Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

20 Chinese warplanes, 2 warships tracked around Taiwan

10/28/2022

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked 20 Chinese military aircraft and two naval vessels around the country, including nine warplanes that intruded on Taiwan's air defense identification zone (ADIZ) with many crossing the median line Thursday (Oct. 27). The MND said that 20 People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) military aircraft and two People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels had been tracked around Taiwan as of 5 p.m. that evening.

Su-33 Flanker-D Problems: Bigger Isn’t Always Better

10/28/2022

The Su-33 could be Russia’s most dangerous carrier fighter. But the airplane’s footprint is somewhat larger—and on Russia’s only aircraft carrier, available real estate is at a premium. The Su-33 is closely associated with Russia's only aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetzov. And since the Su-33 is a carrier-capable fighter, it is a familiar sight on the carrier’s uniquely sloped ski-jump flight deck, although it typically lands less often.

U.S. F-15s To Leave Okinawa Without Permanent Replacement: Report

10/28/2022

The only overseas U.S. Air Force F-15C/D Eagle units, at Kadena Air Base on the Japanese island of Okinawa, are to be withdrawn next year, according to a report today in the Financial Times. The move would see the current permanent units under the 18th Wing replaced by rotational fighter detachments. Not surprisingly, the news has already attracted criticism as a retrograde measure at a time when Chinese military power and political ambitions are expanding in the region.

Russia Pairs Its Cutting Edge Su-35 Fighters With ‘Least Sophisticated’ Dumb Bombs To Strike Ukraine

10/28/2022

In the video footage, Ukrainian troops seem to be on patrol when the super maneuverable Flanker emerges out of a sudden, flies at ultra-low altitude, and drops three bombs that explode in the following seconds. In the meantime, a Ukrainian soldier tries to bring down the Russian jet by firing an anti-aircraft missile from a MANPADS. Still, the missile does not appear to have reached the fighter jet, and the fighter disappears from the sky.

US Pilot Working For China Detained Down Under; Was Helping Beijing With Aircraft Carrier Ops

10/26/2022

A spokesperson for the Attorney-General’s Department of Australia informed Reuters that a person was detained on October 21 in response to a request from the US government. Daniel Edmund Duggan, 54, was detained by the Australian Federal Police on Friday in Orange, a small town in New South Wales. Court records, two law enforcement sources, and his attorney confirmed that he appeared before a judge on the same day, Reuters reported.

‘Heartbreaking’ Record of Accidents: US Air Force Launches F-35 Crash Recovery Training For The Very First Time

10/26/2022

As F-35 crashes mount, rare crash recovery training has been launched by USAF. The US Air Combat Command recently announced that the 388th Maintenance Group held a unique F-35 crash recovery course using a recently decommissioned, now-reassembled F-35A Lightning II.

German air chief: F-35 buy safe despite rising inflation costs

10/26/2022

As Germany’s inflation rate hit double digits last month among escalating energy and food prices, concerns have risen over the country’s ability to pay for its planned multibillion-euro military spending run. The air force’s most critical fighter procurement program, however, is expected to weather inflation-related cost increases intact, according to the service’s chief of staff.

First KC-390 Millennium Cargo Aircraft Arrives In Portugal

10/26/2022

Escorted by two F-16s, the first KC-390 Millennium cargo aircraft for the Portuguese Air Force landed at Beja air base on Oct. 16, 2022. This is the first of five aircraft acquired by Portugal in 2019, which will soon become the first European operator of the Brazilian aircraft made by Embraer. The aircraft took off from Gavião Peixoto, São Paulo, on Oct. 15 and, after two fuel stops, it finally arrived at its new home.

Aero Vodochody conducts maiden flight of L-159 T2X trainer prototype

10/26/2022

Czech aircraft company Aero Vodochody has conducted the first flight test of its L-159 T2X combat trainer aircraft prototype. The demonstration was conducted recently at Vodochody’s airport in the Czech Republic. The latest milestone comes after four years of intensive work performed by the company to modernise and upgrade the L-159 aircraft to fulfil the emerging needs of fifth-generation fighter pilot training programmes.

Britain warns Russia against 'dirty bomb' false flag attack in Ukraine

10/24/2022

Ben Wallace has refuted Russian claims that the West was conspiring with Ukraine to stage an attack involving a 'dirty bomb'. Sergei Shoigu, the Russian Defence Minister, told his French counterpart Sebastien Lecornu that the war was rapidly deteriorating and "trending towards further uncontrolled escalation".

US Air Force’s new stealth bomber will finally debut Dec. 2

10/24/2022

The U.S. Air Force confirmed on Oct. 20 that it plans to reveal the B-21 Raider stealth bomber aircraft Dec. 2 during an unveiling ceremony hosted and sponsored by the Northrop Grumman Corporation at its production facilities in Palmdale, California. The B-21 is a long-range, highly survivable, penetrating strike stealth bomber that will incrementally replace the B-1 and B-2 bombers, becoming the backbone of the U.S. Air Force bomber fleet.

Insane First-Person Footage Of A Russian Pilot Ejecting From A Su-25SM Over Ukraine

10/24/2022

A crazy footage has started doing the rounds on social networks: posted by the popular Russian Fighterbomber Telegram channel (and then made available on their Youtube channel), the video shows the ejection of a Russian pilot from a Su-25SM involved in a mission over Ukraine.

Russian fighter jet crashes in Siberia, killing two crew members

10/24/2022

A Russian warplane has crashed into a residential building in the Siberian city of Irkutsk, killing both crew members – the second such fatal incident in a Russian residential area in six days involving a Sukhoi fighter plane. The crashes appear to reflect the growing strain that the fighting in Ukraine has put on the Russian air force. The Irkutsk governor, Igor Kobzev, said the Su-30 fighter jet came down on a private, two-storey building housing two families. There were no casualties on the g

Russian Su-30 SM Fighter Jet Scores A ‘Kill’ Against Ukrainian Aircraft During Swing Role Ops; MOD Shares Video

10/23/2022

The video shows two Su-30SM fighters taxiing out and then taking off in swing-role configuration carrying wingtip mounted electronic warfare (EW) pods, two RVV-MD close combat missiles, two RVV-SD medium-range missiles, and two Kh-29 air-to-surface missiles. n swing role configuration, a fighter has the weapons and the software to execute air-to-air and air-to-ground attacks during the same mission.

Flying just outside Ukraine, NATO's sentinel planes warn of Russia's battlefield moves

10/23/2022

As the military pilots on board one of NATO's airborne warning and command planes skirt just inside Poland's border with Ukraine, the real action is happening metres behind them. Surveillance operators and weapons controllers crowd around one of the multitude of radar screens peering deep inside wartime Ukraine.

Margarita Robles quietly finalises the purchase of F-35 fighter jets from the US

10/23/2022

A small cell of the highest confidence of the Minister of Defence, Margarita Robles, has already finalised negotiations with the US Department of Defence and the Lockheed Martin industrial corporation for the purchase of the F-35, the fifth-generation stealth fighter of which more than 840 aircraft are already flying in the air forces of 17 nations.

Argentina seeks HAL helicopters, high-level team to look at Dhruv, Prachand and LUH

10/22/2022

A high level team from Argentina is arriving soon in India and will visit state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to look at the helicopters which are being manufactured in Bengaluru. The team will be looking at Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv, Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand and the HAL Light Utility Helicopter (LUH).

Spain will again send fighter jets to Bulgaria and Romania before the end of the year

10/22/2022

Spain will send eight Eurofighter fighter jets to Bulgaria in November to help the country monitor Baltic airspace as part of NATO’s mission to protect its eastern flank in the face of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to the Ministry of Defence. The department headed by Margarita Robles also announced the dispatch of aircraft to Romania in December, without specifying the number or type of aircraft.

US Air Force Confirms Deploying B-1 Bombers To Guam While China Struggles With Skilled Fighter Pilots

10/22/2022

Flight tracker data shows that four B-1 bombers recently deployed to Andersen Air Force Base in Guam following a series of ballistic missile launches by North Korea, including one that flew over Japan earlier this month. “In response to your inquiry concerning the B-1B Lancers in Guam, Bomber Task Force activities are routine and are not tied to any one country or threat,” a US Air Force spokesperson said.

Commentary: Lessons from our past – Claire Chennault on Agile Combat Employment

10/22/2022

As the United States Air Force continues celebrating its 75th anniversary, we reflect on our shared heritage and how Airmen are using the lessons from the past to shape our future. The Air Force is transitioning from focusing for two decades on countering violent extremists to strategic competition with peer adversaries.

Philippines to buy U.S. aircraft after scrapping Russia deal

10/21/2022

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday backed a decision by his predecessor to cancel a deal to buy 16 Russian military heavy-lift helicopters and said his administration has "secured an alternative supply from the United States." Marcos Jr. said at a news conference that the Philippine government will negotiate to get back part of the down payment it made to the Russian aircraft manufacturer.

Tejas on mind, Argentine Armed Forces chief takes close look at HAL’s prowess

10/21/2022

Led by Lieutenant General Juan Martin Paleo, Joint Chief of Staff of the Argentine Armed Forces, the touring party visited the Hindustan Aeronautic Limited (HAL) stall at Asia’s largest defence event. HAL Director (Operations) E P Jayadeva and D K Sunil, Director (Engg and R&D) briefed Paleo and other senior officials about the various futuristic defence products on display.

Poland buying Korean made MLRS, continuing Seoul spending spree

10/21/2022

Poland on Wednesday accepted the first batch of its new South Korean-made tanks and howitzers at a ceremony in Seoul, while signing yet another weapons deal with local industry — after key Polish officials were blocked from attending due to what seems to be a power play by China.

Russia’s military aircraft exports are headed for a nosedive

10/21/2022

Before the invasion of Ukraine, Russia’s aerospace leadership had planned to market the next generation heavy fighter bomber, the Su-57, and its highly touted derivative the Su-75 to several foreign military buyers. These plans now appear to be in ruins. The Su-57 suffers from a low production rate. Export models are unlikely to be available until the end of the decade. As for the medium-weight Su-75, the so-called “Checkmate” aircraft, it has been only realized in models and computer graphics.

Bulgaria is looking for F-16s for rent for the coming years

10/20/2022

Bulgaria is looking for fighter jets for hire to take over combat duty in the coming years. The reason: MiG-29s can no longer be repaired, because of the situation in Ukraine and because of the fighters’ long-exceeded life cycle. F-16 fighters are the preferred option.