Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

OPINION: A Mercenary Air Force for Ukraine? It’s not as Far-fetched as it Sounds

01/11/2023

Ukraine’s desire for additional combat air assets is soberingly real. After 11 months of war, neither Ukraine nor Russia has secured any semblance of air superiority. As the West struggles to figure out how to resource Ukraine’s requirement for air power, some are suggesting a transfer of aircraft, such as F-16 Falcons, F-15E Eagles, JAS-39 Gripens or others.

F-35 Conducts First Flight with TR-3

01/11/2023

A developmental test team from the 461st Flight Test Squadron conducted the first flight of an F-35 in the Technology Refresh 3 (TR-3) configuration on January 6, at Edwards Air Force Base, California. Maj. Ryan “BOLO” Luersen, a U.S. Air Force experimental test pilot, piloted the mission in tail number AF-7, a specially instrumented flight test aircraft and the first with TR-3 upgrades installed. He executed a functional check flight (FCF) profile to verify aircraft airworthiness and system st

Raytheon to build 408 AIM-9X Block II infrared-guided air-to-air missiles for U.S. Navy, Air Force, allies

01/11/2023

U.S. Navy aerial warfare experts are asking Raytheon Technologies Corp. to build 408 AIM-9X precision short-range infrared-guided air-to-air missiles for jet fighters and other combat aircraft under terms of a $317.4 million contract announced in December. Officials of the Naval Air Systems Command at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Md., are asking the Raytheon Missiles & Defense segment in Tucson, Ariz., to build lot 23 AIM-9X block II and block II-plus air-to-air missiles.

Canada’s CF-18 Fighters, That Once Beat US F-15, F-16 Warplanes, All Set To Be Replaced By F-35 Stealth Jets

01/11/2023

Canadian Defense Minister Anita Anand, on January 9, announced plans to buy 88 F-35A Joint Strike Fighters (JSF) for CA$19 billion (US $14 billion). Anand said in an online briefing that the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) would receive its first four Lockheed Martin-made F-35s in 2026, with the following six in 2027 and another six in 2028. The remainder would come in subsequent years.

Canada signs deal for the F-35 fighter

01/10/2023

It's now official. After years of false starts and delays Canada will join growing number of countries who have adopted the Lockheed-Martin F35 fighter jet. In addition to the US which has hundreds of the stealth fighter other western countries using the aircraft include , United Kingdom, Italy, Netherlands, Australia, Norway, and Denmark. The F-35 provides pilots with enhanced intelligence; surveillance; and reconnaissance capabilities, greatly improving their situational awareness and surviv

Russia uses its most advanced fighter jets against Ukraine

01/10/2023

British Defense Intelligence on January 9 said that Russia has used the Su-57 (NATO nickname Felon) fifth-generation combat aircraft against Ukraine since at least June 2022. “These missions have likely been limited to flying over Russian territory, launching long-range air-to-surface or air-to-air missiles into Ukraine,” the message added.

China mounts large-scale joint strike drills around Taiwan sending 28 war planes as well as naval vessels to the island days after US Navy destroyer went through the Strait

01/10/2023

The Chinese military held large-scale joint combat strike drills starting Sunday, sending war planes and navy vessels toward Taiwan, both the Chinese and Taiwanese defense ministries said. Over the course of 24 hours, between 6 a.m. Sunday and 6 a.m. Monday, China's People's Liberation Army flew 57 warplanes and four ships towards Taiwan, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense said in a statement Monday morning.

South Korea Plans A ‘Drone Command’ To Thwart North’s UAV Threat; Why Seoul’s Move Is Logical But Not Ethical

01/09/2023

The lesson from the ongoing war in Ukraine is that drones, costing not even one percent of a fifth generation of fighter aircraft, can create problems for South Korea in more senses than one seems to have been well realized by the North Korean strongman Kim Jong-un.

Eight lessons air forces are learning from the war in Ukraine

01/09/2023

Ten and a half months have passed since Russia started its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The resulting war became the most intense and large-scale conflict of recent decades, and the one that subverted many expectations on both sides. Recently, there has been a multitude of reports and analyses, delving into various details of air campaigns waged by both Russia and Ukraine.

China hell-bent on achieving air superiority

01/09/2023

While much has been written about the two armies’ capabilities amid the India-China standoff, a comparison between the air forces has been scarce. A recent article in Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post has raved about the touted ‘supermanoeuvring’ capabilities of the upgraded J-20B ‘Mighty Dragon’ Generation 5 interceptor/air superiority fighter, reportedly slated for mass production since last July.

China carries out combat drills around Taiwan again

01/09/2023

China's military said it had carried out combat drills around Taiwan on Sunday, the second such exercises in less than a month, with the island's defence ministry reporting it detected 57 Chinese aircraft. China views democratically-governed Taiwan as its own territory and has been ramping up military, political and economic pressure to assert those claims.

TF-X/MMU: Turkey’s future fifth-generation fighter is taking shape

01/09/2023

Turkey is making progress in the development of its own fifth-generation fighter aircraft, the TF-X or MMU project, intended to replace the F-16s of its Air Force as of 2030/35. The Turkish Defense Agency published an image on its social networks showing the degree of preparation progress of the first prototype, which should leave the assembly line to have its roll-out on March 18 this year.

India to hold joint military exercise 'Veer Guardian' with Japan

01/08/2023

Even as regular clashes between the Indian Army and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China continue to take place along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), India is taking part in several joint military exercises with several nations. An Indian Air Force (IAF) contingent will depart on Sunday for Hyakuri Air Base, Japan for the maiden edition of the Exercise Veer Guardian to be held with Japan Air Self Defence Force (JASDF) from January 12 to 26.

Negotiations between Colombia, France’s Dassault Aviation, and Sweden’s Saab to replace FAC Israeli-made Kfir aircraft collapsed

01/08/2023

The Colombian government said on Jan. 2, 2023 that initial negotiations between Colombia, France’s Dassault Aviation and Sweden’s Saab to replace part of the aging fleet of Israeli-made Kfir fighter jets of the Colombian Air Force (FAC, Fuerza Aérea Colombiana) have collapsed.

430th EECS begins operations with new E-11A BACN

01/08/2023

For the 430th Expeditionary Electronic Communications Squadron, delivering communication coverage to the American warfighter, the nation’s allies and coalition partners is a primary objective. The 430th EECS is the only unit in the USAF that operates the E-11A aircraft with the Battlefield Airborne Communication Node payload. As such, the 430th EECS strives to provide consistent and effective communication channels for air, ground and maritime forces in the U.S. Central Command area of responsi

Fueling the fight at RIMPAC 22

01/07/2023

More than 180 Airmen from the 507th Air Refueling Wing here participated in Joint exercise Rim of the Pacific 2022, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, July 27-Aug. 2, 2022. During the exercise, 186 Okies and five KC 135R Stratotankers flew 32 sorties totaling over 133 flight hours and offloaded more than 1,000 pounds of fuel.

Chinese Military Experts Alarmed By US Air Force’s Capability To Launch Cruise Missiles From Cargo Aircraft

01/07/2023

The Chinese military leaders appear alarmed by the novel tactics employed by the US Air Force (USAF). In particular, the USAF’s efforts to launch cruise missiles out of cargo aircraft have been perceived as a worrying development by military experts in China.

Iran’s Su-35 Aircraft Procurement Is More Dangerous Than You Think

01/07/2023

Taking advantage of Russia’s growing reliance on low-cost Iranian weapons amidst its stumbling campaign in Ukraine, Iran is now set to procure dozens of Russian Su-35 aircraft. While some Western assessments tend to downplay the gravity of the acquisition, claiming that it would not drastically alter the airpower balance in the Gulf, the Su-35 would give an unprecedented boost to Tehran’s control over the Iranian airspace.

The Race for the Indian Naval Fighter Contract

01/07/2023

November 2022 saw the visit of the French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu as well as the US Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro to India. Lecornu was in New Delhi for the Fourth India–France Defence Dialogue, where both countries decided to enhance military industrial cooperation with a focus on Make In India (MII).

The new F-15EX took a 'major step' closer to carrying more air-to-air missiles than all other US Air Force fighters in testing

01/06/2023

The US Air Force's newest fighter aircraft — the F-15EX Eagle II — recently conducted a successful missile test that brought the aircraft closer to being able to hold more air-to-air missiles than any other jet in the service. During a testing in late November, two F-15EX fighter jets from the 96th Test Wing fired air-to-air missiles over a training range in the Gulf of Mexico, Eglin Air Force Base revealed in a statement Wednesday.

French Air Force faces a shortage of Rafale, AESA radars and pilot training hours

01/04/2023

General Stéphane Mille, Chief of Staff of the Armée de l’air et de l’espace [CEMAAE], testified on Rafale Aircraft shortages in the armed forces during his hearing in the Senate on the occasion of the end-of-year budget discussions, the report for which was just issued – two months later. CEMAAE forecasted that the number of active fighter aircraft would drop to a low point as a consequence of the retirement of the Mirage 2000C from active duty and the export of 24 Rafales.

US B-52 Stratofortress Bombers Conduct Three-Day Bomber Task Force Mission From Andersen AFB, Guam

01/04/2023

The Two USAF B-52 Stratofortress bombers from Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, recently conducted a three-day bomber task force operating out of Andersen Air force Base, Guam. The mission was carried out within USINDOPACOM’s operational domain. The USAF bombers arrived at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, on December 18, 2022.

New E-11A Communications Aircraft Handed Over to US Air Force

01/04/2023

The US Air Force has received a new E-11A aircraft with a battlefield airborne communications node payload at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia. The plane will be integrated into the air force’s 430th Expeditionary Electronic Communications Squadron, the “Black Wolves,” which supports combat communications. The BACN’s “WiFi in the sky” capability allows the E-11A to function similarly to a low-Earth satellite, maintaining aerial command and control capabilities for airborne and ground units.

Navy Buys 2 ‘Loyal Wingman’ XQ-58A Valkyrie Drones for $15.5M

01/04/2023

The Navy is buying two stealth unmanned aerial systems – originally developed for the Air Force – that could operate with a manned fighter, as the service pursues the manned-unmanned teaming concept officials say is central to the future of naval aviation. The service issued a $15.5 million contract to Kratos for the XQ-58A Valkyrie unmanned aerial system, according to a Dec. 30 Defense Department contract announcement.

Pentagon should better study risks of swapping older fighter jets for new ones, watchdog finds

01/04/2023

The Pentagon needs to do a better job managing the risks of replacing aging fighter jets and should share information with Congress so it can make better spending decisions and avoid gaps in air superiority, a top federal watchdog concluded in a recent report. Federal and independent analysts have determined some fixed-wing tactical attack aircraft are outliving their life spans and, in some cases, there aren’t planes to replace them yet, according to a study by the Government Accountability Off