Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

What we know about US retaliatory strikes in Iraq and Syria

02/03/2024

US forces have bombed 85 targets in Iraq and Syria as retaliation for an attack that killed three US troops at a base in northern Jordan last month. According to US officials, the co-ordinated attack was against Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) Quds Force and allied militia groups. US President Joe Biden said the US attacks "will continue at times and places of our choosing".

NGAD Means the F-22 Raptor Fighter Must Fly Into the History Books

02/03/2024

Since 2005, the F-22 Raptor fighter jet has been dominating the skies. The first fighter jet in the world to become operational, the F-22 Raptor revolutionized air warfare and paved the way for future stealth aircraft like the F-35 Lighting II. The F-22 Raptor is an air superiority multi-role fighter jet. Its main role over the battlefield is to dominate the skies and ensure that enemy aircraft can’t fly.

Now Is Not the Time to Go Weak on the F-35

02/03/2024

The year 2024 will stand as a transformative year for modernizing the U.S. Air Force’s fighter force. Bottom line: the service needs to reset fast. That is why it was welcome news when Lockheed Martin recently announced the Tech Refresh 3/Block 4 variant of its F-35 are projected to join operational Air Force units by the third quarter of this year.

South Korea to start mass production of KF-21 fighter jets

02/03/2024

South Korea will build 40 KF-21 Boramae fighter jets this year with the 238.7 billion won (U.S. $178.6 million) allocated for the Defense Ministry, even as the aircraft makes its way through flight and ground tests. The first mass production of the KF-21 is expected to fill the “power vacuum” left when the South Korean Air Force’s aging fighter fleet retires, the defense minister said in a Dec. 21 statement.

Taiwan On High Alert As Chinese Military Aircraft And Naval Ships Spotted In the Region

02/02/2024

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence (MND) has detected seven Chinese military aircraft along with four naval vessels around Taiwan between local time 6 am on Tuesday and local time 6 am on Wednesday. Following Chinese action, Taiwan sent out its aircraft and naval vessels. It deployed its air defence missile systems to closely watch the People’s Liberation Army (abbreviated the PLA) activity, per Taiwan’s MND.

Turkey still interested in Eurofighters despite progress on US F-16s

02/02/2024

Turkey is still interested in buying 40 Eurofighter Typhoon jets, a Turkish defence ministry official said on Thursday after the United States advanced the $23 billion sale of its F-16 fighter jets to Ankara. In November, Turkey said the country was in talks with Britain and Spain to buy Typhoons, though Germany objected the idea. At the time, a Turkish defence ministry source said talks had begun after Ankara recognised its request for F-16 jets from the U.S., first made in October 2021, might

Various F-35 Joint Strike Fighter nations purchase IR flare decoys

02/01/2024

The US Department of Defense (DoD) has awarded a $31m contract modification to Chemring Australia, a global supplier of aerial countermeasures, on 30 January 2024 to support various F-35 Joint Strike Fighter nations with 19,570 MJU-68/B flare infrared (IR) decoys. US Navy F-35s will benefit from 12,918 flares; 1,152 for the US Air Force; 1,176 for Italy; 1,152 for Belgium; 868 for the UK; 816 for Japan; 720 for Germany; 672 for Denmark; and 96 for Poland.

German fighter jets scrambled to intercept Russian military aircraft

02/01/2024

The German Air Force has scrambled some of its fighter jets to intercept a Russian reconnaissance aircraft that was spotted over the Baltic Sea off its coast. The patrol took off from the Laage airbase in northeastern Germany after a Russian military aircraft was spotted in international airspace near Rügen, the Air Force said. A German fighter jet escorted the Russian plane for a short time before it turned east, the department added.

Russia's Sukhoi Su-34 Fullback Fighter Has a Serious Problem

02/01/2024

Russia Has Lost Another Su-34: Ukrainian forces claim to have shot down a Russian Sukhoi Su-34 (NATO reporting name "Fullback") multirole strike fighter-bomber over the eastern Luhansk region earlier this week. According to reports from open source intelligence, the Kremlin has lost a total of 332 aircraft in total.

How NGAD, F/A-XX and B-21 Raider will Transform the U.S. Military

01/31/2024

As tensions between Washington and Beijing continue to ramp up, the arms race to develop the world’s first next-generation fighters is on. From submarines and fighters to bombers and main battle tanks, the U.S. and China are prioritizing the development of advanced and cutting-edge technologies. Perhaps the most anticipated sixth-generation designs are the upcoming Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, the B-21 stealth bomber and the F/A-XX airframe.

US fighter jet crashes off coast of South Korea; pilot rescued

01/31/2024

A U.S. Air Force fighter jet crashed into the waters off South Korea’s southwestern coast on Wednesday, officials said. The pilot safely ejected from the F-16 aircraft. According to a news release from Kunsan Air Force Base in South Korea, the F-16 assigned to the 8th Fighter Wing experienced an “in-flight emergency” over the West Sea, crashing at approximately 8:41 a.m. local time.

Ukraine Downs Russian Su-34 Fighter Jet Over Luhansk Region

01/31/2024

A Russian Su-34 fighter jet was shot down on Monday over the eastern Luhansk region, Ukraine’s military has reported. No further details have been reported but the aircraft was listed on the daily update from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook.

Not Rafale, Mirage-2000 Is JF-17s ‘Biggest Adversary’; Qatar Confirmed That In 2020 Drills With Pakistan

01/31/2024

The JF-17 fighter jet, a product of collaboration between Pakistan and China, is often portrayed as a powerful competitor to India’s Rafale fighter jet. Considered the “crown jewel” of Sino-Pak aviation relations, the JF-17 is a crucial asset for the Pakistani Air Force.

Taiwan tracks 9 Chinese military aircraft, 4 naval ships

01/30/2024

The Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked nine Chinese military aircraft and four naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Monday (Jan. 29) and 6 a.m. on Tuesday (Jan. 30). In response, Taiwan sent aircraft and naval ships and deployed air defense missile systems to monitor the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, according to the MND. No PLA aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line during that time.

Turkey Wants to Buy A Massive Fleet of F-16 Fighter Jets

01/30/2024

After months of deliberations, the U.S. State Department has greenlighted Turkey’s request for scores of upgraded F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets. We are talking about a huge order worth tens of billions of dollars.

F-35 Deal Puts ‘Greece’ Into A Catch-22 Situation; US Offers $200M In Exchange For Weapons Transfer To Ukraine

01/29/2024

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has proposed a potential exchange with Greece, offering to facilitate the transfer or sale of weaponry to Ukraine in return for Washington’s consideration of providing additional aid to Athens, amounting to a possible US$200 million.

Japan, U.S. agree on AI research for drones to assist new fighter jet

01/29/2024

Japan and the United States have recently agreed to begin joint research on artificial intelligence in the hope of using the technology for drones that would work in tandem with the Asian nation's next fighter jet.

Houthis Boast ‘Deadly’ US Fighter Jet That ‘Shocked’ Russian MiG-21, MiG-23 Warplanes “Over & Over Again”

01/29/2024

The Houthi rebels’ strange air force boasts of a single F-5 supersonic fighter jet, which once dominated the skies. The Russians procured one F-5 aircraft from Vietnam to assess its capability against its newly minted MiG-21 interceptor. The F-5 in the Houthi rebels’ air force was seized from the Yemen government during the civil war. It made an appearance on a flyover during a Houthi parade in Sanaa in 2023.

US approves sale of F-35 fighter jets to Greece

01/28/2024

The U.S. State Department on Friday approved the potential sale of up to forty F-35 fighter jets and respective equipment to Greece, in a $8.6 billion deal. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in a video statement that, as part of the deal, the Greek state will also receive significant military aid, at no extra cost. This would include frigates, C-130 transport aircraft, armoured tanks and vehicles.

Singapore Buys 8 More F-35Bs - Would They Defend Taiwan Too?

01/27/2024

Singapore's decision to bolster its air defense capabilities by acquiring additional F-35B fighter jets could have significant strategic implications in the Southeast Asian region, particularly in the context of potential geopolitical tensions, such as a hypothetical Chinese invasion of Taiwan.

Amir of Qatar inaugurates F-15 QA fighter jet

01/27/2024

HH the Amir made a tour during which he was briefed on the newly manufactured Ababil F15 QA aircraft and their combat capabilities, and the most prominent methods of modern technology used in it. The Abadil fighters feature next-generation combat aircraft technologies, such as electronic flight controls, an all-glass digital cockpit, state-of-the-art sensors, advanced radar technology, and electronic warfare capabilities backed by digital engineering and advanced manufacturing.

US advances fighter jet sale to Turkey, Greece; Congress likely to approve

01/27/2024

U.S. President Joe Biden's administration on Friday formally informed Congress of its intention to proceed with the $23 billion sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey, taking a major step toward completing a long-delayed process that tested ties with Ankara. The State Department sent the notification to advance the sale of 40 Lockheed Martin), opens new tab F-16s and nearly 80 modernization kits to Turkey, a day after Ankara fully completed ratification of the NATO membership of Sweden.

New F-16 Fighters Could be Flying for Turkey

01/26/2024

Just a day after the Turkish parliament voted to approve Sweden's NATO membership bid, President Joe Biden called upon lawmakers on Capitol Hill to approve the sale of the Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon to Turkey.

4 Ukrainian Pilots Undergoing F-16 Training in Arizona as Pentagon Reveals New Details

01/26/2024

As Ukraine awaits the delivery of F-16s in 2024, a U.S. defense official revealed new details on the training of Ukrainian pilots and maintainers in America. There are currently four Ukrainian pilots undergoing F-16 training in the United States, the official told Air & Space Forces Magazine.

Scott AFB successfully hot-pit refuels F-35 for the first time, gains certification

01/26/2024

Scott Air Force Base recently hosted a pair of F-35A Lightning II aircraft from the 388th Fighter Wing based at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, as a part of an Air Force-wide push to expand hot-pit refueling capabilities, Jan. 18, 2024. Hot-pit refueling is the practice of refueling an aircraft immediately after landing while keeping the engines running to minimize time spent on the ground. Hot-pit refueling allows sorties to be generated faster, allowing more effective power projection capabilities.