2/3/2026 Canadian military goes to U.S. for F-35 ceremony despite renewed trade tensions  The Canadian Armed Forces will participate in a ceremony in Texas on Monday to celebrate the imminent arrival of their first F-35 — as Ottawa has still yet to announce how many U.S.-made fighter jets it will ultimately buy. The event comes as the future of the CF-18 replacement program is under review because of the ongoing trade and political disputes between Canada and the United States. |
2/3/2026 Ukraine may get more than Gripen jets — Europe's top air-to-air missile is also on the table .jpg) Ukraine and Sweden have discussed the possibility of Stockholm sending Meteor missiles to Kyiv. The Meteor is considered a top European air-to-air missile, and it can be carried and fired by Gripen fighter jets. It would offer Ukraine a powerful new weapon to strike Russian aircraft from a distance. |
2/3/2026 China Adds Muscle to Military Aviation Capabilities  China’s military aviation industry has shocked Western analysts repeatedly over the last few years, with designs such as the Chengdu J-20 and Shenyang J-35 fifth-generation fighters and, more recently, the Chengdu J-36 and Shenyang J-XX sixth-generation fighter prototypes. The speed of technological advance has led to a major leap in China’s military capabilities, and with the latest revelations, the country's aerospace industry is showing no signs of slowing down. |
2/2/2026 Peru moves toward F-16V Block 70 selection for fighter replacement  Peru is advancing toward selecting the Lockheed Martin F-16V Block 70 Viper as its preferred next-generation fighter jet, officials and defence sources told local media, marking a significant pivot in Lima’s long-running effort to modernise the Peruvian Air Force (FAP) combat fleet. |
2/2/2026 How Internal Weapons Bays Replaced Hardpoints on Modern Aircraft  Modern combat aircraft increasingly carry weapons bays internally rather than on external pylons. Internal weapons bays are closely associated with reducing radar cross-sections (RCS), improving a plane’s stealth capabilities. However, the bays’ purpose is broader than radar evasion. While complex and in certain respects constraining, internal weapons bays are becoming an increasingly popular design choice for modern fifth- and sixth-generation aircraft. |
2/2/2026 US Contact Sabena to Maintain F-16 Jets of One of Most Dangerous Countries in the World  The US Department of Defense (DoD) has contracted Sabena Aerospace to maintain European F-16 fighter jet engines and manage materials supporting Ukraine’s growing fleet. The agreement funds intermediate and depot-level maintenance for donated aircraft, strengthening Ukraine’s air defense capacity as more F-16s enter service. |
2/2/2026 Lockheed Martin tests Sniper Networking Targeting Pod in first multi-aircraft F-16 flight demonstration  Lockheed Martin has completed the inaugural flight demonstration of its Sniper Networked Targeting Pod, validating real-time data sharing between two F-16 fighter aircraft. The test reflects the growing operational demand for integrated intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance functions executed simultaneously rather than sequentially.
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2/2/2026 Belarus Receives First Batch of Su-30SM2 Fighter Jets in 2026  The Belarusian Air Force has received a new batch of modern Su-30SM2 fighter jets. The country’s Ministry of Defense reported this on its Telegram channel. However, based on the size of previous deliveries to Belarus, it is likely one or two fighters.The exact number of aircraft delivered is not confirmed. |
2/1/2026 The KF-21 fighter’s new AESA radar for the South Korean Air Force enters its final phase of testing and evaluation  TheSouth Korea’s Agency for Defense Development (ADD) has launched the final phase of testing and evaluation for the domestically developed Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar intended for the KF-21 Boramae fighter, with the aim of verifying its multi-mode operational capabilities prior to full entry into service.
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2/1/2026 Exercise Red Flag 2026 - Explained  Every year, the Royal Air Force joins the United States and partner forces on Exercise Red Flag. It’s one of the world’s toughest air combat training environments, allowing participating nations to hone their war-fighting skills. The Exercise was established in 1975 after the Vietnam War showed that the first ten combat missions flown are the most dangerous for aircrew. Red Flag recreates the first ten missions of a modern air campaign to provide pilots and crew with realistic combat scenarios. |