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Military Aviation News Archive

US Offers India With ‘Hybrid’ F-21 Fighter Jet That Boasts Capabilities Of Both F-35 & F-22 Raptor

01/09/2022

US aerospace giant Lockheed Martin, which is eying a fighter jet deal with the Indian Air Force (IAF), is open to setting up a maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility in the country, company representatives said. Lockheed’s F-21 is competing with Boeing’s F-18, Swedish SAAB Gripen, French Dassault Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon, and Russian MiG-35 for the supply of 114 medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) to the IAF.

Kazakhstan seeks Russia-led security group's help

01/08/2022

In the face of mounting domestic unrest and apparent uncertainty over the loyalty of law enforcement and military forces, Kazakhstan’s president has turned to a Russia-dominated security alliance for help.

6 Chinese military aircraft enter Taiwan’s ADIZ

01/08/2022

Six military aircraft from China entered the southwest sector of Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) Friday (Jan. 7), continuing a trend started more than a year earlier. Four Shenyang J-16 fighter jets, one Shaanxi Y-8 ELINT electronic intelligence spotter plane, and one Shaanxi Y-8 EW electronic warfare aircraft entered the southwest sector of the ADIZ, according to the Ministry of National Defense.

Intermediate Jet Trainer has cleared a major milestone, says HAL chief

01/07/2022

In an important milestone, the Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT), designed and developed by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for stage-II training of Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots, has successfully demonstrated the capability to carry out six turn spins, displaying an important requirement for the platform. The aircraft will require another two years of testing after which it will be ready for induction, said R. Madhavan, Chief Managing Director, HAL.

Indian Navy to conduct flight test of Rafale M fighter aircraft today

01/07/2022

Indian Navy will start testing the Rafale-M(Marine) for using on its aircraft carriers. The test of the Rafale fighter aircraft will take place at the INS Hansa in Goa which is a shore-based test facility. France sent a Rafale maritime fighter aircraft to a naval facility in Goa on Thursday to demonstrate its combat capabilities.

Taiwan air force stages drill to intercept Chinese planes amid tensions

01/06/2022

Taiwan air force jets screamed into the sky on Wednesday in a drill simulating a war scenario, showing its combat readiness amid heightened military tensions with China, which claims the island as its own. Before takeoff, flight crews at a base in the southern city of Chiayi - home to U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets that are frequently scrambled to intercept Chinese warplanes - rushed to ready aircraft as an alarm sounded.

Boeing to upgrade Japan's F-15 jet fighters to enable the aircraft to fight effectively alongside the F-35

01/06/2022

Jet fighter designers at the Boeing Co. will help Japan upgrade its F-15 combat aircraft with new enabling technologies to enable Japanese F-15s to fight effectively alongside the nation's growing fleet of F-35 joint strike fighters. Officials of the U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, announced a $471.3 million contract to the Boeing Defense, Space & Security segment in St. Louis for the Japan Super Interceptor (JSI) program.

UK and Japan to jointly develop fighter jet engine

01/06/2022

The UK and Japan are to partner on building a jet engine demonstrator for use in next generation fighter aircraft, with work starting in the coming months. The agreement, which was signed at the end of last month also commits the countries to exploring other combat air technologies together.

Is Russia’s Su-75 ‘Checkmate’ Aircraft a Case of Vapor Marketing?

01/06/2022

To hype their Su-75 "Checkmate" aircraft last month at the Dubai Air Show, officials from Russia’’s Sukhoi Design Bureau offered up bottles of a limited-edition Checkmate perfume. No fragrance, however, will mask how the Su-75 isn’t a light tactical fighter as advertised, but rather a medium-weight fighter-bomber similar to the F-16V.

Raytheon, US Navy talk EA-18G’s AESA radar providing jamming boost

01/05/2022

Raytheon and the US Navy (USN) are looking to increase the jamming capability of the Boeing EA-18G Growler by also using the electronic attack aircraft’s APG-79 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar. They have discussed updates that would give the Raytheon-made radar the ability to jam enemy transmissions. Such a capability would be in addition to the Growler’s payload of current and future jamming pods, including the USN’s trio of next-generation jammers.

South Korean F-35A Performs Belly Landing Due To ‘Avionic System Issues’

01/05/2022

According to the report, the 5th generation aircraft was involved in a training mission when an avionic system issues forced the pilot to carry out a gear up landing at Seosan airbase, 151 kilometers southwest of Seoul. The emergency apparently marked the type’s first ever belly landing.

What does the future hold for Eurofighter Typhoon?

01/05/2022

The Eurofighter Typhoon has served the Royal Air Force for nearly two decades. Developments around the UK Tempest concept and recent defence reviews have set the blueprint for the future of the air force and the spotlight falls once again on the Eurofighter Typhoon. Norbert Neumann explores the role and potential future of the aircraft.

A tale of two fighter jets — and what it means for Canada's defence and place in the world

01/04/2022

Canadians will get a better idea this year of which fighter jet the Liberal government intends to buy for the country's air force. The decision amounts to more than a simple choice between two expensive new aircraft: the American F-35 and the Swedish Gripen-E. It's expected to say a lot about how the federal government sees Canada's place in the world — whether it remains tied to a politically shaky United States or to a Europe that is determined to step out of Washington's defence shadow.

French Rafale Naval Fighters Are Headed To India For Ski Jump Carrier Launch Tests

01/04/2022

This week the Rafale M fighter jet is due to begin tests at India’s naval flight test facility as it goes head-to-head with the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet in the competition to provide the Indian Navy with its new carrier-based combat aircraft. The Rafale, which has already been ordered by the Indian Air Force, comes to India on the back of notable export success, including a huge order for the land-based version from the United Arab Emirates.

Pakistan Purchases Chinese Jets Based on Scrapped Israeli Lavi Fighter

01/04/2022

More than three decades after Jerusalem scrapped plans to field its own domestically produced combat aircraft, Pakistan announced last week that it was purchasing a squadron of 25 Chinese J-10 jets widely believed to be based on the canceled Israeli Lavi fighter. Pakistani Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad announced the purchase of the jets, which he said will serve as a counterweight to new French Dassault Rafale fighters soon to be fielded by rival India.

Israel signs $3 billion deal to buy US military aircraft

01/03/2022

Israel has signed a deal with the United States to buy 12 Lockheed Martin-Sikorsky CH-53K helicopters and two Boeing KC-46 refueling planes, the Israeli Defence Ministry said on Friday. The ministry said the deal is worth around $3.1 billion (€2.73 billion), adding that the procurement is "part of a wider program to strengthen the capabilities of the IDF [Israeli Defense Forces] and preparedness to face current and developing threats."

Israel's ‘Rampage’ Air-Launched Ballistic Missile Is Even Better Than Advertised

01/03/2022

Here's What to Remember: Rampage first broke cover in the summer of 2018, and it seems "Rampage" works as advertised. Israel reportedly used in combat for the first time a new kind of fast, long-range missile. According to aviation journalist Babak Taghvaee, on April 13, 2019 Israeli air force warplanes fired, for the first time, at least one Rampage air-launched ballistic missile at a missile factory and weapons warehouses in Masyaf, Syria.

Digital Twining and the Loyal Wingman Program

01/03/2022

Boeing Australia has revealed that, in conjunction with the Royal Australian Air Force, it has advanced the operational readiness of its Airpower Teaming System (ATS) being developed for the RAAF’s Loyal Wingman program in a digital environment.

Navy to test Rafale-M jet for INS Vikrant

01/02/2022

With countdown already begun to commission indigenous aircraft carrier 1 as INS Vikrant in August 2022, the Indian Navy will conduct flight trials of Rafale-Maritime fighter at Shore Based Test Facility at INS Hansa in Goa on January 6 onwards as part of its exercise to identify the best warplane to suit the 40,000 tonne carrier. The IAC 1 is based at Cochin shipyard and is currently undergoing intensive sea trials in Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean.

‘Not Out Of Reach’: F-35 Stealth Fighter Jets Most Lucrative Option For Royal Thai Air Force – Commander

01/01/2022

The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) is searching for a new fighter to replace its aging F-5 and F-16 aircraft, which is nearing the end of its service life. Many countries are looking to buy stealth fighters to help bolster their defenses as contemporary warfare evolves. After Switzerland, Finland recently announced the purchase of 64 F-35A fighter jets at $9.5 billion to replace its aging combat planes.

5 Chinese military aircraft enter Taiwan’s ADIZ

12/31/2021

Five Chinese military aircraft entered Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on Wednesday (Dec. 29), marking the 22nd intrusion this month. Four People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) Shenyang J-11 fighter jets and one Shaanxi Y-8 anti-submarine warfare plane flew into the southwest corner of the ADIZ, according to the Ministry of National Defense (MND). In response, Taiwan sent aircraft, issued radio warnings, and deployed air defense missile systems to monitor the PLAAF planes.

UAE nixes deal with US to buy F-35 fighter planes

12/31/2021

The US faced a major blow as UAE suspended talks to buy the 50 Lockheed F-35 US fighter jets worth USD 23 billion. This is a major setback for the US both economically and diplomatically. China seems to be an emerging winner in the ongoing tussle between US-UAE. UAE suspended the purchase deal of F-35 fighter jets with the US and has chosen Huawei's, a Chinese company, 5G technology.

The F-22 Raptor Was the Best Fighter Jet—Until America Stopped Producing It

12/31/2021

Here's What You Need To Remember: The F-22 also collided with current events, as the economic demands of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the lack of a peer adversary made a $300 million fighter plane, in the view of government officials at the time, an unsustainable cost.

The US Navy has a new vision for its carrier air wing. Here's how SEALs will help put those aircraft on target

12/30/2021

Recently the Navy released a new vision for its aircraft carrier air wing that describes how it plans to keep its fighter jets relevant in the future. In a potential conflict with a near-peer adversary, such as Russia or China, the Navy's aircraft carriers could make the difference, especially against China, because of its proximity to the sea.

Despite defense buildup, Japan’s arms industry struggles

12/30/2021

The dozens of Type 90, or “Kyumaru,” tanks rumbling through recent shooting drills on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido exemplify the challenge its arms makers face both at home and overseas as the country fortifies its defenses against strategic threats.