Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Taiwan deploys fighter jets as China enters Taiwan Strait

01/12/2017

Taiwan on Wednesday deployed fighter jets, a surveillance aircraft and Navy frigates in response to the movement of China's lone aircraft carrier into the Taiwan Straits, according to Taiwan's state-run Central New Agency. The Liaoning carrier and its flotilla of escorting frigates and destroyers were apparently on their way back to base in northeastern China from the South China Sea following training exercises, the agency reported.

A-10 Thunderbolt upgraded for Combat Search and Rescue missions

01/12/2017

The iconic A-10 Thunderbolt has a new upgrade that will give ground troops one more reason to love it: communications equipment for Combat Search and Rescue operations. Advocates of the famed “Warthog” received welcome news in October when Air Force Materiel Command announced plans to sustain the aircraft “indefinitely.”

Trump teases possible F-35 competition

01/12/2017

President-elect Donald Trump has hinted again at a potential competition between Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. In his first press conference since winning November’s election, Trump took aim at the entire US defense industry in his opening remarks, but focused on the F-35 programme as his favourite target.

Rafale output rose in 2016, Dassault says

01/12/2017

Dassault delivered nine newly-built Rafale fighters in 2016, according to a financial update issued by the company on 5 January. The total was in line with plans for the year, and represents an increase of one unit over the eight shipped in 2015, it adds.

Does Pakistan Have a Second Nuclear Strike Option in Place?

01/12/2017

In a public statement, Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced that the country had successfully test fired a nuclear-capable, 450-km range Babur-3 submarine-launched cruise missile (SLCM). It went on to add that the missile provides a credible second strike capability and augments deterrence.

Russia to Deliver 4 Mi-35M Attack Helicopters to Kazakhstan in 2018

01/12/2017

The Russian Helicopters will deliver four Mi-35M attack helicopters with transport capability to Kazakhstan's Defense Ministry in 2018, according to the statement of the manufacter.

RUSSIAN MIG-35 FLIGHTS WILL BEGIN IN JANUARY

01/11/2017

Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Dmitry Rogozin, announced that the Russian Air Force’s (VVS) Mikoyan MiG-35 will begin its test flights this January. Rogozin made the statement during a visit to one of Almaz-Antey’s subsidiaries (MKB Fakel). The MiG-35 is the latest version of the MiG-29M/M2, the current production model of the Fulcrum, which has been among the Russian aviation industry’s leading exports.

VMFA-121 DEPARTS FOR RELOCATION TO JAPAN

01/11/2017

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121, an F-35B squadron with 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, departed Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, transferring to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Jan. 9, 2017. The first location to receive the Marine Corps' F-35B, as part of its worldwide deployment capability, is Iwakuni, Japan.

F-16 for India Air Force…Really?

01/11/2017

In 2007, MoD (Ministry of Defence) issued a tender to purchase 126 Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA procurement programme). Objective of this procurement was to bridge the gap between a light fighter (MiG-21, MiG-23, MiG-27 etc and LCA Tejas) and heavy duty fighter Su-30.

Pentagon tester: F-35 needs rigorous review by Trump team

01/11/2017

The Trump administration should “rigorously and comprehensively review” Lockheed Martin Corp.’s F-35 jet, the Pentagon’s costliest program, the Defense Department’s director of combat testing said.

France Receives American Reaper Drones, Immediately Deploys Them to Niger

01/11/2017

The French military received two additional General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and has deployed them to West Africa. Toward the end of 2016 the remotely piloted aircrafts (RPA) arrived in Niamey, Niger, at Base Aérienne 101 where three other MQ-9s have been operated by Escadron de Drone (drone squadron) 1/33 Belfort since January 2015.

Beijing Sends Heavy Bomber Over Disputed South China Sea Islands

01/11/2017

Beijing leaders seized the past weekend as an opportunity to flex the People's Liberation Army’s (PLA) muscles in a region where many parties have staked competing territorial claims. Since January 1, China has flown strategic bombers over the Spratly islands on at least two occasions.

China Frequently Breached S Korean Air Defense Identification Zone in 2016

01/11/2017

Chinese military aircraft breached the Korean Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ) on numerous occasions last year, Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said Tuesday. On Monday, around 10 Chinese military planes, including bombers and an early warning aircraft, entered KADIZ for several hours from 10 a.m. (01:00 GMT) to 3 p.m., prompting South Korea to counter by sending 10 F-15K and KF-16 fighter jets.

Russian Helicopters to Take Part in India's 8th Vibrant Gujarat Forum

01/11/2017

The Russian Helicopters company, part of the Rostec state corporation, is taking part in the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2017 regional investment forum in India's Gujarat state, the company said Tuesday.

U.S. Pilots See Close Calls With Russian Jets Over Syria

01/10/2017

One night this past fall, a U.S. radar plane flying a routine pattern over Syria picked up a signal from an incoming Russian fighter jet. The American crew radioed repeated warnings on a frequency universally used for distress signals. The Russian pilot didn’t respond.

U.S. Air Force Official: F-35 Could Beat Russia's Stealth PAK-FA or China's J-31 in a Fight

01/10/2017

An F-35 Joint Strike Fighter would be able to use its sensors, weapons and computer technology to destroy Russian and Chinese 5th-Generation Stealth fighters in a high-end combat fight, service officials said.

US Navy accepts 50th P-8A Poseidon aircraft at NAS Florida

01/10/2017

The US Navy’s 50th P-8A Poseidon (P-8A), the next-generation long-range maritime patrol aircraft has been delivered by Boeing at the Naval Air Station (NAS) in Jacksonville, Florida. Under the P-8A programme, the latest addition is part of a total requirement for 117 of the 737-based anti-submarine warfare jets for the US navy.

Asian Fighter Aircraft Market Looking Bullish

01/10/2017

The need for new fighter aircraft in the Asia-Pacific region is expected to remain buoyant, with simmering tensions centered on territorial disputes for resource-rich islands in the South and East China Sea being most often cited as the main driver for increased regional defense spending.

Beijing recieves first four Su-35s

01/10/2017

Beijing has taken delivery of four Sukhoi Su-35 fighter aircraft, the first installment in an acquistion that will see it acquire 24 examples. News of the jet’s arrival in China was revealed in a report state news organ China Daily.

Czech Republic, Slovakia to Jointly Protect Airspace Since Summer

01/10/2017

Czech Defense Minister Martin Stropnicky said that the air forces of the Czech Republic and Slovakia will cooperate in protection of the air space over the two countries starting from summer 2017.

Turbulence in South China Sea: India Offers Missile to Vietnam

01/10/2017

India is an old friend of Vietnam and both don't subscribe to China's claim in the South China Sea. That is the reason for raised eyebrows over India's offer to supply missiles to Vietnam.

S-400 System Regiment to Enter Service in Moscow Region on January 11

01/10/2017

The Russian Defense Ministry is expected to put a regiment of S-400 Triumf air defense system on combat duty to protect the airspace of Moscow on Wednesday, the ministry said in a statement on Monday.

Airstrikes by Russia Buttress Turkey in Battle vs. ISIS

01/09/2017

Russian warplanes have carried out airstrikes to support Turkey’s offensive in northern Syria against the Islamic State, an important evolution in a budding Russian-Turkish partnership. The deepening ties threaten to marginalize the United States in the struggle to shape Syria’s ultimate fate.

Eye in the Sky: Unmanned Aircraft Start Trials

01/09/2017

Until now, unmanned aircraft technologies have been limited to drones and other similar small devices, but that might be changing soon. The first unmanned aircraft trials have begun to determine their viability and how to incorporate these unmanned planes into UK airspace. Are the engineers at BAE Systems close to creating the Tesla autopilot of the air with their autonomous aircraft?

Arguing about whether the F-35 can dogfight misses a really big point

01/09/2017

According to some reports, America's fifth-generation stealth aircraft doesn't excel at dogfighting. But fortunately, the F-35 Lightning II is not built for dogfighting. While some analysts have argued that the air-to-air-combat capabilities of the F-35A won't match some of its peer aircraft, pilots who spoke to Business Insider pointed out that the US's fifth-generation fighter is designed in such a way that dogfighting may be an afterthought.