Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

More F-16s Arrive in Middle East as AFCENT Fighter Footprint Grows to 6 Squadrons

10/25/2023

More U.S. Air Force F-16s arrived in the Middle East, the service announced Oct. 24, as threats to American forces in the region continue to grow. The New Jersey Air National Guard’s 119th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron’s arrival in the U.S. CENTCOM region increases the Air Force’s fighter footprint in the Middle East to six squadrons. U.S. bases in the Middle East have begun to come under attack from militia groups aligned with Iran, and officials have voiced concerned about possible region-wid

Increased USAF fighter presence for the Middle East

10/24/2023

As expected, recently more USAF, consisting of Air Combat Command (ACC), United States Air Force Europe (USAFE) and Air National Guard (ANG) fighter aircraft departed the Continental United States (CONUS) to be embodied into the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing at Al Dhafra Air Base (United Arab Emirates) and Muwaffaq Salti/Al Azraq Air Base (Jordan).

Future of Colorado Air National Guard unit at Buckley is at risk as F-16s near retirement, officials say

10/24/2023

The year 2028 looms large for the Colorado Air National Guard at Buckley Space Force Base in Aurora. The guard’s F-16s — fighter jets referred to as Fighting Falcons — are getting old, with most expected to start running out of useful life in about five years. Many of them were built in the late 1980s, and while updates potentially could extend their use for another three to four years, the planes’ retirement is on the horizon.

France Says Talking to Saudi About Rafale Fighter Sale

10/24/2023

The French government is talking to Saudi Arabia about selling the kingdom Rafale fighter jets, France’s defense minister said on Monday. Sebastien Lecornu told reporters there were “discussions” between Rafale maker Dassault Aviation and Saudi Arabia about a potential sale but gave no details.

This is the Most Widely Used Military Aircraft on Earth

10/24/2023

In these days when single aircraft can cost billions of dollars, technological sophistication can often be more important than numbers. (This is the most expensive aircraft in the U.S. Military) But that doesn’t mean that certain jets, bombers, transports, and helicopters don’t serve an important role in large numbers. And some aircraft, despite being expensive, have been proven to be so effective relative to their cost, that they are owned by dozens of militaries around the world in the hundred

Russia’s Air Force ‘eating into’ aircraft lifespans, with no easy solution

10/24/2023

As the ground war in Ukraine continues to grind ahead of the winter months, the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) are experiencing falling availability rates with their existing fleet of combat aircraft. The culprit is a combination of a high number of losses of fixed-wing aircraft combined with a drop in mission-capable rates due to the higher-than-normal number of flight hours being flown by those aircraft remaining.

China's fighter jet fleet is growing in size and appears to have made a big jump in capability, new Pentagon report shows

10/24/2023

A new report from the Pentagon details China's expanding military power, including the growth of its fighter jet fleet, which appears to have also experienced a jump in capability. Last week, the US Department of Defense released its annual China Military Power Report, a congressionally-mandated update of unclassified material and assessments on the People's Liberation Army.

Air Force: Ukrainian pilots undergoing training nearly ready to fly F-16s

10/23/2023

The first group of Ukrainian pilots are almost ready to move from F-16 flight simulators to combat planes, Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said in a televised address on Oct. 22, Ukrinform reported. "We expect that the first group of F-16 pilots, who are already training on flight simulators today, will transfer to the cockpit of a training and combat aircraft in the near future,” Ihnat said.

Rafales For Riyadh: Saudi Arabia Considers Buying French Fighter Jets For First Time

10/23/2023

Saudi Arabia is reportedly exploring a purchase of 54 multirole Dassault Rafale fighter jets from France, which could mark the first purchase by Riyadh of a French-made combat aircraft, despite decades of Paris attempting to win a deal with the kingdom. Riyadh has officially requested a detailed quote from Dassault Aviation for a potential acquisition of 54 Rafales, the French weekly La Tribune financial newspaper reported Sunday. It has given the aerospace giant until Nov. 10 to respond.

Giant Russian military plane explodes in fireball as it takes off from remote airbase with mystery cargo

10/22/2023

A giant Russian military plane exploded in a fireball as it took off from a remote airbase carrying a mystery cargo. The 164ft Il-76 plane was on the runway when an engine erupted in flames, according to reports. The aircraft rolled off the runway as the inferno spread, with dramatic video from the scene showing the 72-tonne jet engulfed in flames.

At 12 New Military Bases, Taiwan To Deploy Indigenous Sky Bow-III Missiles To Counter PLAAF Warplanes – Reports

10/22/2023

As intrusions into its Air Defense Identification Zone by Chinese warplanes become more frequent, the Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense plans to deploy its locally-produced Sky Bow-III missiles at 12 new bases. In a report, Liberty Times said the strategy was driven by the need to confront China’s threat and bolster the country’s large-scale production of missiles. The idea is reportedly to provide the new bases with information about Chinese missiles using a long-range early warning radar

Where's the Su-57? The war in Ukraine is what fifth-generation fighter jets were made for, but Russia's Felon has largely been missing in action

10/22/2023

Russia's air force has yet to break through Ukraine's formidable air defenses and achieve air superiority, which is somewhat surprising given that the Russians supposedly have something the Ukrainians do not — a fifth-generation fighter jet.

Jets on highways: Why European militaries are expanding ‘dispersed’ road exercises

10/21/2023

"Let’s say enemy strike plans are based around them going in and taking out a whole air wing at an airfield within a morning. Well that is not going to happen if they [friendly aircraft] are dispersed around the country and moving from A to B to C to D the whole time," said Gary Waterfall, a former UK Royal Air Force air vice-marshal.

Ukrainian Partisans Infiltrate Russian Airfield, Expose Fighter Jet Hideout

10/21/2023

Ukrainian partisans from the “ATESH” movement infiltrated Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod Airfield, exposing a hideout for Russian fighter jets. The guerrilla informants from the Crimean partisan movement said that Russian troops relocated aircraft to this airfield away from the Ukrainian border, ostensibly for their protection.

Nayev names number of combat aircraft Russia keeps in Belarus

10/21/2023

Three Su-30SM combat aircraft and two Su-24MR reconnaissance aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces remain on the territory of Belarus. Lieutenant General Serhiy Nayev, Commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said this in an interview with Ukrinform, answering the question of how many Russian aircraft are on the territory of Belarus.

Carrier USS Ronald Reagan, Japanese Warships Drill in East China Sea

10/20/2023

The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group (CSG) conducted drills with a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) frigate in the East China Sea from earlier this week, and Russian bombers flew off the coast of Japan on Tuesday. Meanwhile, China is pushing back on claims its fighter jet harassed a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) conducting a mission near North Korea.

Five Russian Attack Jets in Ten Days: Something Is Knocking Down Kremlin Jets, a Lot

10/20/2023

On Friday, the Russian Air Force reportedly lost its fifth attack jet in ten days, in a combat aircraft loss spike not seen in Moscow’s combat air operations over Ukraine since the first days of the war. Russian aviators aboard Su-25 Grach aircraft, an armored Soviet-era jet designed to resist small arms fire and even some missile strikes, were knocked down by Ukrainian anti-aircraft weapons fired in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region and southern Zaporizhzhia regions, Ukrainian official military

Russian fighters ‘scrambled over Black Sea to prevent British warplanes approaching Russian airspace’

10/20/2023

Two Russian fighter jets were scrambled on Thursday to prevent three British warplanes from entering Russian airspace over the Black Sea, the Russian defence ministry has claimed. The Su-27 fighter jets were sent to intercept “three air targets” near the border, with Russia claiming to have identified them as a British RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft and two Typhoon fighter planes.

South African Air Force in critical condition as 85% of fleet remains grounded

10/19/2023

In a shocking revelation, the Minister of Defence, Thandi Modise, disclosed the dire state of affairs within the South African Air Force (SAAF). A recent response to a parliamentary question by DA member of Parliament Kobus Marais uncovered that a staggering 85% of the SAAF’s aircraft fleet is currently out of action, leaving the nation vulnerable to security threats.

MBDA’s Mistral Missile To Arm Korean Marine Helicopters

10/19/2023

MBDA has received a contract from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) for the integration of the Mistral ATAM anti-air missile system on the Korean Marine Attack Helicopter (KMAH). Mistral ATAM is based on the Mistral short-range anti-air missile, known for its fire-and-forget engagement mode, ease of operation and unrivalled kill probability. The ATAM system includes two launchers per helicopter, each carrying two missiles.

Israel suspends defense sales to Colombia

10/19/2023

The Israeli government has suspended all sales and supplies of defense and security hardware and related services to Colombia. The move followed a heated exchange on X, formerly known as Twitter, between Colombian President Gustavo Petro and Israeli Ambassador in Bogota Gali Dagan about the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip.

KC-135s Arrive in Saudi Arabia to Replace Departed KC-10s

10/18/2023

KC-135 Stratotankers have arrived in Saudi Arabia to replace the KC-10s which recently left the region for good after 30-plus years of service. The aerial tankers from Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., arrived at Prince Sultan Air Base on Oct. 2. The 384th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron (EARS) will support combat operations throughout the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.

Joint integration between Marines, Air Force, and Navy prepares use of unmanned aircraft systems for expeditionary flight during SLTE 5-23

10/18/2023

U.S. service members conducted flight training with both Air Force MQ-9A and Navy MQ-8C unmanned aircraft systems during Service Level Training Exercise 5-23, July 27, 2023. This is the first instance of MQ-8C flight operations at the Combat Center. SLTE 5-23 is designed to challenge commanders to operate in a notional littoral environment simulated in the training areas at The Combat Center. Integrating the MQ-9A and the MQ-8C into SLTE 5-23.

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.