October, 2024 Military Aviation News

Second MiG-31K Fighter Jet Arrives in Belarus, Heightening Tensions

10/11/2024

A second russian MiG-31K fighter jet, equipped to carry the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal missiles, has arrived in Belarus, marking a significant escalation in military presence from russia. This development, reported by Belarusian Hajun on Telegram, indicates that the aircraft has landed at the Machulishchy airfield, just two days after the first MiG-31K aircraft was deployed.

Saudi Arabia Deploys Tornado Fighter Jets for Exercise in Pakistan

10/11/2024

The Royal Saudi Air Force has deployed six Panavia Tornado fighter jets for the Indus Shield 2024 air exercise in Pakistan, where Turkey and Egypt also showcased their military capabilities and explored opportunities for enhanced cooperation. The drill allowed each nation to discuss and exchange best practices on the latest technologies, strategies, and operations.

Airbus, Multiverse to build gesture-based control system for fighters

10/11/2024

Airbus Defence and Space is collaborating with Spain-headquartered Multiverse Computing to develop advanced gesture recognition software for future fighter aircraft, leveraging quantum-inspired algorithms and Large Language Models (LLMs). This initiative is part of the European Defence Fund’s Enhanced Pilot Interfaces and Interactions for Fighter Cockpit (EPIIC) project.

USAF F-15s Arriving in Middle East as Israel Weighs Response to Iran Attack

10/11/2024

More of the U.S. Air Force fighters directed to deploy to the Middle East late last month arrived as Israel contemplates its response to Tehran’s ballistic missile attack on Israel on Oct. 1. A squadron of F-15E Strike Eagles began arriving in the region Oct. 9, U.S. Central Command announced.

Super Rafale! France Announces Stealth Combat Drone For Its Rafale F5 Fighter; Eyes Mother Of All Deals

10/11/2024

In a significant technological advancement for the French Air and Space Force, the nation has announced the development of a stealthy uncrewed aerial vehicle (UCAV) that will fly alongside the futuristic ‘Super Rafale’ in a manned-unmanned teaming configuration.

US requests information from Saab North America on Brazil fighter jet purchase

10/11/2024

The U.S. Department of Justice has requested information from a subsidiary of Saab, opens new tab over Brazil's purchase of the Swedish firm's Gripen fighter jets in 2014, which was the subject of a Brazilian corruption probe, Saab said on Thursday. "Saab intends to comply with the request to supply information and to cooperate with the DoJ in this matter," the company said of the U.S. queries to Saab North America.

Kuwait's F-18 fighter jet crashes, kills pilot

10/10/2024

A Kuwaiti Air Force F-18 fighter jet crashed and its pilot was killed "while conducting a training flight mission in the north of the country," the Kuwaiti Defense Ministry announced Wednesday. Investigation was underway to find out the details and cause of the accident, ministry spokesman Hamad Al-Saqr was quoted as saying by Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), Xinhua reported.

Russia Has Lost 'Dozens' of Su-34 Fullback Fighter-Bombers in Ukraine War

10/10/2024

The Russian Air Force has reportedly lost at least 35 Su-34 fighter-bombers in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, accounting for about a quarter of its pre-war fleet of 140 aircraft. In response, the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) announced the delivery of a new batch of Su-34s to the Russian Aerospace Forces.

Dassault begins development of new UCAV for Rafale F5 fighter jet

10/10/2024

French aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation has initiated the development of a new uncrewed combat aerial vehicle (UCAV). The UCAV are slated to augment the capabilities of the future Rafale F5 standard post-2030. This advanced UCAV will be designed for collaborative combat, featuring stealth technologies, autonomous control with human oversight, internal payload options, and adaptability to counter emerging threats.

Observers: Chinese-made fighter jets play key role in deadly airstrikes in Myanmar

10/10/2024

Local media in Myanmar are reporting that six FTC-2000G fighter jets purchased from China have arrived, and observers are concerned that Chinese military support for the Myanmar military is prolonging the conflict and worsening civilian suffering. China's supply of fighter jets, such as the FTC-2000G, has helped the junta maintain air superiority, and that has caused widespread casualties across Myanmar.

France confirms delivery of Mirage 2000 jets to Ukraine by first half of 2025

10/09/2024

France plans to deliver French-made Mirage 2000 fighter jets to Ukraine by the first half of 2025, Minister of the Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu said in a post on X on October 8, 2024. On June 6, 2024, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that France would send Mirage-2000 jets to Ukraine and provide training for Ukrainian pilots as part of a new military cooperation program with Kyiv.

Ukraine Is Getting More F-16 Fighters to Battle Russia

10/09/2024

The Netherlands has delivered the first U.S.-made F-16 Fighting Falcons to Ukraine, part of the 24 jets pledged to support Kyiv's war effort against Russia. Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans confirmed the delivery, emphasizing the urgency given Russian airstrikes. Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov expressed deep gratitude for the support. Ukrainian pilots are training on the F-16s in Romania.

Kuwait to Start Negotiations with Malaysia on F/A-18 Fighters Jets Sale

10/09/2024

The government of Kuwait has agreed to start negotiations on the sale terms of F/A-18 Hornet multi-role fighters to Malaysia. The Malaysian newspaper KOSMO reported that Malaysia and Kuwait had agreed to establish a joint committee to begin discussions and negotiations for the purchase of the combat aircraft. At this time, it is unknown how many of the 39 aircraft in the Kuwaiti Air Force (KAF) will be purchased, as the approval of the Kuwaiti government is expected.

CF-18 Hornet Extension Project achieves initial operational capability

10/08/2024

The Royal Canadian Air Force has announced its CF-18 Hornet Extension Project (HEP) has achieved Initial Operational Capability. As part of a joint effort with the F/A-18 and EA-18G programme office, HEP will ensure the RCAF CF-18 Hornet fighter fleet can meet operational commitments to the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) and NATO until 2032, the RCAF stated. From then on, the fleet will be retired and replaced with F35-As under Canada’s future fighter capability project.

Dutch Defense Minister confirms delivery of first F-16 fighters to Ukraine

10/08/2024

Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans has confirmed that the first Dutch F-16 fighter jets have arrived in Ukraine. “For the first time, I can officially announce that the first Dutch F-16s have been delivered to Ukraine,” Brekelmans stated on the social media platform X. “This is urgently needed. In Kharkiv, I saw the damage from Russian airstrikes and heard frequent air raid alarms. The rest of the 24 jets will follow in the coming months.”

Taiwan detects 27 Chinese military aircraft around island

10/08/2024

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense reported the detection of multiple China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) fighter jets and drones operating in areas surrounding Taiwan between October 6 and 7, 2024. 19 of the aircraft detected breached the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s northern, central, and southwestern Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). The exact model of the aircraft involved in the incursion was not specified. Six warships were also identified.

The NGAD program starts from scratch in the face of the acceleration of the Defense technological tempo

10/07/2024

After suspending the NGAD 6th generation fighter program, will the US Air Force embark on a Copernican revolution in the way it designs and pilots its combat aircraft programs, and more generally, future air combat systems? This is essentially what can be understood from recent statements made by General James Slife, vice chief of staff of the US Air Force, and Andrew Hunter, vice secretary of the Air Force for acquisitions, on the occasion of the Defense News Conference.

Ukraine shoots down Russian bomber in Donetsk

10/06/2024

Ukrainian forces said they shot down a Russian fighter plane Saturday while Russia claimed it made gains in Ukraine’s east. The Russian bomber was shot down near the city of Kostiantynivka in the Donetsk province, head of the Kostiantynivka Military Administration Serhiy Horbunov was quoted as saying by Ukraine’s public broadcaster, Suspilne. Photos showed charred remains of an aircraft after it landed on a house that caught fire.

Fighter jets from the Air Forces of France, Italy, Sweden, and the U.S. arrive in Greece for Exercise Ramstein Flag 2024

10/06/2024

The Ramstein Flag 2024 exercise has begun with the arrival of fighter jets from the Air Forces of France, Italy, Sweden, and the U.S. in Greece. During the week of September 27, NATO Allied members started deploying their combat and transport aircraft to Andravida Air Base to carry out Exercise Ramstein Flag 2024.

Insane Videos Show The Moment A Russian S-70 UCAV Is Shot Down by Russian Fighter Jet Over Ukraine

10/06/2024

Videos have started appearing online on Oct. 5, 2024, showing a RuAF (Russian Aerospace Forces) fighter jet shooting down an S-70 Okhotnik loyal wingman UCAV (Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle) over the Konstantinovka area, Ukraine. The clips of the overhead flight of the two aircraft show two contrails one behind the other, with another streak of smoke leaving the aircraft in the rear and hitting the one ahead, implying it had fired it had fired an AAM (Air-to-Air Missile).

114 Fighter Aircraft For India: IAF Chief Bets On “Jaguar-Model” For Multi-Billion MRFA Contract; Admits Tech Gap With China

10/05/2024

The new Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief made a strong case for the speedy acquisition of Medium-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) as the force has a yawning technological gap vis-à-vis China. However, he contends that based on superior training and exposure, the IAF will be able to maintain the status quo if China ups the ante.

Ukrainian F-16 fighter pilots have had to dramatically change the way they fly after long flying Soviet jets, and it's a lot to overcome

10/05/2024

Ukraine's F-16 pilots have had to dramatically change the way they fly in a very short period of time in order to fight Russia, and it's a tremendous challenge for pilots when they're under pressure, an air-warfare expert told Business Insider. Michael Bohnert, an engineer at the RAND Corporation, told BI the big changes Ukrainian pilots have had to make so quickly made it difficult for them to overcome old habits and muscle memory in a crisis.

Spanish Air Force says F-18 fighter jet crashes, pilot dies

10/05/2024

Spain's Air Force on Friday confirmed the death of an F-18 Hornet fighter jet pilot after the aircraft crashed near the northeastern city of Teruel. "We regret to communicate that our teammate Lieutenant Colonel Pablo Estrada Martin died in the F-18 accident," the Air Force posted on X.

Can the Air Force make its next-gen fighter jet cheaper than the F-35?

10/05/2024

Since the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter’s inception, the Defense Department and industry have struggled to wrestle down its price tag to roughly $80 million or $100 million per jet, depending on the model. It’s been a grueling battle involving inflation, supply chain crunches, evolving requirements and developmental problems, and remains ongoing to this day.

US open to selling F-15 fighter jets to Türkiye amid S-400 dilemma

10/04/2024

The United States has expressed openness to selling F-15 fighter jets to Türkiye, according to sources familiar with recent discussions between the two nations. This development comes as Türkiye faces ongoing issues related to its acquisition of Russian-made S-400 Triumf air defense systems, which have strained U.S.-Türkiye relations and led to the imposition of CAATSA sanctions.

Ukraine says it attacked a Russian base where fighter-bombers and their glide bombs are kept

10/04/2024

Ukrainian forces used long-range drones overnight to strike a Russian base where fighter-bomber aircraft and their highly destructive glide bombs are stored. A source in the Security Service of Ukraine told Business Insider on Thursday that the attack targeted the Borisoglebsk military airfield in Russia's Voronezh region. The source spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive operations.

Peru confirms it will proceed with the purchase of 24 new fighter jets to modernize its air force

10/04/2024

Defense Minister Walter Enrique Astudillo Chávez confirmed that Peru will purchase 24 fighter jets for the Peruvian Air Force (FAP) to fulfill the constitutional role of defending national sovereignty and protecting the Peruvian population against threats to the country’s security.

Spain to evacuate citizens from Lebanon

10/03/2024

pain plans to send two military aircraft to evacuate as many as 350 citizens from Lebanon as early as Thursday, Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles said on Wednesday. “The Spanish airplanes are ready, the staff are ready, as always with the professionalism of the Spanish army,” she said in an interview with Antena 3 TV station.

South Korea to send military aircraft to evacuate citizens from Middle East

10/03/2024

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol ordered on Wednesday military aircraft to be deployed immediately to evacuate its citizens from Israel and other parts of the Middle East amid escalating tension, his office said. Yoon met with his national security and economic advisers over the Middle East conflict and called for a swift but measured response to any impact on the country's energy supply, trade and supply chains, his office said.

Four NATO Fighter Jets Scrambled Over Russian Drone Attack

10/03/2024

Four NATO fighter jets were scrambled and an emergency alert issued in response to a Russian drone attack on targets near the Romanian border in Ukraine's Odesa region. The jets were deployed after Russian drones were detected near Romanian airspace flying toward Ukrainian territory in the early hours of Wednesday morning, the country's Ministry of National Defense said in a statement.

KAI Secures Performance-Based Maintenance Deal for Philippine FA-50 Jets

10/03/2024

The Philippine Air Force has awarded Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) a contract to sustain its FA-50 Fighting Eagle light combat aircraft. The agreement will run under a performance based logistics (PBL) framework in which value per maintenance, repair, and overhaul relies on resulting improvements.

Navy Will Pick a 6th-Gen Fighter as Air Force Pauses NGAD

10/03/2024

In the race to field the first sixth-generation fighter, the U.S. Navy is pressing ahead as the Air Force pauses its program amid concern that it’s too expensive and might not be the best answer to emerging threats. The Navy expects to award a contract for its next-generation, carrier-based fighter and expects the long-range attack jet to enter service in the 2030s, its top officer said Oct. 2.

Pakistan’s JF-17C Block-III Now Operational in Azerbaijan Air Force

10/02/2024

Azerbaijan has officially confirmed that the JF-17C Block-III fighter jets it bought from Pakistan are now in service as part of a $1.6 billion deal signed in February. The president’s office announced the news, showing Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev seated inside the aircraft during his inspection of it at the Azerbaijan International Defence Exhibition 2024 in Baku on September 25.

Bulgaria starts full review of its combat aviation

10/02/2024

Bulgaria is to begin a long-awaited review of the readiness and training of its air force, which has seen several fatalities during combat exercises and demonstration flights in recent years. Bulgaria guards part of NATO's eastern flank with old, hard-to-maintain MiG-29 fighter jets and Su-25 aircraft that were supplied by the USSR more than 35 years ago.

VIDEO: Russian Fighter Cuts Off US F-16 During NORAD Intercept

10/01/2024

A Russian Su-35 fighter cut across the front of a U.S. Air Force F-16 conducting a routine intercept of Russian aircraft off the coast of Alaska in a dramatic incident Sept. 23. The U.S. military called the encounter “unsafe,” and said the Russian aviator’s actions were “unprofessional and endangered all.”

US Sending More Air Force Fighters to Middle East

10/01/2024

The U.S. military is ordering additional U.S. Air Force fighters to the Middle East after Israel launched punishing attacks on Lebanese Hezbollah and killed the group’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, U.S. officials told Air & Space Forces Magazine.

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