Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

North Korean Fighter Pilots Battled American Jets Over Vietnam

12/29/2019

In the year 2000, a visit by North Korea’s foreign minister to a cemetery in Bac Giang, Vietnam confirmed a long-rumored fact: dozens of North Korean pilots had dueled American Navy and Air Force pilots over the skies of Vietnam during the 1960s. And fourteen North Korean Air Force did not return alive.

The F-35 Is Transforming America's Air Force (And Making It Far Deadlier)

12/29/2019

As 60 enemy fighters closed in on a US Air Force 4th Generation fighter aircraft, blinding the jet with electronic warfare attacks, an experienced pilot faced unseen life-threatening attackers closing in - during an air-combat Red Flag exercise closely replicating actual warfare scenarios.

Boeing lands remanufacturing deal for Dutch, UAE, and UK Apaches

12/28/2019

Boeing has secured a $565 million contract to remanufacture AH-64D Apache attack helicopters operated by three countries into the more advanced “E” variant. The work will cover 47 helicopters, according to a Boeing statement.

KC-390 achieves key cargo drop milestones

12/28/2019

The Embraer KC-390 tactical transport has completed a campaign involving aerial drops of cargo. “The KC-390 Millennium new generation multi-mission medium airlifter has successfully concluded the testing campaign for gravity airdrop and extraction drop of heavy loads by the use of the Container Delivery System (CDS) and Low Velocity Air Drop (LVAD), respectively,” says Embraer in a statement.

China sails carrier through Taiwan Strait ahead of presidential election

12/27/2019

China sailed a new aircraft carrier into the Taiwan Strait ahead of the upcoming presidential election in Taiwan, Reuters reported Thursday. The Chinese carrier Shandog sailed north through the Strait, Reuters reported, citing Taiwan’s defense ministry. “It’s the responsibility and duty for the two sides across the strait to maintain peace and stability and strive for the well-being of the people,” Taiwan’s presidential office reportedly said in a statement.

F-16 downs drone during cruise missile defense testing

12/27/2019

The 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron shot down a subscale drone using an AGR-20A Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System laser-guided rocket Dec. 19, providing a proof of concept for using rockets queued from an F-16 Fighting Falcon targeting pod as viable munitions to perform cruise missile defense.

Algeria In Talks With Russia For A Dozen Su-57 Jets

12/27/2019

Algeria is likely to buy 12 Su-57 fighters with an option to procure 12 more, from Russia. “Algeria is currently in fairly active negotiations with Russia to acquire 12 Su-57 fighters with the possibility of increasing the order to 24 combat aircraft,” sources were quoted as saying by Russia’s Avia.pro on Monday.

U.S. operates at least 22 reconnaissance planes over Korean Peninsula

12/27/2019

The U.S. is not relaxing its surveillance even after the “Christmas gift” deadline threatened by North Korea is passed. The country is carpet-bombing the Korean Peninsula with its reconnaissance resources. The U.S. deployed its five main reconnaissance planes, such as E-8C Joint STARS, at once to the Korean Peninsula on Wednesday, which was followed by three more reconnaissance aircraft on Thursday to detect any new signs of North Korean provocations involving ICBMs and SLBMs.

China's Stealth Fighters and Stealth Bombers Have a Big Problem

12/27/2019

The Chinese military is building up a meaningful force of J-20 stealth fighters, Y-20 strategic airlifters and other high-tech military aircraft while also developing a new stealth fighter, fighter-bomber and heavy bomber.

Last MiG-27 fighters to retire on Friday; IAF down to 28 squadrons

12/26/2019

The Indian Air Force (IAF) will have a moment of history in Jodhpur on Friday, when the last of its MiG-27 fighters fly into the sunset. Starting in 1985, the IAF has flown 165 MiG-27 fighters, built under licence by Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL). With this, the last MiG-27 squadron — No. 29 Squadron, which calls itself the Scorpions — will be ‘numberplated’, or placed in suspended animation until it can be re-operationalised with new aircraft and manpower.

NATO Faces a Fresh Quandary as Turkey Tips Toward Russia

12/26/2019

Turkey’s president has warned that he would evict U.S. forces from two military bases in his country if Washington imposes new sanctions on his government—creating a quandary for the NATO alliance as it seeks to cope with Ankara’s deepening ties to Russia.

Russian 5th generation Sukhoi Su-57 “Felon” Crashes During Testing, Pilot Reported Safe.

12/24/2019

A Russian Sukhoi Su-57, NATO reporting name “Felon”, twin-engine, 5th generation fighter is reported to have crashed yesterday near the Komsomolsk-on-Amur aircraft plant in the Far East Khabarovsk Krai region of Russia. The first report of the accident, published early Tuesday morning by Russia’s official government sponsored RT News Network, reported that the pilot of the single-seat aircraft escaped without injuries and rescued by an Mi-8 helicopter.

Kazakhstan Becoming a Regional Aircraft Industry/Service Hub

12/24/2019

As Kazakhstan’s latest move to become the region’s most important aircraft manufacturer and service provider, a tripartite agreement was signed on December 14 covering main parts assembly for Mi-8 AMT/Mi-171 helicopters in Nur-Sultan, the recently renamed capital (formerly Astana) of the Central Asian country.

Global Hawk arrival to bolster Seoul's ISR capabilities

12/24/2019

The Republic of Korea Air Force’s (ROKAF) first Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Block 30 Global Hawk has arrived in South Korea. The remotely piloted aircraft arrived at an air base near Sacheon during the morning of 23 December, according the official Yonhap news agency.

Lockheed Martin awarded $7bn contract to maintain F-22 fleet

12/24/2019

Lockheed Martin was awarded a five-year contract worth $7 billion for maintenance of the F-22 Raptor stealth fighter. The contract is an option exercised by the US Air Force (USAF) from its ongoing sustainment deal with Lockheed Martin, the Department of Defense says in an online notice on 20 December. This additional five-year contract will extend the service’s contract work with Lockheed Martin through 31 December 2032.

Taiwan, USA proceed with F-16V deal

12/24/2019

Taiwan has confirmed that the US Foreign Military Sale of 66 Lockheed Martin F-16Vs to the Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF) is in the implementation stage, after both sides signed the letter of offer and acceptance (LOA).

Throttle up: China closes the jet engine gap

12/23/2019

The Chinese defense industrial base is infamous for its tendency to “borrow” from foreign designs, particularly in the aerospace industry. Almost the entirety of China’s modern fighter fleet have either borrowed liberally from or directly copied foreign models. The J-10 was reputedly based on the Israeli IAI Lavi and by extension the United States’ General Dynamics F-16; the J-11 is a clone of the Russian Su-27; the JF-17 is a modern development of the Soviet MiG-21.

Syrian army advances into northwestern Idlib province

12/23/2019

The Syrian army, backed by Russian air power, has advanced into al-Qaeda-controlled north-western Idlib province over the past week with the aim of capturing the town of Ma’arat al-Nu’man, which straddles the highway linking Damascus with Hama and Aleppo.

Final F-35A Lightning II aircrafts delivered to Air Force

12/23/2019

According to the Air Force, airmen from the wings based at Hill are currently deployed in the Middle East and have flown some of the first combat sorties involving the aircraft. The Air Force conducted its first combat mission with the fifth-generation fighter in May when two F-35As struck an entrenched Islamic State tunnel network and weapons cache at Wadi Ashai, Iraq.

N Korea's Kim presides over military meeting as tension rises

12/23/2019

Kim Jong Un has held a meeting of North Korea's top military officials to discuss boosting the country's military capability, the country's state news agency reported on Sunday amid heightened concern the North may be about to return to confrontation with the United States. Kim presided over an enlarged meeting of the ruling Workers' Party's Central Military Commission, KCNA said, to discuss steps "to bolster up the overall armed forces of the country militarily and politically."

America establishes sixth military branch: US Space Force

12/23/2019

The US Space Force (USSF) was established as the sixth military branch of the US armed forces on 20 December 2019 when President Donald Trump signed the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act. The new service will reside within the US Air Force (USAF), under the leadership of the secretary of the air force, Barbara Barrett.

Typhoons, Rafales star in Qatar’s annual flypast

12/22/2019

A trio of Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoons took part in a flypast of Doha on 18 December, joining Qatari assets involved in national day celebrations. Also appearing for the first time were Dassault Rafales of the Qatar Emiri Air Force.

USA approves $78m upgrade to Argentina’s recently bought P-3C aircraft

12/22/2019

The US State Department approved a potential $78 million upgrade package for four Lockheed Martin P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft which Argentina recently purchased through the Pentagon’s Excess Defense Articles programme.

Boeing KC-46A to resume cargo and passenger flights after cargo lock fixes

12/22/2019

The US Air Force is again allowing Boeing KC-46A Pegasus in-flight refuelling tankers to carry passengers and cargo, lifting a ban after accepting Boeing’s cargo-lock retrofit. The USAF announced in September that during test flights multiple cargo-floor restraint locks malfunctioned and came unlocked. At the time, in-service KC-46As were transporting cargo. The service suspended cargo and passenger flights as a precaution.

American F-21 or Russian MiG-35 to be Hot Favorites for $15 Bln Indian Fighter Jet Tender: Analysts

12/20/2019

New Delhi (Sputnik): With the signing of the Industry Security Annex agreement between Indian and the US government on Thursday, the contest for the Indian Air Force’s $15 billion fighter jet tender has become more intriguing.