Special Purpose

Military Aviation News

India Allocates $1 Billion to Replace Russian Il-78MKI Refueling Aircraft

01/11/2026

The fleet of six Il-78MKI refueling aircraft, introduced more than twenty years ago, has exhausted its service life. It is no longer able to meet the current requirements for long-range operations of the Rafale, Su-30MKI and indigenous Tejas variants. The IAI plans to modify six used Boeing 767s into MMTT multirole refueling aircraft.

Italy Is Breaking Ground on Europe’s First F-35 Training Center

Last November, the Italian Air Force announced plans to create an international training facility for the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II. Currently, all pilots from allied and partner nations receive their F-35 training at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith, Arkansas, following its relocation from Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. The latter base remains the primary hub for US F-35A pilot training, with Eglin AFB, Florida.

JF-17 gains traction as Iraq explores fighter jet purchase

Iraq has expressed a keen interest in acquiring Pakistan's JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft as senior air force commanders from both countries held talks in Baghdad, underscoring growing defence cooperation and Islamabad's expanding profile as a supplier of combat aviation platforms.

Pakistan negotiates a $1.5 billion military agreement with Sudan that would include JF-17 Block III 4.5-gen fighter jets

Pakistan is in the final stage of negotiating a defense agreement estimated at around USD 1.5 billion to supply weapons and military aircraft to Sudan, Reuters reported, citing a former senior Pakistani Air Force official and three sources with direct knowledge of the process. If finalized, the contract would not only substantially strengthen the Sudanese Armed Forces in their war against the Rapid Support Forces, but would also have direct implications for the strategic balance in the Red Sea.

Russia lost up to 21 tactical aircraft in 2025 – Defence24

Russian tactical aviation suffered significant losses in 2025, although formally its numbers even increased at the end of the year. This is stated in an analysis by Polish military observer Maciej Szopa on Defence24. According to a Polish military observer, Russia lost between 18 and 21 combat aircraft of this class during the year.

US Marines test deadly autonomous drones that can assist crewed fighter jets

Northrop Grumman and Kratos Defense and Security Solutions are collaborating to build autonomous military drones for the US Marine Corps, the two companies announced this week. The partnership will see Northrop lend its expertise to the development of Kratos’ pilotless Valkyrie drone. Their goal is to prepare the platform to fly alongside crewed Marine Corps fighter jets in high-threat environments.

While the US military grabbed Maduro, where was Venezuela’s air force?

When the United States military launched an operation to fly directly into downtown Caracas and snatch Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, top US officials noted that the invading force was met with limited ground-to-air fire — but they made no mention of any aerial resistance.

Why is Pakistan selling its JF-17 fighter jets to Bangladesh and others?

Less than a week into the new year, after a meeting between Pakistan’s Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu and his Bangladeshi counterpart Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, the Pakistani military announced that a deal to sell its domestically produced JF-17 Thunder fighter jet could be imminent.

US military planes pictured at Scottish airport during tanker seizing operation

At least three American aircraft took off from Wick John O’Groats Airport, which is owned by the Scottish Government. The planes were assisting with the US seizure of the Marinera, a Russian-flagged vessel previously known as Bella-1, which is said to have escaped Donald Trump’s “total naval blockade” of Venezuela. After refusing to comment, the UK’s Ministry of Defence eventually confirmed it took part in the operation, saying it provided “operational support” to the US Air Force.

UK helped US seize Russian-flagged tanker, defence ministry says

Dassault Aviation edges past 2025 Rafale target as demand stays high

Northrop Grumman to develop U.S. Marine Corps collaborative combat aircraft using Kratos Valkyrie UAS

F-35s And JF-17s: Saudi Arabia Acquiring Highly Diverse Fighter Fleet

Fire Breaks Out at Moscow Factory Producing Engines for Sukhoi Fighter Jets

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia in JF-17 jets-for-loans talks

Lockheed Martin F-35 reaches record deliveries and expands combat and global operations in 2025

Ukraine’s F-16 Pilots Think NATO Tactics Don’t Work

China’s First J-35A Fighter Jet for Local Air Force Takes Off in 2026

Taiwan's F-16 fighter fleet has been grounded after an 'anomaly' saw a jet and its pilot disappear

F-16V Fighter Goes Missing Off Taiwan’s Eastern Coast, President Orders All-Out Search for Pilot