One of these aircraft has served since Vietnam; another has yet to fly a combat sortie.
Here s What You Need to Remember:
Is the dedicated attack aircraft a dying breed? Few air forces are developing new attack aircraft, preferring to rely on fighter-bombers carrying precision-guided munitions to do the dirty work of close air support and battlefield interdiction. But then it has always been such; tactical attack has long been shunted to the side by air forces more interested in fast fighters and majestic bombers. Many of the attack aircraft used in World War II began design life as fighters, only becoming attack planes when they “failed.” And yet these attack aircraft have, over the years, ably performed one of the most critical airpower missions the destruction of the fielded forces of the enemy, and the support of friendly ground troops.
New Plane Key to Special Ops Vision for Africa, General Says Air Force Special Operations Command is planning flight demonstrations in coming months.
A new aircraft that can fly reconnaissance missions and bomb enemy forces is key to U.S. special forces’ future in Africa, the head of Air Force Special Operations Command said Tuesday.
Lt. Gen. James Slife spoke as the Biden administration reviews the U.S. military’s global footprint and prepares to advise Congress on reorienting American forces for future conflicts.
“I would suggest to you that if we want to maintain pressure on those violent extremist organizations that pose a threat to the United States that pose a threat to the homeland we may need to remain engaged in portions of Africa against very specific threats and not just broadly, anywhere where there s an extremist, but specifically where those that pose an external threat are,” Slife said Tuesday during a Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies
Engagement vs Estrangement: Arms Sales Strengthen Key Alliances and Keep Partners Close To Washington defensenews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from defensenews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Mali receives additional Mi-35 attack helicopters
Written by Guy Martin -
A new Mi-35M attack helicopter delivered to Mali.
Mali’s Air Force has taken delivery of another two Mi-35 attack helicopters from Russia, as part of a 2016 order for four.
Photos of the delivery show Russian personnel with the aircraft. The registration (TZ-12H) of one of the helicopters was visible – registrations for the first two are TZ-13H and TZ-14H.
The handover took place on 12 January at Air Base 101 adjacent to Bamako–Sénou International Airport in a ceremony attended by defence minister Sadio Camara, Russia’s defence attache, Vice President Assimi Goita and other dignitaries.