Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

U.S. drone strike kills ISIS group leader in northwest Syria, defense official says

07/10/2023

A U.S. drone strike killed an Islamic State group leader in Syria hours after the same MQ-9 Reaper drones were harassed by Russian military jets over the western part of the country, according to the Defense Department. Three Reapers had been flying overhead searching for the militant on Friday, a U.S. defense official said, when they were harassed for about two hours by Russian aircraft. Shortly after that, the drones struck and killed Usamah al-Muhajir, who was riding a motorcycle.

Outliers Turkey, Hungary threaten NATO unity in standoff with Russia

07/10/2023

When the leaders of NATO nations gather in Lithuania this week, President Biden and his closest allies will endeavor to send Russia a forceful message: that the West is united against Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine. But jeopardizing their show of cohesion will be several of the same leaders joining Biden for the Vilnius summit, whose refusal to admit Sweden as the 31-nation bloc’s newest member underscores the divisions that could erode NATO’s deterrent power.

Unexpected turn: Pakistani JF-17s replace Iraq’s aging F-16 fleet

07/10/2023

In an unexpected turn of events, Baghdad has inked a deal with Islamabad after two years of diplomatic discourse to purchase their combat aircraft. As reported by The News International [Pakistan], Iraq has joined the growing list of countries, becoming the fifth nation to acquire the JF-17 Thunder fighter jets from Pakistan.

More than 25 combat clashes recorded in four sectors of front over past day - General Staff

07/09/2023

According to Ukrinform, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said this in an evening update published on Facebook. According to the update, throughout the day, the Russian military used S-300 guided missiles and Iranian-made Shahed attack drones against Ukraine. Units of Ukraine's air defense forces destroyed five Shahed attack UAVs.

Fighter aircraft from Pakistan: Iraq fifth country to initiate deal for JF-17

07/09/2023

Iraq has become the fifth country that initiated deal for purchasing JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft from Pakistan and concluded it successfully. Pakistan has been jointly manufacturing the aircraft with China as Islamabad is also set to export its JF-17 Block III aircraft to Malaysia, Nigeria, Azerbaijan, and Myanmar. Sensing the Thunder’s might, several countries have shown interest in Pakistan’s pride. Earlier, Argentine had also studied the combat aircraft.

A looming US-Turkey F-16 deal is about much more than Sweden’s NATO bid

07/09/2023

The NATO Summit in Vilnius starting on July 11 will mark milestones in several strategic processes of vital importance to the Alliance. These include assessing progress on the Strategic Concept adopted in Madrid last year, recognizing Finland’s successful accession, debating the path forward on Ukraine’s application, and consideration of the end game towards Swedish membership.

Keeping up pressure, China sends warships and fighter jets near Taiwan during Yellen’s Beijing visit

07/09/2023

China’s People’s Liberation Army sent 13 aircraft and 6 vessels into airspace and waters around Taiwan over the past 24 hours as of early Saturday, overlapping with United States Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s visit to Beijing aimed at mending strained relations.

Russian aircraft harass US drones over Syria for third time this week

07/08/2023

Russian aircraft once again harassed US MQ-9 Reaper drones over Syria Friday, the Air Force said, in a sign of increasing friction between the two countries in Middle East airspace. The incident marked the third time this week that US drones over Syria were intercepted by Russian aircraft.

UK eyes Red 6’s augmented-reality technology for BAE Hawk trainers

07/08/2023

The UK government, through its internal venture capital fund, is investing in American technology firm Red 6, which is seeking to deliver augmented-reality solutions for fighter pilot training. Red 6 says it entered an agreement with the UK’s National Security Strategic Investment Fund (NSSIF) and the Royal Air Force (RAF) in June to “supply augmented-reality technologies in support of the UK military flying training system”.

Putin's nuclear warning to the West: Russian nuke bombers engage in war games drill ahead of NATO summit over Ukraine in latest WW3 sabre-rattling

07/08/2023

Vladimir Putin sent up two supersonic White Swan Tu-160 nuclear bomber planes as part of a 12-hour war game mission, it was disclosed today, ahead of a NATO summit in neighbouring Lithuania. The two planes flew more than 5,600 miles before landing at an Arctic base after the marathon flight, which involved two refuelling sessions by Il-78 aircraft.

Russian Su-35 ‘Clashes’ With French Rafale Fighters; Comes After ‘Dangerous Encounter’ With MQ-9 Reaper Drone

07/08/2023

On July 6, the Operations Directorate of the French Ministry of Defense took to Twitter to announce that two Rafales engaged in a protection mission along the Iraqi-Syrian border had encountered a non-professional interaction from a Su-35. In response, the French pilots maneuvered to mitigate the risk of an accident before resuming their patrol activities.

IAF’s global air reach: Why it is a prerequisite for India's great power ambitions

07/06/2023

Indian Air Force (IAF) recently carried out three long-range missions to train for and showcase its long-range strike and air patrol capability. These were flown by the Su-30 MKI and Rafale fighters. They were supported by the IAF’s IL-78 Flight Refueller Aircraft (FRA) for inflight refuelling, and the IL-76-based Phalcon Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft for aerial radar cover, and command and control.

F-22 stealth fighter jets are back in the Middle East as a US commander warns of 'buffoonery' by Russian pilots

07/06/2023

The US Air Force's top commander in the Middle East warned in June of increasingly aggressive actions by Russian fighter pilots over Syria. It was only the latest warning of such activity, and it reflects a long history of contentious interactions between US and Russian forces in Syria that will persist amid broader tensions, experts say.

2 pilots killed in Russian MiG-31 fighter jet crash

07/06/2023

Two pilots of a Russian military aircraft were killed Tuesday when their jet crashed during a routine training flight in the far east of the country, the local source said. Russian propagandist Ilya Tumanov also confirmed that pilots were killed on his influential Fighterbomber Telegram channel.

LOCKHEED MARTIN SHOWS OFF MYSTERIOUS AIRCRAFT, IGNITING SPECULATION IT COULD BE COMPANY’S SECRET NEXT-GEN FIGHTER

07/06/2023

Lockheed Martin has once again sparked intrigue and speculation on social media by potentially offering a tantalizing glimpse at its enigmatic Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter jet. The aerospace and defense giant recently marked the 80th anniversary of its renowned advanced projects division, Skunk Works, by posting an Instagram story showing a series of silhouettes for some of Skunk Works’ most iconic aircraft.

Three Russian fighter jets harassed US drones over Syria: US Air Force

07/06/2023

Russian fighter jets harassed American aircraft on an anti-ISIS mission in Syria, the US military said on Wednesday. “Earlier today at approximately 10:40 AM, Russian military aircraft engaged in unsafe and unprofessional behavior while interacting with US aircraft in Syria,” said Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich, the US general responsible for air operations in the Middle East.

Russia’s only aircraft carrier could return to service after six years at dock

07/05/2023

Single aircraft carrier of the Russian Navy, Admiral Kuznetsov could return to active service in late 2024, according to TASS, citing an official. The vessel, which holds about 30 aircraft, has been idle for six years. The last mission carried out by the Kuznetsov was in 2016, when the ship provided support to Russian troops in Syria.

What Ukraine needs most — ammo

07/05/2023

For a moment, Ukraine had caught the break it needed and deserved. Mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin’s forces were advancing on Moscow; Russia was facing a civil war that would have crippled its war of aggression in Ukraine. We don’t yet know what the fallout from the recent short-lived revolt will be: Mutiny is rarely good for the morale, cohesion or effectiveness of the troops in the trenches.

Multi-million pound contract to equip Royal Air Force Typhoons with latest advanced radar capabilities

07/05/2023

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has awarded BAE Systems a £870m contract to deliver a new radar to enhance the Royal Air Force’s (RAF) Typhoon fighter jet fleet and strengthen the aircraft’s control of the airspace whilst providing cutting-edge electronic warfare capabilities.

Map shows pattern of China's intrusions into Taiwan's ADIZ in June

07/04/2023

Intrusions by Chinese military aircraft into Taiwan's air defense identification zone (ADIZ) in June dropped slightly by 12% from May, but there were reports of Chinese fighter jets and Russian frigates coming unusually close to Taiwan's continuous zone in June.

Ukraine won't be given fighter jets until after counter-offensive against Russia, top NATO admiral tells LBC

07/04/2023

Speaking exclusively to LBC's Tonight with Andrew Marr, admiral Rob Baeur, chairman of military committee of NATO, said providing Ukraine with the fighter jets they have been asking for "will not be solved in the short term". Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been pleading with Western nations to provide his war-torn country with fighter jets, including F-16s, which a number of NATO members possess.

Israel to buy 25 more F-35 stealth jets in $3 billion deal

07/04/2023

Israel has approved the purchase of a third squadron of F-35 stealth fighter jets in a deal worth $3 billion, the Ministry of Defense said on Sunday. The additional 25 aircraft manufactured by Lockheed Martin will bring the number of F-35s in Israel's air force to 75, the ministry said, adding that the deal will be financed through the defense aid package Israel receives from the United States.

Russian-Origin 4.5-Gen Air Superiority Fighter – Su-30SM2 – That Even The US Admires, Goes Down, One Pilot Dead

07/04/2023

A Russian-made Su-30 fighter jet crashed in mountainous northern Venezuela while practicing ahead of the country’s independence day. A pilot died in the accident. “I regret to inform you that during the practice maneuvers… an aircraft of our Bolivarian Military Aviation fell to the ground, causing the physical loss of the distinguished pilot Col. Paulino Jose Millan Sabino,” Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro wrote on Twitter. Both the aircraft crew members managed to eject, but one of the pilo

US MQ-9 Drone Involved In Another Confrontation With Russia; Comes After Su-27 Fighter ‘Downed’ The Reaper

07/01/2023

On June 29, a high-ranking Russian official said that the Russian Armed Forces had observed ten violations of the flight of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) belonging to the “international anti-terrorist coalition” led by the US during the day in Syria. The announcement was made by Rear Admiral Oleg Gurinov, the Deputy Head of the Russian Center for the Reconciliation of Warring Parties and Controlling the Movement of Refugees in the Syrian Arab Republic (CPVS).

The best of the best back in action

07/01/2023

Exercise High Sierra is back gracing Townsville airspace once again, following a two-year hiatus, to graduate the latest cadre of F-35A Lightning II pilots. Exercise High Sierra is a 2 Operational Conversion Unit (2OCU) training exercise, and is the final component of the F-35A Lightning II Operational Conversion Course. Commanding Officer of 2OCU, Wing Commander Philip Eldridge, said this was the first time 2OCU has held the exercise at RAAF Base Townsville using the F-35A Lightning II.