Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

US fighter jet crashes off coast of South Korea; pilot rescued

01/31/2024

A U.S. Air Force fighter jet crashed into the waters off South Korea’s southwestern coast on Wednesday, officials said. The pilot safely ejected from the F-16 aircraft. According to a news release from Kunsan Air Force Base in South Korea, the F-16 assigned to the 8th Fighter Wing experienced an “in-flight emergency” over the West Sea, crashing at approximately 8:41 a.m. local time.

Ukraine Downs Russian Su-34 Fighter Jet Over Luhansk Region

01/31/2024

A Russian Su-34 fighter jet was shot down on Monday over the eastern Luhansk region, Ukraine’s military has reported. No further details have been reported but the aircraft was listed on the daily update from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook.

Not Rafale, Mirage-2000 Is JF-17s ‘Biggest Adversary’; Qatar Confirmed That In 2020 Drills With Pakistan

01/31/2024

The JF-17 fighter jet, a product of collaboration between Pakistan and China, is often portrayed as a powerful competitor to India’s Rafale fighter jet. Considered the “crown jewel” of Sino-Pak aviation relations, the JF-17 is a crucial asset for the Pakistani Air Force.

Taiwan tracks 9 Chinese military aircraft, 4 naval ships

01/30/2024

The Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked nine Chinese military aircraft and four naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Monday (Jan. 29) and 6 a.m. on Tuesday (Jan. 30). In response, Taiwan sent aircraft and naval ships and deployed air defense missile systems to monitor the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, according to the MND. No PLA aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line during that time.

Turkey Wants to Buy A Massive Fleet of F-16 Fighter Jets

01/30/2024

After months of deliberations, the U.S. State Department has greenlighted Turkey’s request for scores of upgraded F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets. We are talking about a huge order worth tens of billions of dollars.

F-35 Deal Puts ‘Greece’ Into A Catch-22 Situation; US Offers $200M In Exchange For Weapons Transfer To Ukraine

01/29/2024

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has proposed a potential exchange with Greece, offering to facilitate the transfer or sale of weaponry to Ukraine in return for Washington’s consideration of providing additional aid to Athens, amounting to a possible US$200 million.

Japan, U.S. agree on AI research for drones to assist new fighter jet

01/29/2024

Japan and the United States have recently agreed to begin joint research on artificial intelligence in the hope of using the technology for drones that would work in tandem with the Asian nation's next fighter jet.

Houthis Boast ‘Deadly’ US Fighter Jet That ‘Shocked’ Russian MiG-21, MiG-23 Warplanes “Over & Over Again”

01/29/2024

The Houthi rebels’ strange air force boasts of a single F-5 supersonic fighter jet, which once dominated the skies. The Russians procured one F-5 aircraft from Vietnam to assess its capability against its newly minted MiG-21 interceptor. The F-5 in the Houthi rebels’ air force was seized from the Yemen government during the civil war. It made an appearance on a flyover during a Houthi parade in Sanaa in 2023.

US approves sale of F-35 fighter jets to Greece

01/28/2024

The U.S. State Department on Friday approved the potential sale of up to forty F-35 fighter jets and respective equipment to Greece, in a $8.6 billion deal. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in a video statement that, as part of the deal, the Greek state will also receive significant military aid, at no extra cost. This would include frigates, C-130 transport aircraft, armoured tanks and vehicles.

Singapore Buys 8 More F-35Bs - Would They Defend Taiwan Too?

01/27/2024

Singapore's decision to bolster its air defense capabilities by acquiring additional F-35B fighter jets could have significant strategic implications in the Southeast Asian region, particularly in the context of potential geopolitical tensions, such as a hypothetical Chinese invasion of Taiwan.

Amir of Qatar inaugurates F-15 QA fighter jet

01/27/2024

HH the Amir made a tour during which he was briefed on the newly manufactured Ababil F15 QA aircraft and their combat capabilities, and the most prominent methods of modern technology used in it. The Abadil fighters feature next-generation combat aircraft technologies, such as electronic flight controls, an all-glass digital cockpit, state-of-the-art sensors, advanced radar technology, and electronic warfare capabilities backed by digital engineering and advanced manufacturing.

US advances fighter jet sale to Turkey, Greece; Congress likely to approve

01/27/2024

U.S. President Joe Biden's administration on Friday formally informed Congress of its intention to proceed with the $23 billion sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey, taking a major step toward completing a long-delayed process that tested ties with Ankara. The State Department sent the notification to advance the sale of 40 Lockheed Martin), opens new tab F-16s and nearly 80 modernization kits to Turkey, a day after Ankara fully completed ratification of the NATO membership of Sweden.

New F-16 Fighters Could be Flying for Turkey

01/26/2024

Just a day after the Turkish parliament voted to approve Sweden's NATO membership bid, President Joe Biden called upon lawmakers on Capitol Hill to approve the sale of the Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon to Turkey.

4 Ukrainian Pilots Undergoing F-16 Training in Arizona as Pentagon Reveals New Details

01/26/2024

As Ukraine awaits the delivery of F-16s in 2024, a U.S. defense official revealed new details on the training of Ukrainian pilots and maintainers in America. There are currently four Ukrainian pilots undergoing F-16 training in the United States, the official told Air & Space Forces Magazine.

Scott AFB successfully hot-pit refuels F-35 for the first time, gains certification

01/26/2024

Scott Air Force Base recently hosted a pair of F-35A Lightning II aircraft from the 388th Fighter Wing based at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, as a part of an Air Force-wide push to expand hot-pit refueling capabilities, Jan. 18, 2024. Hot-pit refueling is the practice of refueling an aircraft immediately after landing while keeping the engines running to minimize time spent on the ground. Hot-pit refueling allows sorties to be generated faster, allowing more effective power projection capabilities.

USAF selects Anduril as one of five vendors to develop CCAs

01/26/2024

Anduril – a US autonomous systems start-up – has been selected as one of five defence industries to help develop the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). The US Air Force (USAF) intend to operate uncrewed autonomous aircraft – known as CCAs – as part of a network alongside other aerial platforms such as fifth or sixth-generation aircraft.

More needs to be done before Ukraine deploys F-16s - Air Force spox

01/26/2024

International partners are ready to provide Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets, but comprehensive measures to prepare for their effective use are still underway. That’s according to Air Force Command spokesman Yuriy Ihnat, who spoke on the air of the national telethon, Ukrinform reports.

Russia accuses Ukraine of killing 65 of its own PoWs by shooting down plane

01/25/2024

Russia accused Ukraine on Wednesday of deliberately shooting down a Russian military transport plane carrying 65 captured Ukrainian soldiers to a prisoner exchange in what it called a barbaric act of terrorism that had killed a total of 74 people. Ukraine called for full clarification of the circumstances of the incident and did not directly confirm it had shot down the plane.

German fighter jets to get new Brimstone missiles

01/25/2024

Germany has unveiled its plans to equip its Eurofighter combat aircraft with the MBDA Brimstone air-to-surface missile, according to government sources. Outlined in Bundeswehr budgetary documents, the Luftwaffe is set to procure 274 of these air-to-surface missiles to equip its Eurofighter fleet. The contract signing for this procurement is anticipated in the second quarter of this year.

How A Russian Fighter-Jet Manufacturer Continued To Import Western Aviation Parts Despite Sanctions

01/25/2024

One of Russia's leading manufacturers of fighter jets and civilian aircraft continued to import parts and other equipment from European and U.S. suppliers despite the imposition of Western sanctions following the start of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Japan Scrambled Fighters 555 Times in the Last 9 Months of 2023, Defense Ministry Says

01/24/2024

Japanese defense forces flew 555 fighter jet scrambles during the last nine months of 2023, according to the Joint Staff Office of Japan’s Ministry of Defense. The JSO said 98 percent of scrambles were against Chinese and Russian aircraft according to data released by the Ministry of Defense on Tuesday.

The F-16 Is the Most Dominant Fighter Of Its Generation

01/24/2024

The F-16 Fighting Falcon, known affectionately by many pilots as the Viper, is the most widely operated fighter aircraft on the planet for a reason. In an era when fighter designs were largely focused on what could be argued were glamour metrics like top speed and service ceiling, the F-16 emerged as the embodiment of a new approach to air warfare.

Taiwan tracks 7 Chinese military aircraft, 3 naval ships around nation

01/23/2024

The Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked seven Chinese military aircraft and three naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Monday (Jan. 22) and 6 a.m. on Tuesday (Jan. 23). Of the seven People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, one jet fighter crossed the Taiwan Strait median line in the northeast sector of the country’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ), according to the MND. In response, Taiwan sent aircraft and naval ships and deployed air defense missile systems to monitor th

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.