Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Russo-Ukraine War - 05 November 2022 - Day 255

11/06/2022

The UK Ministry of Defence reported that Russia is probably struggling to provide military training for its current mobilisation drive and its annual autumn conscription intake. The Russian Armed Forces were already stretched providing training for the approximate 300,000 troops required for its 'partial mobilisation', announced on 21 September 2022. These issues will be compounded by the additional regular autumn annual conscription cycle, announced on 30 September 2022.

Chinese Bombers Spotted With Kinzhal-Like Hypersonic Missile That Russia Has Deployed To ‘Threaten’ The West

11/05/2022

The H-6K carried one such missile on each wing, reported Global Times, citing the video report by China Central Television (CCTV). While Chinese officials did not specify the weapon’s exact type, one of the missiles was seen with “2PZD-21” scrawled on its body. Chinese media reports stated that it appeared to be some air-to-ground missile with a shape very similar to a ballistic missile.

Taiwan tracks 27 military aircraft, 4 naval ships from China

11/05/2022

The Ministry of National Defense said it tracked 27 aircraft and four ships from China’s military around the country before 5 p.m. on Friday (Nov. 4). Of the 27 People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) aircraft, 12 crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and three intruded into the southwest sector of the country’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ), the military tweeted.

Bulgarian parliament votes to buy F-16s under $1.3 billion deal

11/05/2022

Bulgarian lawmakers have voted to approve the purchase of eight F-16C/D Block 70 fighter jets for the country’s Air Force. The forthcoming acquisition is to be worth close to $1.3 billion. The National Assembly, the country’s unicameral parliament, approved the planned purchase by a majority of 162 votes, with 49 members voting against, and 11 abstentions.

Seoul mobilizes fighter jets after large N Korean air deployment

11/05/2022

South Korea mobilized dozens of combat aircraft Friday after identifying a large deployment of North Korean aircraft, which in the last two days has launched some 30 missiles to respond to large air maneuvers of Seoul and Washington. “Our military took action after identifying some 180 North Korean military aircraft between 11 am and 3 pm (2 am-6 am GMT) Friday, November 4,” the South Korean defense ministry said in a statement.

France to deploy fighter aircraft in Romania

11/05/2022

A squadron of Rafale fighters will be sent to perform air policing missions in the Romanian airspace, French Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu said during a meeting with Romanian Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca.

US, South Korea to extend military drills after North Korean launches

11/04/2022

The U.S. and South Korea announced Thursday they will extend joint military drills in the wake of North Korea’s saber-rattling this week, which included an intercontinental ballistic missile launch. North Korea fired at least six missiles into the sea on Thursday and more than 20 missiles a day earlier, prompting condemnation from Seoul and Washington ? including U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin after a prescheduled Pentagon meeting with his South Korean counterpart, Lee Jong-sup.

Iran-Russia Military Cooperation: Murky, But In Tehran's Interest

11/04/2022

Iran stands accused by Western powers of supplying drones to Russia for its war against Ukraine, with analysts saying such military cooperation is of immense interest for Tehran at a delicate moment for its theocratic leadership. The United States has denounced as "appalling" Russia's use of Iranian drones after residents of Kyiv and other cites were shaken by a spate of recent attacks.

Russia’s ‘Most Destroyed’ Fighter Jet In Ukraine War Fires Missiles Into The Target To Avoid MANPAD Hit – Watch

11/04/2022

Rare footage has emerged of Russian Su-25 ‘Frogfoot’ launching rockets directly into Ukrainian positions to the west of Donetsk. The video was filmed somewhere over Maryinka, a small city located in the Pokrovsk district of the Donetsk region, according to OSINT analysts.

AFSOC receives final AC-130J

11/04/2022

Air Force Special Operations Command received its 31st and final AC-130J Ghostrider, completing the command’s transition from the legacy AC-130W, AC-130U and AC-130H fleets. Following a commemoration ceremony at the Lockheed Martin Gunship Modification Facility in Crestview Nov. 2, the final AC-130J was delivered to the 27th Special Operations Wing at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico.

KC-46 tanker’s boom breaks, dents plane while refueling fighter jet

11/04/2022

Investigators believe that during the rendezvous, the two aircraft were traveling at such different speeds that the refueling boom forcibly broke away from the fighter jet and slammed back into the KC-46, the official said. The Pegasus safely continued on to New Jersey after the mishap.

U.S aircraft flew Norwegian airspace on surveillance mission outside Russia's nuclear sub bases

11/03/2022

Norway’s reassurance policy towards Russia has for the most followed a practice that allied intelligence missions to airspace outside the Kola Peninsula should not take off, land, or fly over Norwegian airspace. On Wednesday, a U.S. Air Force plane was indeed inside Norwegian airspace, both before and after the flight aimed to monitor Russia's military forces from above the eastern Barents Sea.

Congress must act to boost combat-credible airpower in Indo-Pacific

11/03/2022

It is hardly news that for the last decade the Pentagon has fallen short of its strategic ambitions in the Indo-Pacific. Still, it is quite conspicuous when evidence of that “say-do gap” emerges within 24 hours of the publication of the Pentagon’s most important strategic document.

Let’s Talk About The New Manned Sixth-Generation Fighter Renderings

11/03/2022

Lockheed Martin released new renderings showing a manned sixth-generation fighter aircraft as a notional stand-in design for the U.S. Air Force Next Generation Air Dominance program, or NGAD. The images were included in a media briefing about the company’s proposal for the KC-Y competition, the Airbus A330 MRTT-derived LMXT tanker. Interestingly, the images were released only to the media attending the briefing, but not on the company’s website or social medias.

Ukrainian Commandoes Raid Airfield Deep Inside Russia, Destroy Frontline Helicopters

11/02/2022

Ukrainian commandoes blew up three helicopter gunships at a Russian military airfield close to the Latvian border, in one of the most spectacular behind-the-lines raids launched by either side since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine war, multiple sources confirmed on Tuesday, Nov. 1.

China’s PLAAF Boasts ‘Hot Refueling’ For Superior Fighter Jet Performance; Expert Says India’s LCA Tejas Already Has It

11/02/2022

PLAAF researchers want to replicate the functioning of a Formula 1 racing team’s pit crew for military purposes to further refine the logistical and maintenance processes of aircraft – a critical factor in any fight against a near-peer adversary.

The Unkillable Bomber Regiment: Ukraine Is Restoring More Old Su-24s Than Russia Can Shoot Down

11/02/2022

For supporters of Ukraine’s war-weary air force, it was a beautiful sight: four of the air force’s swing-wing Su-24 bombers flying in formation over Ukraine on or around Oct. 30. It was the biggest formation of the two-seat, supersonic bombers that anyone had seen in Ukraine in many years—and certainly the biggest to appear over Ukraine since Russia widened its war on the country starting in late February.

China To Upgrade Its J-20 Stealth Fighter As A Tactical Electronic Jammer & Early Warning Aircraft — Reports

11/02/2022

According to a recent report by SCMP, the twin-seater model might be used as a tactical electronic jammer and an advanced early warning aircraft in the future battlefield. The J-20 has been developed with improved stealth and mobility in mind, and it has the potential to provide access to a range of previously unavailable air warfare options.

Ukraine Selects English-Speaking Pilots To Train On Western Warplanes; Is US Sending Fighter Jets To Kyiv?

11/02/2022

The Speaker of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Yurii Ihnat, recently announced that the Ukrainian Air Force had chosen a cadre of pilots who would eventually be trained to fly Western combat jets. He was speaking at the UA Together marathon.

Taiwan tracks 8 Chinese military aircraft, 3 naval ships around country

10/31/2022

The Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked eight Chinese military aircraft and three naval ships around Taiwan as of 5 p.m. on Sunday (Oct. 30). Of the eight People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, one Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jet crossed the Taiwan Strait median line in the northeast sector of the nation’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ), according to the MND.

Major trap facing Chinese President Xi Jinping as threat of Taiwan war escalates

10/31/2022

“Grand Navigator” Xi Jinping has vowed to bring the 24 million people of democratic Taiwan under Beijing’s control — by force if necessary. Under the 10 years of his increasingly authoritarian rule, he’s been working hard to do so. He repeated that vow as he brushed aside Communist China’s age-limit rule to cement his position as leader for life.

Ukraine’s Air Force picks pilots for training on Western-type fighter jets

10/31/2022

A dozen of pilots have already been selected by Ukraine’s Air Force for training on Western fighter jets. That’s according to the spokesman for the Air Force, Yuriy Ihnat, Ukrinform reports with reference to ArmyInform. These are young pilots with knowledge of the English language and powerful combat experience, the report reads.

Russo-Ukraine War - 30 October 2022 - Day 249

10/31/2022

The UK Ministry of Defence reported that, on 27 October 2022, Russian mogul Yevgeny Prigozhin posted online, apparently admitting allegations that his private military company, the Wagner Group, had altered its standards & was recruiting Russian convicts suffering from serious diseases including HIV & Hepatitis C.

F-22 Raptors Roar Over Turkish-Occupied Famagusta Days After US Removed Arms Embargo On Cyprus; Ankara Fumes

10/30/2022

On October 26, an undisclosed number of F-22 fighter jets flew over Cyprus, according to Greek media, which claimed that Ankara was not pleased with the detour the F-22s made over the north of the island. The fighter jets are said to have flown over Famagusta, part of Turkish-occupied Cyprus. The mission over Cyprus was carried out by F-22 Raptor fighter aircraft from the 90th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron.

Rafale Fighter Jets’ Export Success Is Taking A Toll On French Pilots; Report Calls It Detrimental For Air Force

10/30/2022

French military pilots are facing an alarming training deficit, according to a recent report by a French lawmaker on behalf of the National Defense and Armed Forces Committee that discussed the challenges the French Air Force pilots will face in 2023.