Military Aviation News Archive
07/06/2024
When military aircraft first take to the skies, they often begin with an initial set of capabilities which transforms over time. This evolution follows a growth trajectory known as the capability growth curve, often resembling an S curve. Initially slow, these enhancements accelerate, marking the steep and most exciting part of the curve; showcasing the aircraft’s full potential.
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07/06/2024
Nearly 50 aircraft from the German, French, and Spanish air forces are embarking on a series of exercises across the Indo-Pacific region from June to August, with the U.S. Air Force jumping in on several as well. Dubbed ‘Pacific Skies,’ the massive deployment highlights Europe’s growing interest in the region, even as the war in Ukraine continues to dominate the continent.
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07/06/2024
As the war in Ukraine trudges on, the Pentagon no longer has to worry too much about Russia’s ability to compete militarily with the United States. Moscow’s new pact with North Korea, a reliance on Iranian drones, its inability to establish air superiority over Ukraine well after two years into the war, and the lack of vital components such as computer chips all signal Russian weakness.
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07/05/2024
Last week, Robert Godec, the US ambassador to Thailand, met Thai Defense Minister Sutin Klungsang to discuss a military assistance project, including Lockheed Martin’s proposed supply of F-16 Block 70 fighter jets to the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF). As reported by the local media, the meeting followed prior communication to the Thai Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin.
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07/05/2024
The US Air Force has awarded Lockheed Martin a $520-million production contract for the Foreign Military Sales Block 70/72 F-16 Viper Shield electronic warfare suite. It modifies a previous contract, bringing the cumulative total to $897 million. The contract modification will allow the contractor to begin construction work, with $177 million being allocated at the time of award.
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07/05/2024
The US Department of Defense (DoD) announced changes in the deployment of fighter aircraft around its bases in Japan. According to the US DoD’s new plans presented on July 3, 2024, the US Air Force (USAF) will deploy 36 F-15EX fighters at Kadena Air Base to replace the fleet of 48 older F-15C/D aircraft currently based there. Rotations of fourth and fifth-generation fighter jets will continue while the F-15EX fleet is progressively deployed.
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07/03/2024
Germany's parliament approved acquiring 3,266 Brimstone 3 air-to-surface missiles for the Luftwaffe's Eurofighter fleet, the first batch costing 376 million euros. The Brimstone 3, already used by the UK's RAF, provides significant standoff capability and precise targeting of moving and stationary ground targets. This acquisition is part of broader efforts to enhance the capabilities of Germany's Eurofighter fleet, which currently has 138 aircraft with 20 more on order.
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07/03/2024
Arctic Defender, a German Air Forces-led exercise, is scheduled to begin July 8 with primary flight operations over the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex and is scheduled to run through July 18. As part of a monthslong exercise tour in the Indo-Pacific, known as Pacific Skies 24, Arctic Defender is the first stop for the trinational Future Combat Air System of Germany, France and Spain, and is a field training exercise for U.S. and international forces flown under simulated air combat condition
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07/03/2024
According to Pucara Defense on July 1, 2024, the Peruvian government is negotiating with South Korea and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) to acquire between 20 and 24 FA-50 light combat aircraft for approximately $780 million. In addition to this significant investment, Peru is also considering joining the KF-21 fifth-generation fighter program, which could further modernize its air force and expand its aerospace capabilities.
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07/03/2024
The Morris ANGB is home to the Air National Guard’s premier F-16 fighter pilot training unit, the 162nd Wing, providing training for coalition war-fighting partners for the United States Air Force and international allies, which is why the Department of the Air Force selected Morris ANGB to receive up to nine Slovak-owned F-16 Block 70s. The first Block 70 aircraft arrived here, June 13.
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07/03/2024
Explosions reverberated across the pre-dawn sky as Ukrainian air defences fended off a Russian attack on this small city in western Ukraine, home to an important air base and a frequent target of Moscow's strikes. Hours after the assault, the tidy streets of Starokostiantyniv had returned to a semblance of normality.
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07/02/2024
The South Korean defense industry is preparing to take the plunge and enter the international scene with its medium-generation KF-21 Boramae medium fighter, as it previously did for armored vehicles, with the K2 tank and the IFV AS21, artillery with the K9, submarines with the KSS-III, and missiles.
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07/02/2024
The U.S. Air Force has not abandoned its program to build an advanced next-generation fighter, but it does need a redesign to get costs under control and better integrate its planned drone wingmen, the service’s secretary told Defense News in an exclusive interview. Secretary Frank Kendall also said a revamped Next Generation Air Dominance fighter platform could end up with a less complex, smaller engine than originally intended to try to hold down its price.
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06/30/2024
On 26 June 2024, the Azrbaycan herbi hava qüvvelerl (Azerbaijan Air and Air Defence Force) received a Leonardo C-27J Spartan NG military transport aircraft. The presentation of the new transporter, serial 40860/60 wh (test registration CSX62333) took place on Armed Forces Day, marking the 106th anniversary of the Azerbaijani army.
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06/30/2024
Three F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft purchased by Romania from Norway landed on Friday at the 71st General Emanoil Ionescu Air Base at Campia Turzii, central-western Cluj County, Azernews reports. The F-16 Fighting Falcons will be part of the 48th Fighter Squadron of the 71st Air Base.
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06/30/2024
Airpower is crucial for maintaining military superiority, and recent intelligence reports from the Five Eyes alliance highlight China's efforts to recruit Western military personnel to enhance its own air capabilities. This underscores the urgent need for the U.S. to invest in advanced defense systems like the next-generation air dominance program and a sixth-generation fighter plane.
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06/29/2024
The U.S. 7th Air Force has announced the deployment of F-22 Raptors from the 199th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron to Osan Air Base in South Korea for integration training with Republic of Korea Air Force aircraft.
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06/29/2024
The Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF) reactivated the Bardufoss Air Station earlier this month after a gap of 40 years. A batch of F-35A Lightning II fighter jets will be housed at the mountain base, featuring upgraded hangars and facilities. The northern Norwegian base is meant to act as a natural shield for the air assets against possible enemy air attacks.
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06/29/2024
The National Guard of Ukraine reported via Telegram that its soldiers had downed a Russian Su-25 ground attack aircraft in the Donetsk region. “The guards discovered an enemy Su-25, also known as the Grach [Rook], making a combat sortie,” the Friday, June 28 post says.
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06/29/2024
Two Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jets escorting a RC-135 strategic surveillance aircraft flew a rare reconnaissance mission closely approaching and probing air defenses in the Russian-occupied Crimea peninsula on Thursday, open-source air traffic data reviewed by Kyiv Post showed.
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06/28/2024
The Portuguese Defense Minister announced during a parliamentary hearing that the acquisition of the A-29N Super Tucano will soon be legally approved. This statement marks a significant step in strengthening Portugal's close air support capabilities. The current legislative framework, through the Military Programming Law (LPM), has allocated a budget of 180.5 million euros for the acquisition of close air support (CAS) aircraft.
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06/28/2024
Sweden’s defence procurement agency (FMV) has placed an order for a third Sabb GlobalEye airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, one of the two options contained in the order for two aircraft placed in June 2022. The order has a value of approximately SEK2.6 billion (US$244 million) and the delivery period is expected before 2029.
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06/28/2024
Denmark has chosen to stop training Ukrainian F-16 fighter jet pilots on Danish soil after 2024.
The decision was announced by Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen at a joint press conference with his Norwegian counterpart, Bjørn Arild Gram, explaining that Denmark’s fighter jet fleet will soon transition to F-35s.
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06/28/2024
The Air Force’s decision to reevaluate its Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program is unlikely to unsettle the trilateral Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) due to different costs and national priorities, analysts tell Breaking Defense.
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06/27/2024
The Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked 35 Chinese military aircraft and seven naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Wednesday (June 26) and 6 a.m. on Thursday (June 27). Of the 35 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, 33 crossed the Taiwan Strait median line in the northern, central, southwestern, and eastern portions of the country’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ), according to the MND.
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