November, 2025 Military Aviation News
11/30/2025
Russia conducted a high-visibility patrol over the Baltic Sea involving Tu-22M3 long-range bombers armed with Kh-32 supersonic cruise missiles, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense on November 27. The aircraft were accompanied by Su-35S and Su-27 fighter jets throughout the more than five-hour flight in international airspace.
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11/30/2025
On November 27, 2025, the Brazilian Air Force performed the first live launch of the Meteor beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missile from a Saab F-39E Gripen. The test, made during the EXTEC BVR-X exercise near Natal Air Base, was conducted in a scenario designed to test the missile and the fighter jet against high-speed aerial targets in conditions intended to reproduce complex operational environments.
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11/30/2025
Baykar Technologies has announced a major milestone for Türkiye’s first unmanned fighter aircraft, Bayraktar KIZILELMA, which achieved a direct virtual hit on a Turkish Air Force F-16 during a simulated firing test. The trial took place on 19 November 2025 over Tekirdag, with two F-16s participating in the scenario.
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11/29/2025
Saab has delivered another F-39E Gripen to the Brazilian Air Force, with aircraft 4111 landing at Anápolis Air Base at 10:26 on 19 November after a one-hour and three-minute flight from Navegantes. The jet, piloted by Major Thiago Camargo, is now the eleventh Gripen to arrive in Brazil.
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11/29/2025
Newly leaked data shows that the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II was the top-scoring aircraft in Canada’s fighter jet competition, outmatching Saab’s Gripen E by a massive margin. In a 2021 evaluation conducted by Canada’s Department of National Defense, the F-35 received a 95% rating for military capabilities. The Gripen-E finished with a score of 33%, scoring 19.8 points out of 60, according to data obtained by Radio-Canada.
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11/29/2025
A Ukrainian crew operating one of their country's few Dassault Mirage 2000s said their French-built fighter has been nearly 100% effective against Russia's weapons. The Ukrainian Air Force released a video about the fourth-generation combat jet on Wednesday, in which a Mirage pilot and several technicians discussed the aircraft at a forward airstrip.
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11/27/2025
One day after US top military officer General Dan Caine arrived in Trinidad and met with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, two US military aircraft are believed to have departed from Scarborough Tobago, headed to North America.
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11/27/2025
The Ukrainian Air Force has released a video showing a French Mirage 2000 fighter jet in action during a combat sortie. In the video, pilots talk about their impressions of the aircraft and demonstrate the launch of a Magic 2 missile. The video was posted on the Facebook page of the Ukrainian Air Force Command.
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11/27/2025
Expert Reuben F. Johnson pairs a personal story of a lost naval aviator with the F-35’s combat debut as both “tip of the spear” and “tail-end Charlie” over Iran. During Operation Midnight Hammer, F-35s escorted B-2 bombers hundreds of miles into Iranian airspace, then loitered to hunt surface-to-air missile sites and cover the raid’s egress — the most vulnerable phase of any strike.
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11/27/2025
Boeing announced on Tuesday that a new F-15EX fighter aircraft, designated EX15, has been officially delivered to the 142nd Wing of the Oregon Air National Guard, marking the unit’s eighth aircraft of the type and adding momentum to the U.S. Air Force’s growing fleet of upgraded Eagles.
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11/27/2025
Dassault Aviation and Thales have entered a long-term strategic partnership to develop “controlled and supervised” artificial intelligence (AI) for future air combat applications, the two companies announced on November 25, 2025. The agreement was signed on November 18, 2025, by Dassault Aviation CEO Eric Trappier and Thales CEO Patrice Caine, and unveiled at the International Adopt AI Summit at the Grand Palais in Paris.
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11/26/2025
Japan scrambled JASDF fighter aircraft after a presumed Chinese high altitude surveillance drone passed between Yonaguni Island and Taiwan on November 24, 2025. The incident comes as Tokyo prepares to station a new Type 03 Chu SAM unit on Yonaguni, a move that strengthens air defense coverage across one of the most sensitive points in the first island chain.
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11/26/2025
Construction has continued on NATO member Germany’s first Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II, the US-based aerospace firm confirmed. A ceremony marking the signing off on the center-fuselage bulkhead and start of final assembly at Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth, Texas, facility was held last week.
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11/26/2025
On November 18, 2025, Breaking Defense reported that General Atomics Aeronautical Systems' ongoing talks with Saudi Arabia now include up to 200 Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCAs) based on the Gambit family and 130 MQ-9B drones. At the Dubai Airshow, the company's president, David Alexander, noted that production options inside the Kingdom are being analyzed due to the size of the potential order, one of the largest regional opportunities in the company’s history.
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11/26/2025
The defense chiefs of Japan, the UK and Italy on Tuesday discussed their trilateral collaboration to jointly develop the next-generation fighter aircraft. Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, UK Defense Secretary John Healey and Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto held the Trilateral Defense Ministerial Meeting via teleconference, according to a statement from Japan’s Defense Ministry.
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11/26/2025
Almost a decade has passed since Israel received its first Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II stealth strike fighter from the United States. The fifth-generation aircraft markedly enhanced Israel’s air superiority and technological edge over the wider region, as demonstrated by recent wars, especially the 12-day June war against Iran. With the U.S. signaling its intent to sell F-35s to other regional states, this may prove the beginning of the end for Israel’s regional monopoly on F-35s.
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11/25/2025
Romania’s radar monitoring systems detected new drones on Monday heading towards the city of Ismail in Ukraine. Consequently, two Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft of the German allies and two F-16 aircraft of the Romanian Air Forces were launched. Authorities across the Prut issued Ro-Alert warning messages last night for the locals in the north of Tulcea county, reports IPN.
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11/25/2025
U.S. Company Lockheed Martin has begun producing Germany’s first F-35A, following the ceremonial signing of the aircraft’s center-fuselage bulkhead and the start of final assembly in Fort Worth. The milestone marks a major step in Germany’s shift toward fifth-generation airpower and deeper NATO integration.
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11/25/2025
Japan’s Ministry of Defense (JMOD) recently made public an evaluation report on a prospective research and development (R&D) project for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) capable of collaborating with Japan’s next-generation fighter aircraft scheduled to be delivered by 2035 as part of the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) with Italy and the United Kingdom.
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11/25/2025
Germany’s recently appointed Air Force chief, Lieutenant General Holger Neumann, has signaled that Berlin is prepared to consider alternative paths to a future combat aircraft if the Franco-German-Spanish Future Combat Air System (FCAS) continues to face delays and political friction.
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11/24/2025
South Korea’s KF-21 Boramae is a home-grown 4.5-generation “budget stealth” fighter aimed squarely at countries that want advanced jets but can’t afford large F-35 fleets—or don’t want the strings that come with them. owered by twin F414 engines, equipped with an AESA radar and modern avionics, the KF-21 trades full stealth and internal bays for lower cost and easier export.
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11/24/2025
After years of uninterrupted cost growth and mounting implementation problems, the programme to modernise the avionics of Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft to the TR-3/Block 4 standard has already exceeded its planned budget by more than six billion US dollars and is five years behind schedule. In an attempt to curb this process, the Pentagon plans to reduce the scope of the modernisation, which will result in the installation of a downgraded TR-3/Block 4 package.
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11/24/2025
Indian Air Force Su-30MKI fighters are flying tightly integrated mixed formations with French Rafale and Mirage 2000 jets during Exercise Garuda 25 at Mont-de-Marsan Air Base in France from 16 to 27 November 2025. The eighth Indo-French air exercise brings together over 500 personnel and around 25 aircraft for high-intensity air combat drills that deepen interoperability from Europe to the Indo-Pacific.
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11/24/2025
Ukraine is extremely interested in resolving the issue of what the country’s Air Force will fly in the 2030s-2080s. The answer to this should be 100-150 Swedish Gripen and/or 100 French Rafale aircraft. But in order to have a reasonable hope for the implementation of such plans, it is necessary to resolve the issue of what Ukrainian pilots should fly in the 2020s.
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11/23/2025
Russia has confirmed that it is working on joint production of the Su-75 Checkmate stealth fighter with Belarus, with the prototype now in final assembly and moving into bench testing ahead of an expected first flight in early 2026. The move deepens Russia Belarus' defense integration and aims to position their Union State as a lower-cost alternative supplier of new-generation combat aircraft to markets that cannot or will not buy Western fighters.
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11/23/2025
Experts warn US deal on ‘lethal’ aircraft presents issues for Australia that ‘we’ve tried desperately to ignore with the Israelis’. Donald Trump’s unilateral decision to sell F-35 joint strike fighter jets to Saudi Arabia will rely on critical Australian components, prompting experts to warn Australia could become complicit in human rights abuses.
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11/23/2025
Plans to put 100-150 Swedish Gripen fighters and/or 100 French Rafales into service with the Ukrainian Air Force mean not only the insane costs of their purchase. And not even just the astronomical costs of their maintenance, especially when it comes to 250 fighters, which only a small number of countries can afford. But these are far from all the aircraft that need to be purchased in order to have combat fighters, as they will not fly without pilots.
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11/23/2025
The United States government has authorized the possible sale of new GBU-53 glide bombs to equip the fighter aircraft of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. This approval is reflected in one of the most recent notifications issued by the State Department to the U.S. Congress, aimed at greenlighting the operation under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Program, valued at US$82 million.
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11/22/2025
Israel’s F-35I Adir is a uniquely customized variant of the F-35, tailored for deep, high-risk strikes across the Middle East. Built on the U.S. airframe but fitted with Israeli electronic warfare suites, plug-and-play mission computers, local weapons, and jamming pods, the Adir is optimized for long-range, stealthy penetration.
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11/21/2025
The pilot of an Indian combat plane died after the aircraft crashed Friday during a demonstration flight for spectators at the Dubai Air Show, the Indian Air Force said.The Indian HAL Tejas, a combat aircraft used in the Indian Air Force, crashed around 2:10 p.m. local time after the pilot had flown across the site of the biennial air show in Dubai several times. The plane appeared to lose control and dive directly toward the ground just prior to crashing inside the grounds of the airfield.
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11/21/2025
The Trump administration’s agreement to sell F-35 stealth fighters to Saudi Arabia marks a major policy shift, with Washington previously being unwilling to export these high-end jets to Arab states in the Middle East. Such a sale would have significant ramifications for the airpower balance in the region, especially as regards Israel, currently the only F-35 operator in the Middle East, but its ripples could also be felt well beyond Tel Aviv.
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11/21/2025
Should Canada choose to fly the Swedish-built Gripen-E, the country’s air force could receive the first aircraft as quickly — or perhaps even sooner — than the long-awaited American-manufactured F-35, the CEO of Saab signalled Thursday. Micael Johansson also said the defence giant is willing to set up not only an assembly factory in Canada, but a full-fledged manufacturing centre and a research and development hub.
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11/21/2025
Türkiye’s unmanned stealth fighter jet Kizilelma has reached a milestone, locking on an F-16 and achieving a direct hit in its simulated test fire using locally produced advanced MURAD AESA radar and firing a local air-to-air missile.
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11/21/2025
The Pakistan Army on Thursday announced a pact with a "friendly country" for the procurement of its JF-17 fighter jet. Without revealing the name of the country, the Pakistan Army's media wing said in a statement that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was "signed with a friendly country for the procurement of the JF-17 Thunder, marking another significant milestone in Pakistan’s expanding defense and industrial partnerships."
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11/21/2025
The Yantar, an infamous spy ship from the Olenya Bay north of Murmansk, is currently sailing north of Scotland. This is its second voyage in UK waters this year. “My message to Russia, and to Putin, is this: We see you, we know what you are doing, and if the Yantar travels south this week, we are ready,” John Healy said at a news conference. Healy said the vessel is gathering intelligence and mapping undersea cables.
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11/20/2025
India is prioritizing the development of its domestic stealth fighter aircraft, AMCA, over potential cooperation with Russia on the Su-57, despite Moscow’s continued offers of technology transfer and local production. According to Defense Express on November 19, Russia has offered India a package deal involving the Su-57E fighter jet, which includes technology transfer and domestic assembly through Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
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11/20/2025
The US Air Force conducted a successful integration demonstration between an F-22 Raptor fighter and a MQ-20 Avenger unmanned aerial vehicle on October 21 at the Nevada Test and Training Range. The milestone, however, was only revealed by the service in recent days. This flight is part of a series of internally funded demonstrations aimed at advancing collaboration between crewed and uncrewed combat aircraft.
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11/20/2025
Russia’s primary engine manufacturer, United Engine Corporation (UEC), part of Rostec, has revealed its new 177S turbofan engine at the Dubai Airshow 2025. The fifth-generation propulsion system for tactical combat aircraft was designed as a direct evolution of the proven AL-31F/FP series currently powering the entire Su-27 family of fighter aircraft.
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11/20/2025
Boeing used the Dubai Airshow 2025 to detail how the F-15EX could serve as the command hub for a network of MQ-28 Ghost Bat drones, sharing targeting and sensor data in real time. The approach signals a shift toward scalable mass and lower operating costs as the U.S. and partner air forces prepare for high-end air combat.
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11/20/2025
The number of major accidents involving military aircraft spiked in 2024, internal Pentagon figures show, and a series of high-profile aviation mishaps with deaths and the loss of aircraft in 2025 suggest the disturbing trend may be continuing. Across the military, the rate of severe accidents per 100,000 flight hours rose 55% in the 2024 budget year compared with four years earlier. The Marine Corps saw the highest increase, nearly tripling its rate over the same period.
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11/19/2025
F-15E Strike Eagles assigned to the 336th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron have rotated out of Kadena Air Base, Japan, concluding a six-month deployment that included a groundbreaking three-month forward operation to U.S. Navy Support Facility Diego Garcia.
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11/19/2025
Born in the 1970s, the F-16 should be aging out. Instead, a sweeping Service Life Extension Program and F-35–grade tech have effectively rebuilt the jet for modern war. Structural upgrades and new systems push service life toward 12,000 hours, while an AESA radar lets pilots track dozens of targets at far greater ranges. A revamped cockpit, added automation, and the F-16V’s high-def displays, new data bus, EW suite, and helmet cueing all sharpen lethality.
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11/19/2025
Russia is attempting to drum up Arab interest in the Su-57 Felon through impressive aerial displays in the skies over Dubai. The United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), Russia’s state-run military aviation conglomerate, announced that Hero of Russia test pilot Sergey Bogdan, the chief pilot of the Sukhoi Design Bureau, was at the controls of the Sukhoi Su-57E (NATO reporting name “Felon”) at this week’s Dubai Airshow 2025, which kicked off on Monday in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
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11/19/2025
President Donald Trump says he has agreed to sell the nation’s most advanced fighter jet to Saudi Arabia despite concerns that China could gain access to the plane’s vaunted American technology. The sale to the Middle Eastern nation, whose top trading partner is China, was reaffirmed Tuesday during Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to Washington.
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11/19/2025
The Dubai Airshow 2025 roared to life this week as American air power took a leading role, captivating attendees with aerial demonstrations featuring the venerable B-52 Stratofortress, the cutting-edge F-35 Lightning II, the versatile F-16 Fighting Falcon and the capable U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon. The displays highlighted the United States’ commitment to regional security and underscored the unmatched capabilities of American air power.
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11/18/2025
As reported by Aviation Week on November 16, 2025, Saudi Arabia is once again at the center of Boeing’s export strategy as the company promotes the F-15EX Eagle II as a candidate for the Kingdom’s next fighter jet review. Ahead of the Dubai Airshow, Boeing indicated that it aims to secure new F-15EX orders in the Middle East and that Saudi Arabia remains a primary focus for both upgrades of existing F-15C/D airframes and possible new-build acquisitions.
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11/18/2025
On 17 November 2025, the Ukrainian Air Force published a new video on its official X account showing a Mirage 2000 on an active combat mission. The clip is accompanied by the caption: “Mirage 2000 of the Ukrainian Air Force flies on a combat mission, awaiting good news from France.” The short sequence offers an unusually clear view of the aircraft, its weapons loadout and a series of kill markings under the cockpit.
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11/18/2025
President Donald Trump said the US will sell the advanced F-35 stealth fighter jet to Saudi Arabia, marking a significant shift in American defense policy in the Middle East. “We’ll be selling the F-35s,” Trump told reporters on November 17, 2025. The planned sale comes on the eve of the visit of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the White House, further underscoring the strategic importance of Saudi Arabia to Washington.
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11/18/2025
An F-22 pilot controlled an MQ-20 drone from the fighter’s cockpit last month, General Atomics announced Nov. 17—a preview of the Air Force’s vision for Collaborative Combat Aircraft. General Atomics partnered with F-22 maker Lockheed Martin and L3Harris, which provided radios and data links, for the self-funded demonstration, which took place Oct. 17 at the Nevada Test and Training Range.
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11/17/2025
Canada is considering diversifying its fighter jet purchases from multiple companies to meet defense requirements as a review of F-35 fighter jets purchases continues, Defense Minister David McGuinty said Sunday. The government is "grateful for any forthcoming offer" and open to joint ventures that create Canadian jobs, McGuinty told the Canadian CTV news.
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11/17/2025
Russia displays the Su-57E export variant of the fighter jet at the Dubai Airshow 2025, marking the stealth fighter’s first public appearance in the Middle East and signaling Moscow's bid to become a key competitor in the global stealth fighter market.
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11/17/2025
Russia’s combat aircraft industry is struggling to sustain itself, with the sanctions impacting exports at the eye of the storm, according to a new report. On the eve of the influential Dubai Airshow 2025, the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) has pointed to supply chain issues and a lack of funding for research and development. Amid these difficulties, China has sought a constructive relationship with states that would have previously been the key customers of Russian suppliers.
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11/17/2025
At the end of yesterday, the Brazilian Air Force received its new F-39E Gripen fighter aircraft, registration FAB 4111, manufactured by SAAB AB and transported from Sweden by sea. The aircraft arrived in Navegantes, on the coast of Santa Catarina, after completing the Atlantic crossing aboard the Dutch-flagged vessel Fortunagracht. The journey, which began in Norrköping, took nearly 20 days.
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11/17/2025
President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced the signing of a “historic agreement” with France to strengthen Ukraine’s air capabilities. He stated this in a morning address. According to Zelensky, the “historic agreement” with France to bolster combat aviation and reinforce the protection of Ukrainian airspace will be signed on Monday, November 17.
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11/16/2025
The world's largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, will arrive in the northern Caribbean on Sunday as tensions with Venezuela grow, according to a U.S. military official. The carrier will join 15,000 service members, including 2,000 Marines aboard an amphibious assault ship.
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11/16/2025
Turkey has grounded all C-130 military cargo aircraft as a precaution following a crash earlier this week that killed 20 military personnel, a Turkish Defense Ministry official said on Thursday.“As of November 12, 2025, the flights of our [C-130] aircraft have been suspended as a precaution,” a Defense Ministry official told journalists at a briefing in Ankara. “After all detailed technical checks and inspections are completed.
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11/16/2025
China’s growing anti-ship arsenal is forcing the U.S. Navy to rethink how it fights and survives in the Western Pacific. Rather than betting everything on a handful of big, vulnerable surface combatants, future plans shift toward more numerous small surface ships, new amphibious vessels and a massive expansion of unmanned surface and undersea systems. The strategy is clear: a more dispersed, resilient, allied fleet designed to complicate Beijing’s targeting and outlast its missile salvos.
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11/16/2025
Standing at the crossroads of cultures and a source of great natural wealth, the Gulf region has become a geopolitical hotbed with rising military presence from both global powers and, more recently, the smaller nations that fringe the waters of the Gulf. The last decade has seen a dramatic rise in both the numbers and capabilities of combat aircraft operated by Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members.
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11/16/2025
Colombia on Friday signed an agreement for 17 Gripen E/F fighter jets, with a value of €3.1 billion ($3.6 billion), according to a statement by Saab. The deal covers 15 Gripen E one-seater aircraft, along with two Gripen F two-seaters and a host of equipment and weapons, the Swedish company announced. Delivery of the jets will take place between 2026 and 2032.
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11/15/2025
Embraer and Saab have completed the full flight test and certification campaign for in-flight refuelling between the KC-390 Millennium and F-39E Gripen of the Brazilian Air Force at Gavião Peixoto. The qualification closes a critical gap in Brazil’s new airpower architecture and creates a marketable tanker fighter package for export customers that plan to operate both platforms.
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11/15/2025
Ukraine will soon receive new air defense systems and combat aircraft from its allies, including France. The relevant decisions are already being prepared, and it will be a historic agreement, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy recalled that this week, the Nordic and Baltic states agreed to provide 500 million dollars for the PURL program to supply American weapons to Ukraine. This will significantly help to deter Russian attacks.
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11/15/2025
Venezuela released new footage of F-16 and Su-30 fighters conducting joint maneuvers, filmed from inside a cockpit and shared on official military channels. The timing reinforces Caracas’s intent to project readiness as US naval activity increases in the Caribbean.
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11/14/2025
As the Trump administration tries to finalize a deal to sell advanced F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, a Pentagon intelligence report has raised concerns that China could acquire the warplane’s technology if the sales go through, according to people familiar with the assessment.
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11/14/2025
Several French Rafale fighter jets operated from Ørland Air Base last week as part of a four-day training mission. The aim was to practise rapid deployment with minimal personnel while carrying out complex operations alongside Norwegian F-35s.
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11/14/2025
A joint initiative between Italy, Japan, and the UK, the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) is developing a sixth-generation fighter to answer the future airpower needs of the three partner nations and attract export orders. GCAP has made significant progress over the last year, with consortia formed and technology demonstrators in build or modification.
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11/14/2025
A Russian Su-30-series fighter crashed in the Republic of Karelia on November 13, with both crew members confirmed dead. According to Russian Telegram channels SHOT and 112, the aircraft went down in a forested area near Petrozavodsk, not far from the city’s civilian airport.
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11/13/2025
According to information published by the Defence Index X account on November 12, 2025, U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin confirmed that the F-47, Boeing’s next-generation air dominance fighter, will take its first flight in 2028. The aircraft, part of the NGAD program, is expected to replace the F-22 Raptor and redefine U.S. air superiority.
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11/13/2025
A few days before the federal budget was tabled, the CEO of Swedish industrial giant Saab flew to Ottawa to meet with the country's top bureaucrat, fuelling the sense a deal is brewing between the Canadian government and the military manufacturer. Sources said the fact that Michael Sabia, the clerk of the Privy Council, made room in his tight agenda on Oct. 31 to meet with Micael Johansson highlights Canada's interest in acquiring European military equipment.
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11/13/2025
France’s Rafale F5 (“Super Rafale”) extends a proven 4+ gen airframe with next-gen sensors, connectivity, and loyal-wingman teaming. A new RBE-2XG radar aims to spot low-observable targets at long range, while upgraded EW, datalinks, Meteor, and expanded SEAD/strike kits push capability without the cost and sustainment burdens of full stealth.
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11/13/2025
Russia’s Su-57 will make its Gulf debut at the Dubai Airshow, one of the few venues open to Moscow’s defense industry since European bans. The export-focused Su-57E targets new buyers, with Algeria reportedly first in line via sanction-bypassing payments. Analysts remain unconvinced: round engine nozzles, limited composites, and uncertain RAM coverage undercut stealth; production is low and combat validation thin.
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11/13/2025
With its fragmented production process, European defence procurement is inefficient and uncompetitive in comparison to the United States. A new approach, prioritising cross-country collaborations, could improve things, but would not be without its own challenges.
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11/12/2025
Leaked files published by InformNapalm on November 4, 2025, indicate that Russia is using components derived from the Su-57 fighter jet for its classified PAK DA strategic stealth bomber program. The files describe hydraulic actuators and geared hinges identified as 80RSh115 and 80RSh, two systems that control internal weapon bays while reducing radar visibility.
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11/12/2025
On November 11, 2025, China marked the 76th anniversary of its air force with the release of a short film titled “Far-Reaching Dreams” showing for the first time its GJ-11 Sharp Sword stealth drone (now renamed Dark Dragon) flying in formation with the J-20 fighter jet and J-16D electronic warfare aircraft. The footage begins with the GJ-11 taxiing out of a hangar, taking off, and joining the two manned aircraft in formation.
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11/12/2025
Released videos show little beyond the CCA prototype’s takeoff silhouetted against a sunlit mountain range. But GA-ASI spokesperson C. Mark Brinkley assured that it was more than a Kitty Hawk-style bumping along the terrain: “It went up in the air. It flew for some amount of time. It went up to altitude. It was a true flight.” The flight signified what Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink has called “an inflection point.”
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11/12/2025
The Navy’s largest and most advanced aircraft carrier, the Gerald R. Ford, moved into the Caribbean region on Tuesday, adding to the capability of the United States to strike boats suspected of carrying drugs or targets on land in Venezuela as the Trump administration weighs further military steps aimed at ousting the country’s president, Nicolás Maduro.
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11/12/2025
A Turkish military cargo plane with 20 people on board crashed in Georgia near the border with Azerbaijan on Tuesday, authorities said, but they gave no immediate confirmation of feared casualties. Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and top officials from Georgia and Azerbaijan signaled that at least some of those aboard were believed to have been killed, without providing details.
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11/11/2025
The Ministry of Defense of Japan plans to equip air bases with camouflage shelters for aircraft to protect them from detection by satellites. The relevant information was published in the budget request for 2026. According to the document, a shelter for fighter aircraft will be built at the Naha air base on the island of Okinawa, where F-15J/DJ fighters are currently based.
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11/11/2025
Rostec State Corporation will present the Su-57E fifth-generation fighter jet for the first time in the Middle East during the Dubai Airshow 2025, where it will also take part in the official flying display. The aircraft is designed for high manoeuvrability, low radar visibility, and precision engagement, and has already proven its performance in large-scale combat operations.
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11/11/2025
The Air Force is projecting relatively limited growth for its main F-35 fleet for the rest of the decade, according to the new fighter roadmap it provided to Congress. That roadmap also calls for the overall fighter fleet to shrink for two more years before starting to grow.
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11/10/2025
A central mystery in military aviation is why China constantly shows off its 6th-generation J-36 and J-50 fighters, while the U.S. Air Force’s F-47 NGAD remains top secret. The answer lies in a “PR War.” Chinese developers may be flaunting their aircraft to secure funding in a competitive political system. The U.S., in contrast, feels no need to “show off,” prioritizing the secrecy of its superior technology, such as new adaptive cycle engines and advanced sensor fusion, which form the F-47’s.
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11/10/2025
France’s upgraded Mirage 2000D RMV, a mid-life program covering 55 aircraft, is evolving from a straightforward modernization into one of the French Air and Space Force’s most experimental platforms.
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11/10/2025
The United States has stationed combat aircraft in El Salvador, marking a shift in its military approach to regional security threats. Flights from the country’s main international airport began in mid-October, involving planes equipped for strikes on land and sea targets.
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11/10/2025
For the first time since the end of World War II, the UK’s Royal Navy has deployed 24 fighter jets on an aircraft carrier – a major milestone that significantly boosts the ship’s operational capabilities. The War Zone reported on this. This deployment was carried out entirely by the UK, without assistance from foreign forces – unlike previous missions, when the United States had stationed its own aircraft on the British carrier.
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11/09/2025
In a significant boost to India’s fighter jet programme, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on Friday (7 November) inked an agreement with GE Aerospace to acquire 113 F404-GE-IN20 engines for the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), India Today reported. The deal comes amid improving India–US defence cooperation following recent tariff-related frictions.
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11/09/2025
Just as the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet was essentially an all-new fighter jet compared with the older F/A/18 Hornet, so too is the new Gripen E essentially a new aircraft over the Gripen C/D. In Russia, such upgrades would come with a higher number, implying a new aircraft (e.g., MiG-29 vs MiG-35 or Su-27 vs Su-35), but Saab retained the original brand with just an upgrade to the variant. Here is what to know about the dramatically improved capabilities of the new Saab Gripen E/F.
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11/09/2025
Ukraine is continuing discussions with Sweden regarding the supply of Saab JAS 39 Gripen fighter aircraft, as well as the future localisation of their production in Ukraine, according to statements made by Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal. The minister made the announcement during a joint briefing with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, following high-level meetings in Sweden.
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11/09/2025
U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagles have roared out of Barnes Air National Guard Base, Mass., for the last time. The 104th Fighter Wing’s final three remaining F-15Cs departed the base Oct. 23 for the “Boneyard” at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., ending the aircraft’s era on the frontlines of homeland defense.
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11/09/2025
At the company’s third-quarter earnings call, CEO Jim Taiclet stated Lockheed is on track to “manufacture one plane for every working day of the year.” The firm confirmed it had already delivered 143 jets by the end of Q3, surpassing its previous annual record of 142 set in 2022. If the target is met, Lockheed Martin could achieve its strongest F-35 delivery year of the decade, marking a 64% increase compared to 2023.
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11/08/2025
Maldives will acquire a military aircraft next year, President Mohamed Muizzu said as he inaugurated the national defence force's first dedicated air station. "The landmark event formalises a key component of the island nation's defence strategy, significantly expanding the capabilities of the newly constituted Air Corps," state-run Public Service Media (PSM News) said.
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11/08/2025
China has commissioned its latest aircraft carrier after extensive sea trials, state media reported Friday, adding a ship that experts say will help what is already the world’s largest navy expand its power farther beyond its own waters. The official Xinhua news agency said the Fujian had been commissioned Wednesday at a naval base on southern China’s Hainan island in a ceremony attended by top leader Xi Jinping.
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11/08/2025
Ukraine and Sweden have agreed to begin localizing the production of Swedish Saab JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets on Ukrainian territory, with plans to establish significant domestic manufacturing by 2033, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced on 7 November, as reported by Ukrainian national broadcaster Suspilne.
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11/08/2025
European nations and Canada are “pushing away” from the F-35, motivated by a desire for “strategic autonomy” and political friction with the Trump administration. Spain officially canceled its F-35 purchase in August 2025, opting for European-built alternatives after PM Pedro Sanchez clashed with Trump over NATO spending. Switzerland, meanwhile, is now reviewing its 36-jet deal after being hit with a “shocking” $1.3 billion price hike and new 39% U.S. tariffs.
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11/08/2025
Saudi Arabia’s request for F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters is reportedly progressing within the Pentagon, according to sources cited by Reuters. The move could make Riyadh (RUH) the first Arab nation to field a fifth-generation stealth jet, breaking Israel’s exclusive control of the platform in the region.
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11/07/2025
As reported by Tactical Report on November 3, 2025, Egypt’s negotiations with the United States for the acquisition of Boeing F-15 Eagle fighter jets are still ongoing, with no final agreement or production schedule confirmed. The proposed sale, valued at several billion dollars and covering up to 46 units, is expected to replace the canceled Su-35 procurement and expand Egypt’s Air Force modernization program.
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11/07/2025
China’s J-35 borrows the F-35’s silhouette and internal bays, and it’s being tailored for carrier ops on Fujian. But resemblance isn’t parity. The jet’s twin-engine layout, immature coatings, and unproven avionics trail the F-35’s combat-tested stealth, sensor fusion (DAS), mission-data libraries, and allied network. The Lightning II keeps widening the gap with Block 4 upgrades while the J-35 is still in low-rate production.
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11/07/2025
Sweden and Ukraine are progressing in talks over a major defense agreement that could see Kyiv acquire up to 150 Gripen E multirole fighter jets, Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson told Reuters on November 6, adding that Stockholm could fund part of the deal via military aid. The deal, if finalized, would mark Sweden’s largest-ever aircraft export.
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11/07/2025
The Air Force plans to modernize early Block 20 F-22s—once training jets—adding open mission systems, improved stealth coatings, EW upgrades, and AIM-9X/AIM-120D/AIM-260 compatibility. The move could boost the combat-coded Raptor fleet to 178 and hedge against delays to the sixth-gen F-47 amid rising J-20/Su-57 threats.
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11/07/2025
The new sixth-generation GCAP fighter should be able to carry a wide variety of armaments and work with any number of different “Loyal Wingman” drones, a leading official on the UK-Japanese-Italy program has said. British defense ministry official Group Captain Bill Sanders said the under-development platform needed to have a weapons bay ready to accept any armament used by the partners, by NATO and by the United States.
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11/06/2025
Saudi Arabia could become the next customer for the Lockheed Martin F-35, with the Trump administration reportedly weighing up the sale of up to 48 jets to the kingdom. Selling the stealth jet to Saudi Arabia would be a significant policy shift, with Washington previously being unwilling to export F-35s to Arab states in the region, for fear of upsetting the strategic balance in relation to Israel.
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11/06/2025
Defense tech startup Shield AI’s X-BAT drone wingman will be powered by GE’s F110 fighter engine, the two companies exclusively told Breaking Defense, giving the recently unveiled loyal wingman drone the same powerplant used in the F-15 and F-16. Under a memorandum of understanding signed by the firms, GE will provide its F110-GE-129 powerplant and integrate a thrust vectoring nozzle critical for the X-BAT platform’s vertical takeoff-and-landing (VTOL) operations.
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11/05/2025
NATO fighters have scrambled three times in a week as Russian drones and reconnaissance aircraft prodded Baltic airspace and nearby corridors. After Polish jets and allies shot down drones that crossed Poland in September—triggering an Article 4 consult—recent incidents saw Il-20, Il-76, and Il-78 flights intercepted in international airspace without transponders or flight plans.
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11/05/2025
The legendary A-10 Warthog has been granted retirement in 2026 for several reasons, including the changing landscape of modern combat and military budget limitations. Due to the aircraft's effective but simplistic design, it lacks some features necessary to compete against other modern forces. For instance, the A-10 Warthog is anything but stealthy or quick, which is a problem when sending this aircraft against an adversary utilizing state-of-the-art air defenses.
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11/05/2025
U.S. Navy aerial warfare experts are pursuing carrier-based semi-autonomous uncrewed combat aircraft that operate together with crewed combat aircraft in a new project called Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). The CCA project seeks to enhance the carrier air wing's combat capabilities; sensing and situational awareness; and ability to blend crewed and uncrewed aircraft to enhance safety and extend the read of carrier-based aircraft.
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11/05/2025
The latest iteration of the innovative Gambit Series of unmanned combat air vehicles (UCAV) from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) is Gambit 6, a collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) that adds air-to-ground operations to its already proven air-to-air capability. The multi-role platform is optimized for roles such as electronic warfare, suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD), and deep precision strike, making it a versatile option for evolving defense needs.
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11/05/2025
“Updating priors” means revising an existing belief system in the face of new evidence. Much has been written of about the modernization of China’s military in recent years, particularly People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aviation (both the PLA Air Force and PLA Naval Air Force). However, the niche trade of tracking PLA news still causes significant lags in disseminating information among the wider defense journalism, think tank, and defense commentariat crowd.
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11/04/2025
The Netherlands has formally transferred ownership of 18 F-16 fighter jets to Romania, finalising the agreement in Bucharest. The documents were signed by Romanian Defence Minister Ionut Mosteanu and Linda Ruseler, Director of Movable Property at the Dutch Ministry of Finance.
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11/04/2025
Sweden’s Saab is considering Canada as a potential assembly site for its Gripen E fighter jets as it looks to expand production capacity amid rising international demand, including from Ukraine. On October 22, 2025, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a letter of intent in Linköping covering a potential sale of more than 100 Saab JAS 39 Gripen E fighters.
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11/04/2025
While China continues to make steady progress in the development of sixth-generation aircraft, as well as in the production of the new stealth fighters J-35 intended to equip the Navy’s aircraft carrier Fujian, the country has now recorded the first flight of its new advanced carrier-based training aircraft, which will be used to train its future pilots.
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11/04/2025
As the photos in this post show, the Finnish Air Force‘s first F-35 has moved out of final assembly. The service said on its Facebook page; ‘Excitement is building! The Finnish Air Force’s first F-35 has moved out of final assembly, and we couldn’t resist sharing this behind-the-scenes sneak peek.’
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11/04/2025
NATO fighter jets conducting air policing missions in the Baltic states scrambled three times last week to identify and escort Russian military aircraft, Lithuania's Ministry of Defence announced, according to LRT. On 27 October, NATO aircraft took off to identify a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance plane flying through international airspace from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad Oblast. The aircraft was operating without an activated radar transponder and without a flight plan.
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11/03/2025
United States personnel tasked with the production of F-16 Block 70 fighter jets purchased by Taiwan are working 20 hours a day to expedite the delivery of the aircraft, but will still miss the deadline, according to Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense. The ministry made the statement in a report submitted to lawmakers on Sunday, outlining the status of U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and noting delays in the delivery of several weapons systems.
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11/03/2025
Several drones spotted above a Belgian airbase over the weekend were there “to spy” on military fighter jets, the country’s defense minister said Sunday, at a time when European nations are on high alert for airspace intrusions. “They come to spy, to see where the F-16s are, where the munitions are, and other highly strategic things,” Theo Francken told CNN affiliate RTBF.
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11/03/2025
Security sources have ended ongoing disputes over the pricing of Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets, confirming that Türkiye acquired the aircraft at prices comparable to what manufacturing nations pay, with the jets expected to be flight-ready by the first quarter of 2027. According to security sources cited in a report by Akif Bulbul from Türkiye daily, the Eurofighter jets were not purchased at inflated prices above their actual value.
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11/03/2025
Armenia is finalizing negotiations with India to purchase Su-30MKI multirole fighter jets produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). According to Indian Defence News, the deal is in the final stage of approval and is viewed as a strategic response to Azerbaijan’s recent purchase of 40 Pakistani-made JF-17C Block III fighters.
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11/03/2025
By selling F-35s to allied nations, America provides them with one of the world’s most effective fighter jets—and an ironclad economic connection to the US defense industry. No modern aircraft has been as politically or industrially successful as the F-35 Lightning II. Conceived in the 1990s as a cost-sharing platform capable of performing as a jack of all trades, the F-35 has since become a cornerstone of Western defense integration, a platform that binds the US, Europe, and pacific allies.
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11/02/2025
The defense ministry detected five Chinese military aircraft and eight naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Saturday and 6 a.m. on Sunday. Three of the aircraft were reported to have crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered the nation’s northern and southwestern air defense identification zone, or ADIZ. In response, Taiwan sent aircraft and naval ships and deployed coastal-based missile systems to monitor Chinese activity.
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11/02/2025
A Russian Il-76 military transport aircraft has landed in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, signaling Moscow's growing interest in the country, Defense News reports. The Il-76, registered as RA-78765, arrived in Caracas on Sunday after a two-day flight from Russia. The route reportedly passed through Armenia, Algeria, Morocco, Senegal, and Mauritania before reaching Latin America.
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11/02/2025
The large-scale buildup of U.S. military forces and assets in the Caribbean suggests that the Trump administration is preparing to expand operations. The large-scale buildup of U.S. military forces and assets in the Caribbean suggests that the Trump administration may be preparing to expand operations in the region, escalating tensions between Washington and Caracas and raising the possibility of the first U.S. strikes on Venezuela.
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11/02/2025
Footage dated Oct. 31 shows China’s experimental J-36 stealth aircraft flying in formation with a J-20 near Chengdu, indicating paired testing with an operational fifth-generation fighter. If sustained, this points to mixed-generation strike packages and manned teaming concepts that matter for U.S. planning in the Indo-Pacific.
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11/02/2025
At first glance, the U.S. Air Force looks overstretched: old fleets, tight budgets, sliding deliveries. Look closer and it’s a deliberate pivot from industrial-age mass to sixth-generation, networked power. NGAD as the manned “quarterback,” B-21 for penetrating strike, and Collaborative Combat Aircraft to scout, jam, and shoot turn airpower from counting jets to syncing ecosystems.
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11/01/2025
The Korea Aerospace Industries KF-21 BORAMAE 4.5 generation combat fighter will gain ground-attack capability ahead of schedule. Durign ADEX 2025, a company official told FW MAG that KAI remains “on track to complete all flight-test activities for the KF-21 by June 2026.” The first aircraft to be delivered to the Republic of Korea Air Force will be Block 1 variants capable of Air-to-Air engagements only.
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11/01/2025
An unclassified Air Force plan says the service needs 1,558 combat-coded fighters by 2035—about a 22% jump from the projected 1,271 in FY26—to meet the administration’s defense guidance. The roadmap leans on accelerating F-35A and F-15EX buys (while retiring A-10s and older F-15/16s), but flags funding and supply-chain risks.
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11/01/2025
The second of the U.S. Air Force’s two prototype drone wingmen, known as collaborative combat aircraft, began flight testing Friday, the service said. Anduril’s YFQ-44A drone carried out its first flight at an unidentified California test location Friday, the Air Force said. It follows the first flight of its General Atomics-made counterpart, the YFQ-42A, which took place in August.
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11/01/2025
Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro asked his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to supply missiles, radars, and modern combat aircraft, citing the ongoing U.S. naval asset buildup in the Caribbean, The Washington Post reported on Oct. 31.
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