Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Taiwan tracks 10 Chinese military aircraft, 10 naval ships around nation

11/07/2023

The Ministry of National Defense tracked 10 Chinese military aircraft and 10 naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Monday (Nov. 6) and 6 a.m. on Tuesday (Nov. 7). Of the 10 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, three were monitored in Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ), according to the MND. One Xian JH-7 fighter bomber crossed the Taiwan Strait median line in the northeast sector of the ADIZ.

Poland set to sign MQ-9B contract soon, opens up on loyal wingman plans

11/07/2023

Poland expects to sign a production contract with General Atomics for MQ-9B SkyGuardian UAVs in a matter of weeks, according to a senior Polish military official, as part of an extensive air force modernization effort jolted into action by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

With $100B 6th-Gen Fighter Program ‘Lingering’, Germany Keen On FCAS Drones Amid Tussle With France

11/07/2023

The German Air Force, Luftwaffe, wants the wingman drone, designed to operate alongside the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) aircraft as a manned-unmanned team (MUM-T), to be ready for deployment even before the fighter plane under the sixth generation jet project.

Poland receives new FA-50 light combat jets

11/07/2023

Mariusz Blaszczak, the Polish Minister of National Defense, announced via X, formerly known as Twitter, that the 9th and 10th FA-50 light combat aircraft have now arrived in Poland. The process of integrating these advanced fighter jets has officially commenced at the Minsk Mazowiecki Air Base.

Taiwan's Brave Eagle advanced trainer steadily replacing F-5 fleet

11/06/2023

Taiwan’s domestically developed Brave Eagle advanced trainer aircraft is set to replace the Air Force’s aging AT-3 and F-5 training aircraft, a military official said on Saturday (Nov. 4). The F-5s will be retired from combat duty by the end of this year, though the RF-5 reconnaissance variants will be retained for surveillance missions, working in conjunction with F-16Vs, the official said.

Keeping Indian Offer On Backburner, Nigeria Acquires 1st Batch Of T129 ATAK Choppers From Turkey

11/06/2023

The development marks a significant enhancement in Nigeria’s military capabilities in the long-running effort to modernize its defense forces and maintain its status as one of the leading military in Africa. The procurement preceded a two-year negotiation between Nigerian defense officials and Turkey’s Tusas Engine Industries (TAI) through 2021 and 2022.

IKE Carrier Strike Group Arrives in Middle East Region

11/05/2023

The strike group is commanded by Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 2 and comprised of flagship aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG 58), guided-missile destroyers USS Mason (DDG 87) and USS Gravely (DDG 107) of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 22, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3 with its nine squadrons, and the Information Warfare Commander.

Eurotopics: Has The Counter-Offensive Failed?

11/05/2023

General Valerii Zaluzhny, Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian armed forces, says his country's war with Russia has reached a stalemate on the battlefield. In an article in The Economist, he blamed this on the lack of combat aircraft and soldiers. Europe's media discuss what to make of the criticism.

Canadian military chopper buzzed by Chinese fighter jets, DND says

11/04/2023

A Canadian military helicopter operating in the South China Sea had a close encounter of the unfriendly kind with Chinese fighter jets, the Department of National Defence (DND) has confirmed. The CH-148 Cyclone, which is attached to HMCS Ottawa, was buzzed by two People's Liberation Army Air Force J-11s on Sunday.

Pentagon acknowledges flying unarmed drones over Gaza

11/04/2023

The US has confirmed for the first time that it has been flying unarmed surveillance drones over Gaza. Pentagon spokesman Brig Gen Pat Ryder said the drones were operating in "support of hostage recovery efforts". "These UAV flights began after the Oct 7 attack by Hamas on Israel," he said in a brief statement. The acknowledgement comes after reporters spotted unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) on flight-tracking websites.

By the numbers: The US military buildup in the Middle East

11/04/2023

The US has significantly strengthened its military posture in the Middle East amid concerns about the war between Israel and Hamas triggering a wider regional conflict. It has moved roughly 1,200 US service members to the region, alongside thousands of others aboard Navy carrier strike groups and a Marine Expeditionary Unit roughly 2,000 people strong.

France maps out Rafale exports for Saudi, India, but future fighter tension with Germany lingers

11/04/2023

France has moved closer to securing two new Rafale fighter jet orders by opening talks with India and Saudi Arabia, which could potentially see Dassault manufacture an additional 80 aircraft. But as lucrative as those prospects are, fresh uncertainty concerning the Future Combat Air System (FCAS)/SCAF next generation fighter project — featuring France, Germany and Spain — threatens to overshadow them.

Israel uses F-35I to shoot down cruise missile, a first for Joint Strike Fighter

11/04/2023

The Israel Defense Forces said that it used F-35I Adir fighter jets to shoot down a cruise missile this week, the first known cruise missile intercept by the American-made stealth fighter. “In recent days, a cruise missile launched from the southeast toward Israeli airspace was detected by the IAF’s control and detection systems. After tracking the cruise missile’s trajectory, Adir fighter jets were scrambled and successfully intercepted the missile,” the IDF said today, while releasing video o

Industry ‘We missed our mark’: Next Boeing F-15EX delivery coming in November

11/03/2023

Boeing expects to deliver the U.S. Air Force’s next F-15EX Eagle II fighter by the end of November, nearly a year after the company originally planned and four months behind its revised estimate. This F-15EX, the third Boeing has so far produced for the Air Force, took its first two flights on Oct. 27 at Boeing’s St. Louis, Missouri, factory, the company said, and published a video of a flight in a social media post.

KAI plans loyal wingman role for KF-21

11/03/2023

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has revealed that it plans to develop a family of uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAV), culminating in an Uncrewed Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) that will be controlled and/or monitored from its indigenous KF-21 fighter. The KF-21 Boramae (‘Young Hawk’ or ‘Fighting Hawk’) is a 4.5 generation fighter with stealth characteristics under development by KAI to replace the Republic of Korea Air Force’s ageing F-4E Phantom II and F-5E Tiger II fighter jets.

Middle East: USAF Jets, Ships Race to Middle East to Deter Expanded War

11/03/2023

In the wake of Hamas’ attack on Israel, U.S. forces mobilized to try to deter any expansion of the war to other fronts, in particular Israel’s northern border with Lebanon, where Hezbollah militants aligned with Iran—which analysts believe coordinated and funded the Oct. 7 attack—skirmished with Israeli border forces.

US F-15EX ‘Dents’ KF-21 Fighter Aircraft; Indonesia Reportedly Losing Interest In Korean Jet Program

11/03/2023

Indonesia’s recent shopping spree to acquire Western fighter jets, notably the US-made F-15 fighter aircraft, seems to have dented its interest in South Korea’s KF-21 stealth fighter jet. The KF-21 is a joint effort between South Korea and Indonesia to create a next-generation supersonic combat aircraft, incorporating South Korea’s domestically developed technology.

S.Korea mulls plan B as Indonesia falls behind on KF-21 project payments

11/02/2023

Indonesia, a partner of South Korea’s KF-21 fighter jet development project, has failed again to notify the Korean government of its plan to pay its share of the project's cost, putting their partnership in jeopardy. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), Seoul’s arms procurement agency, said on Wednesday that Indonesia didn’t provide its payment plan by the end of October as promised.

Air Force Plans RFP for New Tanker in Fiscal 2025, But Is Still Building Its Acquisition Strategy

11/02/2023

The Air Force aims to release a request for proposals for the KC-135 Recapitalization Program—formerly called the “bridge tanker”—in fiscal 2025 but has yet to set an acquisition strategy for the aircraft, waiting for more industry input, a service spokesperson said. Service officials have previously forecast an acquisition strategy to be ready by mid-2024.

Still reliant on Russia, India swaps MiG-21 for Su-30 MKI fighter jet

11/02/2023

Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots are converting from the MiG-21 to the Su-30 MKI, with the IAF Number 4 Squadron on 30 October flying the last sortie of the supersonic jet fighter that was in service for 60 years. The formal induction of the Su-30 MKI happened on the same day, joining the Mig-21 in its final flypast.

Ukraine had just 40 operational fighter jets in February 2022 — Zaluzhnyi

11/02/2023

At the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine had 120 combat aircraft, of which only 40 were airworthy, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi wrote in an article for The Economist on Nov. 1. According to him, thanks to the material and technical assistance from partner countries, Ukraine has been able to strengthen its air force and air defenses.

French Rafales ‘Trounce’ Eurofighters As Germany Blocks Sale Of Typhoon Jets To Saudi Arabia – Reports

11/02/2023

Germany loosened export restrictions against Saudi Arabia earlier this year. Still, it refused to allow the sale of the 4.5th generation Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet to the kingdom, despite the UK government’s intense lobbying. Berlin’s refusal, unfortunately, poses a significant challenge to Britain’s production lines.

Su-75: Russia's Cheap Stealth Fighter Is Now a Giant Question Mark Now

10/30/2023

Russia’s Su-75 Checkmate fighter has had a troubling life. Initially envisioned as a cheap fifth-generation fighter intended for export, it has so far failed to get off the ground – both figuratively and literally.

Ukraine's combat aircraft land five strikes on clusters of Russians – General Staff report

10/30/2023

Ukraine’s Air Force launched five strikes on clusters of Russian military personnel, weapons and equipment. In addition, Ukraine’s air defence assets and personnel destroyed three Iskander-K ground-based cruise missiles.

China dispatches 1 military aircraft, 5 navy ships around Taiwan

10/29/2023

A relatively low-key day for China sending military aircraft and navy ships near Taiwan was reported by the Ministry of National Defense on Saturday (Oct. 28). A defense ministry post on X (formerly Twitter) said just one aircraft and five ships were detected by 6 a.m. Saturday morning. It added that the Chinese incursions were tracked by Taiwan’s military.