Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

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.

China Was Watching: F-22 and F-35 Fighters Took Part in 'Hot Pit' Drill

08/10/2024

During Exercise Pitch Black 24 in Australia's Northern Territory, U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors and Royal Australian Air Force F-35A Lightning IIs participated in a "hot pit" refueling exercise, a key component of the Agile Employment Concept (ACE). This exercise, held at the remote RAAF Base Curtin, emphasized rapid refueling operations in austere environments, reducing ground time to around an hour.

Taiwan tracks 36 Chinese military aircraft, 8 naval ships

08/08/2024

The Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked 36 Chinese military aircraft and eight naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Tuesday (Aug. 6) and 6 a.m. on Wednesday. Of the 36 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, 31 crossed the Taiwan Strait median line in the nation’s northern, central, southwestern, and southeastern air defense identification zone (ADIZ), according to the MND.

Ukraine claims Su-35 fighter shoot down in Kursk region

08/08/2024

Several Ukrainian sources closely linked to the military have reported the loss of one of Russia’s advanced Su-35 fighter jets in the Kursk region. The Telegram channel “Polkovnik GSh” hinted at the loss in its messages, and various Ukrainian monitoring groups have stated that Russia withdrew its strike aircraft following the downing of the Su-35.

UK begins manufacturing of new combat aircraft

08/08/2024

The United Kingdom’s leading defense industry partners have announced that manufacturing and assembly of the main structure for the country’s first crewed combat air demonstrator in a generation are now underway. According to a press release from BAE Systems, this milestone marks a significant step in developing a new piloted supersonic aircraft aimed at testing a variety of advanced technologies.

Pakistan Pilots Start 5th-Gen Fighter Training In China? Will IAF’s Dwindling Fleet Force India Into ‘Panic Buying’

08/08/2024

Pakistan Air Force (PAF) pilots have begun training on the Chinese FC-31 Gyrfalcon (formerly known as J-31) fighter aircraft in China, Pakistan media is claiming. The media says it could soon be operating the 5th-gen fighters after undergoing training. In contrast, the delivery of India’s indigenous fighter jet, Light Combat Aircraft LCA MK1A, has been pushed back by a few months. If Indian defense officials are not proactive, they might end up ‘panic buying’ more Rafale fighter jets.

US Military Eyes Australian Island for Pacific Deterrence Initiative

08/07/2024

The US military is considering a remote island in Australia as the next potential location for construction under the Pacific Deterrence Initiative. Known as the Cocos Islands, the area sits west of the Australian mainland and is close to an Indian Ocean chokepoint for Chinese oil shipments. According to a US Navy construction tender published recently, the island can house infrastructure that would help improve Washington’s defense posture in the Indo-Pacific.

Spanish F-18 Fighters Join NATO Black Sea Policing Mission

08/07/2024

The military issues website BulgarianMilitary.com reported on Saturday, Aug. 3, that eight Spanish F/A-18A+ fighter aircraft supported by around 150 personnel arrived at Romania’s Mihail Kogalniceanu military airbase at the start of a new deployment as part of NATO’s Black Sea Air Policing mission. The Spanish team will be stationed in Romania until December as part of the routine rotation of member nation support to the operation.

Air Force F-22 Raptor Fighters Are Headed to Iran's 'Doorstep'

08/06/2024

The United States is bolstering its military presence in the Middle East by deploying F-22 Raptors, along with other fighter squadrons, amid escalating tensions with Iran and its allied militant groups. This move follows recent incidents, including the death of key leaders in Tehran and Lebanon, and a meeting in Iran with Hamas, Hezbollah, and other groups.

US Deploying F-22s to Middle East as Iran Seeks Revenge on Israel

08/05/2024

More U.S. military aircraft, warships, and other assets are deploying to the Middle East the Pentagon announced Aug. 2. A U.S. Air Force fighter squadron consisting of stealthy F-22 Raptors is being dispatched to the region, a person familiar with the deployment told Air & Space Forces Magazine.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy: This Is Reality, Reality in Our Skies – F-16s Are in Ukraine

08/05/2024

F-16 aircraft are already in Ukraine. This was announced by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the Day of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. F-16, MiG-29 and Su-27 fighter jets flew over the sky during the ceremony of congratulating the warriors.

Air Force exercises two Collaborative Combat Aircraft option awards

08/03/2024

The Department of the Air Force made the decision to continue funding Anduril and General Atomics for detailed designs, manufacture, and testing of production representative test articles under the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program. The companies not selected to build these production representative CCA vehicles, and execute the flight test program, will continue to be part of the broader industry partner vendor pool consisting of more than 20 companies to compete for future efforts.

US sending aircraft carrier, warships and fighter squadron to Middle East as region braces for Iranian retaliation

08/03/2024

The US is sending a carrier strike group, a fighter squadron and additional warships to the Middle East as the region braces for an Iranian retaliation to the killing of a senior Hamas leader in Tehran earlier this week. It is perhaps the largest movement of US forces to the region since the early days of the Gaza war, when the Pentagon sent two carrier strike groups toward the Middle East in a very public warning to regional militant groups not to expand the fighting.

Historic First – Bangladesh Air Force To Operate From India For 1st Time During IAF’s ‘Tarang Shakti’ Exercise

08/02/2024

More than four decades after its creation, Bangladesh military aircraft will roar over the skies of India for the first time. In the exercise Tarang Shakti (Power of Waves), the Bangladesh Air Force will participate with its fighter jets, along with other Western air forces. So far, Bangladesh Air Force aircraft have never operated from Indian soil. They will participate in the second phase of the exercise at Jodhpur Air Base in Rajasthan, home to the Indigenous Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) ‘Pr

French, German, and Spanish fighter jets to stop over in Malaysia after Exercise Pitch Black 2024

08/02/2024

A large tri-national force comprising 23 aircraft from the air forces of France, Germany, and Spain will be transiting to the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) base in Subang, from Aug 5-6. This trilateral deployment, dubbed Pacific Skies 2024, follows the three-week deployment to this year’s edition of Exercise Pitch Black 2024, in Darwin, Australia.

Taiwan tracks 29 Chinese military aircraft, 10 naval ships around nation

08/01/2024

The Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked 29 Chinese military aircraft and 10 naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Wednesday (July 31) and 6 a.m. on Thursday. Of the 29 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, 13 crossed the Taiwan Strait median line in the country’s northern, southwestern, and southeastern air defense identification zone (ADIZ), according to the MND.

F-15SA: The F-15 Fighter That Doesn't Fly for the U.S. Air Force

08/01/2024

The F-15SA, a heavily upgraded version of the F-15S, features advanced avionics, electronic warfare systems, and weaponry, making it one of the most capable aircraft in Saudi Arabia's arsenal.

Breaking: Ukraine Receives First Batch Of F-16 Fighter Jets

08/01/2024

After a long wait, it appears that Ukraine has just received the first batch of F-16s provided by the international fighter jet coalition. The news, first disclosed by Bloomberg on Jul. 31, 2024, has also been confirmed by a U.S. official to the Associated Press.

What Makes the F-35 So Powerful: It Keeps Getting Upgraded

07/31/2024

The F-35 Lightning II fighter is the most advanced fighter jet in the world, but it has several updates and upgrades lined up. To begin with, Lockheed Martin is currently rolling out the TR-3 software update that is necessary for the aircraft to remain at the tip of the spear of combat aviation.

Sweden’s Gripen Fighter Jet Could Soon Launch Satellites

07/31/2024

The Swedish Air Force has embarked on a comprehensive study into the viability of launching small satellites from the JAS-39 Gripen multi-role fighter aircraft. Called “Stella,” the study is inspired by a statement from a former Ukrainian space agency official who said a responsive satellite launch capability with an aircraft would have been useful in preparing for an enemy attack.

Air Force ‘taking a pause’ on NGAD next-gen fighter: Kendall

07/31/2024

After months of hinting at a disruption in the program, the US Air Force has formally decided to “pause” its effort to field a new stealth fighter, according to Secretary Frank Kendall. “We’re taking a pause there,” Kendall said today at the Life Cycle Industry Days conference here. “With the platform itself, we’re taking a pause. With the rest of the elements of the air dominance family of systems, we’re moving forward as fast as we can.”

The road to a sixth-generation fighter programme

07/30/2024

As far as combat aircraft programmes go, there appears to be one inescapable fact; although every new generation of combat aircraft aims to outperform its predecessor and often does so, it is unable to achieve a significant reduction in costs. Despite efforts to control costs, the reality of designing, developing and fielding an advanced combat aircraft system and what seems to be a global problem in achieving effective programme management, that can deliver on time and on cost, adds to programm

France Renews Vow to Defend Freedom of Navigation as It Showcases Fighter Jets in the Philippines

07/30/2024

France renewed a commitment to help defend freedom of navigation and overflight in the Asia-Pacific Sunday and said that its supersonic fighter jets — a pair of which landed for the first time in the Philippines — and advance military power would enable it to respond rapidly to any humanitarian or security crisis in the region.

Inside the F-15EX Fighter: The Air Force's Most Advanced 'Eagle' Yet

07/29/2024

The F-15EX Eagle II, the latest variant of the iconic F-15, boasts numerous upgrades, making it one of the most advanced fighters in the U.S. Air Force. Featuring powerful F110-GE-129 engines, the F-15EX can achieve Mach 2.5 and carry nearly 30,000 lbs of payload. Advanced sensors, including the APG-82 AESA radar and Legion Pod IRST, enhance threat detection, while the EPAWSS system ensures superior situational awareness.