Military Aviation News Archive

China Inducts First Stealth Fighter Into Air Force, India Still To Build One

12/15/2016

Images have appeared on restricted Chinese social media platforms that show the country's first stealth fighter, the J-20, in Air Force markings with serial numbers which indicate the jet is now entering squadron service with the Chinese Air Force.

Bulgaria issues RFP for new fighter

12/15/2016

The RFP was presented to four countries on 9 December, namely Italy, Portugal, the USA and Sweden, which have until March 2017 to submit their bids. Bulgaria will purchase its fighter through a government-to-government agreement with one of the countries, and the proposals will be prepared by the governments together with the respective manufacturers.

South China Sea Military Build Up Could Escalate US-China Tensions

12/15/2016

A new report suggests that China has dedicated significant effort to militarizing outposts in the South China Sea, but the US remains ready to respond to further “aggressive” behavior.

Russian Helicopters Handed All Aircrafts Set for 2016 to Defense Ministry

12/15/2016

The Russian Helicopters holding has transferred to the Russian Defense Ministry all the Mi-28N, Mi-35M and Mi-26 helicopters, set to be delivered in 2016, the holding’s press service said in a statement on Wednesday.

Russia's Black Sea Fleet Forms Full-Strength Su-30SM Squadron in Crimea

12/15/2016

Russia's Black Sea Fleet has formed a full-strength squadron of 12 advanced Su-30SM multirole fighter jets in the country's southwestern region of Crimea, the fleet's spokesman said Wednesday.

Why The F-35 Program Is An Expensive Necessity For The U.S. Military

12/14/2016

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program has attracted fierce controversy for years amid massive cost overruns and delays. The stealthy fighter jet's costs have doubled from initial estimates and the program is now set to cost $1.509 trillion through to 2070. Donald Trump joined the chorus of criticism on Monday, tweeting that "the F-35 program and its costs are out of control".

Crew Rescued After Marine Osprey Goes Down Off Okinawa

12/14/2016

The Marine Corps crew of an MV-22 Osprey is being treated for injuries after the aircraft went down off the coast of Okinawa, Japan, Marine officials in the Pacific said Tuesday. The five crew members were rescued after the aircraft landed "in shallow water" off the coastline of Camp Schwab around 10 p.m. local time, according to a statement from III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Argentina to spend over $ 40 billion on military equipment

12/14/2016

President Mauricio Macri has approved the purchase of airplanes for the Air Force, patrol vessels for the Navy and armored vehicles and combat rifles for the Army, it was announced Monday to give the Armed Forces back some of their lost firepower, Defense Minister Julio Martínez revealed. The total purchases will surpass 40 billion pesos (2,500 million US dollars), the minister added.

Barnes 104th Fighter Wing out of running for F-35 fighter jets

12/14/2016

Barnes Air National Guard base in Westfield did not make the cut as the Air Force continues to narrow down the field of potential bases to house the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter aircraft, the base announced on Tuesday.

PICTURES: First two F-35s delivered to Israel

12/14/2016

The first two Lockheed Martin F-35Is for the Israeli air force landed on at Nevatim air force base on 12 December, delivered on schedule despite temporary delays caused by the weather.

PICTURE: New A400M variant delivered to German air force

12/14/2016

The German air force has received its sixth Airbus Defence & Space A400M transport, featuring a new baseline tactical configuration to allow the aircraft to operate in more contested environments.

Raytheon Wins US Navy, Saudi Support Contract for Sikorsky H60 Helicopters

12/14/2016

Raytheon has received a nearly $40 million Defense Logistics Agency contract for maintenance on Sikorsky H-60 helicopters operated by the US Navy and Saudi Arabia.

INDONESIA CONFIRMS TALKS WITH RUSSIA FOR SU-35S

12/13/2016

Indonesia’s Minister of Defence Ryamizard Ryacudu confirmed to state media outlet Antara News that the Indonesian government is in talks with Russia for eight Su-35 Flanker-E multi-role fighters. As per Antara News, Moscow and Jakarta are currently locked in discussions over the price for the eight aircraft, which are expected to replace the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU)’s Northrop F-5E Tiger IIs.

5 Ways to Replace the F-35 Stealth Fighter (If Donald Trump Kills It)

12/13/2016

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter might just be the most controversial American weapons program of all time—and for good reason. The fighter, with a total cost coming in at $1 Trillion over its lifespan, promises game changing capabilities, but has had its share of setbacks and technical challenges over the years. And now, the program is under attack by President-elect Trump. Yikes.

Confirmed: Pakistan Air Force now Operates 70 JF-17 Fighter Jets

12/13/2016

The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) operates a total of 70 Pakistan Aeronautical Complex/Chengdu Aerospace Corporation (PAC/CAC) JF-17 Thunder fighter jets, the National Assembly Standing Committee on Defense Production revealed in Islamabad on December 7, according to local media reports.

Light Combat Aircraft to get radar; US, Israeli and European companies to bid for tender

12/13/2016

India is set to initiate a major international competition to acquire new age radars for its indigenous combat planes in the coming weeks, the winner of which is likely to gain a strong foothold for future domestic projects.

Air Force study finds operational lasers for AC-130 demo

12/13/2016

Solid-state slab lasers have already evolved to a point of maturity where they could soon be demonstrated on an Air Force Special Operations AC-130 gunship, a US Air Force study finds.

Trump Promises Changes to ‘Out of Control’ F-35 Program

12/13/2016

After campaigning to reduce wasteful government spending, US President-elect Donald Trump announced that he is poised to modify the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, on the same day that Israel was supposed to receive its first two F-35 fighters.

Serbia Seeks to Buy Russian Weapons to Ensure Nobody Can Threaten Its Integrity

12/13/2016

Belgrade has asked Moscow for deliveries of Russian-made weaponry with the goal to increase Serbia's defense potential, Serbian Foreign Minster Ivica Dacic said Monday.

Is Pakistan And Russia’s ‘Friendship’ A Big Myth?

12/12/2016

Russia is solidifying its support for Pakistan at the Heart of Asia conference. Russian envoy Zamir Kabulov rejected India and Afghanistan’s criticisms of Pakistan. In what serves as a yet another indication that the ice between Moscow and Islamabad are melting, Kabulov praised Pakistani Foreign Affairs Advisor Sartaj Aziz’s speech at the HoA conference for being friendly and constructive.

China powers up military jet engine tech to wean itself off Russian imports

12/12/2016

China is ready to launch its new J-11D fighter after it failed to acquire Russian engines on schedule and was forced to develop its own technology, military observers said. The progress included advances in home-grown turbofan technology and radar systems, and showed that Beijing was no longer reliant on Russian engines for its new generation of fighters, analysts said.

Japanese, Chinese military aircraft engage in latest tit-for-tat moves in airspace above Western Pacific

12/12/2016

China and Japan have continued their recent tit-for-tat moves in the airspace above the Western Pacific, with aircraft from the two Asian giants on Saturday again engaging in an apparently tense encounter over the high seas between Okinawa’s main island and Miyako Island.

Pentagon chief weapon tester says reports about F-35 performance are ‘misleading, ambiguous, ignore facts’

12/12/2016

In a memo leaked to Bloomberg, Michael Gilmore stated: “If not changed, the existing responses would at best be considered misleading and at worst, prevarications.” He was referring to draft responses being prepared in answer to questions from Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain. Senator McCain last month challenged a fresh round of delays — and cost blowouts — relating to the delayed development of the strike fighter.

Advanced F-35 fighter jets set to land in Israel today

12/12/2016

Israel’s most advanced weaponry, two F-35 stealth fighter jets, are set to touch down at Nevatim Air Force Base near Beersheba for the first time on Monday afternoon. Expected at the ceremony to welcome the jets to Israel will be President Reuven Rivlin, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Gadi Eisenkot, OC Air Force Maj.-Gen. Amir Eshel and US Secretary of Defense Ash Carter.

Japanese F-15 jets launch decoy flares at Chinese military aircraft

12/11/2016

Two Japanese F-15 fighters Saturday launched decoy flares at Chinese Air Force aircraft that were flying over the Miyako Strait for routine offshore training in western Pacific Ocean, China’s defense ministry said. Spokesperson Yang Yujun said the Japanese Self-Defense Forces aircraft endangered the safety of the Chinese aircraft and their personnel. He added the Chinese pilot took quick measures and proceeded with the training.