Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

The J-10C and JH-7A of the Chinese Air Force face off in simulated air combat against Thai Gripen fighters

08/21/2024

As the Bilateral Exercise Falcon Strike 2024 continues, various images of the J-10C fighters of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) have surfaced on social media, showing the exercises being conducted with Gripen combat aircraft of the Royal Thai Air Force. Although this is not the first edition of this combined activity, the interaction between Chinese and Western-origin combat aircraft always attracts the attention of specialists.

Taiwan tracks 9 Chinese naval ships, 8 military aircraft

08/20/2024

The Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked nine Chinese naval vessels and eight military aircraft around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Sunday (Aug. 18) and 6 a.m. on Monday. Of the eight People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, four crossed the Taiwan Strait median line in the country’s central, southwestern, and eastern air defense identification zone (ADIZ), according to the MND.

Algeria Outpaces Egypt in Combat-Ready MiG Fighters

08/20/2024

Algeria has emerged as a dominant air power in North Africa, passing up Egypt in the number of combat-ready MiG fighter jets. Although Egypt has the largest air force on the continent, Algeria comes in second with a fairly formidable force as well. Algeria’s investment in modernizing its air force fleet, particularly the MiG-29, is paying off.

China dispatched planes during Games

08/19/2024

Drills involving 304 Chinese military aircraft and 162 ships had been detected around Taiwan during the Paris Olympics, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday, condemning China for undermining regional peace.

China's J-10 Fighter: A Copy of the F-16 Fighter? Well, Not Exactly.

08/19/2024

China's Chengdu J-10 "Vigorous Dragon" fighter bears a striking resemblance to the American F-16, but it is more closely related to Israel's IAI Lavi, a canceled fighter project. Reports suggest that the J-10 may have incorporated Israeli technology through alleged collaboration, though China claims the design is rooted in its own Chengdu J-9 project.

First Look at the P-8A Poseidon’s New Multi-Mission Pod

08/18/2024

We might have got the first ever look at the new Multi-Mission Pod (MMP) for the P-8A Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA). The photo, sent to us by aviation photographer Connor Ochs at Airplane Fotos, shows a Poseidon assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 20 with the new MMP installed under its centerline attachment point.

Russia's Su-75 Checkmate Stealth Fighter Headed to India?

08/18/2024

India is considering expanding its fleet of Russian-designed MiG-29s, with plans to upgrade its existing aircraft and acquire additional MiG-29 UPG variants. Meanwhile, Russia is reportedly pushing India to consider adopting the Su-75 "Checkmate," a fifth-generation stealth fighter that remains unproven and has struggled to find international buyers.

Pilot killed in Russia military plane crash

08/17/2024

One pilot was killed and three injured when a Russian fighter plane crashed during a training flight over Siberia, the regional governor said on Friday. The Tu-22M3 plane went down late Thursday in a deserted area over the Irkutsk region, Igor Kobzev said.

Paramount tests South Korea’s KF-21 stealth fighter radar

08/17/2024

South African defense company Paramount is at the forefront of testing the radar system for South Korea’s KF-21 Boramae stealth fighter jet. The radar in question is the Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA), a critical component of the indigenous KF-21 program. Let’s delve into the details.

Ukraine 'lost' MiG-29 fighter jet as Russia claims attack on airbase

08/17/2024

Ukraine lost a MiG-29 fighter jet on Aug. 16, according to former Air Force Spokesperson Yurii Ihnat. "Unfortunately, today we lost a MiG-29. Luckily, everyone is alive. War," Ihnat said, without elaborating where and how the aircraft was destroyed.

“Killer” Of China’s JF-17, Philippines Mulls Deploying Its Only Combat Fighters In Arsenal To Deter PLAAF

08/16/2024

As it braces for more dangerous maneuvers by Chinese fighter jets, the Philippines is mulling the deployment of the FA-50 fighters, a cutting—edge aircraft, to escort its patrol aircraft over the South China Sea.

Iconic Panavia Tornado combat aircraft turns 50

08/16/2024

August 14, 2024, marked the 50th anniversary of the first flight of the Panavia Tornado combat aircraft. Nearly 1,000 units of this iconic supersonic aircraft were produced in its several versions (IDS, for ground attack and interdiction, ADS for air defense and ECR for electronic warfare and reconnaissance) during the course of the last five decades.

Mobility Air Forces fighters, bombers, Joint air ops: Bamboo Eagle 24-3

08/16/2024

Air Mobility Command teamed up with the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center (USAFWC), Air Combat Command and Air Force Global Strike Command to execute Exercise Bamboo Eagle 24-3, July 30 to Aug. 11, 2024, across the western United States and Pacific Ocean. Mobility Airmen used the eight-day exercise to practice mobility operations in a combat representative environment and emphasize mobility’s crucial role in wartime operations.

Ukraine downs Russian Su-34 aircraft over Kursk Oblast, military says

08/16/2024

Ukrainian forces shot down a Russian Su-34 fighter jet over Russia's Kursk Oblast overnight on Aug. 14 amid Kyiv's incursion into the region, Ukraine's General Staff reported. Ukraine's unprecedented operation, ongoing since last week, seems to have taken Russia by surprise, as Kyiv says its forces seized control of 74 settlements and over 1,000 square kilometers of land after they broke through the weakly defended border.

NATO Jet in Close Encounter With Russian Bombers, Escorts

08/16/2024

Rare footage from the cockpit of a nuclear-capable Russian bomber captured a close encounter on Wednesday between its fighter escort and a NATO air policing interceptor. A video shared to the Russian-language Telegram channel "warhistoryalconafter" showed the crew of a Tu-22M3 strategic bomber filming the approach of a German air force Eurofighter Typhoon over the Baltic Sea.

Countries With The Most Military Aircraft

08/15/2024

Air power is the backbone of any modern military. Since the dawn of early air warfare in the First World War, dominating the sky has become paramount in securing victory on the battlefield. This fact has not been lost on the military powers of today and is always a top priority for funding and modernization. The country with the most aircraft is the United States, which has 13,209 combat aircraft. In second place is Russia with 4,255 aircraft, and in third is China with 3,304 aircraft.

Two fighter jet pilots die in France after mid-air crash

08/15/2024

Two French pilots have died after their Rafale jets collided in mid-air in eastern France, President Emmanuel Macron has said, in a rare accident involving the cutting-edge military aircraft. One pilot ejected after the crash over northeastern France on Wednesday, but authorities had launched a desperate search for a missing instructor and a student pilot on the second jet.

Ukraine seeks retired pilots to fly newly acquired F-16 fighter jets

08/14/2024

Ukraine is actively looking for willing retired pilots from NATO nations capable of operating its newly acquired F-16 fighter jets. The need for recruitment is to address Ukraine’s shortage of trained pilots capable of flying F-16 fighter jets. According to US Senators Richard Blumenthal and Lindsey Graham, Ukraine is looking for ways to strengthen its air capabilities.

Canada to Build F-35A Facility for NORAD Missions in Quebec

08/14/2024

The Canadian Department of Defence has begun construction of a Quick Reaction Alert facility at the Bagotville base in Quebec. The site will house Ottawa’s future F-35A combat aircraft fleet and support North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) operations in partnership with the US military.

State Department Approves Sale of New, Updated F-15s to Israel

08/14/2024

The State Department approved a raft of foreign military sales to Israel on Aug. 13, including an $18 billion deal for up to 50 new F-15 fighters and upgrades to 25 existing F-15I models, plus engines, radars, and other equipment. The deal requires congressional approval, and would provide F-15IA aircraft, similar to the U.S. Air Force’s F-15EX Eagle II, the most advanced version of the F-15. Under the agreement, Israel would buy 25 of the fighters, with options for 25 more, according to report

A US Navy carrier strike group equipped with F-35 stealth fighters is rushing to the Middle East along with a submarine packed with Tomahawk missiles

08/13/2024

The US is accelerating the deployment of a carrier strike group to the Middle East and sending a guided-missile submarine to the region, the Pentagon announced late on Sunday. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin initially directed the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group to the Middle East earlier this month as the region braced for a potential attack on Israel by Iran and its proxies in retaliation for the killings of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders.

Why the F-22 Raptor Is the World’s Most Expensive Fighter Jet

08/13/2024

The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor remains the world’s most expensive fighter jet, with a per-unit cost of around $350 million. This price is largely due to its pioneering design, which introduced many advanced technologies, including stealth capabilities, sophisticated avionics, and thrust-vectoring nozzles.

President Marcos condemns China’s ‘dangerous’ actions vs Philippine military plane

08/12/2024

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sunday condemned the Chinese air force’s “dangerous and provocative actions” against a Philippine military plane patrolling over the Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). According to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), two China air force aircraft “executed a dangerous maneuver” and “dropped flares in the path of its NC-212i.” The AFP said China’s action endangered the lives of its personnel conducting maritime security operations.

Modernization of Swiss F-35As creates political turmoil in the country

08/12/2024

The Swiss F-35As are once again making headlines in the Swiss press. Indeed, after the questions about the criteria used during the 2021 competition, to make the American plane its winner, it is now budgetary questions which are once again shaking up this very sensitive issue.

ROYAL AIR FORCE JETS TO CONDUCT FIRST NATO AIR POLICING MISSION WITH F-35S IN ICELAND

08/10/2024

Royal Air Force (RAF) F-35B jets from 617 Squadron, Marham, United Kingdom, have deployed to Iceland to commence NATO's Air Policing mission. This is the first time British F-35s will have taken part in any NATO air policing mission. The F-35Bs will defend NATO airspace in the Arctic Region and provide Airborne Surveillance and Interception Capabilities to meet Iceland's Peacetime Preparedness Needs – or ASIC IPPN. The last deployment for British jets in Iceland was 2019.