2/12/2026 Did a Chinese Fighter Jet Try to Start a War with Taiwan in December?  During a series of air exercises in December 2025, a People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) J-16 fighter jet reportedly fired flares at a RoC Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon during the PLA’s “Justice Mission” exercises. The J-16 fired decoy flares towards the Fighting Falcon, which had been scrambled after the Chinese aircraft moved to cross the Taiwan Strait median line. The PLAAF J-16 then flew between the F-16s, which were seen as in the “firing position.” |
2/12/2026 Think Tank Calls for Major Expansion of US Air Force Fleet to Counter China  A new policy paper by the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies argues that the US Air Force must expand its fleet of next-generation combat aircraft substantially to deter or prevail in a potential conflict with China. Titled Strategic Attack: Maintaining the Air Force’s Capacity to Deny Enemy Sanctuaries, the report calls for procuring far more sixth-generation fighters and long-range stealth bombers than currently planned. |
2/12/2026 For US$328.5 million, Lockheed Martin will equip Taiwan’s Air Force F-16 fighter jets with new IRST21 systems  After completing at the beginning of 2024 the modernization to Block 70 of 139 aircraft, the Taiwan Air Force continues to advance in strengthening the combat capabilities of its F-16 fighters. The most recent milestone was the confirmation that Lockheed Martin will equip the Fighting Falcons with new Legion-ES infrared search and track systems —also referred to as IRST21— through a contract valued at US$ 328.5 million and encompassed within the United States Foreign Military Sales Program. |
2/12/2026 U.S. Marine Corps selects GA-ASI YFQ-42A for MUX TACAIR Collaborative Combat Aircraft program  General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has been competitively selected by the United States Marine Corps for evaluation in the Marine Air-Ground Task Force Uncrewed Expeditionary Tactical Aircraft (MUX TACAIR) Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program. The agreement integrates GA-ASI’s expertise in autonomy and uncrewed aircraft systems with a government-provided mission package, using the YFQ-42A platform as a surrogate to assess integration with crewed fighters.
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2/12/2026 The Royal Air Force is sending six F-35B fighters to RAF Akrotiri, a major British airbase in Cyprus—presumably for use against Iran  The Royal Air Force deployed six F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter jets to a key base in the Eastern Mediterranean in anticipation of a military clash between the United States and Iran. The stealth fighter jets will bolster British air power in the region—and are expected to play an important role in a potential conflict. |
2/11/2026 Erdogan pitches KAAN fighter jet as an alternative to Western warplanes  Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Saudi Arabia and Egypt earlier this month, marking fresh steps in the normalization of relations with key regional powers and opening the door to new defense deals. The first stop of the two-day tour was Riyadh, where Erdogan met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. According to official statements, both sides emphasized the need to activate existing defense cooperation agreements. |
2/11/2026 Chinese Carrier-based Fighter Seen Equipped with New Supersonic Anti-ship Missile  A People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) J-15 was spotted fielding two YJ-15s, one of Beijing’s latest anti-ship missiles, in images circulated last week. Revealed during China’s 2025 military parade, the missile joins China’s existing stockpiles of subsonic YJ-83 and supersonic YJ-12 anti-ship cruise missiles, which have been deployed by Chinese fighters and bombers exercising for contingencies around Japan, the Philippines and Taiwan. |
2/11/2026 Another Asian Nation Is on Track to Get the F-35 Fighter Jet This Year  The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) is set to receive its first US-made Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter jets by the end of this year, according to an announcement at the recently concluded Singapore Airshow 2026. The program of record for the Southeast Asian city-state is for eight conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) F-35A aircraft, and for 12 short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) F-35Bs. |
2/11/2026 Saab Eyes Arming Gripen Fighter Jets With APKWS Rockets Against Drones  Saab is exploring arming the JAS 39 Gripen fighter jet with the advanced precision kill weapon system (APKWS) as a low-cost counter-drone option. Observations from the Ukraine war — where cost-efficient capabilities instead of expensive missiles are better fielded against typically cheap but lethal enemy drones — have driven this move, the Swedish company’s executives informed Business Insider during the Singapore Airshow. |
2/10/2026 Türkiye signals imminent deal with Saudi Arabia on Kaan fighter jet Negotiations with Saudi Arabia on potential cooperation in Türkiye's homegrown fifth-generation stealth fighter jet program have reached the "highest level," according to the aircraft's developer, signaling that a partnership agreement could be announced as early as this year. |