Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Raytheon selected for key project to modernise USAF’s A-10 aircraft

06/18/2022

Raytheon Technologies’ company Raytheon Intelligence & Space (RI&S) has been selected for a $46.2m project-level agreement to modernise the US Air Force’s (USAF) A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft. The firm-fixed-price contract falls under the System of Systems Consortium’s (SOSSEC) Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) consortium initiative Other Transaction Authority (OTA).

Air Force selects future aircrew helmet

06/18/2022

The Air Force selected LIFT Airborne Technologies in April to continue with prototype development of a new helmet for Air Force fixed-wing aircrew. The helmet prototype was chosen after Air Combat Command initiated the search for a next-generation helmet to address issues with long-term neck and back injuries, optimize aircraft technology, improve pilot longevity, and provide better fitment to diverse aircrews.

Why Ukraine’s wins against Russian aircraft should worry the US Air Force

06/18/2022

There’s an old sports cliché that offense sells tickets, but defense wins championships — and the U.S. Air Force may learn a thing or two from seeing it play out in the Russian invasion of Ukraine. That’s because Ukraine, despite having a smaller, lower-tech air force than Russia, has managed to keep Russian aircraft largely out of the country through the clever use of mobile anti-aircraft missile launchers and their knowledge of the terrain, according to a recently-published essay by airpower e

China unveils cutting-edge aircraft carrier, first to be locally designed

06/18/2022

China unveiled its first homegrown aircraft carrier on Friday, a vessel with advanced aircraft launch technology similar to its U.S. counterparts, in an event designed to symbolize the country’s expanding military might. In a ribbon-cutting ceremony held at the Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai, officials unveiled the Type 003 warship, called “Fujian” according to the country’s defense ministry and state media.

A-10 retirements, more Air Force F-35s in Senate defense policy bill

06/17/2022

The Air Force could finally get its chance to start retiring some of its older A-10 Warthog attack planes. The Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday announced it had advanced its version of the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, which supports the Air Force’s plans to divest 21 A-10s at Fort Wayne Air National Guard Base in Indiana. The Air Force said earlier this year, when it released its proposed fiscal 2023 budget, it would replace those Warthogs with an equal number of F-16s.

ACE trailer undergoes operational tests and development with Total Force

06/17/2022

Airmen from California 144th Fighter Wing continued operational tests of an Agile Combat Employment trailer, June 9, 2022, at the Fresno Air National Guard Base, California. The ACE trailer is a one-of-a-kind operational prototype that enables a small team of Airmen to launch and recover fighter jets from an austere location. It was only the second operational use of the basing trailer thus far to launch and recover fighter jets. The trailer served as the hub for all maintenance operations.

Six NATO countries sign agreement to collaborate on next-gen helo

06/17/2022

Six NATO countries signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly work on concepts for a next-generation helicopter on June 16 at a meeting of alliance defense ministers in Brussels. France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom are committing €26.7 million, or roughly $28 million, for the Next-Generation Rotorcraft Capability (NGRC) project, according to a NATO statement. Canada will likely be an observer nation.

Agile Combat Employment: UOTT Takes Part in Lightning carrier concept aboard USS Tripoli

06/17/2022

The U.S. Operational Test Team (UOTT) supported a U.S. Marine Corps F-35 spring test event aboard the USS Tripoli, led by the Navy’s Operational Test and Evaluation Force (OPTEVFOR). The mission demonstrated the Lightning carrier concept where several F-35B aircraft rapidly launch from a Landing Helicopter Assault (LHA) ship to conduct missions involving large strike packages or hours of defensive counter air.

Russia is struggling to get its MiG-35 fighter jet off the ground

06/17/2022

The MiG-35 "Fulcrum-F" is a medium-weight, fourth-generation "++" multirole fighter aircraft produced as a highly upgraded version of the MiG-29K/KUB and MiG-29M/M2. First announced publicly in 2007 at the Aero India air show in Bengaluru, development of the craft has been notably slow, with the earliest production beginning in 2013 or 2014 and the first successful flight not occurring until 2017.

Sweden Might Acquire Second-Hand C-130Js From Italy

06/16/2022

Sweden is looking to replace its six old C-130Hs (Tp84 according to the Swedish MoD designation) with four second-hand C-130Js from Italy, as the procurement of the latter has been judged as a better option than an upgrade program. While this has not yet been officially confirmed from the two countries, Air Forces Monthly reported the news after an interview with the Swedish Air Force Chief of Staff.

Construction Of Airbase On Tinian Island In Case Guam Gets Knocked Out Has Begun

06/16/2022

Satellite imagery shows major construction at Tinian International Airport that we can say with near certainty is linked directly to plans to expand the facility's ability to act as a divert airfield for the U.S. military in a crisis. More than a decade in the making, the project is intended to provide a vital alternative operating location to the U.S. Air Force's massive Andersen Air Force Base on the island of Guam, just to the southwest of Tinian, should that base be put out of action for any

Honing the combat edge – AWIC 22

06/16/2022

The skies over the Top End are once again reverberating to the sound of combat aircraft as Exercise Diamond Storm draws to its conclusion. The exercise, involving multiple fighter aircraft from the RAAF’s Air Combat Group, C-130J Hercules from the Air Mobility Group and a P-8A Poseidon from Surveillance and Response Group, will graduate the latest generation of Air Warfare instructors who will then go on to be subject matter experts back in their parent units.

Buechel Air Base in Southwestern Germany Selected as Destination for Future F-35 Fleet

06/16/2022

Germany has chosen an installation near the U.S.-operated Spangdahlem Air Base to house the 35 American-made fighter jets it purchased as part of a military overhaul in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The fleet of fifth-generation F-35 stealth jets will be stationed at Buechel Air Base, in the country's Eifel region, German broadcaster SWR reported Saturday, citing an unidentified spokesman in the German armed forces' Federal Infrastructure Office.

Air Force eyes buying more FA-50 aircraft

06/15/2022

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) is mulling to acquire more advanced versions of South Korea's Mach 1.5 capable FA-50 light combat aircraft. "Yes, it is an option. The FA-50s is a good lead-in trainer fighter aircraft na rin, halos multi-role, pwede siyang mag-air-to-ground (it can be considered almost as a multi-role aircraft as it can do air-to-ground missions) or air-to-air. It provides a good training opportunity for the pilots to step up to higher performance aircraft."

How Sanctions Are Affecting Russia’s Defense Industrial Base

06/15/2022

The U.S. shouldn’t count on economic sanctions to cripple Russia’s defense industrial base or to prevent Russia from replacing military equipment lost or expended in Ukraine, according to a panel of experts.

Ukrainian defenders down Russia’s Su-34 plane in Kharkiv Region

06/14/2022

The relevant statement was made by the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Telegram, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. “At about 10:00 a.m., June 12, 2022, the anti-aircraft missile units of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine hit Russia’s Su-34 fighter-bomber aircraft near Izium, Kharkiv Region,” the report states.

The war in Ukraine should serve to bolster Europe’s air power ambitions

06/14/2022

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a stark reminder that Europe’s NATO members need to spend more wisely — and not simply spend more — in bolstering their collective defense against unwarranted aggression. Kyiv’s success so far in blunting Moscow’s armed forces provides a pointer as to where at least some of the additional investment and focus should go, not least of all in air and counter-air systems as well as what are sometimes termed combat enablers.

All The German F-35s To Be Stationed At Büchel Air Base

06/14/2022

The Bundeswehr (the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany) have decided that all the new F-35A stealth jets destined to the Luftwaffe (German Air Force) will be stationed at Büchel Air Base.

Indian Air Force plans to acquire 114 multirole fighter aircraft

06/14/2022

A report by Asian News International (ANI) said that the remaining 18 of 114 aircraft would be purchased from foreign manufacturers selected under the new project. The fighter jets are being acquired under the Government of India’s (GOI) ‘Buy Global and Make in India’ initiative, which allows local companies to collaborate with international vendors.

China Deploys J-20 Stealth Fighters Near Indian Border; PLA Continues To Boost Its Military Capabilities – Reports

06/13/2022

According to recent reports, the Government sources have revealed that the PLA Air Force has around two dozen frontline combat aircraft stationed at its Hotan air base in the Eastern Ladakh sector, including the J-11 and the J-20 stealth fighters jets. “The Chinese earlier used to maintain detachments of MiG-21 class fighters there, but they have now been replaced with more capable and sophisticated aircraft and in larger numbers,” they said.

USAF KC-46A conducts first air refueling of CV-22 Osprey

06/13/2022

For the first time, a Boeing KC-46A Pegasus of the United States Air Force (USAF) refueled a CV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft of the Air Force Special Operations Command. This milestone was announced by the 27th Special Operations Wing of the USAF on June 9, 2022. The mission took place over Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico on June 1, 2022.

KAI, Lockheed Martin team up to boost trainer jet sales in U.S.

06/13/2022

Korea Aerospace Industries Co., South Korea's sole aircraft manufacturer, said Sunday it has signed an agreement with the U.S. defense firm Lockheed Martin to boost sales of its advanced trainer jets in the United States. Under the "Teaming Agreement" signed on Thursday (U.S. time), the two sides agreed to set up a steering committee to jointly design, produce and promote an improved model of FA-50 light combat aircraft to try to win U.S. military procurement projects.

Russian military planes violate Swedish airspace in chilling new warning from Putin

06/12/2022

A Russian signal reconnaissance plane and two Russian fighter planes entered Swedish civilian surveillance airspace north of Visby on Thursday without reporting the approach according to a source speaking to the Swedish press. The breach came as Swedish forces are currently participating in the annual naval exercise Baltops, where, among others, the amphibious ship USS Kearsarge visited Stockholm.

First-Ever F-35, J-20 Encounter — After A Near Miss, US ‘Replicates’ Chinese Stealth Fighters To Battle USAF Warplanes

06/12/2022

Months after the Commander of the Pacific Air Forces of the USAF, General Kenneth Wilsbach revealed that the F-35 had a close encounter with China’s J-20 fighter jet over the East China Sea, the US Air Force is constituting an F-35 aggressor squadron to ‘replicate the threat emerging from China.’

Fourteen enemy attacks repulsed in JFO area

06/11/2022

The Ukrainian military have repulsed 14 enemy attacks and destroyed four Russian tanks, 11 armored vehicles and other military equipment in the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) area over the past day. The relevant statement was made by the Joint Forces Task Force on Facebook, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.