on-Amur in Russia’s Far East will be the first operational unit within the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) to receive the new fighters.

China allegedly copied Russian plane and made its most advanced fighter jet

12/02/2022

The J-15 is China's first locally made carrier-borne aircraft. Manufactured by the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, a subsidiary of the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), the J-15 is nicknamed the "Flying Shark." The fighter jet first entered service in 2014, and per the latest reports, there are about 50 units currently in operation, Business Insider stated.

The king is dead: Why would America want to retire the F-22?

12/01/2022

For months now, the Air Force has been openly discussing plans to retire its most potent air superiority fighter, the F-22 Raptor, in favor of its next fighter in development. And while the exact timeline remains somewhat murky, the fact of the matter remains: The reign of the Raptor is coming to an end.