Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Piecing Together the NGAD Puzzle

04/30/2022

ontrol of the air is the Air Force’s top core competency, but as its premier fighters age, its ability to perform that mission in the future is increasingly in question. By 2030, the Air Force anticipates its F-22 Raptors will no longer be sufficiently survivable in contested air space, potentially leaving the joint force vulnerable to air attack. To stay well ahead of China’s J-20 and other adversary aircraft, as well as increasingly sophisticated ground-based air defenses around the world.

Navy’s F/A-XX Fighter Will be the ‘Quarterback’ for a Team of Unmanned Aircraft

04/30/2022

The future F/A-XX sixth-generation fighter will operate as the Navy’s “quarterback” for manned and unmanned teaming in future carrier operations, according to the service. Navy officials described the vision for the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, meant to expand the range for carrier-based operations, in written testimony to Congress this week.

Test team demonstrates new weapon to sink ships

04/29/2022

Eglin’s Integrated Test Team demonstrated a new low-cost, air-delivered capability for defeating maritime threats in the Gulf of Mexico April 28, 2022. This was proven when an 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron F-15E Strike Eagle released a modified GBU-31 joint direct attack munition that successfully destroyed a full-scale stationary surface vessel. This was third experiment in the QUICKSINK Joint Capability Technology Demonstration.

US Air Force to Assess Thailand’s Readiness to Operate F-35s

04/29/2022

A team from the US Air Force will go to Thailand to evaluate if the southeast Asian nation is ready to operate F-35 fighter jets. The Royal Thai Air Force announced earlier this year that it plans to procure the fifth-generation fighter jets to replace its aging fleet of combat aircraft. Commander-in-chief Napadej Dhupatemiya revealed that the country was considering the purchase of eight to 12 F-35s and using drones to fly alongside them.

With new operations on opposite sides of the world, Chinese military aircraft are showing off growing reach

04/29/2022

China's military has rapidly built one of the world's largest aviation forces, developing increasingly capable aircraft that the US Defense Department has warned are "gradually eroding" the US military's advantage in the air. In recent weeks, China's premier fighter jets and strategically valuable airlifters have reached milestones that underscore Beijing's increasing focus on and investment in military aviation.

Future NGAD fighter jets could cost ‘hundreds of millions’ apiece

04/29/2022

The U.S. Air Force’s secretive Next Generation Air Dominance future fighter program could be the most expensive aircraft program in history, with each piloted, sixth-generation aircraft expected to cost hundreds of millions of dollars. When asked about the price tag for NGAD during a Wednesday appearance before the House Armed Services Committee, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall did not specify exactly how much an individual aircraft could cost.

Boeing Unveils First T-7A Red Hawk Training Jet For The Air Force

04/29/2022

Boeing has rolled out the first T-7A Red Hawk built for the U.S. Air Force under the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase of the program. These jets are set to be the service’s first new advanced jet trainers since the T-38 Talon, which first took to the air more than 60 years ago. Significantly, this particular jet is the first true T-7A, the previous two aircraft being company demonstrators that were not necessarily representative of the final configuration.

Germany to send anti-aircraft systems to Ukraine in policy shift

04/28/2022

The German government has announced that it is to send a fleet of around 50 anti-aircraft systems to Ukraine, as it attempts to offset criticism that it has been too slow to provide military equipment to the war-torn country.

The US left $7 billion of military gear - including 78 aircraft, 12,000 Humvees and thousands of air-to-ground weapons - in Afghanistan after Biden's chaotic 2021 withdrawal, according to Pentagon report

04/28/2022

A Pentagon report reveals that billions of dollars in weapons and military equipment transferred to the Afghan government was left behind in Afghanistan after the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from the country. In all, about $7 billion worth of hardware remained in the country after the Taliban seized control, according to the report prepared for Congress which was obtained by CNN.

Navy Will Endure Strike Fighter Gaps Until 2031, Lawmakers Say

04/28/2022

Despite recent projections that it would eliminate strike fighter gaps in the next three years, the Navy now won’t have enough jets to train and deploy efficiently until 2031, two lawmakers said today. Rep. Donald Norcross (D-N.J.) and Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-Mo.), the top lawmakers on the House Armed Services tactical air and land forces subcommittee, disclosed the new timeline during the panel’s hearing today.

At defence talks in Germany, U.S. says world galvanized against Russia's invasion

04/27/2022

The United States said the world was galvanized against Russia's two-month-old invasion of Ukraine as it hosted more than 40 countries for defence talks in Germany that sought to speed and synchronize the delivery of arms to Kyiv. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin hosted the event at Ramstein Air Base following a trip to Kyiv where he pledged additional military support to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's war effort, which is at a crossroads.

China cements its place as Pakistan’s largest supplier of major arms: Report

04/27/2022

China, between 2017 and 2021, has cemented its place as Pakistan’s largest supplier of major arms, including fighter aircraft, warships, submarines and missiles, data compiled by an independent institute focusing on arms transfers and conflict said. Between 2017 and 2021, Beijing met 72% of Islamabad’s demand for major arms, data from Sweden’s Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) published in March showed.

One-third of F-35s could be delivered before operational testing is complete

04/26/2022

The costs of major upgrades to the F-35 fighter are continuing to rise, and repeated delays on critical simulation tests and on a full-rate production decision are increasing the risk the Defense Department buys faulty jets that need to be fixed, a new Government Accountability Office report said. In Monday’s report, GAO found that the cost of the F-35's Block 4 modernization effort grew to $15.1 billion in 2021, $741 million more than the estimated cost in 2020.

Marine Corps declares its heavy lift helicopter operational

04/26/2022

The U.S. Marine Corps this month declared its new heavy lift helicopter operational, following the completion of test, training and sustainment requirements. Deputy Commandant for Aviation Lt. Gen. Mark Wise on April 22 determined the Sikorsky-made CH-53K King Stallion had achieved initial operational capability. The service announced the milestone April 25.

The F-35 also selects the Lockheed Martin fighter jet from Canada

04/25/2022

Canada chooses Lockheed Martin F-35 as its next fighter. The Canadian government has selected Lockheed Martin Corporation and the F-35 at a higher price in a tender to buy a new fighter jet, government officials said Monday. So after Switzerland and Finland, Canada is one step away from buying 88 F-35s from Lockheed Martin to replace the Royal Canadian Air Force (Rcaf) CF-18 hornets. Also in the competition was Saab Griffin. Canada had already rejected Boeing’s Super Hornet.

PLA Navy celebrates 73rd birthday with half dozen new warships, hint on third aircraft carrier

04/25/2022

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy celebrated its 73rd anniversary on Saturday by announcing, over the past days, the commissioning of half a dozen powerful warships and two types of advanced vessel-based helicopters, which have already started training to form combat capabilities. These achievements are a reflection of the Navy’s rapid, tremendous growth over the recent years, which is enabling the naval force to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security and development i

Plan Now for a No-Fly Zone Over Taiwan

04/25/2022

Taiwan is not Ukraine. It is, rather, in a far more vulnerable position. No matter what other idea guides the defense of the island republic, air superiority will be critical. Washington and Taipei must prepare now to ensure this air superiority. And while discussion of a Ukrainian no-fly zone has given a wide berth to military reality, planning for Taiwan’s air defense must be grounded in hard truth.

Putin's mighty war machine on the SCRAPHEAP: After two months of fighting, Russia has now lost 873 tanks, 179 aircraft, 21,800 troops... and the pride of its navy is lying on the bottom of the Black Sea

04/25/2022

The scale of Russian troop losses in Ukraine has tipped 21,000 as Putin's war rumbles into its third month today. The latest statistics, published by the Ukrainian Land Forces this morning, suggest 21,800 Russian fighters have been killed amid bitter resistance from Ukraine's armed forces and territorial defence units - though this figure could not be verified. Meanwhile, the land forces claim to have dealt massive damage to Russia's military equipment and machinery.

Slovenia Sending Tanks to Ukraine, Ukrainian Tank Brigades on the Roll

04/24/2022

Following the Czech Republic’s donation of 56 Pbv-501 infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine with the approval of Germany, Slovenia is now stepping up to the plate and donating its own set of tanks to Ukraine. This is to help the country defend its territory against the Russian advance in Donbas. It is rumored that Slovenia’s Yugoslav-made M-84 tanks (an upgraded version of the T-72) would be sent to Ukraine.

Ukrainian military destroys four enemy tanks, aircraft in JFO area

04/24/2022

In the Joint Forces Operation area, the Ukrainian defenders have repulsed 12 attacks and destroyed dozens of units of enemy equipment, including four tanks and an aircraft, today. "Today, April 23, the Joint Forces troops have successfully repulsed 12 enemy attacks. Thanks to their skillful actions, our soldiers inflicted losses on the Russian occupiers," the press service of the Joint Forces Operation posted on Facebook.

Turkey closes airspace to Russian military aircraft to Syria: FM Çavusoglu

04/24/2022

Turkey has closed its airspace to Russian military and civilian flights to Syria after notifying Moscow, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavusoglu said Saturday. “We were giving permissions in three-month intervals. The latest one was until April,” the minister said in an interview with the press during his flight to Latin America, stating that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had informed his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. “Henceforth the flights have stopped,” Çavusoglu added.

UK Aims To Be The ‘Russia Of India’ For Defense Partnerships; Can Britain Even Beat France As A Trusted Military Ally?

04/24/2022

Given the widely shared criticism of the big gap that exists between rhetoric and realities in India-UK defense relations in recent years, will the just-concluded visit of the British PM Boris Johnson to India result in its narrowing, discernibly? In their joint press briefing on April 22, Johnson and his host Prime Minister Narendra Modi appeared to think so. But then, such an atmosphere of optimism existed too when the two met “virtually” last May and outlined their “2030 Roadmap” or vision.

Bayraktar TB2 laser-marked a target, Akinci UAV hit it with Teber-82

04/24/2022

The attacking Akinci unmanned aerial vehicle successfully hit a target on the sea surface with the Teber-82 guidance kit, after the target was laser-marked by another Turkish drone – Bayraktar TB2. The information was shared by Baykar Defense in a press release.

As China ‘Goes On A Rampage’ In The Neighbourhood, Japan Ramps Up Defenses Of Remote Yonaguni Island Near Taiwan

04/24/2022

In the last few years, Chinese ships have escalated their patrols of the area surrounding Japan’s controlled Senkaku islands, an uninhabited island chain also claimed by China and Taiwan. The islands, known as the Diaoyu Islands in China and Diaoyutai in Taiwan, have become a centerpiece of rising regional tensions.

Russian Military Facility Housing Stealth F-35, F-22, USAF Missiles, Rafale Fighter Models Gets Seriously Damaged

04/24/2022

Russia, which has already suffered losses in Ukraine, appears to be straining at home as well, with a large fire breaking out on April 21 in a secretive Russian military research facility, killing seven people, injuring another 25 people, and causing substantial damage, according to the state-run news outlet Tass.