Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

WATCH: Ukraine's Bayraktar TB2 drone destroys Russian landing aircraft near Snake Island

05/08/2022

Kyiv said Saturday it has destroyed another Russian ship near the Black Sea's Snake Island, where Ukrainian forces were awarded for heroism after rebuffing Russian demands to surrender. Ukraine's defence ministry said in a statement an armed drone had destroyed a Serna-class landing craft and a missile defence system at the small island under Russian control.

Ukraine Army destroys enemy plane and 14 UAVs

05/07/2022

The Armed Forces of Ukraine have destroyed one Russian aircraft and 14 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) over the past day. The relevant statement was made by the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. “The enemy’s combat aviation continues to act on distance, without entering the air space controlled by the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” the report states.

18 Chinese military aircraft intrude Taiwan’s air defense identification zone

05/07/2022

Taiwan on Friday reported that 18 Chinese military aircraft entered its air defense identification zone (ADIZ). According to the Ministry of National Defense, the planes included six J-11 fighter jets, six J-16 fighter jets, two Xi’an H-6 bombers, two KJ-500 airborne early warning and control aircraft, one Shaanxi Y-8 anti-submarine warfare plane, and one Shaanxi Y-8 electronic warfare aircraft, reported Taiwan News.

Ukraine receives weapons support from around the world

05/07/2022

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, many of the world’s nations have sought to support Ukrainians by sending weapons. Even before that, though, many countries were offering limited help as a result of the Russian takeover of Crimea, in southern Ukraine, in 2014.

‘Warthogs’ return to Europe for large military drills

05/07/2022

The “Warthogs” are back in Europe. Ten Maryland Air National Guard A-10C Thunderbolt II jets arrived in Iceland on Thursday, U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa said in a statement Friday. Designed to destroy Soviet tanks during the Cold War, the iconic attack plane nicknamed for the guttural sound its cannon makes is expected to train over various parts of Europe.

U.S. Marine Corps to activate second aggressor squadron

05/07/2022

The U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) plans to activate a second squadron of adversary aircraft to meet the future air combat training needs of its strike fighter squadrons. The second aggressor squadron will provide the East Coast with training assets similar to those of the West Coast. According to the Marine Corps Aviation Plan 2022, released this week, the 402nd Marine Fighter Training Squadron (VMFT-402) will be activated in fiscal year 2023 at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina.

Kaliningrad: Russia’s ‘unsinkable aircraft carrier’ deep in Nato territory

05/06/2022

The Russian Baltic Fleet has announced that it carried out a series of simulated missile strikes of its nuclear-capable Iskander system. This is not the first time that the Russian exclave – roughly the size of Northern Ireland and wedged between Nato and EU members Poland and Lithuania – has made the headlines as part of Russia’s sabre-rattling.

Russia – Ukraine War 2022 – Air Support Turns to Unmanned Assets

05/06/2022

The Russians made extensive use of air support by combat aircraft and helicopters. Airstrike missions were launched from airfields in Russia at targets on the front lines in the north, center, and east. Airstrikes were directed primarily at urban targets, while helicopters mainly engaged Ukraine forces in the open areas. Airstrikes employed Su-25, Su-24, and Su-34, while Su-30 provided air cover.

“On The Prowl” — Chinese Y-8 Anti-Sub Aircraft Joins J-20 Fighters, Aircraft Carrier Battle Group For Combat Ops

05/06/2022

In what could be seen as a tough response, a Chinese Y-8 anti-submarine warfare aircraft reportedly conducted a maritime patrol mission near the island of Taiwan on May 3, Global Times reported. There have been speculations that the Y-8 aircraft was involved in an accident in March this year.

South Korea seeks to replace its aging F-4 and F-5 fighters as soon as possible

05/06/2022

During the Korea Security and Defense Forum held on May 4 in Seoul, a proposal was made to add more FA-50, F-35, and KF-21 fighter jets to shorten the replacement period of its F-4 Phantom and F-5 Tiger II fighters, by three to five years. According to local media news2day, the question was raised at the Air Force Power Development Direction Seminar was held, where the need to accelerate the decommissioning of its older fighter jets to replace them with new «up to date» aircraft was discussed.

Japanese Fighters, Warships Shadow Chinese Navy Strike Group As PLA ‘Flexes Its Muscles’ In The Western Pacific

05/06/2022

On Tuesday, the Japanese defense ministry said that the refurbished Soviet-origin PLA’s Kuznetsov-class carrier was photographed launching out and collecting its ship-borne fighter J-15s and early warning helicopter Z-18s. The Ministry also stated that China’s Liaoning aircraft carrier and six accompanying naval warships are undertaking military drills with fighter jets and helicopters in the Western Pacific Ocean.

Taiwan says it cannot afford new U.S. anti-submarine helicopters

05/05/2022

Taiwan signalled on Thursday that it had abandoned a plan to buy advanced new anti-submarine warfare helicopters from the United States, saying they were too expensive. Taiwan had earlier said it was planning to buy 12 MH-60R anti-submarine helicopters, made by Lockheed Martin Corp unit Sikorsky, but domestic media said the United States had rejected the sale as not being in line with the island's needs.

Where Are the Afghan Air Force’s Aircraft Now?

05/04/2022

More than eight months ago, as the Western-backed Afghan government of Ashraf Ghani crumbled, a portion of the Afghan Air Force flew out of the country and landed in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. The Afghans eventually made their way to processing centers in countries like the United Arab Emirates and then on to the United States. Their planes remained in Central Asia, and for now that seems to be where they’ll stay.

Chinese aircraft carrier battle group enters Pacific: Japan military

05/04/2022

Taiwan's military on Tuesday said it had a clear grasp of the activities of nearby Chinese forces a day after Japan's Self-Defense Force said China's Navy had recently deployed an aircraft carrier battle group into the Pacific Ocean. Military spokesman Sun Li-fang said Taiwan's military closely monitors Chinese military maneuvers in waters and airspace surrounding Taiwan, and would take "appropriate response measures," without elaborating.

Greater Threat Doesn’t Necessarily Mean More B-21s Needed: Brown

05/04/2022

Heightened threats from Russia and China don’t automatically translate to a need for more than 100 B-21 Raiders, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. told the Senate Armed Services Committee on May 3. The service may simply bolster the number of escorts that go with the new bomber to do the long-range strike role, he said.

Turkish defense contractors enjoy sales bonanza in Asia

05/04/2022

A thick dossier of documents passed from one hand to another among officials lined up on a red carpet at the Col. Jesus Villamor Air Base in Manila. Inside the hangar stood two T129 attack helicopters produced in Turkey. "They are to be used against enemies of our state -- terrorists trying to destroy our country," Delfin Lorenzana, the defense secretary of the Philippines said at the April 6 handover ceremony.

The new upgrades for the F-22 have been teased both in official Air Force artworks and FY23 budget.

05/04/2022

25 years after it entered service in the U.S. Air Force, the F-22 Raptor is scheduled to receive some major upgrades to keep its edge over future adversaries. Some of these upgrades were unveiled last week in the Fiscal Year 23 Budget request documentation and in an official artwork shared by Gen. Mark Kelly, the Commander of Air Combat Command, in a post about the 15th anniversary of the approval of the first F-22 flight demonstration.

Vermont verve added to NATO air power with deployment of Guard’s F-35s to Germany

05/04/2022

U.S. combat jets from New England will soon fly the skies of Eastern Europe. Eight F-35 Lightning II aircraft from the Vermont Air National Guard arrived Monday at Spangdahlem Air Base to bolster NATO and support its air policing mission, U.S. Air Forces in Europe–Air Forces Africa said in a statement Tuesday.

Azerbaijan closes airspace for Russia military aircraft

05/03/2022

The Azerbaijani edition of The Azeri Times reported that, following Turkey, neighboring Azerbaijan closed its airspace for Russian military aircraft. According to The Azeri Times, this is due to intentions to disrupt the transportation of military cargo between Russia and Armenia. “Azerbaijan has closed its airspace to Russian military aircraft. As a result, Russian military aircraft carrying military supplies from Armenia to Russia were forced to fly over Iran and the Caspian Sea on their way

In first, Australian tanker refuels Japanese jet midair

05/03/2022

An Australian tanker has refueled a Japanese fighter jet in the air for the first time as part of interoperability trials between the two Asia-Pacific nations. A Royal Australian Air Force KC-30A tanker aircraft was deployed to Japan April 4-27, during which it participated in a flight test engineering program with Japan Air Self-Defense Force Mitsubishi F-2 jets.

Russian Victory Day Parade Cut By 35%, Emphasizing Ukraine’s Battlefield Prowess

05/03/2022

As Russia scales up anti-West rhetoric, Russia has scaled down their May 9 Victory Day Parade by almost 35 percent. The cuts are so dramatic, and the planned parade so humiliating, that Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin, will likely do almost anything to keep the World from focusing overly much upon Russia’s dwindling military prospects.

Ukrainian army damaged 1,000 tanks, 200 aircraft, 2,500 armored vehicles of Russian forces, claims Zelensky

05/02/2022

Since the beginning of the war, over 1,000 tanks, around 200 aircraft and at least 2,500 armored fighting vehicles of Russian forces have been destroyed by the Ukrainian army, claimed President Volodymyr Zelensky, as per media reports. The invading Russian army still have more equipment to carry out attacks, he added.

1st Fighter Jet To Host Hypersonic Missiles – US Air Force To Opt For Its ‘Top Dogfighters’ For Strike Missions

05/02/2022

Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall and Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown testifying before the House Armed Services Committee said this while revealing their plans for the F-15EX. Instead of replacing numerous older F-15C/D Eagle fighters with the newer, more capable F-15EXs, the Air Force will replace the older F-15s with remotely piloted drones or nothing at all in case the drones weren’t feasible.

Allies Step Up Military Support for Ukraine

05/02/2022

The United States and its allies have shifted from providing small arms and defensive equipment to hastily ratcheting up deliveries of heavy weaponry to Ukraine as the brutal Russian war there intensifies.

Denmark accuses Russian spy plane of violating airspace

05/02/2022

On Friday, a Russian AN-30 propeller plane was flying east of Bornholm, a Danish island in the Baltic, before it headed towards Swedish territory. “It is completely unacceptable and extremely worrying in the current situation”, Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod wrote on Twitter on Sunday. Danish F16 fighter jets countered the incursion and the plane then left Danish airspace.