Military Aviation News Archive

Hungary purchases Aero L-39 next-gen trainer and light combat aircraft

04/24/2022

Hungarian Government Commissioner Gaspar Marot informed the national media about the purchase from Budapest of L-39NG training aircraft manufactured by the Czech company Aero Vodochody, BulgarianMilitary.com has learned, citing Defence 24.

F-15 Eagle Takes Off From Nevada for the Last Time, Packs Tanks to Last It to Florida

04/23/2022

We discussed a bit the distance between the two bases because it is from one that F-15C Eagles belonging to the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron have been heading to the other throughout March, as the planes were in the process of being reassigned to the 53rd Wing at Eglin. We see one of these F-15s in the main photo of this piece, released last week by the USAF. The plane is seen shortly after take-off, the two Pratt & Whitney engines burning hot as it is climbing to the sky, tanks.

Chinese Warships, Fighter Jets Heading To Australia’s Backyard ‘In Weeks’ As Beijing Projects Power In Southern Pacific — Reports

04/23/2022

After days of making desperate diplomatic overtures in the region against the deal, Australia was left ‘disappointed’ as the signing of the agreement was announced earlier this week. On April 19, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin announced the agreement in Beijing, adding that China would work with Honiara to preserve social order, defend people’s safety, provide aid, combat natural catastrophes, and help safeguard national security, ABC News had reported.

Ukraine’s future and Australia’s global interests are both on the line

04/23/2022

The war in Ukraine has entered a new phase. Russia’s aim over the next few weeks is to deliver a paper victory for President Vladimir Putin to justify a parade on 9 May in Moscow marking Victory Day, the anniversary of the Nazi surrender in 1945.

The Marine Corps’ reorganization plan will cripple its aviation capabilities

04/23/2022

The poor performance by the Russian military thus far in their full-scale invasion of Ukraine should serve as a cautionary tale of how not to fight a war. While immediate attention has been drawn to the effectiveness of man-portable weapons like the Javelin and Stinger missiles, students of the art of war know that the greatest lesson is not new at all: combat effectiveness depends on the seamless integration of all elements of combat power.

UK, India promise partnership on new fighter jet technology

04/23/2022

Britain and India will strengthen their defense and security ties, including partnering on development of combat jet technology, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced during a trip to New Delhi Thursday. Johnson said the defense cooperation pact would boost procurement across several areas, but offered few details during a press conference wrapping up the two-day visit to India. The trip was aimed principally at progressing talks about a free trade deal between the nations.

Why isn't ?Germany supplying Ukraine with heavy weapons?

04/22/2022

The criticism against German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has been unrelenting. He's been accused of stalling and breaking his promises over sending heavy weapons to Ukraine. DW looks at some of the main points of contention.

Israel has a KC-46 problem. Here’s the solution.

04/22/2022

Eying growing and distinct threats that may require the United States and Israel to conduct long-range airstrikes, both militaries urgently need to replace their aging aerial refueling fleets with the modernized KC-46A. The problem is the aircraft has been plagued by development challenges and delays.The good news is there are steps the U.S. and Israel can take together to avoid further delays and reduce the time it takes for Israel’s Air Force to use its KC-46s in real-world missions once the n

Boeing pitches F/A-18 Super Hornet Block III for Indian Navy – capabilities of aircraft-borne fighter jet

04/22/2022

Boeing has been trying to woo the Indian Navy with its aircraft carrier-borne fighter - F/A-18 Super Hornet for India's aircraft carriers. Vice president of Boeing's India Business Development Alain Garcia said that the US defence major is planning to fly two Super Hornet fighter jets to Goa summer for operational demonstrations this summer. In an attempt to convince the Indian government to buy the F/A-18 Super Hornet Block III.

Brazilian Navy takes delivery of it’s last A-4 Skyhawk modernized by Embraer

04/21/2022

Embraer today delivered the seventh and final modernized A-4 Skyhawk fighter jet (locally designated AF-1) to the Brazilian Navy. The ceremony was held at Embraer’s industrial unit in Gavião Peixoto, in São Paulo state. Under the AF-1 program (the Navy designation for the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk), seven subsonic fighter jets were modernized – five single-seater AF-1Bs and two two-seaters AF-1Cs.

IAF Fires BrahMos Cruise Missile From Sukhoi-30 MkI Aircraft; Successfully Hits Target

04/20/2022

The Indian Air Force (IAF), on Tuesday, conducted a firing test of the BrahMos cruise missile from the Sukhoi-30 MkI aircraft from the Eastern Seaboard. According to the IAF, the test ended in a success as the missile precisely hit its target which was a decomissioned Indian Navy ship. "The mission was undertaken in close coordination with Indian Navy", the IAF said in a statement.

USMC Hornet Squadron Pivots from Arctic to Poland to Replace USAF in Air Policing

04/20/2022

Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornets had no sooner finished a six-week deployment in the Arctic before a real-world contingency required them to redeploy to NATO’s eastern flank. The Marine Corps rarely conducts NATO Air Policing. But in the total force muscle flex triggered by Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312 finished Exercise Cold Response in Norway and flew south to central Poland. They replaced eight U.S. Air Force F-15Es from the 336th Fighter Squadron.

U.S. Air Force Works Alongside U.S. Army in Poland and the Czech Republic

04/20/2022

Soldiers can hear a subtle roar from the range tower at Zdar Range, Hradište Military Area, Czech Republic, on March 8, 2022. Czech army soldiers come outside and look up to see what made the noise. Two MI-24 Hind attack helicopters fly over the range. Suddenly, an L-159 Advanced Light Combat Aircraft (ALCA) fixed-wing subsonic aircraft appears and dives close to the ground toward the tower.

Experts: China Deploying J-20 Fighters in Asia to Counter US F-35s

04/20/2022

China has deployed its premier fighter jets over its nearby seas to counter mounting U.S. military involvement in Asia, analysts say. Domestically made Chengdu J-20 stealth fighter aircraft are stationed in the country's south for missions in the South China and East China seas, as well as around Taiwan, according to experts and media reports from Asia.

Putin’s supersonic nuclear aircraft has been sighted near the Ukrainian border, raising fears

04/19/2022

Putin has ordered one of his nuclear-capable Tu-160 strategic bombers to fly close to the Ukrainian border in a menacing show of might, after his invading army was forced back in several regions of Ukraine and his Black Sea task force’s flagship was destroyed. As it travelled over Russia’s western Kaluga area, between Moscow and the Ukrainian border, the Tupolev 160 was escorted by an Ilyushin Il-78 aerial refuelling tanker and four fighter aircraft.

Canada avoided F-35 teething problems, should buy stealth fighter now: test pilot

04/19/2022

A former F-35 test pilot says Canada likely benefited from not purchasing the stealth fighter more than a decade ago, but that the time has come for Ottawa to finally end its waffling and commit to the aircraft. Retired Royal Canadian Air Force lieutenant-colonel Billie Flynn also defended the F-35’s performance and reliability, which along with the stealth fighter’s cost remains a source of consternation in Washington and elsewhere.

Russia begins large-scale military action to seize eastern Ukraine

04/19/2022

Russia has begun its large-scale military action to seize the east of Ukraine, the country’s president Volodymyr Zelenskiy said. “Now we can already state that the Russian troops have begun the battle for the Donbas, for which they have been preparing for a long time,” he said in a video address late on Monday night. Zelenskiy said a “significant part of the entire Russian army is now concentrated on this offensive”.

Japan Feels Heat of China's Intensifying Military Maneuvers

04/18/2022

Japan scrambled the second-highest amount of times to head off potential airspace violations by Chinese and Russian aircraft over the past year, its defense ministry has said. Nobuo Kishi, defense minister, told reporters on Friday that the Japan Air Self-Defense Force flew 1,004 sorties to intercept approaching foreign aircraft in the 12 months ending in March, up 279 flights from the previous fiscal year.

Kadena F-15s Flew CAPs With Live Missiles Near Taiwan After China Held Drills In The Region

04/18/2022

China dispatched frigates, bombers and fighter around Taiwan as U.S. lawmakers visited the island to show support; F-15C spotted flying with Live weapons at Kadena AB, Japan, as tensions in the region grow.

MiG-21s Grounded – All Operations Of Accident-Prone Soviet-Era Fighter Jets Finally Suspended By RoAF

04/17/2022

Meanwhile, the Romanian Ministry of Defense also intends to speed up the process to buy additional F-16 jets from surplus Norwegian stocks. “At the same time, measures have been taken to speed up the procedures for the purchase of Norway’s 32 F-16 aircraft,” the ministry said in a statement.

To boost Make in India, IAF shelves plan to buy 48 Russian Mi-17 V5s

04/17/2022

Amid a strong push by the government for indigenisation, the Indian Air Force (IAF) has shelved its plan to buy 48 additional Mi-17 V5 medium-lift helicopters from Russia. India had signed a deal with Russia about 10 years ago for the procurement of 80 Mi-17V5s that have been inducted in batches into the force and these 48 were planned to be inducted into the force and other aviation agencies who don’t want it anymore.

Japan Scrambled Fighter Jets to Intercept Foreign Aircraft Over 1,000 Times in FY2021

04/17/2022

The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) scrambled its fighter aircraft 1,004 times in fiscal year 2021 (FY 2021) in response to foreign military aircraft approaching the country’s airspace. That marked the second-highest total recorded in a year since such operations began in 1958, providing an indication of rising regional tensions.

CHINA / MILITARY PLA drills around Taiwan targeted at US lawmakers’ visit, rehearse ‘real action’ once necessary

04/17/2022

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command on Friday organized multi-services and arms, dispatching forces including destroyers, frigates, bombers and fighters, and conducted joint combat alert patrols and drills including maritime assault, in the forefront of the East China Sea and in waters and aerial areas around the island of Taiwan, when a group of US lawmakers were visiting the island.

The Russian Defense Industry: A Distressed Brand – Analysis

04/16/2022

The war in Ukraine has damaged the reputation of Russian arms. Heavy armor has proved especially vulnerable, but other weapons have also not performed to standard. The future, moreover, is bleak. Due to crushing Western sanctions, Russia’s defense technological and industrial base, which is already plagued by debt, will now fare even worse.

Russia’s combat losses reach almost 20,000 personnel - General Staff

04/16/2022

According to Ukrinform, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said this in a statement posted on Facebook. The total estimated losses of the enemy, from February 24 to April 15, are also: tanks – 756, armored combat vehicles – 1,976, artillery systems - 366, fuel tanks - 76, air defense means - 66, aircraft - 163, helicopters - 144, vehicles – 1,443, ships/boats - 8, UAVs of the operational and tactical level – 135, special equipment – 25, and mobile SRBM systems – 4.