Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

F-16 Fighters Will Fly For Argentina With U.S. Weapons

11/02/2024

The Lockheed Martin-produced F-16 Fighting Falcon will soon be a South American warbird, as the U.S. State Department approved the Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Argentina for the multirole combat aircraft this week. Buenos Aires had requested twenty-four F-16 Block 10/15 aircraft that would be delivered via a third-party transfer.

Why the Air Force Paused NGAD—And What’s Next

11/02/2024

he Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) combat jet—the centerpiece of the Air Force’s future air superiority plans—faces a crucial design review between now and the end of the year. What kind of aircraft the Air Force needs, what it can afford, and how long it will be before that aircraft is available all hang in the balance. The threat NGAD must defeat is evolving faster than predicted, its unit cost is extremely high—though classified, estimates near $300 million a copy.

Fighters and bombers are what America needs to win — not quadcopters

11/02/2024

On Saturday, Israeli F-35 stealth fighter aircraft penetrated highly defended Iranian airspace, struck a broad number of military targets and returned home safe. Days earlier, U.S. B-2 stealth bombers struck multiple deeply buried Houthi arms caches. These missions illustrate a key point: Despite trendy arguments to the contrary, the United States still requires the most advanced fighters and bombers in our arsenal if we want to win in future conflicts.

F-35: “The system as a whole is a cultural change!”

11/01/2024

One of the Vice Presidents at Lockheed Martin is Jeff ‘Cobra’ Harrigian, Commander of the US Air Force in Europe (USAFE) until 2022, with 4,100 hours on F-22, F-15C and A/OA-37. Now he is responsible for ‘Strategic Campaigns’ at the world’s largest defence contractor. On the sidelines of AIRPOWER-24, ESD spoke to him about the F-35 fighter jet, its European distribution and the approaching Austrian Eurofighter succession. The interview was conducted by Georg Mader.

Poland delays transfer of MiG-29 fighters to Ukraine: Zelenskyy

11/01/2024

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed that while initial arrangements with Poland and NATO were in place to supply Ukraine with MiG-29 fighter jets, shifting priorities and “new reasons” continue to delay the process, affecting Ukraine’s defense efforts against Russian missile strikes.

U.S. State Department Clears $7.3 Billion for F-16 Viper Mid-Life Upgrade

11/01/2024

The U.S. State Department has approved an up to $7.3 billion foreign military sale to Poland of the Lockheed Martin F-16 Viper Midlife Upgrade, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said on Wednesday.

US Wraps Up Maintenance for Marine Corps Harrier II Fighter Jets

11/01/2024

Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) has completed final sustainment work for the US Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier II ground attack aircraft two years before the fleet’s retirement. The maintenance is part of the North Carolina-based center’s technical support, repair, and overhaul coverage for all naval and expeditionary aviation assets. It concluded in an informal ceremony involving the delivery of the aircraft to Marine Attack Squadron 223, a unit at Air Station Cherry Point.

New J-15B ship-borne fighter begins deployment from China’s Navy aircraft carriers

11/01/2024

In recent hours, images and videos have gone viral showing the new carrier-based J-15B fighters of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Air Wing accompanying a remarkable and unprecedented formation of assets. This deployment, shared by China across several platforms, not only introduced the new carrier-based fighter variant but also marked a rare instance in which the Liaoning (CV-16) and Shandong (CV-17) aircraft carriers, along with a group of escorts, sailed together.

Black Hawk helicopter has proven itself both in combat and peace time missions.

10/31/2024

The US Government has awarded Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, a Foreign Military Sale contract to provide 35 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters to Greece. The deal includes 35 aircraft for the Hellenic Army as well as personnel training, training equipment and an initial provisioning package, which will significantly improve self-defense and bolster interoperability within the nation and with NATO allies.

Austria’s fighter dilemma

10/31/2024

On 29 September 2024, Austria held national elections. The challenge for the new government will be to start and set aside billions of dollars to replace the mixture of fifteen early T1-B2R-B5 Eurofighter Typhoon single-seaters flown by the Luftstreitkräfte. Their primary goal, which has been internally blocked for the last year, is to acquire 12 to 15 Leonardo M346FA advanced jet trainer/light combat aircraft to replace the outdated SAAB-105OE, which was phased out in 2020 after 50 years.

B-21 Raider Bomber Could Become a 'Mothership' for Drone Fighters

10/30/2024

The U.S. Air Force’s B-21 Raider, originally intended as a stealth bomber, may evolve beyond traditional roles. With advancements in anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) and artificial intelligence, the Raider could replace the NGAD fighter in air dominance missions.

Cockpit or Command Center? C2 Options for Collaborative Combat Aircraft

10/30/2024

There is a new theory of airpower on the horizon. Over the next five years, the U.S. Air Force (USAF) plans to invest billions in research and development for a force of over 1,000 collaborative combat aircraft (CCA). The vision includes working with allies and partners to pair fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft with versatile unmanned systems, creating aerial networks that can rapidly adapt to changes in the battlespace.

India penalises General Electric for delaying Tejas fighter jet engine delivery by 2 years

10/30/2024

The Indian government plans to penalise General Electric Co. for significant delays in delivering jet engines for its domestically built light-combat aircraft, Bloomberg reported citing an Indian official familiar with the matter. The deliveries GE has been penalised for are a part of a $716 million deal with state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL). That deal, signed in 2021, covers the supply of 99 engines for the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft Mk1.

Iran’s Air Force chief in Pakistan: Talks begin on JF-17 jet deal

10/29/2024

The Supreme Commander of the Iranian Air Force recently arrived in Islamabad for discussions on a potential military partnership, as reported by various Arab sources. Brigadier General Hamed Wahidi touched down at Noor Khan Air Base on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, following an official invitation from his Pakistani counterpart. Leading a high-level military delegation, General Wahidi’s visit highlights a growing interest in defense collaboration between the two nations.

NGAD Review to Finish Before End of Year, Allvin Says

10/29/2024

The future of the Air Force’s next-generation combat jet will be decided by the end of the year, the service’s top officer said Oct. 25. “We intend to have that by December,” Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin said at the Military Reporters and Editors Conference in Washington, D.C. “We also want to be able to influence the Department’s Presidential Budget Submission in February.”

The leaders of India and Spain launch India’s first private military aircraft plant

10/29/2024

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez inaugurated India’s first private military aircraft plant on Monday, boosting New Delhi’s ambitions of growing local manufacturing in its defense and aerospace industries. Sanchez was welcomed to the country with a roadshow in Gujarat state’s Vadodara city where hundreds of people cheered and waved banners.

Armenia’s patience runs out: Negotiates with India for Su-30MKI

10/29/2024

Armenia has initiated talks with the Indian company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited [HAL] to acquire Su-30MKI fighter jets, according to reports from Indian sources. This move is part of Armenia’s broader strategy to strengthen its air force capabilities. The potential acquisition of these advanced aircraft represents a second option for upgrading its military assets, with the first being the modernization of its existing fleet of Su-30SM fighters to the “Super Flanker” variant through HAL.

KAI KF-21 Boromae: South Korea's 'Partial' Stealth Fighter

10/29/2024

The KAI KF-21 Boromae, a joint project by Korean Aerospace Industries and Indonesian Aerospace, is South Korea’s latest 4.5-generation or “Fourth Gen+” fighter jet, with partial stealth capabilities. First flown in 2022, the Boromae is designed to replace aging F-4 and F-5 fighters in the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF). Equipped with twin GE F414 engines, the KF-21 can reach Mach 1.81 with a range of 1,000 km.

Israel used US-made F-35 stealth fighters in its largest-ever strike on Iran: report

10/28/2024

Israel deployed US-made F-35 stealth fighters among its 100 jets, spy planes and refueling aircraft to conduct its largest-ever strike on Iran, which left Tehran vulnerable should war break out, a report says. The Jewish state greenlit the use of F-35s, its most-advanced aerial weapon, to help lead operation “Day of Repentance” that bombarded military sites across Iran on Friday night, sources told the Wall Street Journal.

Russia Gave Su-35s to Its Allies, Now May License Iran to Build Them

10/28/2024

For some time, there has been growing suspicion that Russia has been offering cash (or gold), technology, know-how and modern weaponry in return for the drones, ammunition, missiles and now, in the case of North Korea, people to support its war in Ukraine – as Kyiv Post previously reported.

Lockheed Looks To ‘Fuse’ F-22 Raptors, F-35 Lightning II Fighters With ‘Autonomous’ Collaborative Combat Aircraft

10/28/2024

Lockheed Martin is ramping up its autonomous drone integration capabilities. It aims to have its F-35 fighter jet operate as a central control hub for up to eight Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCAs). The defense company, after being sidelined in the first stage of the US Air Force’s CCA program, is positioning itself as a strong contender for the next increment of development, company officials revealed during an Oct. 22 earnings call.

Jordan confirms no military aircraft allowed over its airspace in wake of Israeli strikes on Iran

10/27/2024

Jordan has not permitted any military aircraft from warring parties in the region to cross its airspace, the Jordanian army said Saturday in the wake of Israeli strikes targeting Iran. "No military aircraft have been allowed to traverse Jordanian airspace from any of the conflicting parties in the region,” the official Jordanian news agency cited a military source as saying.

How A Russian Pilot Defected with His MiG-25 Foxbat Fighter

10/27/2024

A Russian pilot's defection to Ukraine in a Mi-8 helicopter echoes the famous 1976 defection of Soviet Lieutenant Viktor Belenko, who flew his MiG-25 Foxbat to Japan. Disillusioned with the Soviet system and facing personal issues, Belenko seized an opportunity during a routine flight to escape.

France seeks Rafale deal with Bangladesh

10/27/2024

France is hoping that the new dispensation in Bangladesh will finalise a long-awaited deal to purchase Rafale fighter jets as part of a broader effort to modernise the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF), according to sources familiar with the matter. The discussions have gained momentum as the caretaker Prime Minister Mohammad Yunus has been described as more receptive to France’s offer compared to his predecessor Sheikh Hasina.

F-15EX Eagle II: The 'Hottest' Fighter Jet on the Planet Right Now

10/26/2024

Due to escalating global threats, the U.S. Air Force is pushing for faster production of the F-15EX Eagle II fighter jet. The F-15EX, a highly capable 4.5th-generation fighter, is being prioritized for homeland defense but could also serve in offensive roles, particularly in the Indo-Pacific.