Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Syrian government falls in stunning end to 50-year rule of Assad family

12/08/2024

The Syrian government fell early Sunday in a stunning end to the 50-year rule of the Assad family after a sudden rebel offensive sprinted across government-held territory and entered the capital in 10 days. Syrian state television aired a video statement by a group of men saying that President Bashar Assad has been overthrown and all detainees in jails have been set free.

Syrian rebels say they have taken control of Homs

12/08/2024

The leader of the Islamist group leading an insurgency in Syria says his forces have taken full control of Homs - the country's third largest city. Abu Mohammed al-Golani called it a "historic victory" and urged his followers not to harm those who surrendered. The BBC has not yet been able to verify the claims. The Syrian Defence Ministry said the reports were false and that the situation in Homs was "stable and safe".

Denmark hands over second batch of F-16 fighters to Ukraine – Zelenskyy

12/08/2024

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on 7 December that Denmark has delivered a second batch of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, marking a significant expansion of Ukraine’s air defense capabilities. “The second F-16 batch for Ukraine from Denmark is already in Ukraine. This is leadership in protecting life that distinguishes Denmark,” Zelensky said.

Syria in maps: Where have anti-Assad rebels taken control?

12/07/2024

Rebels have launched a major offensive against the government in Syria, seizing cities in a lightning advance that has expanded the territory under their control. The rebels captured the city of Hama on Thursday in a significant new blow to President Bashar al-Assad and his Russian and Iranian allies. Seizing Hama gives them control of the strategically located central city for the first time since a rebellion against Assad descended into civil war 13 years ago.

Air force: four new Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets arrive in Denmark

12/07/2024

Four F-35 fighter jets arrived in Denmark on 6 December 2024. The jets, flown from the United States, landed at Fighter Wing Skrydstrup, the country’s primary base for military aircraft. This addition brings Denmark’s F-35 fleet to eight, with three more jets expected to arrive over the winter, increasing the total to 11. The new aircraft will progressively replace the ageing F-16 jets, which have served as Denmark’s primary defence force for decades.

Legendary Marine fighter squadron reactivated as Corps’ first with F-35Cs on the East Coast

12/07/2024

The Marine Corps activated its first F-35C Lightning II stealth fighter squadron on the East Coast on Thursday, with the reactivation of the legendary Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point near Camp Lejeune, N.C.

J-35A Stealth Fighters: Pak Govt’s Nod To Acquire Chinese Jets Could Diminish IAF’s Deterrence Capability

12/07/2024

Recent reports in the Pakistani media have claimed that the Pakistani government has approved the acquisition of J-35A stealth fighters from China. The aircraft is reportedly scheduled to enter service within 24 months. Some sources mention that the decision was finalized after the J-35A’s debut at the Zhuhai Airshow 2024. However, there has been no official confirmation of the Pakistan government’s approval.

India's LCA Tejas Mk1 challenges Pakistan's JF-17 Thunder in Nigeria's fighter jet upgrade

12/07/2024

India has extended $200 million line of credit to Nigeria in a bid to help facilitate the procurement of light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1, the single-engine multi-role combat aircraft manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

Superfast Russian fighter jet seen carrying hypersonic Kinzhal missile during drills

12/07/2024

In a surprising new development, a specialized Russian MiG-31 aircraft – also called by NATO as Foxhound – has been seen carrying a hypersonic missile. The MiG-31 interceptor is one of the fastest manned jet aircrafts in the world, and it is known to reach speeds of around Mach 2.83 – which is almost three times the speed of sound. Developed by Mikoyan, the MiG-31 was first introduced in 1982 – making it a Cold War-era plane.

Germany’s First F-35A Enters Production at U.S. Facility

12/07/2024

Construction of the first fifth-generation F-35A Lightning II fighter jet for the German Air Force has begun in the United States. On Friday, December 6, the German Air Force commander and a representative of the weapons department signed the central wing section of the first aircraft. The ceremony took place at the Lockheed Martin aircraft plant in the United States.

US, UK and Norwegian Air Forces Exercise in the High North: F-35s Integrate With B-52

12/06/2024

This week, Norwegian, US and UK air forces are conducting the Norwegian-led exercise Apex Buccaneer in the High North – closely integrated with units from the Norwegian Navy, Army and Special Forces. The air assets includes Norwegian F-35 fighters and P-8 maritime patrol aircraft; a US B-52 bomber, KC-135 Stratotankers, a U-2 reconnaissance aircraft and F-35 fighters – as well as UK F-35 and Eurofighter Typhoon fighters and a RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft.

Global Strike Boss: CCAs May Escort Bombers After Concept Matures in Fighter Force

12/06/2024

CCAs Eyed as Escorts for Long-Range Strike Fleet After Maturing in Fighter Force. The Air Force Global Strike Command is considering long-range, autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft as partners for its bombers but is waiting to see how they prove out with the fighter force first, the head of the command said Dec. 5.

Belgium receives first F-35A

12/05/2024

The aircraft was painted in full-colour Belgian national markings (most operators use toned down markings in shades of grey), was delivered to No.312 Squadron, which was established in June 2023, and that will eventually operate four F-35A aircraft from Luke for an extended period, training Belgian Air Force personnel in the United States.

Macron says Paris, Riyadh have 'will' to progress fighter jet sale

12/05/2024

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday that France and Saudi Arabia have the "will to move forward" on a deal to sell Rafale fighter jets to the oil-rich Gulf monarchy. "In terms of security and defence, we have very clearly improved things... with the will to move forward on the Rafale, which is a major change in the bilateral relationship," he told reporters on the second day of a state visit to Saudi Arabia.

UK 'reviewing F-35 fighter jet and Israel arms licences', say campaigners

12/05/2024

The UK government has said it is reviewing its decision to allow the continued export of F-35 fighter jet components in light of concerns that they could end up in Israel, according to campaigners who are seeking to block the exports. In a statement on Wednesday, two campaign groups taking legal action against the government said it had written to them to confirm that it is reviewing both the export of the fighter jet parts to a global supply pool and continuing direct arms export licences to Is

KAI and Saab to independently explore AI-piloted fighter concepts

12/05/2024

South Korea’s KAI intends to develop an AI initiative (termed ‘K-AI pilot’) in conjunction with its FA-50 light combat aircraft, with the project to explore autonomous fight capabilities by 2026. As KAI’s head of AI research Lim Seong-shin explained in a presentation, the focus will then shift to “semi-autonomous” formation flying and combat manoeuvring.

The F-14 Tomcat Got Most of Its Kills Not Fighting for America

12/05/2024

The F-14 Tomcat is one of military aviation’s most recognizable aircraft. The wide, flat fuselage and the swept wings are discernible to many. However, the F-14’s recognition is owed mostly to its inclusion in the Top Gun film series rather than to battlefield accomplishments. That’s not to say that the F-14 wasn’t a capable combat aircraft, it was, but the opportunities for American aircraft to engage with the enemy were limited in the post-Vietnam era. The F-14’s air-to-air combat record is ne

Iranian fighter jet crashes in the country's south, killing 2 pilots

12/05/2024

An Iranian fighter jet crashed in the south of the country Wednesday, killing the two pilots, state media reported. State television identified the pilots as Col. Hamid Reza Ranjbar and Col. Manouchehr Pirzadeh, saying they were on a test flight after the plane was overhauled. The crash took place near the town of Firouzabad, some 770 kilometers (480 miles) south of the capital Tehran.

Syrian Rebels “Seize” MiG-23 Aircraft, The First Soviet Jet To Be Armed With Look Down, Shoot Down Radar: Media

12/05/2024

Syrian rebels have purportedly captured multiple Syrian Air Force’s MiG-23 fighter jets along with other air and ground-based equipment belonging to the Syrian military, days after they launched a surprise offensive against the Bashar al-Assad government and reignited the 13-year-old Civil War.

Norway sends F-35s, 100 soldiers to guard Polish airport near Ukraine

12/04/2024

Norway will assume responsibility under NATO to safeguard the airspace of Poland's Rzeszów airport and will send 100 soldiers, air defence systems and F-35 fighter jets to do so, the Norwegian defence minister announced on Monday. The airport, some 100 kilometres from the Ukrainian border, is central to the transport of military goods. Various NATO allies are taking turns in providing Poland with air protection, Defence Minister Bjørn Arild Gram said in a statement.

China ‘delivers’ J-35 stealth fighters to Pakistan – sources

12/04/2024

Pakistan is reportedly moving forward with a major upgrade to its air power capabilities, clearing the path for the acquisition of China’s J-35, a cutting-edge fifth-generation stealth fighter. According to Indian defense outlet idrw.org, citing 24 News HD, the decision was finalized shortly after the J-35’s debut at the Zhuhai Airshow in southern China. Russian media outlets have also begun to amplify the news, further fueling speculation about its regional implications.

Saudi Arabia Seen Joining Japan-Britain-Italy Fighter Jet Project

12/04/2024

The governments of Japan, Britain and Italy are coordinating to include Saudi Arabia in their joint development of a next-generation fighter jet, Japanese government sources have said. Given the challenge of reducing development costs, the three governments are apparently interested in Saudi Arabia’s financial clout as a major oil producer. They are expected to reach an agreement on the matter by the end of this year.

Years After USAF and Navy Were Told to Up Fighter Readiness, One Fleet Has Done It: F/A-18

12/04/2024

The Navy is keeping its fleet of F/A-18 Super Hornets at 80 percent readiness, six years after former Defense Secretary James Mattis ordered both the Air Force and Navy to raise their fighters’ readiness levels. The Air Force, meanwhile, has abandoned that goal and its fighters’ mission capable rates are still lagging.

First two Sukhoi Su-35SE Flanker-Es delivered disassembled to Iran

12/04/2024

The first two Sukhoi Su-35SE Flanker-E fighter jets were reportedly delivered to the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) recently. According to Flugrevue, a private ceremony was held during the handover at the Komsomolsk-on-Amur aircraft manufacturing facility (KnAAPO) in Russia’s Far East. The Su-35SEs’ components were brought to an airbase in Hamadan for reassembly upon their arrival in Tehran. Their delivery marked Iran’s acquisition of its first 4.5-generation fighter jets.

RAAF F-35A deliveries resume after year-long delay

12/03/2024

Deliveries of Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II combat aircraft to the Royal Australian Air Force have resumed following a year-long delay. Three of the final nine F-35As on order arrived at RAAF Base Williamtown on 29 November after a ferry flight from Fort Worth in Texas in the US, where they are manufactured.