Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

With Eye On China, Pakistan Air Battles, India Forward Deploys Its LCA Tejas Fighters For Ultimate Clash

08/18/2023

A final decision on deploying the Tejas squadrons in fighter air bases along the borders with Pakistan and China will be taken later. But the Indian Air Force (IAF) has already begun sending the existing two LCA squadrons on detachments to forward air bases along the western and northern frontiers, as was witnessed recently with a squadron in Awantipur in Jammu and Kashmir for training.

China’s newly built Paracels airstrip could host drones, analyst says

08/18/2023

A newly built airstrip on a disputed island in the South China Sea is only long enough for China to stage patrol aircraft, but it could still boost Beijing’s ability to collect intelligence over an area that includes Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone, a security analyst told Radio Free Asia. Satellite photos from Earth imaging company Planet Labs PBC this week showed that a 600-meter (2,000-foot) airstrip was built on Triton Island in the Paracel chain between July 12 and Aug. 15.

Sweden offers JAS-39 aircraft for PH Air Force modernization

08/17/2023

Sweden has again offered its Saab JAS 39 "Gripen" multi-role fighter aircraft for the modernization needs of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) which is looking to beef up its fleet. This developed following Monday's courtesy call of Sweden Ambassador to Manila Annika Thunborg to Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. at the DND headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

Russia Pitches Su-57 ‘Felon’ & Su-75 ‘Checkmate’ To Key Partners; Keen On Co-Production Of Stealth Fighters

08/17/2023

Alexander Mikheyev, the chairman of Rosoboronexport, told TASS on the sidelines of the Army-2023 symposium that Russia is in discussions with several partners about cooperation on its fifth-generation fighter jets, the SU-57E and the Su-75 Checkmate, including their joint development and manufacturing.

Russia risks war with NATO in Black Sea, former top commander in Europe warns

08/17/2023

Moscow risks sparking a direct war with NATO by intercepting ships in international waters and seeking to impose an economic stranglehold on Ukraine, NATO's former Supreme Allied Commander Europe is warning. Ex-U.S. Admiral James Stavridis, who led the alliance's forces on the continent between 2009 and 2013, told POLITICO that escalations at sea — including the boarding of a Turkish ship on Sunday — could force Kyiv's partners to intervene to prevent Ukraine's economy being crippled.

Nearly Invisible! Australia To Make Its F-35 Stealth Fighters Stealthier, Announces $100M Investment

08/16/2023

The Australian government is investing $100 million to establish an aircraft-coating facility at the Royal Australian Air Force base in Williamtown, New South Wales, aiming to keep its fleet of F-35 fighters ‘nearly invisible.’

India, Pakistan 5th-Gen Fighter Jet Race Heats-Up; Will PAF Beat IAF To Acquire Next-Gen Warplanes

08/15/2023

Turkey recently announced it is starting negotiations with Pakistan to make it an official partner in combat aircraft development. The culmination of a series of bungling by the Indian defense establishment and top brass of the Indian Air Force (IAF) over the years has resulted in the force staring at two lost decades of technological advancement.

How F-16s for Ukraine could harm Russia without taking a single shot

08/15/2023

With F-16 fighter jets expected to be provided to Ukraine over the coming months, opinions of their usefulness spans from a gamechanger in the war with Russia to a total waste of resources. But there is one way that these aircraft will harm Russia even if they never shoot down a missile, fighter jet or helicopter: They will cost the Russian Aerospace Forces precious aircraft life.

Fighter jet crashes during Thunder over Michigan air show in Ypsilanti

08/14/2023

A retired Russian fighter jet flying in Yankee Air Museum’s Thunder over Michigan air show at the Willow Run Airport near Ypsilanti crashed just after 4 p.m. Sunday, as thousands of spectators, including children, watched in horror. The two aboard ejected before the jet went down, but the plane burst into a raging fireball when it hit the ground, narrowly missing an apartment building adjacent to Interstate 94 in Van Buren Township and hitting vehicles but not injuring anyone.

Russian Su-30 fighter jet crashes in Russia's Kaliningrad Oblast, crew killed

08/13/2023

A Russian Su-30 two-seat fighter aircraft crashed in Kaliningrad Oblast, the Russian exclave sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania, Russian state news agency TASS reported on Aug. 12, referring to the Western Military District. The aircraft was performing a training flight. The crew was killed in the incident.

These charts show why there may be a spike in Chinese military planes flying over Taiwan's airspace this week

08/12/2023

Over the next few days, as one of Taiwan's most senior politicians touches down in the United States, observers are anticipating that China could take another opportunity to flex its military muscles. China has ratcheted up military and political pressure on its democratically governed neighbour over the last three years, and has repeatedly voiced its opposition to friendly relations between Taiwan and the US.

Indonesia Receives 18 Rafale Combat Jets From Dassault Aviation

08/12/2023

Dassault Aviation delivered 18 Rafale multirole fighter jets to Indonesia as part of a $2.3-billion acquisition program signed in April 2023. The handover supports an effort to replace the Indonesian National Army Air Force’s aging F-5 light combat aircraft. In 2021, France offered the Rafale to sustain the service’s airspace dominance.

Saudi Arabia pushes to join fighter jet project with UK, Italy and Japan

08/12/2023

Saudi Arabia is pushing the UK, Japan and Italy to allow it to become a full partner in the landmark next-generation fighter jet project that the three countries signed in December. The request, confirmed by five senior officials in London, Tokyo and Rome, has already created strains within the tri-national alliance. While the UK and Italy are open to the idea of Saudi membership, Japan is firmly opposed and has made its position clear to the other two.

Russia Boosts Su-57 Fighter Production Rate & Capabilities With A More Powerful Engine In Quest For Increased Air Dominance

08/11/2023

Ahead of Army 2023, Vladimir Artyakov, First Deputy General Director of Rostec, told Izvestia that Russia plans to significantly increase the rate of production of the Su-57, which is currently undergoing operational trials in Ukraine. “We fully fulfill our obligations to the Ministry of Defense. Now the aircraft is undergoing a trial operation in the Russian Aerospace Forces. This year, our cooperation led by UAC plans to significantly increase the pace of production of these aircraft under the

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.