Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Ukraine-Russia war: Russia scrambles fighter jet to intercept US drone

08/28/2023

Russia said it scrambled a fighter plane to deter a US air force reconnaissance drone from crossing its borders over the Black Sea. “As the Russian fighter approached, the foreign reconnaissance UAV made a U-turn away from the state border of the Russian Federation,” Russia’s defence ministry said.

U.S., Australia, Japan Drill with the Philippines in South China Sea; China Flies Military Drone Near Taiwan

08/28/2023

The U.S., Australia, Japan and the Philippines carried out a joint exercise in the waters off Manila on Thursday involving the Australian and Japanese large-deck ships on deployment in the region. Meanwhile, Chinese bombers flew near Japan while a Chinese unmanned air vehicle conducted a flight off Taiwan’s east coast, according to Japan Ministry of Defense press releases.

Ukrainian Air Force flew more than 14,000 combat air sorties

08/28/2023

Citing a report from the Ukrainian Air Force, Militarnyi reported that Ukraine’s combat aircraft target enemy command posts and warehouses, intercept enemy planes and helicopters and shoot down drones and missiles used by the Russian Federation to attack Ukraine.

Michigan air show crash report suggests pilot, backseater out of sync on whether to eject

08/27/2023

The pilot of the Russian-made fighter jet that crashed earlier this month during the Thunder Over Michigan air show in Belleville was trying to land the plane while the backseater acknowledged to investigators he likely pulled the ejection handles for both of them, a preliminary investigation found.

Two Ukrainian Combat Planes Collide West Of Kyiv, Killing Three Pilots

08/27/2023

Two Ukrainian aircraft collided in midair while on a training mission over Ukraine’s Zhytomyr region, killing three pilots, the State Bureau of Investigation (DBR) said on August 26. The DBR said the two L-39 aircraft collided on August 25 in the sky over the region west of Kyiv.

Ukraine's efforts to rack up Russian defectors and their equipment helped land the country an Mi-8 helicopter and fighter jet parts

08/26/2023

Ukraine's longstanding efforts to convince Russian soldiers to defect alongside their equipment paid off in a cinematic way this week. A Russian helicopter pilot landed an Mi-8 AMTSh on a Ukrainian air base on Wednesday in what Ukrainian officials said was the culmination of a six-month secret defection plot that involved moving the pilot's family out of Russia and into Ukraine.

Taiwan reports combat drone as China military activities continue

08/26/2023

Taiwan's defence ministry said on Saturday morning that over the past 24 hours it had detected 20 Chinese air force planes entering the island's air defence zone, including a combat drone the flew along Taiwan's Pacific east coast. Democratically governed Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has complained for three years of increased military pressure from Beijing.

With 900 Aircraft In Arsenal, Russian Fighter Jets Are Being Turned Into Kamikaze UAVs By North Korea

08/26/2023

North Korea has reportedly begun a military modernization program involving converting hundreds of outdated fighter jets into kamikaze drones, aiming to use them to target major industrial and infrastructure locations in South Korea.

Ukraine Military Situation Report: The F-16 Decision – Analysis

08/25/2023

The Ukrainian Armed Forces have a problem. In the twenty-first century, no land power—regardless of the potency of its heavy armor, infantry, or artillery—can prevail in war without a bare minimum of air superiority. Even the chief of Ukraine’s General Staff, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, admitted this in a recent interview with the Washington Post.

Northrop Grumman to develop and demonstrate infrared search and track sensors for use on military aircraft

08/25/2023

U.S. Air Force researchers needed help in developing infrared sensors to enable combat aircraft to search wide areas covertly. They found their solution from the Northrop Grumman Corp. Mission Systems segment in Linthicum, Md. Officials of the Multispectral Sensing & Detection Division of the Air Force Research Laboratory Sensors Directorate at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, announced a $8.1 million follow-on contract to Northrop Grumman last week.

US Will Train Ukrainian Pilots, Maintainers on the F-16 at Air National Guard Base

08/25/2023

The U.S. will train Ukrainian pilots and maintainers on F-16s at Morris Air National Guard Base, Ariz., in October, Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Patrick S. Ryder announced Aug. 24—the most direct American involvement yet in the international effort to equip and train Ukraine with fighter aircraft.

Norway gives F-16 jets to Ukraine, joining Denmark, Netherlands

08/25/2023

Norway will donate U.S.-made F-16 combat aircraft to Ukraine, the Norwegian prime minister announced during a visit to Kyiv on Thursday, joining an effort led by the Netherlands and Denmark. F-16s have been on Ukraine's wish list for a long time because of their destructive power and global availability. The fighter jet is equipped with a 20mm cannon and can carry bombs, rockets and missiles.

Ukrainian forces damage Russian plane in combat near Zmiinyi Island – Ukraine's Defence Intelligence

08/24/2023

Recently, the Armed Forces of Ukraine attacked a Russian plane over the Black Sea when it tried to destroy a Ukrainian military boat near Zmiinyi (Snake) Island; the Russian jet was damaged in the fight.

Brazil to double air fleet as part of $10.6 billion investment

08/24/2023

Brazil plans to invest 52.8 billion reals (U.S. $10.6 billion) for research, development and equipment acquisition efforts for its military, including nearly doubling the size of its Gripen fighter fleet and financing projects by local aircraft manufacturer Embraer for aerial refueling planes, the government announced earlier this month.

Russia says fighter jet intercepts Norwegian plane over Barents Sea

08/24/2023

A Russian fighter jet intercepted a Norwegian military plane over the Barents Sea on Wednesday, the Russian defence ministry said. It said the Norwegian aircraft, a U.S.-made P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance plane, was nearing the Russian border but turned back after being approached by the Russian MiG-29 fighter.

How many F-16 jets will Ukraine get and how will they change war?

08/24/2023

The Netherlands and Denmark have led a push to train Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16s and deliver the fighter jets to Ukraine to help counter Russia's air superiority. Here are some facts about the alliance of Western countries that will supply aircraft and training:

Russian ‘Bear Bombers’ Intercepted By Eurofighter Typhoons Near Scotland; RAF Practices Covert Relocation Drills

08/23/2023

The Russian reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft, Tu-142 Bear-F and Tu-142 Bear-J, were monitored by the Typhoon jets launched from RAF Lossiemouth in Moray. RAF Lossiemouth is one of the RAF’s two Quick Reaction Alert stations, where jets are always available to respond to threats at short notice.

Another one of America's adversaries just unveiled a new drone that closely resembles the US military's combat-proven MQ-9 Reaper

08/23/2023

Iran unveiled a new drone this week that closely resembles the US military's MQ-9 Reaper, becoming the latest country to produce an aircraft that looks like the formidable American combat drone. State-run media on Tuesday published a video unveiling Iran's new drone, called the "Mohajer 10," full of glitzy footage showcasing the aircraft alongside strobe lights and a fog machine, as well as shots of the drone taking off, flying, and landing back on a runway.

South Korean ‘Rookie’ FA-50 Fighters Get Into Action Mode, Holds Drills With F-35A Jets To Warn North

08/23/2023

South Korea’s newest light fighter jet, the FA-50, appears to be preparing for combat as part of the South Korea-US joint military drills that kicked off on August 21. The exercises aim to test combat readiness against a supposedly belligerent North Korea.

Indonesia Inks Memorandum of Understanding for F-15EX Purchase

08/23/2023

Indonesia is in the midst of a recapitalization of its combat aircraft fleet. The country retired its legacy F-5E/F Tigers and has opted for a two-pronged approach to modernizing its inventory. This involves the procurement of the Dassault Rafale and now, most likely, the Boeing F-15EX.

After Tu-95 Bomber, Russia’s Tu-22 M3 Backfire Destroyed In Ukraine Drone Attack – Reports

08/22/2023

A drone attack targeted the Russian Tu-22M3 Backfire swing-wing bomber based at Soltsy-2 on August 19. As soon as the news broke out, visuals appeared on social media showing thick black smoke billowing from the air base. However, it was initially unknown what asset at the base caught fire.

State Department approves AH-64E Apache sale to Poland, part of $12 billion package

08/22/2023

The US State Department has signed off on a potential $12 billion sale of military equipment to Poland, including 96 AH-64E Apache attack helicopters and other military equipment. The announcement, posted on the website Defense Security Cooperation Agency today, does not represent a final sale. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) cases announced like these have been approved by the executive branch for review by Congress.

Ex-Russian Colonel: Any Ukrainian F-16 airfield will be wiped out during construction

08/22/2023

Any attempts by Ukraine to build airfields and facilities to accommodate the F-16 fighter jets that Western allies provide will be met with targeted attacks by Russian forces destroying the infrastructure during the construction before they are fully built, according to retired Russian Colonel Viktor Litovkin.

A potential first-of-its-kind fighter-jet purchase could be a sign Saudi Arabia isn't happy with what it's getting from the US

08/22/2023

Saudi Arabia has spent decades building an enormous air force composed exclusively of advanced US and British fighter jets. But Riyadh's reported interest in potentially purchasing a large number of French jets may be a sign it doesn't think its longtime patrons are as reliable as before.

Ukraine Will Get F-16 Fighter Jets From Denmark and Netherlands

08/21/2023

The Netherlands and Denmark said Sunday that they would donate F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine — the first countries to do so — in what President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine said was a breakthrough in his nation’s quest to acquire the aircraft considered imperative in the war against Russia.