Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

British Typhoon Fighter Downed A Drone Over Syria For Its First Air-To-Air Kill

12/17/2021

The U.K. Ministry of Defense has confirmed that a Royal Air Force (RAF) Typhoon FGR4 fighter jet shot down a hostile drone over Syria earlier this week, in what is the first confirmed air-to-air engagement for this type in British service. The event was also the first time that the RAF has fired an air-to-air missile during Operation Shader, the British contribution to the U.S.-led campaign against ISIS in the Middle East.

Lockheed to Offer ‘Competitive Pricing’ on T-50-Derived Advanced Fighter Trainer

12/17/2021

Lockheed Martin will offer a variant of its T-50A in the competition to build the Air Force’s new tactical fighter trainer rather than a clean-sheet design, the company said Dec. 14, insisting it will achieve “competitive pricing” with the aircraft. The jet was second in the T-X competition that Boeing won with a fresh design three years ago.

Utah Air National Guard Selected as the KC-135 Test Detachment for the Air National Guard Air Force Reserve Command Test Center

12/16/2021

On November 2nd, 2021, Lt. Gen. Michael Loh, director of the Air National Guard, announced the selection of the Utah Air National Guard’s 151st Air Refueling Wing as the KC-135 Test Detachment for the Air National Guard (ANG) and Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) Test Center (AATC). This announcement officially formalizes an arrangement between the Utah Air National Guard and AATC to continue providing operational test capabilities to the KC-135 community.

Air Force Wants Combat Drones Controlled by Piloted Aircraft

12/16/2021

The U.S. Air Force wants to soon add to its arsenal remotely piloted air combat vehicles that may be networked and controlled by piloted aircraft, according to the service’s top official. The news comes days after USAF Secretary Frank Kendall also confirmed that the Air Force will ask for funding for two classified remotely piloted air combat vehicles in the next defense budget, according to reports.

UAE suspends discussions for purchase of U.S. F-35 fighter jets

12/15/2021

The United Arab Emirates on Tuesday announced it was suspending discussions with the United States over the purchase of the F-35 Lightning II fighter jet. A UAE official told CNN the country made the decision after "technical requirements, sovereign operational restrictions and cost/benefit analysis led to the re-assessment."

What If The Advanced Tactical Trainer The USAF Says It Wants Already Exists As A Fighter?

12/15/2021

The U.S. Air Force says it wants a more realistic, cost effective way to transition advanced student pilots to the 5th generation strike fighter aircraft it envisions filling its fleet with. It’s looking at modified trainer-based platforms to meet that goal but what if a ready-made option already in exists in the form of Sweden’s oft-shunned Gripen?

Latest AMRAAM Air-To-Air Missile Aims To Keep Pace With China

12/14/2021

The venerable AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile, or AMRAAM, which got its first kill back in 1992, is set to get another major boost in capability. Although the U.S. military has a designated successor now in the works, the West’s most popular radar-guided air-to-air missile is about to be fielded in a new iteration, known as F3R.

Romania wants to acquire 32 second-hand F-16 for US$ 514 million

12/14/2021

The aircraft would come from Norway, which is replacing its current fleet of F-16 with F-35 Lightning IIs. Draken recently took delivery of a dozen of these fighters, and Romania intends to acquire the remainder. According to the Romanian media Digi24, of the 454 million euros (USS 514 million approx.) that the operation would cost, 354 are for the purchase of the F-16s and 100 million are for the logistics support package and modernization work.

Alaska-based F-35As are employing Air Force’s agile combat strategy in Japan

12/14/2021

A group of Air Force fifth-generation fighter jets from Alaska are in Japan to train alongside Marine Corps and Japanese aircraft and demonstrate their ability to disperse and fight far from home. F-35A Lightning IIs from Eielson Air Force Base’s 354th Fighter Wing arrived at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni on Dec. 3 for Operation Iron Dagger, according to a Thursday news release from Pacific Air Forces.

As evacuations from Afghanistan slow to a trickle, some ‘at risk’ allies may face long road to the United States

12/13/2021

When desperate Afghans fought their way into Kabul’s international airport during the last two weeks of August, most of those lucky enough to get past Taliban checkpoints, the crush of their panicked compatriots, and U.S. military and diplomatic gatekeepers found a spot on a departing airplane.

The first six Rafale jets of the Hellenic Air Force arrive in Greece on January 19

12/13/2021

Rafale is a twin-jet combat aircraft capable of carrying out a wide range of short and long-range missions, including ground and sea attacks. Rafale is a twin-jet combat aircraft manufactured by Dassault Aviation and is capable of carrying out a wide range of short and long-range missions. It can be used to perform ground and sea attacks, reconnaissance, high-accuracy strikes and nuclear strike deterrence.

F-35s Could Get New Engines As Soon As 2027

12/12/2021

Congress could be able to require the U.S. military to prepare a pair of studies about what it would take to put new engines into current and future F-35 stealth jets later in this decade. There is an entirely new powerplant under development under the Adaptive Engine Transition Program, or AETP, with multiple prototypes being tested already. The hope is that the AETP engine or some other alternative would bring a significant performance boost to all three variants of the F-35s.

Ukraine Says it Can Deter a Russian Invasion With Air Defenses; NATO Calls for ‘Adjustments’

12/11/2021

NATO members closest to the Russian threat are seeking “adjustments” to the alliance’s defense posture to show Russian President Vladimir Putin that America will defend NATO’s eastern flank in the event of hostilities in Ukraine. Meanwhile, a Ukrainian defense official who spoke to Air Force Magazine on condition of anonymity said “a signal” that the U.S. will deliver needed air defenses to Ukraine would be enough to deter Russia from mounting an invasion.

Boeing (BA) Wins $367M Deal to Modify F/A-18 Fighter Jets

12/11/2021

The Boeing Company recently won a modification contract to extend the service life of up to 32 F/A-18 Super Hornet aircraft. The deal has been awarded by the Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, MD. Valued at $366.5 million, the contract is scheduled to be completed by May 2024. The majority of work related to this deal will be executed in San Antonio, TX.

Finland Picks Lockheed Martin F-35A in $11 Billion Defense Deal

12/11/2021

Finland has agreed to buy 64 Lockheed Martin fighter jets to replace its aging fleet of combat planes in a 10 billion-euro ($11.3 billion) deal that represents the Finnish military's largest ever purchase, the government said Friday. The Nordic country picked the U.S. company's F-35A fighters from among five contenders, which also included the Boeing F-18 Super Hornet, France's Dassault Rafale, Britain's Eurofighter Typhoon and Sweden's Saab Gripen.

Tata, Lockheed Martin to Build F-21 Fighter Wings in India

12/10/2021

Lockheed Martin has established a joint venture with Tata Advanced Systems to manufacture F-21 fighter wings at a production facility in India. The partnership comes after Tata manufactured parts for a fighter aircraft wing prototype to support a campaign to sell 114 F-21 fighters to the Indian Air Force.

What Are U.S. Air Force’s Two New Classified Aircraft Programs? Their Link With B-21 Is A Big Clue.

12/10/2021

Speaking to POLITICO at the Reagan National Defense Forum, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall revealed the existence of two new classified drone programs on Saturday, both built for combat rather than intelligence-gathering.

Defense Authorization Conference Bill Allows 159 USAF Plane Retirements

12/09/2021

The fiscal 2022 defense authorization conference bill largely accedes to the U.S. Air Force request to retire 201 aircraft with some conditions and a prohibition on retiring A-10 Warthog close air support planes.

9 Chinese military aircraft enter Taiwan’s ADIZ

12/08/2021

Nine Chinese military planes entered Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on Tuesday (Dec. 7), marking the sixth intrusion this month. Six People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) Chengdu J-10 fighter planes, two Shenyang J-16 fighter jets, and one Shaanxi Y-8 electronic warfare plane entered different areas within the southwestern corner of Taiwan’s ADIZ, according to the Ministry of National Defense (MND).

Air Force Demos Reaper Operations in Pacific Flights with Non-Expert Troops, Limited Gear

12/08/2021

The Air Force demonstrated that it can operate the remotely-piloted MQ-9 Reaper over long-range flights in the Pacific using limited ground support gear and non-specialist ground personnel. The demonstration provided a boost for the service’s agile combat employment concept, it said Dec. 7.

SAAF Gripens grounded

12/08/2021

The South African Air Force’s (SAAF’s) Gripen fleet is temporarily grounded, with no aircraft serviceable, due to a lack of funding and maintenance and support contracts not being renewed in time, but it is likely that the Gripens will be flying again in the new year.

RAAF should be planning the next loyal wingman

12/08/2021

A recent test flight of Boeing Australia’s Airpower Teaming System, the second such flight in the ‘Loyal Wingman’ program, which currently has two test aircraft, saw the first aircraft retract its undercarriage for the first time and the second aircraft take its first flight. A total of six have been ordered, with three to be acquired by the end of 2021.

Delivery of Turkish drones to Ukraine continue as planned: Official

12/07/2021

Turkey has been delivering Turkish Bayraktar drones to Ukraine as scheduled according to the requirements of the deal and new delivery has nothing to do with the objection of Russia, the country’s top defense official said on Dec. 4.

USAF approves KC-46A Pegasus to refuel a wider range of aircraft

12/07/2021

The U.S. Air Force Air Mobility Command approved the operation of KC-46A Pegasus to refuel AC-130J Ghostrider, HC-130J Combat King II, MC-130J Commando II, C-5M Super Galaxy and E-3G Sentry. Following this qualification, the KC-46 can now refuel nearly 70% of the receiving aircraft requiring in-flight refueling. Work is also underway to certify the Pegasus to refuel Air Force One.

Air Force’s new goal? Get rid of planes that don’t scare China

12/06/2021

Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said the service urgently needs to retire outdated air frames so it can focus on developing modern aircraft to counter a rapidly modernizing Chinese military. During a panel here Saturday at the Reagan National Defense Forum, Kendall mentioned MQ-9 Reapers, some C-130s, older tankers and the A-10 Warthog as examples of aging aircraft that will struggle in a conflict with China.