Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

KOREA AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES SELECTS THALES SCORPION® HELMET MOUNTED DISPLAY TO AUGMENT FA-50 FIGHTER FOR POLAND

10/18/2023

Thales today announced that it has been awarded a contract by Korea’s Aerospace Industries (KAI) to equip FA-50 fighters for Poland with its highly successful Scorpion® Helmet Mounted Display (HMD). Under the terms of this contract, Thales is responsible for adapting, integrating, and qualifying the Scorpion® HMD onto KAI’s FA-50 Fighting Eagle, as well as installing production systems, to support the Republic of Korea’s FA-50 contract with Poland.

Ahead Of F-16 Fighter Deal, Argentina To Sign Pact For Four P-3C Aircraft To Regain Anti-Submarine Capability

10/18/2023

Four years after losing anti-submarine and maritime surveillance capability, Argentina will re-acquire it soon as it signs an agreement with Norway for Lockheed Martin-built P-3 Orions on October 18, ahead of a much-awaited purchase order for F-16 fighters.

Pentagon accuses China’s fighter jets of ‘coercive’ acts in Indo-Pacific

10/18/2023

Chinese fighter jets conducted several hundred “risky and coercive” aerial intercepts against aircraft flown by America and its allies in the Indo-Pacific over the past two years, the US defence department said on Tuesday. Speaking at the Pentagon, Ely Ratner, the top Asia defence official, said the manoeuvres were not the acts of rogue pilots and instead a “centralised and concerted” effort by the Chinese military to pressure the US and its allies.

Homegrown fighter jet KF-21 makes public debut at Seoul defense exhibition

10/17/2023

South Korea's homegrown fighter jet KF-21 made its public debut on Monday, ahead of an international defense exhibition set to open at the Seoul Air Base this week. The KF-21, developed by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), staged an aerial demonstration at the Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, just south of Seoul, during a press day event for the Seoul International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition (ADEX) 2023, which opens Tuesday for a six-day run.

Polish warplane appetite prompts jockeying by US, European vendors

10/17/2023

As Poland awaits the first units of its 2020 order of 32 F-35 fighter jets, Warsaw is considering further expanding its combat aircraft fleet with a purchase of 32 additional warplanes, according to Polish defense officials.

Canada accuses China fighter jets of ‘reckless’ interception of military plane

10/17/2023

Canada’s defence minister has accused China fighter jets of carrying out a “dangerous and reckless” interception of a Canadian military plane over international waters. Bill Blair spoke after Canada’s Global News said a Chinese jet had come within five meters (16ft) of a Canadian surveillance plane taking part in a UN operation to enforce sanctions against North Korea.

As Israeli jets devastate Gaza, air force photos show fighter aircraft armed with what look like unguided 'dumb' bombs

10/17/2023

Israeli fighter aircraft have been bombing the Gaza Strip, often with precision-guided weapons like Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs), but photos and videos posted by the Israeli Air Force suggest it's also using less accurate, unguided munitions, experts told Insider.

From Hypersonic Missiles To Stealth UUVs – 5 Battlefield Tech That Have Emerged From Ukraine-Russia War

10/16/2023

Wars bring new weapons and battlefield platforms that can change future warfare. The Ukraine-Russia war is no different. Fighting a much larger and well-equipped Russian force, Ukraine has tested and proven the use of many low-value technologies on the battlefield.

Seoul defense exhibition aims to boost arms exports

10/16/2023

The Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition, known as Seoul ADEX, kicks off Tuesday with the public debut of Korea's indigenously developed KF-21 Boramae fighter jet, as the country looks to score record-breaking exports for the defense industry this year.

A desperate Russia may be just what North Korea needs to finally update its ancient Air Force

10/16/2023

During a six-day trip to Russia in September, North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, traveling abroad for the first time since 2019, met with a litany of senior Russian military officials and with Russian President Vladimir Putin himself. The Russian officials on hand — including the defense minister, the commander of the navy, and the commander of the long-range bomber force — reflected Moscow's desire to court Kim's regime.

Chinese Combat Aircraft Mock Ups Appear At Marine Corps Auxiliary Airfield in North Carolina

10/16/2023

We already knew a J-20 mock up was at Bogue Field, North Carolina, since 2019. A new video shows that the full scale replica was (most probably) moved to MCOLF Atlantic where at least one (possibly two) Fishbed-derivative trainer mock up is based.

US sending second carrier strike group, fighter jets to region as Israel prepares to expand Gaza operations

10/16/2023

The Pentagon has ordered a second carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean Sea and is sending Air Force fighter jets to the region as Israel prepares to expand its Gaza operations, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement Saturday.

Amid Wars in Ukraine and Israel, ‘Long-Planned’ B-1 Task Force Deploys to UK

10/15/2023

Multiple B-1B Lancers arrived at RAF Fairford, United Kingdom, on Oct. 12, kicking off a Bomber Task Force deployment as tensions rise across the globe. More than 100 Airmen deployed to support the B-1s from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, the first Bomber Task Force rotation of fiscal 2024. U.S. Air Forces in Europe emphasized in a release that the deployment was “long-planned,” and was not triggered by events such as Hamas’ incursion into Israel and events since.

Amid Lack Of Pilots, Russian Air Force Announces Joining Of Female Pilots To Fly Military Transport Aircraft

10/15/2023

Amidst the challenges of resource and pilot shortages within the Russian Air Force caused by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Moscow has announced that female pilots have commenced their service in military transport aviation. Lieutenant General Vladimir Benediktov, the BTA’s commander, revealed this information to the Russian state media agency TASS on October 14.

F-15s Land in Middle East as Austin Visits Israel and Touts ‘Augmented’ USAF Presence

10/15/2023

F-15Es arrived in the Middle East on Oct. 13, as the U.S. continued to bolster its forces in the region, the U.S. Air Force announced. The planes, which deployed from RAF Lakenheath, U.K., are part of a broader package of forces that have been deployed after Hamas’ attack on Israel, including an increased number of A-10 Thunderbolt II close air support aircraft and F-16 Fighting Falcon multirole fighters.

US A-10 attack planes arrive in Middle East in bid to deter wider war

10/14/2023

American A-10 “Warthog” attack planes arrived in the Middle East on Thursday as the Pentagon scrambles to keep the nascent war between Israel and Hamas from sparking a broader regional conflict. Airmen from the 354th Fighter Squadron at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, deployed as part of a larger effort to rush firepower to U.S. Central Command, a senior defense official told reporters Thursday.

This October, the “Frisian Flag” exercise took place at Leeuwarden Air Base in the Netherlands

10/14/2023

The international air exercise Frisian Flag 2023 took place from Monday 2 to Friday 13 October 2023 at Leeuwarden Air Base, The Netherlands. Unrest around the world and the ongoing war on Europe’s eastern border show a once again clearly that peace and security cannot be taken for granted. Well-trained units are therefore of great importance to ensure the security of the Netherlands and NATO territory and to defend them if necessary, now and in the future.

GameX: Shaw helps modernize MCA data collection

10/14/2023

Shaw Air Force Base hosted eSports tournament ‘GameX: Mission Generation Under Attack,’ an Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center (AFIMSC) initiative designed to test Airman and Guardian decision-making in a contested environment through video gaming, Sept. 22-23, 2023.

General Staff: Ukrainian troops destroy second Russian Su-25 fighter jet in a week

10/14/2023

Ukraine’s Armed Forces shot down a Russian SU-25 fighter jet and an Orlan-10 reconnaissance drone on 13 October. In its evening update, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said: “Over the past day, the Air Force carried out 12 strikes on areas where enemy personnel, weapons, and military equipment were concentrated, as well as on an enemy bridge. Our defenders also destroyed a Russian Su-25 fighter and an Orlan-10 operational-tactical level UAV.”

Nigerian Air Force Takes Delivery of Two Combat Aircraft

10/13/2023

The Nigerian Air Force Headquarters, on Wednesday, said it had taken delivery of two combat aircraft, Diamond-62 (DA-62), procured by the federal government. A statement by the Spokesman of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, said combat the planes would add impetus to ongoing air operations across the country.

US regulators approve transfer of Danish F-16s to Argentina

10/13/2023

Arms regulators in Washington have approved the transfer of US-made Lockheed Martin F-16As from Denmark to Argentina. The US Department of State said on 11 October it delivered a formal letter to Argentinian ambassador Jorge Arguello saying Washington signed off on the deal, which reportedly covers 24 of the multi-role fighters. “The transfer reaffirms our close defence ties and steadfast support for Argentina’s air force modernisation efforts,” the state department says.

China sends 20 military aircraft, 6 navy ships around Taiwan

10/12/2023

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked 20 Chinese military aircraft and six naval vessels around the country between 6 a.m. Wednesday (Oct. 11) and 6 a.m. Thursday (Oct. 12). The defense ministry said that 20 People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) military aircraft and six People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels were detected. Of the detected aircraft, 14 entered the north and southwest sectors of Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).

Denmark to send first F-16s to Ukraine in early 2024

10/12/2023

Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said on Wednesday that the transfer of the first F-16s to Ukraine will take place in early 2024. Thar’s according to Breaking the news, Ukrinform reports. "We expect that in March or April, we will be able to transfer the first batch of combat aircraft to Ukraine. But there is a lot of work to be done to ensure that the Ukrainians can exploit them,” Lund said.

Op tempo, training complexity pose risk to aircrews, per aviation boss

10/11/2023

A few months ago, the Army’s aviation community appeared to be facing a dire situation. A series of deadly helicopter crashes killed 14 soldiers between February and April, interrupting one of the safest periods in the Army’s flying history. That led the service’s leaders to order an Army-wide safety stand down in May — the rare move grounded all non-deployed flying units until they completed a mandatory safety training program led by their commanding generals.

After 30+ Years in Middle East, KC-10 Completes Final Deployment

10/11/2023

The KC-10 Extender took another step toward retirement last week, as the venerable tanker finished off its last ever deployment. A KC-10 from Travis Air Force Base, Calif., conducted the aircraft’s final combat sortie from Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, on Oct. 3. The 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, which has flown the KC-10 since 2003, then held a formal deactivation ceremony Oct. 4, and the last KC-10 departed the base Oct. 5.