Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Lebanon’s first female fighter pilot graduates

01/23/2024

The Lebanese Air Force’s number seven squadron, at Hamat/Wujah Al Hajar AB, operates the six Embraer A-29B Super Tucanos delivered to Lebanon from May 2018. Among its pilots is the first Lebanese female fighter pilot, second lieutenant Jana Sader, who graduated from the USAF’s undergraduate pilot training (UPT) programme (a nearly two-year-long training course) on February 3 2023.

End of an Era: 173rd FW trains the last F-15 Eagle Instructor Pilots

01/23/2024

The journey begins at Undergraduate Pilot Training or maybe long, long before, but for this account an Air Force pilot starts the road to the cockpit at Laughlin Air Force Base in Texas, in the T-6 Texan, a 1,200 horsepower propeller-driven trainer. From there, they have to find their way in a T-38 supersonic jet trainer, if they make the cut for fighter aircraft.

Taiwan tracks 10 Chinese military aircraft, 4 naval ships

01/21/2024

The Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked 10 Chinese military aircraft and four naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Friday (Jan. 19) and Saturday (Jan. 20) the same time. Of the 10 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, two fighter jets entered the southwest corner of Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) or crossed the median line, according to the MND. The jet types were not identified.

Russia “Acknowledges” A-50 AWACS Loss; Deploys Another Aircraft But Far Away From Ukrainian Border — UK MoD Says

01/21/2024

Following the reported recent loss of its A-50 AWACS over the Sea of Azov, Russia appears to have deployed another A-50 Mainstay, this time conducting activities within Russia’s borders, according to the UK Ministry of Defense. On January 14, reports surfaced on various Telegram channels asserting that the Ukrainian Air Force had successfully downed a Russian A-50 AWACS military aircraft.

The F-16 at 50: Why it's still in demand

01/21/2024

The F-16 jet fighter took its first ever flight in 1974, but it is still as important an aircraft now as it was then. Were it not for one test pilot's quick thinking 50 years ago, the entire F-16 programme might never have made it past its first fateful flight.

Chinese Stealth Jet ‘Outguns’ Indian AMCA; Puts Pakistan A Generation Ahead Of IAF – Chinese Expert

01/20/2024

Pakistan’s plan to acquire the Chinese FC-31/J-31 twin-engine stealth fighter aircraft will put it a generation ahead of its neighbors and make it one of the most advanced air forces in the region, experts believe. The fighter jet has been flying since 2014 and is ready to be acquired by Chinese or other militaries, while India’s Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) is still in the design stage.

Why the F-35 Might Be the Best Fighter Jet Ever

01/20/2024

Is the F-35 the best fighter jet ever? 1,000 built, and nations all over the world want them: It is safe to say that many experts now believe that the American-made F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is in the realm of conversation to be the best fighter jet ever to fly. For years, the U.S. Air Force’s F-22 Raptor took the air superiority title as the first fifth-generation jet to enter service. Over the years, Moscow and Beijing have developed their parallel fifth-gen programs culminating in the Su-57

Ethiopia Inducts Turkish Drones, Russian-Made Su-30 Fighter Jets

01/20/2024

The Ethiopian Air Force has acquired an undisclosed number of Akinci unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from Turkey and Russian-made Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jets. During the handover ceremony, two Su-30 planes were displayed as the Akinci UAVs were formally inducted. The drones have been in Ethiopian service since as early as November 2023.

The Republic of Singapore Air Force's A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport Conducts Air-to-Air Refuelling Training With United States Air Force B-1B Bombers

01/19/2024

Two USAF B-1B Bombers arrived in Singapore on 18 January 2024 and will stay till early next week for a stopover, during which they will conduct air-to-air refuelling training with the RSAF's A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT).

Pakistan’s JF-17, J-10C Fighters Conduct Retaliatory Strikes On Iran; Tehran Confirms 7 Killed

01/19/2024

The Islamic Republic of Pakistan carried out retaliatory air strikes against its neighboring Islamic Republic of Iran using Chinese-built fighter jets JF-17 ‘Thunder’ and J-10C’ Vigorous Dragon’ early Thursday. Pakistan also deployed Chinese Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Wing Loong II in its operation named ‘Marg Bar Sarmachar’, which loosely translates to “death to the guerrilla fighters”.

The F-35 Fighter Is Now Oozing with More Incredible Firepower

01/19/2024

New Weapons to be Employed on the RAF's F-35s - It was almost three years ago, in March 2021, that the UK's Ministry of Defence announced it would cut its order of the Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II by 65 percent. The UK Royal Air Force saw its purchase decline from a planned 138 to just 48 of the short/vertical takeoff and landing (S/VTOL) variant of the fifth-generation stealth fighter.

Norway to Deploy F-35 Fighter Jets to Iceland

01/18/2024

Norway will conduct the first of three NATO fighter deployments to Iceland this year, sending four F-35 combat aircraft to Keflavík Air Base. Half of the regiment will be on standby at the air base at all times, ready to scramble to safeguard NATO and international airspace in the region. The Norwegian units will also participate in training and alert drills that include identifying unknown aircraft to ensure the alliance’s defense.

Sukhoi Patents Unique Camouflage For Su-75 Checkmate Fighter That Makes It Impossible To Identify

01/18/2024

Russia has patented a unique paint and camouflage scheme exclusively designed for the under-development Su-75 Checkmate. It allows the aircraft to be indistinguishable from the shape of the clouds and ground above and below it. The effort to make the aircraft undetectable by preventing visual identification is a unique approach in stealth warfare doctrine that also hints at the role and manner in which the jet is likely to be employed.

B-2 Bombers Return to Red Flag, Joined by Australian F-35s and UK Typhoons

01/17/2024

Three B-2 Spirit bombers made their return for the first Red Flag exercise of 2024 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., this week, alongside the U.K.’s Royal Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force. More than 30 units and 2,000 personnel are participating in the air combat training, deemed by the participating allies as one of the “most advanced” and “toughest” training opportunities in the world.

F-35 Milestones: Lockheed Martin Integrating HARM Missile on Stealth Fighter

01/17/2024

The United States military’s fifth-generation stealth fighter will be integrated with the legacy HARM missile platform instead of the upgraded AARGM platform. The Naval Air Systems Command awarded a $97.3 million contract to aerospace giant Lockheed Martin to integrate the AGM-88 HARM on the F-35A/B/C aircraft, to include procuring associated incidental hardware for the USAF, Navy, Marine Corps, Foreign Military Sales customers, and non-Department of Defense participants.

The Houthi air force has a single fighter jet — an ancient F-5. The US is very much not afraid of it.

01/17/2024

The Houthi rebels in Yemen have one of the world's strangest fighter jet fleets — a single, aged F-5 fighter jet. It is unlikely to be much good helping it against the US-led coalition, which carried out air raids last week. A US official summed up the likely threat the jet poses, calling it "not combat effective."

Why Build the NGAD 6th Generation Fighter? Drone Swarms Could Change Everything

01/16/2024

No More NGAD? We have covered the U.S. Air Force’s Next-Generation Air Dominance fighter extensively. The NGAD has whiz-bang characteristics and is a sixth-generation airplane that will be highly-stealthy and chock full of modern weapons. But the NGAD could cost the military hundreds of millions a piece, according to the Secretary of the Air Force.

Iraq set to invest in modernised fighter force

01/16/2024

With a resurgence of ISIS activity, Iraq is hoping to enhance its defence capabilities. The commander-in-chief of Iraq’s armed forces, major general Yehia Rasool, has confirmed that modernising its air force is a priority, and that the fighter force is in particular need of renewal. Iraq regained a fast jet combat air capability in 2015 with the delivery of the first of 36 Lockheed Martin F-16s.

U.S. Fighter Jet Shoots Down Missile That Houthi Rebels Fired at U.S. Warship

01/16/2024

Yemen’s Houthi rebels fired an anti-ship cruise missile toward an American destroyer in the Red Sea on Sunday, but a U.S. fighter jet shot it down in the latest attack roiling global shipping amid Israel’s war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, officials said. The attack marks the first U.S.-acknowledged fire by the Houthis since America and allied nations began strikes Friday on the rebels following weeks of assaults on shipping in the Red Sea.

Ukrainian Sources: We Just Shot Down Two Of Russia’s Best Command Planes

01/15/2024

Ukrainian air-defenses reportedly shot down two of the Russian air force’s rarest and most valuable command aircraft on Sunday: a Beriev A-50 radar early-warning plane and an Ilyushin Il-22 airborne command post. Ukrainian media has cited government officials confirming the purported shoot-downs, but there’s little hard evidence of the incidents.

RAAF F-35As join exercise Red Flag Nellis 24

01/15/2024

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is preparing for Exercise Red Flag Nellis 24-1, alongside counterparts from the United States and United Kingdom. Exercise Red Flag Nellis was established in 1975 and recreates the first ten missions of a modern air campaign within a training environment, providing invaluable experience for participants.

French Mirage aircraft may reinforce Ukrainian Air Force, commander says

01/15/2024

Ukraine will not be able to give up Soviet aircraft in favour of Western ones overnight, and French military jets may coexist on Ukrainian airfields with American and Soviet ones, the head of the Ukrainian Air Force said on Sunday. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February, 2022, Kyiv has pressed Western allies to supply increasingly sophisticated arms and ammunition, including armoured vehicles, tanks, long-range missiles and U.S.-made F-16 fighters.

Taiwan tracks 8 Chinese balloons, military aircraft & 6 naval ships on election day

01/14/2024

Taiwan, in response, sent aircraft and naval ships and deployed air defence missile systems to monitor the PLA activity. On the day of the election, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence (MND) detected that Chinese military aircraft entered Taiwan’s Southwest Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ). Additionally, two Chinese balloons crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait.

Taiwan planning next-generation indigenous jet fighters: President Tsai

01/14/2024

President Tsai Ing-wen, who is nearing the end of her final term in office, said Sunday that Taiwan is preparing to develop the next generation of indigenous jet fighters, to ensure continuity of her administration's national defense policy. In an interview with Era News in which she reflected on her two terms in office, Tsai highlighted the government's resolve to build Taiwan's autonomy in the area of defense systems.

‘Stolen Tech’ From F-35 & F-22 Raptor, How Powerful Is China’s Newest FC-31 Gyrfalcon Stealth Jet?

01/14/2024

The news about Pakistan showing interest in the Chinese FC-31 Gyrfalcon (formerly known as the J-31) has generated quite a buzz in South Asia, with military watchers talking about it altering the balance of power in the Indian sub-continent. But experts feel that, at best, it is a tempest in a teacup.