Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

F-15 Crash Highlights Japan’s Aging Aircraft

02/06/2022

A Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) Mitsubishi-Boeing F-15DJ Eagle fighter aircraft crashed into the Sea of Japan on January 31, resulting in the loss of two pilots. The twin-seat conversion trainer aircraft, tail number 32-8083, disappeared from radars about 5 kilometers west-northwest of Komatsu Air Base in Ishikawa Prefecture, soon after taking off at around 5:30 p.m. on Monday. The fighter was on its way to a routine training mission.

France To Deploy Its Rafales Fighters To Fortify UAE Airspace Post The Historic Deal To Supply 80 Dassault Jets

02/06/2022

Of late, the UAE has been a target of a series of drone and missile assaults from Iran-backed Houthi rebels as the conflict in Yemen has escalated. Yemen-based militant groups launched three drone and one missile strikes against the UAE recently, according to Emirati officials. The attacks began in January, when UAE-backed Yemeni forces launched an offensive against the Houthis in Marib, in the country’s central region.

Germany could allegedly drop the F/A-18E/F and EA-18G as well as the European New Generation Fighter for the F-35 Lightning II

02/06/2022

A German defence source told Reuters on Feb. 3, 2022 that the Luftwaffe (German Air Force) is moving toward buying the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter to replace its ageing Tornado in the role of nuclear sharing. However, a final decision has not been taken. A claim confirmed also by another source close to the Germany military that said that a possible F-35 purchase was “back on the table”, but no decisions were expected anytime soon.

France to help UAE to protect airspace

02/05/2022

France will provide military support to the UAE to protect their airspace against any intrusion, the French Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly said on Friday. The French minister said that Rafale combat aircraft, which belong to France’s permanent organization based in Abu Dhabi, are engaged alongside the UAE armed forces in surveillance, detection and interception missions when necessary.

US State Department approves $4.21bn F-16 aircraft sale to Jordan

02/05/2022

The US State Department has approved a potential foreign military sale (FMS) of F-16 fighter jets and related equipment to Jordan. The possible sale is estimated to cost around $4.21bn. Following the approval, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has notified US Congress regarding the move. The Government of Jordan previously placed a request for 12 F-16 C Block 70 aircraft and four F-16 D Block 70 aircraft.

Chinese ‘Stealth’ Espionage! How Beijing-Backed Hackers ‘Acquired’ Sensitive US Tech Used In Its F-35 Fighter Jet?

02/04/2022

A few years ago, Russian state media Sputnik had criticized China’s J-15 aircraft for its many drawbacks. Moscow also accused Beijing of reverse-engineering a Russian Su-33 that it brought from Ukraine to produce its own carrier-capable aircraft, the J-15. However, this is neither about Su-33 nor about Russia. Both the countries have left the animosity behind to rework a relationship that challenges the United States, their common adversary.

Russia Is Modernizing The Largest Soviet Bomber From The Cold War

02/04/2022

During the Cold War, many powerful, interesting, and strange weapons appeared in the world. The military industries of both the United States and Russia were working day and night improving their equipment, developing new weapons, and producing them in sufficient quantity. One of the aircraft that stood out during this period was the Tu-160 Blackjack.

Romania intends to buy F35 fighter jets - president

02/04/2022

Romania plans to buy Lockheed Martin's latest generation F-35 aircraft as part of its Air Force modernization programme, president Klaus Iohannis said. "The new types of aircraft fitted to the Army, especially the F-16 aircraft, allow for a highly efficient execution of all specific missions. The process of modernizing the Air Force will not stop here, as we intend to purchase F-35 state-of-the-art aircraft," Iohannis said in a televised news conference on Wednesday.

Chinese L-15 Fighters Will Replace Iconic MiG-23s in Ethiopia's Air Force - Reports

02/04/2022

The Ethiopian Air Force is reportedly set to become the second export client for China’s L-15 lightweight fighter jet, after the Defence Ministry reportedly placed an order for the aircraft in 2021. The aircraft are expected to replace the country’s ageing fleet of MiG-23 variable swept wing third generation fighters, which form one of its two squadrons alongside a larger unit of Russian-supplied Su-27 Flanker jets acquired in the 1990s.

What’s at Stake in Ukraine

02/03/2022

While mainstream media coverage of the mobilization of Russian troops on the border with Ukraine has recently been confused by public disagreements between U.S. President Biden and Ukraine President Zelensky over the imminence of the threat, the possibility of conflict with Russia has been a daily reality for most Ukrainians, ever since the Euromaidan uprising of 2013–14 succeeded in overthrowing the pro-Russian government of Viktor Yanukovych.

Indian Air Force now permanently allows women to fly fighter planes

02/03/2022

Six years after the Indian Air Force (IAF) allowed women pilots to fly fighter planes on an experimental basis, the government has decided to make it a permanent feature, defence minister Rajnath Singh said on Tuesday.

New Helicopter Units Appear To Be Joining Russian Forces Massing On Ukraine’s Borders

02/03/2022

More Russian military helicopters appear to be arriving in Russian-occupied Crimea, on Ukraine’s southern border, as concerns that Moscow could be preparing some kind of new invasion of Ukrainian territory continue undiminished. The build-up of Russian troops and materiel into different border areas has been well documented but, until now, additional deployments of military aircraft, specifically, from elsewhere in the country have not been closely observed.

Check Six: How the 36th FS produces SEAD fighter pilots

02/03/2022

Pilots from the 36th Fighter Squadron receive extensive Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) training in order to become an F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter pilot during their duty assignment at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea. Pilots undergo a four-segment training, which provides them with an advanced understanding of aircraft capabilities further equipping them to become a mission capable SEAD fighter pilot.

US to send destroyer, fighter jets to UAE amid Houthi attacks

02/02/2022

The United States will send a guided-missile destroyer and fifth-generation fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the wake of recent missile attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, Washington’s top military official has said. In a phone call on Tuesday, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin told Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Abu bin Zayed Al Nahyan the Pentagon would send the “guided-missile destroyer USS Cole to partner with the UAE Navy before making a port call in Abu Dhabi”.

Why Fighter Pilots Work Intensely For Eight Hours Just To Fly For 30 Minutes

02/01/2022

There is a multitude of videos of military jets flying low and fast or employing ordnance. No doubt, they are exciting to watch. Even after a full career of flying U.S. Navy fighters, I still look up in the sky every time I hear a jet — the louder the better. But military jets are not designed to just go out and fly for show. They were built to accomplish a mission that ultimately involves employing ordnance to destroy a target.

The US Air Force's newest fighter jet just fired off a missile for the first time

02/01/2022

The US Air Force's newest fighter jet, the F-15EX Eagle II, recently hit a significant milestone — it fired a weapon for the first time. The jet, which is assigned to the 40th Flight Test Squadron, let loose an AIM-120D Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile in pursuit of a BQM-167 target drone while flying over the Gulf of Mexico on January 25.

Iraqi defence minister confirms purchase of fighter jets from Pakistan

02/01/2022

Iraq’s Defence Minister Juma Inad confirms the purchase of combat aircraft from Pakistan. He made the revelations in a recent interview with Al Arabiya, an international Arabic television news channel based in Dubai. During the interview, the talk turned to the Pakistani JF-17 Thunder fighter deal. To clarify, last year reports emerged that Pakistan received an international defense order from Iraq for the sale of 12 fighter jets JF-17 Thunder Block III, manufactured at the Pakistan.

Azerbaijan Might Expand Small Air Force With Turkish And Georgian Attack Aircraft

02/01/2022

The South Caucasus nation of Azerbaijan might decide to expand its small air force in the foreseeable future with affordable acquisitions from neighboring Turkey and Georgia. Turkey and Azerbaijan have dramatically increased military ties in recent years. Turkish arms exports to Baku surged six-fold in the months leading up to the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, in which Azerbaijan dealt Armenia a stinging defeat.

The Russia crisis has exposed why NATO needs a strategy shift

01/31/2022

The standoff over Ukraine has underscored a pressing need for NATO. Even though NATO leaders agreed to its new military strategy of defense and deterrence in 2019, given the events in Ukraine, that strategy appears dated.

US military receive newest spy plane

01/31/2022

According to a press release from Program Executive Office Intelligence, Electronic Warfare & Sensors, the LRR-E is capable of detecting moving targets using two types of Moving Target Indications (MTIs). Ground Moving Target Indications (GMTIs) to scan for larger types of targets, such as vehicles, and Dismount Moving Target Indications (DMTI) to focus on smaller targets, like people.

Drone Race in the Middle East

01/31/2022

Over the past two decades, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has been characterized by deep divisions, political turmoil, and inadequate governance. Geopolitical competition and increased ambitions of some countries (Iran, Israel, Turkey) were reflected in bold and unilateral foreign policies that in many cases exceeded longtime restrictions imposed by partnerships with foreign powers and conflicted with regional agendas.

U.S. cuts military aid for Egypt after arms sale

01/30/2022

The United States is canceling $130 million (€117 million) in military aid to Egypt over human rights concerns, the State Department said on January 28. The announcement comes just days after U.S. President Joe Biden's administration approved a $2.5 billion arms sale to Egypt on January 25. This included 12 Super Hercules C-130 transport aircraft and air defense radar systems.

China-Russia drills near Japan hint at burgeoning military ties

01/30/2022

China and Russia appear to be entering a new and deeper phase of military cooperation that threatens to upset the established security order in East Asia. Two Chinese and two Russian bombers flew southward over the northern part of the Sea of Japan on Nov. 29 last year, surprising Japanese and U.S. defense officials, who saw the sortie as an anomaly. While this was believed to be the third such group flight, following one in July 2019 and another in December 2020.

Berlin will send fighter jets to Romania to participate in the NATO mission

01/30/2022

The German Air Force (Air Force) is sending three combat aircraft to participate in the NATO mission to protect Romanian airspace. In this way, the Luftwaffe demonstrates that «is firmly on the side of its allies», the Air Force command said in a statement released on Friday, January 28.

China hypes up Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and voices support

01/29/2022

China has spoken out in support of Russia’s impending invasion of Ukraine, insisting the “outdated” NATO alliance is the true cause of the crisis. Foreign Minister Wang Yi told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that Russia’s “reasonable security concerns should be taken seriously and resolved”. He did not refer to European and Ukrainian security concerns over Moscow’s 100,000 troops, heavy tanks, armoured vehicles, combat aircraft and warships assembling on their borders.