Special Purpose

Military Aviation News

U.S. Air Force F-35s and KC-135 stage flyover across Baltics to demonstrate agile NATO airpower

12/11/2025

Two U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning IIs from the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath flew over Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia on 4 December, underscoring U.S. Air Forces in Europe’s ability to deliver agile airpower with NATO Allies. The sortie highlighted cooperation across the region as part of ongoing support to Europe’s Eastern Flank.

US Sets Conditions for Turkey’s F-35 Hopes

The U.S. has reiterated that Turkey must give up the S-400 missile defense system it purchased from Russia to be eligible for the acquisition of advanced F-35 fighter jets. "As laid out in U.S. law, Turkiye must no longer operate nor possess the S-400 system to return to the F-35 program," U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack wrote in a statement on his X account. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been discussing the issue with President Donald Trump for months.

Australian MQ-28 CCA Downs Drone in Milestone Air-to-Air Test

A semi-autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft drone shot down an air-to-air target in a Dec. 8 test supported by the U.S. Air Force, a notable milestone in the development of the loyal wingman-type drones that will join the fleets of the USAF, other American services, and allies and adversaries.

SEASHOT expands joint combat training for Shaw and U.S. Navy

"As weapons technology continues to develop, fighter pilots need to shoot and intercept adversaries from increasingly longer distances," said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Alexander Vane, 20th Operations Support Squadron commander. "As a result, we are starting to outgrow our primary air combat training airspace off the S.C. coastline. Additionally, Shaw AFB is situated near one of the busiest air traffic corridors in the United States; there is physically no room for our airspace to grow."

Bangladesh signs for Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets from Italy’s Leonardo

Bangladesh has committed to operating the Eurofighter Typhoon, signing a letter of intent with Italy’s Leonardo in Dhaka today. The LOI was signed at the headquarters of the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF). Present at the signing were Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, Ambassador of Italy to Bangladesh H.E. Antonio Alessandro, and other representatives from both the Bangladesh armed forces and Italy.

Poland in talks to transfer MiGs to Ukraine in exchange for drone and missile tech

Poland is in talks over donating further MiG-29 fighter aircraft to Ukraine. Warsaw hopes to receive access to drone and missile technologies from Kyiv in return. In a statement on Tuesday evening, the general staff of the Polish armed forces announced that “negotiations are ongoing with the Ukrainian side regarding the transfer of MiG-29 aircraft”, without specifying the number.

South Korea scrambles jets after Chinese and Russian planes enter ADIZ

Nine Chinese and Russian military aircraft briefly entered and exited South Korea’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on December 9, 2025, prompting the country’s Air Force to scramble fighter jets, according to Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).

Russian, Chinese Bombers Fly Joint Patrol Near Japan, South Korea

Russian and Chinese bombers conducted a joint patrol Tuesday, flying over the East China Sea and Western Pacific, prompting Seoul and Tokyo to scramble fighter aircraft to monitor the flights. At approximately 10:00 a.m. local time, seven Russian military aircraft and two Chinese military aircraft entered the Korean Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ) over the Sea of Japan, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the same day in a news release. No airspace violation occurred, the release re

F/A-18 Super Hornets Were Just Tracked Flying Deep Inside The Gulf Of Venezuela (Updated)

The two Super Hornets, callsigns Rhino 11 and Rhino 12, look to have remained in international airspace throughout the duration of their sorties in the Gulf of Venezuela today, though this remains unconfirmed. Spoofing aircraft in open-source flight tracking is possible and does happen, but in this case, considering what we are seeing, and the recent history of certain U.S. platforms making their presence very known off the coast of Venezuela, this seems unlikely.

Ukrainian Air Force confirms loss of Su-27 fighter jet

Japan rejects China's 'interference' claim amid fighter jet engagement

In Defense Bill, Congress Rejects Bid to Retire A-10s, F-15Es

Should America Be Worried About Venezuela’s F-16 Fleet? Not Really.

For US$118.8 million, the U.S. authorized the sale of hundreds of GBU-39/B glide bombs for the Republic of Korea Air Force’s fighter jets

Proposed defense bill would fund Golden Dome, next-gen fighters

For US$ 730 million, the U.S. authorizes the sale of more AIM-120C-8 missiles for Denmark’s F-35A fighters

Norwegian F-35 fighters return home as joint NATO Air Policing Mission in Poland concludes

Bangladesh Turns To China For Fighter Jets After Rejecting European Options

U.S. Marines Conduct F-35B fighter jet Landing Qualification in Pacific Ocean to Keep Combat Readiness

Chinese fighters target SDF jets with radar lock-on, Japan says