Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Can the US Air Force overcome its pilot culture and deploy drone fighter jets at last?

03/10/2024

A 22-foot-long experimental drone warplane, taking off for the first time in California on Monday, might represent the future of the US Air Force. Unless, as has happened before, service leaders lose their nerve – and abandon a good idea because it threatens the status quo.

Canada invests in CF-18 Hornet fighter sustainment

03/09/2024

Canada’s decision to sustain its CF-18 fighter fleet reflected its commitment to modernising air defence capabilities amid challenges highlighted by a critical report commissioned by the Department of National Defence and released last year, casting doubt on its ability to fulfil NATO obligations.

South Korean Air Force showcases its growing combat strength

03/09/2024

The South Korean Air Force recently conducted an impressive “elephant walk” involving 33 aircraft, including F-35A stealth fighters, KF-16s, F-15Ks, and F-4Es. This demonstration at the Suwon air base coincided with the annual Freedom Shield exercise, reinforcing deterrence against North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats.

Ukrainian Air Force attacks Russian planes from a distance of more than 150 km

03/09/2024

Russian aircraft were attacked from a distance of more than 150 km on March 7, the Ukrainian Air Force Commander Lieutenant General Mykola Oleshchuk reported on Telegram on March 8. “We are checking the results of the combatwork,” he wrote. According to him, air defense units hunt down Russian fighters almost every day.

The F-22 Has Gone from Rolling Retirement To The USAF’s Top Priority

03/09/2024

Less than a year ago, the Air Force was asking to cut 32 early model F-22s from its meager 183-Raptor inventory. On Thursday, the fighter was dubbed its “highest priority”. Referencing the pacing military competition with China at a McAleese Defense Programs conference in Washington DC on Thursday, Air Force acquisition chief, Andrew Hunter, said, “F-22 is a critical capability. So what’s my highest priority in the near term for that great power competition? I’d probably put F-22 at the top.”

ROMANIA HOSTS INTEGRATED TRAINING DRILLS FOR ALLIED FIGHTER JETS

03/09/2024

On March 6, the Romanian Air Force deployed one of their C-27 transport aircraft for combined training missions with F-16 fighter jets from Romania and Türkiye, based at Fetesti Air Base, French Rafale aircraft , currently stationed there joined the missions.

A traditional Russian ally snubbed Moscow's latest fighter jets for competitors from Pakistan and Turkey

03/09/2024

The small, oil-rich South Caucasus country of Azerbaijan has big plans to upgrade its modest fleet of fighter jets over the next decade. However, rather than turn to Russia, its traditional arms supplier for decades, Baku will likely acquire modern fighters from Pakistan and Turkey. The turn away from Russia shows that longtime allies like Azerbaijan are finding effective arms sellers who aren't afflicted by the problems of Russia's newest fighter jets.

The F-16 Block 70 Is Truly the Ultimate 'Fighting Falcon' Fighter

03/08/2024

Lockheed Martin has announced the completion of five F-16 Block 70 jets for Bahrain, with an additional 11 in production. This move highlights Bahrain's pioneering role in integrating the F-16 Block 70 variant, enhancing its air force capabilities. The Block 70 features advanced radar, avionics, extended service life, and safety systems like the Auto GCAS, emphasizing its combat-proven performance

US Air Force readies to award collaborative combat aircraft deals

03/07/2024

The Air Force plans to whittle down the number of companies working to build the first batch of collaborative combat aircraft to two or three over the next few months, the service’s secretary said Tuesday. And the Air Force plans to award contracts for the next round of CCAs — drones loaded with autonomous software that would fly themselves into battle alongside crewed fighters — in fiscal 2025, Frank Kendall said during a roundtable at the Air and Space Force Association’s Air Warfare Symposiu

Hawk training aircraft bows out of Royal Canadian Air Force

03/07/2024

The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) has introduced a period of hiatus, according to an update from 4 March 2024, while the service decides on its next trainer aircraft as the existing 18 CT-155 Hawk units come to the end of their 24-year-long life. While RCAF officials debate the platform that will best simulate Canada’s newly acquired F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft, the fast jet leading the nation’s combat air fleet.

Russia scrambled a Su-27 to intercept a French E-3F radar aircraft and two Rafale fighter jets over the Black Sea

03/07/2024

Russia’s defence ministry said Tuesday that it had scrambled a fighter jet to “prevent a violation of the Russian state border” by three French aircraft over the Black Sea. Such incidents have regularly occurred, even before Russia launched its offensive in Ukraine in 2022. “To prevent a violation of the Russian state border, a Su-27 fighter aircraft was raised into the air,” Russia’s defence ministry said.

Combat Debut Of Su-57: Will Russia Risk Using Its Stealth Jets Against Ukraine As Su-34s Get Decimated?

03/07/2024

The Ukrainian Air Force announced on March 4 that a Su-34 Fullback fighter bomber had been shot down. With that, more than a dozen Fullback bomber jets are alleged to have been brought down by Ukraine in just over two weeks.

Kishida renews case for 3rd-country exports of next generation fighter jet

03/05/2024

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has reiterated his stance that the government will seek understanding for its plan to export next-generation fighter jets to third countries. Kishida was answering questions on Monday from an opposition lawmaker at the Upper House about an aircraft Japan is developing with Britain and Italy.

Boeing Could Build the NGAD 6th Generation Fighter

03/05/2024

Boeing, despite recent challenges, stands a chance at securing the Next Generation Air Defense (NGAD) project from the U.S. Air Force, potentially edging out competitor Lockheed Martin. The NGAD program, shrouded in secrecy, aims to develop a sixth-generation fighter jet, the Penetrating Counter Air (PCA), alongside an unmanned system, the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). The PCA is anticipated to boast advanced digital capabilities, propulsion technology, and enhanced weaponry.

PHOTOS: In Brunei, USAF F-35s Are First 5th-Gen Fighters to Land on Island Nation

03/05/2024

U.S. Air Force F-35 fighters landed in Brunei on March 1, the first time U.S. stealth jets have landed on the small Pacific Island nation. Two F-35s made the trek from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, to Rimba Air Base, Brunei, a visit that coincided with a diplomatic visit by Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Jedidiah Royal. Also making the trip was Maj. Gen. Mark Weber, Air National Guard assistant to the commander of PACAF, .

Taiwan tracks 21 Chinese military aircraft, 6 naval ships around nation

03/04/2024

The Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked 21 Chinese military aircraft and six naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Saturday (March 2) and 6 a.m. on Sunday (March 3). Of the 21 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, one Chinese drone crossed the Taiwan Strait median line and entered the southwest corner of the country’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ), according to the MND. Meanwhile, nine of the PLA aircraft flew into the southwest sector of the ADIZ.

German fighter jets scramble to intercept Russian military aircraft

03/04/2024

Two German Air Force Eurofighter jets were scrambled from Lielvarde Air Base in Latvia on March 1, mere hours after initiating NATO Air Policing duties, to intercept two Russian military aircraft nearing NATO airspace off the Latvian coast.

US military aircraft airdrop thousands of meals into Gaza in emergency humanitarian aid operation

03/04/2024

U.S. military C-130 cargo planes dropped food in pallets over Gaza on Saturday in the opening stage of an emergency humanitarian assistance authorized by President Joe Biden after more than 100 Palestinians who had surged to pull goods off an aid convoy were killed during a chaotic encounter with Israeli troops.

Russia risks air losses for tactical gains in eastern Ukraine — ISW

03/04/2024

Russian forces appear to be willing to risk continued aviation losses in pursuit of tactical gains in eastern Ukraine, likely along the Avdiivka-Donetsk City line, according to the U.S.-based think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW) Mar.

German Eurofighters intercept Russian military aircraft near Latvia

03/03/2024

Russian military IL-20 and IL-76 aircraft were intercepted near Latvian territorial waters, the country’s Air Force reported on Facebook on March 1, sharing photos. This marked the first instance of German Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon multi-role combat aircraft being deployed to intercept Russian military aircraft. The interception took place from the air base Lielvarde in Latvia, the statement said. French Mirage 2000-5 fighters earlier intercepted two Russian Su-30M fighters and an AN-72.

Singapore's air force to add more stealth fighters as it phases out older jets

03/02/2024

Singapore will buy eight more F-35 stealth fighters, eventually replacing its older F-16s and putting the Singaporean air force "in the premier league" as regional threats grow, the city-state's defence minister said this week. Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) would buy F-35As - a larger, longer-range variant of the Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N), opens new tab jets - to complement the 12 F-35Bs it has already ordered.

60th Fighter Squadron Crows develop the skills and mindset for future combat

03/02/2024

The 60th Fighter Squadron and Aircraft Maintenance Unit conducted off-station training at Savannah Air National Guard Base, Georgia Feb. 2-22, 2024 where they aimed to maximize flight hours in the F-35A Lightning II by avoiding weather attrition, while learning to navigate a new airspace and working with other units. Training in an unfamiliar environment gives pilots a chance to utilize skills that they wouldn’t normally use at their home station.

Ukrainian Air Force Downs Three More Russian Fighter-Bombers, Bringing Total to 12 in 13 Days

03/02/2024

The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) brought down three more Russian Su-34 fighter bombers on Thursday, totalling 12 Su planes brought down in the last 13 days and 13 Russian planes overall, including an A-50U radar aircraft. Early in the morning, Ukrainian Air Force commander Mykola Oleshchuk reported downing the first fighter bomber in the Eastern direction.

US Senate defeats bid to stop F-16 fighter jet sale to Turkey

03/02/2024

The U.S. Senate on Thursday soundly defeated an effort to stop the $23 billion sale of F-16 fighter jets and modernization kits to Turkey, which President Joe Biden's administration approved after Turkey approved Sweden's joining the NATO alliance. The Senate voted 79 to 13 against a resolution of disapproval of the sale introduced by Republican Senator Rand Paul.

Singapore Joins Elite ‘F-35 Club’ To Operate Both Variants Of Stealth Fighters; To Acquire 8 F-35A Jets

02/29/2024

Singapore has announced the purchase of eight F-35A Lightning II fighters to bolster its air power. The acquisition will put Singapore in an ‘elite club’ that operates both variants of the F-35 — the US, Italy, and Japan being others. The announcement was made by Singapore’s Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen on February 28 during a Ministry of Defense budget debate in the parliament. The Minister noted that the aircraft would be delivered to the Royal Singapore Air Force by the end of this decade.