Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

RAAF’s F-35A aircraft to participate in Exercise Pitch Black 2022

08/16/2022

The Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF) F-35A Lightning II aircraft is set to participate in the multinational exercise Pitch Black 2022. This marks the first time RAAF will deploy its F-35As, which will replace the F/A-18A/B Classic Hornet that took part in the last iterations of the exercise. The RAAF’s fifth-generation aircraft from Nos. 3 and 75 Squadron will be deployed to demonstrate their capabilities in a multinational air combat environment.

Every Airplane in Taiwan's Air Force

08/16/2022

Taiwan’s air force showed off in July its first locally designed and manufactured trainer jet in more than 30 years. The jet trainer is part of the self-governed island’s move to advance its domestic defense industry, Reuters reported.

German Air Force to join Australia’s Exercise Pitch Black for first time

08/16/2022

The German Air Force is set to travel to Australia to make its debut in the country’s multi-national Exercise Pitch Black, marking the first time the German and Australian forces have trained together. The Luftwaffe will arrive Down Under in mid-August, with more than 200 personnel, six Eurofighter Typhoons, three A330 multi-role tanker transports and an A400M transport aircraft, the Australian Department of Defence said in a press release on August 15, 2022.

NATO member Poland is going to Asian powerhouse to find a replacement for its aging Soviet-era fighter jets

08/16/2022

On July 27, Poland signed one of its largest arms deals ever for more artillery, tanks, and aircraft to modernize its military amid heightened tensions in Europe. Warsaw's $14.5 billion deal with South Korea — the largest ever for South Korea's defense industry — includes 1,000 K2 Black Panther tanks, nearly 700 K9 self-propelled howitzers, and 48 FA-50 light combat aircraft.

Germany to Send Military Planes to Indo-Pacific

08/15/2022

The German Air Force will send military aircraft to Indo-Pacific countries including Japan, Australia, South Korea and Singapore for the first time from Monday for joint drills and other activities. Germany hopes to deepen military ties with Asian democracies while stepping up efforts to check China's hegemonic ambitions.

Ukraine Air Force seeks game-changing fighter jets from NATO

08/15/2022

With the Russian invasion of Ukraine well into its sixth month, the war has settled into a baffling pattern that defies the expectations of both sides. The most extreme example is the air war over Ukraine, which devolved into a stalemate almost from the beginning. With NATO now open to supplying Ukraine with modern Western fighter planes, the question is, will this change the game or is it already too late?

Air Force Keeping F-16s, Not Moving Toward Fighter Derived From MR-F or T-7 for Now

08/15/2022

With upgrades, F-16s can serve as a numbers-builder in the combat air forces until the 2040s, and it’s not necessary to launch its successor yet, program officials said at an industry conference. “We anticipate hundreds of F-16s in active service for decades to come,” meaning into the 2040s, Col. Tim Bailey, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s F-16 program manager, said in a press conference at the Life Cycle Industry Days.

Taiwan Says 13 Chinese Military Aircraft Crossed Strait's Median Line In Fresh Escalation

08/14/2022

13 Chinese airforce planes flew on the eastern part of the median line of the Taiwan Strait on Saturday, 13 August, Taiwan's Defence Ministry said. Taking to their official Twitter handle, Taiwan's Defence Ministry said that 29 Chinese aircraft and six vessels were detected around their territory. The incursions occurred just three days after days after Beijing ended its military drills around Taiwan.

War games show the US may not beat China in a war over Taiwan

08/14/2022

It’s increasingly obvious China is thinking the unthinkable – taking on the United States military, and winning. But is it possible? The Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is running war games in Washington. They’re trying to figure out what chance the West has of defending Taiwan.

China is sending fighter jets to Thailand for joint exercises

08/14/2022

The Chinese air force is sending fighter jets and bombers to Thailand for a joint exercise with the Thai military on Sunday. The training will include air support, strikes on ground targets and small- and large-scale troop deployment, the Chinese Defense Ministry said in a statement posted on its website.

Vladimir Putin relieves Admiral Igor Osipov as Commander of the Black Sea Fleet

08/13/2022

According to Russian sources, Admiral Igor Osipov, the Commander of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation, has been relieved of his post today, Friday, August 12, by President Vladimir Putin. His position is believed to have been filled by Vice Admiral Viktor Sokolov. This action is believed to have been executed as a direct consequence of the Ukrainian sabotage attack on the air base near the village of Novofedorivka in occupied Crimea last Tuesday, August 9.

24 Chinese Aircraft And 6 Vessels Detected In Taiwan's Air Defence Zone

08/13/2022

As many as 24 Chinese aircraft and six vessels were detected by the Taiwan Defence Ministry near its territory on Friday, two days after China halted its large-scale military drills near the self-ruled island. "Six PLAN vessels and 24 PLA aircraft around our surrounding region were detected today (August 12, 2022) until 1700(GMT+8). #ROCArmedForces have monitored the situation and responded to these activities with aircraft in CAP, naval vessels, and land-based missile systems," Taiwan Defence M

F-35 Stealth Fighters Are Revolutionizing The USAF’s Aggressor Force

08/13/2022

This year marks half a century of U.S. Air Force aggressors, and it’s therefore fitting that the 65th Aggressor Squadron has been reactivated at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, in one of the most significant milestones ever for the squadrons that play the part of the enemy. The unit flies stealthy F-35A fighter jets, and it will set a new standard for the USAF’s aggressor forces as a whole.

Combat rescue helicopter cuts trigger cost overrun, Air Force says

08/13/2022

The U.S. Air Force is preparing a report to Congress detailing a major cost overrun that resulted from its decision to cut its HH-60W combat rescue helicopter procurement by 38 aircraft. The service planned to buy 113 new helicopters from aircraft manufacturer Sikorsky, owned by Lockheed Martin. However, the fiscal 2023 budget request revealed a plan to cap the fleet at 75 helicopters and study the future of the combat rescue mission.

South Korea is looking for buyers of its new 'semi-stealth' fighter jet that could rival China's warplanes

08/12/2022

South Korea is seeking a niche market for its semi-stealth fighter jets praised for their high agility and low maintenance costs, which are likely to emerge as a cost-effective alternative to Chinese warplanes, analysts in the country have said. The KF-21 Boramae, meaning "hawk" in Korean, is likely to provide stiff competition for China's J-10 CE and FC-31 fighters in the global market, especially in Africa, the observers said.

Snowbirds Grounded Indefinitely

08/12/2022

The Royal Canadian Air Force Snowbirds air demonstration team has been grounded indefinitely because of a runway accident in early August. The RCAF says it will “conduct a deliberate, detailed and broad risk analysis, with the aim of enabling the safe resumption of CT-114 flying operations.” No timeline has been offered to get the aircraft flying again. The team has 10 airshows booked for the balance of the season.

Northrop Grumman asked to supply 31 AESA radar systems and avionics for U.S. Air Force F-16 jet fighters

08/12/2022

U.S. Air Force aerial radar experts are ordering 31 modern active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar systems for F-16 jet fighters under terms of a $88.2 million order announced in July. Officials of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Fighter Bomber Directorate, F-16 Division, at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, are asking the Northrop Grumman Corp. Mission Systems segment in Linthicum Heights, Md., to build 31 AN/APG-83 AESA radar systems and spare parts for the F-16.

Crimea Base Blast Deals a Blow to the Russian War Machine

08/12/2022

Explosions at a Russian airbase in Crimea that Ukraine says destroyed nine fighter aircraft may indicate new Ukrainian offensive capabilities that complicate Kremlin efforts to support its invading forces, according to European intelligence officials and defense analysts.

Unmanned program could suffer if Congress blocks F-22 retirements, Hunter says

08/12/2022

A congressional push to block the U.S. Air Force’s plan to retire 33 F-22s could have ripple effects for one of the service’s top priority programs, the Collaborative Combat Aircraft. The Air Force’s proposal to cut the F-22s is part of a broader plan to divest 150 aircraft in fiscal 2023 to free funds for higher priorities such as the B-21 bomber, hypersonic weapons programs and Next-Generation Air Dominance systems.

Russian Surveillance Aircraft Spotted Near Alaskan Air Space

08/11/2022

The U.S. military says Russian military surveillance aircraft entered the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone on two separate occasions over the past two days. U.S. F-22 fighter jets intercepted the second aircraft upon entering the airspace, a defense official told VOA. Both entries involved the same type of Russian surveillance aircraft, the official added.

Mali Receives Military Aircraft from Russia

08/11/2022

Mali’s military government has received several fighter jets and helicopters from Russia, which has become a close and controversial ally in its fight against Islamist militants. The aircraft were handed over during a ceremony at Bamako’s airport, with Malian President Assimi Goita and Russian Ambassador Igor Gromyko present.

Air Force Set to Get Rid of Small A-29, AT-6 Fleets, Program Official Says

08/11/2022

Just over two years ago, the Air Force announced it was buying limited quantities of Textron’s AT-6s and Sierra Nevada Corp.’s A-29s. Now, the service is seemingly set to get rid of the aircraft, most likely in the form of a foreign military sale. Should such a sale occur, it would mark the end of a prolonged back-and-forth. At the moment, Air Force Special Operations Command and Air Combat Command operate three A-29s and two AT-6s, respectively.

Indian and Egyptian air forces participate in key leadership programme in Cairo

08/11/2022

In a first-of-its-kind interaction between their respective Fighter Weapon Schools, the Indian Air Force (IAF) carried out a month-long engagement with the Egyptian Air Force (EAF) at Egyptian Fighter Weapon School, located in Cairo West Air Force Base.

Ukraine air force claims up to a dozen Russian jets destroyed in Crimea raid

08/11/2022

Ukraine’s air force said it believed that up to a dozen Russian aircraft were destroyed on the ground following Tuesday’s dramatic explosions at the Saky airbase in Crimea, which Russia said killed one, wounded 13 and damaged dozens of nearby houses. Political sources in Ukraine said the country had carried out the attack – but no public claim of responsibility was made by Kyiv of the incident that one expert believes may have been the product of a daring raid rather than a missile strike.

Taiwan tracks 39 Chinese military aircraft, 13 warships around nation

08/10/2022

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked 39 Chinese military aircraft and 13 warships around the country as of 5 p.m. on Monday (Aug. 8). Of the 39 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, 21 entered Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ), with 14 crossing the median line, including eight Sukhoi Su-30 fighter planes and six Shenyang J-11 fighter jets, according to the MND.