Military Aviation News Archive

RAF fighter aircraft deploy to Finland and Sweden for joint training

07/11/2022

The Royal Air Force has deployed Typhoon FGR4 and F-35B Lightning jets to Finland, and Typhoon FGR4 jets to Sweden, for integrated fighter aircraft training as part of an increased presence in the region.

Entire Slovak MiG-29 fleet gifted to Ukraine, Bulgarian Su-25s in parts

07/10/2022

Ukraine will receive Slovakia’s entire air fleet of MiG-29 Fulcrum fighters or 12 combat aircraft, one of which was used as a trainer by the Slovak Air Force. The donation comes thanks to a bilateral agreement between the Czech Republic and Slovakia that the Czech Air Force will protect Slovakia’s airspace until Bratislava receives the 12 F-16 Block 70 units ordered by the US in the coming months. The information comes from the Spanish online portal InfoDifensa.

First homegrown KF-21 fighter jets ready to take off. What’s ahead?

07/09/2022

South Korea’s first homegrown KF-21 fighter jet is gearing up for its inaugural flight test scheduled for late July. But a maiden flight is just the beginning of 2200 rounds of planned flight tests that will be continued by 2026. KF-21 Boramae fighter prototypes have been undergoing low, medium and high-speed taxi tests since June 25 and will continue until July 13, Korea Aerospace Industries confirmed to The Korea Herald.

Taiwan condemns Chinese military aircraft in its airspace

07/09/2022

Taiwan's defense ministry says Chinese military aircraft entered its airspace, condemning the move as a provocation. The ministry said China's combat aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's airspace on Friday morning. Ministry officials did not specify the number of aircraft, the type or their flight paths. Taiwan's military says it expelled the Chinese aircraft while monitoring the situation with a ground-based air defense missile system.

Chinese fighter jet flew very close to eastern Ladakh in June: Report

07/09/2022

The incident took place at around 4 am on one of the days in the last week of June and after the Chinese fighter aircraft was spotted by men on ground and was also picked up by indigenous radars deployed in the border area.

NETHERLANDS F-35S ARRIVE AT VOLKEL AIR BASE AS NEW AIR COMBAT COMMAND IS STOOD UP

07/09/2022

The first four modern F-35 fighter aircraft landed at Volkel Air Base on June 30, 2022, marking the re-establishment of the their 313 Squadron as a fifth-generation fighter unit. At the same time, the Royal Netherlands Air Force stood up a new Air Combat Command (ACC), which is comprised of the two operational fighter bases at Leeuwarden in the north and Volkel in the south and Air Operations Control Station (AOCS) based at Nieuw-Milligen in the centre of the Netherlands.

Russia acquired new Su-34Ms with rear-hemisphere scanning radar

07/08/2022

According to the director-general of Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation Yuriy Slyusar, the Su-34M has twice the combat capability of the original Su-34, with a dedicated interface for three different types of sensors maximizing situational awareness, including the UKR-RT capsule carrying electronic measures for search, camera UKR-OE and UKR-RL, which integrates a synthetic aperture radar.

US, Swedish planes top choices for multi-role fighter deal: PAF

07/07/2022

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) on Tuesday said it is in the process of choosing between the latest model of the American-made Lockheed Martin F-16s and the Swedish-made Saab JAS-39 for its multi-role fighter (MRF) project. "(The) two last contenders, (for the PAF MRF project are the) F-16V Block 50/52 Variant and the JAS-39 Gripen C/D+ Version," PAF spokesperson, Col. Maynard Mariano, said.

India and the US Renew their Offer to Co-Develop an AMCA Fighter Jet Engine

07/07/2022

A proposal from the US to work with India on the creation of jet engine technology that might be utilized to power India's futuristic Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft has been revived. An offer for the joint development of a 110 kn thrust engine with Indian agencies has been made by General Electric (GE), one of the world's top jet engine manufacturers. Leading military sources have revealed to BW Businessworld that GE is being considered for collaboration on the AMCA engine.

Ukraine May Finally Get Slovakia’s MiG-29s Thanks To Czech Air Patrol Deal

07/07/2022

In a debate aired on national television, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala announced that the Czech Air Force would soon be carrying out patrol and air policing duties from within Slovakia’s airspace. The proposed partnership between the neighboring NATO countries could kick start the transfer of MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine, which has been in the works since the early days of the Ukrainian-Russian conflict.

Taiwan touts new air force advanced training jet's abilities

07/07/2022

Taiwan's air force showed off its new locally designed and made jet trainer on Wednesday, touting the more advanced, combat-capable abilities of the aircraft that will replace aging and accident-prone existing equipment.

Nigeria and Brazil cement defence ties with aviation, security and defence forum

07/06/2022

Between 21 and 23 June, a week after a meeting between the Brazilian Ambassador to Nigeria Ricardo Guerrera and the Nigerian Minister of Defence Bashir Magashi, the third edition of the Brazil-Nigeria Aviation, Security & Defence Trade Forum was held in the Brazilian Embassy in Abuja.

South Korea Readies Its KF-21 Next-Generation Fighter Jet For Takeoff

07/06/2022

South Korea’s KF-21 next-generation fighter is preparing for its first flight, with footage of a prototype undertaking ground tests under power having emerged in the last few days. These tests follow recent static engine runs for the twin-engine fighter, the first flight of which is rumored to be planned before the end of this month.

In North Africa, a fighter jet arms race, with Russia and the US on either side

07/06/2022

While it may not make the rounds in Washington as one of the big geopolitical rivalries of the era, tensions between Morocco and Algeria are real, and have escalated in recent years thanks to a dispute over the Western Sahara, which Morocco claims to be its own territory, while Algeria backs the Tindouf-based Polisario Front rebel group.

Taiwan to Hold Helicopter Drill to Test Combat Readiness

07/05/2022

The Taiwanese military will hold a three-day exercise involving all its helicopters at Pingtung’s Jiupeng military base. Dubbed “Mighty Eagle,” the drill is being held to test the combat readiness of the island nation, especially amid increasing pressure from China. During the exercise, helicopters will fire cannons and Hellfire and Stinger missiles at various naval and aerial targets to test their capabilities with precision weapon systems.

Myanmar Regime Takes Delivery of Two Su-30 Fighter Jets From Russia

07/05/2022

Russia delivered the first two of six new Su-30 jet fighters to Myanmar in March, according to several informed sources who formerly served with the Myanmar Air Force. Moscow sent several trainers and technicians to assist the Myanmar Air Force during the warranty period, according to the sources, who are former Myanmar Air Force officers who joined the anti-coup movement last year.

North Korea slams US-South Korea-Japan military cooperation

07/04/2022

North Korea on Sunday slammed the United States, South Korea and Japan for pushing to boost their trilateral military cooperation targeting the North, warning that the move is prompting urgent calls for the country to reinforce its military capability.

Tejas aircraft is Malaysia's top choice for fighter jet programme

07/04/2022

India's Tejas light combat aircraft has emerged as the top choice for Malaysia as the Southeast Asian nation looks at replacing its ageing fleet of fighter jets and the two sides are holding negotiations to firm up the procurement. Malaysia has narrowed down on the Indian aircraft notwithstanding the stiff competition from China's JF-17 jet, South Korea's FA-50 and Russia's Mig-35 as well as Yak-130, Chairman and Managing Director of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, R Madhavan, told PTI in an inte

Jet truck driver, 40, dies in Battle Creek air show accident

07/03/2022

Officials identified Chris Darnell, 40, as the victim of a fiery accident at the Battle Creek Field of Flight Air Show and Balloon Festival. Around 1:10 p.m., Darnell was driving a Shockwave Jet Truck 300 mph down a runway at the Battle Creek Executive Airport for a performance Saturday, July 2 when the fatal accident occurred, Battle Creek Police said.

Ukraine’s Armed Forces launch up to 10 airstrikes on Russian positions in Luhansk region

07/02/2022

"On June 30, Su-25 attack aircraft and Su-24m bombers launched up to 10 airstrikes in Luhansk direction, supporting the combat actions of the defenders of Lysychansk. The strikes of our pilots prevented the occupiers from advancing in several important directions. The enemy's logistics centers, fuel supply points, armored combat vehicles, and manpower were hit," the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine posted on Telegram.

Russia retreats from Snake Island after artillery strikes by Ukraine’s military

07/02/2022

Russian troops were reportedly forced to leave the tiny island after massive artillery strikes by the Ukrainian military in recent weeks. Ukraine’s military said a barrage of Ukrainian artillery and missile strikes forced the Russians to flee the island in two speedboats and deprived Moscow of a strategic outpost for its air defenses and electronic warfare systems.

Flying Hours in Decline

07/02/2022

Active-duty Air Force pilots flew fewer hours in fiscal 2021 than the previous year, giving back gains made the prior year, but Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve pilots gained back some additional training in the same period.

Is RAF procurement right amid Ukraine-Russia war reality?

07/02/2022

The ongoing war in Ukraine has demonstrated the military demands of operating in a contested environment, not least of which involves the air domain. Western countries such as the UK, coming off the back of two decades of permissive air access in counter-insurgency operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, could struggle to sustain themselves in a peer-to-peer conflict.

Germany commits tens of thousands of soldiers, combat aircraft and ships in the deployment against Russia

07/02/2022

The two-day NATO summit in Madrid, which ended yesterday, was dominated by the military alliance’s preparations for war against the nuclear powers Russia and China. NATO’s new Strategic Concept describes Russia as “the most significant and direct threat to Allies’ security and to peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area.” NATO “cannot consider the Russian Federation to be our partner” and will “significantly strengthen deterrence and defence for all allies.”

India carries out maiden flight of unmanned combat aircraft

07/02/2022

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully carried out the maiden flight of the autonomous flying wing technology from the Aeronautical Test Range in Karnataka's Chitradurga on Friday. DRDO officials said, "In a major success towards developing unmanned combat aircraft, the maiden flight of the Autonomous Flying Wing Technology Demonstrator was carried out successfully from the Aeronautical Test Range, Chitradurga, Karnataka today."