Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Air Force pilots explain why the F-22 Raptor is a ‘beast’ in aerial combat

05/13/2022

U.S. Air Force Maj. Josh ‘Cabo’ Gunderson, F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team commander, performs during an air show in Fort Worth, Texas, Oct. 17, 2020. The F-22’s raw power and thrust vectoring technology gives the aircraft super maneuverability in the air-to-air battlespace.

Is Putin's invasion stalling in the Donbas?: War expert JUSTIN BRONK says the battered Russian offensive is FAILING in eastern Ukraine and desperate Putin faces failure after taking '60,000 casualties'

05/12/2022

Vladimir Putin's Donbas offensive is faltering due to heavy losses and Ukrainian resistance and may even collapse if Russia is unable to muster up significant new combat power, military expert Justin Bronk writes today. Despite the Russian president refocusing efforts from his failed Kyiv offensive to eastern Ukraine, Russia has so far failed to make significant ground in the Donbas region.

Australia’s New MC-55 Peregrine Electronic Warfare Jet Breaks Cover (Updated)

05/12/2022

The first known photo has surfaced of Australia’s newest intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and electronic warfare aircraft, a highly modified version of the Gulfstream G550 business jet, as is seen at the top of this story. The aircraft, dubbed the MC-55A Peregrine by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), was spotted flying from Gulfstream's plant in Savannah, Georgia.

Thales to equip US Air National Guard’s F-16 fleet with Scorpion HMD

05/12/2022

Thales has received an order to supply its Scorpion Helmet Mounted Displays (HMD) for the US Air National Guard’s F-16 Falcon combat aircraft fleet. The initial order has been placed under the Nato Support & Procurement Agency’s Aviation programme. The contract under the programme aims to facilitate the procurement of Scorpion HMD and other associated equipment by Nato nations.

China says warned U.S. warship as it transited Taiwan Strait

05/11/2022

China's military said on Wednesday that it had monitored and warned a U.S. warship that had sailed through the sensitive Taiwan Strait, a mission that happened shortly after China carried out drills near the island. The U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet said the guided-missile cruiser USS Port Royal conducted a "routine" Taiwan Strait transit through international waters "in accordance with international law" on Tuesday, the second such mission in two weeks.

Imagery shows China still building on Subi Reef in South China Sea

05/11/2022

Recent satellite imagery shows that China is continuing to actively develop its facilities on the disputed Subi Reef in the South China Sea, two months after a top U.S. commander said Beijing had “fully militarized” it.

The Air Force Wants to Shutter an Air Training Center Congress Just Spent $25 Million Fixing

05/11/2022

Dozens of fighter jets from across the country have congregated at a center on Georgia's coast this month for "Sentry Savannah," the Air National Guard's largest air combat training exercise. At least 48 combat jets have taken over the runways at the Air Dominance Center, located at the Savannah Air National Guard Base, in an example of how planes from the active-duty Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, as well as reserve units, use the space.

MQ-9B STOL, first aircraft in its class to offer short takeoff and landing

05/11/2022

Unmanned aerial systems have rewritten the rules of war, intelligence-gathering and so much more – and now they’re about to change yet again. That isn’t the result of a new aircraft. It’s coming about as the result of ingenious innovation applied to an existing aircraft, the MQ-9B SeaGuardian, which is gaining the ability to do something no aircraft in its class has ever done before: short takeoff and landing, or STOL.

Chinese Carrier Strike Group Continues Drills Near Japan

05/10/2022

China’s aircraft carrier CNS Liaoning (16) has been launching fighters near Japan since last week all the while being shadowed by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer helicopter carrier JS Izumo (DDH-183), according to Japanese forces.Liaoning, together with the Type 055 destroyer CNS Nanchang (101).

Inside the US Air Force’s race to fund future fighters, bombers and autonomous drones before the next crisis

05/10/2022

The Jolly Green II combat rescue helicopter was poised to follow in the footsteps of its predecessor, the Pave Hawk — a stalwart during the war in Afghanistan, time and again rescuing American troops and allies trapped in enemy territory. But in its fiscal 2023 budget released in late March, the U.S. Air Force unveiled a surprise: It wants to scale back its total planned purchases of the Jolly Green II HH-60W by one-third, to 75 in all, citing concerns they could be shot down.

The Overlooked Reason Russia’s Invasion Is Floundering

05/10/2022

Airpower should have been one of Russia’s greatest advantages over Ukraine. With almost 4,000 combat aircraft and extensive experience bombing targets in Syria, Georgia, and Chechnya, Russia’s air force was expected to play a vital role in the invasion, allowing the Russian army to plunge deep into Ukraine, seize Kyiv, and destroy the Ukrainian military. But more than two months into the war, Vladimir Putin’s air force is still fighting for control of the skies.

The Latest on Russian army losses, Sea Control Operations and Relieving the Mariupol Garrison

05/09/2022

Information we have from sources with Ukraine’s military shows the Russian army continues to bleed men, tanks, APCs, aircraft, artillery, and even ships and patrol boats to attacks by Ukrainian forces. On Saturday, we have these figures of Russian losses from just the Donbas and Luhansk regions: 19 tanks, 20 armored combat vehicles, 4 special armored vehicles, 6 soft-skinned vehicles. 1 special engineering vehicle.

French Navy Receives 7th Upgraded ATL2 Maritime Patrol Aircraft

05/09/2022

The French Defense Procurement Agency DGA took delivery of the seventh Atlantique 2 (ATL2) maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) upgraded to standard 6 on April 25, 2022, and delivered it to the French Navy (Marine Nationale) at the Lann-Bihoué naval air base.

Ukraine increases airstrikes to help its forces to stop Russia’s offensive

05/09/2022

Observers record an increase in the activity of the Ukrainian Air Force in the Eastern and Southern regions facing attacks from the Russian army. So far, photos and videos that have appeared on social media in the last few days confirmed that the Ukrainian Armed Forces still have a significant majority of their air combat power available to them, both fixed-wing and rotary-wing.

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.