March, 2024 Military Aviation News
03/31/2024
The Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked eight Chinese military aircraft and five naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Friday (March 29) and the same time Saturday (March 30). In response, Taiwan monitored People’s Liberation Army (PLA) activity and deployed appropriate forces, according to the MND. One PLA aircraft entered the country’s southwest air defense identification zone (ADIZ) during that time.
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03/31/2024
Turkiye may reduce its purchase of American F-16 fighter jets due to the development of its own national combat aircraft KAAN project, Azernews reports, citing the Milliyet newspaper. How strong the reduction might be is not specified.
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03/31/2024
Geopolitical tensions between the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Russia remain high as the Red Army continues to make progress through Ukraine. The recent addition of Sweden to the NATO Alliance adds a mass of military forces in the Northern Europe region but there are smaller additions currently underway across the whole continent. NATO nations are stocking up on combat aircraft, more so than in years past.
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03/30/2024
The Ministry of National Defense tracked five Chinese naval vessels and four military aircraft around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Thursday (March 28) and 6 a.m. on Friday (March 29). In response, Taiwan sent aircraft and naval ships and deployed air defense missile systems to monitor the People’s Liberation Army activity, according to the MND. No PLA aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line or entered the southwest corner of the country’s air defense identification zone during that time.
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03/30/2024
Russian forces accidentally shot down their own Su-27 fighter jet over occupied Crimea due to "heightened combat readiness," Ukraine's Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk said on air on March 29. Russian occupation authorities in Sevastopol reported on March 28 that a Russian warplane "crashed" off the Crimean coast without naming the cause of the incident. The pilot ejected safely and was picked up by rescue services, according to the Russian-installed head of Sevastopol.
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03/30/2024
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that Western air bases hosting F-16 fighter jets for Ukraine will be "legitimate" targets for the Kremlin's forces, according to The Associated Press. "F-16s are capable of carrying nuclear weapons, and we will also need to take that into account while organizing our combat operations," he said.
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03/30/2024
The National Guard would like to buy a dozen more fighter aircraft, split between F-35s and F-15EXs, if it had more funding in the fiscal 2025 budget, it said in its $2.7 billion unfunded priority list. The National Guard’s annual wish list, submitted to Capitol Hill on Thursday, breaks from those of the other US services, which shied away this year from listing big-ticket weapons platforms and focused far more on improving readiness and military construction needs.
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03/30/2024
During the night of yesterday’s session, March 28th, the Bolivarian Military Aviation (AMB) of Venezuela reported that one of its F-16 fighters shot down an aircraft declared hostile after it violated national airspace. The news was reported through the force’s official X account, which also provided a video of the fighter jet’s firing run.
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03/28/2024
As the United States and China accelerate their efforts to develop sixth-generation warplanes, the dynamics of global military competition enter a new, more complex era. China's revelation of a mockup for its proposed sixth-generation fighter in 2021 and the U.S.'s ambitious timeline to deploy its Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) platform by 2030 underscore a significant leap in aerial warfare technology.
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03/28/2024
The first operational F-15EX Eagle II fighter jets will be assigned to the 142nd Wing of the Oregon Air National Guard, the unit that intercepts hostile aircraft over the northwest United States, the Air Force said. The initial instructor pilots from the Portland-based wing were at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida to fly training versions of the jet, which the Air Force said can exceed twice the speed of sound.
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03/28/2024
Denmark’s Minister of Defence, Troels Lund Poulsen, has sealed a deal with Argentina’s Minister of Defence, Luis Alfonso Petri, in Buenos Aires, paving the way for transferring 24 Danish F-16 fighter jets to Argentina. The agreement, encapsulated in a letter of intent, reveals Denmark’s decision to revamp its military assets by replacing its ageing F-16 fleet with the F-35 jet.
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03/27/2024
South Korea has announced plans to produce 20 KF-21 Boramae fighters this year, half of the 40 initially planned. The country’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has revealed production will be staggered to address feasibility concerns calling for additional tests, according to Yonhap News Agency.
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03/27/2024
Sweden is today the object of all the desires of the two European programs for new generation combat aircraft, FCAS and GCAP. However, far from being easily seduced, Stockholm has entrusted Saab with carrying out a study, which should enable it to arbitrate between these two programs, or even in favor of autonomous development, as was the case for the JAS 39 Gripen.
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03/27/2024
Aselsan, a leading defense technology company in Türkiye, introduced its cutting-edge AESA Aircraft Nose Radar technology Tuesday which was developed entirely using domestic resources. The AESA Aircraft Nose Radar, which recently completed its maiden flight with the F-16 OZGUR, promises to enhance combat aircraft capabilities significantly.
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03/27/2024
The U.S. Air Force is aggressively advancing its sixth-generation stealth fighter, the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, with a budget request nearing $3 billion to counter China's military expansion. This funding boost, aimed at research, development, and the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, signifies the Air Force's commitment to maintaining aerial superiority.
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03/27/2024
The U.S. Air Force’s $3.5 billion budgetary wish list for fiscal 2025 includes more funds for spare parts to get grounded planes back in the air, and seeks resources to be able to deploy more personnel and fighter jets.
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03/26/2024
U.S. fighter jets from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier struck three underground storage facilities in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen late Friday, according to a U.S. official. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a military operation not yet made public, said the ship is in the Red Sea.
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03/26/2024
NATO fighter jets were deployed five times last week to identify and escort Russian aircraft, as reported by the Ministry of Defense of Lithuania. From March 18th to 24th, NATO fighter jets performing air policing duties in the Baltic States took off five times to identify and escort Russian Federation (RF) aircraft violating flight rules.
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03/26/2024
The US Air Force (USAF) is on track to certify the iconic Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk for aerial refueling on its latest tanker, the Boeing KC-46, by the end of March 2024. Despite the F-117 fleet’s retirement from active service, the USAF is moving forward with plans to integrate it into the KC-46’s refueling capabilities.
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03/26/2024
Japan has eased rules on weapons exports to allow sales of a fighter jet it will develop with the UK and Italy to other countries, marking a new milestone in Tokyo’s more proactive defence policy. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s cabinet on Tuesday approved the revision to export controls, clearing a hurdle for the Global Combat Air Programme to achieve an ambitious timeline of delivering a highly advanced combat aircraft by 2035.
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03/25/2024
Poland scrambled fighter jets to protect Polish airspace during Russia's drone and missile attack against Ukraine on March 24, the Polish Air Force's Operational Command reported on X. "All necessary procedures aimed at ensuring the safety of Polish airspace have been activated, and the Operational Command of the Polish Air Force is monitoring the situation continuously," the Polish Air Force wrote on X.
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03/25/2024
A pair of US Air Force B-1B strategic bombers supported by tanker planes flew over Norway and international airspace in the Norwegian- and Barents Seas in the direction of Russia's Kola Peninsula on Sunday. A MiG-31 fighter jet was scrambled from an airbase in the Murmansk region to meet the US bombers, Russia’s Defense Ministry informs in the afternoon on Sunday.
According to the ministry, the US bombers approached but turned away from Russian airspace.
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03/24/2024
South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has announced plans to produce 20 KF-21 Boramae fighters this year, a reduction from the initially planned 40 units. This decision, part of a 7.92 trillion won ($5.92 billion) production plan, aims to address concerns from a feasibility study last year. The first batch of KF-21s, intended to become the backbone of the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF), is expected in the second half of 2026, with aspirations to deploy over 120 by
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03/24/2024
The Ministry of National Defense tracked 13 Chinese military aircraft and six naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Friday (March 22) and the same time Saturday (March 23). Of the 13 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, four entered the southwest sector of Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ). In response, the MND said it "monitored the situation and employed appropriate forces to respond" by sending aircraft, naval vessels, and deploying missile systems.
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03/24/2024
A training flight comprising Turkish combat and support aircraft was conducted in the international airspace of the Mediterranean, Türkiye's National Defense Ministry said on Saturday. "On March 21, 2024, a training flight was carried out in the international airspace of the Mediterranean, in the south of Cyprus Island, with the participation of our combat and support aircraft taking off from various bases affiliated with our Air Forces Command,” the ministry said on X.
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03/23/2024
The venerable Northrop F-5, a supersonic light fighter developed during the Cold War, continues to find a place in modern military operations, particularly within the U.S. Marine Corps. Despite the end of its production in 1989, the U.S. military has found the F-5 to be invaluable for training and adversary squadron roles, simulating enemy aircraft in aerial combat.
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03/23/2024
The Russians have relied on the MiG-31 during the invasion of Ukraine. Reportedly, MiG-31s shot down several Ukrainian aircraft, mostly with the long-range R-37 air-to-air missile. The Ukrainians do not have an aircraft that can match the MiG-31’s speed or altitude, meaning the MiG-31s have been able to operate in Ukrainian airspace virtually unopposed.
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03/23/2024
Saab has received an order from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) regarding conceptual studies for future fighters for both crewed and uncrewed systems, with the contract running through to 2025. According to a 22 March release Saab will “collaborate closely” with the FMV, the Swedish Armed Forces, the Swedish Defence Research Agency, GKN Aerospace, and other industry partners.
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03/23/2024
The Indo-Pacific is becoming a global hotspot, and as a result the aerospace industry and countries across the region are investing heavily to upgrade their military aircraft, particularly fighter fleets. In the days leading up to the Singapore Airshow in February, Singapore’s Chief of Air Force Maj. Gen. Kelvin Khong — who as of press time was set to transition out of the role on March 22 — released a written interview providing an update on the state of the country’s air force.
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03/23/2024
The U.S. Air Force would receive enough money to buy 51 F-35A fighter jets in fiscal 2024 under the compromise Pentagon spending bill lawmakers released Thursday — three more than the service originally requested. If enacted, the allotment would mark the most Joint Strike Fighters the Air Force has bought in a single year since 2021, when it procured 60. The service had included 48 F-35As in its fiscal 2024 budget request.
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03/22/2024
Taiwan's defence ministry said Friday that 36 Chinese military aircraft were detected around the self-ruled island in a 24-hour window - the highest number this year. Beijing claims democratic Taiwan as part of its territory and has never renounced the use of force to bring it under China's control. Since the 2016 election of President Tsai Ing-wen - who does not recognise China's claim on Taiwan - Beijing has stepped up military pressures.
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03/22/2024
Argentina’s Ministry of Defense, backed by the Executive Power, is on the cusp of initiating the formal procurement of F-16 MLU fighters to modernize the Argentine Air Force’s capabilities. Local media have confirmed the upcoming visit of Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen, who is set to meet with Argentine official Luis Petri to discuss defense cooperation, with the F-16 acquisition taking center stage.
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03/22/2024
Aircraft designers at the Boeing Co. will build 17 new single- and tandem-seat F/A-18 Super Hornet jet fighter bombers under terms of a nearly $1.4 billion order announced on Tuesday. Officials of the Naval Air Systems Command at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Md. are asking the Boeing Defense, Space & Security segment in St. Louis to build 10 F/A-18F Lot 46 aircraft; two F/A-18F; and five F/A-18E Lot 47 aircraft.
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03/22/2024
The skies over the western Black Sea saw another spike in NATO surveillance aircraft activity on Wednesday, with at least three large intelligence collection aircraft operating opposite Russia-controlled airspace, and British and French fighter jets flying protective cover. With one exception, all planes in the all-day operation flew elliptical orbiting routes over Romania’s Danube Delta region or the western reaches of the Black Sea nearby.
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03/22/2024
Ukraine's F-16 fighter jet program is getting another boost from its NATO allies, with the Netherlands pledging to deliver Kyiv with $164 million in ammunition for the aircraft. Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren said in a post to X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday that the funds will go toward producing air-to-ground missiles that can be fired from F-16s.
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03/21/2024
India has found developing engines to power indigenous fighter jets challenging. However, following an agreement with Russia, it will soon be manufacturing RD-33 engines. The engines will power the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) MiG-29 fleet, increasing their residual life.
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03/21/2024
Conducted on March 19, this milestone underscores the aircraft’s potential for extended-range operations, as confirmed by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). The test, which took place over the southern coastal waters, saw the Air Force’s KC-330 tanker aircraft seamlessly refueling the KF-21 prototype. Departing from an airbase in Sacheon, located 296 kilometers southeast of Seoul, the fighter engaged in the refueling operation under the careful watch of defense authorities.
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03/21/2024
In response to operational demands and evolving threats, a strike variant emerged, leading to the development of the F-15EX. This modernization effort, bolstered by lessons from export models and advancements in technology, aims to address the shortfall in fighter numbers caused by the limited procurement of the F-22 and delays in the F-35 program.
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03/21/2024
The U.S. Air Force's Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, set to usher in sixth-generation air capabilities, is slated to cost approximately $28.5 billion between fiscal years 2025-2029. This ambitious initiative aims to replace the F-22 Raptors, incorporating a new airframe and over 1,000 Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCAs) to enhance combat efficacy.
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03/21/2024
A Greek Air Force F-16 (Block 52+ variant) fighter jet crashed into a sea off the small island of Psathoura, in the northern Aegean. The pilot managed to escape from the single seater aircraft using the ejection system. He was located and collected by a Super Puma helicopter and is being transferred to hospital.
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03/19/2024
As the start of the 2024 International Air and Space Fair (FIDAE 2024) in Santiago, Chile draws closer, new details about participants and air displays are emerging. Undoubtedly, one of the main attractions of the fair will be the presence of the F-22 Raptor demonstration team from the United States Air Force (USAF).
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03/19/2024
Four U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters (JSF) with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 542, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), and a KC 130J Super Hercules with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron (VMGR) 252, 2nd MAW, conducted distributed aviation operations (DAO) during Exercise Nordic Response 24 at Kallax Air Base in Lulea, Sweden on March 13.
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03/19/2024
Originally committed to acquiring 138 F-35Bs, the UK has adjusted its procurement strategy to balance between immediate next-generation air capabilities and future investments, such as the Global Air Combat Programme (GACP) aimed at developing a sixth-generation fighter. Despite scaling back, the intention to acquire more F-35s remains firm, highlighting the aircraft's integral role in the UK's defense strategy.
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03/19/2024
The Japanese government is taking steps to allow the export of a stealth fighter jet currently under development with the United Kingdom and Italy. The move comes amid a shift in Japan’s security strategy and as the country loosens stringent post-war export regulations targeting weaponry. Under revised rules, Japan had approved the transfer of radars to the Philippines and the delivery of Patriot missiles to the U.S. last year.
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03/18/2024
New photos from the aircraft carrier Liaoning seem to show a completely different reality. As it ends a long period of technical unavailability, the first Chinese aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, which entered service in 2017 and lacks catapults, welcomed on board, for a few days, a life-size model of the J- 35, to perform numerous mobility exercises on the flight deck.
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03/17/2024
Following Sweden’s recent NATO membership, its air force engaged in multiple encounters with Russian planes over the Baltic Sea. The incidents involved Swedish Jas 39 Gripen fighters working in coordination with NATO allies, intercepting Russian military aircraft.
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03/17/2024
Since its introduction in 1984, the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet has been a cornerstone of U.S. naval aviation. In 2001, Boeing unveiled the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, marking a significant advancement in this fourth-generation strike fighter's capabilities. The Super Hornet, approximately 20% larger than its predecessor, boasts enhanced ordnance capacity, range, and stealth qualities. The Navy is now transitioning to the even more advanced Block III Super Hornets, which.
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03/17/2024
The Air Force plans to dramatically ramp up spending on the Next Generation Air Dominance fighter program in the coming years, to the tune of $28.48 billion fiscal 2025-29, according to newly released budget documents. That figure includes the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, which will produce uncrewed, semi-autonomous “escort” aircraft to fly alongside NGAD.
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03/16/2024
Russia's inability to secure air superiority over Ukraine has significantly hindered its military operations, with the airspace remaining contested. The Ukrainian anti-air forces have notably targeted the Russian Sukhoi Su-34 fighter-bombers, claiming to have downed 13 Russian aircraft in February alone, including ten Su-34s.
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03/16/2024
On March 15, Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior partner, Komeito, agreed to relax the country’s strict defense export rules, paving the way for Tokyo to allow the international sale of the next-generation fighter jets being co-developed with the United Kingdom and Italy.
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03/15/2024
Swedish JAS-39 Gripen multi-role fighter aircraft were scrambled alongside Belgian and German aircraft to investigate an unidentified track over the Baltic Sea emanating from Kaliningrad.
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03/15/2024
The timeline for the delivery of the next batch of Danish Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fighter jets remains unclear, prompting Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen to urge the Armed Forces to explore contingency plans in case of potential delays. “Today, I informed the conciliation circle that there is still uncertainty about the delivery of the next F-35 fighter jets,” Poulsen said in a statement.
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03/15/2024
The Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense reported on March 14, 2024, that it had detected 26 aircraft belonging to the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) operating around Taiwan. Out of these sorties, 18 crossed the central line of the Taiwan Strait and extended into the island country’s northern, southwestern, and eastern Air Defense Identification Zones (ADIZ).
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03/14/2024
The Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked 26 Chinese military aircraft and 10 naval ships around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Wednesday (March 13) and 6 a.m. on Thursday (March 14).
Of the 26 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, seven crossed the Taiwan Strait median line, according to the MND. Meanwhile, 10 were tracked in the southwest corner of Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ), three in the northeast ADIZ, and one along the southern ADIZ.
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03/14/2024
Highlighting a significant concern for US national security, Air Force General Gregory M. Guillot, the newly-appointed head of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and US Northern Command, has issued a stark warning to lawmakers: Chinese military aircraft could operate dangerously close to US airspace as early as this year.
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03/14/2024
Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) sources have confirmed to Kyiv Post that Ukrainian drones that attacked a Russian aviation plant in Taganrog, Russia, on the night of March 9 succeeded in damaging at least one Beriev A-50U AEW&C (airborne early warning and control) aircraft. At the time, Russia claimed it had prevented a massive drone attack on the city of Taganrog, in the Rostov region.
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03/14/2024
The Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked 10 Chinese military aircraft and nine naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Tuesday (March 12) and 6 a.m. on Wednesday (March 13). Of the 10 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, three entered the southwest corner of Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ), according to the MND. Meanwhile, one Chinese drone flew along the southern ADIZ.
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03/14/2024
Two Chinese strategic bombers and a maritime surveillance plane were intercepted by Japanese fighter aircraft above contested waters on Tuesday during a long-range patrol, Japan's Defense Ministry said. The pair of nuclear-capable H-6 bombers were without fighter escorts as they flew a return sortie from the East China Sea into the Western Pacific via the Miyako Strait, according a map released by the Joint Staff of Japan's Self-Defense Forces.
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03/14/2024
India’s Cabinet Committee on Security has given a green light to continue development of the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft, India’s indigenous fifth-generation fighter jet. The state-run Aeronautical Development Agency and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. are leading this development effort. The committee early this month granted the project 150 trillion rupees (U.S. $1.8 billion) to fund the twin-engine AMCA’s full-scale design and development, flight testing and certification.
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03/13/2024
Ukraine is set to receive U.S.-made F-16 fighter aircraft within months, an upgrade that Kyiv and its Western allies hope will help level the playing field with Russia’s formidable air force. But the F-16s will only have a meaningful impact on the war in Ukraine if Kyiv and its partners can build and maintain the extensive support and logistics infrastructure necessary to keep these world-class warplanes in the air.
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03/13/2024
The F-35 fighter jet program achieved full-rate production after the successful completion of a crucial series of tests last year, the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) said on Tuesday. Full-rate production, known as Milestone C, in the advanced fighter jet program signifies the completion of operational testing, allowing the Pentagon's acquisition chief to approve "full rate" production.
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03/13/2024
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) plans to capture over 50% of the global single-seat light fighter market by developing a single-seat version of its FA-50 light combat aircraft. The recent sales of FA-50s to Poland and Malaysia have prompted the revival of earlier plans for a single-seat version. These plans were initially abandoned in favor of the KF-21 development.
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03/12/2024
Police are expanding their investigation into the potential leak of Korean fighter jet technology by an Indonesian engineer as the list of suspects grows. During the police’s investigation into the Indonesian engineer first referred to the police in February, authorities found evidence that another suspect was involved in the alleged theft of technology regarding the KF-21 fighter jet, according to an exclusive report by the JoongAng Ilbo, an affiliate of the Korea JoongAng Daily.
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03/12/2024
While some Gulf states – effectively Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – have made significant moves in recent years to indigenise defence production, in the aerospace sector these efforts have largely focused on the development of home-grown unmanned aerial vehicles and air-launched weapons.
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03/12/2024
On October 29, 2023, United States Air Force Major Kristin "Beo" Wolfe completed her final flight as the first female commander of the U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team at Orlando Sanford International Airport, Florida, concluding a notable four years demonstrating the capabilities of the F-35A at over 20 airshows annually around the world. In honor of Women's History Month, we recognize her contributions in aviation, and explore her role with the F-35 Demo Team.
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03/12/2024
"Twelve pilots so far — fewer than a full squadron — are expected to be ready to fly F-16s in combat by this summer after 10 months of training in Denmark, the United Kingdom and the United States. But by the time the pilots return to Ukraine, as few as six F-16s will have been delivered out of about 45 of the fighter jets that European allies have promised."
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03/12/2024
“We're very, very fixated on being competitive with the pacing challenge [of China],” said Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall. “I think the budget that we've submitted moves us forward — not quite as fast as we would like to, but it moves us forward in the right direction while maintaining current capabilities that are essential to the nation.”
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03/11/2024
Military planes parachuted aid over Gaza on Sunday, an AFP photographer said, the latest airdrop over the besieged territory's north where famine looms more than five months into the Israel-Hamas war. The photographer, on board a Jordanian military plane, saw hundreds of Palestinians rushing to receive the falling pallets of basic supplies.
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03/11/2024
The Pentagon will look to develop new artificial intelligence-guided planes, offering two contracts that several private companies have been competing to obtain. The Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) project is part of a $6 billion program that will add at least 1,000 new drones to the U.S. Air Force. These drones would deploy alongside human-piloted jets and provide cover for them, acting as escorts with full weapons capabilities that could also act as scouts or communications hubs.
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03/10/2024
US-produced F-35A fighter jets have reportedly received authorization to deploy B61-12 free-fall bombs, marking a historic milestone for the first fifth-generation aircraft to be approved for nuclear weapon carriage. The certification announcement clearing the way for nuclear weapon carriage came on March 8 from Russ Goemaere, a spokesperson for the F-35 Joint Program Office, disclosed to Breaking Defense magazine.
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03/10/2024
French aviation company Dassault is ramping up production of its modern Rafale fighter jets due to a significant increase in orders. According to reports from La Tribune, the company aims to reach a production rate of 3 Rafale aircraft per month in 2024. This step is driven by a substantial portfolio of export orders and domestic contracts placed by the French Armed Forces.
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03/10/2024
A 22-foot-long experimental drone warplane, taking off for the first time in California on Monday, might represent the future of the US Air Force. Unless, as has happened before, service leaders lose their nerve – and abandon a good idea because it threatens the status quo.
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03/09/2024
Canada’s decision to sustain its CF-18 fighter fleet reflected its commitment to modernising air defence capabilities amid challenges highlighted by a critical report commissioned by the Department of National Defence and released last year, casting doubt on its ability to fulfil NATO obligations.
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03/09/2024
The South Korean Air Force recently conducted an impressive “elephant walk” involving 33 aircraft, including F-35A stealth fighters, KF-16s, F-15Ks, and F-4Es. This demonstration at the Suwon air base coincided with the annual Freedom Shield exercise, reinforcing deterrence against North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats.
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03/09/2024
Russian aircraft were attacked from a distance of more than 150 km on March 7, the Ukrainian Air Force Commander Lieutenant General Mykola Oleshchuk reported on Telegram on March 8.
“We are checking the results of the combatwork,” he wrote. According to him, air defense units hunt down Russian fighters almost every day.
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03/09/2024
Less than a year ago, the Air Force was asking to cut 32 early model F-22s from its meager 183-Raptor inventory. On Thursday, the fighter was dubbed its “highest priority”. Referencing the pacing military competition with China at a McAleese Defense Programs conference in Washington DC on Thursday, Air Force acquisition chief, Andrew Hunter, said, “F-22 is a critical capability. So what’s my highest priority in the near term for that great power competition? I’d probably put F-22 at the top.”
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03/09/2024
On March 6, the Romanian Air Force deployed one of their C-27 transport aircraft for combined training missions with F-16 fighter jets from Romania and Türkiye, based at Fetesti Air Base, French Rafale aircraft , currently stationed there joined the missions.
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03/09/2024
The small, oil-rich South Caucasus country of Azerbaijan has big plans to upgrade its modest fleet of fighter jets over the next decade. However, rather than turn to Russia, its traditional arms supplier for decades, Baku will likely acquire modern fighters from Pakistan and Turkey.
The turn away from Russia shows that longtime allies like Azerbaijan are finding effective arms sellers who aren't afflicted by the problems of Russia's newest fighter jets.
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03/08/2024
Lockheed Martin has announced the completion of five F-16 Block 70 jets for Bahrain, with an additional 11 in production. This move highlights Bahrain's pioneering role in integrating the F-16 Block 70 variant, enhancing its air force capabilities. The Block 70 features advanced radar, avionics, extended service life, and safety systems like the Auto GCAS, emphasizing its combat-proven performance
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03/07/2024
The Air Force plans to whittle down the number of companies working to build the first batch of collaborative combat aircraft to two or three over the next few months, the service’s secretary said Tuesday. And the Air Force plans to award contracts for the next round of CCAs — drones loaded with autonomous software that would fly themselves into battle alongside crewed fighters — in fiscal 2025, Frank Kendall said during a roundtable at the Air and Space Force Association’s Air Warfare Symposiu
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03/07/2024
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) has introduced a period of hiatus, according to an update from 4 March 2024, while the service decides on its next trainer aircraft as the existing 18 CT-155 Hawk units come to the end of their 24-year-long life. While RCAF officials debate the platform that will best simulate Canada’s newly acquired F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft, the fast jet leading the nation’s combat air fleet.
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03/07/2024
Russia’s defence ministry said Tuesday that it had scrambled a fighter jet to “prevent a violation of the Russian state border” by three French aircraft over the Black Sea. Such incidents have regularly occurred, even before Russia launched its offensive in Ukraine in 2022. “To prevent a violation of the Russian state border, a Su-27 fighter aircraft was raised into the air,” Russia’s defence ministry said.
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03/07/2024
The Ukrainian Air Force announced on March 4 that a Su-34 Fullback fighter bomber had been shot down. With that, more than a dozen Fullback bomber jets are alleged to have been brought down by Ukraine in just over two weeks.
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03/05/2024
Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has reiterated his stance that the government will seek understanding for its plan to export next-generation fighter jets to third countries. Kishida was answering questions on Monday from an opposition lawmaker at the Upper House about an aircraft Japan is developing with Britain and Italy.
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03/05/2024
Boeing, despite recent challenges, stands a chance at securing the Next Generation Air Defense (NGAD) project from the U.S. Air Force, potentially edging out competitor Lockheed Martin. The NGAD program, shrouded in secrecy, aims to develop a sixth-generation fighter jet, the Penetrating Counter Air (PCA), alongside an unmanned system, the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). The PCA is anticipated to boast advanced digital capabilities, propulsion technology, and enhanced weaponry.
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03/05/2024
U.S. Air Force F-35 fighters landed in Brunei on March 1, the first time U.S. stealth jets have landed on the small Pacific Island nation. Two F-35s made the trek from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, to Rimba Air Base, Brunei, a visit that coincided with a diplomatic visit by Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Jedidiah Royal. Also making the trip was Maj. Gen. Mark Weber, Air National Guard assistant to the commander of PACAF, .
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03/04/2024
The Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked 21 Chinese military aircraft and six naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Saturday (March 2) and 6 a.m. on Sunday (March 3). Of the 21 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, one Chinese drone crossed the Taiwan Strait median line and entered the southwest corner of the country’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ), according to the MND. Meanwhile, nine of the PLA aircraft flew into the southwest sector of the ADIZ.
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03/04/2024
Two German Air Force Eurofighter jets were scrambled from Lielvarde Air Base in Latvia on March 1, mere hours after initiating NATO Air Policing duties, to intercept two Russian military aircraft nearing NATO airspace off the Latvian coast.
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03/04/2024
U.S. military C-130 cargo planes dropped food in pallets over Gaza on Saturday in the opening stage of an emergency humanitarian assistance authorized by President Joe Biden after more than 100 Palestinians who had surged to pull goods off an aid convoy were killed during a chaotic encounter with Israeli troops.
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03/04/2024
Russian forces appear to be willing to risk continued aviation losses in pursuit of tactical gains in eastern Ukraine, likely along the Avdiivka-Donetsk City line, according to the U.S.-based think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW) Mar.
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03/03/2024
Russian military IL-20 and IL-76 aircraft were intercepted near Latvian territorial waters, the country’s Air Force reported on Facebook on March 1, sharing photos. This marked the first instance of German Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon multi-role combat aircraft being deployed to intercept Russian military aircraft. The interception took place from the air base Lielvarde in Latvia, the statement said. French Mirage 2000-5 fighters earlier intercepted two Russian Su-30M fighters and an AN-72.
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03/02/2024
Singapore will buy eight more F-35 stealth fighters, eventually replacing its older F-16s and putting the Singaporean air force "in the premier league" as regional threats grow, the city-state's defence minister said this week. Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) would buy F-35As - a larger, longer-range variant of the Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N), opens new tab jets - to complement the 12 F-35Bs it has already ordered.
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03/02/2024
The 60th Fighter Squadron and Aircraft Maintenance Unit conducted off-station training at Savannah Air National Guard Base, Georgia Feb. 2-22, 2024 where they aimed to maximize flight hours in the F-35A Lightning II by avoiding weather attrition, while learning to navigate a new airspace and working with other units. Training in an unfamiliar environment gives pilots a chance to utilize skills that they wouldn’t normally use at their home station.
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03/02/2024
The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) brought down three more Russian Su-34 fighter bombers on Thursday, totalling 12 Su planes brought down in the last 13 days and 13 Russian planes overall, including an A-50U radar aircraft. Early in the morning, Ukrainian Air Force commander Mykola Oleshchuk reported downing the first fighter bomber in the Eastern direction.
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03/02/2024
The U.S. Senate on Thursday soundly defeated an effort to stop the $23 billion sale of F-16 fighter jets and modernization kits to Turkey, which President Joe Biden's administration approved after Turkey approved Sweden's joining the NATO alliance. The Senate voted 79 to 13 against a resolution of disapproval of the sale introduced by Republican Senator Rand Paul.
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