Military Aviation News Archive

PH-U.S. joint military aviation support activity exercise concludes

07/23/2023

The Marine Aviation Support Activity 2023 (MASA 23), a joint training program between the Philippine Marine Corps and the United States Marine Corps, concluded after 15 days of rigorous training and cooperation in Palawan.

China sends 37 military aircraft, 7 naval vessels around Taiwan

07/23/2023

Chinese military aircraft and seven naval vessels were tracked by Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence (MND) between Friday and Saturday, according to Taiwan News. The Chinese military aircraft and naval vessels were tracked from 6 am on Friday, July 21 to 6 a.m. on Saturday, July 22.

F-16 With Three Air-to-Air Kills Flying Missions to Deter Iran

07/22/2023

There was something different about one of the U.S. fighters that flew over the Strait of Hormuz this past week to deter Iran from seizing oil tankers. Three green stars are plainly visible on an F-16, tail 2137, in newly released Department of Defense photos of the aircraft over the Strait and at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates. The F-16 is forward deployed to CENTCOM from Aviano Air Base, Italy, as part of the 555th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron.

With live field experimentation, Poland shapes its future force

07/22/2023

Poland has been growing its military and investing heavily in new systems at an unprecedented rate since the start of the Ukraine invasion. Among the splashy orders were Abrams tanks, Apache combat helicopters and HIMARS rocket launchers from the United States, South Korean-made K2 tanks, Chunmoo rocket launchers, K9 self-propelled howitzers and FA-50 combat aircraft, and at least two Swedish early warning aircraft to complement additional tethered warning systems.

Iran-Russia Su-35 Flanker-E Fighter Jet Deal “Collapses”, Tehran Could Go Indigenous – Iranian Media

07/22/2023

In what could be bad news for Iran, there are speculative reports that the much-awaited Su-35 Flanker-E fighter jets that the country was set to receive from Russia might never be delivered.

China sends 25 military aircraft around Taiwan on Friday morning

07/22/2023

The Ministry of National Defense (MND) said Friday morning (July 21) that it had detected an additional 25 Chinese military aircraft and four Chinese naval vessels around Taiwan since its report earlier the same day.

Super FAST! Two FA-50 Fighter Aircraft Delivered To Poland By South Korean KAI In Record Time

07/22/2023

Just over ten months after Poland signed an agreement for the FA-50 with emerging Asian defense giant Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), the first two aircraft have already been handed over to Polish authorities. They will be given to the Polish Air Force (PAF) next month.

Elephant Walk Near Dragons Den! US, Five Military Allies Display ‘Raw Power’ At Military Base Near China

07/21/2023

The US and its five allied military forces recently staged an impressive “elephant walk” at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam, displaying a diverse fleet of military aircraft, including frontline fighter jets, transport planes, aerial tankers, and bombers. The images of the elephant walk were released by the Pacific Air Force (PACAF), featuring US and Allied aircraft at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, on July 19, 2023.

Draken International is likely to train Ukrainian F-16 pilots in Romania

07/21/2023

Private military company Draken International, which trains pilots for the US Air Force, has begun hiring instructors with flight experience on F-16 fighters in Romania. This is probably related to the training of Ukrainian pilots. This is reported by Militarnyi.

China sends 22 military aircraft around Taiwan on Thursday morning

07/21/2023

The Ministry of National Defense (MND) said early Thursday morning (July 20) that it had detected an additional 22 Chinese military aircraft and seven Chinese naval vessels around Taiwan since its report earlier the same day.

1st Deal For India? Argentina To Sign Letter Of Intent To Acquire 20 Light Combat Helicopter ‘Prachand’ – Argentine Media

07/20/2023

The deal to sell Light Combat Aircraft ‘Tejas’ (Brilliance) to Argentina is stuck over the British part in the fighter jet. But during the ongoing visit of the Argentinian defense minister Jorge Taiana is expected to sign a letter of intent for purchasing 20 Light Combat Helicopters ‘Prachand’ (Fierce).

With Hundreds Of JAS-39 Fighters At Disposal, ‘Military-Powerhouse’ Sweden To Boost NATO’s Power, Ruffle Russia

07/20/2023

Despite its impeccable record of military neutrality, Sweden is a military powerhouse. Since Sweden submitted its papers for admission into the NATO alliance, experts have emphasized that the country is “armed and ready to fight” any country that threatens its security.

Japan, France to Conduct First Joint Fighter Jet Drill

07/20/2023

Japan’s Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) announced on July 18 that Japan and France will hold their first-ever joint fighter jet drill in Japan next week. That marks a historic milestone in the two nation’s defense and security ties amid China’s military buildup and regional assertiveness.

The Super Hornet flies on

07/19/2023

The Royal Australian Air Force says it will fly its 24 F/A-18F Super Hornets through to the mid-2030s rather than retiring them by 2027 as had been intended. And it will open up a competition for a replacement rather than necessarily acquiring additional F-35A Lightning IIs. It seems likely that the Block II Super Hornets will be upgraded to full Block III configuration to maximise their capability.

Power in Reserve: 911th Airlift Wing demonstrates combat readiness with C-17 elephant walk

07/19/2023

Steel Airmen assigned to the 911th Airlift Wing tested their capabilities by mobilizing four C-17 Globemaster III aircraft in a maneuver called an “elephant walk,” July 18, 2023. An elephant walk is a close formation of aircraft taxiing en masse, usually before back-to-back takeoff. The maneuver, which exercised the abilities of both aircraft maintenance and aircrew personnel to quickly and simultaneously prepare multiple aircraft and crews for duty.

Russia Unveils Su-75 Checkmate Design Upgrades; Files Patents For Two-Seat Tandem & Unmanned Variant

07/19/2023

Russia claims to have introduced modifications to the original design of its single-engine Su-75 Checkmate stealth fighter aircraft while also pursuing the development of additional variants. United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), a Russian aerospace and defense corporation, has recently filed a series of patents with the Russian Federal Intellectual Property Service, revealing intriguing modifications to the original design of the Su-75 Checkmate.

The US military's most advanced fighter jets and a warship are going to work in the Middle East to stop Iran from seizing commercial ships

07/19/2023

The US military is sending an assortment of fighter jets and a warship on a new mission to the Middle East, bringing a firepower boost to the region after Iranian forces recently tried to seize several commercial ships in the area's strategic waterways.

Ukrainian pilot says its air force is so outclassed by Russia's that it can 'do nothing to them in the air'

07/18/2023

A Ukrainian pilot told The Sunday Times that his country's air force is so outclassed by Russia that it can "do nothing to them in the air." The pilot, identified only by his rank of major and his first name Maksym, told the publication on Saturday that his team has been struggling in its missions around Bakhmut against a far better-armed Russia.

Argentina may be close to ordering 15 HAL Tejas fighters from India

07/18/2023

Speculation has emerged on some Indian news channels that Argentina and India may be very close to finalizing a deal to sell 15 HAL Tejas fighter jets to the Latin American country. According to this information, which quote unnamned sources in the Indian government, information from sale, that could be worth around US$1.05 billion (8,675 INR Crore) and would be announced during the visit of Argentina’s defence minister to Delhi on July 17, 2023.

Russian fighter jet crashes in to the sea with pilot 'on his first combat mission' ejecting in front of stunned tourists near Ukrainian warzone

07/18/2023

A Russian Su-25 fighter jet crashed into sea moments before the newly qualified pilot ejected from the doomed plane in front of astonished tourists close to the Ukrainian frontlines. Unverified videos on social media appear to show the stricken warplane travelling at speed at a dangerously low height before it plunged into the Sea of Azov near the Russian town of Yeysk.

UK left with ‘extremely limited’ numbers of combat equipment

07/17/2023

The six-month inquiry into Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), led by Sub-Committee Chair Mark Francois MP, found that the UK’s defence procurement system is “broken” and that “multiple, successive reviews have not yet fixed it.” The Sub-Committee discovered “a UK procurement system which is highly bureaucratic, overly stratified, far too ponderous, with an inconsistent approach to safety, very poor accountability and a culture which appears institutionally averse to individual responsibility.

Of modern Russian fighters, Su-34 is the easiest target in Ukraine

07/17/2023

Did you know that the most frequently shot-down Russian fighter jet in Ukraine is the Su-34 Fullback fighter bomber? Since the beginning of the conflict, 21 Su-34 units have been intercepted, shot down, or damaged during a mission.

4 major fighter-jet deals could reshape the Middle East's biggest militaries for decades to come

07/17/2023

For decades, Middle Eastern countries have imported advanced fighter jets in large, sometimes record-breaking, numbers. Saudi Arabia bought 84 F-15SA fighters for $60 billion in 2017 in what was the US's largest foreign arms sale. In 2021, the United Arab Emirates placed a $19 billion order for 80 Dassault Rafales, the largest foreign order Dassault has ever received for the jet.

UK’s military procurement system comes under fire from MPs

07/16/2023

British MPs have criticised the country’s military procurement system, saying it is “well and truly broken” and puts troops in “harm’s way” just two days before the Ministry of Defence is due to publish its strategy for the UK’s armed forces.

Taiwan's Hawk missiles reportedly being sent to Ukraine via US

07/15/2023

The U.S. will repurchase decommissioned missiles it sold to Taiwan and provide them to Ukraine as part of a military aid package, according to a local news outlet. The China Times quoted an unnamed source on Friday (July 14) who said that the Phase III MIM-23 Hawk missiles, decommissioned in June, will be sold to the U.S.