Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

First Air Force Reserve Unit to Get the F-35 Marks a Final Milestone with the F-16

08/11/2023

The end of an era is swiftly approaching for the Air Force Reserve’s 301st Fighter Wing. One of its units, the 457th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, is finishing its final deployment with the F-16 Fighting Falcon, widely known as the Viper. When the squadron returns home to Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas, later this month after its deployment to Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, the unit will begin transitioning to the F-35A stealth fighter.

Russian Tu-160 strategic bombers with Su-35 fighters fly over Arctic waters: Moscow

08/11/2023

Two Russian Tupolev Tu-160 strategic missile-carrying bombers performed a scheduled flight over the neutral waters of the Barents Sea and the Arctic Ocean, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Thursday. “Two Tu-160 strategic missile-carrying bombers performed a scheduled flight in the airspace over the neutral waters of the Barents Sea and the Arctic Ocean. The flight lasted about eight hours,” the ministry said.

F-35, Rafale & Su-30MKI: China Threat Prompts Japan To Conduct ‘First Time’ Drills With New Allies, World’s Toughest Jets

08/10/2023

The joint aerial exercise, which saw the arrival of four Italian Air Force F-35As in Japan, commenced on August 7 at Komatsu Air Base in Ishikawa Prefecture, situated along the coast of the Sea of Japan. On August 8, a display of coordinated maneuvers took place, featuring Japan’s F-15 fighter jets alongside Italy’s F-35 fighters, accompanied by a diverse array of additional military aircraft.

Taiwan reports second large-scale China air force incursion this week

08/10/2023

Ten Chinese air force aircraft entered Taiwan's air defence zone on Wednesday accompanying five Chinese warships engaged in "combat readiness" patrols, the island's defence ministry said, the second such incursion this week. Taiwan, which China claims as its territory, has repeatedly complained of Chinese military activity near it over the past three years, as Beijing steps up pressure to try to force the island to accept its sovereignty.

Ukraine desperately wants F-16s because without them all it has are Soviet-era fighter jets that simply aren't cutting it

08/10/2023

Ukraine wants desperately to add American-made F-16s to their arsenal of Soviet-made fighter jets, asserting that the Western fighter jets will be critical assets, even if they won't necessarily be silver bullets. F-16s "would be a massive improvement on what the Ukrainian fighter pilots are flying today," Justin Bronk, a professor at the Royal Norwegian Air Force Academy and senior research fellow for airpower and technology in the military sciences team at Royal United Services Institute, tol

Taiwan tracks 11 Chinese military aircraft, 5 naval ships around nation

08/09/2023

11 Chinese military aircraft and five naval vessels were tracked around Taiwan between Monday and Tuesday by the Ministry of National Defense, according to Taiwan News. The Chinese military aircraft and naval vessels were tracked from 6 a.m. on Monday (Aug. 7) and 6 a.m. on Tuesday (Aug. 8).

KA-52 Alligators Lose Fizz; Russia Deploys Tactical Fighters, Heavy Bombers To Support Troops – UK

08/09/2023

Published by the UK MoD on August 7, the update read, “The Russian Air Force continues to consistently deploy considerable resources in support of land operations in Ukraine but without decisive operational effect.”

Provision Of AIM-120 Missiles Would Greatly Enhance Iraq’s F-16s

08/09/2023

Iraq’s F-16C/D Block 52 Viper fighter jets have become indispensable for Baghdad’s ongoing air campaign against Islamic State (ISIS) remnants. They could become even more invaluable for Iraq if the U.S. supplies more advanced air-to-air missiles than it has hitherto proved willing.

Ukrainian fighter jets unharmed in Russian missile attack on Starokostiantyniv airfield, Ukraine’s Air Force spox says

08/07/2023

Ukrainian fighter jets were not damaged by the Russian missile attack on the Starokonstiantyniv airfield in Khmelnytskyy Oblast (western Ukraine) last night, Ukraine’s Air Force spox Yurii Ihnat said, Ukrainska Pravda reported. During the national telethon, Yurii Ihnat explained that in case of flight risks, Ukrainian pilots redeploy aircraft to other airfields in Ukraine.

China’s ‘Triangle Of Death’: India To Counter PLA By Solidifying Ties With Bangladesh And Sri Lanka

08/06/2023

The three Chinese-run ports in South Asia – Chittagong in Bangladesh, Hambantota in Sri Lanka, and Gwadar in Pakistan – are called a “triangle of death” encircling India. New Delhi, striving to maintain strategic dominance in its backyard, is forging power, maritime, and connectivity relationships with Dhaka and Colombo to woo them back into its corner through energy and military hardware deals.

Chinese Military Breakthrough: PLA YU-20 Tanker Refuels Carrier-Based J-15

08/06/2023

The Chinese military has now demonstrated aerial refueling in waters over the Pacific with its YU-20 Tanker and a J-15 carrier-based fighter jet, an extremely significant development which could over time greatly impact the strategic and tactical circumstances in the Pacific theater.

U.S., Australian Air Force Units Emphasize Interoperability

08/05/2023

For the U.S. and Australian pilots and ground crews operating out of a secluded base in the far reaches of Australia's Northern Territory, Exercise Talisman Sabre 23 has provided a critical opportunity to train for the future of air warfare. Throughout the 15-day exercise aimed at enhancing interoperability among key allies, U.S. Air Force pilots flew a series of elaborate training missions with their Royal Australian Air Force counterparts, involving multiple fighter, tanker and patrol aircraft

Taiwan Mulls Mirage Fighter Service Extension Amid F-16 Delivery Delays

08/05/2023

The Taiwanese military is considering extending the service life of its Mirage 2000-5 fighter aircraft as it awaits the delivery of American F-16 jets. The island nation ordered 66 advanced F-16V combat aircraft from Lockheed Martin after receiving approval from the US State Department in 2019. However, the initial delivery of two F-16Vs scheduled for 2023 has been postponed until the third quarter of 2024 due to production issues.

After Azerbaijan, will Pakistan also join Turkey’s 5th generation fighter program?

08/05/2023

Just a week after Turkey signed an agreement to add Azerbaijan to its fifth generation fighter jet program, a senior Turkish official suggested that Pakistan, too, could join in. “Pretty soon, within this month, we will be discussing with our Pakistani counterparts to officially include Pakistan in our national fighter jet program, KAAN,” deputy defense minister Celal Sami Tufekci announced Wednesday.

Biden Administration notifies Congress on potential sale of 38 F-16s to Argentina in a move aimed at countering the JF-17 fighter jets offered by China

08/04/2023

In a move aimed at bolstering Argentina military capabilities, the US Congress was notified in July of the potential transfer of crucial defense equipment to the South American nation. The proposed arms package includes the sale of up to 38 F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets from Denmark and four P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft from Norway.

Azerbaijan’s Su-25s Receive Turkish Smart Bombs, Missiles

08/03/2023

Azerbaijan’s defense ministry has tapped the services of Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) to modernize the country’s fleet of Sukhoi Su-25 twin-engine fighter aircraft. An agreement was signed between the two during the 2023 International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF) in Istanbul last week. According to the ministry, the modernization includes integrating ground-breaking technologies to boost the aircraft’s operational capability.

MiG-31: Russia ‘Prepares’ For NATO Intervention, Adds Another Batch Of Hypersonic Missile-Firing, Upgraded MiG-31 Jets

08/03/2023

In what is expected to come as a significant boost to the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS), the Nizhny Novgorod Aviation Plant “Sokol” delivered a new batch of upgraded MiG-31 Interceptor fighters to the Russian Ministry of Defense (RuMoD).

Military aircraft bring the “boom” during Northern Lightning this month

08/03/2023

Fighter jets will be zooming and sonic-booming over Northeast Wisconsin later this week as the state hosts a two-week military exercise. Northern Lightning brings Air Force, National Guard, Marine and Navy units from Arizona, Florida, Minnesota, Ohio and Virginia together at Volk Field, northwest of the Wisconsin Dells.

British Typhoons Relocated To ‘Forward Base’ Near Russia; To Hone Air Combat Skills With F/A-18 Hornets

08/03/2023

As tensions continue to simmer between Russia and NATO, the Eurofighter Typhoons of the British Royal Air Force (RAF) have been relocated to a forward base in Finland for training with Finnish F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets under the banner of ‘Exercise Joutsen Strike.’

Lockheed Martin’s $1.7 trillion F-35 fighter jet is 10 years late and 80% over budget—and it could be one of the Pentagon’s biggest success stories

08/03/2023

If the F-35 is such a boondoggle, why are so many governments clamoring to buy it? The answers to this question are vitally important to America and its allies, and to every U.S. taxpayer.

Analysis: Buildup of American forces in Persian Gulf a new signal of worsening US-Iran conflict

08/02/2023

Thousands of Marines backed by advanced U.S. fighter jets and warships are slowly building up a presence in the Persian Gulf. It’s a sign that while America’s wars in the region may be finished, its conflict with Iran over its advancing nuclear program continues to worsen, with no solutions in sight. The dispatch of the troop-and-aircraft-carrying USS Bataan to the Gulf, alongside stealth F-35 fighters and other warplanes, comes as America wants to focus on China and Russia.

China’s J-20 Gets Another Upgrade

08/02/2023

On June 29, a new J-20 prototype with the serial number 2052 made its first flight at Chengdu Aircraft Corporation in China, newly powered by two WS-15 turbofan engines. This event was a major milestone for the WS-15 engine, a carefully guarded project whose rumors and hints of development had been carefully followed for the last decade and a half – ever since rumors of the J-20 (then known only as J-XX) began in the mid to late 2000s.

Germany's Rheinmetall starts building F-35 fuselage plant

08/02/2023

The German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall on Tuesday marked the construction launch of a new factory in the western town of Weeze that will produce fuselage sections for the F-35 stealth combat aircraft. The premier of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Hendrik Wüst, took part in a ground-breaking ceremony at the construction site, saying that "a highly modern factory is to be built here that will guarantee good jobs for decades."

Tanker Modernization Enhances Battlefield Communication

08/02/2023

During Joint Exercise Northern Edge 2023, participants from Australia, the United Kingdom, and the Air National Guard Air Force Reserve Test Center (AATC) tested advanced tactical datalink and gateway technologies on a Utah ANG KC-135, equipped with the Tanker Intelligent Gateway (TIG). Testing was done with the goal of enhancing battlefield communication and situational awareness, enabling seamless data exchange, allowing battle-field commanders to make real-time decisions.

Long awaited F-35 aircraft touch down at Tyndall

08/02/2023

As the Air Force continues to evolve by modernizing its capabilities and maintaining air superiority in an ever-changing global security landscape, Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida has officially started the transition from an air dominance training mission towards becoming a fully combat capable F-35A Lightning II fighter wing. This transition was cemented with the touchdown of the first three F-35s Aug. 1, 2023.