MiG-21/F-7 Fishbed
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Libyan National Army Continues to Receive Support From Egypt, UAE
More evidence has emerged showing that the Libyan National Army (LNA) continues to receive aircraft and armoured vehicles from Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The LNA is a coalition of military units and allied militias that is fighting on behalf of the Tobruk-based government against Islamist militants and the Libya Dawn coalition that […]
Iran Develops Training Plan for Overhaul of F-7 Fighter Jets
Iran’s Air Force has developed a course using computer software to train its personnel in jet engine repair skills and the overhaul of the F-7 fighter aircraft. According to the Air Force, the training plan relies both on the skills of the experienced staffers who have received training from the fighter jet’s manufacturer and on […]
Saudi Airstrikes Cripple Air Force in Yemen
Saudi warplanes struck military bases that had been seized by Houthi rebels in Yemen, crippling the air force in a U.S.-backed campaign that has led to fears of a proxy war among the Middle East’s big powers. As weekend airstrikes blunted their expansion into southern Yemen, the Iranian-backed rebels suffered a political setback: Their most […]
Iran Test-Fires New Missile on F7 Fighter Jet
The Iranian Air Force test-fired a new home-made missile mounted on an overhauled F7 fighter jet, a senior commander announced on Saturday. “When we bought the F7 fighters, they suffered operational and tactical weaknesses and now our experts have removed these weaknesses by the help of their experiences in (overhauling) other fighters,” Commander of Air […]
JF-17 Presses On After News of Egypt’s Plans
News that Egypt may acquire the UAE’s Mirage fighters is likely to scupper Pakistan’s hopes of selling the JF-17, especially since Cairo is also reportedly negotiating for 20 Rafale fighters, and shown interest in the MiG-35. However, brisk development of the JF-17 continues alongside sales efforts. Kaiser Tufail, former Pakistani air commodore, said the UAE’s […]
Libyan Air Force Claims to Have Opened Western Campaign
The Libyan Air Force appears to have carried out its first airstrikes in the west of the country, increasing pressure on the groups that control Tripoli. The remnants of the Ghadaffi-era air force are loyal to former general Khalifah Haftar, who is leading an alliance of military units and militias against the rival Libya Dawn […]
Islamic State Documents Takeover of Syrian Airbase
The Islamic State released photographs that document its recent takeover of the Syrian Air Force’s base in Tabqa in Raqqah province. The photographs, which were published yesterday on the Internet, show the aftermath of the Islamic State’s latest conquest against the Syrian military. Islamic State fighters overran the Tabqa airbase last weekend. [See LWJ report, Islamic State fighters […]
Iran’s Military Is No Match for Its Rivals – But That Could Soon Change
Iran, despite its belligerent behavior and support for terrorism, is not a formidable conventional military force. The Islamic Republic has a handful of weapon systems that make it asymmetrically dangerous, but its military is largely outdated thanks to years of international sanctions and arms embargos. Under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and the […]
The Coalition’s High Wire Act in Syria: Striking ISIS and Avoiding the Regime
When coalition pilots penetrated Syrian airspace early Tuesday morning, it was unclear if they would just strike Islamic State targets or clash with the Syrian regime. Though Syria was warned prior to the attack, it was unclear if Bashir al-Assad would follow through on his threat to consider any operation in Syria as an act of aggression. In fact, […]