Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

U.S. Air Force Awards RTX $1 Billion Contract to Upgrade F-22 Sensors

09/01/2024

Amid the acute need for 5th generation fighters in modern combat scenarios against peer adversaries, the U.S. Air Force is looking to upgrade its F-22 Raptor with a series of sensors to make it more survivable and relevant. The service announced on Aug. 29, 2024, the award of a $1 billion contract to RTX‘s Raytheon for new sensors that are categorized as “Group B hardware”, together with spares and support equipment.

Zelenskiy fires head of air force after fatal crash of donated F-16 fighter jet

08/31/2024

Volodymyr Zelenskiy has fired the head of Ukraine’s air force a day after it emerged that a recently delivered F-16 jet had crashed earlier this week, killing the pilot. “I have decided to replace the commander of the air forces … I am eternally grateful to all our military pilots,” Zelenskiy said in his evening video address on Friday, without giving a reason for the dismissal of Mykola Oleshchuk.

Serbia to buy 12 Rafale fighter jets in nod to European industry

08/31/2024

Serbia agreed to buy 12 Rafale fighter jets from France’s Dassault Aviation to replace its MiG-29 fleet, in a deal which French President Emmanuel Macron called a strategic change for the Balkan country that maintains ties with Russia and China. The contract for nine single-seater Rafales and three two-seaters is worth €2.7 billion (US$3 billion), according to French media, citing Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.

Romanian Ministry of Defence has requested funds to purchase F-35A fighter jets

08/30/2024

The Romanian Ministry of Defense has requested funds from the government to purchase the latest F-35A fighter jets. The relevant document with the budget request from the Romanian Ministry of Defense was published on the official website of the Romanian government. The funding allocation stage is now the last step for Romania to officially start purchasing new fighter jets.

Ukrainian F-16 Crashes in Combat, Killing Pilot

08/30/2024

A Ukrainian Air Force pilot was killed when his F-16 fighter crashed Aug. 26, Ukraine’s military announced Aug. 29. The incident occurred during a massive Russian missile and drone attack that day that saw Ukraine’s F-16s make their combat debut. But the mission came at a high cost. Ukraine has only a handful of F-16s, and the pilot, Oleksiy “Moonfish” Mes, was a prominent aviator who was one of the first Ukrainians trained to fly the F-16.

Thai air force favours Swedish Gripen fighter jets over F-16s

08/29/2024

Thailand wants to renew its fleet of combat aircraft with Gripen fighter jets, the air force said, favouring the Swedish-made planes over American F-16s. A procurement committee weighed the choice for 10 months before deciding the JAS 39 Gripen E/F was the most suitable, the Royal Thai Air Force said in a statement issued Tuesday.

Serbia Leader Plans To Seal French Fighter Jet Deal With Macron

08/29/2024

Serbia expects to sign a "huge" deal for French fighter jets during a visit this week from France's leader, President Aleksandar Vucic told AFP on Wednesday, in an agreement estimated to be worth billions of dollars. Vucic made the comments ahead of President Emmanuel Macron's two-day visit to Serbia that kicks off on Thursday, with the duo expected to sign a range of bilateral deals.

Lockheed unveils Polish F-35 “Husarz”

08/29/2024

The F-35 stealth combat aircraft being produced by Lockheed Martin for Poland has been unveiled at the US defence giant’s aeronautics headquarters in Texas, at a ceremony attended by Polish and US officials. The Polish version of the aircraft has been named “Husarz” in reference to Poland’s famous “Winged Hussar” heavy cavalry units that operated from the 16th to the 18th century.

Russian fighter jet downed over eastern Ukraine as oil depot set ablaze

08/29/2024

Ukrainian troops have dramatically downed a Russian fighter jet over eastern Ukraine as an oil depot was set ablaze by a drone strike more than 100 miles away in Russia. The Soviet-designed Su-25, nicknamed “Frogfoot” by Nato, was brought down over Kramatorsk, Donetsk, as it fired on Ukrainian troops. In footage released by Ukraine’s 28th Brigade, it was seen bursting into flames in mid-air while flying alongside another aircraft and then crashing into the ground.

F-117A Nighthawk Stealth Fighter Could Make a Big 'Comeback'

08/28/2024

The U.S. Air Force faces a dilemma as its advanced but aging fleet, including the F-117 Nighthawk, is gradually retired. Despite being officially decommissioned in 2008, the Nighthawk has continued to serve in classified testing, highlighting its enduring value.

Thai air force wants to acquire Swedish Gripen 39 fighter jets

08/28/2024

The Thai Air Force said on Tuesday it wanted to acquire Gripen 39 fighter jets built by Sweden's SAAB to replace its ageing jet fighters. The Air Force said it had spent 10 months weighing all options before deciding "the JAS 39 Gripen E/F has the capability to match the demand of the military doctrine and the Air Force's strategy,” the statement said.

Embraer to Supply Super Tucano Combat Aircraft to Uruguayan Air Force

08/28/2024

Brazilian aerospace company Embraer has received a contract to deliver up to six A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft to the Uruguayan Air Force. The deal covers an initial aircraft, integrated logistics, mission equipment, and a flight simulator. The plane is expected to operate for its usual applications in reconnaissance, aircrew preparations, border monitoring, and anti-illegal activities.

Indian-Built Russian Su-30 Fighter Could Soon Be a Game Changer on Export Markets

08/28/2024

Indian state-owned aerospace company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has been reported by local media outlets to have begun talks with Russia on the possible joint production of Su-30 fighter aircraft in India for export. This development has the potential to be a game changer for the fighter export profiles of both countries, as Russia has struggled to sustain fighter exports as clients are threatened with Western economic sanctions.

Sweden’s sixth generation fighter studies

08/27/2024

Dagens Nyheter (‘news of the day’) a Swedish daily newspaper published an interview with Peter Nilsson, Saab’s Head of Advanced Programmes, timed to coincide with the Försvarsmakten Flygdagen 2024 (Armed Forces Aviation Day 2024) celebrations. In the article, Nilsson set out for a domestic Swedish audience how Saab is undertaking future fighter options work for the governments, and pointing out that Saab is ready (and an excellent choice) to do so.

Japan scrambles jets after Chinese aircraft 'violated' airspace

08/27/2024

Japan said it scrambled fighter jets on Monday after a Chinese military aircraft "violated" its airspace in a further escalation of regional tensions. The two-minute incursion into Japanese airspace by the Y-9 surveillance aircraft at 11:29 a.m. was the first by a Chinese military plane, local media reported. The aircraft "violated the territorial airspace off the Danjo Islands in Nagasaki Prefecture", prompting Japan to deploy "fighter jets on an emergency basis", Japan's defense ministry said.

New Batch of Su-30s Delivered to Kazakhstan

08/27/2024

Kazakhstan has received a new batch of Su-30SM fighter jets from Russia, as seen in recent posts on the Kazakh Ministry of Defense’s Telegram page. Several posts from August 17-18 showed Su-30s bearing bort numbers 51-54, and Scramble reported that red 55 and 56 have been spotted as well, making for an apparent delivery of six jets.

Russian military aviation faces growing threat from Ukrainian FPV drones

08/26/2024

Tumanov’s remarks underscore a growing concern within the Russian military circles about the effectiveness of these drones in countering their aircraft. “It is now safe to say that drones are becoming a real problem for helicopters,” Tumanov stated. He went on to note, “In recent times, the number of aircraft hit by drones has surpassed those hit by anti-aircraft missiles.”

Egypt looks elsewhere to get the stealth fighters the US reneged on

08/26/2024

Egypt's military still desperately wants a world-class fighter jet. With the deal it sought to acquire 20 F-35 stealth fighters from the US on ice, Egyptian officials reportedly discussed buying fourth- and even fifth-generation fighter jets from China. It could be a sign that Cairo, a top recipient of American military aid, is either seriously pursuing advanced aircraft from a US rival or trying to ratchet up pressure on the US to cave and sell it F-35 Lightning IIs.

U.S. Pulls Out Last F-15C Eagle From Japan’s Kadena AB In Ceremonial Flight; Now F-15EX Jets To Hold Fort

08/25/2024

The US Air Force marked “the end of an era” with a ceremonial final flight for the F-15C Eagle, tail number A5095, on August 15, 2024, at Kadena Air Base in Japan. This flight, organized by the 18th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and the 67th Fighter Squadron, celebrated the aircraft’s departure from the unit and signified the last time A5095 would take to the skies.

After NGAD, the US Navy's F/A-XX program is also threatened in 2025

08/25/2024

Launched in conjunction with the US Air Force's Next Generation Air Dominance program, the US Navy's F/A-XX program has been pursued much more quietly than its counterpart in recent years. At best, we knew, at the start of the year, that the US Navy had a comfortable budget of $1,53 billion for the 2024 fiscal year, to complete the conceptual study phase, and begin the phase of maturation, with the objective of designing a system of onboard air combat systems by 2040, to take over from the F/A-1

China’s jet fires flares 49 feet away from Philippines’ plane over disputed territory

08/25/2024

Aerial clashes near South China Sea flashpoints occur ahead of talks between a top Chinese diplomat and US national security adviser. Manila’s National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea reported that on Monday, a Chinese fighter jet performed “irresponsible and dangerous maneuvers” as a Philippine fisheries plane conducted a flight near Scarborough Shoal.

Russia To Boost Su-57 Stealth Fighter’s Production With New Facilities At KnAAZ Aviation Plant

08/24/2024

Moscow has announced a major development in its efforts to bolster the production of its beleaguered Su-57 stealth fighter fleet. The Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aviation Plant (KnAAZ), a key facility within the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), has commissioned new facilities aimed at scaling up the production of the fifth-generation Su-57 fighters.

F-22 Raptors To Hold ‘Simulated Combat’ Over South China Sea; USAF Stealth Fighters Arrive In Singapore

08/24/2024

The Raptors, from the US Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), will participate in a series of exercises over the next few days alongside Singapore’s F-15SG and F-16 fighter aircraft. According to the RSAF statement on Facebook, the training will take place in the southern reaches of the contentious South China Sea, specifically within international airspace.

Old MacJohan Had a Fighter Jet

08/24/2024

These days, NATO worries that Russia might attack its airbases. Almost uniquely within the alliance, Sweden is prepared for such contingencies: It has an extensive network of roads that double as military runways. It also has aircraft capable of landing and taking off on such roads—and officers and soldiers able to service and move the aircraft within minutes. With Western air dominance no longer guaranteed, other NATO members can learn from Sweden’s dual-use roads.

Airpower on a budget: US to revive light fighter concept

08/23/2024

The US is considering reviving its light fighter concept in response to difficulties with its next-generation fighter program, a move that has sparked heated debate and challenged conventional airpower strategies. This month, The War Zone reported that US Air Force Chief of Staff General David Allvin unveiled a notional light fighter concept at a recent presentation at the Global Air and Space Chiefs Conference in London, sparking discussions about the future of the US fighter fleet.