Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

US Air Force chief reveals further details about next-gen F-47 fighter, CCA

05/16/2025

Chief of Staff for the US Air Force General David Allvin has released some further details about the recently unveiled F-47 next-generation fighter aircraft and the supporting fleet of Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) set to reshape the US Air Force.

RAAF Links F-35 Simulators for 1st Time on LM Network

05/16/2025

The Australian Department of Defence in partnership with Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] connected F-35 simulators at Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) bases Williamtown and Tindal via F-35's distributed mission training (DMT) network. This establishes Australia as the first international F-35 customer to receive this capability, further enhancing global mission readiness and interoperability of the F-35 fleet.

Trump Touts ‘F-55’ Fighter: Is There a Twin-Engined F-35 in the Air Force’s Future?

05/16/2025

President Donald Trump is interested in developing a twin-engined, upgraded version of the F-35 fighter, he said during a press event May 15 in Qatar marking the sale of Boeing airliners and GE Aerospace engines to Qatar Airways. He said he would name the improved aircraft the “F-55” and also referred to a freshly improved F-22 as the “F-22 Super.”

Trump wants two new cutting-edge fighter jets: F-22 Super and F-55

05/16/2025

President Trump on Thursday revealed his wishes for bleeding-edge warplanes he dubbed F-22 Super and F-55. Trump's comments during a stop in Qatar were the first time either potential aircraft has been publicly mentioned. Such major, multibillion-dollar endeavors are not pulled from thin air, suggesting some legwork may already be underway.

Russian Su-35 violates Estonian airspace amid major NATO exercise

05/15/2025

A Russian Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jet violated Estonian airspace on the evening of 13 May, flying without a flight plan, with transponders off, and no radio contact. The breach—lasting under a minute—occurred over the Juminda Peninsula in the Gulf of Finland during Exercise Hedgehog, Estonia’s largest annual military drill involving over 16,000 NATO troops.

Urgent search underway for missing crew after Japanese military aircraft crash

05/15/2025

An urgent search is underway for two crew members reported missing after a Japanese air force training aircraft crashed following takeoff. The T-4 training jet, belonging to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF), lost contact just two minutes after departing from Komaki Air Base in Aichi prefecture, according to Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi.

FEINDEF 2025: Saab Introduces T-7 Next Generation Digital Training Architecture for Fighter Pilots

05/15/2025

At the FEINDEF 2025 exhibition in Madrid, the Army Recognition team met with Ingemar Karlsson, a representative from Saab, for an exclusive interview focused on the T-7, the advanced training aircraft introduced by the Swedish company. Designed as a complete pilot training system for fighter aircraft, the T-7 represents a new approach to preparing modern aircrews, combining digital flexibility, simplified maintenance, and reduced lifecycle costs.

Egypt’s Chinese J-10CEs threaten F-16s future

05/15/2025

Last September, at the Egypt International Air Show, reports emerged that the EAF was set to acquire the Chinese J-10CE although neither CATIC or the EAF would confirm this. It has been suggested that the J-10CE in the static display at Zhuhai Airshow in November last year was actually Egyptian. The fourth-generation fighter could bring a lot of new capabilities, with more advanced weapons.

Rafale vs J-10C: Fighter jets steal spotlight in India-Pakistan clash

05/15/2025

The recent sparks of war between India and Pakistan, apart from the long-standing Kashmir issue, have brought renewed attention to Chinese weapons, French Rafale jets and the rivalry between the duo. While Pakistan has said to have downed three French Rafale jets belonging to India, claims about the initial attack and the aftermath have differed widely, with neither New Delhi nor Islamabad releasing many specific details.

Air Force eyes longer range for F-47 as combat edge in Pacific theater

05/15/2025

The Air Force plans for its sixth-generation F-47 fighter to be able to fly significantly farther than previous jets. In a graphic posted Tuesday on X, formerly known as Twitter, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Dave Allvin said the F-47 would have a combat radius of more than 1,000 nautical miles, advanced stealth capabilities, and be able to fly at speeds greater than Mach 2, or more than 1,500 miles per hour.

How Did India Lose a Rafale Jet Against Pakistan?

05/14/2025

The recent dogfight between Indian and Pakistani air forces is the largest dogfight to have taken place in a generation—and is currently the biggest story in global news. The dogfight was full of takeaways—for example, the success of Chinese-made Pakistani J-10 fighters, and the downing of one or more French-made Indian Rafale fighters.

The F-16 Fighting Falcon Is Old—but It’s Not Going Anywhere

05/14/2025

In capable hands, an F-16 Fighting Falcon can take on fifth-generation stealth fighter jets like the F-35 Lightning II and even the F-22 Raptor. For decades, the F-16 Fighting Falcon has been the backbone of dozens of fighter jet fleets around the world. As its era is gradually coming to a close in the coming decades, and with the development of increasingly advanced and stealth fighter jets, it is worth remembering what makes the Fighting Falcon such a superb combat aircraft.

F-35’s close call over Yemen raises questions about how it’s used

05/14/2025

Houthi rebels in Yemen fired on a U.S. military F-35 during recent operations, and the missile came close enough to the aircraft for the pilot to take evasive action, a U.S. official confirmed to Task & Purpose. The incident was first reported in the New York Times as part of a story about why President Donald Trump decided to end air and missile strikes against the Houthis earlier this month.

F-47 will have 70% better combat radius than F-22, Air Force says

05/14/2025

The Air Force’s F-47 fighter jet will fly some 70 percent farther without refueling than today’s F-22s, allowing tankers to stay farther from the fray—a key advantage in a potential Pacific conflict. The planned sixth-generation fighter will have a combat radius of more than 1,000 nautical miles, according to an infographic posted Tuesday on X by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin. Combat radius refers to the distance an aircraft can travel and still have enough fuel to RTB.

Taiwan tracks 31 Chinese military aircraft, 8 ships

05/13/2025

The Ministry of National Defense tracked 31 Chinese military aircraft, seven naval vessels, and one official ship around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Monday and 6 a.m. on Tuesday. Thirty of the 31 People’s Liberation Army aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line in the country’s northern and southwestern air defense identification zone, according to the MND.

USAF to Start Rotating Fighters to Misawa

05/13/2025

The Air Force will rotate fighters through Misawa Air Base, Japan, as the U.S. begins to retire the F-16s now based there and the relocation of a permanent squadron of F-35s. “The Aircraft will transition on a rotational basis,” a Pacific Air Force spokesperson told Air & Space Forces Magazine in response to questions. “These rotations ensure the continuation of our long-standing mission to defend Japan and maintain an open and free Indo-Pacific.”

Turkey’s Hürjet Evolves from Jet Trainer to Multi-Role Combat Aircraft.

05/13/2025

The Hürjet, developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), is undergoing a notable evolution from an advanced jet trainer into a versatile light combat aircraft. Originally intended to replace the aging T-38M and NF-5A/B fleets of the Turkish Air Force, the Hürjet is now being positioned for a broader operational role that includes naval aviation and air-to-air combat support, underscoring its growing strategic relevance.

How RAF pilots are facing down Russian threats on the Nato border

05/12/2025

Soaring thousands of feet above Nato’s Baltic border with Russia, British fighter pilots are acutely aware that one false move could trigger a global conflict. “It would be very easy, if I waved, to fold up my hand into this [a middle finger], and then that goes out on the news and suddenly it’s an international incident,” a plucky Royal Air Force pilot said as he described intercepting a Kremlin spyplane in his Typhoon jet.

Indian Rafale fighter jet shot down in Kashmir conflict

05/12/2025

During ongoing clashes on the India-Pakistan border in Kashmir, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has reportedly lost a Dassault Rafale fighter jet in combat. The aircraft was deployed as part of Operation Sindoor on the morning of 7 May 2025, marking the first combat use of Rafale jets by India since their acquisition. Pakistan claimed to have shot down five Indian aircraft during the engagement, including three Rafales, one Su-30MKI, and one MiG-29.

6th-Gen Fighter: After India, Japan Looks To Export ‘Cutting Edge’ GCAP Aircraft To Another QUAD Partner

05/12/2025

Japan is considering exporting its next-gen aircraft, which it is developing in collaboration with the UK and Italy under the Global Air Combat Program (GCAP), to Australia. Tokyo reportedly invited India to the GCAP program last month.

For the first time, the Chinese Air Force’s new YY-20A aircraft conducted aerial refueling operations with Egyptian MiG-29M/M2 fighter jets

05/11/2025

As part of the “Eagles of Civilization 2025” exercises, which took place from April 19 to May 4, one of the Chinese Air Force’s new YY-20A aircraft refueled Egyptian MiG-29M/M2 fighter jets in flight for the first time. This was only a small portion of the extensive and varied operations carried out by the armed forces of both countries, aimed at strengthening their defense cooperation, which also included air combat simulations and search and rescue training in hostile environments.

Will African Air forces buy more Chinese fighter jets following India-Pakistan clash

05/11/2025

The recent aerial clash between India and Pakistan has drawn global attention to Chinese military technology, particularly after Pakistan claimed victory in a massive dogfight involving 125 fighter jets from both sides.Tactical gear This engagement, which lasted over an hour, ranks as one of the largest and longest air battles in recent aviation history, potentially the biggest since World War II if the aircraft numbers are verified.

U.S. Deploys F-35B Fighter Jet Squadron VMFA-211 to Japan Amid Rising Threats from China

05/11/2025

The United States Marine Corps has deployed Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211 (VMFA-211), known as the “Wake Island Avengers,” to Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, Japan, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen deterrence and military readiness in the Indo-Pacific. Announced on May 10, 2025, the deployment, conducted under the Marine Corps’ Unit Deployment Program, comes amid rising tensions in the region, particularly due to China’s increasing military assertiveness.

Trump says India and Pakistan 'agree to full and immediate ceasefire'

05/10/2025

Donald Trump says "India and Pakistan have agreed to a full and immediate ceasefire". In a post on social media platform Truth Social, the US President says: "After a long night of talks mediated by the United States, I am pleased to announce that India and Pakistan have agreed to a FULL AND IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE. "Congratulations to both Countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"

Why Pakistan can't use its F-16 jets against India

05/10/2025

When Pakistan said it had downed five Indian jets, the matter sparked a lot of discussion. It was easily a win for the country for many. But it is feared the conflict can get even bigger. Taking to X, South Asia analyst Micheal Kugelman wrote, "India's strike on Pakistan is of much greater scale than the one in 2019. Pakistan's response, which according to many reports included downing several Indian jets, has also exceeded the scale of 2019.