Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Turkish fighter jet KAAN to soar with indigenous engine in 2028

07/27/2023

Türkiye's indigenous fighter jet, KAAN, is planned to fly with a Turkish engine in 2028, the general manager of Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) said. Speaking at the 16th International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) on Wednesday, Temel Kotil said KAAN is currently flying with F110 engine, adding that studies for KAAN’s upgrade are continuing.

Saudi fighter jet crashes, killing all members of crew

07/27/2023

A Saudi Arabian fighter jet F-15SA crashed during a training mission in Khamis Mushait, killing all members of crew onboard, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported Wednesday citing the official spokesman for the Ministry of Defense Brigadier General Turki al-Maliki.

Viper News Update: Confusion and Frustration Over F-16 Pilot-Training Timeline

07/26/2023

F-16 pilot training in Denmark is slated to start at Denmark’s Skrydstrup Fighter Wing in August. But other preparations for the fighters still need to be ironed out. As a result, Ukrainian Air Force fighter pilots and politicians have been dealing with frustration over the ambiguity and seeming lack of coordination with regard to promises of F-16s. Estimates of when F-16s will be flying combat missions defending Ukraine ranges from months to over a year.

Four Italian Air Force F-35 Stealth Aircraft Are Deploying To Japan For The First Time Next Week

07/26/2023

A small but well-assorted contingent of assets from the Aeronautica Militare (Italian Air Force) will deploy to Japan early next month to take part in joint training with the JASDF (Japan Air Self-Defense Force). Four F-35As with the 32° Stormo (Wing) from Amendola Air Base and 6° Stormo from Ghedi Air Base, accompanied by three KC-767 tankers and one G550 CAEW (Conformal Airborne Early Warning) aircraft of the 14th Wing from Pratica di Mare, and a C-130J from the 46^ Brigata Aerea (Air Brigade)

Poland pushes ahead with $58M early warning aircraft purchase: Saab

07/26/2023

Poland has formally issued a contract to buy two 340 Airborne Early Warning aircraft from Swedish manufacturer Saab, the company said today, in a deal worth approximately SEK 600 million ($58 million USD). Saab said the planes will be equipped with its Erieye radar, and also includes ground equipment “as well as in-country logistics and support.”

Russian fighter jet damages US Reaper drone with flare over Syria: Officials

07/26/2023

A Russian fighter jet fired flares directly at an American MQ-9 Reaper drone over Syria on Sunday, damaging its propeller, U.S. Air Forces Central announced Tuesday - the latest in a string of what military officials have denounced as risky and provocative behavior. The drone was on a counter-terrorism mission against the Islamic State group, according to the Air Force.

AMC's largest global exercise proves success in Indo-Pacific theater

07/25/2023

Air Mobility Command concluded exercise Mobility Guardian 23, the largest iteration of the Air Force’s premier multinational mobility exercise to date, July 21. The debut of the exercise in the Indo-Pacific saw 70 mobility aircraft with more than 3,000 service members from Australia, Canada, France, Japan, New Zealand, the U.K. and the U.S. surge across an exercise area spanning 13 million square miles.

The story of the AIM-9 Sidewinder that Failed to Detonate, Got Embedded in a MiG-17 and was Reverse-Engineered into the Soviet AA-2 Atoll

07/25/2023

The MiG-17 made a safe landing, the Sidewinder was extracted and the Communists promptly rushed it to the USSR, where the AIM-9 was carefully taken apart and then reverse-engineered, bit by bit. The AIM-9 Sidewinder is a supersonic, heat-seeking, air-to-air missile carried by fighter aircraft. It has a high-explosive warhead and an infrared heat-seeking guidance system. The Sidewinder was developed by the US Navy for fleet air defense and was adapted by the US Air Force for fighter aircraft use

Why F-16 ‘fighter coalition’ taking off matters for Ukraine

07/25/2023

As Ukraine’s heroic defence against Russian invasion reaches the 18-month mark, Kyiv has at last received a boost in its conflict-long quest to acquire Western combat aircraft. NATO’s annual summit in Vilnius, Lithuania was the venue for an 11-nation “fighter coalition” to join forces and pledge to train Ukrainian air force personnel to fly and maintain the Lockheed Martin F-16.

Russia’s S-70 Stealth Attack Drone Accompanied By MiG-29 Fighter Jet Spotted Flying In A Formation

07/24/2023

Amid speculations that Russia may have started operating its S-70 Okhotnik heavy-strike stealth drone against Ukraine, a MiG-29 fighter plane and the Russian S-70 Okhotnik (‘Hunter’) attack drone were sighted flying in a formation at an unknown location.

Turkey suffers huge setback by erasing decades of work and experience in combat pilot training

07/24/2023

A serious shortage of Turkey’s air force pilots, aggravated by a mass purge of military aviators by the government on fabricated charges in 2016, continues to hamper the air force’s ability to operate F-16 and F-4 fighter jets. This acute problem presents even more challenges to NATO’s second-largest army than the already stymied modernization efforts for the ailing aircraft fleet amid troubled talks with the US on upgrades and new orders.

Iran Begins Military Drill as US Sends More Fighter Planes to Region

07/24/2023

Iran on Sunday began an annual air force drill in the central part of the country, state media reported, as the United States sends more fighter planes to the region to deter the Islamic Republic from seizing commercial vessels in the Persian Gulf area. The official IRNA news agency said 11 Iranian air force bases participated in the drill, dubbed Fadaeian Velyat-11, or Devotees of the Supreme Leader-11. It said an air base at the southern port of Bandar Abbas at the mouth of the strategic Strai

The Ukrainians are begging Western countries for F-16s, but they've also got their eyes on an often overlooked Swedish jet

07/24/2023

Neither Russia nor Ukraine has been able to dominate the skies during their 16-month war, but Russia's aircraft have a technological edge and numerical superiority. To better fight the air war and support its ground forces, Ukraine has repeatedly asked Western countries for F-16 fighter jets, and those countries are moving toward supplying them.

Inspired by Ukraine war, Taiwan launches drone blitz to counter China

07/23/2023

In the summer of 2022, just months after Russia invaded Ukraine, Taiwan’s president gathered senior officials from her ruling party in downtown Taipei. On the agenda: How was Ukraine, in its war with Russia, successfully offsetting the advantages of a much more powerful foe? President Tsai Ing-wen was given an internal 77-page briefing report via PowerPoint. It had a clear answer: drones.

PH-U.S. joint military aviation support activity exercise concludes

07/23/2023

The Marine Aviation Support Activity 2023 (MASA 23), a joint training program between the Philippine Marine Corps and the United States Marine Corps, concluded after 15 days of rigorous training and cooperation in Palawan.

China sends 37 military aircraft, 7 naval vessels around Taiwan

07/23/2023

Chinese military aircraft and seven naval vessels were tracked by Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence (MND) between Friday and Saturday, according to Taiwan News. The Chinese military aircraft and naval vessels were tracked from 6 am on Friday, July 21 to 6 a.m. on Saturday, July 22.

F-16 With Three Air-to-Air Kills Flying Missions to Deter Iran

07/22/2023

There was something different about one of the U.S. fighters that flew over the Strait of Hormuz this past week to deter Iran from seizing oil tankers. Three green stars are plainly visible on an F-16, tail 2137, in newly released Department of Defense photos of the aircraft over the Strait and at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates. The F-16 is forward deployed to CENTCOM from Aviano Air Base, Italy, as part of the 555th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron.

With live field experimentation, Poland shapes its future force

07/22/2023

Poland has been growing its military and investing heavily in new systems at an unprecedented rate since the start of the Ukraine invasion. Among the splashy orders were Abrams tanks, Apache combat helicopters and HIMARS rocket launchers from the United States, South Korean-made K2 tanks, Chunmoo rocket launchers, K9 self-propelled howitzers and FA-50 combat aircraft, and at least two Swedish early warning aircraft to complement additional tethered warning systems.

Iran-Russia Su-35 Flanker-E Fighter Jet Deal “Collapses”, Tehran Could Go Indigenous – Iranian Media

07/22/2023

In what could be bad news for Iran, there are speculative reports that the much-awaited Su-35 Flanker-E fighter jets that the country was set to receive from Russia might never be delivered.

China sends 25 military aircraft around Taiwan on Friday morning

07/22/2023

The Ministry of National Defense (MND) said Friday morning (July 21) that it had detected an additional 25 Chinese military aircraft and four Chinese naval vessels around Taiwan since its report earlier the same day.

Super FAST! Two FA-50 Fighter Aircraft Delivered To Poland By South Korean KAI In Record Time

07/22/2023

Just over ten months after Poland signed an agreement for the FA-50 with emerging Asian defense giant Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), the first two aircraft have already been handed over to Polish authorities. They will be given to the Polish Air Force (PAF) next month.

Elephant Walk Near Dragons Den! US, Five Military Allies Display ‘Raw Power’ At Military Base Near China

07/21/2023

The US and its five allied military forces recently staged an impressive “elephant walk” at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam, displaying a diverse fleet of military aircraft, including frontline fighter jets, transport planes, aerial tankers, and bombers. The images of the elephant walk were released by the Pacific Air Force (PACAF), featuring US and Allied aircraft at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, on July 19, 2023.

Draken International is likely to train Ukrainian F-16 pilots in Romania

07/21/2023

Private military company Draken International, which trains pilots for the US Air Force, has begun hiring instructors with flight experience on F-16 fighters in Romania. This is probably related to the training of Ukrainian pilots. This is reported by Militarnyi.

China sends 22 military aircraft around Taiwan on Thursday morning

07/21/2023

The Ministry of National Defense (MND) said early Thursday morning (July 20) that it had detected an additional 22 Chinese military aircraft and seven Chinese naval vessels around Taiwan since its report earlier the same day.

1st Deal For India? Argentina To Sign Letter Of Intent To Acquire 20 Light Combat Helicopter ‘Prachand’ – Argentine Media

07/20/2023

The deal to sell Light Combat Aircraft ‘Tejas’ (Brilliance) to Argentina is stuck over the British part in the fighter jet. But during the ongoing visit of the Argentinian defense minister Jorge Taiana is expected to sign a letter of intent for purchasing 20 Light Combat Helicopters ‘Prachand’ (Fierce).