Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Amid budget uncertainty, USAF weighs F-15 retirement

04/13/2017

The US Air Force’s chief of staff is not counting out retiring the F-15C/D fleet, but can’t make any solid plans for the aircraft until the service has funding in place. The air force is examining the cost it would take to retire its fleet of Boeing F-15C/Ds and replace them with Lockheed Martin F-16s, but that’s not unlike the analysis the service executes across all its weapons systems, USAF chief Gen David Goldfein told reporters 12 April.

US Navy Strike Group Joins Japan to Provide Options Against Pyongyang

04/13/2017

As the US Navy’s Carrier Strike Group One makes its rounds through the Korean Peninsula with the Nimitz class Carl Vinson aircraft carrier flanked by two destroyers and a guided missile cruiser, the Vinson will practice helicopter landings with Japan’s Maritime Self Defense Force.

US, Singapore Air Force Crews Team Up on Regional Security

04/13/2017

Singapore’s Air Force and the US Air Force will collaborate in exercises aimed at enhancing security at a US air base in Guam. The tag-team marks the first sign of cooperation between Washington and Singapore’s air crews, according to Singapore’s Ministry of Defense. On Tuesday, Defense News reported that six RSAF F-15 fighters had been deployed to US’s island territory to conduct joint exercises.

US WC-135 ‘Nuke Sniffer’ Arrives in Japan as World Watches Pyongyang

04/13/2017

As tensions continue to simmer on the Korean Peninsula, due in part to North Korea’s continuous nuclear weapons development, a “nuke sniffing” US aircraft arrived at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan on Friday.

Russia's Success in Syria Helping Sukhoi Warplanes Soar in Global Market (VIDEO)

04/13/2017

The success of Russia's fleet of warplanes in Syria has added to an increase in demand among foreign customers for advanced Russian combat aircraft such as the Su-30SM, Su-34 and Su-35, according to Russian United Aircraft Corporation President Yury Slyusar.

Philippines Air Force Receives 2 South Korean Jets, More to Come

04/13/2017

A delivery of two additional FA-50PH advanced light attack and jet trainer aircraft by Korea Aerospace Industries arrived at Clark Base near Manila in late March, according to a statement released by the Philippine Air Force (PAF).

U.S. Air Force and Lockheed demonstrate autonomous F-16 strike capabilities

04/12/2017

The U.S. Air Force, working with Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works (which, as its name suggests, is its skunkworks operation) have demonstrated another round of flight capabilities for an autonomous F-16 fighter jet, which is meant to show what an eventual “Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle” (UCAV) could do using technology they’ve developed.

US to approve Super Tucano sale to Nigeria

04/12/2017

US lawmakers are expected to approve the sale of Super Tucano light attack and trainer aircraft to Nigeria in the coming weeks. Former President Barack Obama's administration originally agreed on the sale, but delayed it after incidents including the Nigerian Air Force's bombing of a refugee camp in January that killed 90 to 170 civilians.

US strike force set to arrive off Korea with $14bn show of strength

04/12/2017

A US maritime strike group armed with 90 aircraft and more than 300 Tomahawk cruise missiles will arrive off the Korean peninsula in the next 24 hours. The USS Carl Vinson, a nuclear-powered Nimitz-class carrier, accompanied by a cruiser, two destroyers and a Los Angeles-class attack submarine, all with a maximum payload of Tomahawks, received orders on Saturday to head at 30 knots (35mph) towards the Sea of Japan.

The Syrian Air Force: What Is Left?

04/12/2017

Just how much remains of the Syrian Arab Air Force? The Pentagon is claiming that the U.S. Navy’s Tomahawk cruise missile strike on April 7 destroyed some 20 percent of the Assad regime’s remaining operational aircraft. The U.S. Navy launched some 61 Tomahawk cruise missiles at the Syrian airbase at al-Shayrat in response to an Assad regime Sukhoi Su-22 Fitter strike aircraft dropping chemical weapons—thought to be Sarin—on civilians on April 4.

PICTURE: Eurofighter delivers 500th Typhoon

04/12/2017

Eurofighter has delivered to the Italian air force its 500th Typhoon, 14 years after it handed over the first example to the UK Royal Air Force. The aircraft will become operational at the end of April, following an acceptance flight by Eurofighter and a number of key assessments by the customer.

PICTURE: First MiG-35 nears delivery for Egypt

04/11/2017

Egypt appears to be close to receiving the first of its RAC MiG-35 fighters, with a lead example having been photographed during flight testing near Moscow late last month. Flight Fleets Analyzer records Egypt as having signed a production order for 46 MiG-35s. The nation's air force also is modernising its capabilities via a 24-aircraft deal with Dassault for the Rafale fighter.

Philippines FA-50 fleet grows to eight

04/11/2017

The jets were accepted at Clark Air Base in the north of Manila, says the Philippine air force in a statement. The final four aircraft will be delivered by the end of 2017, bringing the fleet to 12 units.

Russia to Carry Out Observation Flights Over US, Canada

04/11/2017

Head of Russia's National Nuclear Risk Reduction Center Sergei Ryzhkov said that Russian experts will carry out an observation flights over the United States and over Canada.

US, Czech Experts to Fly Over Russia Under Open Skies Treaty

04/11/2017

Head of Russia's National Nuclear Risk Reduction Center Sergei Ryzhkov said that experts from the United States and the Czech Republic will carry out an observation flight on a US plane OC-135B over the Russian territory under the Open Skies Treaty on April 10-14.

Why is Russia's S-500 Missile System Second to None?

04/11/2017

The S-500 Prometey isn't merely a next-generation Russian missile system; it can be seen as as a whole set of measures to turn the Russian air defense system into a single information space, according to the Russian news network Zvezda.

US cruise missile strikes target Syria's Su-22 fleet

04/08/2017

US cruise missile strikes launched against a Syrian air base in the early hours of 7 April have delivered a significant blow to the nation's air force. A total of 59 Raytheon Tomahawk land-attack missiles were launched from US Navy vessels in the eastern Mediterranean during the action, which was conducted in response to a chemical weapons attack on the town of Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib province on 4 April, which killed at least 86 people.

Some 20 Syrian Army's Aircraft Destroyed in US Missile Attack - DoD Official

04/08/2017

A senior US military official told reporters that some 20 Syrian waplanes have been destroyed by US cruise missiles launched on an airbase in the Homs province. On Thursday night, the United States launched 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles at the Syrian military airfield in Ash Sha’irat, located about 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the city of Homs. US President Donald Trump said the attack was a response to the alleged chemical weapon use in Syria's Idlib on Tuesday.

Russia Holds Long-Range Warplanes' Drills in Country's West

04/08/2017

The Russian Aerospace Forces held long-range aviation exercises in western Russia involving more than 20 combat aircrew, the Defense Ministry said Friday.

More Armata Tanks, Less Warships: Russia Unveils 2018-2025 State Arms Program

04/08/2017

The experts believe that the Aerospace Forces will likewise be spared the cuts with the focus being on the tried-and-true Su-30SM, Su-34, Su-35 fighter planes, Mi-8AMTSh, Mi-28N and Ka-52 helicopters and the S-400 air defense missile systems. As for the top-of the-line S-500s, they will have to wait.

Plan to service UK F-35 jets in Turkey sparks security concerns

04/07/2017

SNP MP George Kerevan is to call for an inquiry into the policy in the light of last year's attempted coup in Turkey and tensions with its Nato partners. Major repairs to RAF combat jets have previously been carried out in the UK. The Ministry of Defence said the F-35 was an international project with a global support network.

Why Selling F-35s to Taiwan Is a Terrible Idea

04/07/2017

The Trump White House is mulling a new package of arms sales to Taiwan, according to unconfirmed media reports. The weapons could allegedly be sold as early as this summer and may include fifth generation Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft and advanced air defense systems.

The U.S. Military's Big Mistake: Putting So Much Faith in the F-22 and F-35?

04/07/2017

An F-22 has a combat radius of some five hundred miles on internal fuel. The F-35 can fly 875 miles when loaded for air-to-air combat. Now consider the thousands of kilometers lying between U.S. bases in the Pacific and Europe and various potential conflict zones.

How Malaysia can keep its MiGs and save billions

04/07/2017

Malaysia is looking for a replacement for its twenty-two year old MiG-29 fleet. France wants to sell its Rafale medium fighter to the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF). Having tasted success in the Malaysian market by bagging an order for four A400M military transport aircraft and two Scorpene submarines, France believes it is on a roll.

Air Force explores next-generation ejection seat

04/07/2017

The US Air Force is conducting market research for a next-generation ejection seat for fighters and bombers, according to a 5 April notice posted on the Federal Business Opportunities web site. The service plans to release a draft request for proposals in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2017 and a final RFP in the second quarter of FY18, programme schedule slides state. The air force will select two qualified sources and award contracts at the beginning of FY19.