Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Türkiye’s first indigenous supersonic combat aircraft makes maiden flight

04/26/2023

Hurjet, Türkiye's first indigenous supersonic combat aircraft, has made its maiden flight the country’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Twitter. The aircraft is the fruit of an advanced jet trainer and light attack aircraft project that was launched in 2017 by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI).

Sweden continues to strengthen with investment in aerospace industry

04/25/2023

The total defence strategy is defined in Swedish law as the planning and measures required to prepare the country for total war and informs almost every aspect of defence planning. The 2021-25 bill outlines plans to strengthen ‘total defence’ and establish a new agency tasked with reviewing and evaluating all total defence activities to avoid wasteful spending or poor planning.

Retired German general argues Ukraine needs western fighter jets, not just air defense systems.

04/25/2023

Retired German General Erhard Bühler argues that Ukraine requires not only air defense systems, but also Western fighter jets, Bild reports. Bühler, a former commander of NATO forces in Kosovo, criticized the German government for the inadequate equipment provided to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Czech Republic looks to supply Vietnam more aircraft, radars

04/25/2023

Vietnam is in talks with the Czech Republic for military supplies, including aircraft, radars, upgrades of armoured vehicles and firearms, a Czech government source told Reuters, as Hanoi aims to diversify its mostly Russian arsenal. Security was one of the main topics discussed with Vietnam leaders by Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala in a three-day visit last week, the official said, noting that security firms were the largest component of the business delegation that accompanied Fiala.

2,000th U.S. F-35 pilot graduates from Luke AFB

04/25/2023

The 56th Fighter Wing graduated the 2,000th F-35 Lightning II pilot, U.S. Air Force Maj. Christopher “Blade” Jeffers, April 17th, 2023, at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. This milestone marks a step forward for the Airmen at Luke in realizing its mission of training the world's greatest fighter pilots.

Taiwan OKs $419M Jet Repair Deal With US

04/25/2023

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense has approved a 12.84-billion New Taiwan dollar ($419 million) deal with the US to provide maintenance services for the island nation’s fighter aircraft fleet. Around 9.9 billion New Taiwan dollars ($323 million) is allotted for spare parts, while the remaining 2.94 billion New Taiwan dollars ($95.9 million) will be used for nonstandard parts and aviation materials.

China sends 13 military aircraft, 3 naval vessels around Taiwan

04/24/2023

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) tracked 13 Chinese military aircraft and three naval vessels around the country between 6 a.m. on Sunday (April 23) and 6 a.m. on Monday (April 24). At 9 a.m. on Monday, the MND said that 13 People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) military aircraft and three People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels had been tracked around Taiwan. Of the detected aircraft, one entered the southeast section of Taiwan's air defense identification zone (ADIZ).

Germany sends military aircraft to evacuate citizens from Sudan

04/24/2023

Germany has begun to evacuate its citizens from Sudan, authorities said on Sunday. The German Defense Ministry said on Twitter that it started a military evacuation operation, in close coordination with the partners. "Our goal is to fly out as many citizens as possible from Khartoum, during this dangerous situation in Sudan. Within the scope of our possibilities, we will also take EU citizens and other nationals with us,” the ministry said.

Ukraine War: Chinese Fighter Jet ‘Rammed Into’ US Spy Aircraft Over South China Sea; What Really Happened 22 Years Ago

04/24/2023

Of late, Russian and Chinese Air Forces have been engaging in dangerous interceptions with Western aircraft, which could result in accidents similar to the mid-air collision between an American P-3 Orion and a Chinese J-8II interceptor over the South China Sea 22 years ago.

Swedish and Danish air forces in joint action after Russian reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea

04/22/2023

On Thursday 21 April, two Swedish Jas 39 Gripen and two Danish F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets followed a Russian Ilyushin-20 military reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea. It is the first time that a synchronised effort has been carried out in this way. During the entire operation, the Swedish and Danish airlines were under their own national management.On Thursday 21 April, two Swedish Jas 39 Gripen and two Danish F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets followed a Russian Ilyushin-20.

Ukraine War Turns Korea a Major Arms Exporter

04/22/2023

South Korea is on the way to joining the ranks of major arms exporters as Russian aggression in Ukraine triggers a global race for arms acquisition, already triggering an indignant response from Moscow, which has issued a stern warning that supplying arms to Ukraine would make Seoul a participant in the conflict, according to a Reuters dispatch.

The number of aircraft destroyed in Sudan increases

04/22/2023

With fighting between the Sudanese government and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia about to enter its second week, the number of aircraft being destroyed or heavily damaged during the clashes has continued to increase. Khartoum International Airport was at the epicentre of the conflict on April 16, 2023, the first day of fighting. In fact, the situation developed so quickly that a Saudia A330-300 (HZ-AQ30) was hit by gunfire while still on the tarmac preparing to depart.

Allies discuss supplying Ukraine with various types of combat aircraft - Stoltenberg

04/22/2023

NATO allies have already supplied certain types of combat aircraft to Ukraine, such as the Mig-29s provided by Poland, but discussions are underway among NATO allies and their partners to provide Ukraine with other types of aircraft. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said this today in Germany, at the Ramstein military base, before the meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

The next arms race: China leverages AI for edge in future wars

04/21/2023

The U.S. has enjoyed superiority in military technology since the end of the Cold War. But this edge is being rapidly eroded by its main rival, China, which seems determined to become a global leader in technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) that could potentially revolutionize warfare.

Kadena Bids Farewell to the mighty F-15C/D Eagle after 44 Years of Air Superiority in the Indo-Pacific

04/21/2023

In recognition of the US Air Force (USAF) F-15 Eagle’s legacy, the 18th Wing hosted the Kadena Eagle Sunset Celebration, April 14-15. The event gathered F-15 pilots, intelligence professionals, maintainers, families, and others who directly contributed to the success of the F-15C/D the last 44 years.

DECISION TO UPGRADE F-35 ENGINE PROGRAM A WIN FOR AIR FORCE, NAVY, AND ALLIES

04/21/2023

After the world witnessed three days of large-scale combat exercises around Taiwan from China, an area I’ve seen personally during my Navy days, I can say this as a former naval aviator: It was a pleasure to see Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall recently announce that the U.S. Air Force will upgrade the F-35’s current engine rather than switch to an entirely new design — a major win for the Air Force, Navy and our 17 allies and partners.

Blast Rocks Russian City as Fighter Jet Loses Ammunition

04/21/2023

Russia said one of its fighter jets lost ammunition over Belgorod near the Ukrainian border on Thursday, after local authorities reported a blast that injured two people and left a huge crater in the city. Russian jets have regularly flown sorties over Belgorod since the launch of Moscow's offensive in Ukraine in February 2022.

Ukrainian forces repel over 40 Russian attacks in four sectors — General Staff

04/20/2023

Ukraine's defense forces on Wednesday repelled more than 40 enemy attacks in four areas, with the fiercest battles being fought in the cities of Bakhmut and Marinka in the Donetsk region. According to Ukrinform, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said this in an evening update posted to Facebook.

US Air Force, Navy conduct ICBM test aboard nuclear command aircraft

04/20/2023

The U.S. Air Force and Navy on Wednesday morning conducted a test launch of an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile in California using an airborne control center. The weapon, which contained a test reentry vehicle, was controlled from an Airborne Launch Control System in a Navy E-6B Mercury aircraft, the Air Force said in a statement.

Saudi Arabia and NATO learning to work together

04/20/2023

Despite a relationship that has been strained following Saudi Arabia’s involvement in the bloody conflict in Yemen, the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) has continued to exercise with the United States Air Force (USAF) and, more recently, with other NATO air forces. RSAF Typhoon and F-15S Eagle aircrews have participated in eight consecutive Red Flag advanced aerial combat training exercises hosted at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada.

BAE Hawk 200 offered to Uruguayan Air Force to replace its A-37 Dragonfly

04/20/2023

The U.S. based Falcon Air proposed to the Uruguayan Air Force (FAU) the purchase of six BAE Hawk 200 light subsonic fighters and two BAE Hawk 100 advanced trainers for US$110 million. According to the website Defensa.com, Uruguay has received an economically very advantageous offer for the acquisition of eight aircraft of the BAE Hawk family.

Fresno chosen as one of three ‘preferred’ bases in U.S. for new Air Force fighter jets

04/20/2023

The Fresno Air National Guard Base at Fresno Yosemite International Airport has been selected as one of three sites across the U.S. deemed as “preferred locations” to receive some of the U.S. Air Force’s newest fighter jets. The selection of the Fresno base and a naval joint reserve base in Louisiana to be the “beddown” sites for the F-15EX Strike Eagle jets was reported Tuesday night by the Air Force in a statement on its news website.

Egyptian MiG-29s Destroyed In Sudan

04/18/2023

We have a direct follow-up to our recent post on a number of advanced MiG-29s belonging to the Egyptian Air Force that were captured by Sudanese militia forces at Merowe Air Base outside the country's capital of Khartoum. Satellite imagery obtained by The War Zone shows at least one of these aircraft destroyed and it is likely that others are badly damaged or destroyed, as well.

Our First Look At Ukraine’s UH-60 Black Hawk In Action

04/18/2023

Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence directorate says it is making good use of a U.S.-made UH-60A Black Hawk helicopter that it has acquired. The directorate says that the Black Hawk, the only one of its type in the country currently, offers important performance advantages over its Soviet-designed Mi-8 Hip and Mi-24 Hind series helicopters, and it is pushing to get more of them. That a UH-60A was in Ukrainian service first emerged in February.

RAF Typhoons intercept Russian spy plane and two fighter jets flying close to Nato air space

04/18/2023

THE Royal Air Force intercepted a Russian spy plane and two fighter jets flying close to Nato air space. The warplanes were sent packing by RAF and German Typhoons protecting the eastern flank of Nato’s border, near Estonia.