2025 Military Aviation News
03/14/2025
In May of this year, the Czech Republic will deploy its Gripen fighter aircraft to Iceland as part of the Icelandic Air Policing mission, the Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces of Czech Republic announced. The fighter aircraft will safeguard Iceland’s airspace for two months under NATO’s command. Given Iceland’s geographic location, NATO members have agreed to a periodic presence of NATO fighter jets, based in Keflavik, to ensure the security of its airspace.
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03/14/2025
The Algerian Air Force has reportedly made the first official flight of new Russian Su-35 fighters, recently purchased from Russia. The Algerian web portal “Mena Defense” reported, explaining that the aircraft arrived a few days ago at the Oum el Bouaghi air base, in northeastern Algeria, a strategic position that allows for effective coverage of Algerian and central Mediterranean airspace.
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03/14/2025
In the context of the imminent retirement of the Royal Air Force’s (RAF) aging Eurofighter Tranche 1 combat aircraft, the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence has ruled out the possibility of transferring these jets, which are slated for scrapping, to the Ukrainian Air Force. However, it has also stated that it will continue to support and maintain current training programs, including basic flight training, language courses, and other initiatives for pilots and personnel undergoing instruction i
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03/14/2025
On March 12, 2025, Panama approved a $197 million procurement plan to acquire six aircraft for the National Aeronaval Service (Senan). This purchase includes four A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft from Embraer for over $78 million and two C-295 transport aircraft from Airbus Defense and Space for more than $109 million. The government states that the acquisition is intended to strengthen the country’s capabilities in aerial patrol, disaster response, and humanitarian assistance.
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03/14/2025
Amid a rapidly deteriorating relationship between Europe and the United States, Portugal is reconsidering its plans to purchase the fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter jet and could be looking for a European alternative.
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03/13/2025
On March 11, 2025, the Ukrainian Air Force Command, through its communications department, confirmed that the French-made SAMP/T air defense missile system successfully shot down a Russian Sukhoi fighter aircraft for the first time. The announcement, relayed by Ukrainian media, marks a significant moment for Ukraine’s air defense capabilities amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.
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03/13/2025
The Canadian military has announced plans to acquire new helicopters to respond to potential crashes involving the F-35 fifth-generation fighter jets in the Arctic. The decision comes amid concerns that the aircraft’s single-engine feature might be a drawback for operations in the country’s far north, where harsh weather conditions and vast, remote terrain heighten the risks associated with engine failure.
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03/13/2025
The United States Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance program may not be too big of a project to fail, it may simply be too important – largely because there may be no other option. “The entire joint force counts on air superiority,” said Air Force Gen. Ken Wilsbach, commander of Air Combat Command at last week’s 2025 Air and Space Forces Association Warfare Symposium in Aurora, Colorado.
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03/12/2025
The multi-role F-16 aircraft that were transferred to Ukraine by European countries are in any case American aircraft, the fate of which, like all other American weapons around the world, depends on what somebody in the White House thinks about this matter
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03/12/2025
The fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II stealth aircraft is in the headlines once again after it shadowed Russian combat aircraft that were allegedly watching a military exercise. The Norwegian Armed Forces announced that two of its F-35 fighter jets took off from Evenes Air Base on March 10 to identify and shadow two Russian Tu-142 ‘BEAR-F’ maritime patrol aircraft flying in international airspace near Troms.
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03/12/2025
With a high-level committee having accepted the need for getting new multirole fighter jets, the Indian Air Force is looking to start induction of these planes in the next four to five years through a fast tracked global tender.
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03/12/2025
Czech manufacturers Aero Vodochody and Omnipol have completed delivery of the final batch of trainer and light combat aircraft to Vietnam. Hanoi ordered a fleet of 12 L-39 Skyfox aircraft from the Czech firm in 2021 and received the first half in 2023, the year Prague also expressed interest in supplying the Southeast Asian country with dual-use radars, cargo aircraft, and more Skyfoxes.
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03/09/2025
According to information released by the U.S. Department of Defense on March 8, 2025, the U.S. Marine Corps has deployed its first F-35B squadron from the continental United States to Japan to enhance airpower capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region. Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 214, known as the Black Sheep, arrived at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, Japan, under the Marine Corps’ Unit Deployment Program (UDP).
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03/09/2025
The European Union announced plans to increase its defense spending by €800 billion ($867 billion), European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said this week, unveiling the ReArm Europe plan. The plan includes €150 billion in loans to help member states buy air defenses, artillery, missiles, “ammunition drones,” and anti-drone systems as well as address other needs like cybersecurity and mobility.
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03/09/2025
US Air Force has officially classified its first two Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) as fighters. The two prototype aircraft, the YFQ-42A developed by General Atomics and the YFQ-44A from Anduril Industries, are the first uncrewed aircraft to receive a fighter designation.
Under Air Force naming conventions, the “Y” indicates a prototype, “F” stands for fighter, and “Q” signifies an unmanned system. Once these aircraft transition into production, the “Y” will be dropped from their names.
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03/08/2025
The British Royal Navy has carried out flight tests of the F-35B Lightning fighter jet armed with the nation’s latest air-to-air missile, the Meteor, for the very first time. Pilot Lieutenant Commander Nick Baker and engineer Lieutenant Commander Lewis Roach, both stationed with the F-35 Integrated Test Force at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in the US, have been central to the recent trials involving the Meteor missile.
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03/08/2025
The Florida Air National Guard’s 125th Fighter Wing started its week by becoming the fourth Air National Guard unit to be equipped with fifth-generation fighter aircraft, according to a unit press release. With the March 4 arrival of F-35A Lightning II craft in Jacksonville, Fla., the wing will have more power to serve its mission of guarding the southeastern coast, the release said, noting that the coastline is not only crucial for homeland defense but for projecting force globally.
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03/08/2025
Members of the 127th Wing, Michigan Air National Guard, hosted the 1st Fighter Wing at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mar. 6, 2025, reviving an aerial competition made popular when World War I flying aces were front-page news. In a collaboration 89 years in the making, the 1st Fighter Wing, whose lineage dates back to the 1st Pursuit Group, brought part of the Mitchell Trophy Air Race back to Selfridge, a heritage home of both the unit and the race.
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03/07/2025
North Korea “appears close to completing its first airborne early warning aircraft,” a significant upgrade for its air force, said U.S.-based research website 38 North, citing commercial satellite imagery. Airborne early warning, or AEW, aircraft use radars to detect incoming missiles, as well as other aircraft and warships at long ranges. They are also used for aerial reconnaissance over the ground and the sea.
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03/07/2025
The Swedish Government has submitted a bill to the Riksdag proposing Sweden’s involvement in NATO’s air defence operations in Poland. The objective is to safeguard military and civil support to Ukraine by strengthening airspace security.
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03/07/2025
Fifteen people in South Korea were injured, two of them seriously, after a pair of fighter jets accidentally dropped eight bombs in a civilian district on Thursday during a live-fire military exercise, local media reported. The incident involving the Air Force KF-16 aircraft, in the city of Pocheon near North Korea, was part of routine drills held by the South to maintain combat readiness against potential attacks from the North.
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03/05/2025
As the United States enters the era of next-generation aerial combat, a top US Air Force (USAF) official said at a symposium that China’s sixth-generation aircraft is likely intended as an air superiority aircraft. The participating officials also affirmed that the Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program was irreplaceable.
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03/05/2025
A Russian Su-35 fighter jet engaged in a dangerous provocation against a French Reaper drone over the Mediterranean Sea on March 2, French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu reported on March 4. "The Russian Su-35 fighter jet behaved dangerously toward the French Reaper drone... Three consecutive approaches could have led to the loss of control of the drone," Lecornu posted on X.
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03/05/2025
A Trump administration envoy’s push for US involvement in a Euro-Japanese fighter jet program has sparked new intrigue, skepticism and strategic questions about transatlantic defense ties. This month, Defense News reported that Paolo Zampolli, a close associate of US President Donald Trump and US special envoy to Italy, proposed US participation in the Euro-Japanese Global Combat Air Program.
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03/05/2025
The U.S. Navy will eliminate defense giant Lockheed Martin Corp, opens new tab from the competition to build its next-generation carrier-based stealth fighter - a key part of plans to confront China on its home turf, people familiar with the decision said.
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03/04/2025
On March 3, 2025, the Telegram account Sunflower shared a video reportedly showing a French Mirage 2000-5F in flight over Ukraine, possibly marking the first verified sighting of this aircraft in Ukrainian airspace. The transfer of these fighter jets follows France’s decision to provide Ukraine with additional air combat capabilities, modifying the aircraft to meet operational requirements and training Ukrainian personnel for their use. Initially designed as an air superiority fighter.
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03/04/2025
A Philippine fighter jet with two pilots on board has lost contact during a night combat assault in support of ground forces battling communist insurgents in a southern province, and an extensive search is underway, officials said Tuesday. The FA-50 jet lost communication during the mission with other air force aircraft around midnight Monday before reaching a target area. The other aircraft were able to return safely to an air base in central Cebu province after carrying out assaults.
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03/04/2025
“Maybe [it’s] just symbolic, but it’s telling the world that we are leaning into a new chapter of aerial warfare," Gen. David Allvin said. The Air Force has officially given aircraft designations for its first two Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) prototypes ahead of the platforms’ first flights scheduled for this summer, according to the service’s top official.
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03/02/2025
Ireland’s planned purchase of combat jets and the development of a long-overdue national radar system mark a historic turning point in the country’s approach to air defence, ending decades of reliance on the United Kingdom to protect Irish skies.
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03/01/2025
The Turkish unmanned fighter aircraft Bayraktar Kizilelma has completed its first flight tests with a new afterburning engine, Baykar announced in a press release. The third production prototype, the Kizilelma PT3, made a test flight at medium altitude for 53 minutes. It is reported that the aerodynamic system was successfully tested during the flight.
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03/01/2025
The sighting of a Russian Su-57 Felon stealth fighter in Iran in late February 2025 was noteworthy for several reasons. One reason was that it served as an indirect reminder that Iran lags far behind many countries around it regarding the joint production of modern combat aircraft.
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03/01/2025
The Navy’s secretive sixth-generation fighter—which will likely share attributes with the Air Force’s own Next-Generation Air Dominance fighter—will have substantially greater range and payload than its predecessors, President Donald Trump’s nominee to be Secretary of the Navy said—indicating enthusiasm for the program amid uncertainty about both services’ path forward for advanced fighters.
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02/28/2025
The United Kingdom is ready to send troops and combat aircraft to Ukraine for a peacekeeping mission. This was stated by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer after a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House.
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02/28/2025
China today denied that the Egyptian Air Force received its first batch of J-10 fighter jets from China, state media reported. “It is inconsistent with the facts. Total fake news,” said Chinese Defence Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian. Wu’s remarks came following various media reports that Egypt had received the jets from China. Daily News Egypt had reported on 13 February that Cairo received J-10 fighter jets from China.
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02/28/2025
The United States Air Force has begun to retire the oldest and least capable F-16 Fighting Falcons in its fleet, even as the newest models—the Block 40 and Block 50 versions of the Cold War aircraft—will remain in service until the early 2040s. Training options for the F-16 are already being scaled back, and the Air Education and Training Command announced that the final F-16 training unit at Luke Air Force Base (AFB), Arizona, had recently completed its final training sortie on Wednesday, Febru
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02/28/2025
The Chinese military held a combat readiness exercise around a flashpoint with the Philippines in the South China Sea, its Southern Theater Command said, the latest exercise Beijing has undertaken in the region. The command on Thursday “organized naval and air forces to carry out combat readiness patrols in the territorial waters and airspace of China’s Huangyan Island and surrounding areas,” it said in a statement, referring to the disputed Scarborough Shoal by its Chinese name.
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02/28/2025
The 53rd Test and Evaluation Group completed an operational taxi test with a U.S. Navy AGM-84N Harpoon Block II+ anti-ship missile loaded on a U.S. Air Force F-16 in a demonstration of rapid weapons integration capabilities.
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02/27/2025
Taiwan said Thursday it had detected 45 Chinese aircraft near the self-ruled island, the highest number this year and a tally that comes a day after Taipei denounced China's "live-fire" drills off the south. In the 24 hours to 6:00 a.m., 45 Chinese aircraft and 14 warships were spotted near the island, the de-fense ministry said in a statement.
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02/27/2025
The Boeing F-15EX Eagle II has been touted as being a cost-effective alternative to the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II—despite a 2023 study that found the “flyaway” cost for the Eagle II was even higher than the Lightning II. Moreover, critics of the Boeing fighter have argued it is simply a new model of an old warbird—but one with a significant combat record that includes more than 100 aerial kills and no losses.
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02/27/2025
In many military publications, writers often discuss fighter aircraft in reference to the plane’s generation. For instance, the F-15 is a fourth generation aircraft; the F-22 is a fifth-generation aircraft; and the upcoming NGAD will be a sixth-generation aircraft. But for new readers, it may be difficult to understand what exactly constitutes a distinct fighter jet generation. So, let’s take a moment to work from the beginning, and explain each generation of fighter aircraft.
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02/27/2025
Turkey has seen “lots of interest” from foreign nations in potentially joining its next-generation fighter jet project, including from an unnamed Gulf country that is “seriously considering” joining development, a senior Turkish industry official told Breaking Defense. As of now, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) General Manager Mehmet Demiroglu said that the jet, known as KAAN, is under development only by Turkish companies as “there is no official [outside] participation yet.
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02/27/2025
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the U.S. and Aero India 2025 took place simultaneously earlier this month. These events sparked a comparison between two modern combat aircraft—the stealthy F-35 and the aerobatic Su-57—both of which stole the limelight at the airshow.
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02/25/2025
The rendering of the next-generation air-to-air missile was published by the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) of the US Navy. It was part of the portfolio overview of the Program Executive Office, Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons (PEO [U&W]), which contained a list of items from the Air-to-Air Missiles Program Office (PMA-259). The other items on the list were the AIM-174B, AIM-120D, AIM-9X, and their latest variants.
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02/25/2025
The cream of the U.S. and Russian air forces shared a runway at the recent Aero India 2025 exhibition in Bengaluru, as both the Lockheed Martin F-35A and Sukhoi Su-57E attempted to woo the Indian Air Force towards an unlikely deal. Emanating from opposing blocs, the surprising juxtaposition of these latest fifth-generation fighters at Aero India, held here Feb. 10-14, illustrates India’s non-aligned stance.
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02/25/2025
The Argentine Air Force has officially presented its first Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon at a ceremony held on 24 February 2025 at the Tandil military airbase, near Buenos Aires. The event was attended by Argentine government officials, including the Minister of Defence, as well as high-ranking military personnel.
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02/25/2025
Vietnam’s People’s Air Force (VPAF) faces a critical challenge: replacing its aging fleet of fighter aircraft while simultaneously expanding its defense partnerships. The backbone of Vietnam’s air force, the Soviet-era Su-22 Fitter, is nearing obsolescence, with multiple recent crashes underscoring the urgency of modernization.
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02/24/2025
The Ministry of National Defense tracked 10 Chinese naval vessels, five military aircraft, and two official ships around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Sunday and 6 a.m. on Monday. Three of the five People’s Liberation Army aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line in the country’s southwestern and southeastern air defense identification zone, according to the MND. The MND also tracked two Chinese balloons to the north and over central Taiwan.
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02/24/2025
A three-week multinational exercise involving more than 2,300 participants and 62 aircraft concluded Friday at Andersen Air Force Base in Yigo, marking significant advances in fifth-generation fighter integration among United States, Japanese, and Australian forces, the U.S. Air Force said. Cope North 2025, which began Feb. 3, focused on enhancing trilateral fifth-generation interoperability, particularly with F-35 operations, representing a shift from previous years' emphasis on ACE.
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02/24/2025
The Indian Navy’s unveiling of its Naval Aviation Roadmap is more than a policy document—it is a declaration of intent. With the world’s naval forces moving decisively toward fifth-generation carrier-based airpower, India’s need for an indigenous naval stealth fighter is no longer a mere aspiration but a strategic imperative. The Naval Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (NAMCA), if realised, could define India’s maritime airpower trajectory for decades.
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02/24/2025
To reduce the "zoo" of aircraft in its air force, Greece plans to retire its Mirage 2000-5 Mk II while keeping three types of combat aircraft in service: Rafale, F-16, and eventually F-35, which are not expected to arrive before 2028.
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02/22/2025
The delivery of Belgium’s promised F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine has hit yet another snag, with the first of the 30 aircraft now not expected to arrive in Kyiv until at least the end of 2025. This delay, announced on February 21, 2025, stems from a ripple effect caused by the United States’ lagging delivery of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters to Belgium, according to Belgian Air Force Chief of Staff General Frederik Vansina.
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02/22/2025
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has expressed significant interest in Turkiye’s national fighter jet project KAAN, signalling attempts by Abu Dhabi to deepen defence cooperation with Ankara. According to Turkish media, Turkish defence firms attracted considerable attention at the IDEX 2025 defence exhibition in Abu Dhabi this week, with a key interested party reportedly being the Emiratis and their defence companies.
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02/21/2025
Frontliner has released footage of an F-16 fighter jet in combat on one of the frontline directions, according to Frontliner founder and editor-in-chief Andrii Dubchak. "Silence. Frost. We are making a report on a heavy drone unit in the field. Suddenly, we hear a recognizable increasing roar of a jet engine, and a plane flies at ultra-low altitude towards the front, just beyond a nearby tree line," Dubchak described.
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02/21/2025
Engines from GE Aerospace and RTX’s Pratt & Whitney have cleared the Air Force’s “Detailed Design Reviews” for the Next-Generation Adaptive Propulsion program, paving the way for the engine-makers to build prototype ground demonstrators, the two companies announced separately. The plan is for the winner of the NGAP program to power the Air Force’s Next-Generation Air Dominance NGAD fighter.
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02/21/2025
Turkey will consider creating a carrier-based version of the KAAN fighter jet based on a domestic aircraft carrier. Relevant discussions are ongoing between the Turkish Navy’s design office and Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI).
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02/21/2025
The U.S. Air Force (USAF) is preparing its F-35 Lightning II pilots for a conflict in the Indo-Pacific amid the potential threat of a war with China. This was displayed at the recently-concluded ‘Bamboo Eagle’—USAF’s new advanced combat-readiness exercise. The U.S. Air Force Warfare Center recently wrapped up Bamboo Eagle 25-1 exercises. Over 10,000 troops from various Air Force major commands, the Joint Force, and allied air forces participated in the exercise, the USAF said in a statement on F
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02/21/2025
The head of Swedish manufacturer Saab remains optimistic that the Scandinavian nation will decide to send JAS 39 Gripen multirole fighter jets to Ukraine and strengthen strike capabilities on top of US-made F-16 and French Mirage 2000 aircraft. “Without jumping into conclusions [at a political level] I hope it will happen” Saab CEO Micael Johansson told Breaking Defense at the Munich Security Conference.
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02/21/2025
Gen. Lee Young-soo, Chief of Staff of the South Korean Air Force, conducted a test flight of the KF-21, South Korea’s supersonic fighter jet, on Wednesday to evaluate its readiness for operational deployment as it approaches the final stage of development.
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02/20/2025
Current calculations show that the French Air Force has such a small stockpile of missiles and other munitions that it would last only three days of intense combat under modern warfare conditions. For Meteor-type missiles, the available stockpile would barely sustain even one day of combat.
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02/20/2025
Russian warplanes were spotted flying off the coast of Alaska, the North American Aerospace Defense Command said Tuesday, marking the latest incident involving Russian military activity being tracked by the U.S. military near the state. The Russian planes did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace, NORAD said, adding that the planes were "not seen as a threat." NORAD did not identify the type of Russian aircraft that were detected nor the number of planes.
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02/15/2025
The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) showcased the long-range operational capabilities of its indigenous JF-17 fighter jets during the Exercise Spears of Victory-2025 in Saudi Arabia, the military’s media wing said on Friday, as the PAF contingent returned home.
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02/15/2025
The Aero India 2025, which concludes today, witnessed a face-off between the US’ F-35 fighter jet and Russia’s SU-57. Both the US and Russia are offering their respective fifth-generation fighter jets – which were seen side by side for the first time on an airstrip – to India.
Though the SU-57 took to the skies during Asia’s biggest air show on Thursday, the F-35 remained on static display.
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02/14/2025
According to the Australian Department of Defence, the incident occurred on February 11, 2025, when an RAAF P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft was conducting a routine surveillance mission. A People’s Liberation Army Air Force J-16 fighter intercepted the aircraft and released flares in dangerously close proximity.
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02/14/2025
On February 6-7, 2025, Service members from the Royal Netherlands, Royal Norwegian and United States Air Forces demonstrated readiness, interoperability and maintenance proficiency during Spartan Lightning at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. A total of seven F-35A Lightning II aircraft participated in the exercise, with pilots and maintainers from the Dutch, Norwegian and United States air forces working to achieve key training objectives. The exercise provided the maintainers cross-servicing opport
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02/13/2025
On February 10, 2025, French Air and Space Force Chief of Staff General Jérôme Bellanger shared a video on his LinkedIn account, showcasing a French Rafale fighter aircraft destroying a suicide drone in flight using the MICA IR (Infrared) missile. The general also highlighted that similar drones had been intercepted and neutralized by both Rafale and Mirage 2000-5F aircraft deployed in the Middle East,
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02/13/2025
Algerian pilots are currently undergoing training in Russia to operate the Su-57, Russia’s fifth-generation stealth fighter, Algerian TV reports. This marks a significant step in Algeria’s military modernization and confirms the country’s deepening defense ties with Moscow.With deliveries of the advanced fighter expected within the year, Algeria is set to become the first foreign customer of the Su-57, a development with wide-ranging geopolitical and military implications.
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02/13/2025
Russia is offering the production of Sukhoi Su-57, its fifth-generation stealth fighter and most advanced warplane, in India for boosting the Indian Air Force’s fleet, after unveiling the jet in the South Asian country’s air show this week.
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02/12/2025
On September 14, 2024, a senior Emirati official dismissed reports about the country’s interest in resuming long-deadlocked negotiations to purchase Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning II aircraft should Donald J. Trump secure a second presidential term. However, Trump’s return to the White House in January has reignited questions regarding the potential for a resumption of talks.
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02/12/2025
Russia has offered to make its fifth-generation stealth fighter jet Sukhoi Su-57 in India for the Indian Air Force, a Russian and an Indian official said on Tuesday, as Moscow looks to boost defence ties with New Delhi. Russia has for decades been the main weapons supplier to India, the world's biggest arms importer, and its fighter jets are part of India's military fleet. But Moscow's ability in recent years to export has been hobbled by the war in Ukraine, making New Delhi look westward.
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02/11/2025
Currently, numerous aviation projects are being implemented, including both manned and unmanned systems, Caliber.Az reports via Turkish media. The recent updates to the technical specifications of the KAAN and Hürjet combat aircraft serve as notable examples of this progress. The length of the national fifth-generation fighter, KAAN, has been reduced by 0.7 metres.
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02/11/2025
A Polish fighter pilot has flown an F-35A Lightning II aircraft for the first time at the US Ebbing Air National Guard Base (ANGB) in Fort Smith, Arkansas. The milestone flight came after F-35 pilot training under the guidance of the US’ 33rd Fighter Wing began in October last year, which was followed by a couple of aircraft deliveries in December.
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02/11/2025
The constant evolution of aerial threats, such as operations in contested environments, is redefining the equipment that combat aircraft of the United States Armed Forces must possess. This is evident in the integration of new Infrared Search and Track (IRST) sensors into current combat platforms. The latest milestone was reported by the U.S. Navy, which confirmed that the new IRST Block II pod, set to equip its F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, has achieved Initial Operational Capability (IOC).
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02/11/2025
India expects stable delivery of a domestically-made light combat aircraft powered by a GE, opens new tab engine in the upcoming fiscal year after a delay of nearly 12 months, a top government official said on Sunday. India's state-run planemaker Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), opens new tab would have the capacity to hand over 16 to 24 aircraft in the fiscal year that starts in April following stable delivery of the engine made by the aerospace division of GE, the official said.
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02/10/2025
The plane was shot down by an “Igla” MANPADS on the outskirts of Toretsk (Donetsk region). The Russians later sent an Mi-8 helicopter to evacuate the pilot, but Ukrainian FPV operators prevented this from happening.
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02/10/2025
Taiwan said on Saturday that 11 Chinese fighter jets and eight ships, as well as a balloon, were detected around Taiwan. According to Taiwan’s Defense Ministry, nine out of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s northern and southwestern air defense identification zone. They were detected until 6 a.m. (2200GMT) and the balloon was flying at an altitude of 20,000 feet (6 kilometers), said the ministry.
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02/10/2025
It is considered one of the world's toughest air combat training environments where pilots hone their war-fighting skills. RAF personnel, including Rivet Joint aircrew, Air Operations Controllers from 19 and 20 Squadron, along with eight Typhoons and a Voyager aircraft are participating.
Exercise Red Flag at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, provides opportunities to train for challenges – from mission generation to command and control.
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02/10/2025
The U.S. Air Force has announced that the United Operational Test Team conducted the first ever dual release of externally mounted GBU-54 LJDAMs (Laser Joint Direct Attack Munition) from an F-35. The test saw an F-35C, assigned to the U.S. Navy’s Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Nine (VX-9) release the guided bombs again a remote controlled High-Speed Moving Target, said the statement.
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02/07/2025
Ukraine received the first Mirage 2000 fighter jets promised by France on Thursday, French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu said, giving the country its second type of Western aircraft in addition to F-16 jets handed over by allies last year. The Mirage 2000 jets arrived with Ukrainian pilots on board, after several months of training in France, Lecornu said in a post on X. “They will now participate in defending the skies of Ukraine.”
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02/07/2025
Over the past week, the strategic bombers of the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) have been conducting various patrol flights focused on the Arctic region. One of the most recent incidents occurred today, February 5, when Tu-95MS bombers, escorted by fighter jets, were intercepted by Royal Norwegian Air Force F-35A stealth fighters while flying over the Barents Sea airspace.
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02/07/2025
A Russian soldier is reported to have rammed a truck into one of President Vladimir Putin's prized Su-25 fighter jets, rendering it unusable. It adds to the many military jets Russia has lost throughout the war in Ukraine. Russia's air force has suffered extensive casualties—both in cases of friendly fire, and as a result of Ukrainian forces shooting down Putin's military jets.
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02/06/2025
Russia has launched a new show of military strength as two Tu-95MS nuclear bombers conducted a four-hour flight over the Norwegian Sea north of Britain. The strategic bombers were escorted by Russian MiG-31 and Su-33 fighter jets during their mission over neutral waters. Nato warplanes shadowed the pair of Tu-95MS 'Bears' throughout their flight, which took place just days after Sir Keir Starmer urged European leaders to increase efforts against Russian aggression.
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02/06/2025
Aerospace manufacturer Boeing and satellite antenna maker ThinKom Solutions successfully demonstrated high-bandwidth satellite communications technology aimed at military aircraft, the companies announced Feb. 5.
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02/06/2025
The IAF, looking to arrest the dwindling fighter squadrons, is looking to acquire 114 Medium-Role Fighter Aircraft. Saab insists that the Gripen-E will be the fastest-delivered fighter aircraft if chosen. Kent-Ake Molin, Head of the Gripen India campaign, said: “Gripen’s exceptional capabilities align seamlessly with India’s defense needs, offering advanced weapons, cutting-edge sensors, countermeasures systems, and pilot-friendly Human-Machine Collaboration (HMC).”
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02/06/2025
The electronic warfare suite which will protect the Air Force’s F-15E and F-15EX in contested airspace has been declared “operationally effective,” the Pentagon’s test director said in its recent annual report. But the system can’t be evaluated to the very limits of its capabilities because of test range limitations, and because the Air Force doesn’t want to expose what the system can really do in open-air testing.
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02/05/2025
Iran has reportedly purchased Russian-made Sukhoi 35 fighter jets amid Western concerns about Tehran and Moscow’s growing military cooperation. Ali Shadmani, the deputy Coordinator of the Khatam-ol-Anbia, who was quoted by the media, did not clarify how many jets were purchased and whether they had already been delivered to Iran.
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02/05/2025
The Government of Colombia has signed a new contract for the maintenance of its fleet of obsolete Kfir fighters. According to ArmyRecognition, the agreement was signed with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), which will be responsible for servicing the aircraft. The deal is worth $7.2 million. The agreement came into force in December 2024 and will be valid until July 30, 2026.
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02/05/2025
U.S. and Philippine fighter aircraft staged a joint patrol and training Tuesday over a disputed South China Sea shoal where Chinese fighter jets fired flares last year to drive away a Philippine aircraft, Philippine officials said. The joint patrol and air-intercept drills over the hotly disputed Scarborough Shoal off the northwestern Philippines were the first by the longtime treaty allies since U.S. President Donald Trump took office again.
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02/04/2025
On January 31, 2025, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov confirmed that the Netherlands will deliver another batch of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine this year. The announcement followed a meeting in The Hague with Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans, during which both officials discussed strengthening Ukraine’s air capabilities and ongoing training programs for Ukrainian pilots and technicians.
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02/04/2025
The U.S. government’s objective of procuring 2,456 F-35 Lightning II aircraft for the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Navy marks a monumental effort to modernize and enhance the U.S. military’s air combat capabilities. As outlined in the latest report published by Lockheed Martin in January 2025, this ambitious procurement plan remains at the heart of the F-35 program, which continues to advance with strong production numbers, new international commitments.
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02/04/2025
Conscious of serious capability gaps, India’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) had announced formation of a high-level committee to address shortages in the Indian Air Force (IAF). For some time, the IAF has been grappling with the reduced fighter aircraft with the squadron strength coming to an all-time low of 31 vis-à-vis the authorised strength of 42.
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02/04/2025
As reported by Astro Awani on February 1, 2025, the Royal Malaysian Air Force is expected to finalize the acquisition of 30 used F/A-18C/D Hornet fighter jets from the Kuwaiti Air Force in 2025. The deal has been under negotiation for several years and is now in its final stages, requiring only documentation and approvals from Kuwait and the United States. This purchase is intended to maintain Malaysia’s air defense capabilities while awaiting the implementation of its Multi-Role Combat Aircraft
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02/03/2025
Iran has purchased Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets from Russia as part of its military modernisation efforts amid rising tensions with Israel and the United States. The advanced jets, known for their speed and altitude capabilities, will significantly enhance Iran’s ageing air force, which mostly consists of older American and Soviet aircraft.
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02/02/2025
According to information from Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, the Deputy Prime Minister of Poland, shared via his official X account on January 31, 2025, a historic moment unfolded when a Polish pilot took control of the F-35 Lightning II for the first time at the U.S. Air Force base in Fort Smith, Arkansas. This marks a pivotal step forward for the Polish Air Force as the country modernizes its military capabilities.
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02/01/2025
The Netherlands will help train 26 Ukrainians for positions as F-16 aircraft crew chiefs. The training will run until the end of January, according to the Dutch Ministry of Defense. These technical specialists are responsible for the fighter jets before takeoff and after returning to base. Their training will take place at an airbase and will continue until the end of April. The exact location of the airbase has not been disclosed.
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02/01/2025
On January 31, 2025, the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense announced that the country's Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov was on a three-day visit to the United States, leading a delegation to attend the official handover ceremony of Bulgaria’s first F-16 Block 70 fighter jet. The event, scheduled for the same day, was set to take place at Lockheed Martin’s facility in Greenville, South Carolina. This marks the beginning of Bulgaria’s acquisition of 16 F-16 Block 70 aircraft under contracts signed i
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02/01/2025
Türkiye’s efforts to modernize its air force are advancing, with plans to acquire Eurofighter Typhoon European multinational fighter jets equipped with the advanced Meteor air-to-air missile, designed and manufactured by MBDA, a multi-national European group. This move has raised tensions in the region. Turkish media reports that despite opposition from Greece, France has approved the delivery of the Meteor missiles, which are set to enhance Türkiye’s air defense capabilities significantly.
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01/31/2025
Last year, the United States Air Force pressed “pause” on its Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, citing costs and future capabilities of the sixth-generation manned aircraft that was among the “system of systems” that the service sought to employ. NGAD was meant to be the eventual replacement for the Air Force’s Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, but its future has been far from clear in recent months.
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01/31/2025
The United Arab Emirates received a first batch of French Rafale fighter jets Thursday under a deal made with France in 2021, in a sign of deepening ties between the two countries. The first Rafale jet produced by French company Dassault Aviation for the UAE air force was unveiled during a ceremony held in Paris. Attendees included Emirati Defense Minister Mohamed bin Mubarak Fadhel Al Mazrouei and his French counterpart, Sebastien Lecornu, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Defens
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01/31/2025
U.S. Air Force F-35s and Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18s conducted combat air patrols in response to Russian military aircraft operating in the Arctic early this week, North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said in a news release Jan. 30. NORAD also said it sent two U.S. Air Force F-16s from Alaska to Greenland, “exercising its standard agreement with Greenland to forward posture NORAD presence in the Arctic,” but stated that the move was “not in response to any current threat.”
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01/30/2025
The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) has signed a contract with Rheinmetall Italia SPA for the procurement of a batch of Mk82 bombs to enhance the Swedish Air Force's air-to-ground strike capability. This acquisition, part of Sweden’s broader effort to modernize its arsenal, aims to increase its stock of precision munitions and improve interoperability with NATO forces.
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01/29/2025
The problem facing the United States, and by inference also some of its closest allies, is as broad as it is long: what kind of air (and space) power will the US require to prevail against a peer competitor in the middle of this century? It is a question that Frank Kendall, the now former secretary of the US Air Force (USAF), grappled with in the ‘The Department of the Air Force in 2050’ Congressional Committee report.
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01/29/2025
The Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Command Test Center (AATC) marked a significant milestone this week, leading an integrated test team in testing rapid aircraft regeneration processes that will dramatically reduce the time the F-35 Lightning II spends on the ground during combat operations.
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01/29/2025
The Air Force on Monday greatly expanded funding for the prototype engine for the service’s planned sixth-generation fighter. General Electric of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Pratt & Whitney Engines of East Hartford, Connecticut, each received modifications to their initial Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion, contracts that bring the maximum amount for the prototype phase up to $3.5 billion apiece. That is more than three times higher than the $975 million ceiling on the original contracts awarded.
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01/29/2025
An F-35 fighter jet crashed Tuesday on a flightline on Eielson Air Force Base, a military official told Alaska News Source. The pilot was uninjured, according to Airman 1st Class Spencer Hanson. The crash occurred at about 12:49 p.m., according to Col. Paul Townsend, 354th Fighter Wing Commander.
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01/28/2025
Iran has purchased Russian-made Sukhoi-35 fighter jets, a senior Revolutionary Guards commander said on Monday, amid Western concerns about Tehran and Moscow's growing military cooperation. This is the first time an Iranian official has confirmed the purchase of Su-35 jets. However, Ali Shadmani, who was quoted by the Student News Network, did not clarify how many jets were purchased and whether they had already been delivered to Iran.
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01/28/2025
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has officially cleared her position regarding Saudi Arabia’s potential entry into the Global Air Combat Program (GCAP)—the sixth-generation combat aircraft being jointly developed by Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom. The GCAP, launched in 2022, is a collaborative initiative that seeks to design, manufacture, and deliver a next-generation crewed combat aircraft.
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01/28/2025
Bangladesh has shown a growing interest in modernizing its air force as part of its broader military modernization under the “Forces Goal 2030” initiative. The Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) currently operates older platforms. These aging aircraft are increasingly inadequate against modern threats and require replacement with advanced platforms.
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01/27/2025
In November of last year, Reuters reported that the Colombian government was interested in purchasing a fleet of the Swedish-built JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets. JAS stands for “Jakt, Attack, Spaning,” or, in English, “Fighter, Attack, Reconnaissance.”
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01/27/2025
A Chinese J-10C fighter jet was recently spotted carrying the PL-17, an active radar-guided beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, a sight that has raised eyebrows among military analysts. The PL-17, known for its exceptional range and advanced radar guidance, is typically mounted on larger aircraft like the J-20, China’s fifth-generation stealth fighter designed for long-range missions with a capacity for heavier munitions.
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01/26/2025
In a move that could reshape the regional power dynamics in South Asia, India has reportedly taken a firm stance against Pakistan’s potential arms sales to Bangladesh, particularly concerning the JF-17 Block-III fighter jet. This development comes amidst heightened tensions and strategic posturing between the two neighboring countries.
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01/25/2025
The Air Force Coalition, which facilitates the transition of Ukrainian aviation to Western aircraft, was established within the framework of Ramstein 2.0 – the Ukraine Defense Contact Group. The need to replace the Soviet-era tactical aircraft fleet with Western multi-role fighter jets had been under discussion long before the full-scale invasion. Among the options considered were Swedish Gripens, American F-15/F-16s, and French Rafales. Finally, in May 2023, the Air Force Coalition was formed.
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01/25/2025
Another Rafale fighter jet has arrived in Croatia, as confirmed by the Croatian Ministry of Defense. “The ninth multi-role Rafale fighter jet landed today at the ‘Colonel Marko Zivkovic‘ barracks at Pleso. By the end of April, all 12 jets will be in Croatia, completing the Croatian Air Force’s Fighter Squadron,” they announced yesterday.
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01/25/2025
The Air Force has long struggled with a shortage of fighter pilots, with 1,150 empty billets in 2024, and aviators leaving the service in droves. How can they turn things around? Buy more planes and keep more pilots in its reserve component, says a new policy paper from a prominent aerospace think tank.
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01/25/2025
Lockheed Martin is revolutionizing the future of air combat warfare by pushing the boundaries of how fighter aircraft and autonomous systems operate together in high-stakes, contested environments. On January 22, 2025, the company released a major update detailing its innovations throughout 2024, showcasing its efforts to enable U.S.-made fighter jets, such as the F-35, to control drones. This effort is central to the U.S. Air Force’s ambitious development of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft.
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01/24/2025
Chinese military planes and ships surrounded Taiwan on Wednesday during a drill, with some of the aircraft crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait, the defense ministry said Thursday.
In total, 35 People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft and six warships were detected around the island during China's "joint combat readiness patrols," Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) said.
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01/23/2025
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.
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01/23/2025
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.
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01/22/2025
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.
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01/22/2025
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.
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01/22/2025
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.
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01/22/2025
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.
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01/21/2025
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.
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01/21/2025
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.
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01/21/2025
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.
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01/21/2025
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.
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01/21/2025
U.S. Air Force officials paused a planned contract award for the Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) to rethink the aircraft’s requirements. NGAD is an advanced fighter jet intended to replace the stealthy F-22 Raptor (see Figure 1). According to the Air Force, NGAD is also a “family of systems,” enabling air superiority, defined as the ability to operate without threat of attack, even in highly contested environments.
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01/20/2025
The defense ministry reported nine Chinese military aircraft and six vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Four of the aircraft entered the country’s southwestern and eastern air defense identification zones (ADIZ). In response, Taiwan sent aircraft and naval ships and deployed coastal-based missile systems to monitor Chinese activity.
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01/19/2025
The production prototype of Turkish defense giant Baykar’s Bayraktar Kizilelma, Türkiye’s first-ever unmanned fighter jet, successfully passes another flight test. The development of Bayraktar Kizilelma, Baykar’s indigenous and original aircraft, continues according to the established test timeline.
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01/19/2025
Just before the turn of the year, Saudi and Turkish officials engaged in a flurry of talks on defense cooperation. In one such conversation—which included Turkish defense industry representatives—Saudi Arabia reportedly indicated it intends to buy one hundred Turkish KAAN fighter jets. But with Saudi Arabia previously keen on acquiring F-35 fighter jets from the United States, what has steered Riyadh toward Turkish technology?
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01/18/2025
In a concerning escalation of tensions over the Baltic Sea, a French Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft was subjected to Russian military intimidation. The aircraft was engaged in an international NATO operation when it was targeted by the fire-control radar of a Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile system. The incident occurred between Wednesday night and Thursday morning while the aircraft was flying in international airspace over the Baltic Sea.
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01/18/2025
The US State Department has greenlighted a potential $39-million sale of Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles Extended Range (JASSM-ER) to Japan. Tokyo requested to purchase up to sixteen AGM-158B/B-2 JASSM-ERs along with AGM-158 JASSM dummy air training missiles and containers, JASSM anti-jam GPS receivers, personnel training, and relevant accessories, logistics, and program support.
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01/18/2025
Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group’s J-36 scooped up most of the publicity around China’s late-December revelations, but a second combat type, one from Shenyang Aircraft and referred to for now as J-XX, was revealed at the same time. It was smaller, and the pictures of it were less clear, so it got some attention. But it deserves plenty, as the other half of an unprecedented double revelation and a complementary part of China’s future air combat system.
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01/18/2025
On January 17, 2025, the U.S. Air Force achieved a significant milestone in modernizing its F-15E Strike Eagle fleet by delivering the first aircraft equipped with the Eagle Passive/Active Warning and Survivability System (EPAWSS). The F-15E, now fitted with one of the most advanced electronic warfare (EW) suites in the world, took off from San Antonio, Texas, and made its way to RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom, to join the 48th Fighter Wing (FW) on January 16.
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01/18/2025
Norwegian F-35 fighter jets have completed their first flight using synthetic aviation turbine fuels. The event occurred at Ørland Air Station on the country’s west coast, demonstrating that the F-35 aircraft can operate on synthetic fuel blends of up to 50 percent. The test marks significant “progress toward reducing emissions while maintaining mission readiness,” stated manufacturer Lockheed Martin.
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01/17/2025
After successfully completing the acquisition of French Rafale fighter jets, the Hellenic Air Force has now received its 30th upgraded F-16. On January 15, US-based Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of the F-16, announced the delivery of the 30th F-16 “Viper” to the Hellenic Air Force, adding that this upgrade “strengthens Greece’s defense and its ability to operate seamlessly with allied forces.”
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01/17/2025
Looking to modernize its aging Air Force, Bangladesh has shown interest in the JF-17 Thunder fighter jets jointly developed by Pakistan and China. During a visit to Pakistan on January 15, a high-level defense delegation from Bangladesh showed a great deal of interest in Pakistan’s cutting-edge military hardware, especially the JF-17 Thunders, Pakistani publication Express Tribune reported.
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01/17/2025
The Air Force has recently approved a new F-15 electronic warfare (EW) system for full-rate production, meaning more of these legendary fourth-generation fighters will be fitted with this cutting-edge upgrade. The Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System (EPAWSS) consists of “integrated radar warning, geolocation, situational awareness, and self-protection solutions,” according to its manufacturer.
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01/17/2025
The Ukrainian Air Force has created a commission to investigate whether key personnel are being transferred to the front lines amid a shortage of troops defending the east. The move comes after a major controversy erupted after one unit claimed that its MiG-29 Fulcrum maintainers were sent to the infantry, drastically affecting its ability to launch sorties. It was the latest of several such allegations, which Ukrainian officials have denied.
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01/17/2025
A Ukrainian pilot's reported record-breaking shootdown of six missiles with an F-16 offers insight into how much its air force has developed as it fights back against Russia's invasion. Throughout much of the war, Ukraine's air force faced one of the world's biggest air forces with a fleet of older, Soviet-designed combat aircraft while begging the West for F-16s readily available in NATO arsenals.
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01/17/2025
On Dec. 26, 2024, Mao Zedong’s birthday, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) unveiled a new stealth aircraft. Reportedly designated J-36, the aircraft combines stealth capabilities with a large payload capacity, enabling both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions over extended ranges at supersonic speeds. These features make it a formidable challenge for modern air defense systems.
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01/16/2025
As reported by Max Montero on January 15, 2025, the Philippine Department of National Defense (DND) has confirmed the acquisition of 12 additional FA-50 Block 20 Fighting Eagle light attack aircraft from Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) as part of the Re-Horizon 3 program. Valued at approximately $680 million, this government-to-government (G2G) project is intended to establish a second squadron for the Philippine Air Force (PAF).
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01/16/2025
In recent years, Africa, and particularly North Africa, has become the scene of a serious arms race between two large neighboring countries—Algeria and Morocco. Despite differences in their political strategies, both nations are making significant investments in modernizing their armed forces.
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01/16/2025
The Russian Ministry of Defense’s Armed Forces newspaper, “Red Star,” [Krasnaya Zvezda] reports on an incident that occurred in the sky above the front line in Ukraine. A Russian Su-35 fighter jet was struck by a surface-to-air missile, but the pilot managed to bring the aircraft to a Russian airfield and successfully land it.
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01/16/2025
Airbus opens new tab CEO Guillaume Faury said he could see the two separate European programmes working on new fighter jets and combat air systems being combined in future or at least designed to work together. Britain, Italy and Japan said in December they were setting up a joint company to develop, design and build an advanced stealth jet, named GCAP, while France, Germany and Spain are working on the rival FCAS project.
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01/15/2025
The Royal Norwegian Air Forces for the first time in history deployed in Poland with their newest F-35 multirole fighter jets. Their assignment marks a rotation in NATO’s Enhanced Air Policing mission. Their temporary home, Krzesiny Airbase in Poznan, is home to the Polish 31st Tactical Aviation Base and its F-16 C/D Block-52 Advance+ as well as the Polish F-16 Tiger Demo Team.
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01/15/2025
Indonesia is gearing up to deploy Rafale fighter jets acquired from France, outlining a phased integration into the Indonesian Air Force ahead of delivery. While the delivery timeline remains undisclosed, Air Force Chief Marshal Tonny Harjono revealed that Indonesian pilots will begin training with French Air Force instructors this July. The Rafales will be stationed at Pekanbaru and Pontianak air bases — strategic hubs for bolstering Indonesia’s airspace sovereignty, according to the governmen
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01/15/2025
A US Air Force (USAF) official has cautioned that China could surpass the US in the race to deploy the world’s first sixth-generation fighter jet, amid reports that Beijing’s prototype has already completed its maiden flight. Andrew Hunter, the outgoing USAF acquisition executive, recently told Breaking Defense that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) could achieve initial operational capability for its sixth-generation fighter before the US.
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01/15/2025
By the end of April, Bulgaria is expected to receive the first two F-16 fighter jets, while a third jet will remain in the United States for training. These aircraft are part of a deal for 16 combat planes, which will be delivered in stages over the coming years. Minister of Defense Atanas Zapryanov announced that the first jet will be officially received on January 31 in Greenville, Florida.
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01/14/2025
In late December, the first F-16 Block 10 aircraft for Argentina’s Air Force arrived in the country in what Minister of Defense Luis Petri hailed as the “most important” acquisition since the nation’s “return to democracy” in 1982. The South American nation has operated without a primary combat aircraft for almost a decade, but now, after many negotiations and false starts, Buenos Aires has received the first of 25 F-16s (including one training aircraft) previously operated by the Danish Air For
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01/14/2025
Denmark is promising significant upgrades to its defence posture on the island of Greenland, including the possibility of hosting Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighters on the strategic Arctic territory.
Copenhagen is suggesting improvements to the airport at Kangerlussuaq that would allow the site to support operations by the advanced fifth-generation jets. The development was reported by Danish broadcasters TV2 and DR on 10 January.
The Royal Danish Air Force (RDAF) currently operates 17
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01/14/2025
F-35 Lightning II fighters from the Vermont Air National Guard deployed to Kadena Air Base, Japan, on Jan. 13, in the latest rotation of fighters to the strategic U.S. outpost in the western Pacific, the Air Force announced. The F-35s are assigned to the Vermont ANG’s 158th Fighter Wing, which in 2019 became the first Guard unit to be equipped with the fifth-generation multirole fighter. The aircraft that deployed to Japan will operate as the 134th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron.
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01/14/2025
Possible alternatives to a manned 6th-generation combat jet include a more affordable, “F-35 follow- on” aircraft that could manage robot wingmen, the outgoing Air Force secretary said.
While the incoming administration will decide the fate of the Next Generation Air Dominance program, which was paused last year due to soaring cost projections, Frank Kendall said on Monday that recent analysis has highlighted the “value” in pursuing a crewed 6th-gen jet.
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01/14/2025
The US and China are locked in a “race” to field the next generation of airpower — and there’s no guarantee America will cross the finish line first, according to the Air Force’s outgoing acquisition executive. “They could beat us to the punch,” Andrew Hunter told Breaking Defense in an interview at the Pentagon.
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01/13/2025
The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) will test the capability of a Gripen fighter jet to take off and land on a highway before making a final decision on purchasing a fleet of the Swedish fighter jets by the middle of this year, a well-informed source said on Sunday. The source within the RTAF said it would be the first time the RTAF tests the take-off and landing of a Gripen fighter jet on a highway.
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01/13/2025
By 2027, in areas west of the international dateline where U.S. assets are deployed, China will outnumber U.S. forces about 12 to 1 in modern fighter jets (including 5 to 3 in fifth-generation aircraft) and 3 to 1 in maritime patrol planes. Speaking from the base theater to both an in-person and virtual audience, Brig. Gen. Doug Wickert, commander of the 412th Test Wing, at Edwards AFB, during the Monday’s Back-in-the-Saddle Day, held on Jan. 6, 2025.
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01/13/2025
USAF Secretary Frank Kendall said in an interview that the current Air Force leadership’s decisions on the Next-Generation Air Dominance program and the service’s overall strategic outlook were unaffected by the appearance of new Chinese combat aircraft, including a new AWACS platform, a smaller, fighter-size aircraft, and possibly a new bomber and medium bomber.
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01/12/2025
The fall of Russian ally Bashar al-Assad in Syria has disrupted the Kremlin’s strategy not only for the Mediterranean but also for Africa, pushing it to focus on Libya as a potential foothold, experts say. Russia runs a military port and an air base on the Syrian coast, designed to facilitate its operations in the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and sub-Saharan Africa, especially the Sahel, Sudan, and the Central African Republic.
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01/12/2025
The Ministry of National Defence (MND) of Taiwan detected eight aircraft from the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and six naval vessels from the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) near its territory as of 6. It was also noted that seven of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ). The details were shared in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
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01/12/2025
Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai attended a National Children's Day event at Wing 601, Don Muang Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) Base, on Saturday. The event featured aerial displays and activities organised by the RTAF, with Air Chief Marshal Panpakdee Pattanakul, the Air Force commander-in-chief, extending a warm welcome.
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01/11/2025
The Ministry of National Defence (MND) of Taiwan detected four aircraft from the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and six naval vessels from the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) as of 6. It was also noted that three of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern ADIZ. The details were shared in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
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01/11/2025
Algeria appears ready to finalize a deal with Russia for the purchase of Su-57 fighter jets, a move that would make the North African country one of the few operators of fifth-generation stealth aircraft. According to the Russian Telegram channel Russian Arms, a high-level Russian government delegation is currently en route to Algeria. The delegation is expected to secure agreements on military-technical cooperation, sign contracts for advanced weaponry, and finalize the Su-57 deal.
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01/11/2025
The incorporation of new long-range strike capabilities across various combat platforms has become a priority for the United States Armed Forces. A potential conflict in the Asia-Pacific region, with the People’s Republic of China as the main adversary, has prompted strategic shifts in U.S. planning over recent years.
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01/10/2025
The Air Force has received a new Rafale fighter jet, completing its acquisition of 24 of the French-made aircraft. The single-seat jet, which bears the serial number 457, landed at the 114th Combat Wing in Tanagra air base shortly after 1 p.m., after a non-stop flight from Mérignac in Bordeaux, and was handed over to the 332nd Squadron.
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01/10/2025
Pakistan’s appetite for a fifth-generation fighter jet appears to be expanding. Amid reports that the cash-strapped country has decided to purchase China’s newly unveiled J-35A aircraft, it is now reportedly holding discussions with Ankara for collaboration on Turkey’s fifth-generation combat jet, KAAN.
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01/09/2025
The developments of the last two months of 2024 have set alarm bells ringing in New Delhi as China debuted a second fifth-generation aircraft and flew two sixth-generation fighter jet prototypes. In contrast, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is currently staring at a massive lacuna in its capability with no fifth-generation stealth aircraft and a rapidly dwindling squadron strength.
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01/09/2025
The most spectacular debutant, making its maiden flight on December 26 was from Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group: a stealth combat aircraft that various anonymous commenters on the Chinese internet identify as the J-36. It is the largest combat aircraft designed and developed in China, and the second-largest to fly anywhere in 35 years.
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01/09/2025
Analyses and wargames indicate the second increment of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program should not be an “exquisite” aircraft—meaning very stealthy and equipped with many sensors and weapons—but it should have more capability than Increment 1, and an additional cost of 20-30 percent would be acceptable, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall told Air & Space Forces Magazine this week.
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01/08/2025
The Taiwanese military on Tuesday conducted a live combat drill at Hukou Camp, a county in the northwest in response to the detection of increased Chinese military activity near Taiwan.
According to the Taiwan Ministry of National Defense, the drill was part of the annual media event to demonstrate the army’s readiness against any threat. "F-CK-1 fighters demonstrated scramble drills, highlighting their commitment to defending our airspace," said the ministry on X.
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01/08/2025
For the first time in history, a Ukrainian F-16 fighter jet shot down six Russian cruise missiles in one combat mission. Yuriy Ihnat, head of the Air Force Command Communications Department, reported on this. The combat aircraft pilot used the F-16’s missiles and cannon to destroy the air targets.
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01/08/2025
The US Navy has officially coined the term “Murder Hornet” to refer to the F/A-18E/F Super Hornets equipped with a formidable combination of five AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs) and four AIM-9X Sidewinders. This powerful configuration, aimed at enhancing operational effectiveness, was among the key developments highlighted in the Navy’s 2024 year-in-review factsheet, first reported by The War Zone.
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01/07/2025
Recent media reports from Israel indicate that Morocco is advancing in its plans to acquire Lockheed Martin’s fifth-generation F-35 Lighting II stealth fighter jets. According to the Israeli newspaper Identité Juive, Morocco is set to become the first Arab and African country to procure U.S. F-35 fighter jets, marking a significant milestone in its military modernization efforts.
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01/07/2025
As part of an official ceremony held in mid-December, the Myanmar Air Force celebrated the delivery and induction of the last two Su-30SME fighter-bombers acquired from Russia. With this final batch, the Southeast Asian country has completed the incorporation of a total of six Russian-made aircraft into its combat fleet.
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01/07/2025
The Brazilian Air Force’s (FAB) search for a second type of fighter jet has reportedly led China to propose the sale of J-10 aircraft from Chengdu. According to the Brazilian outlet Veja, the Chinese government has reportedly submitted a proposal to Brazil to supply J-10C fighter jets, generation 4.5. However, the talks have not progressed for reasons that have not been clarified. The J-10 is a medium-sized fighter jet that entered service in 2004 and is similar to the Eurofighter Typhoon.
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01/07/2025
Imagery has appeared on Chinese social media of a new large combat aircraft, apparently making a test flight, which may be China’s new secret H-20 stealth bomber. The location and exact date of the imagery were not disclosed, and the People’s Republic of China has not made an official comment about the footage, the authenticity of which cannot yet be established. The U.S. Department of Defense just recently predicted the bomber would not debut for years.
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01/07/2025
The U.S.-led coalition and Iraqi forces stepped up their campaign against Islamic State fighters over the past week, including a confrontation with militants holed up in an Iraqi cave, the U.S. Central Command said Jan. 6. F-16s and F-15s carried out airstrikes against ISIS fighters operating in Iraq’s Hamrin Mountains. U.S. Air Force A-10s, which were called in to support ground forces, were successful in killing Islamic State militants fighting in the cave, the command said.
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01/07/2025
Imagery of two new, tailless Chinese military aircraft disseminated on social media last week likely reveals a prototype stealth medium bomber and a new lambda-winged technology demonstrator, aerospace experts and former Air Force officials told Air & Space Forces Magazine. The larger aircraft could be analogous to the FB-22 medium stealth bomber considered but not adopted by the U.S. Air Force in the early 2000s.
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01/07/2025
Sri Lanka is adopting more American Bell 206 helicopters and a Pakistani Chengdu J-7 aircraft to enhance the country’s air force capabilities. The investment stipulates eight of the 206 systems in their TH-57 Sea Ranger military derivative ordered from Washington DC and a single Chinese-made J-7 in its FT-7 export trainer variant from Islamabad.
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01/07/2025
Iran Observer announced on social network X that Iran’s Su-35 fighter jets are set to be inducted into service this year. This is a significant milestone for the Iranian Air Force, which has been striving for years to modernize its fleet. The Su-35, developed by Russia, is a fourth-generation multirole fighter, and its adoption could dramatically shift the balance of power in the region.
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01/05/2025
The Nigerian Air Force, on Saturday, said it acquired 12 additional fighter aircraft to boost the operational capabilities of the force. The new additions to the NAF fleet include two King Air 360i light transport aircraft, four T-129 ATAK helicopters, two AgustaWestland 109 Trekkers, and four DA-62 surveillance aircraft. Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, stated this during a parley with NAF veterans resident in Kaduna.
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01/05/2025
The first batch of French Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets is set to arrive in Ukraine by January 20, 2025, according to reports from Avions Legendaires. The initial batch is expected to include three to six aircraft, which will likely replace Ukraine’s aging fleet of Su-24 bombers.
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01/05/2025
The F-22 Raptor, one of America’s most advanced air superiority fighters, is built to face high-end aerial threats like advanced fighter jets and fast-moving aircraft. However, during a recent deployment to the Middle East, pilots of these fifth-generation fighters adjusted their tactics to protect US and allied forces from an unexpected low-tech threat, Iranian-made drones and cruise missiles.
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01/04/2025
The Moroccan Air Force is exploring the option of replacing its aging Franco-German Assault Alpha jets with the Chinese L-15 light attack and trainer aircraft According to local news media, Le Desk, the Royal Air Force indicated its preference for the L-15 Falcon, made by the Chinese aircraft manufacturer Hongdu Aviation Industry Corporation (HAIC) to replace its aging fleet of Alpha jets of Franco-German design.
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01/04/2025
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) has decommissioned its last two pairs of AH-1S Cobra attack helicopters and OV-10 Bronco light attack aircraft. The aircraft were primarily used in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations in the Southeast Asian archipelago. During the formal decommissioning ceremony conducted by the 15th Strike Wing at the Major Danilo Atienza Air Base in Sangley Point, Cavite, the service announced that it signed a deal to acquire six new A-29 Super Tucano.
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01/03/2025
The Ministry of National Defense tracked 24 Chinese military aircraft and seven naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Thursday and 6 a.m. on Friday. Eighteen of the 24 People’s Liberation Army aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line in the nation’s northern, southwestern, and eastern air defense identification zone, according to the MND. The MND said on Thursday morning that 22 of the PLA aircraft carried out “joint combat readiness patrols” around Taiwan with PLA naval ships.
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01/03/2025
The Air Force sent at least 39 retired A-10 Thunderbolt IIs to the boneyard in 2024, a significant increase as the service moves toward removing the aircraft from its inventory even as it recently used the planes in training exercises and in combat overseas.
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01/03/2025
The Taiwanese Air Force is sending its fighter pilots to the United States to train on the F-16 Viper ahead of its delivery in 2026. Taiwan is sending a total of 103 military personnel for training in the United States ahead of the delivery of new military platforms within the next two years.
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01/03/2025
India has emerged as a pivotal player in the global defense arena, with invitations pouring in from leading military powers to collaborate on next-generation fighter jet programs. It is reported that Germany and Spain have extended an offer for India to join their Future Combat Air System [FCAS], a flagship European project aimed at developing cutting-edge 6th-generation combat aircraft. Simultaneously, the UK-Japan-Italy consortium has invited India to participate in the Global Combat Air Prog
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01/03/2025
Once banished from the F-35 program and left with a glaring capability gap, Turkey has turned around its destiny by dramatically expanding its aerospace industry. At the dawn of the 21st century, Turkey was the world’s third-biggest arms importer. However, its reliance on foreign military imports has plummeted drastically, from around 80% in 2004 to less than 20% today. On the contrary, Turkey has emerged as a defense exporter, with its cutting-edge arms being used on many battlefields.
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01/02/2025
The Ministry of National Defense tracked seven Chinese naval vessels and three military aircraft around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Wednesday and 6 a.m. on Thursday. The three People’s Liberation Army aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line in the nation’s southwest air defense identification zone, according to the MND.
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01/02/2025
Top Aces, the private ADAIR (Advanced Adversary Air) company which provides adversary, or Aggressor, training in support of multiple militaries, is continuing to expand its support to the RCAF (Royal Canadian Air Force). In fact, the company is employing both its A-4s and Alpha Jets, with the former sporting an arctic splinter camo, to support the training of Canadian CF-18 pilots.
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01/01/2025
As the Rafale fighter jet cements its status as a benchmark in military aviation, France faces mounting challenges in promoting its advanced aircraft in Morocco. Despite being a long-time ally of Paris, the North African kingdom has, for now, opted against including Dassault Aviation’s Rafale in its military modernization plans, according to reports from the Moroccan newspaper The Parliamentarian.
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01/01/2025
audi Arabia is seeking to buy 100 Kaan fighter jets from Turkiye as part of its Vision 2030 plan, Turkish newspaper Milliyet has reported. The fifth-generation Kaan fighter jet was developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAS), and can perform air-to-air combat missions, as well as conduct precision air to ground strikes at supersonic speeds.
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01/01/2025
In July 2019, during the twilight of the first Trump administration, the Defense Department kicked Turkey out of the F-35 joint strike fighter program. While analysts can debate the wisdom of including Turkey in the F-35 program to start with, its expulsion was warranted: By purchasing Russia’s S-400 anti-aircraft missile system, Turkey put NATO at risk in two ways.
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