Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Indonesia buys Qatari Mirage jets to plug fighter gap

06/15/2023

ndonesia has confirmed it signed a contract this year to buy Qatar’s fleet of French-built fighter jets in an effort to plug a long-standing air defense gap. The Indonesian Air Force said in a news release it had signed a $795.14 million contract in January to buy the Qatar Emiri Air Force’s fleet of 12 Dassault Mirage 2000 fighters. The Middle Eastern nation operates a fleet of nine, single-seat Mirage 2000-5EDA aircraft and three, twin-seat Mirage 2000-5DDA aircraft.

U.S., European Defense Suppliers Play Critical Role in Ukraine

06/14/2023

The ability of Ukraine’s armed forces to hold back the Russian invasion of February 2022 has provided a stunning show of bravery and determination on the part of Kyiv’s armed forces. Since the early days of the conflict, the outnumbered Ukrainian military has fought against Russian armed forces equipped with the most modern hardware that Moscow’s industry could turn out.

Wings Over Muskegon announces USAF Heritage Flight and MiG demonstration

06/14/2023

Wings Over Muskegon Air Show has been selected for a United States Air Force Heritage Flight July 8-9 at the Muskegon County Airport. Established in 2010, the Air Force Heritage Flight Foundation matches a modern fighter/attack aircraft, in this case the A-10C Thunderbolt II, with a historic fighter, which will be a World War II P51D Mustang.

KC-135s Pull Off ‘Monumental’ Air Bridge to Get Scores of Aircraft to Exercise in Europe

06/14/2023

Air Defender 23, the German-led air exercise that is the largest in NATO history, kicked off June 12 with roughly 100 of the 250 participating aircraft coming from Air National Guard units across the U.S.—and just getting all of those USAF planes across the Atlantic Ocean presented a unique challenge.

As it plans NGAD fighter, Pentagon must learn from past failures

06/14/2023

The U.S. Air Force has officially begun to accept proposals for the sixth-generation Next Generation Air Dominance fighter and plans to award the contract in 2024. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall ominously stated that the classified and secretive NGAD will cost “multiples” of the F-35, meaning each aircraft will cost hundreds of millions of dollars. While its fifth-generation fleet offers unsurpassed capability, it is vital that the Department of Defense correct the mistakes incurred in its de

On Monday, June 12, NATO Air Defender 23 exercises are beginning in Germany.

06/13/2023

These are the largest air exercise of the Alliance since its foundation.About 250 aircraft from 25 countries, including 5th generation F-35 fighters, will be involved in the aviation training. Air Defender 23 will run from June 12 to 23, with up to 10,000 people participating.Only from the USA, 2,000 National Guard servicemen and about 100 aircraft will take part in the maneuvers. According to the mass media, transport aircraft of the Japanese Air Force will also be engaged in the exercises.

Kongsberg extend contract to upgrade F-16 aircraft to Romania

06/13/2023

The Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (NDMA) has announced extending and expanding its contract with Kongsberg Aviation Maintenance Services, securing the overhaul and preparation of 32 F-16 combat aircraft for sale to Romania.

‘Dozens’ of Ukrainian pilots to start training to fly F-16s, air force reveals

06/13/2023

“The lists (of pilots who will go for F-16 training) have long been prepared,” Ihnat told Radio NV. “They will undergo training in successive waves. We cannot send everyone to learn at once because these pilots (currently) perform dozens of combat missions in the sky (in the conflict zone) every day.” However, the initial wave may include several dozen pilots, followed by subsequent waves for training purposes, Ihnat said.

HASC subcommittee mark allows A-10 retirements, sets provisions for NGAD, CCA, FARA

06/13/2023

The House Armed Services tactical air and land forces subcommittee has decided to greenlight continued divestment of the A-10 Warthog, according to draft text of the subcommittee’s markup of the fiscal 2024 defense policy bill obtained by Breaking Defense. The subcommittee would also seek to impose some provisions on the development of the Air Force and Navy’s next-gen fighters and drones that could join them in combat.

India, Argentina strengthen partnership with ongoing cooperation in Tejas Combat Aircraft

06/08/2023

The Indian Ambassador to Argentina, Dinesh Bhatia, and the Chief of the Argentine Air Force, Brigadier General Xavier Isaac, had a meeting on Tuesday. They talked about working together on Tejas Combat Aircraft and different types of helicopters made by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The Indian Embassy in Argentina tweeted about this, saying that Ambassador Dinesh Bhatia joined a delegation from HAL to meet Brigadier General Xavier Isaac and the Argentine Air Force technical team.

Raytheon to build AIM-9X infrared-guided missiles that work with jet fighter pilot helmet-mounted displays

06/08/2023

U.S. Navy aerial warfare experts are asking Raytheon Technologies Corp. to build 571 AIM-9X precision short-range infrared-guided air-to-air missiles for jet fighters and other combat aircraft under terms of a $263.7 million order announced in December. Officials of the Naval Air Systems Command at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Md., are asking the Raytheon Missiles & Defense segment in Tucson, Ariz., to build lot 23 AIM-9X block II air-to-air missiles for the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and foreig

South Korea Rolls Out 1st FA-50GF Combat Aircraft For Poland In Just Eight Months; Media Calls It Remarkable

06/08/2023

The headquarters of Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) in Sacheon, located approximately 300 kilometers south of Seoul, served as the venue for the ceremony, which revolved around the theme of “Firm Commitment, Secure Future.” The ceremony witnessed the presence of Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup, alongside his Polish counterpart Mariusz Blaszczak, together with Korea’s Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Jung Sang-hwa, and Defense Acquisition Program Administration Chief Eom Dong-hwan.

SBU detains Russian agent spying on Ukrainian combat aircraft

06/08/2023

"The SBU counterintelligence exposed another FSB agent during counter-sabotage operations in the Dnipro region. The offender was collecting intelligence for Russian occupants on the types and number of aircraft of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, as well as their basing locations and flight directions. He also passed on the locations of military enlistment offices to the invaders and tried to identify railroad lines used to supply ammunition to the front.

What’s it like to fly an F-35 fighter jet? Test pilot answers questions

06/08/2023

How does it feel to fly the F-35, the fifth-generation combat and intelligence-collection platform that is currently the best aircraft on the planet and the tip of the spear for both the US and Israeli air forces? Tony “Brick” Wilson is an F-35 test pilot for Lockheed Martin, which produces the aircraft. Previously, he served in the US Navy and was the first pilot to land an F-35C on an aircraft carrier.

What is the long-term strategy for Ukraine’s Air Force?

06/07/2023

On May 19, U.S. President Joe Biden announced the country would help train and support the transfer by European allies of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. But the F-16s are older aircraft that will need to be replaced in just a few years, so some consideration should be paid now to what’s next for the Ukraine Air Force.

US official, Chinese held candid, productive talks -State Dept

06/06/2023

A senior U.S. diplomat held candid and productive talks on Monday with Chinese officials, the State Department said, despite some criticism that his visit to China coincided with the anniversary of Beijing's 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown. The visit to Beijing by Daniel Kritenbrink, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, followed China's snub last week of U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who had sought a formal meeting with his Chinese counterpart.

Britain, Germany give update on future Indo-Pacific naval deployments

06/06/2023

The defense ministers of Germany and the United Kingdom have pledged to keep up their respective military presence in the Indo-Pacific region, while also outlining their plans for military deployments, at a regional security summit in Singapore. Britain’s Ben Wallace and Germany’s Oscar Pistorius were speaking at their respective plenaries during the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, an event organized by the International Institute of Strategic Studies that ran June 2-4.

NATO scrambled to meet Russian bombers, interceptor aircraft north of carrier strike group

06/06/2023

Two Norwegian F-35, on QRA for NATO in the north, were scrambled from Evenes airport Monday morning to meet and identify a group of Russian military planes flying west out from the Kola Peninsula. Spokesperson Marius Vågenes Villanger with the Joint Headquarters says in a phone interview with the Barents Observer this happened between 08.30 and 11.00 Norwegian time.

Air Force to Its Experienced Pilots: Here's $50,000 to Extend Your Service

06/06/2023

The Air Force is offering a bigger bonus - up to $50,000 per year - as it hopes to keep some of its most experienced pilots and retain aviators amid a pilot shortage. Certain pilots - including remote piloted aircraft pilots, air battle managers and combat systems officers - can apply for the Legacy Aviation Bonus Program starting Tuesday and through Sept. 15. Major changes to the program include "an increase in the monetary cap from $35,000 per year up to $50,000 per year" for those who are eli

Air Force plans drones with commercially available components

06/06/2023

An Air Force plan to acquire a new type of semi-autonomous drones follows an emerging pattern of buying items that are already at least partially available commercially and modifying them for Defense Department needs. The collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) will fly alongside fighter jets as a robot wingman that extends the jets’ capabilities without requiring another pilot.

Military jets scrambled due to unresponsive plane over Washington that then crashed in Virginia

06/05/2023

An unresponsive airplane flying over Washington, D.C., on Sunday prompted military fighter jets to intercept the plane at hypersonic levels, causing a loud sonic boom heard around D.C. and Virginia, officials said. The plane later crashed in Virginia and no survivors were found.

German Fighter Pilots ‘Plot’ Attacking Taiwan For Beijing; China Lures More Western Aviators To Train The PLA

06/05/2023

A handful of former German fighter pilots are reportedly working as military trainers in China and receiving enormous salaries, indicating yet another incident of “poaching” by China after similar patterns were recorded in the US, the UK, and France.

China defends its actions in warship incident involving U.S., Canada in Taiwan Strait

06/05/2023

China’s defense minister defended sailing a warship across the path of an American destroyer and Canadian frigate transiting the Taiwan Strait, telling a gathering of some of the world’s top defense officials in Singapore on Sunday that such so-called “freedom of navigation” patrols are a provocation to China.

Ukraine Situation Report: Long-Range Strike Hits Russian-Held Port City On Sea Of Azov

06/03/2023

The Russian-occupied Azov Sea port city of Berdyansk in Zaporizhzhia Oblast was struck by a Ukrainian missile on Friday, an occupation official said. Located about 60 miles from the front lines, Berdyansk is the latest example of long-distance targets Ukraine can now hit thanks to donated weapons. This is at least the fourth attack on the port city in the past few weeks.

US Air Force denies report of AI-powered UAV attacking operator

06/03/2023

The US Air Force (USAF) is denying reports that an unmanned aerial system (UAS) powered by artificial intelligence turned against its operators during an exercise. Recent comments by a USAF test pilot at a Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) summit in London appeared to indicate such an event had occurred during a training exercise simulation.