Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Government Official: Russia Has Launched Production of Su-57 Stealth Fighter

07/30/2019

The Russian military aircraft industry has started manufacturing the Sukhoi Su-57 fighter aircraft, Russia’s first alleged indigenously designed and developed fifth-generation stealth fighter jet, according to the office of Russian Deputy Prime Minister, Yuri Borisov.

First AH-64E Apaches arrive in India

07/30/2019

India will receive its full complement of 22 Boeing AH-64E Apache attack helicopters by 2020, with its first four examples having arrived at Hindan Air Force Station. Four more examples will follow "in the coming week", the airframer says.

Michigan ANG 127th Wing A-10 Thunderbolt II returns from Afghanistan combat deployment

07/29/2019

More than 200 Airmen of the 127th Wing returned home from a combat tour in Afghanistan with their A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft. Deployed to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Selfridge operators, maintainers, and support staff were responsible for supporting close air support missions, aircraft maintenance, and logistics operations.

F-15s Attack!: Israel Shot Down 88 Syrian Fighter Jets In this Famous Battle

07/29/2019

The MiG-21s and -23s were at an almost total disadvantage against the Israeli F-15s and F-16s. While the Israeli fighters had long-range radars allowing them to position themselves advantageously for the attack, the MiGs were limited to initial GCI vectors from radar sites back in Syria, and as they approached the Israeli fighters, electronic jamming rendered their radars useless and disrupted their radio contact with the Syria-based GCI units.

Revealed: Israel Has a Copy of One of Russia's Deadliest Fighter Jets

07/29/2019

It has been reported that Israel obtained a nearly complete, crated, MiG-29 via a covert deal with a Polish general. The aircraft was at Gdansk awaiting shipment to Syria, but was instead put on a plane and flown to Israel in late 1985. The Soviets soon got wind of this and demanded its return. Because the Israelis were then attempting to foster good relations with the Soviet Union, they complied in about February 1986.

Chinese Breakthrough in Stealth Technology to Revolutionise Radar Evading Capabilities for J-20, J-31, H-20 and Others

07/28/2019

China’s. People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force inducted its first stealth aircraft into active service in early 2017, and the Chengdu J-20 fifth generation air superiority fighter remains the most advanced combat jet in the Chinese fleet with a role analogous to the U.S. Air Force’s F-22 Raptor.

Ankara's S-400 purchase from Russia a priority for national security

07/27/2019

Ankara continues to call on NATO allies to acknowledge that Turkey's defense choices are a matter of national security and no threat of sanctions could prevent the country from acting in accordance with its own interests

‘Ready to fight’: Tensions escalate in South China Sea

07/26/2019

Asia has just taken a giant leap towards disaster: The combat jets of four nations have squared off above a disputed island. Vietnam is challenging an aggressive Chinese spy ship. And the Philippines has appealed to the US for protection. On Wednesday a chaotic confrontation unfolded above a tiny island claimed by both South Korea and Japan. Chinese and Russian bombers infringed the territory, with Tokyo and Seoul fighting over the right to defend the airspace.

Russian air clash is a wake-up call for South Korea

07/26/2019

On July 23, South Korean fighter jets fired more than 300 warning shots at a Russian military aircraft that violated airspace claimed by Seoul as it was conducting a joint air patrol with China. Around the same time, Japan scrambled combat aircraft to warn off the Russian and Chinese planes flying near islands claimed by both Japan and South Korea in the Sea of Japan.

Russia’s MiG-35 in race for IAF’s 114-fighter jet deal

07/26/2019

“A completely new aircraft”, ‘MiG-35 4++ Generation’ combat plane of Russia, said IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa will be added to the force after going through the due process of tender, evaluation and test flights. The IAF Chief came across the MiG-35 jet during his visit to Russia from July 9 to 12.

Ottawa releases RFP for 88 new fighters

07/26/2019

Ottawa has released a request for proposals (RFP) for its future fighter competition that could see it obtain 88 new fighter jets. Released on 23 July by Public Services and Procurement Canada, it names four potential contenders: Saab, Airbus Defense & Space, Lockheed Martin, and Boeing.

South Korea’s Deadly FA-50 Fighter Is Headed to Argentina

07/24/2019

The FA-50s would help the air force to begin rebuilding. The navy meanwhile has begun its own rearmament program. Five ex-French navy Super Etendard fighters in May 2019 arrived at the port of Bahia Blanca in Argentina.

Lockheed sees $3.5 billion of hypersonic work in near term

07/24/2019

Lockheed Martin expects to sign $3.5 billion worth of hypersonic development contracts within the next two years. The company foresees booking around $600 million in hypersonic sales this year, with the remaining $2.9 billion to come beyond that, according to a quarterly earnings call on 23 July. The aerospace manufacturer appears to be winning more hypersonic development work than any other US defence firm.

Bulgarian president vetoes F-16V purchase

07/24/2019

Bulgaria's president has vetoed the country's planned $1.26 billion acquisition of eight Lockheed Martin F-16V fighters, citing a lack of agreement and clarity over the deal. Issuing the veto on 23 July, President Rumen Radev said that for a purchase of this size it was necessary not only for it to be affordable, but also "to have a broad consensus and support".

Jakarta still seeking concessions on K-FX/I-FX costs

07/24/2019

Jakarta continues to press for concessions on the price of involvement in the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) K-FX/I-FX fighter programme. A recent report by Indonesia's official Antara news portal quotes government minister Wiranto as suggesting that the next payments be not in cash, but potentially a contra deal involving Indonesia-produced defence equipment.

Strained Russia, Ukraine ties slow Indian An-32 upgrades

07/24/2019

The upgrade of Indian air force Antonov An-32 tactical transports is well behind schedule and is only likely to be completed by 2025 - an eight year delay from the original plan. Indian defence minister Shripad Nayak has informed parliament that 55 aircraft have so far been upgraded to the An-32RE (re-equipped) standard.

South Korea fires warning shots at Russian military aircraft in its airspace

07/23/2019

The South Korean military fired two warning shots at a Russian military aircraft that entered South Korean airspace on Tuesday, the Ministry of National Defense in Seoul said, and Chinese military aircraft had also entered South Korean airspace. It was the first time a Russian military aircraft had violated South Korean airspace, a ministry official said.

US denounces Venezuela aircraft's 'unsafe approach'

07/23/2019

The United States military has accused a Venezuelan fighter aircraft of endangering the crew of a US navy plane in international airspace. The Venezuelan plane made an "unsafe approach" and "aggressively shadowed" the US reconnaissance aircraft over the Caribbean Sea, US Southern Command said on Sunday.

Beijing’s upgraded Su-35 fighter jets put through paces over South China Sea as ‘Sword of the South’ air brigade takes flight

07/23/2019

Pilots of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force have tested the sea warfare capabilities of their advanced Su-35 fighter jets over the South China Sea, state media reported. An air force brigade from Southern Theatre Command took part in the exercises after modifications to the Russian-built Sukhois, PLA Pictorial magazine said on Monday.

Venezuelan Su-30MKII Flanker “Aggressively Shadowed” a U.S. Navy EP-3E Over The Caribbean Sea

07/22/2019

The U.S. military has just released a series of four videos filmed by a U.S. Navy EP-3E ARIES II intercepted by a Venezuelan Air Force Su-30MKII Flanker in international airspace over the Caribbean Sea on Jul. 19, 2019. According to U.S. Southern Command, the Russian-built multirole aircraft “aggressively shadowed” the EP-3E aircraft, flying at an unsafe distance from the interlligence gathering aircraft “jeopardizing the crew and aircraft.”

Iran’s poking at West heightens risks of military miscalculation

07/22/2019

Rather than tangle with a stronger US military, Iran is poking and prodding its Western antagonists in ways apparently designed to avoid triggering war, but that nonetheless seem to heighten the risk of missteps and miscalculation that could lead to an armed conflict with global consequences.

Two Croatian Military Planes Intercept Israeli Aircraft Over Croatia

07/21/2019

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes on the 19th of July, 2019, a private Israeli business jet entered Croatian airspace from the direction of Bosnia and Herzegovina with the intent to cross over to Italy. ''A combat duo of the Croatian Air Force were engaged in the protection and surveillance of the airspace of the Republic of Croatia and successfully intercepted the aircraft,'' they said in a statement.

As more oil tankers seized, US putting troops back at Iran's doorstep

07/20/2019

Iran said it had seized a British oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday but denied Washington's assertion that the US Navy had downed one of its drones, as tensions in the Gulf region grew again. Britain said it was urgently seeking information about the Stena Impero tanker, which had been heading to a port in Saudi Arabia and suddenly changed course after passing through the strait at the mouth of the Gulf.

Tri services exercise with Russia this year to learn Syria lessons: Air Chief

07/20/2019

The armed forces are looking forward to learning from the experience of the Syria war with a large scale joint exercise planned with Russia later this year, Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa has said. Describing Ex Indra 2019 – which will involve the air force, army and navy – as an `important experience’, the Air Chief said that the exercise will be themed around joint anti terrorism operations.

US Air Force flies HH-60W Combat Rescue Helicopter for first time

07/20/2019

A pilot with the US Air Force’s (USAF) 413th flight test squadron conducted the service’s first flight of a Sikorsky HH-60W Combat Rescue Helicopter on 11 July at Sikorsky’s Development Flight Center in West Palm Beach, Florida.