Special Purpose

Military Aviation News

90 Chinese aircraft cross Taiwan Strait median line during drill

12/31/2025

From 6am yesterday until 6am today, 14 Chinese warships, eight government vessels and 130 military aircraft, including unmanned aerial vehicles, were detected around Taiwan, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said. The ministry said China's People’s Liberation Army (PLA) sent 130 warplanes and drones during the 24-hour period to "harass" Taiwan, with 90 of them crossing the Taiwan Strait's median line and flying into Taiwanese airspace.

Strategic Reach: Poland Selects Airbus A330 MRTT+ to Power its Future Fighter Fleet

The contemporary evolution of the Republic of Poland‘s defense posture, specifically within the framework of the Polish Air Force (Sily Powietrzne), represents a sophisticated pivot toward integrated regional hegemony and strategic autonomy within the NATO eastern flank, necessitated by the deteriorating security architecture of Eastern Europe as of December 30, 2025.

China flexes blockade capabilities near Taiwan on second day of military drills

China's People's Liberation Army staged a second day of large-scale military drills around Taiwan on Tuesday, unleashing a live-fire show of force as part of what it called "Justice Mission 2025" to demonstrate its ability to deter any external armed support for the self-ruled island that it has long insisted is part of its sovereign territory.

Spain Selects Turkish HÜRJET Jet Trainer and Light Combat Aircraft in €2.6bn Deal

Spain has officially selected the Turkish-built HÜRJET advanced jet trainer for its next-generation pilot training program, committing to a €2.6 billion acquisition covering aircraft, simulators, and long-term support. The decision marks a major milestone for Türkiye’s defense industry and reflects shifting procurement dynamics within NATO.

Israel Rearming Its Eagle Force With The New F-15IA

New-build F-15 Eagle fighters are headed to Israel again, with a contract for 25 new F-15IA aircraft placed with Boeing. These will be the first new Eagles that the country has acquired since 1999, when it received the last of its F-15I Ra’am jets and continues the enduring legacy of the F-15 in Israeli Air Force service.

Taiwan tracks 11 Chinese ships, 2 military aircraft

The Ministry of National Defense tracked two Chinese military aircraft, nine naval vessels, and two official ships around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Sunday and 6 a.m. on Monday. The two People’s Liberation Army did not cross the Taiwan Strait median line, according to the MND. In response, Taiwan deployed aircraft, naval ships, and coastal-based missile systems to monitor PLA activity.

Turkish unmanned fighter KIZILELMA achieves world 1st autonomous close-formation flight

Turkish defense company Baykar announced on Sunday that two prototypes of its Bayraktar KIZILELMA unmanned combat aircraft have successfully carried out the world’s first fully autonomous close-formation flight by jet-powered drones.

Lockheed Martin awarded $3.6 billion contract for logistics support of global F-35 fighter fleet

On 19 December, the United States Department of War announced the signing of another contract with Lockheed Martin for the provision of logistics support services for the global fleet of multirole combat aircraft from the F-35 Lightning II family. The December agreement is valued at USD 3.6 billion and is to be completed by the end of 2026, with an initial tranche of USD 1.8 billion released at the time of signing.

Japan responds to China with unprecedented number of F-2 Fighters with anti-ship missiles

On 9 December 2025, at Tsuiki Air Base of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF), at least 16 F-2 fighter aircraft were observed conducting training flights with each jet carrying four ASM-2 air-to-ship missiles mounted under their main wings. The ASM-2 is an indigenously developed Japanese anti-ship missile with a range exceeding 140 km. It employs an imaging infrared (IIR) seeker and is equipped with infrared counter-countermeasures (IRCCM) as well as target discrimination capabilities.

Ukrainian Saboteurs Destroy 4 Russian Fighter Jets

Advanced AI sustainment solutions to boost effectiveness of US combat aircraft fleet

Korea Aerospace signs deal to upgrade Philippines' FA-50PH fighter jets

Dassault completed the delivery of the first three new Rafale F4 fighters to the Indonesian Air Force

Russian Tu-95 Bombers Carry Out ‘Scheduled’ Flight North of Scandinavia

No F-35A Fighter Debate: There Is No Way Canada Should Buy The JAS 39 Gripen

Polish Fighter Jets Intercept Russian Reconnaissance Aircraft, while Weather Probes from Belarus Violated Polish Airspace

US military moves additional special-ops aircraft, troops into Caribbean as Trump hikes pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro

Editors’ picks for 2025: ‘Ukraine’s air force has survived. Taiwan’s almost certainly couldn’t

South Korea’s KF-21 Boramae fighter jet to gain full air-to-ground strike capability by 2027

Editors’ picks for 2025: ‘More F-35s, more tankers: a reliable way to strengthen Australian deterrence’