Military Aviation News Archive

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.

Ospreys Join US Marines for Six-Month Australian Deployment

04/07/2017

US Marines deployed to Australia will soon be joined by a group of MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft for their annual six-month rotation. More than 1,200 of the California-based troops will use the versatile aircraft as they move across Australia’s Northern Territory.

Brazil Interested in Extra Batch of Russian Mi-35 Helicopters - FSMTC

04/07/2017

Brazil is interested in buying an additional batch of Russian Mi-35 helicopters, and negotiations are underway, Deputy Director of Russia's Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) Anatoliy Punchuk said on Thursday.

Venezuela Interested in New Deliveries of Russian Su-30 Fighter Jets

04/07/2017

Venezuela is interested in purchasing a new batch of Russia's Su-30 fighter aircraft despite difficult political and economic situation in the Latin American county, Deputy Director of Russia's Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) Anatoliy Punchuk said Thursday.

Syria war: US launches missile strikes in response to chemical 'attack'

04/07/2017

A Pentagon official said about 50 Tomahawk cruise missiles were fired from US Navy destroyers in the eastern Mediterranean at a Syrian air base. In a televised address, President Donald Trump said the base was where Tuesday's attack was launched from. He called on "all civilised nations" to help end the conflict in Syria.

Russian Yak-130 appears to be training aircraft choice for Vietnam

04/06/2017

The Vietnam People’s Air Force (VPAF) is shopping for a new training jet and it appears they are going to purchase the Russian Yak-130. The Yak-130 first flew in 1996 and has been marketed as a light attack aircraft. There have been over 100 of the twin engine, tandem seat jets built at an estimated cost of $15 million each.