Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Navy asks RTX Raytheon for infrared-guided air-to-air missiles compatible with helmet-mounted displays

11/05/2024

U.S. Navy aerial warfare experts are asking RTX Corp. to build more than 1,200 AIM-9X precision short-range infrared-guided air-to-air missiles for jet fighters and other combat aircraft under terms of a $736.6 million five-year contract announced in September. Officials of the Naval Air Systems Command at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Md., are asking the RTX Raytheon segment in Tucson, Ariz., to build lot 24 AIM-9X block II and block II-plus air-to-air missiles.

Russian Su-57 Stealth Fighter Lands In China For The First Time; Moscow Sends A Strong Message To West?

11/05/2024

A Russian Su-57 stealth fighter landed in Taiyuan, North China’s Shanxi Province, on November 3, 2024, on its first-ever visit to China. It’s not yet known if the Su-57 will perform demonstration flights at the Zhuhai Airshow 2024, which will take place from November 12 to 17, 2024. The Su-57 was first showcased internationally at the Dubai Airshow in November 2017. While it was on static display at the event, it did not conduct demonstration flights.

KC-46s Deploy to Middle East for 1st Time

11/04/2024

KC-46 aerial tankers from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., landed in the Middle East in early October, beginning the refueler’s first-ever operational deployment. KC-46s previously operated out of Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, in 2022, as part of an Employment Concept Exercise meant to help validate and clear the Pegasus for operational duty. But not until now have KC-46s deployed for full-scale operational use, according to a news release.

Taiwan reports rise in Chinese military activity as US election nears

11/04/2024

Taiwan's defense ministry said Sunday it had spotted 35 Chinese military aircraft, including fighters and bombers, flying to the island's south on the way to exercises in the Pacific, a second day in a row it has reported such activities. China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory despite the strong objections of the government in Taipei, regularly sends its military in the skies and waters near the island seeking to enforce its sovereignty claims.

B-21 Raider Bomber Can Now Be Summed Up in 2 Words

11/04/2024

The B-21 Raider is set to reshape U.S. air strategy, potentially replacing not only older bombers but also the role of manned fighters. With advancing A2/AD threats, the B-21 may become a stealthy "mothership" for drones, able to project power while leveraging its versatility in a system of systems approach.

Algerian MiG-25 flies again, but for a short while

11/03/2024

The Algerian Air Force has breathed new life into some of its Soviet-built Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25 Foxbat aircraft, which were retired a few years ago. These formidable aircraft recently participated in a significant aerial display to mark the 70th anniversary of the start of the revolt against French rule on November 1.

Russia’s Su-35 outsourcing plans face potential capacity snags

11/03/2024

Reports of a possible Iran-Russia agreement to manufacture the Su-35 fighter jets inside Iran have stirred considerable debate and speculation. The deal, if confirmed, would enable Iran to produce between 48 and 72 of these advanced aircraft, marking a significant leap for a country that has sought to modernize its air capabilities for decades.

France reportedly offered to sell 24 Rafale jets to Brazil

11/02/2024

Reports indicate that France has proposed selling 24 Rafale fighter jets to Brazil, a move that marks a potential step forward in Franco-Brazilian defense relations. Since the 2000s, France has made several defense sales to Brazil, including 50 maneuverable Super Cougar helicopters and four Scorpène submarines, but recent defense contracts haven’t all gone smoothly.

Ukrainian F-16 reportedly shoots down second Russian Su-34

11/02/2024

Reports from Russian military bloggers and aviation sources suggest that a Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber was downed under mysterious circumstances early this morning. Russian sources close to the Air Force, including well-known aviator Ilya Tumanov, have acknowledged the loss, with messages such as “Eternal memory, brothers!” indicating that the aircraft’s crew did not survive.

F-15EX vs. F-35: Which Fighter Jet Should You Spend Your $90 Million On?

11/02/2024

The F-15EX Eagle II and F-35 Lightning II are often compared due to their similar price points, around $90 million, despite differing generations. The F-35, a fifth-generation stealth jet, excels in stealth and is ideal for contested airspace, while the F-15EX, a fourth-generation-plus fighter, boasts a larger payload and shines in homeland defense and air superiority roles.

F-16 Fighters Will Fly For Argentina With U.S. Weapons

11/02/2024

The Lockheed Martin-produced F-16 Fighting Falcon will soon be a South American warbird, as the U.S. State Department approved the Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Argentina for the multirole combat aircraft this week. Buenos Aires had requested twenty-four F-16 Block 10/15 aircraft that would be delivered via a third-party transfer.

Why the Air Force Paused NGAD—And What’s Next

11/02/2024

he Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) combat jet—the centerpiece of the Air Force’s future air superiority plans—faces a crucial design review between now and the end of the year. What kind of aircraft the Air Force needs, what it can afford, and how long it will be before that aircraft is available all hang in the balance. The threat NGAD must defeat is evolving faster than predicted, its unit cost is extremely high—though classified, estimates near $300 million a copy.

Fighters and bombers are what America needs to win — not quadcopters

11/02/2024

On Saturday, Israeli F-35 stealth fighter aircraft penetrated highly defended Iranian airspace, struck a broad number of military targets and returned home safe. Days earlier, U.S. B-2 stealth bombers struck multiple deeply buried Houthi arms caches. These missions illustrate a key point: Despite trendy arguments to the contrary, the United States still requires the most advanced fighters and bombers in our arsenal if we want to win in future conflicts.

F-35: “The system as a whole is a cultural change!”

11/01/2024

One of the Vice Presidents at Lockheed Martin is Jeff ‘Cobra’ Harrigian, Commander of the US Air Force in Europe (USAFE) until 2022, with 4,100 hours on F-22, F-15C and A/OA-37. Now he is responsible for ‘Strategic Campaigns’ at the world’s largest defence contractor. On the sidelines of AIRPOWER-24, ESD spoke to him about the F-35 fighter jet, its European distribution and the approaching Austrian Eurofighter succession. The interview was conducted by Georg Mader.

Poland delays transfer of MiG-29 fighters to Ukraine: Zelenskyy

11/01/2024

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed that while initial arrangements with Poland and NATO were in place to supply Ukraine with MiG-29 fighter jets, shifting priorities and “new reasons” continue to delay the process, affecting Ukraine’s defense efforts against Russian missile strikes.

U.S. State Department Clears $7.3 Billion for F-16 Viper Mid-Life Upgrade

11/01/2024

The U.S. State Department has approved an up to $7.3 billion foreign military sale to Poland of the Lockheed Martin F-16 Viper Midlife Upgrade, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said on Wednesday.

US Wraps Up Maintenance for Marine Corps Harrier II Fighter Jets

11/01/2024

Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) has completed final sustainment work for the US Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier II ground attack aircraft two years before the fleet’s retirement. The maintenance is part of the North Carolina-based center’s technical support, repair, and overhaul coverage for all naval and expeditionary aviation assets. It concluded in an informal ceremony involving the delivery of the aircraft to Marine Attack Squadron 223, a unit at Air Station Cherry Point.

New J-15B ship-borne fighter begins deployment from China’s Navy aircraft carriers

11/01/2024

In recent hours, images and videos have gone viral showing the new carrier-based J-15B fighters of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Air Wing accompanying a remarkable and unprecedented formation of assets. This deployment, shared by China across several platforms, not only introduced the new carrier-based fighter variant but also marked a rare instance in which the Liaoning (CV-16) and Shandong (CV-17) aircraft carriers, along with a group of escorts, sailed together.

Black Hawk helicopter has proven itself both in combat and peace time missions.

10/31/2024

The US Government has awarded Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, a Foreign Military Sale contract to provide 35 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters to Greece. The deal includes 35 aircraft for the Hellenic Army as well as personnel training, training equipment and an initial provisioning package, which will significantly improve self-defense and bolster interoperability within the nation and with NATO allies.

Austria’s fighter dilemma

10/31/2024

On 29 September 2024, Austria held national elections. The challenge for the new government will be to start and set aside billions of dollars to replace the mixture of fifteen early T1-B2R-B5 Eurofighter Typhoon single-seaters flown by the Luftstreitkräfte. Their primary goal, which has been internally blocked for the last year, is to acquire 12 to 15 Leonardo M346FA advanced jet trainer/light combat aircraft to replace the outdated SAAB-105OE, which was phased out in 2020 after 50 years.

B-21 Raider Bomber Could Become a 'Mothership' for Drone Fighters

10/30/2024

The U.S. Air Force’s B-21 Raider, originally intended as a stealth bomber, may evolve beyond traditional roles. With advancements in anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) and artificial intelligence, the Raider could replace the NGAD fighter in air dominance missions.

Cockpit or Command Center? C2 Options for Collaborative Combat Aircraft

10/30/2024

There is a new theory of airpower on the horizon. Over the next five years, the U.S. Air Force (USAF) plans to invest billions in research and development for a force of over 1,000 collaborative combat aircraft (CCA). The vision includes working with allies and partners to pair fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft with versatile unmanned systems, creating aerial networks that can rapidly adapt to changes in the battlespace.

India penalises General Electric for delaying Tejas fighter jet engine delivery by 2 years

10/30/2024

The Indian government plans to penalise General Electric Co. for significant delays in delivering jet engines for its domestically built light-combat aircraft, Bloomberg reported citing an Indian official familiar with the matter. The deliveries GE has been penalised for are a part of a $716 million deal with state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL). That deal, signed in 2021, covers the supply of 99 engines for the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft Mk1.

Iran’s Air Force chief in Pakistan: Talks begin on JF-17 jet deal

10/29/2024

The Supreme Commander of the Iranian Air Force recently arrived in Islamabad for discussions on a potential military partnership, as reported by various Arab sources. Brigadier General Hamed Wahidi touched down at Noor Khan Air Base on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, following an official invitation from his Pakistani counterpart. Leading a high-level military delegation, General Wahidi’s visit highlights a growing interest in defense collaboration between the two nations.

NGAD Review to Finish Before End of Year, Allvin Says

10/29/2024

The future of the Air Force’s next-generation combat jet will be decided by the end of the year, the service’s top officer said Oct. 25. “We intend to have that by December,” Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin said at the Military Reporters and Editors Conference in Washington, D.C. “We also want to be able to influence the Department’s Presidential Budget Submission in February.”