Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

End of an Era: Nellis Air Force Base bids farewell to the F-15C Eagle

03/27/2022

The end of an era is upon Nellis Air Force Base (AFB). The installation geared up to bid farewell to the F-15C Eagle as the aircraft prepared to depart for the last time. On Mar. 16, 2022 one of the last few F-15Cs departed to its final active flying unit, Eglin AFB, Florida. Back in December 2020, it was announced that the last cadre of F-15C students and instructors flew their final defensive counter-air mission for the US Air Force Weapons School.

U.S. Air Force Deploys F-35s to Deter Russian Threats to Eastern European

03/27/2022

American F-35s deployed to NATO member states in Eastern Europe could help deter Russia from expanding its war in Ukraine to other countries. U.S. Air Force F-35As briefly operated from Estonia in the early days of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Air Force units in Europe remain in the region to support allies.

In the wake of Egypt’s cancellation of Su-35 deal with Russia, Israel tries to persuade the US to approve the sale of F-15 Advanced Eagle fighter jets to Cairo

03/26/2022

According to a report on Israel’s Walla! News site, Israel is trying to persuade the US to approve the sale of advanced F-15 Advanced Eagle fighter jets to Egypt. Israel is working to approve the US aircraft deal with Egypt as part of Jerusalem’s efforts to improve relations between Cairo and Washington, the report says.

The real Top Gun! Cockpit video shows F-15 pilot in mock dogfight desperately trying to escape 'enemy' chasing him as he fires flares to fool missiles

03/26/2022

A viral video of an Air Force pilot training exercise captures the heart-stopping maneuvers a real Top Gun has to perform to escape his 'enemy.' The video shows Air Force Pilot William Lewis shooting off swirling flares to distract his pursuer in a 3k training exercise above the Nevada Test and Training Range on the Nellis Air Force Base. The 3k refers to the 3,000 feet separating the jet-to-jet combat.

Marine Attack Squadron 214 Transitions to the F-35B

03/26/2022

As part of the transition from the AV-8B Harrier to the F-35B Lightning II, VMA-214 was re-designated as Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 214. The F-35B Lightning II is replacing the AV-8B Harrier to introduce unmatched capabilities to the Marine Corps. The F-35B Lightning II represents a leap forward in air dominance by providing the operational agility and tactical supremacy Marines need to provide expeditious and lethal support.

Tactical Combat Drones Play a Role In Ukraine Air Defense

03/26/2022

The issue of air power over Ukraine remained center stage this week as NATO heads of state gathered in Brussels to discuss their further support of the country aimed at upholding its right to self-defense against Russia’s invasion.

‘Super Stealth’ Mission: US B-2 Bomber Flies With Australian F-35 Fighter Jets In A ‘Stern Message’ To China?

03/26/2022

On 23 March, a B-2 stealth bomber conducted a mission in the region with five different fighter aircraft from the US Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force, the Pacific Air Forces announced in a press release. A USAF B-2 ‘Spirit’ flew from Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, to RAAF base Amberley, Australia. The combat aircraft was linked to the 509th Bomb Wing and became the first B-2 Spirit to land at RAAF Base Amberley, the release stated.

Ukrainian Fighter Pilots Describe Their Desperate Air War Against Russia

03/25/2022

In a conflict that’s so far confounded many expectations, it’s no exaggeration to say that the performance of the Ukrainian Air Force in its response to Russia's invasion has been one of the more surprising aspects. Rather than being wiped out on the ground and in the air in the first few days of the war, as many had predicted, Ukrainian airpower has instead refused to buckle in the face of a much larger and technologically more advanced opponent.

Ukraine tells the US it needs 500 Javelins and 500 Stingers per day

03/25/2022

Ukraine has updated its extensive wishlist of additional military assistance from the US government in the past several days to include hundreds more anti-aircraft and anti-tank missiles than previously requested, according to a document provided to CNN that details the items needed.

You can give us 1% of your planes and tanks – Zelensky at NATO summit

03/25/2022

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking at the NATO summit, has said that the Alliance could provide Ukraine with 1% of all its tanks and aircraft. The head of state recalled that Ukraine had applied to NATO representatives for combat aircraft and tanks, both on a reimbursable and non-reimbursable basis, to prevent deaths among its own population and unblock the cities surrounded and occupied by Russian troops.

China And Pakistan Stepping Up Engagement With Myanmar, And That’s Bad News For India

03/25/2022

With global attention focused on the crisis in eastern Europe, China has surreptitiously stepped up its engagement with Myanmar’s junta and has also got Pakistan involved as its proxy to supply arms and munitions to the southeast Asian nation. A senior delegation from the Myanmar Military Procurement Authority is slated to visit Pakistan soon for pre-shipment procurement of weapons.

A Generational Change in Naval Aviation Has Begun Amidst Tight Budgets, Fighter Gaps

03/25/2022

The Navy is making the first major changes to the carrier air wing in a generation. The service just wrapped up the first carrier deployment of the F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters – the first new fighter jet on a carrier in 20 years – and is a few years away from introducing the first unmanned aircraft into the air wing.

Singapore's MRTT tanker taking part for first time in combined exercise with Thailand, US air forces

03/24/2022

A trilateral military exercise between the air forces of Singapore, Thailand and the United States that had been put on hold for two years because of COVID-19 is currently under way at Thailand's Korat Air Base. More than 1,100 people and around 70 assets are taking part in Exercise Cope Tiger - now into its 26th edition - from Mar 13 to Mar 25, said Singapore's Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) on Thursday (Mar 23).

Update on Malaysia’s fighter procurement expected next week

03/24/2022

The Defence Ministry is expected to make some crucial updates on the status of 18 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) procurement in the upcoming Defence Services Asia (DSA) Exhibition & Conference next week that will be held from March 28-31.

Strategy & Policy: Fast-Tracking the Wedgetail

03/24/2022

The Air Force usually takes a long time to procure new equipment, even when the need for something new is clear and urgent. But it seems the service may drop its typical agonizingly deliberative process and move quickly to buy a replacement for—or at least complement to—its fleet of aged E-3 AWACS air battle control jets. That new platform will almost certainly be the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail.

F-22 Raptor has 'mishap on landing' at Eglin Air Force Base

03/23/2022

An F-22 Raptor from the 325th Fighter Wing "experienced a mishap on landing" at Eglin Air Force Base shortly before 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, according to a brief announcement released from the base's public affairs office shortly before 1 p.m.

Aviano F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets Deploy to Croatia after Crash of Tupolev Tu-141 drone from Russia-Ukraine War

03/22/2022

Two F-16 Fighting Falcon multi-role fighter jets from Aviano Air Base, Italy, deployed to Croatia on Mar. 16, 2022 taking part in agile combat employment exercises and bolstering NATO’s southeastern flank, the US Air Force (USAF) announced. According to Air Force Magazine, the Vipers arrived a few days after a military drone crashed in the Croatian capital of Zagreb amid nearby war between Russia and Ukraine.

Protect Canadians, buy fighter planes

03/22/2022

The war in Ukraine and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s psychotic obsession with wreaking murderous havoc on a democratic neighbour has had many unintended consequences. For one, it has strengthened the resolve and stiffened the spine of western nations, repurposed NATO back to its original intent, and is protecting Europe from Russian aggression.

The Finnish-Swedish Dilemma: Fight or Flight

03/22/2022

Something epochal has happened in the Nordic lands. For the first time in the country’s history, the majority of Finns now support joining NATO. Domestic backing has shifted radically in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In a recent poll, 65% of Finns supported membership; only 15% are against it. That has risen from just 26% less than two years ago.

MQ-9S OVER SIRTE: UNMANNED AIRPOWER FOR URBAN COMBAT

03/22/2022

As Russian forces continue to surround Kyiv and conduct urban operations throughout Ukraine, Ukrainian forces have turned to drones to supplement their combat power. Whether being used in a reconnaissance role or to deliver lethal munitions, drones such as the TB2 Bayraktar are strengthening the Ukrainian military’s ability to fight the numerically superior Russian army in close proximity to the civilian population.

RSAF Wins "Outstanding Aircraft Maintenance Unit" at Multilateral Air Combat Exercise in the US

03/22/2022

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) has concluded its participation in Exercise Red Flag – Nellis. The multilateral air combat exercise was held from 7 to 18 March 2022 (US time) at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, United States. The RSAF has won the "Outstanding Aircraft Maintenance Unit" award this year.

India to repair Uganda’s Sukhoi jets

03/21/2022

Uganda has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with India for the maintenance and technical support of the Sukhoi SU-MK30 fighter jets Uganda purchased from Russia more than a decade ago. The maintenance will be done by Indian state-owned aerospace and defence company, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The Indian company has a manufacturing license from Russia to build the fighter aircraft.

Russian troops use Belarus’ airport to strike targets in Ukraine

03/21/2022

In the newly released video, shared by the official account of the Russian defense Ministry, observers spotted footage showing that Russian troops used Gomel airport as military bases for its armed drones. According to a tweet from MotolkoHelp, the Russian Ministry of Defense provided evidence of the use of Gomel airport for strikes on targets in Ukraine.

Boeing To Offer World’s Fastest, Heavy-Duty Fighters To India That Can Outclass Chinese J-16s In Mountain Warfare

03/21/2022

In April 2018, the Indian Air Force proposed the MMRCA 2.0 tender for the procurement of 114 additional fighter jets for its air fleet, following the acquisition of 36 Rafale jets. Boeing is vying for the multi-billion dollar contract that includes the Swedish Saab Gripen, the Russian MiG-35 and Su-35, the French Dassault Rafale, the Eurofighter Typhoon, and the US Lockheed Martin F-21.

Easy-to-use handheld weapons provided by the US are helping Ukrainians shred Russian tanks and aircraft

03/21/2022

Despite amassing an invasion force of nearly 200,000 troops and thousands of armored vehicles supported by combat aircraft and warships, the Russian military has failed to reach its primary objectives in the three weeks since its offensive into Ukraine began.