Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Let’s Discuss Which Nations Could Donate ‘Fighter Jets’ to Ukraine

02/28/2022

Ukraine has received and will continue to receive military aid from NATO and European Union nations. While additional equipment could be supplied in the near future, the Ukrainian Air Force has recently received resupplies of air-to-air missiles used by its combat planes that continue to fight against the Russian Air Force in the skies over Ukraine.

Putin puts nuclear forces on high alert as Russian troops enter Kharkiv - live updates

02/27/2022

In a dramatic escalation of East-West tensions over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian nuclear deterrent forces put on high alert Sunday in response to what he called “aggressive statements” by leading NATO powers.

Italy Doubles The Number Of Eurofighters Deployed To Romania, Prepares To Send Military Aid To Ukraine

02/27/2022

“Beginning tomorrow Italy will strengthen the its presence in Romania, doubling the number of aircraft already supporting the Air Policing mission” Italy Minister of Defense Lorenzo Guerini said. In other words, four additional Eurofighter Typhoon jets will deploy to Mihail Kogalniceanu airbase bringing to 8 the total number of Italian Air Force fighters supporting NATO’s eAPA-S (Enhanced Air Policing Area South).

How Ukrainian defiance has derailed Putin’s plans

02/27/2022

Three days after the invasion there are signs that Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine is not quite going to plan. In the Sumy region, close to the border with Russia, a local resident came across an extraordinary sight. On a country road lined with birch trees, a Russian armoured vehicle had broken down.

Reports: “Two Russian Il-76s Shot Down” in Ukraine, Combat Erupts in Kyiv

02/27/2022

As the sun rises on day three of the Ukrainian war with Russia, reports have surfaced that two Russian Ilyushin Il-76 heavy transports were shot down by Ukrainian air defenses. Russia has not acknowledged the loss of any of its Il-76 aircraft. On Friday, Feb. 25, 2022, Ukrainian air defenses claimed to have shot down one Russian Il-76 transport near Vasylkiv, south of the capital in Kyiv. Ukrainian reports claimed the aircraft was carrying a “landing force” but did not specify any number of casu

Blinken authorizes $350 million more in US military assistance to Ukraine

02/27/2022

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Saturday he has authorized $350 million in new US military assistance to Ukraine. “This package will include further lethal defensive assistance to help Ukraine address the armored, airborne, and other threats it is now facing. It is another clear signal that the United States stands with the people of Ukraine as they defend their sovereign, courageous, and proud nation,” he added.

With Activation of NATO Response Force, U.S. Military Ready to Provide Forces

02/27/2022

In response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg today announced activation of the alliance's defense plans, which means also that it can deploy the NATO Defense Force. The U.S. Defense Department now stands ready to provide capabilities to help fill that defense force, if asked to do so, said Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby.

Russia lost heavy equipment due to Ukrainian resistance.

02/27/2022

Under attack from Russian forces on three fronts and subjected to a heavy barrage of airstrikes and land-based fires in Europe’s largest security crisis since the Second World War, Ukraine has proven itself capable of meaningful resistance and inflicted equipment losses on invading forces that give credibility to prior forecasts suggesting a quick Russian victory would not transpire, despite the substantial asymmetric advantage held by Moscow.

DEFEXPO 2022: Lockheed Martin to Pitch F-21 Fighters for IAF

02/26/2022

American defence major Lockheed Martin will be showcasing its diverse portfolio of defence capabilities and solutions at the 12th biennial edition of India’s DEFEXPO 2022, starting from 10 March at Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The company’s exhibit this year includes a broad span of advanced technologies from aeronautics, rotary and mission systems, and missiles and fire control business areas.

US troops and equipment arrive in Lithuania for drills

02/26/2022

"The first column of troops and combat equipment from the US Army's 3rd Cavalry Regiment crossed the Lithuanian border near Kalvarija at around 3 a.m.," the Lithuanian Armed Forces said. The troops and equipment, including infantry fighting vehicles, armored SUVs and trucks, will be taking part in the Saber Strike drills in the Baltic states and Poland, it said.

Ukraine's president urges resistance to invasion: "We are defending our country alone"

02/26/2022

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a new video message Friday morning, urging resistance to the Russian invasion and criticizing Ukraine's allies for the second time in just a few hours.

'I won't trigger a European war': Defence Secretary Ben Wallace rules out NATO enforcing a no-fly zone over Ukraine as he warns it would pit 'British fighter jets directly against Russian fighter jets' and plunge the entire continent into conflict

02/26/2022

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace today ruled out NATO enforcing a no-fly zone over Ukraine as he warned such a move would likely plunge the entire European continent into war. There have been calls from Ukraine, and from some Tory MPs, for the UK to provide air support to Kiev as it tries to beat back the Russian invasion.

NATO allies to provide more weapons to Ukraine, Stoltenberg says

02/26/2022

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Friday the alliance was deploying parts of its combat-ready response force and would continue to send weapons to Ukraine, including air defences, while saying that Russia was trying to topple the Ukrainian government. "We see rhetoric, the messages, which is strongly indicating that the aim is to remove the democratically elected government in Kyiv," he told a news conference following a virtual meeting of NATO leaders.

British-donated military kit used to shoot down Russian planes, Ukrainian ambassador to UK says

02/25/2022

Vadym Prystaiko, speaking in London this afternoon, promised there will be fighting in the streets of Ukraine if Russia's Vladimir Putin continues with his apparent expansion plans. He appeared to thank the UK, revealing that British-supplied military kit has been used to shoot down Russian aircraft. Prystaiko called for a no-fly zone to be put in place over his country, saying he wanted “something which only NATO can provide”.

These are the planes the US is using to watch Russia’s military movements

02/25/2022

The Army’s first manned spy plane and an Air Force “nuke sniffer” have been among the surveillance aircraft watching Russia’s military movements during the Kremlin’s planning and execution of its latest invasion of Ukraine. For weeks, aviation spotters have been following the Air Force’s RQ-4 Global Hawk, RC-135 Rivet Joint, WC-135 Constant Phoenix and E-8C, an Army prototype called ARTEMIS, as well as other U.S. and NATO aircraft flying in Ukraine or in neighboring areas.

U.S. sends fighter jets to Japan in apparent warning to North, China

02/25/2022

In an apparent warning to North Korea and China, the United States has deployed an unspecified number of F-35A stealth fighter jets to Okinawa, Japan, its military said Thursday. The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said the F-35A jets from the 354th Fighter Wing in Alaska had been moved to Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, on Sunday to take part in “integrated air operations.”

Germany will extend support of NATO air policing in Romania

02/25/2022

Germany is ready to extend and expand its support of NATO's air policing mission in Romania and also to comply with further requests from the alliance, the German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht announced Thursday. "I have given (an) order to expand and extend our engagement in the air policing in Romania," Lambrecht told reporters after briefing Germany's parliament defense committee.

Compass Call deploys to Kuwait to support USCENTCOM AOR

02/25/2022

Two U.S. Air Force EC-130H Compass Call aircraft arrived at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait to demonstrate a continued U.S. presence in theater to our partners and adversaries, and support a commitment to security and stability in the region. The EC-130 aircraft were redeployed to the United States where they postured as an immediate response force following the 41st Expeditionary Electronic Combat Squadron’s inactivation from Al Dhafra Air Base in Sept. 2021, after a 20-year-long standing deploym

Bell Textron begins AH-1Z Viper production for Czech Republic

02/25/2022

Bell Textron has commenced the manufacture of the first AH-1Z Viper twin-engine attack helicopter for the Czech Republic Air Force. The aircraft is being built at the company’s assembly centre in Amarillo, Texas, US. The development follows after Bell Textron started production of the UH-1Y Venom helicopters for the country in July last year, marking the first production for an international operator of the UH-1Y.

Two Chinese Military Aircraft Enter Taiwan's Air Defence Identification Zone

02/25/2022

Amid tensions in Ukraine due to Russia, Taiwan media reported that two Chinese military planes entered the region's Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) on Wednesday, February 23, marking the 12th intrusion this month. As per Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence (MND), two People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) Shenyang J-16 fighter jets flew into the southwest corner of Taiwan’s ADIZ.

US F-35 Stealth Fighter Jets Arrive in Lithuania Amid Russian Military Action In Ukraine – Vilnius

02/25/2022

“In Lithuania, on February 24, armed US F-35 military aircraft landed at the airbase of the Lithuanian Army Air Force in Siauliai, where additional US military forces are deployed. In response to the current security situation, the US has also taken an important and necessary decision – the rotation of the heavy 3-66 armor battalion continues in Lithuania,” the ministry said in a statement. Earlier in the day, the Netherlands dispatched two F-35 fighters to protect NATO airspace over Eastern Eur

From ground troops to fighter aircraft, a look at military capabilities of Russia and Ukraine

02/25/2022

On Thursday, Russian troops launched their anticipated attack on Ukraine. Big explosions were heard in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odessa as world leaders decried the start of an invasion that could cause massive casualties and topple Ukraine’s democratically elected government. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared martial law, saying Russia has targeted Ukraine’s military infrastructure. He urged Ukrainians to stay home and not to panic.

Ukraine claims Russian aircraft losses as invasion begins

02/25/2022

Ukraine’s defence ministry claims to have destroyed several Russian aircraft during its early efforts to defend the country from invasion by Moscow’s military. “The enemy suffers losses. Currently, six Russian air force planes and two helicopters have been shot down,” the defence ministry claimed, just hours after Moscow had launched strikes against Ukrainian military facilities in the early hours of 24 February.

Explosions reported near Kyiv after Putin authorises 'military operation' in Ukraine | Ukraine latest

02/24/2022

The latest as Vladimir Putin orders the invasion of Ukraine, with explosions heard in the country's capital Kyiv; The UN Security Council's pleas for peace fall on deaf ears as Mr Putin threatens other countries with "consequences they have never seen" should they interfere.

Biden condemns Putin’s attack on Ukraine: ‘The world will hold Russia accountable’

02/24/2022

Russian President Vladimir Putin, in an early Thursday morning address in Moscow, announced that Russia would launch a military action in Ukraine. NBC News reported that explosions were heard in Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital.