Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Biden administration again bypasses Congress for weapons sale to Israel

12/30/2023

For the second time this month the Biden administration is bypassing Congress to approve an emergency weapons sale to Israel as Israel continues to prosecute its war against Hamas in Gaza under increasing international criticism. The state department said on Friday that the secretary of state, Antony Blinken, had told Congress that he had made a second emergency determination covering a $147.5m sale for equipment, including fuses, chargers and primers.

Ready To Operate F-35B Stealth Fighters, Japan’s Makeshift Aircraft Carrier ‘Kaga’ Gets Ready To Roar

12/29/2023

Long after Japan announced its plans to convert its Izumo-class helicopter carriers into aircraft carriers, the second vessel, JS Kaga, has been put to sea trials as per photos published on social media. The Escort Flotilla Four of Japan Marine United (JMU) has released new photos to the social networking platform X, formerly Twitter. The images show JS Kaga leaving its dock at the shipyard in Kure City, Hiroshima Prefecture, to conduct sea testing.

Turkey seeks F-16 engines from US to use in domestic fighter plane

12/29/2023

Turkey has asked the US for permission to co-produce GE Aerospace engines used in F-16 jets, with an aim to deploy them for its own domestically produced fighter plane. The NATO member is looking to manufacture GE’s F110 engines in Turkey to ensure supplies for the initial phase of TAI Kaan, an all-weather fighter plane scheduled to make its maiden flight in January 2024, according to people familiar with the matter. The fifth-generation aircraft is under development by Turkish Aerospace Industr

Chinese J-35 Jet Spotted On Fujian Aircraft Carrier

12/29/2023

On December 8, 2023, the Bing Jiang Tang YouTube channel shared a video showing footage of PLA Navy J-35 fighter jets, which are the Chinese counterpart of the F-35, on the deck of the Fujian aircraft carrier. The video also covered the various speculations in Chinese circles about the plane and the way it will be deployed.

JAS 39 Gripen: What Makes This Fighter Jet from Sweden Truly Incredible

12/29/2023

The JAS 39 Gripen is not made in the United States but is a powerful fighter jet built by Saab in Sweden. While the fighter plane has no household name recognition, she is a force to be reckoned with and is among the very best fourth-generation fighters on the planet today:

Türkiye's unmanned combat aircraft ANKA III makes its maiden flight

12/29/2023

Türkiye's new generation air combat fighter ANKA III made its maiden flight, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced. ANKA III is a system that is faster thanks to its jet engine, has a high payload carrying capacity, and is less visible on radar with its tailless structure, according to the producer Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI).

Burst tyre sends MiG 29K fighter jet skidding off runway at Goa Airport

12/28/2023

A Mikoyan MiG-29K fighter jet skidded off a runway at Dabolim Goa International Airport (GOI) after suffering a bust tyre just before it was about to perform a routine sortie on December 26, 2023. An Indian navy spokesperson told local media that the airport’s fire brigade arrived immediately after the incident. No injuries were reported.

South Korea expands F-35A fighter fleet

12/28/2023

South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration, or DAPA, has officially signed a deal to acquire 20 additional F-35A stealth jets. This procurement, executed under the U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, builds upon South Korea’s previous acquisition of 40 F-35As in the program’s inaugural phase between 2019 and 2022, underscoring the nation’s commitment to enhancing its aerial combat capabilities.

Su-57 Stealth Fighter: Difficult To Manufacture, Russia Says State Order For 5th-Gen Jets Doubled In 2023

12/28/2023

The head of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), Yuri Slyusar, revealed that the state defense order (SDO) for the advanced Su-57 fighter witnessed a twofold increase in 2023, with projections indicating further growth for 2024.

Taiwan tracks 8 Chinese military aircraft, 5 naval ships around nation

12/27/2023

The Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked eight Chinese military aircraft and five naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Monday (Dec. 25) and 6 a.m. on Tuesday (Dec. 26). Of the eight People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, one Shaanxi Y-8 anti-submarine warfare plane, one Shaanxi Y-8 reconnaissance plane, and one KJ-500 airborne early warning and control aircraft entered the southwest corner of Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ), according to the MND.

ISW: Russia reducing aviation activity in Ukraine after losing several Su-34 jets

12/27/2023

Russian forces are decreasing aviation activity and use of glide bombs after Ukraine’s military shot down three Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber jets on Dec. 21-22, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported on Dec. 24. The ISW cited Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat and military observer Kostiantyn Mashovets saying that Russian troops have limited their use of glide bombs and air strikes in southern Ukraine as well as manned aviation near occupied Crimea.

Stop Saying An F-16 Can Defeat the F-35 Stealth Fighter

12/27/2023

few years back, there was talk of an F-16 fighter killing an F-35 in a mock fight. The details were lost in the headlines - In 2015, the aviation world and the U.S. defense industry were shocked when an old F-16 fighter shot down in mock combat a brand new F-35. At a time when the F-35 was bringing up problem after problem, the results of the dogfight alarmed the Pentagon.

KF-21: Is This South Korea's Plan for a Cheap F-35 Style Fighter?

12/27/2023

The KF-21, which KAI is developing as part of a $6.6 billion project to replace the Republic of Korea Air Force's (RoKAR's) aging fleet of F-4 and F-5 fighters, is also being touted as a "cheaper" alternative to the American-made Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II.

New F-15EX Eagles arrive at Eglin AFB

12/27/2023

The Eagles have landed. The Air Force’s two newest fighters, F-15EX Eagle IIs, known as EX3 and EX4 touched down at Eglin Air Force Base, Dec. 20, just minutes from each other. The new arrivals bring the Air Force’s total F-15EXs to four, all located at Eglin AFB. The two aircraft belong to the 96th Test Wing (EX3) and 53rd Wing (EX4), who also own the initial two fighters.

Taiwan tracks 4 Chinese naval ships, 2 military aircraft around nation

12/25/2023

The Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked four Chinese naval vessels and two military aircraft around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Sunday (Dec. 24) and 6 a.m. on Monday (Dec. 25). In response, Taiwan sent aircraft and naval ships and deployed air defense missile systems to track the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) activity, according to the MND. No PLA aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line or entered the southwest corner of Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) during that ti

Eight Chinese jets crossed median line border

12/25/2023

Taiwanese Defense Minister revealed on Sunday information that showed that four Shenyang J-16 strike fighters, two Chengdu J-10 multirole combat aircraft and two Shenyang J-11 jet fighters from China crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait or entered Taiwan's southwest air defense identification zone (ADIZ) during the last 24 hours.

Final countdown: Türkiye's 5th-gen fighter set to make maiden flight

12/25/2023

Türkiye's defense and aviation sector is expected to experience a historic moment in the upcoming week as the first flight of the domestically developed fifth-generation national combat aircraft, KAAN, is anticipated to take place on Dec. 27. Together with KAAN's debut in the sky, Türkiye will join the ranks of countries possessing a fifth-generation fighter jet.

Taiwan tracks 7 Chinese military aircraft, 2 naval ships around nation

12/24/2023

The Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked seven Chinese military aircraft and two naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Friday (Dec. 22) and the same time the next day. Of the seven People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, three (one Shaanxi Y-8, two Xi'an H-6s) crossed into the nation’s southwest and southeast air defense identification zone (ADIZ), the MND said.

Philippines Seeks Fighting Falcons To Fight China; Negotiates With US To Acquire ‘Combat Proven’ F-16 Jets

12/24/2023

The Philippine Ambassador to the United States, Jose Manuel Romualdez, has disclosed ongoing discussions regarding Manila’s possible acquisition of F-16 fighter jets from Washington. Romualdez emphasized the long-standing desire of the Philippine Air Force for F-16 fighter jets, acknowledging their effectiveness in air defense during an interview with CNN Philippines.

New in 2024: Who will win Air Force’s next-gen fighter contract?

12/24/2023

The U.S. Air Force plans to take its most significant step yet in creating a futuristic fighter aircraft when it awards a contract in 2024 for the Next Generation Air Dominance platform. The service sent a classified solicitation to industry for NGAD’s engineering and manufacturing development contract in May, officially kicking off the process to select the company that will build its next advanced fighter system.

The Reason Why the F-22 Raptor Stealth Fighter Is So Expensive

12/23/2023

The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor was the world’s first operational fifth-generation fighter. And the F-22 is still relatively futuristic today; when the F-22 first flew, in the 1990s, the jet was a game changer – and unsurprisingly, the most expensive-per-unit fighter jet ever built. While the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II program would eventually surpass the F-22 program in total costs, the F-22 still reigns as the most expensive-per-unit fighter. So, how did the F-22 come to be so uniquely

Netherlands to deliver 18 F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine

12/23/2023

The Netherlands will deliver 18 F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine to help its battle against Russia’s invasion, the Dutch government said on Friday. “Today I informed President Zelenskyy of our government’s decision to prepare an initial 18 F-16 fighter aircraft for delivery to Ukraine,” caretaker Prime Minister Mark Rutte said in a post on social media platform X.

Royal Air Force Typhoon T1 fighters to be cannibalized for parts

12/23/2023

Some time ago now, the decision to retire the Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 1 fighter jets from the inventory of the British Royal Air Force (RAF) was confirmed, despite criticisms and speculations about the fate of these aircraft. Now, the UK Minister for Defense Procurement, James Cartlidge, has revealed the fate in store for the Typhoon T1s.

Ukrainian forces shoot down three Russian Su-34 fighter jets on southern front

12/23/2023

Ukrainian defenders shot down three Russian Su-34 fighter-bombers in the south of Ukraine on Dec. 22, the commander of the Air Force Mykola Oleshchuk has reported on Telegram The aircraft were destroyed at around noon. Oleshchuk called it a response to a nighttime "message" from the Russian military written on one of its downed kamikaze drones.

The U.S. Navy Might Be Done with the F/A-18 Super Hornet Fighter

12/21/2023

Around the holidays, money can be tight, a fact that the United States Navy has also learned as its negotiations to buy the last batch of Super Hornets are reportedly stalled over the growing price tag. USNI News reported on Tuesday that the contract for the U.S. Navy to purchase the final twenty F/A-18 E/F Super Hornets from aerospace giant Boeing appears to be at a standstill.