Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Russia Says Five Nations Vying To Acquire Su-57 Stealth Fighter Jets

06/02/2021

Around five countries, including those located in Southeast Asia, are considering the purchase of Russia’s new fifth-generation Su-57 fighter, Rosoboronexport Director General Alexander Mikheev said on Tuesday. “We conduct negotiations with several countries, there are requests, and we see interest … [including from] the Southeast Asia … Four or five countries are interested,” Mikheev told reporters.

Air Force Proposes Cutting Most A-10s From Davis-Monthan

06/02/2021

The Air Force is planning to retire most of the A-10 "Warthog" ground-attack jets stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force base by next fall, under a plan unveiled as part of the Biden administration's proposed $715 billon defense budget. But seven members of Arizona's congressional delegation have vowed to fight this latest Air Force plan to start retiring the A-10 Thunderbolt II jets — a mainstay of operations at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.

Chinese Air Force Fly 16 Aircraft Through Malaysian Airspace in Large-Scale Exercise

06/02/2021

Sixteen aircraft from the People’s Liberation Army Air Force conducted a large-scale transport formation exercise over the South China Sea near Borneo on Monday and entered the airspace of Malaysia’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) said in a statement today.

Brazil To Cut KC-390 Airlifter Order

06/01/2021

The Força Aérea Brasileira (FAB, Brazilian air force) is reducing its order for the Embraer KC-390 airlifter. The decision, which was revealed in a notification on May 26, is driven by budgetary constraints that have arisen as a result of the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Brazil has been one of the hardest-hit nations by the health crisis, and the cost has caused “direct limitations on the strategic projects of the armed forces” according to the notification.

M-346 In Exotic Color Scheme For Undisclosed Export Customer Breaks Cover

06/01/2021

A pretty interesting M-346 “Master” sporting a camouflage paint scheme quite close to the one used by the combat aircraft of the Turkmen or the Azerbaijani Air Force was spotted at Venegono airport, in northwestern Italy, after its first flight, by photographer Oscar Bernardi, on May 28, 2021. The aircraft was reportedly involved in the very first flight in the new livery.

Largest Checkered Flag exercise wraps up at Tyndall AFB

06/01/2021

The largest Checkered Flag exercise held to date wrapped up at Tyndall Air Force Base, May 21. Checkered Flag, one of the Department of Defense’s largest air-to-air exercises, is a two-week long, large-scale aerial exercise designed to integrate fourth and fifth-generation airframes to enhance mobility, deployment, and employment capabilities of aviators and maintainers.

As Russia tensions simmer, NATO conducts massive war games

05/31/2021

As tensions with Russia simmer, thousands of NATO troops, several warships and dozens of aircraft are taking part in military exercises stretching across the Atlantic, through Europe and into the Black Sea region.

Aerial refueling capabilities could boost Taiwan's regional air superiority

05/31/2021

The Ministry of National Defenses’ Institute of National Defense and Strategic Research (INDSR) said that aerial refueling aircraft for Taiwan’s F-16 fleet would help the nation maintain air superiority in its air defense identification zone (ADIZ). Chen Liang-chi, an associate researcher INDSR, on Thursday (May 27) published a short analysis of the strategic significance of aerial refueling aircraft in Taiwan's air defense.

Not J-20 Fighters, But This Chinese Jet Could Pose The Biggest Threat To The Indian Air Force?

05/31/2021

The two Asian neighbors have been locked in a protracted border standoff in the Ladakh region, with reports of the Chinese PLA amassing advanced weapons on the Tibetan plateau emerging on a regular basis. With an uncanny similarity to America’s stealth F-35 Lightning II fighter jet, the FC-31 ‘Gyrfalcon’ is a twin-engine mid-size fifth-generation aircraft being developed by Shenyang, a state-owned aircraft manufacturer.

Indian Navy’s First Indigenous Aircraft Carrier Vikrant Catching Up To China

05/31/2021

The Chinese Navy is rapidly expanding its aircraft carrier fleet, with two in service and at least one more under construction. And while still new to the game, their experience of operating carriers is growing all the time. Regional rival India has a much longer tradition of carrier aviation, but fewer and smaller carriers. The first indigenous aircraft carrier, Vikrant, could keep India competitive however.

Another Soviet-Era MiG-21 Fighter Jet Crashes But This Time In Benghazi, Libya

05/30/2021

On Friday, LNA spokesman Ahmed al-Mismari said that the planned parade on a military base of Benin in Benghazi would be the largest military parade in the history of Libya. Later, the crash was confirmed by LNA spokesman Khalifa al-Obeidi who expressed grief over the death of Jamal ibn Amer via Facebook.

Russian Tu-22M3 Bombers Perform Flights Above Eastern Mediterranean

05/30/2021

“The pilots practiced fulfilling tasks in new geographical areas,” the press office said. The aircraft of this type have been deployed at the Hmeymim airfield for the first time, which has become possible as a result of the upgrade of the second runway with the complete replacement of the runway’s surface and the installation of new lighting navigational and radio equipment.

Navy Will Get Air Force F-16 Fighter Jets to Fill Super Hornet Gap

05/29/2021

The U.S. Navy is preparing to receive F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets from the Air Force as it moves to rid its inventory of legacy F/A-18 Hornet models used in its Reserve fleets, according to its fiscal 2022 budget request. The Navy will shelve roughly 55 aircraft over the next year, the documents state, in hopes of transitioning to the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. But to make sure it has enough fighters available amid the conversion, it expects the Air Force to transfer some F-16s to it.

Russia Deploys Military Fighter Aircraft to Libya, Africom Officials Say

05/29/2021

Russia recently deployed military fighter aircraft to Libya to support Russian state-sponsored private military contractors, or PMCs, operating on the ground there, U.S. Africa Command officials said.

Withdrawing from Afghanistan is hindering U.S. military readiness. That proves why it’s the right move.

05/29/2021

The deployment of one aircraft carrier is not usually big news. The deployment of the USS Ronald Reagan to support the withdrawal of forces from Afghanistan, however, highlights the massive gap between U.S. global commitments and U.S. military power.

The US Air Force wants to get rid of over 200 aircraft — here's what it wants to send to the boneyard

05/29/2021

The US Air Force wants to mothball over 200 aircraft in the coming year to free up funds for new technology and weapons, according to the service's fiscal year 2022 budget request. The Department of the Air Force's latest budget request asks for $173.7 billion, which includes an increase in research, development, test, and evaluation funding but a decrease in funds for procurement.

Croatia Selects Rafale for Fighter Requirement

05/29/2021

Croatia’s government has selected the Dassault Rafale to fulfill its long-standing requirement for a multi-role fighter to replace its aging MiG-21s. Although local media had reported the selection a few days earlier, the decision was officially confirmed in an announcement made on May 28, the 30th anniversary of the formation of the Croatian National Guard.

3 more Rafale jets land in India from France

05/28/2021

Another batch of three Rafale fighter jets landed at the Ambala airbase on Thursday, taking the total number of Rafales in the Indian Air Force (IAF) inventory to 23. According to people aware of the development in Dassault, four aircraft were supposed to take off from Merignac-Bordeaux airbase in France on May 20, but only three could because of the unavailability of more mid-air refuellers in the UAE.

France Completes Maiden Trial of Rafale F4-1 Aircraft

05/27/2021

Two F4-1 Rafale aircraft test flew for the first time last month as part of the “readiness for use review campaign” in France’s Istres, the Directorate General for Armaments (DGA) revealed in a statement. The fleet of eight Rafales, two Mirage 2000s, and two Alphajets performed eight “complex missions ” representing 50 sorties, the French Defense Procurement and Technology Agency stated.

Assassin Into Warrior: How U.S. Is Upgrading Reaper Drones For Confrontation With China

05/27/2021

The MQ-9 Reaper has become the signature weapon of the war against terror, an eye in the sky able to scrutinize targets on the ground for extended periods before delivering laser-guided precision strikes. As a combat aircraft though, it lacks speed and maneuverability and the ability to survive against modern air defenses. Rather than retiring the drones though, the U.S. military is intent on upgrading its Reapers from assassins to warriors capable of taking on near-peer opponents.

Is the Air Force Retiring Some F-35 Fighter Jets Already?

05/27/2021

While the Air Force’s latest F-35 stealth fighter jets are deadly, early-model F-35s wouldn’t stand a chance against a near-peer rival. The Air Force may start to retire their oldest F-35A airfares in favor of newer, more advanced builds of the same airframe, a senior Air Force official suggested in a recent interview.

Russia develops new single-engine fighter aircraft

05/27/2021

According to TASS, Russian state aerospace company Sukhoi is now developing new light tactical fighter aircraft. “The Sukhoi company is developing a single-engine light tactical plane with the takeoff weight of up to 18 tonnes. The plane’s maximum speed will be above 2 Mach. It will also have super-maneuverability and improved takeoff and landing performance, thanks to a thrust vector control engine. The plane’s thrust-to-weight ratio will be above 1,” news agency reported, citing an industry so

Russian Tu-22M3 Backfire Bombers Appear Over Syria And They Could Be There To Stay (Updated)

05/26/2021

The emergence of photos and videos of Russian Tu-22M3 Backfire-C bombers apparently taken in Syria’s coastal Latakia province suggests that the aircraft are now operating, for the first time, from Moscow’s Khmeimim airbase outpost in that country. Earlier this year, The War Zone examined runway extension work at the base which would help accommodate the big swing-wing bombers, and you can read more about that here.

Brown on Future Combat: ‘I Can’t Predict the Future, But I Can Shape It’

05/26/2021

The defense budget coming out May 28 will contain few big surprises. Plans to retire some older planes have already been reported, and the longer-range plans typically surfacing at budget time—known as the Future Years Defense Plan, or FYDP—are still being debated. But inklings of the service’s direction will be sprinkled throughout, all of them designed to maximize options going forward.

Saab to upgrade radar warning equipment on Tornado aircraft

05/26/2021

Saab has secured a contract to upgrade radar warning equipment on the Tornado multi-Role combat aircraft operated by the German Air Force. Saab secured the $48m (Skr400m) task order from German company Panavia Aircraft. The Tornado multirole aircraft is operational in five different forms, including the Tornado GR 1 interdictor strike aircraft for close air support.