Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

The USA has authorized Denmark, Norway, and the Netherlands to transfer 65 F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets to Ukraine

04/06/2024

The Foreign Affairs Committee of the US House of Representatives evaluated a series of notifications during the month of February proposing the transfer of 65 F-16A/B Fighting Falcon MLU fighter jets from Denmark, Norway, and the Netherlands to Ukraine. Despite the mentioned countries expressing their intention to donate the aircraft, the estimated cost of the initiatives amounts to USD 1.683.5 billion, including spare engines, simulators, manuals, tools, and various materials.

Six Russian planes destroyed by drones, says Kyiv

04/06/2024

Ukraine has carried out a drone attack against targets in southern Russia and claims to have destroyed six Russian planes at an airbase in Rostov region. Security sources told BBC Ukrainian eight more aircraft were badly damaged, while 20 service personnel could have been killed or injured. The Morozovsk base houses Su-27 and Su-34 aircraft used on the front line in Ukraine, the sources said.

South Korea Pitches FA-50 Fighter to Replace Thailand’s F-16s

04/04/2024

The Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) has offered the sale of the FA-50 light fighter aircraft to the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF), as it plans to spend 519 million USD (19 billion Baht) in the next fiscal year to acquire new fighter aircraft based on claims from the Thai Defense Ministry.

India Might End Up with the Best F-16 Fighting Falcon Ever

04/04/2024

Lockheed Martin's proposal to relocate F-16 production lines to India, in collaboration with Tata, illustrates a keen strategy to win over India's lucrative aviation contract, potentially shifting the balance of military airpower in the region. The F-21, boasting upgraded mission computers, avionics, and enhanced communication systems, represents not just a technological leap but a strategic advantage in India's quest to counterbalance Chinese influence.

Why the MiG-21 Fighter Jet Is Still Revered in Modern Warfare

04/04/2024

The MiG-21, developed by Mikoyan-Gurevich in 1955, stands as a testament to Cold War-era engineering and military strategy. Serving in over 50 countries, this supersonic fighter-interceptor was the most ubiquitous warplane of its time. Despite its simplicity, the MiG-21 was highly effective, notably during the Vietnam War, where it became a formidable adversary to American forces.

U.K. officials: Russians painting images of fighter jets on runways to confuse Ukraine intelligence

04/04/2024

The Russians are painting images of combat aircraft directly on the runway at air bases inside occupied Ukraine in an apparent attempt to throw off targeting efforts. Moscow has been forced to implement several such decoy attempts as a result of continued successful Ukrainian strikes on Russian military locations, British officials said.

US Navy, Air Force to Begin Joint Fighter Jet Training in 2024

04/04/2024

The US Navy and Air Force will start cooperative fighter pilot training this year under the US Department of Defense’s Joint Simulation Environment. The joint agreement is being managed by the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) in Patuxent River, Maryland, which began by incorporating eight F-35 Lightning II simulation cockpits.

Lightning ‘Strikes’ Lightning! F-35A Lightning II Stealth Fighter Jet Cleared To Fly In Thunderstorms: Reports

04/03/2024

Once forbidden to fly in lightning and thunderstorms, the conventional take-off and landing variant of the F-35 Lightning II aircraft, operated by the US Air Force, has reportedly been cleared to fly near storms. Until now, the F-35A Lightning II, operated by the US Air Force, was prohibited from flying within 25 miles of lightning. However, the F-35Cs used for carrier operations by the Navy and the F-35Bs used by the Marines were exempted from the ban.

Enhanced NATO Air Presence in Eastern Europe with U.S. F-35 Deployment

04/03/2024

In a continued demonstration of commitment to NATO’s eastern defenses, four F-35 fighters from the United States Air Force have been dispatched to Poland. This move is part of a strategy to ensure a persistent American military presence in the region. This initiative began in 2022 following Russia’s intensification of hostilities in Ukraine.

Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System for F-15 aircraft completes operational testing

04/03/2024

The U.S. Air Force recently completed Initial Operational Test & Evaluation (IOT&E) of the Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System (EPAWSS), validating the game-changing capabilities BAE Systems’ advanced system brings to the F-15. EPAWSS provides critical electronic warfare (EW) capabilities for the F-15E Strike Eagle and F-15EX Eagle II aircraft.

F-16s arrive at Eglin to be modified with self-flying tech

04/03/2024

The first three F-16 Fighting Falcons that will be loaded with self-flying technology have arrived at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, the Air Force said Tuesday. The arrival of the F-16s marks the service’s biggest step forward yet in standing up the program known as Venom, which stands for Viper Experimentation and Next-gen Operations Model-Autonomy Flying Testbed and aims to speed up the testing of autonomous technology on both crewed and uncrewed aircraft.

Russia's Su-35 Fighter Is Getting Hammered in the Skies Above Ukraine

04/02/2024

The Sukhoi Su-35 is a single-seat, twin-engine air superiority fighter. Designed as an improved variant of the Su-27, it is a supermaneuverable jet that was first introduced in 2014. The jet relies on two Saturn AL-41F1S turbofan engines, producing 30,900 pounds of thrust each, with the afterburner engaged. The Su-35 can reach a maximum speed of Mach 2.25.

National Guard Bureau Seeks Additional Fighter Jets in Upcoming Budget

04/02/2024

In a recent move to bolster their air combat capabilities, the National Guard Bureau has proposed an increase to their fiscal 2025 budget for the procurement of advanced fighter jets which were previously excluded due to budgetary constraints. The request, amounting to $1.35 billion, includes six state-of-the-art F-35s and six F-15EXs. This acquisition is at the top of the Guard’s $2.66 billion Unfunded Priorities List.

Collaborative Combat Aircraft Shift Paradigms and Present Challenges

04/02/2024

Not since the application of airplanes to combat warfare over 100 years ago has the U.S. military seen a shift in how it will defend the air domain with the addition of the U.S. Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft, or CCAs. More than a drone, CCAs could provide the service with exponential power in the air and tactics not yet fully envisioned, leaders say.

Dutch F-35s take over QRA duties from F-16s

04/01/2024

The skies above Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg are now under the watchful eye of two Dutch F-35s as they took over Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) duties from their F-16 counterparts on March 29, 2024.

Greece Is Selling Its F-16s & Mirage 2000s To Reduce 'Cartload' Of Different Fighter Jets

04/01/2024

The Hellenic Air Force of Greece, with at least four general fighter types and at least three different models of F-16 Viper, is paring down their fleet diversity. For the Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias, the ability of the Hellenic Air Force to protect Greece must be improved.

Taiwan tracks 8 military aircraft, 7 Chinese naval ships

03/31/2024

The Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked eight Chinese military aircraft and five naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Friday (March 29) and the same time Saturday (March 30). In response, Taiwan monitored People’s Liberation Army (PLA) activity and deployed appropriate forces, according to the MND. One PLA aircraft entered the country’s southwest air defense identification zone (ADIZ) during that time.

Turkiye may reduce purchases of F-16s from United States

03/31/2024

Turkiye may reduce its purchase of American F-16 fighter jets due to the development of its own national combat aircraft KAAN project, Azernews reports, citing the Milliyet newspaper. How strong the reduction might be is not specified.

NATO Countries Buying the Most Combat Aircraft

03/31/2024

Geopolitical tensions between the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Russia remain high as the Red Army continues to make progress through Ukraine. The recent addition of Sweden to the NATO Alliance adds a mass of military forces in the Northern Europe region but there are smaller additions currently underway across the whole continent. NATO nations are stocking up on combat aircraft, more so than in years past.

Taiwan tracks 5 Chinese naval ships, 4 military aircraft around nation

03/30/2024

The Ministry of National Defense tracked five Chinese naval vessels and four military aircraft around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Thursday (March 28) and 6 a.m. on Friday (March 29). In response, Taiwan sent aircraft and naval ships and deployed air defense missile systems to monitor the People’s Liberation Army activity, according to the MND. No PLA aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line or entered the southwest corner of the country’s air defense identification zone during that time.

Ukrainian Navy confirms Russia downed its own Su-27 aircraft over Crimea

03/30/2024

Russian forces accidentally shot down their own Su-27 fighter jet over occupied Crimea due to "heightened combat readiness," Ukraine's Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk said on air on March 29. Russian occupation authorities in Sevastopol reported on March 28 that a Russian warplane "crashed" off the Crimean coast without naming the cause of the incident. The pilot ejected safely and was picked up by rescue services, according to the Russian-installed head of Sevastopol.

Western air bases that host Ukraine's F-16s are 'legitimate' targets for Russia, says Putin

03/30/2024

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that Western air bases hosting F-16 fighter jets for Ukraine will be "legitimate" targets for the Kremlin's forces, according to The Associated Press. "F-16s are capable of carrying nuclear weapons, and we will also need to take that into account while organizing our combat operations," he said.

National Guard’s $2.7 billion wishlist includes a dozen more F-35s and F-15EXs

03/30/2024

The National Guard would like to buy a dozen more fighter aircraft, split between F-35s and F-15EXs, if it had more funding in the fiscal 2025 budget, it said in its $2.7 billion unfunded priority list. The National Guard’s annual wish list, submitted to Capitol Hill on Thursday, breaks from those of the other US services, which shied away this year from listing big-ticket weapons platforms and focused far more on improving readiness and military construction needs.

A Bolivarian Military Aviation F-16 fighter shot down a hostile aircraft that violated Venezuelan airspace

03/30/2024

During the night of yesterday’s session, March 28th, the Bolivarian Military Aviation (AMB) of Venezuela reported that one of its F-16 fighters shot down an aircraft declared hostile after it violated national airspace. The news was reported through the force’s official X account, which also provided a video of the fighter jet’s firing run.

China Wants Its Very Own NGAD 6th Generation Fighter

03/28/2024

As the United States and China accelerate their efforts to develop sixth-generation warplanes, the dynamics of global military competition enter a new, more complex era. China's revelation of a mockup for its proposed sixth-generation fighter in 2021 and the U.S.'s ambitious timeline to deploy its Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) platform by 2030 underscore a significant leap in aerial warfare technology.