Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

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.

USAF selects Anduril as one of five vendors to develop CCAs

01/26/2024

Anduril – a US autonomous systems start-up – has been selected as one of five defence industries to help develop the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). The US Air Force (USAF) intend to operate uncrewed autonomous aircraft – known as CCAs – as part of a network alongside other aerial platforms such as fifth or sixth-generation aircraft.

More needs to be done before Ukraine deploys F-16s - Air Force spox

01/26/2024

International partners are ready to provide Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets, but comprehensive measures to prepare for their effective use are still underway. That’s according to Air Force Command spokesman Yuriy Ihnat, who spoke on the air of the national telethon, Ukrinform reports.

Russia accuses Ukraine of killing 65 of its own PoWs by shooting down plane

01/25/2024

Russia accused Ukraine on Wednesday of deliberately shooting down a Russian military transport plane carrying 65 captured Ukrainian soldiers to a prisoner exchange in what it called a barbaric act of terrorism that had killed a total of 74 people. Ukraine called for full clarification of the circumstances of the incident and did not directly confirm it had shot down the plane.

German fighter jets to get new Brimstone missiles

01/25/2024

Germany has unveiled its plans to equip its Eurofighter combat aircraft with the MBDA Brimstone air-to-surface missile, according to government sources. Outlined in Bundeswehr budgetary documents, the Luftwaffe is set to procure 274 of these air-to-surface missiles to equip its Eurofighter fleet. The contract signing for this procurement is anticipated in the second quarter of this year.

How A Russian Fighter-Jet Manufacturer Continued To Import Western Aviation Parts Despite Sanctions

01/25/2024

One of Russia's leading manufacturers of fighter jets and civilian aircraft continued to import parts and other equipment from European and U.S. suppliers despite the imposition of Western sanctions following the start of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Japan Scrambled Fighters 555 Times in the Last 9 Months of 2023, Defense Ministry Says

01/24/2024

Japanese defense forces flew 555 fighter jet scrambles during the last nine months of 2023, according to the Joint Staff Office of Japan’s Ministry of Defense. The JSO said 98 percent of scrambles were against Chinese and Russian aircraft according to data released by the Ministry of Defense on Tuesday.

The F-16 Is the Most Dominant Fighter Of Its Generation

01/24/2024

The F-16 Fighting Falcon, known affectionately by many pilots as the Viper, is the most widely operated fighter aircraft on the planet for a reason. In an era when fighter designs were largely focused on what could be argued were glamour metrics like top speed and service ceiling, the F-16 emerged as the embodiment of a new approach to air warfare.

Taiwan tracks 7 Chinese military aircraft, 3 naval ships around nation

01/23/2024

The Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked seven Chinese military aircraft and three naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Monday (Jan. 22) and 6 a.m. on Tuesday (Jan. 23). Of the seven People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, one jet fighter crossed the Taiwan Strait median line in the northeast sector of the country’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ), according to the MND. In response, Taiwan sent aircraft and naval ships and deployed air defense missile systems to monitor th

Lebanon’s first female fighter pilot graduates

01/23/2024

The Lebanese Air Force’s number seven squadron, at Hamat/Wujah Al Hajar AB, operates the six Embraer A-29B Super Tucanos delivered to Lebanon from May 2018. Among its pilots is the first Lebanese female fighter pilot, second lieutenant Jana Sader, who graduated from the USAF’s undergraduate pilot training (UPT) programme (a nearly two-year-long training course) on February 3 2023.

End of an Era: 173rd FW trains the last F-15 Eagle Instructor Pilots

01/23/2024

The journey begins at Undergraduate Pilot Training or maybe long, long before, but for this account an Air Force pilot starts the road to the cockpit at Laughlin Air Force Base in Texas, in the T-6 Texan, a 1,200 horsepower propeller-driven trainer. From there, they have to find their way in a T-38 supersonic jet trainer, if they make the cut for fighter aircraft.

Taiwan tracks 10 Chinese military aircraft, 4 naval ships

01/21/2024

The Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked 10 Chinese military aircraft and four naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Friday (Jan. 19) and Saturday (Jan. 20) the same time. Of the 10 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, two fighter jets entered the southwest corner of Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) or crossed the median line, according to the MND. The jet types were not identified.

Russia “Acknowledges” A-50 AWACS Loss; Deploys Another Aircraft But Far Away From Ukrainian Border — UK MoD Says

01/21/2024

Following the reported recent loss of its A-50 AWACS over the Sea of Azov, Russia appears to have deployed another A-50 Mainstay, this time conducting activities within Russia’s borders, according to the UK Ministry of Defense. On January 14, reports surfaced on various Telegram channels asserting that the Ukrainian Air Force had successfully downed a Russian A-50 AWACS military aircraft.

The F-16 at 50: Why it's still in demand

01/21/2024

The F-16 jet fighter took its first ever flight in 1974, but it is still as important an aircraft now as it was then. Were it not for one test pilot's quick thinking 50 years ago, the entire F-16 programme might never have made it past its first fateful flight.

Chinese Stealth Jet ‘Outguns’ Indian AMCA; Puts Pakistan A Generation Ahead Of IAF – Chinese Expert

01/20/2024

Pakistan’s plan to acquire the Chinese FC-31/J-31 twin-engine stealth fighter aircraft will put it a generation ahead of its neighbors and make it one of the most advanced air forces in the region, experts believe. The fighter jet has been flying since 2014 and is ready to be acquired by Chinese or other militaries, while India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) is still in the design stage.

Why the F-35 Might Be the Best Fighter Jet Ever

01/20/2024

Is the F-35 the best fighter jet ever? 1,000 built, and nations all over the world want them: It is safe to say that many experts now believe that the American-made F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is in the realm of conversation to be the best fighter jet ever to fly. For years, the U.S. Air Force’s F-22 Raptor took the air superiority title as the first fifth-generation jet to enter service. Over the years, Moscow and Beijing have developed their parallel fifth-gen programs culminating in the Su-57

Ethiopia Inducts Turkish Drones, Russian-Made Su-30 Fighter Jets

01/20/2024

The Ethiopian Air Force has acquired an undisclosed number of Akinci unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from Turkey and Russian-made Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jets. During the handover ceremony, two Su-30 planes were displayed as the Akinci UAVs were formally inducted. The drones have been in Ethiopian service since as early as November 2023.

The Republic of Singapore Air Force's A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport Conducts Air-to-Air Refuelling Training With United States Air Force B-1B Bombers

01/19/2024

Two USAF B-1B Bombers arrived in Singapore on 18 January 2024 and will stay till early next week for a stopover, during which they will conduct air-to-air refuelling training with the RSAF's A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT).

Pakistan’s JF-17, J-10C Fighters Conduct Retaliatory Strikes On Iran; Tehran Confirms 7 Killed

01/19/2024

The Islamic Republic of Pakistan carried out retaliatory air strikes against its neighboring Islamic Republic of Iran using Chinese-built fighter jets JF-17 ‘Thunder’ and J-10C’ Vigorous Dragon’ early Thursday. Pakistan also deployed Chinese Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Wing Loong II in its operation named ‘Marg Bar Sarmachar’, which loosely translates to “death to the guerrilla fighters”.

The F-35 Fighter Is Now Oozing with More Incredible Firepower

01/19/2024

New Weapons to be Employed on the RAF's F-35s - It was almost three years ago, in March 2021, that the UK's Ministry of Defence announced it would cut its order of the Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II by 65 percent. The UK Royal Air Force saw its purchase decline from a planned 138 to just 48 of the short/vertical takeoff and landing (S/VTOL) variant of the fifth-generation stealth fighter.

Norway to Deploy F-35 Fighter Jets to Iceland

01/18/2024

Norway will conduct the first of three NATO fighter deployments to Iceland this year, sending four F-35 combat aircraft to Keflavík Air Base. Half of the regiment will be on standby at the air base at all times, ready to scramble to safeguard NATO and international airspace in the region. The Norwegian units will also participate in training and alert drills that include identifying unknown aircraft to ensure the alliance’s defense.

Sukhoi Patents Unique Camouflage For Su-75 Checkmate Fighter That Makes It Impossible To Identify

01/18/2024

Russia has patented a unique paint and camouflage scheme exclusively designed for the under-development Su-75 Checkmate. It allows the aircraft to be indistinguishable from the shape of the clouds and ground above and below it. The effort to make the aircraft undetectable by preventing visual identification is a unique approach in stealth warfare doctrine that also hints at the role and manner in which the jet is likely to be employed.

B-2 Bombers Return to Red Flag, Joined by Australian F-35s and UK Typhoons

01/17/2024

Three B-2 Spirit bombers made their return for the first Red Flag exercise of 2024 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., this week, alongside the U.K.’s Royal Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force. More than 30 units and 2,000 personnel are participating in the air combat training, deemed by the participating allies as one of the “most advanced” and “toughest” training opportunities in the world.

F-35 Milestones: Lockheed Martin Integrating HARM Missile on Stealth Fighter

01/17/2024

The United States military’s fifth-generation stealth fighter will be integrated with the legacy HARM missile platform instead of the upgraded AARGM platform. The Naval Air Systems Command awarded a $97.3 million contract to aerospace giant Lockheed Martin to integrate the AGM-88 HARM on the F-35A/B/C aircraft, to include procuring associated incidental hardware for the USAF, Navy, Marine Corps, Foreign Military Sales customers, and non-Department of Defense participants.