Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

9 Chinese military planes enter Taiwan’s ADIZ

11/22/2021

Nine Chinese military aircraft entered Taiwan’s air defense identification zone on Sunday (Nov. 21), marking the 20th intrusion this month. Two People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) Shenyang J-16 fighter jets, four Chengdu J-10 fighter planes, and one KJ-500 airborne early warning and control aircraft entered the southwest corner of Taiwan’s ADIZ, according to the Ministry of National Defense (MND). Meanwhile, two Xian H-6 bombers flew into the southwest and southeast corners of the zone.

How US Drone Pilots Are Preparing for a Fight Against Enemies Who Actually Could Knock Them Out of Action

11/21/2021

Unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, have become one of the weapons most closely associated with the global war on terror. Hundreds of U.S. drones, also known as remotely piloted aircraft, of various types have spent countless hours tracking terrorists and providing American and coalition troops with early warning.

Air Force pilot killed and two others injured during 'mishap involving two trainer aircraft' in Texas following string of fatal military accidents

11/21/2021

An Air Force pilot was killed and two others injured Friday morning in a 'mishap' involving two trainer aircrafts at a Texas base. Officials at Laughlin Air Force Base said an accident involving a pair T-38 Talon jets occurred on the runway around 10am. One of the injured pilots was taken to San Antonio's Brooke Army Medical Center in critical condition. Their current condition remains unknown.

As China Flies Nuclear Bomber Near The Disputed Border, Indian Air Force ‘Gears-Up’ To Counter The PLAAF

11/21/2021

Amid India-China border tensions, the Chinese PLAAF recently dispatched an H-6K bomber close to the LAC, the disputed border with India. Satellite imagery accessed by the media outlets has revealed that China’s Air Force (PLAAF) has three airbases opposite eastern Ladakh – Kashgar, Hotan and Ngari Gunsa.

Now the RAF goes green: Trainee pilots set to spend just 20% of practice sessions in real fighter jets and will do the majority of their training in simulators

11/20/2021

Like all areas of society, the Royal Air Force can't escape the need to go green or to save money, and it hopes that virtual training can help it do just that. It costs tens of thousands of pounds every time the RAF sends a pilot up in a Typhoon as part of a training exercise, but in the future the Air Force hopes to reduce how often this happens, and BAE Systems is helping it achieve that goal. Pilot training is currently 70 per cent in the air, and 30 per cent synthetic training.

France To Sign Multi-Billion Rafale Fighter Jet Deal With The UAE During Macron’s Visit To Abu Dhabi – French Media

11/20/2021

Reports suggest that if negotiations progress at this pace, an announcement could be made before the end of this year. The French media also reported that President Emmanuel Macron will visit Abu Dhabi on December 2, followed by visits to Doha (Qatar) and Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) on December 3 and 4.

Navy combat aviators live fire weapons during Tyndall WSEP

11/20/2021

Tyndall Air Force Base’s unique airspace paves the way not only for the U.S. Air Force but also for sister service, the U.S. Navy, and many other service partners who come together to conduct mission objectives in as close to real world operations as possible. Tyndall welcomed Sailors stationed at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California, to bring their F/A-18 Super Hornet, for the 53rd Wing’s Weapons System Evaluation Program 22.02 to utilize the training environment.

British F-35 fighter jet crashes while flying off aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth

11/19/2021

A British F-35, one of the newest stealth fighter jets in the UK military, crashed into the Mediterranean Sea on Wednesday morning while operating off the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, the UK Defense Ministry said in a tweet. The pilot ejected and was returned safely to the ship, and an investigation of the incident, which occurred during routine flight operations, had begun, the ministry said.

Russia delivers combat aircraft, missile systems to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan

11/18/2021

Russia delivered military equipment to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan this year, including combat aircraft and missile systems, Director of Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation Dmitry Shugayev said in an interview with the RBC media group on Tuesday. "For example, we delivered Su-30SM aircraft, Mi-35M helicopters, Buk-M2E surface-to-air missile systems.

China's 'Soviet-era' bombers in focus after claim of deployment to India border

11/18/2021

Ever since the standoff with India over Ladakh began last year, Chinese state media have frequently played up deployment of various military systems to the region. These have ranged from new artillery systems to tanks to helicopters, which have often been shown in exercises in “high-altitude areas”, a euphemism for the border with India. In comparison, Chinese state media have reported more sparsely on deployment of fighter aircraft and bombers of the People's Liberation Army Air Force.

Malaysia’s Air Force to get India’s Tejas LCA? Kuala Lumpur looking to buy 36 jets

11/18/2021

Highly placed sources have confirmed to the Financial Express Online that, “Presently the ASEAN nation Malaysia is in the midst of evaluating the Request of Proposal (RfP) it had floated earlier this year for getting the light fighter jets for its Air Force.” India’s indigenous Light Combat Aircraft “Tejas’’ is in the forefront of Malaysia’s requirement of 36 low cost light fighter aircraft for its Air Force.

Thailand First International Buyer of US AT-6 Wolverine Aircraft

11/18/2021

The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has awarded a $143-million contract to Textron Aviation Defense LLC for the supply of eight AT-6 Wolverines, making it the first foreign customer of the US light-attack aircraft. Made during the Dubai Airshow 2021, the agreement requires the American defense firm to provide ground support equipment, spare parts, training, and other necessary equipment for the aircraft’s operation.

Here's Why Ejecting From a Superfast Fighter Jet Is Still Dangerous

11/18/2021

Sometimes saving your life means risking an early death. Earlier on Wednesday, an F35 fighter jet of the U.K. crashed into the Mediterranean Sea during a conventional operation, in a loss that cost the island nation at least $134 million (£100 million). Luckily, no one was injured, since the pilot ejected before impact and was subsequently recovered from the water.

One killed, another injured in Royal Malaysian Air Force Hawk jet crash at Butterworth base

11/17/2021

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein has confirmed that there was one fatality in the crash involving a Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) Hawk MK108 combat aircraft in Butterworth tonight. He also said that a second airman sustained injuries in the incident that occurred at about 10.07pm last night at the runway within the Butterworth Air Force Base.

Swiss parliament to probe decision to buy US fighter jets

11/17/2021

A Swiss parliamentary committee said Tuesday it would probe the government’s decision to purchase 36 Lockheed Martin F-35A fighter jets to replace its ageing fleet. The management scrutiny committee of the National Council lower house of parliament decided to investigate “the legality and advisability of certain aspects of the evaluation procedure taken for choosing the Swiss military’s new combat aircraft”, it said in a statement.

The development of the 5th-generation Checkmate fighter aircraft was first announced as recently as the summer of 2021. However, interest among foreign buyers is already very high.

11/17/2021

The United Aircraft Corporation is working on the development of Russia’s first single-engine fighter jet, the aptly named ‘Checkmate’. Its price is expected to be very affordable - $30-35 million. The low cost, as well as political considerations, mean that many countries that currently can’t afford to join the club of owners of 5th-generation fighters will be able to do so, thanks to the Russian manufacturer.

Russian Aircraft Could be Flying High Over the Middle East

11/16/2021

Russia will be actively looking to court international buyers, notably those in the Middle East at the Dubai Air Show 2021, which runs this week from Sunday to Thursday. Among the aircraft that will be on display is its new single-engine Checkmate light tactical fighter, a platform that has been widely touted as a more affordable option to America’s F-35 Lightning II. Currently, fourteen nations operate the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter, and Russia clearly doesn’t want to los

DAPA unveils CG video of KF-21 jet, stealth drones in joint sortie

11/15/2021

South Korea's military has unveiled a computer-generated video of a homegrown fighter and radar-evading drones in a joint sortie, offering a glimpse into a future battle concept mixing the manned and unmanned assets currently under development. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) recently posted the short video on its YouTube channel, depicting the KF-21 fighter flanked by three stealth drones in joint air operations over South Korea's easternmost islets of Dokdo.

Dassault Touts Military Ties, Bizav MRO in Dubai

11/15/2021

Dassault Aviation is highlighting its military and business jets at the Dubai Airshow, including a Rafale C combat aircraft, the Falcon 900LX and 8X, and a mockup of the upcoming 6X's cabin. The Rafale is being presented by the French Armeé De L'Air & De L'Espace (air and space force), which operates a detachment of the fighters at the UAE’s Al Dhafra Air Base, and visitors can watch it taking part in the daily flying display.

Russia offers Turkey assistance in developing new-gen fighter jet

11/15/2021

Russia is in talks with Turkey and has offered its help in developing advanced fighter jets, news agencies cited a top defense official as saying on Sunday, while no agreement has been reached so far. “Russia has repeatedly expressed readiness to assist Turkey (in the development of a fifth-generation fighter jet),” Dmitry Shugayev, head of the Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC), told RIA news agency at the Dubai Airshow exhibition.

US and Turkey: It is not over yet

11/14/2021

US President Joe Biden and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met on the margins of the G20 gathering in Rome, ending weeks of speculation about whether such a summit would take place. Earlier that month, a short-lived diplomatic crisis had demonstrated just how strained ties between the two countries are.

Airbus confirms the conversion of three former Iberia A330-200s into A330 MRTT

11/14/2021

The Spanish Ministry of Defence has signed the formal order for the acquisition of three Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft (MRTT). Under the agreement, the handover of the first aircraft in transport configuration is scheduled in the coming days, followed by its conversion to MRTT in 2024. The handover of the first fully converted aircraft is scheduled in 2023 and the third and final unit in 2025.

Deadly game of cat and mouse in the skies over Europe: Video shows RAF jet intercepting Russian bomber as it heads towards British airspace as as tensions rise in Belarus amid fears of Ukraine invasion

11/13/2021

Dramatic cockpit footage has captured the moment an RAF jet intercepted a Russian bomber as it headed towards British airspace on Friday, as tensions on the Poland-Belarus border ratcheted up and fears grew of an invasion of Ukraine. The two nuclear-capable Russian Tu-160 'White Swan' bombers entered 'the UK area of interest,' the MoD confirmed after the incident.

Here’s How the A-10 Thunderbolt Does Agile Combat Employment

11/13/2021

Agile Combat Employment, or ACE for short, is a U.S. Air Force (USAF) operational concept that aims to give America an edge over its adversaries, by simply taking advantage of existing infrastructure, pre-positioned hardware, and personnel trained in multiple areas to strike fast and hard.

Russian Su-57, MiG-35, Su-35, Su-30 combat aircraft in great demand in Mideast — official

11/13/2021

The Russian Su-57 fifth-generation fighter and also MiG-35, Su-35 and Su-30 combat aircraft enjoy great demand in Middle East countries, Head of the state tech corporation Rostec Sergei Chemezov told TASS in the run-up to the Dubai Airshow 2021 international aviation exhibition on Friday.