Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

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."

By accident or design—or designed accident? China’s unsafe air intercepts

07/01/2022

On 26 May a J-16 fighter aircraft from the Peoples Liberational Army Air Force conducted an ‘unsafe’ interception of an Australian P-8A Poseidon routine surveillance flight above international waters. The Chinese fighter pulled alongside releasing flares, then cut in front of the Royal Australian Air Force aircraft and released ‘chaff’—aluminium fragments to decoy incoming missiles. Chaff is familiar to audiences for its frequent appearance in the movie Top Gun: Maverick.

Myanmar fighter jet enters Thai airspace prompting Thai jets to scramble

07/01/2022

Thai authorities say they scrambled fighter jets after a Myanmar fighter jet entered Thai airspace. The aircraft was said to be attacking an ethnic minority group on the Myanmar side of the border. The Thai Air Force deployed two F-16 jets for combat reconnaissance in the border area, Phob Phra District, Tak Province, after a military aircraft was detected flying over the border, the Royal Thai Airforce reports 30 June.

As Sweden's and Finland's NATO bids move forward, the alliance is already eyeing their fighter jets

07/01/2022

As Finland's and Sweden's accession to NATO moves ahead quickly, the alliance's already tight partnership with the Nordic countries was on display in the skies over Northern Europe in early June. On June 2, the Swedish and Finnish air forces drilled with their British, French, German, Norwegian, and Belgian counterparts along Norway's west coast. Some 45 aircraft participated in the exercise, which was meant to demonstrate the ability to conduct complex air operations over long distances.

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

07/01/2022

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.”

Greece to ask US for F-35 combat aircraft

07/01/2022

kai TV reported that Greece will request the deployment of twenty F-35 aircraft and another twenty on condition. Ankara has been pressuring US Congress for a long time now to approve the purchase of new F-16 fighters and set it as a condition before Turkey green-lights the accession of Finland and Sweden into NATO.

Air Force Initiates New Next-Gen Tanker ‘Family’ With Request for Information

06/30/2022

The Air Force has pounded another nail into the coffin of a potential bridge tanker competition with the launch of the Advanced Aerial Refueling Family of Systems (AAR FoS) program. In a request for information by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, the service informed the aviation industry that it’s seeking significant improvements to existing tankers while looking to define a far more capable future system.

New F-16s give Jordan’s air force a boost, but what comes next?

06/30/2022

As Jordan’s leader publicly raised the idea of a Middle East NATO-like alliance, his Air Force has marked a significant upgrade with the signing of a Letter of Offer and Acceptance for eight F-16 Block 70 aircraft from Lockheed Martin. The LOA was signed June 17 with a Lockheed spokesperson telling Breaking Defense “We anticipate the production contract for this LOA will be complete in the next year,” with deliveries expected to start in 2027.

175th Wing demonstrates warfighting capabilities in Europe

06/30/2022

Approximately 170 Airmen assigned to the 175th Wing, Maryland Air National Guard and A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft have returned from Europe, where they supported Exercises Swift Response and Defender Europe 22. The 10 Maryland A-10s, assigned to the 104th Fighter Squadron, flew more than 240 sorties and operated in 10 countries throughout Europe to execute Agile Combat Employment. ACE is the Air Force concept of quickly mobilizing and deploying aircraft, personnel and equipment across a theater