Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Canada alarmed as Chinese fighter pilots ‘buzz’ Canadian planes over international waters

06/02/2022

Senior Canadian government officials are growing increasingly concerned over a dangerous escalation in aggression by Chinese fighter pilots in the skies above the Asia-Pacific region. Multiple sources in the Canadian Forces and the federal government tell Global News that Chinese jets are repeatedly “buzzing” a Canadian surveillance plane that is part of a United Nations mission over international waters.

Sweden commissions Saab to carry out preparatory study for post-Gripen future

06/02/2022

Saab has received an order from the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration (FMV), concerning the development of future fighter aircraft. The contract includes studies on future combat air capabilities. As reported in the company’s press release, the study is preparatory in nature and is intended to expand work on how future combat air capabilities can be developed and realized.

Is Poland Really Considering Procurement Of Korean FA-50 Light Combat Aircraft?

06/02/2022

Spokesman for the Polish Armament Agency (Polish MoD’s defense procurement organ) stated, via his Twitter account, that Warsaw is considering acquisition of the KAI FA-50 as a potential reinforcement of the Polish Air Force. The news appeared in the Polish public sphere in the wake of the MoD’s representatives’, including the head of the Polish MoD, Mariusz Blaszczak, visit to Korea, where they have been discussing the potential for industrial cooperation between Poland and Korea.

The Air Force’s next-gen fighter has moved into a critical new phase

06/02/2022

The Air Force’s secretive and highly classified Next Generation Air Dominance fighter program has started its crucial engineering and manufacturing development phase, Secretary Frank Kendall said Wednesday. In a discussion at the Heritage Foundation, Kendall said the Air Force began early experimental prototyping on NGAD in 2015, when he was the Pentagon’s top acquisition official.

Military aircraft to land on U.P. highway

06/01/2022

The Michigan Air National Guard 127th Wing made history with the landing of an A-10 Thunderbolt II on M-32 near Alpena in Northern Michigan on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021. The exercise, believed to be the first time modern military aircraft have been landed on a U.S. civilian roadway, was part of the annual Northern Strike war-readiness training exercise hosted by the Michigan National Guard.Provided by the Michigan Department of Military and Veteran Affairs.

Modernising the air force - Egypt

06/01/2022

On 26 May, the US State Department announced preliminary approval of the sale to Egypt of 23 CH-47F Chinook Helicopters for an estimated cost of $2.6 billion. The sale includes related equipment such as engines, GPS, navigation and missile warning systems, software, machine guns and ammunition.

China has the power to take Taiwan, but it would cost an extremely bloody price

06/01/2022

On his first trip to Asia as United States President last week, Joe Biden gave his strongest warning yet to Beijing that Washington was committed to defending Taiwan militarily in the event of an attack from China. Biden's comments, which compared a potential Chinese attack on Taiwan to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, appeared to deviate from Washington's decades-old policy of "strategic ambiguity" on the issue and seemingly raised the possibility of a military clash between US and Chinese forces.

F-35 Stealth Fighters: Turkey Wants US To Change Its Decision Over F-35 Deal Or Return Investments

06/01/2022

Turkey is demanding that the US should either change its decision on the F-35 stealth fighter supply program or return the money paid, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Tuesday. “As for the F-35, Congress needs to reconsider its decision. We say either change the decision or return the money we invested,” Cavusoglu told Turkish news agency Anadolu.

Finland To Deploy US-made F-35 Fighter Jets In Northeast Region To Enhance Security

05/31/2022

Finland will deploy the US-made F-35 fighter jets to its northernmost region, Lapland, to deter the aggression from Russia as it seeks membership in the defensive alliance NATO. Helsinki is expected to receive the first batch of the aircraft in four years’ time, the country’s air force reportedly said in a statement.

India Cuts Back World’s Largest Fighter Jet Procurement Programme By Half

05/31/2022

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is cutting down its largest fighter jet procurement programme by half and has indicated the likelihood of a change in the procurement model to one which is more acceptable to foreign suppliers for compliance to Make in India requirements in view of the reduced numbers.

Taiwan jets scramble as China air force enters air defence zone

05/31/2022

Taiwan on Monday reported the largest incursion since January by China's air force in its air defence zone, with the island's defence ministry saying Taiwanese fighters scrambled to warn away 30 aircraft in the latest uptick in tensions. Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has complained for the past two years or so of repeated missions by China's air force near the democratically governed island, often in the southwestern part of its air defence identification zone.

F-35 Under Attack? Did Russian S-300 Missile ‘Bring Down’ World’s Best Stealth Fighter Over Syria

05/30/2022

According to reports, at least one surface-to-air missile was launched at F-16 fighters while they were departing after striking Iranian targets near Syria’s northwestern city of Masyaf. Exactly who operates the S-300 systems in Syria is unclear. However, reports suggest that Russian military personnel oversee operations of the Syrian S-300s, and Damascus needs Moscow’s authorization before it can fire them.

Japan to Co-develop Future Fighter F-X With UK

05/30/2022

The Japanese government is considering choosing British aerospace and defense contractor BAE Systems to support prime contractor Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) in developing the F-X next-generation fighter aircraft for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF), informed sources said.

Finland’s first F-35s will be based up north

05/30/2022

The announcement to base the first F-35 multirole aircraft up north was made by the Finnish Air Force on Friday. “The Air Force’s F-35 fleet will be commissioned first to the Lapland Air Force in Rovaniemi in 2026,” Air Force Commander Brigadier General Juha-Pekka Keränen said.

Ukraine repulses attacks on Sievierodonetsk; experts claim Russia incites genocide in Ukraine

05/30/2022

Ukraine pushes back Russians to previous positions around Sievierodonetsk and a reported small counteroffensive had taken place in Kherson Oblast; meanwhile, Rusia had taken control of Lyman and Svitlodarsk. Ukraine says Russia has lost about 30,000 soldiers since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russia continues to construct fortifications in Kherson Oblast.

Lithuanian Citizens Pool $4.7M to Buy Advanced Drone for Ukraine's Military

05/29/2022

Hundreds of Lithuanian citizens rallied together to raise nearly $5 million to purchase an advanced military drone for Ukraine to use in its ongoing war against Russia. The fundraiser was completed in just three and a half days, and was largely comprised of small donations from ordinary Lithuanian citizens, Reuters reported Saturday, citing Laisves TV, a Lithuanian internet broadcaster that launched the effort. The money, a total of $4.7 million, will now be used to purchase a Bayraktar TB2 mili

Ukraine receives Harpoon missiles and howitzers, says defence minister

05/28/2022

Ukraine has started receiving Harpoon anti-ship missiles from Denmark and self-propelled howitzers from the United States, Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said on Saturday, saying the arms would bolster forces fighting Russia's invasion. "The coastal defence of our country will not only be strengthened by Harpoon missiles – they will be used by trained Ukrainian teams," Reznikov wrote on his Facebook page.

Russia scraps age limit for new troops in Ukraine push

05/28/2022

President Vladimir Putin has signed a law enabling people over 40 to enlist for the armed forces. They are expected to be people of normal working age. Previously the army had age limits of 18-40 years for Russians and 18-30 for foreigners. Russia is presenting it as a move to recruit more technical specialists. The new law says specialists are required to operate high-precision weapons and "experience shows that they become such by the age of 40-45".

NATO scrambles fighter jets to intercept Russian aircraft near border with Finland

05/28/2022

Tensions with Russia have been escalating in the area since Finland and Sweden submitted applications to join NATO on May 18. A Mikoyan MiG-31 'Foxhound' and a Sukhoi Su-24 'Fencer' jet were intercepted near Norway’s airspace on Thursday. The jets were observed outside Finnmark, in Norway's far north, but did not enter official Norwegian airspace.

Ukrainian paratroopers down Russia’s Ka-52 helicopter in Kharkiv Region

05/28/2022

The relevant statement was made by the Air Assault Forces Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. “Today Ukrainian servicemen from the anti-aircraft artillery missile battalion of the 95th Separate Air Assault Brigade have shot down another combat helicopter used by Russian occupiers, Ka-52 ‘Alligator’,” the report states.

Move to Block Swiss F-35 Purchase Gains Support

05/28/2022

A Swiss alliance seeking to block the purchase of F-35 fighter jets said Friday it had received nearly enough support to put the controversial military contract to a referendum. The left-wing Stop F-35 alliance said it had almost secured the 100,000 signatures required under Switzerland’s direct democracy system to force an issue to a vote. The consortium has said it does not want the jets because they are costly, and because of a number of technical issues reported with the planes.

The Ukrainian Air Force Claims One Of Their MiG-29s Has Shot Down A Russian Su-35 Today

05/28/2022

“Today, May 27, around 14.00 o’clock a MiG-29 fighter of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine shot down a Russian fighter Su-35, which posed a threat to Ukrainian aircraft in the sky of Kherson region”. This is the very short text that has been released few hours ago on Telegram and other social networks by the Ukrainian Air Force.

Helicopter, two mortars destroyed, almost 90 invaders killed in Ukraine’s east on May 26

05/27/2022

The Armed Forces of Ukraine eliminated almost 90 Russian invaders, also destroying a helicopter and two enemy mortars in the past day. That’s according to the Operational Command East’s report on Facebook, seen by Ukrinform. It is noted that Ukrainian defenders continue to hold back Russian troops in the east.

Fewer KC-390s and more Gripen for the Brazilian Air Force

05/27/2022

The commander of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), Brigadier Carlos de Almeida Baptista Júnior, stated on Monday that he will seek to reduce the number of KC-390 Millennium ordered from Embraer from 22 to 15 units. This is the second time that the FAB intends to reduce the acquisition of the KC-390. Originally 28 units had been ordered from Embraer, but the reduction in the expected Defense budget because of the economic crisis resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ukraine Has Shot Down A Top Russian Fighter Pilot

05/27/2022

Ukrainian air defenses have claimed another victim: a top Russian fighter pilot. Kanamat Botashev, a retired major general in the Russian Air Force, was killed when his Su-25 ground attack aircraft was hit by a Stinger missile, according to the BBC’s Russian-language service (English translation here), which contacted three of Botashev’s former subordinates.