Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Once Inspired By F-35, Now Korean KF-21 Boramae ‘Challenges’ US Stealth Fighter For Polish Air Force Deal

09/16/2023

Poland is increasing its defense spending to four percent of GDP and intends to purchase two more squadrons of multi-role combat aircraft to secure the eastern flank of NATO. The frontrunners for the deal are the American F-35, F-15EX, and the South Korean KF-21 Boramae.

Russia’s Key Ally Loses Its ‘Entire’ Sukhoi Fighter Jet Fleet As Moscow Tries Rebuilding Mali’s Air Force

09/14/2023

The Mali Air Force lost another Su-25 Frogfoot in a crash on September 9, months after it received the aircraft from Russia. According to reports from the African country, tragedy hit Mali when the country’s sole Sukhoi Su-25 strike plane crashed in the Gao region. However, the aircraft’s pilot managed to escape and is reportedly safe. Unfortunately, the crash wiped out Mali’s Su-25 attack fleet.

Tensions on the Belarus border: A look at military spending and arms import patterns

09/14/2023

Relations between Belarus and its NATO neighbours deteriorated further over the summer. Troops have been deployed on both sides of the Belarus–Poland border, and each country has accused the other of escalating tensions. Lithuania this month closed two of six border crossings with Belarus. Belarus’s defence minister, Viktor Khrenin, went as far as suggesting that ‘the possibility of a direct military clash with NATO in the future has become quite obvious’.

Chinese Aircraft Carrier, Warships Massing for Major Exercise Near the Philippines

09/14/2023

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy Shandong Carrier Strike Group is operating in the Philippine Sea, being shadowed separately by Republic of China Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) destroyers, according to both countries.

Israeli tech-transfer to China turns the J-10 into a ‘Chinese’ F-16

09/13/2023

The first prototype of the J-10 was completed in June 1997. Its first launch, a significant event in aviation history, occurred on 23rd March 1998. Despite the J-10 fighter jet’s status as the highlight of China’s native fighter jet program, various reports suggest a possible connection between Israel Aerospace Industries and the Chinese Aeronautical Construction Consortium during the J-10’s design phase.

With JF-17 ‘Out Of Action’, Russian Su-30SME Fighters Supplied To Myanmar Can Support Combat Ops – Expert

09/13/2023

Charlie Chan, the trade minister of the Myanmar junta government, shared details about the delivery of Su-30SME fighter jets with a Russian media outlet on September 10, as reported by Reuters. Chan made this revelation while attending the Eastern Economic Forum, an annual event held in Russia to promote regional economic cooperation and attract foreign investments.

US Air Force receives first new Compass Call electronic warfare plane

09/13/2023

The U.S. Air Force has received its first EC-37B Compass Call electronic warfare aircraft from contractors BAE Systems and L3Harris Technolgies, industry officials announced Tuesday. BAE Systems said in a release that the Air Force will next start combined developmental and operational testing for this Compass Call, the first of 10 aircraft planned for the Air Force.

UK, Japanese, Italian partners agree next steps for fighter jet

09/13/2023

Britain's BAE Systems, Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and Italy's Leonardo have agreed the next steps to deliver the concept phase of a next-generation combat aircraft, BAE Systems said on Tuesday. The three nations agreed in December 2022 to collaborate to build an advanced front-line fighter to enter service around the middle of the next decade.

Rafale For Bangladesh? 1st Time In 33 Years, French President Visits Dhaka As Dassault & Eurofighter Compete For BAF Deal

09/12/2023

Bangladesh plans to modernize its armed forces under the Forces Goals 2030. Under the plan, the BAF already inducted 16 Chengdu J-7 fighter jets from China. Apart from this, Bangladesh floated a tender for eight Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) in the financial year 2017-2018. The tender can order four more aircraft in the second tranche.

Boeing to integrate BAE Systems electronic warfare (EW) avionics aboard upgraded Japan F-15 jet fighter

09/12/2023

Electronic warfare (EW) avionics experts at the Boeing Co. will produce EW avionics for modernized Japan air force F-15 jet fighter aircraft that will help protect the aircraft from radar-guided missiles. Officials of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, announced a $474.5 million five-year order Thursday to Boeing Defense, Space & Security segment in St. Louis to add the BAE Systems Eagle Passive Active Warning and Survivability System.

AFA NEWS: Collaborative Combat Aircraft Will Be 'In A Lot of Places,' Air Force General Says

09/12/2023

To confront potential threats in the Indo-Pacific, Pacific Air Forces is focused on expanding agile combat employment — an operational scheme to develop network of small bases and facilities. One component of the scheme is the collaborative combat aircraft, or CCA, and a top Air Force official said a lot are coming.

Insight: What does the future hold for the Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft?

09/12/2023

The Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 3A has been adopted by Middle Eastern air forces as well as the European partner nations. Shephard Defence Insight analyses its next-generation radar, cockpit technology and future upgrade plans.

Frustrated China steps up warship and fighter plane activity around Taiwan

09/12/2023

China has sent a carrier strike group and dozens of warplanes into the region around Taiwan in one of its biggest operations in months. The activity comes as Beijing accuses the US and Canada of “inciting conflict” by sailing through the Taiwan Strait, and as Xi Jinping calls for “comprehensive” military combat readiness of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

The Rise, Fall & Rise Of F-15 Fighters: How Eagles Continue Their Relevance Even After Decades In Service

09/11/2023

Boeing Aerospace announced on September 7 that Poland was actively interested in buying the F-15EX Eagle II fighters. The announcement was made at the press conference at the annual MSPO defense trade exhibition without divulging specific details. Tim Flood, Boeing’s senior director of Global Business Development for Europe and Americas, said in a statement: “Poland’s interest in the F-15EX confirms its dedication to the preparedness and effectiveness of its military forces.

Myanmar receives first shipment of Russia's Su-30 fighter jets, RIA reports

09/11/2023

Myanmar has received the first shipment of two Russian Su-30 fighter jets, Charlie Than, Myanmar's trade minister, told the Russian RIA state news agency in remarks published on Sunday. "Two aircraft have already been delivered," Than told RIA on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum, Russia's annual forum aimed at developing economic cooperation in the region and encouraging foreign investment, which starts on Sunday in the port of Vladivostok.

S. Korea and Turkey seek defense industry partnerships in drones, armored vehicles

09/10/2023

President Yoon Suk Yeol held a summit with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the Group of 20 (G20) Summit in New Delhi, Saturday, and discussed ways to expand partnerships in the defense industry focusing on drones, military transport aircraft and other weapons.

Japan To Become Third-Largest Military Spender By 2027; Plans To Spend $315B Over Next 5 Years

09/10/2023

Japanese government officials and representatives of four domestic startups in emerging technologies with potential defense applications met in Tokyo on Sep. 6. It was to discuss ways to help the fledgling companies working on drones and robots.

India, Nigeria Ink $1B Military Deal; Delhi To Help The African Nation Boost Its Defense Industry – Reports

09/09/2023

The Indian diplomatic blitzkrieg of the past couple of years to further defense ties with African countries has started bearing fruits. India and Nigeria have inked an unprecedented US $1 billion deal to boost the defense industry in the African country. Nigeria has expressed interest in the Indian Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, drones, and armored personnel carriers.

Ukrainian Armed Forces have success near Bakhmut and Robotyne – General Staff report

09/09/2023

Thirty-nine combat clashes took place over the past 24 hours. Russia launched seven missile attacks, 74 air strikes, and 46 multiple-launch missile attacks on the positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements. The Russian Federation launched another missile and air strike overnight on 7-8 September on Ukraine. Information about the aftermath of this is being updated. The operational situation in Ukraine's east and south remains difficult.

Belgium will not deliver F-16 fighters to Ukraine, citing ancient airframes

09/09/2023

After consideration, Belgium has now decided not to deliver its aging F-16 aircraft to the Ukrainian military. Belgian officials cited the fleet condition as a primary reason for their reluctance, estimating that the airframes have accumulated too many flight hours and are at the end of their service life. Coincidentally, Belgium will retire the first F-16A, registered FA-95, from service on August 8, 2023, after it reaches 8,000 flight hours, the end of structural life set by Lockheed Martin.

Boeing offers F-15EX for Poland, but details are scant

09/08/2023

Boeing today announced it is actively seeking to sell its F-15EX fighter aircraft to Poland — but for now, both sides are keeping their cards close to their chest. Boeing held a Thursday press conference at the annual MSPO defense trade exhibition, although offered little in the way of details about what a potential F-15EX buy would look like.

Rafales on the upswing? French fighter eyes additional Mideast sales

09/08/2023

The United States’ dominance of the combat aircraft industry could see increased competition as the French hope to bolster their slice of the pie. With a German veto blocking Eurofighter deliveries to Saudi Arabia, and amid Israel’s persistent opposition to any F-35 sale to Qatar, this may be French firm Dassault’s opportunity to further push its fighter in the region.

First F-16 Block 70/72 aft fuselage manufactured in Poland

09/07/2023

In a symbolic return to the tradition of manufacturing military jet aircraft, the F-16 structures are being built in a renovated hall where training and combat aircraft were produced more than 20 years ago. The completed F-16 aft fuselage, similar to smaller F-16 components also manufactured in Mielec, is destined for export to Lockheed Martin’s production line in Greenville, South Carolina, where F-16 Block 70/72 fighter aircraft are currently being manufactured for customers around the world.

Upgraded F-35 Deliveries Delayed to Mid-2024; USAF Prioritizes New Units in the Meantime

09/07/2023

The first F-35s with the Tech Refresh-3 upgrade—largely a processor upgrade upon which the Block 4 configuration of the fighter will ride—will be delivered before the middle of next year, a Lockheed Martin spokesperson said Sept. 6. Previously, TR-3 jets were forecast to become available in the last quarter of calendar 2023.

US Air Force general eyes more uses for drone wingmen By Stephen Losey

09/07/2023

The U.S. Air Force should consider additional uses for its planned fleet of drone wingmen beyond just flying them alongside fighter jets, a top officer said Wednesday. Lt. Gen. Jim Slife, the service’s deputy chief of staff for operations, made his pitch Wednesday at the Defense News Conference in Arlington, Virginia, suggesting the proposed collaborative combat aircraft could fly alongside the Air Force’s next-generation aerial refueling system.