Military Aviation News Archive

F-22 Raptor Stealth Fighters Just Landed Right in China's Backyard

06/29/2024

The U.S. 7th Air Force has announced the deployment of F-22 Raptors from the 199th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron to Osan Air Base in South Korea for integration training with Republic of Korea Air Force aircraft.

Norway Reopens Mountain Air Base to F-35s

06/29/2024

The Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF) reactivated the Bardufoss Air Station earlier this month after a gap of 40 years. A batch of F-35A Lightning II fighter jets will be housed at the mountain base, featuring upgraded hangars and facilities. The northern Norwegian base is meant to act as a natural shield for the air assets against possible enemy air attacks.

Ukrainian National Guard Downs Russian Su-25 Fighter Bomber with Igla MANPAD

06/29/2024

The National Guard of Ukraine reported via Telegram that its soldiers had downed a Russian Su-25 ground attack aircraft in the Donetsk region. “The guards discovered an enemy Su-25, also known as the Grach [Rook], making a combat sortie,” the Friday, June 28 post says.

Typhoon Fighters Escort Royal Air Force Recce Mission Deep Into Black Sea Airspace

06/29/2024

Two Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jets escorting a RC-135 strategic surveillance aircraft flew a rare reconnaissance mission closely approaching and probing air defenses in the Russian-occupied Crimea peninsula on Thursday, open-source air traffic data reviewed by Kyiv Post showed.

Portugal Announces Upcoming Acquisition of Super Tucano A-29N Aircraft.

06/28/2024

The Portuguese Defense Minister announced during a parliamentary hearing that the acquisition of the A-29N Super Tucano will soon be legally approved. This statement marks a significant step in strengthening Portugal's close air support capabilities. The current legislative framework, through the Military Programming Law (LPM), has allocated a budget of 180.5 million euros for the acquisition of close air support (CAS) aircraft.

Sweden orders third GlobalEye AEW&C

06/28/2024

Sweden’s defence procurement agency (FMV) has placed an order for a third Sabb GlobalEye airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, one of the two options contained in the order for two aircraft placed in June 2022. The order has a value of approximately SEK2.6 billion (US$244 million) and the delivery period is expected before 2029.

Denmark to Conclude Local F-16 Training for Ukrainian Pilots

06/28/2024

Denmark has chosen to stop training Ukrainian F-16 fighter jet pilots on Danish soil after 2024. The decision was announced by Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen at a joint press conference with his Norwegian counterpart, Bjørn Arild Gram, explaining that Denmark’s fighter jet fleet will soon transition to F-35s.

NGAD uncertainty won’t impact GCAP next-gen fighter effort in Europe, say analysts

06/28/2024

The Air Force’s decision to reevaluate its Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program is unlikely to unsettle the trilateral Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) due to different costs and national priorities, analysts tell Breaking Defense.

Taiwan tracks 35 Chinese military aircraft, 7 naval ships around nation

06/27/2024

The Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked 35 Chinese military aircraft and seven naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Wednesday (June 26) and 6 a.m. on Thursday (June 27). Of the 35 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, 33 crossed the Taiwan Strait median line in the northern, central, southwestern, and eastern portions of the country’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ), according to the MND.

China Modernizes AWACS ‘Flying Radars’ To Counter US Military; Draws Critical Lessons From Ukraine Conflict

06/27/2024

In the shadow of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, a quiet revolution is taking place in China’s military aviation. The world’s second-largest defense spender is rapidly modernizing its “eyes in the sky” – the crucial Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft that serve as flying command centers in modern warfare.

Stolen Secrets: How China's J-20 Stealth Fighter Took Shape from U.S. Designs

06/27/2024

China's Chengdu J-20 "Mighty Dragon" and the forthcoming Shenyang FC-31 stealth fighters are widely believed to incorporate stolen design elements from American and likely Russian fighter programs. In particular, a Chinese national named Su Bin was found guilty of conspiring to steal sensitive military information, including the designs for the F-22 and F-35, for the Chinese military.

What’s the spending plan for sixth-gen fighters around the world?

06/26/2024

The latest Future Years Defense Program, for fiscal 2025, shows continued support within the Pentagon for dramatic growth in spending on so-called sixth-generation aircraft, most prominently including the Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance and the Navy’s F/A-XX programs. At the same time, enthusiasm continues in Europe and Asia for another competing pair of sixth-gen developments, notably the French-German-Spanish Future Combat Air System and the British-Japanese-Italian.

KF-21 fighter engine plans matches South Korea’s aim for 40 aircraft by 2028

06/26/2024

South Korea’s aspirations to have a first batch of 40 KF-21 Boromae fighters delivered by 2028 has been backed up by an announced contract between Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) and Hanwha Aerospace for the build of at least 40 F414 engines between 2024-2027.

Japan to hold fighter jet drills with Germany, France, Spain in July

06/26/2024

A contingent of more than 30 military aircraft from Germany, France and Spain will arrive in Japan next month to conduct a series of training exercises with the Air Self-Defense Force, the Defense Ministry said Tuesday, marking these countries’ first-ever trilateral air force deployment to the Indo-Pacific.

Greece Moves Closer to F-35 Purchase with Parliament Set to Review US Offer

06/24/2024

The Greek Parliament is poised to take a significant step towards acquiring a squadron of F-35 fighter jets, with a special committee expected to review the US government's Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) in the coming week.

BVR Combat: F-15 Eagles ‘Battle’ IAF Rafales During Red Flag 2024 Drills; Revenges 2004 Drubbing By Su-30?

06/24/2024

Years after its Sukhoi Su-30 MKI “over-powered” USAF F-15s, the Indian Air Force (IAF) Rafale fighters gave a tough fight to American-made warplanes during the recently concluded Red Flag exercises.

US aircraft carrier arrives in South Korea as a show of force against nuclear-armed North Korea

06/23/2024

A nuclear-powered U.S. aircraft carrier arrived Saturday in South Korea for a three-way exercise involving Japan as they step up military training to cope with North Korean threats, which have escalated following a security pact with Russia. The arrival of the USS Theodore Roosevelt strike group in Busan came a day after South Korea summoned the Russian ambassador to protest a major deal between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un this week.

The F-35 Is No Normal Warplane: It’s a 'Quarterback' in the Sky

06/23/2024

The F-35 Lightning II stands unmatched in versatility and capability, outshining Russian and Chinese fifth-generation fighters. Its advanced stealth, payload, electronic warfare, and intelligence-gathering capabilities make it a pivotal "quarterback" in modern combat.

Seoul is developing three versions of the KF-21 “Boramae” fighter jet: electronic attack, fifth generation, and export

06/22/2024

Plans were unveiled for the development of three derivative versions of South Korea’s next-generation fighter, the KF-21 “Boramae”. Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and agencies belonging to South Korea’s Ministry of Defense began work on the electronic attack KF-21 EA, the performance-enhanced KF-21 EX and the KF-21 SA for exports.

F-35 Stealth Fighter: An Electronic Warfare 'Beast' Like No Other

06/22/2024

The F-35 Lightning II, renowned for its stealth, is also notable for its advanced electronic warfare (EW) capabilities. The latest Block 4 variant includes the AN/ASQ-239 EW suite, enhancing threat detection and situational awareness.

Forget the F-35 or F-22: This Might Be the Air Force's Most Important Plane

06/22/2024

Lockheed Martin reached two significant milestones with its aircraft. The 1,000th F-35 Lightning II was delivered, marking a rare achievement in modern fighter production. Additionally, the 2,700th C-130 Hercules, a KC-130J Super Hercules tanker, was delivered to the U.S. Marine Corps.

Quebec Company Completes First A-4 Skyhawk Aggressor Aircraft Training for Canada

06/22/2024

Quebec-based tactical aircraft simulation provider Top Aces has completed the initial A-4 Skyhawk aggressor fighter jet training for Canada’s Contracted Airborne Training Services (CATS) program. CATS is an ongoing commitment to sustain the Canadian Armed Forces’ performance and dominance in airspace through the use of red teams or groups pretending to be real-world enemies.

Lockheed to Continue Infrastructure Support for F-35 JSF Program

06/22/2024

Lockheed Martin has secured a contract to extend infrastructure support for the US Department of Defense’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program. The $63.5-million deal orders the continued engineering, logistics, maintenance, materials, and manpower services for the program’s laboratory facilities and associated aircraft developmental flight evaluations.

F-22 Raptor: The Best 'Air Superiority Fighter' in the World

06/21/2024

Lockheed Martin's F-22 Raptor, despite lacking combat kills, recently achieved a significant milestone of 500,000 flight hours. The fifth-generation air superiority fighter, introduced in 2005, has proven its capabilities in various roles, including ground attacks during Operation Inherent Resolve.

Taiwan tracks 7 Chinese naval ships, 6 military aircraft

06/20/2024

Of the six People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, four crossed the Taiwan Strait median line in the northern and southwestern sectors of the country’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ), according to the MND, Taiwan News website reported. In response, Taiwan sent aircraft and naval ships and deployed coastal-based missile systems to monitor the PLA activity.