Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Kendall: USAF Can’t Afford Next-Gen Fighter, Tanker, and Wingman Drones All at Once

11/06/2024

The Next-Generation Air Dominance fighter; the Next-Generation Aerial refueling System tanker; a second increment of Collaborative Combat Aircraft drones: Air Force leaders have said in recent years they need them all to be prepared for a future fight with a great power like China.

Gripen E makes its debut in multinational military exercise

11/06/2024

Over two thousand military personnel from Brazil and 15 other nations from across Latin America, Africa, Europe and the United States are gathered for one of the largest operational air exercises in the Southern Hemisphere, CRUZEX 2024.

Colombia to buy Saab fighter aircraft, Swedish public radio reports

11/06/2024

Colombia will buy a fleet of JAS Gripen fighter aircraft made by Sweden's Saab, Swedish public radio SR's Ekot news broadcast reported on Tuesday, citing unnamed sources, but Colombia's government declined to immediately confirm the purchase. "We have taken note of the information in the media but cannot comment further at this time. We have previously had a dialogue with Colombia regarding the sale of Gripen, but there is currently no contract," a Saab spokesperson said.

China to unveil J-35A stealth fighter jet as air force aims to match US aerial power

11/06/2024

China’s air force is set to officially debut its new stealth fighter jet, the J-35A, giving observers the first look at a highly anticipated asset that adds to the country’s fast growing military capabilities. The fighter, an image of which was released during an air force press conference Tuesday, will appear at an air show in the southern city of Zhuhai next week, officials said.

Banking On ‘Double Stealth’, Japan Buys Joint Strike Missiles For F-35 Fighters That Can Even Hit Beijing

11/05/2024

apan has placed its fourth follow-on order for the stealthy and lethal Joint Strike Missile (JSM) to boost its firepower amid mounting security threats in the Indo-Pacific region. “Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (‘KONGSBERG’) has entered a fourth follow-on contract with Japan to supply the Joint Strike Missile (JSM) for the country’s fleet of F-35A fighter aircraft. The contract is valued at NOK 1.9 billion,” a press statement released by the manufacturer stated.

Russian-made MiG-29 fighter jet crashes in India

11/05/2024

The pilot managed to eject safely and is reported to be unharmed. The incident occurred during a routine flight, and details on the cause of the crash are yet to be confirmed. A Court of Inquiry has been ordered to investigate the incident. The IAF has stated that further information will be released as the inquiry progresses.

Indian Air Force Looks to Issue Fresh Procurement Tender for 114 Jets

11/05/2024

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is mulling issuing an “open tender” for the procurement of 114 medium-role fighter aircraft (MRFA), with production taking place at home. This will be a departure from the previous procurement process wherein 36 Rafale fighter jets were bought from France under a government-to-government deal in 2016.

Navy asks RTX Raytheon for infrared-guided air-to-air missiles compatible with helmet-mounted displays

11/05/2024

U.S. Navy aerial warfare experts are asking RTX Corp. to build more than 1,200 AIM-9X precision short-range infrared-guided air-to-air missiles for jet fighters and other combat aircraft under terms of a $736.6 million five-year contract announced in September. Officials of the Naval Air Systems Command at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Md., are asking the RTX Raytheon segment in Tucson, Ariz., to build lot 24 AIM-9X block II and block II-plus air-to-air missiles.

Russian Su-57 Stealth Fighter Lands In China For The First Time; Moscow Sends A Strong Message To West?

11/05/2024

A Russian Su-57 stealth fighter landed in Taiyuan, North China’s Shanxi Province, on November 3, 2024, on its first-ever visit to China. It’s not yet known if the Su-57 will perform demonstration flights at the Zhuhai Airshow 2024, which will take place from November 12 to 17, 2024. The Su-57 was first showcased internationally at the Dubai Airshow in November 2017. While it was on static display at the event, it did not conduct demonstration flights.

KC-46s Deploy to Middle East for 1st Time

11/04/2024

KC-46 aerial tankers from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., landed in the Middle East in early October, beginning the refueler’s first-ever operational deployment. KC-46s previously operated out of Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, in 2022, as part of an Employment Concept Exercise meant to help validate and clear the Pegasus for operational duty. But not until now have KC-46s deployed for full-scale operational use, according to a news release.

Taiwan reports rise in Chinese military activity as US election nears

11/04/2024

Taiwan's defense ministry said Sunday it had spotted 35 Chinese military aircraft, including fighters and bombers, flying to the island's south on the way to exercises in the Pacific, a second day in a row it has reported such activities. China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory despite the strong objections of the government in Taipei, regularly sends its military in the skies and waters near the island seeking to enforce its sovereignty claims.

B-21 Raider Bomber Can Now Be Summed Up in 2 Words

11/04/2024

The B-21 Raider is set to reshape U.S. air strategy, potentially replacing not only older bombers but also the role of manned fighters. With advancing A2/AD threats, the B-21 may become a stealthy "mothership" for drones, able to project power while leveraging its versatility in a system of systems approach.

Algerian MiG-25 flies again, but for a short while

11/03/2024

The Algerian Air Force has breathed new life into some of its Soviet-built Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25 Foxbat aircraft, which were retired a few years ago. These formidable aircraft recently participated in a significant aerial display to mark the 70th anniversary of the start of the revolt against French rule on November 1.

Russia’s Su-35 outsourcing plans face potential capacity snags

11/03/2024

Reports of a possible Iran-Russia agreement to manufacture the Su-35 fighter jets inside Iran have stirred considerable debate and speculation. The deal, if confirmed, would enable Iran to produce between 48 and 72 of these advanced aircraft, marking a significant leap for a country that has sought to modernize its air capabilities for decades.

France reportedly offered to sell 24 Rafale jets to Brazil

11/02/2024

Reports indicate that France has proposed selling 24 Rafale fighter jets to Brazil, a move that marks a potential step forward in Franco-Brazilian defense relations. Since the 2000s, France has made several defense sales to Brazil, including 50 maneuverable Super Cougar helicopters and four Scorpène submarines, but recent defense contracts haven’t all gone smoothly.

Ukrainian F-16 reportedly shoots down second Russian Su-34

11/02/2024

Reports from Russian military bloggers and aviation sources suggest that a Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber was downed under mysterious circumstances early this morning. Russian sources close to the Air Force, including well-known aviator Ilya Tumanov, have acknowledged the loss, with messages such as “Eternal memory, brothers!” indicating that the aircraft’s crew did not survive.

F-15EX vs. F-35: Which Fighter Jet Should You Spend Your $90 Million On?

11/02/2024

The F-15EX Eagle II and F-35 Lightning II are often compared due to their similar price points, around $90 million, despite differing generations. The F-35, a fifth-generation stealth jet, excels in stealth and is ideal for contested airspace, while the F-15EX, a fourth-generation-plus fighter, boasts a larger payload and shines in homeland defense and air superiority roles.

F-16 Fighters Will Fly For Argentina With U.S. Weapons

11/02/2024

The Lockheed Martin-produced F-16 Fighting Falcon will soon be a South American warbird, as the U.S. State Department approved the Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Argentina for the multirole combat aircraft this week. Buenos Aires had requested twenty-four F-16 Block 10/15 aircraft that would be delivered via a third-party transfer.

Why the Air Force Paused NGAD—And What’s Next

11/02/2024

he Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) combat jet—the centerpiece of the Air Force’s future air superiority plans—faces a crucial design review between now and the end of the year. What kind of aircraft the Air Force needs, what it can afford, and how long it will be before that aircraft is available all hang in the balance. The threat NGAD must defeat is evolving faster than predicted, its unit cost is extremely high—though classified, estimates near $300 million a copy.

Fighters and bombers are what America needs to win — not quadcopters

11/02/2024

On Saturday, Israeli F-35 stealth fighter aircraft penetrated highly defended Iranian airspace, struck a broad number of military targets and returned home safe. Days earlier, U.S. B-2 stealth bombers struck multiple deeply buried Houthi arms caches. These missions illustrate a key point: Despite trendy arguments to the contrary, the United States still requires the most advanced fighters and bombers in our arsenal if we want to win in future conflicts.

F-35: “The system as a whole is a cultural change!”

11/01/2024

One of the Vice Presidents at Lockheed Martin is Jeff ‘Cobra’ Harrigian, Commander of the US Air Force in Europe (USAFE) until 2022, with 4,100 hours on F-22, F-15C and A/OA-37. Now he is responsible for ‘Strategic Campaigns’ at the world’s largest defence contractor. On the sidelines of AIRPOWER-24, ESD spoke to him about the F-35 fighter jet, its European distribution and the approaching Austrian Eurofighter succession. The interview was conducted by Georg Mader.

Poland delays transfer of MiG-29 fighters to Ukraine: Zelenskyy

11/01/2024

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed that while initial arrangements with Poland and NATO were in place to supply Ukraine with MiG-29 fighter jets, shifting priorities and “new reasons” continue to delay the process, affecting Ukraine’s defense efforts against Russian missile strikes.

U.S. State Department Clears $7.3 Billion for F-16 Viper Mid-Life Upgrade

11/01/2024

The U.S. State Department has approved an up to $7.3 billion foreign military sale to Poland of the Lockheed Martin F-16 Viper Midlife Upgrade, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said on Wednesday.

US Wraps Up Maintenance for Marine Corps Harrier II Fighter Jets

11/01/2024

Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) has completed final sustainment work for the US Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier II ground attack aircraft two years before the fleet’s retirement. The maintenance is part of the North Carolina-based center’s technical support, repair, and overhaul coverage for all naval and expeditionary aviation assets. It concluded in an informal ceremony involving the delivery of the aircraft to Marine Attack Squadron 223, a unit at Air Station Cherry Point.

New J-15B ship-borne fighter begins deployment from China’s Navy aircraft carriers

11/01/2024

In recent hours, images and videos have gone viral showing the new carrier-based J-15B fighters of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Air Wing accompanying a remarkable and unprecedented formation of assets. This deployment, shared by China across several platforms, not only introduced the new carrier-based fighter variant but also marked a rare instance in which the Liaoning (CV-16) and Shandong (CV-17) aircraft carriers, along with a group of escorts, sailed together.