Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

General Atomics Unveils Aircraft-Launched Combat Drone Rendering

07/29/2021

Drone warfare is on the rise. From single unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), we have witnessed the progress of drone swarms in quite a short period of time. But as countries engage in drone warfare and drone defense systems, it is becoming a necessity for drones to have their own attack systems as well. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) had recognized this need a while ago and initiated the LongShot program, whose rendering was recently released by General Atomics.

US Air Force to send dozens of F-22 fighter jets to the Pacific amid tensions with China

07/27/2021

The United States Air Force is sending more than two dozen F-22 stealth fighters to an exercise in the western Pacific this month, an unusually large deployment of the powerful jets that analysts say sends a strong message to a possible adversary in China. Pacific Air Forces in Hawaii this week said approximately 25 F-22s Raptors from the Hawaii Air National Guard and from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, will deploy this month to Guam and Tinian islands for Operation Pacific Iron 2021.

The imperative to field a cutting-edge Air Force

07/27/2021

Thirty years ago, the Air Force teamed with our Navy, Army, Marine Corps and coalition partners during Operation Desert Storm to sweep the skies of Iraqi MiG fighters, destroy Iraq’s war-fighting infrastructure and decimate its fielded forces. In 1991, America’s Combat Air Force maintained and operated aircraft like the F-15C Eagle and the A-10 Warthog to win the short and decisive conflict.

Marine F-35Cs in this squadron are ready for combat in another fighter jet first

07/27/2021

Eighteen months after receiving its first fifth-generation jet fighter, the F-35C Lightning II, a California-based squadron is ready for a carrier deployment and full combat operations. The squadron was the first to achieve that status among not only Marine aviators but aviation units for all the services.

Why spend billions on combat aircraft to fight a war we won 30 years ago?

07/27/2021

The Canadian Foreign Policy Institute’s recent open letter effectively argues why buying new fighter jets is wholly unjustifiable given present and probable existential threats. Consider: forest fires this year have killed more people in Canada than enemy aircraft ever have.

Russia’s New ‘Checkmate’ Su-75 Stealth Fighter Has Enormous Wings

07/26/2021

On Tuesday, Rostec, Russia’s state-owned defense conglomerate, unveiled its new stealth fighter at the MAKS air show. Before the unveiling, photos had been taken of a mock-up plane underneath a tarp; the tarp was later removed, and viewers were able to gather first impressions from the plane’s shape. Soon after photos of the revealed mockup were made public, Rostec opted to unveil the plane publicly, allowing for closer study.

China’s emergency naval exercise over Taiwan revealed

07/26/2021

“The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) held exercises in all major Chinese sea areas over the past week in moves that displayed the PLA’s determination and preparedness,” Chinese state-controlled media proclaimed. At the heart of the storm was Taiwan. Beijing believes it is getting above itself. It has accepted at least two US military flights carrying supplies and diplomatic envoys. It has also dared to open a diplomatic office in Lithuania under the name of “Taiwan”.

Nigeria: FG Procures 32 Fighter Planes, Combat Helicopters, Drones in Six Years

07/26/2021

As the nation's security forces battle insurgents and bandits across the country, the federal government has procured a total of 32 different types of fighter planes, combat helicopters, and associated platforms since 2015, a period of six years, according to statistics obtained by THISDAY. The war against insurgency has dragged on for 11 years with thousands of people killed and an estimated three million people displaced.

Russia says its air defense systems in Syria intercepted Israeli missiles

07/25/2021

Russian anti-aircraft artillery systems in Syria intercepted a number of missiles launched by Israel in airstrikes this week in an area southeast of Aleppo, according to a Russian military official.

India’s 5th-Gen Aircraft: IAF To Model Its AMCA On US’ F-35s Instead Of J-20 Or Su-57 Jets – Experts

07/25/2021

The Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program aims to build a homegrown fifth-generation fighter jet with “sixth-generation characteristics,” intended to replace the aging fleet SEPECAT Jaguar, Dassault Mirage 2000, and MiG-27. The AMCA is eyeing a complementary role for the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) air superiority fighters, to serve as a flexible force multiplier with versatile missions.

Russia Formally Offers 21 MiG-29 Aircraft to India

07/24/2021

Russia has presented India with an offer of 21 MiG-29 fighters, Asia News International reported citing a spokesperson for Russia’s Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation. India is currently considering the offer, according to the outlet. The offer comes a year after India’s council for defense purchases approved the acquisition of the fighter along with 12 Su-30MKI fighters amid a border standoff with China.

French Firm to Provide New Avionics for Rafale Fighters

07/24/2021

French aerospace and defense firm Thales has been awarded a contract to provide new avionics equipment for Rafale fighters to enhance their operational effectiveness. The company will supply the cutting-edge French combat aircraft with digital multi-function displays and Scorpion helmet-mounted sight and display systems.

Air Force to land planes on Michigan highway during war training exercise

07/24/2021

A portion of a Northern Michigan highway will be closed when the U.S. Air Force trains personnel to land on civilian roadways as part of the annual Northern Strike war-readiness training exercise next month,

1 billion euros in sales and other news from MAKS 2021

07/24/2021

Rosoboronexport, the state-owned company in charge of promoting and selling Russian military equipment abroad, signed 13 export contracts, worth approximately € 1 billion, during the first 2 days of MAKS 2021.

HAL is all set to respond to Royal Malaysian Air Force’s RfP for LCA

07/22/2021

By the end of September 2021, the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is expected to respond to a Request for Proposal from the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF). The Malaysian Air Force has sent out a global request for low-cost light fighter aircraft. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a top officer has confirmed to Financial Express Online “The Company will be responding to the RfP from RMAF for the Light Combat Aircraft `Tejas’. And it has to be sent at the end of September.”

To afford next-gen combat aircraft, the US Air Force will make cuts to ISR inventory

07/22/2021

As the U.S. Air Force restructures its aircraft inventory to compete with China, the service is taking calculated risks in its intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft portfolio, a top general said Wednesday. In its fiscal 2022 budget request, the Air Force proposed mothballing four of its 16 E-8 JSTARS aircraft, which are used for ground surveillance and targeting, as well as 20 Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk Block 30 surveillance drones.

China’s Air Incursions Into Taiwan’s ADIZ Focus on ‘Anti-Access’ and Maritime Deterrence

07/21/2021

Chinese aerial incursions into Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) have received a lot of attention since the island’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) began making the data public in September 2020. Understandably, the larger scale incidents, like that of June 15 – the largest thus far, involving 28 aircraft – have generated heated debates about the rationale for the incursions.

How Japan chose where to base its F-35s

07/21/2021

Japan’s defense minister has confirmed that the U.S. ally will base its Lockheed-Martin F-35B Lightning II Short Take off and Vertical Landing or STOVL fighter jets at the southernmost of Japan’s four main islands.

Turkey’s Baykar reveals its future unmanned combat aircraft

07/21/2021

Turkey’s Baykar has begun the conceptual design phase of what it hopes will become the jet-powered unmanned aircraft system, better known as Combat Unmanned Aerial System (MIUS). The company also has released an official rendering of its future unmanned fighter jet, which shows new combat drones during sorties from TCG Anadolu, Turkey’s first amphibious assault ship.

Russia unveils new ‘Checkmate’ fighter jet

07/21/2021

Russian President Vladimir Putin got a sneak peek of a new fifth-generation lightweight single-engine fighter jet at an air show just outside of Moscow on Tuesday. Russian aircraft makers unveiled a prototype of the stealth fighter dubbed “Checkmate” for the 68-year-old leader at the MAKS-2021 International Aviation and Space Salon in Zhukovsky, ahead of its official unveiling later in the day, according to a statement from Rostec, the state-owned military giant which is responsible for exportin

US military aircraft landing on Taiwan a provocation, must not become routine: experts

07/20/2021

Landing a civilian variant of military aircraft on the island of Taiwan is yet another "salami-slicing" provocation by the US, and it sent a wrong signal to Taiwan secessionists, Chinese mainland analysts said, after the US reportedly landed a civilian variant of a warplane on the island on Monday. The Chinese mainland will not allow US military planes' recent landings on the island of Taiwan to become routine, experts said.

U.S. Air Force Looks to Fly with 3D Printed Parts

07/20/2021

Adopting new manufacturing technologies has often proven to be a game changer for companies seeking to enter a new market or retain their leadership in an existing one. For GE, 3D printing is the latest tool for staying ahead of its competitors in the aircraft industry.

Blocked For Exports: Why China’s Mighty J-20 Stealth Jet That Competes With US’ F-22 Raptor Is Banned For Sales?

07/19/2021

China claims that J-20 is equal to the US F-22 Raptor and even superior in some aspects. In a 2014 interview with Chinese Phoenix TV, Song Zhongping, a former officer in the Second Artillery (China’s missile force), claimed that China was not going to export the J-20 for fears that its fifth-generation technology could fall in the wrong hands.

2nd MAW Marines Train with Finnish Air Force at Exercise ILVES

07/19/2021

Since 2018, the Marines have ramped up their efforts to train in the Nordic region and to operate in Cold Weather. With the Nordics ramping up their defense capabilities, and working greater integration with each other and with their North Atlantic partners, there are enhanced opportunities for Marines to work in the region as well.

Russia to Unveil New Fighter Jet at Moscow's Air Show

07/19/2021

Russian aircraft makers say they will present a prospective new fighter jet at a Moscow air show that opens next week. The new warplane hidden under tarpaulin was photographed being towed to a parking spot across an airfield in Zhukovsky, outside Moscow, where the MAKS-2021 International Aviation and Space Salon opens Tuesday. Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to visit the show's opening.