Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

F-35s Could Get New Engines As Soon As 2027

12/12/2021

Congress could be able to require the U.S. military to prepare a pair of studies about what it would take to put new engines into current and future F-35 stealth jets later in this decade. There is an entirely new powerplant under development under the Adaptive Engine Transition Program, or AETP, with multiple prototypes being tested already. The hope is that the AETP engine or some other alternative would bring a significant performance boost to all three variants of the F-35s.

Ukraine Says it Can Deter a Russian Invasion With Air Defenses; NATO Calls for ‘Adjustments’

12/11/2021

NATO members closest to the Russian threat are seeking “adjustments” to the alliance’s defense posture to show Russian President Vladimir Putin that America will defend NATO’s eastern flank in the event of hostilities in Ukraine. Meanwhile, a Ukrainian defense official who spoke to Air Force Magazine on condition of anonymity said “a signal” that the U.S. will deliver needed air defenses to Ukraine would be enough to deter Russia from mounting an invasion.

Boeing (BA) Wins $367M Deal to Modify F/A-18 Fighter Jets

12/11/2021

The Boeing Company recently won a modification contract to extend the service life of up to 32 F/A-18 Super Hornet aircraft. The deal has been awarded by the Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, MD. Valued at $366.5 million, the contract is scheduled to be completed by May 2024. The majority of work related to this deal will be executed in San Antonio, TX.

Finland Picks Lockheed Martin F-35A in $11 Billion Defense Deal

12/11/2021

Finland has agreed to buy 64 Lockheed Martin fighter jets to replace its aging fleet of combat planes in a 10 billion-euro ($11.3 billion) deal that represents the Finnish military's largest ever purchase, the government said Friday. The Nordic country picked the U.S. company's F-35A fighters from among five contenders, which also included the Boeing F-18 Super Hornet, France's Dassault Rafale, Britain's Eurofighter Typhoon and Sweden's Saab Gripen.

Tata, Lockheed Martin to Build F-21 Fighter Wings in India

12/10/2021

Lockheed Martin has established a joint venture with Tata Advanced Systems to manufacture F-21 fighter wings at a production facility in India. The partnership comes after Tata manufactured parts for a fighter aircraft wing prototype to support a campaign to sell 114 F-21 fighters to the Indian Air Force.

What Are U.S. Air Force’s Two New Classified Aircraft Programs? Their Link With B-21 Is A Big Clue.

12/10/2021

Speaking to POLITICO at the Reagan National Defense Forum, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall revealed the existence of two new classified drone programs on Saturday, both built for combat rather than intelligence-gathering.

Defense Authorization Conference Bill Allows 159 USAF Plane Retirements

12/09/2021

The fiscal 2022 defense authorization conference bill largely accedes to the U.S. Air Force request to retire 201 aircraft with some conditions and a prohibition on retiring A-10 Warthog close air support planes.

9 Chinese military aircraft enter Taiwan’s ADIZ

12/08/2021

Nine Chinese military planes entered Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on Tuesday (Dec. 7), marking the sixth intrusion this month. Six People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) Chengdu J-10 fighter planes, two Shenyang J-16 fighter jets, and one Shaanxi Y-8 electronic warfare plane entered different areas within the southwestern corner of Taiwan’s ADIZ, according to the Ministry of National Defense (MND).

Air Force Demos Reaper Operations in Pacific Flights with Non-Expert Troops, Limited Gear

12/08/2021

The Air Force demonstrated that it can operate the remotely-piloted MQ-9 Reaper over long-range flights in the Pacific using limited ground support gear and non-specialist ground personnel. The demonstration provided a boost for the service’s agile combat employment concept, it said Dec. 7.

SAAF Gripens grounded

12/08/2021

The South African Air Force’s (SAAF’s) Gripen fleet is temporarily grounded, with no aircraft serviceable, due to a lack of funding and maintenance and support contracts not being renewed in time, but it is likely that the Gripens will be flying again in the new year.

RAAF should be planning the next loyal wingman

12/08/2021

A recent test flight of Boeing Australia’s Airpower Teaming System, the second such flight in the ‘Loyal Wingman’ program, which currently has two test aircraft, saw the first aircraft retract its undercarriage for the first time and the second aircraft take its first flight. A total of six have been ordered, with three to be acquired by the end of 2021.

Delivery of Turkish drones to Ukraine continue as planned: Official

12/07/2021

Turkey has been delivering Turkish Bayraktar drones to Ukraine as scheduled according to the requirements of the deal and new delivery has nothing to do with the objection of Russia, the country’s top defense official said on Dec. 4.

USAF approves KC-46A Pegasus to refuel a wider range of aircraft

12/07/2021

The U.S. Air Force Air Mobility Command approved the operation of KC-46A Pegasus to refuel AC-130J Ghostrider, HC-130J Combat King II, MC-130J Commando II, C-5M Super Galaxy and E-3G Sentry. Following this qualification, the KC-46 can now refuel nearly 70% of the receiving aircraft requiring in-flight refueling. Work is also underway to certify the Pegasus to refuel Air Force One.

Air Force’s new goal? Get rid of planes that don’t scare China

12/06/2021

Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said the service urgently needs to retire outdated air frames so it can focus on developing modern aircraft to counter a rapidly modernizing Chinese military. During a panel here Saturday at the Reagan National Defense Forum, Kendall mentioned MQ-9 Reapers, some C-130s, older tankers and the A-10 Warthog as examples of aging aircraft that will struggle in a conflict with China.

USMC’s CH-53K In First Ever Over-The-Horizon Heavy Lift Test

12/06/2021

In a first for the Marine Corps, Marines from Marine Operational Test & Evaluation Squadron One conducted over-the-horizon heavy lift and troop transport ship-to-shore operations aboard CH-53K King Stallions over the Atlantic Ocean, Nov. 19-21.

‘Turkey, UAE have potential in defense industry cooperation’

12/06/2021

Turkey and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have the potential to work together in the defense sector, Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) Chairperson Ismail Demir said, indicating that Abu Dhabi has shown interest in the Turkish sector.

Russian fighter jets escort American spy plane away from its borders over tense Black Sea amid new US intelligence claims that Putin plans to invade Ukraine in early 2022 with 175,000 troops

12/05/2021

Russia has claimed to have escorted a US spy plane away from its airspace amid a new US warning that Vladimir Putin intends to deploy 175,000 troops to invade Ukraine in early 2022. Footage apparently taken in the cockpit of a Russian military aircraft appears to show them tailing an American RC-135 reconnaissance plane over the Black Sea.

China threatening Taiwan is more beneficial than invading

12/05/2021

Intimidation gets results. And that’s why China may be less willing than feared when it comes to invading Taiwan. For now. The drums of war have been beating loudly throughout 2021. Defence Minister Peter Dutton told an Australian Press Club luncheon late last month that “If Taiwan is taken, then surely the Senkakus are next. Please don’t rely on your imagination. The Chinese Communist Party could not be any clearer — not always with their words, but certainly with their actions.”

Why Europe Wants a Sixth-Generation Fighter Jet

12/05/2021

Today, fifth-generation fighters rule the roost. Because of their enormous design, production, and operating costs, they tend to be developed by the countries with the most significant militaries—most prominently the United States, Russia, and China, each of which have devoted significant resources to operate them. The American F-22 Raptor jets and F-35 stealth fighter jets are probably the two best fighter aircraft in the world, although other modern planes, could credibly threaten them in the

China Deepens Informal Alliance With Russia

12/04/2021

China and Russia have strengthened their political, economic and military relations this year, despite their uneasy history in the past, as both countries say they resent what they call growing pressure from the West.

UAE signs for 80 Rafale F4 combat aircraft

12/04/2021

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has signed for 80 Dassault Rafale combat aircraft from France, the manufacturer announced on 3 December. Signed in the presence of the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Vice-Commander of the Armed Forces of the UAE, Sheikh Mohammed ben Zayed Al Nahyane, the contract covers the F4 aircraft, representing the first export order for the latest standard Rafale.

Israel OKs CH-53K helicopter buy from Lockheed Martin

12/03/2021

The Israeli government has approved the planned procurement of a fleet of a dozen CH-53K helicopters, clearing a final regulatory hurdle for the buy and clearing the path for a final agreement to be signed by the end of the year. The approval from the Israeli government ministers committee for defense acquisition headed by prime minster Naftali Bennet was given on Nov. 28.

Norway To Sell Its F-16 Fighter Jets To A Private Military Contractor As It Upgrades To Stealth F-35s- Government

12/03/2021

The Norwegian Defense Materiel Agency has signed a contract to sell up to 12 F-16 combat aircraft to US military provider Draken International to be used as part of training services, the Norwegian government announced on Thursday on its website.

More Hercules for RAAF?

12/02/2021

Speaking at the Dubai Air Show in mid-November, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Executive Vice President Greg Ulmer said that the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has requested details for the supply of 30 C-130J Hercules. “They are talking to us about potential for 24 C-130J-30s and six KC-130Js,” Ulmer told overseas journalists.

NGC to Increase Inventory of AARGM for US Navy and German AF

12/02/2021

Northrop Grumman has received a $153 million dollar contract award from the U.S. Navy for full-rate production of lots 10 and 11 of the AGM-88E2 Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM), the company said Dec. 1. The contract includes production of missiles for the U.S. Navy and German air force.