Special Purpose

Military Aviation News

Air Superiority and Russia’s War on Ukraine

07/27/2024

The conduct of the war in Ukraine provides two distinct lessons on airpower. The first lesson is what not to do: The Russian air force’s failure to establish air superiority at the outset cost Vladimir Putin’s forces the ability to achieve a decisive victory at the start of the conflict. The second is about the difficulty of establishing air superiority with insufficient resources and capabilities. This is what has forced Ukraine to endure costly attacks on its territory throughout the war.

169th Fighter Wing conquers Exercise Caribbean Fox, mastering Agile Combat Employment

In a historic first, the South Carolina Air National Guard's 169th Fighter Wing conducted Exercise Caribbean Fox at St. Croix, July 16 - 24. This large-scale training focused on mastering Agile Combat Employment concepts, preparing the wing for any global challenge.

Chinese and Russian bombers patrolling off Alaska raise concerns about growing military cooperation

Russian and Chinese bombers flew together for the first time in international airspace off the coast of Alaska, in a new show of expanding military cooperation that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Thursday raises concerns.

China gets first-hand insight into Western fighter with UAE exercise

A joint United Arab Emirates (UAE)-China airborne training exercise dubbed Falcon Shield 2024 has potentially provided Beijing with access to intricate capabilities of the Mirage 2000 fighter operated by the UAE Air Force, an aircraft also in service with a number of other countries, including France and Taiwan.

USAF Expands Role of Boeing's F-15EX Eagle II Fighter

Boeing’s F-15EX Eagle II brings such capability to the table that there has been evidence of a considerable re-evaluation of its mission set in U.S. Air Force service. Following a gap between deliveries of the first two aircraft and subsequent units, the combined operational and developmental test fleet at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida has received six aircraft for trials. On June 5, Boeing delivered the first aircraft to the 123rd Fighter Squadron “Redhawks” of the Air National Guard at Portl

Navy aviator scores first air-to-air victory by a US female fighter pilot

The aerial victory came against a one-way Houthi attack drone, one of dozens the Yemen-based group has deployed against civilian merchant ships in the Red Sea and nearby waters in reaction to the destruction in Gaza during Israel’s war against Hamas, a release from Carrier Strike Group 2 said.

Lockheed Martin lifts 2024 sales target on fighter jet, missile demand

U.S. defense company Lockheed Martin (LMT.N), opens new tab raised its annual sales target on Tuesday, following the unexpected resumption of deliveries of its F-35 aircraft after the Pentagon began accepting the jets last week. It expects 2024 sales to be between $70.5 billion and $71.5 billion, versus $68.5 billion to $70 billion forecast earlier.

UK-led fighter program is still open-ish to paying partners

The prospect of another nation joining the trilateral Global Combat Air Program remains on the table, but an expansion would require additional work on an already demanding timeline, officials involved in the sixth-generation fighter effort said. Representatives from the Italian, British and Japanese GCAP lead companies showcased a new concept model of their proposed aircraft at the Farnborough Airshow here, which featured a large wingspan for increased aerodynamics.

More than a Mirage: UAE combat aircraft in China

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Air Force and China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) began Falcon Shield, their second exercise in China, on 10 July 2024. China’s Ministry of National Defense said the joint air exercise was again being held in Xinjiang province but did not identify the air base hosting it. Satellite imagery, however, shows that Hotan Airport in Xinjiang is being used for the exercise; it was also the location for the event in 2023.

German, French and Spanish fighter aircraft arrive in Japan for joint drills

Russian military receive upgraded MiG-31BM jets

The J-10C and J-16 fighter jets of the Chinese Air Force are operating alongside the Mirage 2000 jets of the UAE as part of Exercise Falcon Shield 2024

Türkiye Eyes 40 Eurofighter Multirole Combat Aircraft to Boost Air Power Capabilities.

Paraguay in talks with Brazil to buy six Embraer combat planes

Romania Prepares to Modernize Its Fleet with $6.5 Billion F-35 Deal

Italy boosts F-35 fighter jet arsenal as NATO increases defense spending

The Block 4 F-35 Fighter Has the Makings of a 'Stealth' Classic

LM’s F-16 and Saab’s Gripen compete for Thailand’s fighter jet deal

Swedish and Finnish Fighter Aircraft Escort Russian Jets Over Baltic Sea

France strictly complies with commitments regarding Mirage fighter jet supplies - ambassador