Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

PHOTOS: In Brunei, USAF F-35s Are First 5th-Gen Fighters to Land on Island Nation

03/05/2024

U.S. Air Force F-35 fighters landed in Brunei on March 1, the first time U.S. stealth jets have landed on the small Pacific Island nation. Two F-35s made the trek from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, to Rimba Air Base, Brunei, a visit that coincided with a diplomatic visit by Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Jedidiah Royal. Also making the trip was Maj. Gen. Mark Weber, Air National Guard assistant to the commander of PACAF, .

Taiwan tracks 21 Chinese military aircraft, 6 naval ships around nation

03/04/2024

The Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked 21 Chinese military aircraft and six naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Saturday (March 2) and 6 a.m. on Sunday (March 3). Of the 21 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, one Chinese drone crossed the Taiwan Strait median line and entered the southwest corner of the country’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ), according to the MND. Meanwhile, nine of the PLA aircraft flew into the southwest sector of the ADIZ.

German fighter jets scramble to intercept Russian military aircraft

03/04/2024

Two German Air Force Eurofighter jets were scrambled from Lielvarde Air Base in Latvia on March 1, mere hours after initiating NATO Air Policing duties, to intercept two Russian military aircraft nearing NATO airspace off the Latvian coast.

US military aircraft airdrop thousands of meals into Gaza in emergency humanitarian aid operation

03/04/2024

U.S. military C-130 cargo planes dropped food in pallets over Gaza on Saturday in the opening stage of an emergency humanitarian assistance authorized by President Joe Biden after more than 100 Palestinians who had surged to pull goods off an aid convoy were killed during a chaotic encounter with Israeli troops.

Russia risks air losses for tactical gains in eastern Ukraine — ISW

03/04/2024

Russian forces appear to be willing to risk continued aviation losses in pursuit of tactical gains in eastern Ukraine, likely along the Avdiivka-Donetsk City line, according to the U.S.-based think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW) Mar.

German Eurofighters intercept Russian military aircraft near Latvia

03/03/2024

Russian military IL-20 and IL-76 aircraft were intercepted near Latvian territorial waters, the country’s Air Force reported on Facebook on March 1, sharing photos. This marked the first instance of German Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon multi-role combat aircraft being deployed to intercept Russian military aircraft. The interception took place from the air base Lielvarde in Latvia, the statement said. French Mirage 2000-5 fighters earlier intercepted two Russian Su-30M fighters and an AN-72.

Singapore's air force to add more stealth fighters as it phases out older jets

03/02/2024

Singapore will buy eight more F-35 stealth fighters, eventually replacing its older F-16s and putting the Singaporean air force "in the premier league" as regional threats grow, the city-state's defence minister said this week. Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) would buy F-35As - a larger, longer-range variant of the Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N), opens new tab jets - to complement the 12 F-35Bs it has already ordered.

60th Fighter Squadron Crows develop the skills and mindset for future combat

03/02/2024

The 60th Fighter Squadron and Aircraft Maintenance Unit conducted off-station training at Savannah Air National Guard Base, Georgia Feb. 2-22, 2024 where they aimed to maximize flight hours in the F-35A Lightning II by avoiding weather attrition, while learning to navigate a new airspace and working with other units. Training in an unfamiliar environment gives pilots a chance to utilize skills that they wouldn’t normally use at their home station.

Ukrainian Air Force Downs Three More Russian Fighter-Bombers, Bringing Total to 12 in 13 Days

03/02/2024

The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) brought down three more Russian Su-34 fighter bombers on Thursday, totalling 12 Su planes brought down in the last 13 days and 13 Russian planes overall, including an A-50U radar aircraft. Early in the morning, Ukrainian Air Force commander Mykola Oleshchuk reported downing the first fighter bomber in the Eastern direction.

US Senate defeats bid to stop F-16 fighter jet sale to Turkey

03/02/2024

The U.S. Senate on Thursday soundly defeated an effort to stop the $23 billion sale of F-16 fighter jets and modernization kits to Turkey, which President Joe Biden's administration approved after Turkey approved Sweden's joining the NATO alliance. The Senate voted 79 to 13 against a resolution of disapproval of the sale introduced by Republican Senator Rand Paul.

Singapore Joins Elite ‘F-35 Club’ To Operate Both Variants Of Stealth Fighters; To Acquire 8 F-35A Jets

02/29/2024

Singapore has announced the purchase of eight F-35A Lightning II fighters to bolster its air power. The acquisition will put Singapore in an ‘elite club’ that operates both variants of the F-35 — the US, Italy, and Japan being others. The announcement was made by Singapore’s Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen on February 28 during a Ministry of Defense budget debate in the parliament. The Minister noted that the aircraft would be delivered to the Royal Singapore Air Force by the end of this decade.

Lockheed Built the F-22 and F-35: The NGAD Fighter Might Be Next

02/29/2024

The U.S. Air Force's Next Generation Air Dominance program (NGAD) is set for a pivotal moment in May when it awards a contract for developing its sixth-generation fighter, with Lockheed Martin and Boeing as leading contenders. Lockheed's rich history in innovative aircraft, including the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II, positions it strongly.

Russia uses newest Su-57 jet to strike targets in Ukraine

02/29/2024

On February 18, escorted by two Su-35 jets, the Su-57 launched a missile strike on Ukrainian targets. Sources suggest that the aircraft utilized the advanced Kh-69 stealthy cruise missile, specifically designed for the Su-57 platform. Operating from the occupied territory of the Luhansk region, the Su-57 entered Ukrainian airspace under escort and launched the missile. Despite a technical malfunction, the missile missed its target and crashed in a field.

Ukraine Downs Another Russian Fighter-Bomber SU-34, 9th in Ten Days

02/29/2024

Ukraine’s Armed Forces (AFU) have brought down another Russian Su-34 fighter bomber, the ninth Russian frontline aircraft recently shot down. The two-man crew managed to eject, according to the Air Force’s Commander. “Minus another Su-34 in the eastern direction! Yesterday, Russian pilots managed to dodge our missiles, but this will not always be the case!” Ukrainian Air Force commander Mykola Oleshchuk reported in a Telegram post.

First French Rafale F4.1 fighter reaches initial operational capability

02/27/2024

The first Dassault Rafale fighter to be upgraded to the F4.1 standard for the French Air and Space Force (AAE) was deployed for operational duty for the first time on February 16, 2024, at Mont-de-Marsan Air Base. A year after its delivery to the French Air Warfare Center (CEAM) located at the Mont-de-Marsan Air Base near Bordeaux, the Rafale F4.1 standard aircraft conducted its inaugural alert sortie to support the 30th Fighter Wing’s training exercises.

Japan joint fighter program gains steam as firms zero in on conceptual design

02/27/2024

With Japan, Britain and Italy set to begin the next phase of talks about their joint next-generation fighter aircraft next month, industry officials have said that the partners are close to completing the aircraft’s conceptual design phase as they prepare to set up the industrial entities from the year-end that will deliver the program.

US F/A-18 and RAF Typhoon fighter jets strike Houthi military targets in Yemen

02/26/2024

The United States (US) and United Kingdom (UK) have launched a fresh wave of air strikes against Iranian-backed Houthi military targets overnight. US Air Force F/A-18 Super Hornet and Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4 fighter jets led the strikes, backed by a coalition of nations, at around 11.50 pm (Sanaa Yemen time) on February 24, 2024.

Will Turkey ditch Russian missiles for US military jets?

02/26/2024

As Turkey's rapprochement with the United States gathers pace, the future of Turkish-purchased Russian S-400 missiles is increasingly in question. The missile deal is a potent symbol of Ankara's close ties with Moscow, but Washington is offering to sell Turkey its advanced F35 military jet for the removal of the Russian weapons.

Azerbaijan To Buy JF-17 Thunder Block III Jets In $1.6B Deal; Rival Armenia Boosts Defenses With Indian, French Weapons

02/25/2024

Azerbaijan has signed a contract to purchase Pak-Chinese fighter jets, JF-17 Thunder Block III (also known as FC-1 Xiaolong.” Azerbaijan will purchase the fighter jets for US $1.6 billion. The deal encompasses pilots’ training and acquisition of armament. The rumors have been going on for some time, but Azernews said that the export of JF-17 to Baku will take place after the completion of 62 fighter jets to the Pakistan Air Force by 2024.

Ukraine says it has downed second Russian A-50 spy plane in weeks

02/24/2024

Ukraine says it has downed a Russian A-50 military spy plane - the second such claim in just over a month. The plane was hit between the Russian cities of Rostov-on-Don and Krasnodar, Ukrainian military sources said, over 200km (124 miles) from the front line. Emergency services reportedly found plane fragments in Kanevskoy district and put out a raging fire.

China Navy to deploy J-35 fighter jets on its aircraft carrier Liaoning

02/23/2024

According to information published by Global Times on February 19, 2024, China's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, is on the verge of completing a significant upgrade, with recent reports revealing the presence of a stealth fighter jet mockup, identified as the J-35, on its deck.

Saab waits out political drama over sending Gripen fighters to Ukraine

02/23/2024

Six months after Ukrainian pilots tested the Swedish Gripen fighter jets, the aircraft’s vendor says government and industry movements are continuing to provide them to Kyiv in what could be a relatively quick transfer. Stockholm has been touting the possibility of sending the Gripen JAS39 to Ukraine for several months now, but has made any decision on this contingent upon the country’s accession to NATO.

F-15EX Eagle II: The Air Force's New Fighter Can Almost Hit Mach 3

02/23/2024

The new Boeing F-15EX Eagle II fighter jet's potential to reach nearly Mach 3, announced at the Singapore Airshow, evokes memories of the golden era of jet technology. This speed is achievable in a "clean" configuration, without external add-ons, emphasizing the jet's aerodynamic efficiency. With twin GE F110-GE-229 engines providing 29,500 pounds of thrust each, the F-15EX's speed approaches that of historical aircraft like the SR-71 Blackbird, albeit with limitations.

Ukrainian pilots to complete F-16 fighter jet training in the U.S. by summer 2024

02/22/2024

The first four Ukrainian pilots will complete their F-16 fighter jet training program by summer 2024, CNN reported on Feb. 20, citing the Arizona National Guard. The training kicked off in mid-October 2023 at the 162nd Fighter Wing in Tucson, Arizona. The Pentagon said that the extensive training regimen would last several months.

Air Force B-52 bomber, Philippine fighters make show of force over South China Sea

02/22/2024

An Air Force B-52H Stratofortress and three Philippine FA-50 fighters flew a joint patrol over the South China Sea this week, a move Chinese state media labeled a political show. The Philippine air force posted photos and video of Monday’s patrol on social media the next day. It covered an area 90 nautical miles west of Candon, Ilocos Sur province, and 50 nautical miles northwest of Lubang, Mindoro province, the service wrote on Facebook.