Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Russian Su-27 fighter jets intercept U.S Air Force RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft

11/30/2020

“A Su-27 fighter jet of the Southern Military District’s air defense units on duty was scrambled to identify the air target and to prevent it from violating the state border of the Russian Federation,” the statement says. “The Russian fighter jet crew identified the air target as an RC-135 strategic reconnaissance aircraft of the US Air Force and escorted it over the Black Sea.”

U.S. Army looks to use silent technology for next-generation aircraft

11/30/2020

The U.S. Army has announced that its researchers in cooperation with Uber research lab are working on silent and efficient VTOL, or vertical takeoff and landing operation, for the next generation fleet of Army air vehicles.

Doors Open For More Rafale Fighter Jets, F-18 Super Hornets After Another MiG-29 Goes Down

11/30/2020

Thursday’s crash of the Indian Navy’s MiG-29K trainer aircraft in the Arabian Sea has once again revived the debate whether the country should replace the Russian-made jets with a new carrier-based fighter like the Rafale or the F/A-18 Super Hornet.

Global Power Bomber CTF conducts B-1B external captive carry demonstration

11/30/2020

The B-1B Lancer’s expanded carriage capabilities comes one step closer to fruition following an external captive carry flight over the skies of Edwards Air Force Base, California, Nov. 20. The flight featured a B -1B Lancer assigned to the 412th Test Wing’s 419th Flight Test Squadron, Global Power Combined Test Force, and carried an inert Joint Air-to-Surface. Standoff Missile under an external pylon for the first time. This demonstration may pave the way possibly for the B-1B to carry hyper

Israel to sell surplus F-16s to Canadian company for $100 million

11/30/2020

The Israeli Defense Ministry is in negotiations to sell 29 retired F-16 fighter jets to a Canadian company, Calcalist has learned. The deal is valued at $100 million, and is set to be the largest of its kind ever. The planes are F-16 Hawks of the A/B variety, and had been in the Israeli Air Force’s possession since the 1980s, the last of which was retired from service in 2016.

RAF fighter jets scrambled to intercept Russian military aircraft over North Sea

11/29/2020

The Typhoons were launched from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland after two Russian Tu-142 Bear F planes were detected near UK airspace on Saturday morning. The RAF said the Russian aircraft are used for anti-submarine warfare and maritime patrol - and it is "essential" their movements are "carefully monitored" when operating so close to the UK.

Aircraft carrier sent to Gulf ‘as cover for troops leaving Iraq & Afghanistan’ after killing of Iran nuke scientist

11/29/2020

The 101,600 ton warship arrives in a region on the brink of a new crisis as Tehran accused Israel of assassinating Mohsen Fakhrizadeh. US Navy officials have however insisted the deployment is not related to any "specific threats" in the region. It was also claimed the carrier's arrival is to cover for the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq and Afghanistan.

After $23B Deal With US, Boeing Eyes India & Middle-East As Potential Customers For F-15EX Heavyweight Fighters

11/29/2020

US manufacturer Boeing is likely to export a considerable number of F-15 EX heavyweight fighter jets to countries such as Israel, India, and Qatar. The company had in July entered into a deal with the US Air Force, as part of which Boeing could build as many as more than 200 Boeing F-15 EX aircraft worth approximately $23 billion.

Lockheed Martin delivers next three F-35B aircraft to the U.K.’s Royal Air Force

11/28/2020

In a release Friday, Air Officer Commanding No 1 Group, Royal Air Force, Allan Marshall said the new stealth fighter jets to increases the British fleet to 21 F-35s. “Looking forward to their arrival in the UK over the coming days,” the message added. According to Britain’s Royal Air Force website, the F-35B Lightning combat aircraft currently operates alongside the Typhoon.

Indian BrahMos Goes Global; After Indonesia, Brazil Looks To Arms Its Gripen Jets With Indo-Russian Missile

11/28/2020

The BrahMos-NG is intended to be a mini-version of the existing BrahMos, being lighter and shorter while still having a range of about 300 km. It would be India’s premier air-to-surface missile and would arm most of its fighter fleet which includes the Su-30MKI, LCA Tejas, MiG-29UPG, MiG-29K, and even the Dassault Rafale.

Korean Air to provide service life extension work for USAF F-16 jets

11/28/2020

The US Department of Defense has awarded a KRW290bn ($261.9m) contract to Korean Air for service life extension and depot level maintenance of F-16 fighter jets. Work will be performed on jets that are deployed to the US Forces in Korea and Japan for a ten-year period commencing this month. The programme will involve the highest level of aircraft maintenance, which includes reliability verification of the main parts of the fuselage and wings of the F-16 fighter jets.

Rescue teams search for missing pilot after Indian military aircraft crashes into sea

11/28/2020

The Indian military has launched a huge search for a young pilot who went missing after an air navy plane crashed into the sea. The MiG-29K trainer aircrraft went down while flying over the Arabian Sea at 5pm local time (11.30am GMT) on Thursday. One pilot was rescued but the other remains missing, the navy said on Friday. “One pilot ejected safely. Search by air and surface units is in progress for the second pilot. An inquiry has been ordered to investigate the incident,” added the Indian ar

Why Indian Army Needs To ‘Watch Out’ For Chinese Y-20 Aircraft As PLA Gears-Up For A Potential Battle?

11/27/2020

China’s transport planes will augment their capacity by 20 percent soon with the indigenously-developed WS-20 engine. Military sources have told South China Morning Post that China is testing “domestically designed engines for its military transport planes”.

Italian Air Force F-35A and F-35B Fly In “Beast Mode” For The Very First Time

11/27/2020

The Aeronautica Militare (Italian Air Force) has just released two shots showing an F-35A and an F-35B, both assigned to the 32° Stormo (Wing) and operated by the 13° Gruppo (Squadron), the first Italian unit to fly the F-35 since December 2016, flying a training mission in “Beast Mode”, with internal and external weapons for the very first time.

Luke AFB enters Spark Tank 2021 with ‘Next-Gen Debrief’

11/27/2020

Luke Airmen working with an Arizona State University student have developed a 3D augmented reality system that will revolutionize the way pilots conduct mission debriefs and will represent the Air Education and Training Command at Spark Tank 2021.

Aboard USS Ford: More Weapons, More Launches, Faster & Safer

11/26/2020

When our aging C-2 Greyhound aircraft took off from the USS Gerald R. Ford the experience was clearly different. Propelled by the electro-magnetic system that has replaced steam catapults it was much smoother and much quicker. The new launch and landing systems provide key tools for a significant reshaping of the operational tempo for the large deck carrier.

Switzerland offered F-35 final assembly as fighter responses enter evaluation

11/25/2020

The US government has offered Switzerland the option to locally assemble four Lockheed Martin F-35As as part of a potentially 40-aircraft acquisition by the Alpine nation. Switzerland’s Armasuisse procurement agency on 18 November received responses to its second Air2030 request for proposals on behalf of four bidders for its new fighter aircraft requirement.

Chinese anti-submarine military aircraft enters Taiwan ADIZ

11/24/2020

A Chinese military plane intruded on Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on Sunday (Nov. 22), marking the 16th such intrusion in November. One People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) Shaanxi Y-8 anti-submarine aircraft entered the southwest corner of the ADIZ, according to Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND). Taiwan in response scrambled fighter jets, broadcast radio warnings, and deployed air defense missile systems to track the Chinese plane.

BAF air defence exercise ADEX 2020-3 held

11/24/2020

Air Defence Exercise "ADEX 2020-3" of Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) was held in Dhaka, Chittagong, Jessore, Cox’s Bazar, Tangail and Barisal on Monday. The aim of this exercise is to assess and evaluate the efficiency and capability of BAF Air Defence and identify the weaknesses and draw lessons for further improvement in the air defence system.

India to begin flight trials of Astra BVRAAM on Tejas

11/24/2020

India is set to begin flight trials of its Astra beyond visual range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) on fighter aircraft Tejas. A source was cited by The Times of India as saying that Astra missile on Tejas has virtually completed ‘initial ground trials’. The source was quoted as saying: “The flight trials of the indigenous missile on the indigenous fighter will begin within the next few months.”

China's Y-20 strategic transport aircraft gets key indigenous engine: reports

11/23/2020

China's Y-20 strategic transport aircraft is finally getting its long-awaited domestically developed engines, which recently made their first public appearance, multiple media reports speculated recently. The new engines are expected to boost the Y-20's key performances including range and cargo capacity, in addition to reducing reliance on imported engines, experts said on Sunday.

Japan says farewell to its ‘Phantastic Phantom’ fighters

11/23/2020

There is an old joke, about the F-4 Phantom fighter jet — an aircraft that was prominent during the Vietnam war. So the story goes, they asked a fighter pilot, what it was like to fly an F-4. He began by saying, “Well, with enough thrust, anything can fly …” The Phantom has been called “double ugly,” “rhino,” “old smokey,” and monikers even less flattering, according to Air & Space.

At sea with USS Ford as they get the last kinks out

11/23/2020

Up in the island superstructure of USS Gerald R. Ford, the Navy’s newest carrier, work at sea feels much the same as ever for Petty Office 1st Class Scott Torres, an air traffic controller, and Lt. Cmdr. Tyler Dunn, an officer of the deck when he is standing watch on the bridge.

U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress Bombers Conduct Short-Notice Long-Range Deterrence Mission Into Middle East

11/22/2020

U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress strategic bombers from Minot Air Force Base have conducted a surprise, round-trip to the Persian Gulf area “to deter aggression and reassure U.S. partners and allies”.

F-16s Falling Apart: Why The Middle-Eastern Nation’s F-16 Fighter Jets Have Been A Complete Catastrophe?

11/22/2020

Iraqi Air Force (IQAF) pilots have claimed that their country’s whopping $4.3 billion F-16 fighter jet deal signed with United States aerospace juggernaut Lockheed Martin has been falling apart almost a decade after completion.