Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Spain, France and UK Work the Next Round of Baltic Air Policing

05/03/2020

Spain, France and the United Kingdom will take up NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission starting in May, guarding the skies over the Baltic region for the next four months. The three NATO Allies are replacing air force detachments from Belgium and Poland which have protected the airspace of NATO’s three Baltic Allies Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania since January. The Spanish and British air force contingents will operate out of Siauliai airbase in Lithuania, while the French air force will fly from

China's Purchase Of Russia's Su-35 Fighter Shows It Isn't Ready For Great Power Status

05/03/2020

Given Beijing’s pride in its growing military and economic strength, and its ability to develop advanced weapons such as stealth fighters, it seems surprising that China must import warplanes, jet engines, anti-aircraft missiles and other equipment. For now, it may indeed make sense for China to buy fighters from Russia: the two nations, which once fought a border war and vied for supremacy in the Communist bloc, now enjoy friendly – but wary – relations.

South Africa sells several planeloads of military equipment to Turkey, potentially flouting Covid-19 lockdown rules

05/03/2020

On Thursday an A400M military transport plane, carrying a donation of medical supplies arrived in Cape Town. A second arrived later that day while a third and fourth aircraft on Saturday. At least one more aircraft is expected in the next day or two to pick up what Turkish ambassador Elif Ülgen explained was “some kind of military ammunition” purchased from Rheinmetall Denel Munition (RDM). Only the first arrived with medical supplies on board.

What military equipment did Russia sell last year, and who to?

05/03/2020

Russia ranks second in the list of global arms exporters. Last year even a NATO member bought its most formidable weaponry. In early April, Russian President Vladimir Putin summed up the results of the country’s international sales of military hardware. As he reported, in 2019 Moscow supplied partners with arms and equipment to the tune of around $15 billion. As of April 2020, the total order portfolio stands at more than $55 billion, with approximately 100 partner countries.

Watchdog: Afghan Air Force Faces Drop in Flying Hours, Available Aircraft

05/02/2020

So far this year, the AAF is flying 26 percent less than last year due to the reduction-in-violence period with the Taliban that led to a decrease in strike missions, along with winter weather impeding flight operations and restrictions related to the new coronavirus outbreak. To limit COVID-19 exposure, the AAF is only flying combat sorties, temporarily pausing training sorties, according to the report.

AH-64E versus AH-1Z competition in Philippines brews with US sale approval

05/02/2020

The US government has approved the sale of six Boeing AH-64E Apache and six Bell AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters to Manila. The sale package is not finalised, as it is subject to customer acceptance, says the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency on 30 April. The Philippines plans to choose one of the two types of attack helicopters.

Iran's Old Air Force Could Be On Its Last Legs

05/02/2020

After the 2015 nuclear deal, Iran had a brief opportunity to revamp its air force. Tehran briefly contemplated buying modern Mirage 2000 fighters from France but ultimately decided against it, logically concluding it was more familiar with American and Russian equipment.

India-Russia Defense Ties Amid COVID-19

05/02/2020

The pandemic appears not to have had much impact on India-Russia relations. The relationship was showing signs of strain even before to the pandemic, mainly because both countries are drifting toward different sides in the emerging competition between the United States and China.

Russia's Su-35 Is A Top Dogfighter, But Can It Survive A Ranged Stealth Battle?

05/02/2020

The Sukhoi Su-35 Flanker-E is the top Russian air-superiority fighter in service today, and represents the pinnacle of fourth-generation jet fighter design. It will remain so until Russia succeeds in bringing its fifth-generation PAK-FA stealth fighter into production.

RAF chief condemns Russia over intercepted planes near Scotland

05/01/2020

The chief of Britain's air force has condemned its Russian counterpart after two of its maritime patrol bombers were intercepted north-east of Scotland. RAF Typhoon fighters were deployed from the Lossiemouth base in Moray as the Russian Tu-142 "Bear-F" aircraft approached on Wednesday. The Russian aircraft stayed in international airspace over the Norwegian Sea and the North Sea. However, the RAF said they were flying within the UK's "area of interest".

Tunisia Goes Texan

05/01/2020

Tunisia is joining other Middle Eastern nations like Iraq, Israel and Morocco and buying the U.S. AT-6C "Texan II" trainer/attack/reconnaissance aircraft. Tunisia wants to buy twelve but budget problems means the initial purchase is only four. In addition a 512 bombs, all but 48 500 pounders 250 pounders (113 kg). These bombs are mostly being used with guidance kits that turn bombs into GPS guided bombs. There are also 3,290 70mm APKWS laser guided missiles.

Marine F/A-18 Hornets Fly Armed With Live Harpoon Anti-Ship Missiles In Japan

05/01/2020

A number of U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18C/D Hornet fighter jets forward-deployed to Japan recently conducted an exercise while carrying a pair of live AGM-84D Harpoon anti-ship missiles. The Corps says that the training event focused on its ability to contribute to sea control and area denial missions, capabilities the service wants to enhance and expand as part of a radical restructuring of its forces that it first publicly announced last month.

GNA files complaint to France over presence of French military aircraft in Libya's skies

04/30/2020

The Foreign Ministry of the Government of National Accord (GNA) has filed a complaint letter to France for the unpermitted presence of French military aircraft over Misrata, 200 km to the east of Tripoli. "We are dismayed by the presence of one French Rafale aircraft and a fuel aircraft over Misrata and Abu Grein without permission." The Foreign Ministry said in the complaint on Wednesday.

Software innovations makes F-16 more capable

04/30/2020

The F-16 Operational Flight Program M-series 7.2+ was released in April 2020 to more than 600 Block 40/42/50/52 F-16s delivering a wide range of new capabilities to the Fighting Falcon. The $455 million program fielded major capability upgrades such as the Active Electronically Scanned Array Radar (NORTHCOM’s number one priority Joint Urgent Operational Need).

Hill AFB F-35 pilots eager to salute Utah front-line COVID-19 workers with statewide flyover

04/30/2020

The skies over the Beehive State will be abuzz with excitement as the U.S. military’s top fighter aircraft will blaze a path through Utah saluting front-line medical responders and residents fighting to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus. Four members of Hill Air Force Base’s 388th Fighter Wing will fly in formation across the state beginning at 1 p.m. Thursday. The group will be led by the Air Force F-35A Lightning II demonstration team’s Capt. Kristin Wolfe.

What it's like to get up close with Russian aircraft over the Arctic, according to an F-22 pilot who's done it

04/30/2020

Four times this year, North American Aerospace Defense Command has reported Russian aircraft flying into the Air Defense Identification Zone that extends about 200 miles from Alaska's coast. Three of those flights prompted NORAD to send aircraft out to keep an eye on them — including US Air Force F-22 Raptor stealth fighters from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson near Anchorage, where pilots were waiting.

Belgian fighter jets intercept Russian aircraft off Estonian coast

04/29/2020

On Tuesday, the Belgian Air Force has reported that its fighters jets intercepted Russian A-50 Mainstay airborne early warning and control aircraft (AEW&C) and AN-26 transport plane while they were flying off the Estonian coast. The interception of the A-50 Mainstay flying off the Estonian coast took place on Saturday the 25th and An-26 military transport aircraft on Tuesday 27th.

China Says PLA Scrambled Aircraft, Ships to ‘Expel’ U.S. Warship from South China Sea Island Chain

04/29/2020

Chinese authorities said they sortied ships and aircraft to “track, monitor, verify, identify and expel” a U.S. warship from the Paracel Island chain in the South China Sea on Tuesday, People’s Liberation Army (PLA) officials said on Chinese social media. Navy officials confirmed to USNI News that guided-missile destroyer USS Barry (DDG-52) conducted a freedom of navigation operation in the vicinity of the island chain off Vietnam.

Australia informs India about cancellation of premier multilateral air combat training exercise Pitch Black 2020

04/29/2020

Australia has informed India that their premier multilateral air combat training exercise Pitch Black 2020 scheduled from July 27 to August 14 has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 situation, defence sources said. This was conveyed by Air Marshal Meg Hupfeld, Chief of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), in a letter to Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, in mid-April.

Northrop Grumman finalises ninth full-rate production lot of AARGM missile

04/29/2020

The US Navy has awarded Northrop Grumman a US$165 million ($256.2 million) contract for Lot 9 full-rate production (FRP) of the AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) – assets will include all-up round missiles and captive air training missiles for the US Navy and foreign military sales.

RAF Typhoons strike Daesh targets in Iraq

04/28/2020

Two RAF Typhoon fighter jets have carried out strikes against Daesh targets in Tuz Khurma, Iraq whilst performing a reconnaissance mission, the UK MoD reported on 25 April. The aircraft surveyed the area for non-combatants before engaging in their targets with precision-guided bombs that left the buildings destroyed.

Air Force Extends Study on Feasibility of Private Aerial Refueling

04/28/2020

The Air Force is extending its feasibility study into the use of privately owned aerial refueling tankers after an initial report determined further research is needed to understand legal and financial challenges. Last week, the Air Force delivered a Commercial Air Refueling Report to the House Armed Services Committee, which Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett reviewed and then asked for 60 more days to further study the issue, Air Mobility Command said in a statement.

B-1 Returns to Pacific in 'Dynamic Force Employment'

04/28/2020

After ending its 16-year permanent bomber presence in Guam, the U.S. Air Force this week flew a B-1B Lancer to the Pacific as part of its new unpredictable deployment experiment to test crews' agility when sending heavy aircraft forces around the world.

America Strong: Blue Angels, Thunderbirds to conduct multi-city flyovers championing National Unity Behind Frontline Responders

04/27/2020

In a show of national solidarity, the Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, and the Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, will conduct a series of multi-city flyovers over the next two weeks. America Strong is a collaborative salute from the Navy and Air Force to recognize healthcare workers, first responders, and other essential personnel while standing in solidarity with all Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic.

US aircraft passes south of Taiwan for 12th time

04/26/2020

A US Lockheed P-3C Orion reconnaissance aircraft yesterday flew over the Bashi Channel toward the South China Sea, marking the 12th time this month that a US military aircraft was spotted to the south of Taiwan’s airspace. The airplane’s presence was reported by military aviation monitoring Web site Aircraft Spots. The same aircraft on Saturday last week flew in a similar southwesterly direction over the channel, the Web site said.