April, 2024 Military Aviation News
04/30/2024
Unique and at times peculiar NATO aircraft activity spiked around the Atlantic Alliance’s eastern borders on Monday, April 29 with at least three British Typhoon fighters sharing air space and appearing to closely escort an Iranian airliner, a first-ever sortie in theater by the Pentagon’s best maritime spy drone, and a Ukrainian government plane defying the Russian Air Force and scooting to safety in the Balkans.
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04/29/2024
The Russian Air Force is facing significant setbacks in its ongoing conflict in Ukraine, with substantial losses including several Su-35 fighter jets. As Moscow intensifies its aerial assaults, the strain on its military arsenal grows, with more than 150 sorties involving Su-34 and Su-35 airframes reported over just 13 days earlier this year.
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04/29/2024
In a bid to arm its aging air force, Argentina signed a $300 million contract with Denmark earlier this month to purchase 24 F-16 aircraft. Commenting on the sale, Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said, “In close cooperation with our allies, we have donated 19 F-16s to Ukraine’s fight for freedom, and now we have sold 24 aircraft to Argentina in a good process that has created valuable ties between our two countries.”
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04/29/2024
For several years Kazakhstan has been gradually replacing its outdated fleet of Soviet-made combat aircraft with modern versions, such as the Russian Su-30SM multi-role aircraft and has been in discussion with Western manufacturers to source suitable combat platforms. As part of this process, it was announced in October that the Kazakh government was offering 117 Soviet-era fighter and bomber aircraft for sale by auction.
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04/29/2024
In the annals of military history, some stories stand out for their unexpected twists and turns. One such event occurred half a century ago, on April 26, 1974, when Flight Lieutenant Sattar Alvi, a Pakistani pilot, accomplished a rare feat by shooting down an Israeli fighter jet while flying a MiG aircraft for the Syrian Air Force.
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04/29/2024
The US has acquired 81 Soviet-era combat aircraft from Kazakhstan, the Kyiv Post reported.
Kazakhstan, which is upgrading its air fleet, auctioned off 117 Soviet-era fighter and bomber aircraft, including MiG-31 interceptors, MiG-27 fighter bombers, MiG-29 fighters, and Su-24 bombers from the 1970s and 1980s.
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04/28/2024
The Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked 22 Chinese military aircraft and four naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Saturday (April 27) and 6 a.m. on Sunday (April 28).
Of the 22 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, 12 crossed the Taiwan Strait median line in the northeastern section of the country’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ), according to the MND.
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04/28/2024
The long-awaited delivery of F-16s to Ukraine is on the horizon, and these advanced American-made fighter jets can't come soon enough for its forces. Western-provided F-16s will give Kyiv's current fleet of aging Soviet-era warplanes a major upgrade in capabilities, for critical offensive and defensive roles, and boost their firepower with the right munitions.
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04/27/2024
The Chengdu J-10 Vigorous Dragon, often compared to the F-16 due to its similar features, has its own unique design and capabilities. Although some sources suggest the J-10 was influenced by the Israeli IAI Lavi, China maintains it evolved from earlier Chengdu models like the J-9.
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04/27/2024
Sweden has tapped Saab to modernize the country’s Gripen C/D and Gripen E fighters under a 540-million-kronor ($50 million) contract. The operation and support of test aircraft and equipment such as rigs and simulators will be covered under the new agreement. The deal is part of a program that covers the aircraft’s major upgrades by the aerospace firm, which includes engine and electronic warfare system updates.
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04/26/2024
Swedish defence company Saab delivers its fourth GlobalEye aircraft to the UAE while securing an order for Gripen development resources. Saab has recently achieved milestones in reinforcing the United Arab Emirates (UAE) defence capabilities and the future potential of its Gripen aircraft system. Delivering the fourth GlobalEye Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft to the UAE marks a feat, highlighting Saab’s ability to provide defence solutions.
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04/26/2024
A statement by a former Republic of China Air Force (RoCAF, or Taiwan Air Force) commander about the incapability of its military to prevent a People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) attack raised alarm bells among the island’s leadership.
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04/25/2024
On Thursday, April 25th, around 12:30 PM, the first six of a total of 12 multi-purpose combat aircraft Rafale will fly into the Republic of Croatia, to the "Colonel Marko Živkovic" barracks in Velika Gorica from the French Republic.
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04/25/2024
The United States and Royal Norwegian Air Forces have successfully conducted the first-ever unsupervised F-35 Lightning II cross-service operation, marking a significant milestone in fighter aircraft interoperability. The operation, which took place on April 8, 2024, saw Norwegian aircraft maintainers servicing two US fighter jets at Ørland Air Station in Norway, a development announced by the US Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa on April 22.
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04/25/2024
Anduril and General Atomics advance in USAF autonomous fighter programme Proposals from defence start-up Anduril and uncrewed aircraft pioneer General Atomics were selected from a pool of submissions by five aerospace manufacturers to develop autonomous fighter jets for the US Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft programme.
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04/25/2024
Ahead of the much-anticipated delivery of F-16 fighting falcons to Ukraine, Lithuania recently announced the transfer of an Aero Vodochody L-39ZA Albatros light strike jet to Ukraine. The Lithuanian Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced the delivery of the Aero Vodochody L-39ZA Albatros light strike jet on April 20. The MoD added that the transfer of the light attack aircraft was part of a larger military aid package for Ukraine. Lithuania has been a key military supplier to Kyiv in the ongoing wa
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04/24/2024
In 2020, the UAE's decision to normalize relations with Israel was seen as a step toward Middle East stability, but complications arose due to the UAE's desire to acquire the advanced F-35 fighter jet, challenging Israel's security doctrine of maintaining military superiority.
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04/24/2024
The U.S. Air Force is in the process of retiring its A-10 attack jet fleet, with plans to phase out 56 aircraft from its total fleet of 265 by fiscal 2028. During a House Armed Services Committee hearing, Secretary Kendall noted that at least one country has expressed some interest in obtaining the A-10s. However, there won’t be significant support for the aircraft once they’re out of the American inventory due to their age and lack of a support base.
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04/22/2024
Two Japanese navy helicopters carrying eight crew members crashed into the Pacific Ocean during a night-time training exercise after possibly colliding with each other, killing one person, the defence minister said on Sunday. The two SH-60 patrol helicopters were conducting antisubmarine exercises on Saturday night near Torishima in the remote Izu island group, off the southern coast of central Japan.
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04/22/2024
The Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked 21 Chinese military aircraft and seven naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Saturday (April 20) and 6 a.m. on Sunday (April 21). Of the 21 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, 14 crossed the Taiwan Strait median line, according to the MND. Three entered the southwest corner of Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) and two were detected in the northeast ADIZ.
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04/22/2024
Iran could receive its first Su-35 Flanker fighter jets from Russia as soon as next week, reports state-run media outlets. The timing of the delivery of advanced fighter jets is highly significant as it coincides with skyrocketing tensions between Tehran and Israel. While there is no mention of the number of jets making up the first shipment, Iran will reportedly receive at least 24 fighter jets in total, Forbes reports.
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04/21/2024
The House on Saturday passed military aid bills for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, more than six months after President Joe Biden initially submitted his massive foreign aid request to arm all three security partners. The roughly $95 billion package includes $48 billion in Ukraine security aid.
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04/21/2024
The announcement made by General Cartaxo in that interview implies that Portugal is ahead of Spain in the acquisition of a fifth generation fighter, since until now the Spanish government has not given any news indicating its possible intention to acquire the F-35, not even to replace the Harrier II of the Spanish Navy, for which there is no other possible substitute on the market at present.
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04/21/2024
In a new episode in the Baltic Sea region, Portuguese Air Force F-16 fighters, as part of their Air Policing Mission, conducted the interception of two aircraft from the Russian Aerospace Forces. This new incident was reported by NATO’s Air Command, adding to the long list of similar episodes recorded between combat aircraft of NATO members and Russian forces.
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04/20/2024
Ukrainian anti-aircraft units shot down a Russian Tu-22M3 bomber for the first time, Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk said on April 19. The Tu-22M3 bomber crashed in Russia's Stavropol Krai on the morning of April 19, just after Russia launched an attack on Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.
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04/20/2024
Nigeria will take delivery of the first six of 24 Italian M-346 light fighter-trainer aircraft it has ordered by year end, the country’s Air Force has said. Originally manufactured by Italy’s Leonardo as a twin-seater jet trainer, the M-346 has been acquired by Nigeria in its more recent, armed M-346FA fighter format.
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04/20/2024
The Netherlands has delivered three more F-16 Fighting Falcons to Bucharest as part of a multinational flight training cooperation for Ukrainian pilots in Romania. The mission supports allied forces in preparing Kyiv’s aircrews as they transition from Soviet-era aircraft to F-16s amid Russia’s invasion. For the latest delivery, the three Dutch planes were accompanied by two Romanian F16s to a European Flight Training Center developed in partnership with Lockheed Martin.
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04/20/2024
The F-16 Fighting Falcon, a cornerstone of U.S. Air Force capabilities since its introduction in 1979, has evolved from a supporting air superiority fighter to a versatile multi-role fighter. Designed to complement the heavier F-15 Eagle, the F-16 has proven its adaptability and effectiveness in various combat roles, notably during Operation Desert Storm.
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04/20/2024
Indian state-owned aerospace company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has received a request for proposal from the Ministry of Defence for 97 light fighters, setting up the largest-ever order for the aircraft. The company’s Tejas fighters – also known as Light Combat Aircraft, or LCA – are critical to the Indian Air Force, as the service currently has only 31 fighter squadrons compared to a mandated level of 42.
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04/19/2024
A Kenyan military aircraft has crashed, a government spokesperson said on Thursday. A police source who asked not to be named said five soldiers died when the chopper crashed in western Kenya on Thursday afternoon and three other passengers survived. The injured soldiers have been taken to hospital, the source said.
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04/19/2024
Portuguese F-16 fighter jets participating in NATO’s Baltic Air Policing have escorted two Russian military aircraft flying close to the alliance’s airspace. The F-16 planes scrambled from the Combined Air Operations Centre at Uedem in western Germany for their first intercept during their seventh deployment to the mission.
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04/19/2024
The Pentagon’s secretive technology development agency has for the first time pitted an artificial intelligence (AI) agent against a human fighter pilot in air combat drills. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), working with the US Air Force (USAF) test pilot school, calls the tests a breakthrough in the efforts to automate close-range fighter manoeuvres and combat aviation more broadly.
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04/19/2024
Explosions were reported in Isfahan, about four hours drive or 350km (217 miles) south of Iran's capital, Tehran. As we've reported, Isfahan is home to a major military air base and several Iranian nuclear sites are in the province- including the city of Natanz, a centerpiece of Iran’s uranium enrichment program.
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04/18/2024
Plans to purchase additional Joint Strike Fighter aircraft are being halted under sweeping defence changes unveiled by the Albanese government that would see Australia’s overall military budget almost double within a decade. On Wednesday, Defence Minister Richard Marles released Labor’s long awaited National Defence Strategy that includes plans to lift annual spending to around $100 billion by 2034.
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04/17/2024
The Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked 11 Chinese military aircraft and eight naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Monday (April 15) and 6 a.m. on Tuesday (April 16). Of the 11 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, six crossed the Taiwan Strait median line, one entered the southwest sector of the nation’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ), and one helicopter was detected in the southeast ADIZ, according to the MND.
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04/17/2024
Japan's next-gen fighter jet, increased collaborative efforts, and military spending signal a new, more proactive era in its defense strategy. The Japanese government's recent approval of exporting a next-gen fighter jet developed with Italy and Britain marks a significant milestone. It signals a new era in Japan's security outlook, emphasizing collaboration and innovation.
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04/17/2024
On Tuesday, Argentine President Javier Milei celebrated the signing of an agreement to purchase 24 F-16 fighter jets from the Danish Army. "The task we are carrying out is only possible because I am accompanied by a cabinet with extremely talented human beings," Milei told Defense Minister Luis Petri, who was at the Skrydstrup Air Base in Denmark.
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04/17/2024
The secretary of the U.S. Air Force said Tuesday that Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Macomb County would "potentially" be considered for a future fighter mission to replace the base's aging A-10 aircraft, "but at the current time we don't have an option to do that." Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall was testifying Tuesday morning before the Senate Committee on Armed Services.
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04/16/2024
France has authorized the transfer of 30 Mirage 2009-E aircraft from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Morocco. According to Spanish media, the transfer is part of a broader cooperation agreement that will see Abu Dhabi acquire 80 Rafales.
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04/16/2024
As the Russo-Ukraine War continues into its third year, the limitations of the Russian military, particularly in controlling airspace, have become evident. Notably, the Sukhoi Su-57 “Felon,” a fifth-generation multirole fighter, has underperformed. Since its first flight in 2010, only about 32 Su-57s have been delivered, with production delays exacerbated by industrial bottlenecks.
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04/16/2024
The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, a mainstay of the U.S. Navy, has recently been enhanced with a significant capability upgrade, making it the first carrier-based aircraft to deploy the SDB-II, also known as the StormBreaker. This 250-pound precision-strike weapon is designed to handle adverse weather conditions and dynamic targeting scenarios, thanks to its tri-mode seeker that integrates infrared, millimeter wave radar, and GPS/INS systems.
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04/14/2024
Iran has launched dozens of aerial drones and missiles at Israel, marking a widely anticipated reprisal attack. It is the first such direct clash between the two enemies, who have been engaged in a years-long shadow war, with Iran using proxy forces. The Israeli military said Israel and other countries had intercepted hundreds of cruise missiles and drones, mostly outside Israeli airspace.
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04/13/2024
From April 12, the KC-390 Millennium military transport aircraft manufactured for the Hungarian Defense Forces will stay at the Kecskemét (central Hungary) airbase for three weeks, Minister of Defense Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky informed MTI on Thursday. According to the statement, the Minister said that the testing schedule, which began after the aircraft’s first take-off on February 8, 2024, has entered its final phase, with ground and air tests being carried out in the final stages of the pro
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04/13/2024
The 44th Fighter Group, Air Force Reserve, conducted their first flying Unit Training Assembly at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, April 6, 2024, since returning to Tyndall. This training proved valuable for the pilots and maintainers by giving them hands-on experience with F-35A Lightning II’s and their first local sortie since departing Tyndall prior to Hurricane Michael.
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04/13/2024
The Air Force will award more contracts for Collaborative Combat Aircraft in the coming months and is committed to fielding the autonomous unmanned jets within the next few years. But how that will impact Airmen’s job remains to be seen, the head of Air Force Futures said April 12. Speaking at a Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies event, Lt. Gen. David A. Harris said the manpower matters raised by CCAs are still a work-in-progress.
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04/12/2024
The Republic of China Air Force has reported damage to eight of its fighter planes caused by the recent 7.2-magnitude earthquake. The six F-16V aircraft and two F-5 fighters stationed at Hualien Air Force Base suffered minor damage caused by the shaking of its boarding ladders during the incident. According to the command, the damage is easily repairable and will not affect the aircraft’s combat readiness.
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04/12/2024
The patrolling by the F-16s comes in the wake of reports of Russian-built MiG-29 fighter jets, operated by the Myanmar military, conducting air strikes close to the border area. The RTAF announced its deployment via a Facebook post on April 10, citing the need to monitor the situation in Myanmar, particularly in the vicinity of Myawaddy township, where the recent conflict between the Myanmar military and Karen rebel forces has intensified.
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04/12/2024
In March 2024, six Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoons were deployed to Romania's Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base for NATO's enhanced Air Policing mission, marking 30 years since the Typhoon's first flight. Developed by Germany, Great Britain, Italy, and Spain, these multi-role combat aircraft will undertake air policing missions alongside the Romanian Air Force until August 2024.
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04/12/2024
With the war in Ukraine now in its third year, the pitched battle this past winter between Russian and Ukrainian forces for the town of Avdiivka now appears notable for at least two reasons. The first is that Ukraine’s loss of the town marks the latest in a series of high-profile military setbacks, including its counteroffensive; the second is that it appears that for the first time in the war, Russia has, at least for the moment, gained a degree of local air superiority.
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04/11/2024
NATO Eurofighters scrambled to intercept a Russian surveillance plane that was clocked flying over the Baltic Sea. A pair of German Eurofighter Typhoons were spotted on the tail of a Ilyushin Il-20 electronic signals intelligence (ELINT) flying over the Baltic Sea near the Swedish island of Gotland. The Russian craft, which boasts a sophisticated radar system for intel gathering, failed to answer to identification requests sparking the scramble, according to NATO's Allied Air Command (AIRCOM).
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04/11/2024
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has declared his country’s intention of acquiring the Rafale jet fighter from France’s Dassault Aviation. The announcement – made while Vucic was on a two-day visit to France – noted that a firm contract signing is expected in two months. The declaration of a French fighter purchase underlines Serbia’s intention to diversify its sources of military importation, while underlining the fallout for Russian defense exports in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine.
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04/10/2024
For the first time in nearly two years, U.S. and Chinese defense officials met this week to discuss unsafe and aggressive ship and aircraft incidents between the two militaries in the Pacific region, restarting a dialogue that Beijing abruptly ended in a dispute involving Taiwan.
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04/10/2024
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) will deploy a fighter plane to participate for the first time in Australia’s large-scale multilateral air combat exercise this year. PAF spokesperson Col. Maria Consuelo Castillo on Tuesday said that the Philippines will send an FA-50 light fighter aircraft for Australia’s Pitch Black Exercise in August.
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04/10/2024
The Air Force is betting a large part of its future air warfare on a fleet more than 1,000 autonomously operated drones, and later this spring its top civilian leader plans to climb into one of those artificial intelligence-operated warplanes and let it take him airborne. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall told senators on Tuesday at a hearing on the service’s 2025 budget that he will enter the cockpit of one of the F-16s that the service has converted for drone flight to see for himself how it
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04/09/2024
It is noted that the Greek government plans to sell 108 fighter jets that are currently subject to decommissioning. In particular, the conversation is about 32 units of F-16C/-D Block 30. In July 2022, Greece began the procedure for selling the jet fighters and related equipment (spare parts, simulators, devices, materials), the value of which was estimated at €117M.The sale did not occur, and the aircrafts’ condition in open storage constantly deteriorated.
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04/09/2024
Japan has announced it has completed the first phase of modifying one of its helicopter carriers for F-35 operations. The Izumo-class destroyer Kaga's revamped flight deck will be able to support F-35B fighter jet take-offs and landings.
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04/09/2024
Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic is set to visit France on April 8 and 9, 2024, to discuss, among other topics, the acquisition of Rafale fighter jets. During his two-day visit, President Vucic plans to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron and later French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu. The agenda of the discussions will include the potential purchase of 12 Rafale fighter jets from Dassault Aviation.
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04/08/2024
The IAF conducted two major wargames in 2024, which will be followed by a multinational exercise, ‘Tarang Shakti,’ the first to be held in India. The rise of an assertive China has brought together like-minded countries to pursue greater military cooperation. India, which has been embroiled in a standoff with China since 2020, has increased air exercises with foreign countries.
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04/08/2024
The German Air Force scrambled their fighter jets over the Baltic Sea on Saturday to intercept a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft. The German aircraft were forced to take off from the base in Lielvarde, Latvia. "Our European fighter jets from VAPB took off from Lielvarde today on a defensive mission to intercept a Russian Il-20 over the Baltic Sea, which was flying without a transponder," the statement reads.
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04/07/2024
The F-16 Fighting Falcon, one of the most prolific fourth-generation fighters, continues to dominate the skies thanks to significant upgrades ensuring its relevance in modern warfare. Since its debut in 1978, the Falcon has been a staple in global conflicts, operated by the U.S. Air Force and 26 other nations.
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04/07/2024
The F-35 Lightning II, an emblem of American aeronautical prowess, represents the pinnacle of fifth-generation fighter technology, amassing over 773,000 flight hours and serving 20 nations worldwide. This fighter jet, known for its stealth capabilities, is critical amidst rising tensions in regions like the South China Sea and Eastern Europe, ensuring survivability against advanced air-defense systems.
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04/07/2024
As part of the program to purchase 22 F-5 Tiger fighters from Switzerland by the United States Marine Corps (USMC), the first aircraft arrived in the USA at the end of last March. More precisely, it arrived at the facilities of the Cecil Field Tactical Air Support Plant, located in Jacksonville, Florida, to undergo the second phase of the ARTEMIS program and subsequently join the force’s aggressor fleet to strengthen the dissimilar training capabilities of new pilots.
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04/06/2024
Abhijit Lyer-Mitra, a researcher with the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, claimed the J-20 could lose 60-70 percent of its power, notably takeoff weight and payload capacity. Lyer-Mitra’s data reportedly found the J-20 may have performance issues at higher altitudes, possibly due to thinner air reducing the thrust put out by engines, leading to a loss of power.
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04/06/2024
On May 15, 1984 the AMX 'Ghibli' made its first flight, after only three years of development. It will soon be 40 years. The Ghibli, known as Falcão in Brazil, was a design by AMX International, a company formed by the Italian firms Aeritalia and Aermacchi and the Brazilian firm Embraer. This aircraft emerged to replace the old Fiat G.91 and F-104 Starfighter as a light fighter and attack aircraft.
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04/06/2024
The Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft program seeks to field unmanned systems to distribute airpower and create dilemmas for adversaries. That will require developing platforms that reduce the human burden in the air and on the ground, Air Force officials and experts say.
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04/06/2024
The Foreign Affairs Committee of the US House of Representatives evaluated a series of notifications during the month of February proposing the transfer of 65 F-16A/B Fighting Falcon MLU fighter jets from Denmark, Norway, and the Netherlands to Ukraine. Despite the mentioned countries expressing their intention to donate the aircraft, the estimated cost of the initiatives amounts to USD 1.683.5 billion, including spare engines, simulators, manuals, tools, and various materials.
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04/06/2024
Ukraine has carried out a drone attack against targets in southern Russia and claims to have destroyed six Russian planes at an airbase in Rostov region. Security sources told BBC Ukrainian eight more aircraft were badly damaged, while 20 service personnel could have been killed or injured. The Morozovsk base houses Su-27 and Su-34 aircraft used on the front line in Ukraine, the sources said.
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04/04/2024
The Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) has offered the sale of the FA-50 light fighter aircraft to the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF), as it plans to spend 519 million USD (19 billion Baht) in the next fiscal year to acquire new fighter aircraft based on claims from the Thai Defense Ministry.
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04/04/2024
Lockheed Martin's proposal to relocate F-16 production lines to India, in collaboration with Tata, illustrates a keen strategy to win over India's lucrative aviation contract, potentially shifting the balance of military airpower in the region. The F-21, boasting upgraded mission computers, avionics, and enhanced communication systems, represents not just a technological leap but a strategic advantage in India's quest to counterbalance Chinese influence.
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04/04/2024
The MiG-21, developed by Mikoyan-Gurevich in 1955, stands as a testament to Cold War-era engineering and military strategy. Serving in over 50 countries, this supersonic fighter-interceptor was the most ubiquitous warplane of its time. Despite its simplicity, the MiG-21 was highly effective, notably during the Vietnam War, where it became a formidable adversary to American forces.
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04/04/2024
The Russians are painting images of combat aircraft directly on the runway at air bases inside occupied Ukraine in an apparent attempt to throw off targeting efforts. Moscow has been forced to implement several such decoy attempts as a result of continued successful Ukrainian strikes on Russian military locations, British officials said.
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04/04/2024
The US Navy and Air Force will start cooperative fighter pilot training this year under the US Department of Defense’s Joint Simulation Environment. The joint agreement is being managed by the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) in Patuxent River, Maryland, which began by incorporating eight F-35 Lightning II simulation cockpits.
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04/03/2024
Once forbidden to fly in lightning and thunderstorms, the conventional take-off and landing variant of the F-35 Lightning II aircraft, operated by the US Air Force, has reportedly been cleared to fly near storms. Until now, the F-35A Lightning II, operated by the US Air Force, was prohibited from flying within 25 miles of lightning. However, the F-35Cs used for carrier operations by the Navy and the F-35Bs used by the Marines were exempted from the ban.
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04/03/2024
In a continued demonstration of commitment to NATO’s eastern defenses, four F-35 fighters from the United States Air Force have been dispatched to Poland. This move is part of a strategy to ensure a persistent American military presence in the region. This initiative began in 2022 following Russia’s intensification of hostilities in Ukraine.
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04/03/2024
The U.S. Air Force recently completed Initial Operational Test & Evaluation (IOT&E) of the Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System (EPAWSS), validating the game-changing capabilities BAE Systems’ advanced system brings to the F-15. EPAWSS provides critical electronic warfare (EW) capabilities for the F-15E Strike Eagle and F-15EX Eagle II aircraft.
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04/03/2024
The first three F-16 Fighting Falcons that will be loaded with self-flying technology have arrived at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, the Air Force said Tuesday. The arrival of the F-16s marks the service’s biggest step forward yet in standing up the program known as Venom, which stands for Viper Experimentation and Next-gen Operations Model-Autonomy Flying Testbed and aims to speed up the testing of autonomous technology on both crewed and uncrewed aircraft.
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04/02/2024
The Sukhoi Su-35 is a single-seat, twin-engine air superiority fighter. Designed as an improved variant of the Su-27, it is a supermaneuverable jet that was first introduced in 2014. The jet relies on two Saturn AL-41F1S turbofan engines, producing 30,900 pounds of thrust each, with the afterburner engaged. The Su-35 can reach a maximum speed of Mach 2.25.
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04/02/2024
In a recent move to bolster their air combat capabilities, the National Guard Bureau has proposed an increase to their fiscal 2025 budget for the procurement of advanced fighter jets which were previously excluded due to budgetary constraints. The request, amounting to $1.35 billion, includes six state-of-the-art F-35s and six F-15EXs. This acquisition is at the top of the Guard’s $2.66 billion Unfunded Priorities List.
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04/02/2024
Not since the application of airplanes to combat warfare over 100 years ago has the U.S. military seen a shift in how it will defend the air domain with the addition of the U.S. Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft, or CCAs. More than a drone, CCAs could provide the service with exponential power in the air and tactics not yet fully envisioned, leaders say.
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04/01/2024
The skies above Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg are now under the watchful eye of two Dutch F-35s as they took over Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) duties from their F-16 counterparts on March 29, 2024.
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04/01/2024
The Hellenic Air Force of Greece, with at least four general fighter types and at least three different models of F-16 Viper, is paring down their fleet diversity. For the Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias, the ability of the Hellenic Air Force to protect Greece must be improved.
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