Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Air Force selects 173rd Fighter Wing as F-35 training squadron

05/26/2023

The Air Force has selected the Oregon Air National Guard’s 173rd Fighter Wing as the preferred location to host the service’s next F-35A Lightning II training squadron. The F-35A is the Air Force’s latest and most-capable fifth-generation fighter. The basing decision announced today becomes final when a Record of Decision is signed upon favorable completion of an Environmental Impact Statement on the proposal now underway.

Dassault CEO opposes Belgian participation in SCAF fighter aircraft programme

05/26/2023

The CEO of French group Dassault Aviation, Eric Trappier, is opposed to European countries that have opted for the US F-35 fighter jet – Belgium in particular – joining the Future Air Combat System (SCAF) programme, which links France, Germany and Spain.

National Guardsmen hit 2 Su-25s near Melitopol, destroying one Russian attack aircraft

05/26/2023

The National Guard reports the destruction of one and damage to another Russian Su-25 attack aircraft on the Zaporizhzhia front. One of them was shot down by the Hero of Ukraine, a guardsman with the call sign Bandyt, nicknamed Zaporizskyi Mesnyk (Avenger from Zaporizhzhia).

US Arms Taiwan’s F-16 Vipers With Lethal AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II Missiles To Counter Chinese PLAAF Threats

05/24/2023

Taiwan has equipped its most sophisticated fighter jet, the F-16 Viper, with new air-to-air missiles in what is being seen as a response to People’s Liberation Army (PLA) warplanes routinely flying sorties close to the self-governing island.

South Korea Signs Contract With Malaysia For 18 FA-50 Light Aircraft After LCA Tejas & Hurjet Concede

05/24/2023

South Korea has signed a contract with Malaysia for the export of 18 FA-50 light attack jets, with South Korean Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-sup attending the signing ceremony. Earlier, India’s LCA Tejas and Turkey’s Hurjet were considered key contenders for the Malaysian contract but eventually lost to South Korea.

US Rejects F-35 Stealth Fighters For China’s ‘Strategic Ally’ In Indo-Pacific; Offers F-15, F-16 Instead: Reports

05/24/2023

The United States Department of Defense has reportedly turned down Thailand’s request to procure advanced fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets, reported Bangkok Post, citing a Royal Thai Air Force source. However, the US has extended an alternative proposal, offering the Southeast Asian nation the opportunity to purchase F-16 Block 70 and F-15 Eagle fighters, the report said.

Portugal will avoid supplying F-16 fighters to Ukraine

05/23/2023

During a meeting with his European Union counterparts in Brussels, the head of the Portuguese diplomacy considered his nation lacks available combat aircraft to send to Ukraine, although it is open to train pilots for the F-16s, according to television reports. Portugal does not have an unlimited number of combat aircrafts, only the necessary ones, in order to fulfill national defense tasks and commitments within the framework of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the official noted.

Japan’s fighter jet ambitions soaring with GCAP

05/23/2023

In December 2022, Japan, Italy and the United Kingdom signed an agreement to partner in the development of a sixth-generation stealth fighter aircraft. The goal of the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) is to produce aircraft ready for export and deployment by 2035. This represents a new frontier for Japanese weaponry co-development and is a prime opportunity to enhance regional security cooperation.

Air Force Will Pick Just One NGAD Design in 2024, Kendall Says

05/23/2023

Only one company will be chosen next year as the overall designer and developer of the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) crewed fighter, despite years of prototype work on different designs by several companies, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said May 22.

F-16 fighter jets: Biden to let allies supply warplanes in major boost for Kyiv

05/22/2023

The US says it will allow its Western allies to supply Ukraine with advanced fighter jets, including American-made F-16s, in a major boost for Kyiv. National security adviser Jake Sullivan said President Joe Biden "informed his G7 counterparts" of the decision at the bloc's summit in Japan on Friday. US troops will also train Kyiv's pilots to use the jets, Mr Sullivan said.

US Air Force Begins Sixth-Gen Fighter Aircraft Competition

05/20/2023

The US Air Force has formally begun the competition for its highly-classified Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter aircraft. A contract solicitation for the program’s engineering and manufacturing phase was recently issued to industry partners. The solicitation marks the start of the source selection process and provides interested vendors with the requirements for the sixth-generation aircraft development.

Denmark, Portugal join 'fighter jet' coalition

05/20/2023

Denmark will train Ukrainian pilots on U.S.-built F-16 fighter jets and is open to discussions on their possible transfer, Acting Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said on May 19. Speaking with Danish media outlets DR and Ritzau, Poulsen didn't provide any further details on the training, saying its format would be finalized with allies during the next month. "We are open to discussing – once we have made the training efforts – whether we should go one step further and donate F-16 fighter jet

Bowing to pressure, Biden relents on F-16s to Ukraine

05/20/2023

After months of U.S. insistence that Ukraine did not need F-16s to fight its war with Russia, Washington finally relented to pressure, agreeing not to stop allied nations from sending Kyiv the advanced Western fighter jets it has long desired.

B-2 ‘Safety Pause’ Lifted, Flights Set to Resume Within Days

05/19/2023

The B-2 Spirit is returning to the skies, Air Force officials told Air & Space Forces Magazine. The first aircraft is projected to take off May 22 after a break in flying operations due to a safety pause. The return to flight was recently approved by Air Force Global Strike Command boss Gen. Thomas A. Bussiere, after a roughly six-month safety pause following a mishap in December.

NATO Defense Ministers to discuss fighter jets for Ukraine at meeting in June – Stoltenberg

05/19/2023

NATO Defense Ministers will discuss the issue of a possible transfer of Western fighter jets to Ukraine at a meeting in June, which will precede the Alliance summit, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in an interview with Spiegel. Commenting on the issue of a possible transfer of Western fighter jets to Ukraine, Stoltenberg said the supply of weapons developed as the war progressed, the European Pravda publication said.

Ukrainian civilians subject to ‘unbearable routine’ of Russian attack

05/19/2023

Adedeji Ebo was briefing the Security Council on the issue of Western weapons supplies to Ukraine, called by permanent member Russia – the fourth time it has been presented for discussion in light of the ongoing conflict. The Deputy to the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs said the transfers of weapons systems and ammunition from Western governments backing Kyiv, was no secret, including battle tanks, combat aircraft, missile systems and helicopters.

Argentine Navy abandons Super Étendard fighters purchased in 2019 – report

05/19/2023

The plan of the Armada Argentina (Argentine Navy) to reactivate its squadron of fighter aircraft ended. According to Zona Militar, the five Dassault Super Étendard Modernisé jets, bought second-hand from France in 2019, will not be activated. The decision was taken by the Ministry of Defense of the country this week.

USAF Opens Bidding to Build Its 1st New Fighter in Decades

05/19/2023

The U.S. Air Force has formally launched a competition to build its new fighter jet, the Pentagon’s first in two decades, with the winner to be selected next year. The acquisition strategy for the Next Generation Air Dominance, or NGAD, aircraft “incorporates lessons learned from recent Air Force acquisition programs and will leverage open architecture standards,” the Air Force said in a statement released Thursday.

New Views Of Northrop Grumman’s Totally Notional Long-Range Stealth Fighter

05/19/2023

Northrop Grumman has once again incorporated what seems to be its notional Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) crewed platform concept into its latest advertisements. This follows another ad from 2021 that teased the same design, although that ad didn’t offer a wide-angle view of it.

South Korea boosts capabilities with indigenous fighter jet and helicopter

05/17/2023

The historical alliance between South Korea and the United States has led to a reliance on US defence equipment and a considerable market share for US suppliers. However, South Korea’s ongoing indigenous programs indicate its intent to expand its defence capabilities and foster competition within the market.

Raytheon to Outfit South Korean FA-50 Jets With PhantomStrike Radar

05/17/2023

Raytheon Technologies and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) have partnered to upgrade the FA-50 light combat aircraft’s radar technology. Under the collaboration, Raytheon will equip the jet with its proprietary PhantomStrike radars that provide long-range threat identification, tracking, and targeting. The production will be carried out in the US states of Arizona and Mississippi as well as in Scotland.

Chinese Warships Circle Japan Ahead of G-7 Summit

05/16/2023

A People’s Liberation Army Navy surface action group is continuing its circumnavigation of Japan ahead of the annual G-7 summit later this month in Hiroshima. The surface action group – which includes cruiser CNS Lhasa (102), destroyer CNS Guiyang (119), frigate CNS Zaozhuang (542) and fleet oiler CNS Taihu (889) – was sighted at midnight on Thursday sailing southwest in an area 56 miles east of Sumisu Island, part of the Izu Island chain that lies south of Japan’s capital of Tokyo.

Britain to start training Ukraine combat fighter pilots

05/16/2023

The UK announced on Monday that this summer country will commence an elementary flying phase for cohorts of Ukrainian pilots to learn basic training. “This is a crucial moment in Ukraine’s resistance to a terrible war of aggression they did not choose or provoke. They need the sustained support of the international community to defend against the barrage of unrelenting and indiscriminate attacks that have been their daily reality for over a year,” British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said.

F-16 Fighting Falcon: a comprehensive look at the aircraft and its features?

05/16/2023

The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a versatile combat aircraft with a long history of being tested and proven effective in air-to-air combat and air-to-surface attack. This compact jet offers a high-performance weapon system at a relatively low cost, making it an attractive choice for the United States and its allies.

US fighter jets intercept Russian aircraft near Alaska

05/16/2023

U.S. fighter jets intercepted six Russian aircraft last week operating in international airspace near Alaska, military officials announced Monday. F-16 and F-22 fighter jets on Thursday intercepted Russian aircraft that included TU-95 bombers, IL-78 tankers and SU-35 fighter jets, according to officials with the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD. The Russian planes remained in international airspace and did not enter U.S. or Canadian territory.