1/23/2025

Turkiye, Pakistan to establish joint factory for production of KAAN fighter jet

Turkiye and Pakistan are reportedly set to establish and operate a joint factory to produce the new Turkish KAAN fighter jet, in what would be a significant move between the two countries. According to a number of Turkish and Pakistani news outlets, representatives from 32 institutions gathered at the 8th meeting of the Pak-Turkish Industrial Expo in Pakistan earlier this month and finalised plans for a partnership between Ankara and Islamabad for the production of Turkiye’s KAAN fighter jet.

1/23/2025

Philippines to increase FA-50 fighter fleet, among moves analysts say complicate planning in Beijing

The Philippines has decided to double the size of its FA-50 light fighter fleet, reportedly buying another 12 from South Korea, in a move that analysts told Breaking Defense won’t get China off Manila’s back but could complicate Beijing’s plans.

1/22/2025

Algeria authorizes a Qatari aircraft to operate between Algiers and Laayoune

A Qatari military aircraft touched down at Laayoune airport yesterday evening, having departed from Algeria. According to a Moroccan source speaking to Yabiladi, the plane was transporting equipment for one of the Emir of Qatar's brothers, including birds from his hunting grounds in the Algerian desert, to his reserve in Morocco near Boujdour.

1/22/2025

Taiwan tracks 14 Chinese military aircraft, 5 naval ships

The Ministry of National Defense tracked 14 Chinese military aircraft and five naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Tuesday and 6 a.m. on Wednesday. Twelve of the 14 People’s Liberation Army aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line in the country’s northern, southwestern, and eastern air defense identification zone, according to the MND.

1/22/2025

CCD reports attack on Smolensk Aircraft Plant, where military aircraft are manufactured, modernized

The head of the Center for Countering Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, Andriy Kovalenko, has reported an attack on the Smolensk Aircraft Plant, which is involved in the production and modernization of Russian military aircraft, including Su-25 attack aircraft.

1/22/2025

Saab to Provide Secure Communications for MQ-28 Ghost Bat

Saab recently announced that it will supply, through its Saab Australia subdivision, its TactiCall secure communications system to the MQ-28 Ghost Bat uncrewed aircraft developed by Boeing Australia. The company will also provide avionics equipment, including electro-mechanical actuators and controllers for the Primary Flight Control System from Saab in Sweden.

1/21/2025

Reports Resurface About UAE’s Plans to Transfer 30 Mirage Jets to Morocco

New reports have emerged suggesting that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is preparing to transfer 30 Mirage 2000-9E fighter jets to Morocco. The transfer is expected to take place in 2027 when the UAE receives its new batch of Rafale F4 aircraft. According to Military Africa and several international media outlets, the potential transfer would involve half of the UAE’s operational fleet of Mirage 2000-9E fighters.

1/21/2025

Philippines to Double FA-50 Supersonic Fighter Jet Fleet

The Philippines is considering the purchase of 12 more FA-50 Fighting Eagle supersonic combat aircraft from South Korea. The potential 40-billion Philippine peso ($683.7 million) deal would double Manila’s FA-50 fleet, which has been in service since the early 2010s.

1/21/2025

Bangladesh could purchase up to 32 Pakistani JF-17 Thunder fighter jets to modernize its Air Force.

As reported by The Express Tribune on January 16, 2025, Bangladesh has officially expressed interest in the JF-17 Thunder, a fighter aircraft jointly developed by Pakistan and China, following a high-level Bangladeshi defense delegation's visit to Pakistan on January 15, 2025. Led by Lieutenant General SM Qamarul Hassan, Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division, the delegation met with Pakistan Air Force Chief, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu, at the Air Headquarters.

1/21/2025

UK’s future fighter and early warning programmes ‘unachievable’

Two of the UK’s main air domain defence programmes, the Future Combat Aircraft System (FCAS) and E-7 Wedgetail, have been given a ‘red’ rating in the government’s Infrastructure and Projects Authority Annual Report 2023-24, published on 17 January 2025. Of the 49 defence programmes listed in the report the vast majority are listed as being ‘amber’, which means that significant issues remain but the programme can still meet its targetted timelines.