December, 2025 Military Aviation News
12/31/2025
From 6am yesterday until 6am today, 14 Chinese warships, eight government vessels and 130 military aircraft, including unmanned aerial vehicles, were detected around Taiwan, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said. The ministry said China's People’s Liberation Army (PLA) sent 130 warplanes and drones during the 24-hour period to "harass" Taiwan, with 90 of them crossing the Taiwan Strait's median line and flying into Taiwanese airspace.
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12/31/2025
The contemporary evolution of the Republic of Poland‘s defense posture, specifically within the framework of the Polish Air Force (Sily Powietrzne), represents a sophisticated pivot toward integrated regional hegemony and strategic autonomy within the NATO eastern flank, necessitated by the deteriorating security architecture of Eastern Europe as of December 30, 2025.
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12/31/2025
China's People's Liberation Army staged a second day of large-scale military drills around Taiwan on Tuesday, unleashing a live-fire show of force as part of what it called "Justice Mission 2025" to demonstrate its ability to deter any external armed support for the self-ruled island that it has long insisted is part of its sovereign territory.
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12/31/2025
Spain has officially selected the Turkish-built HÜRJET advanced jet trainer for its next-generation pilot training program, committing to a €2.6 billion acquisition covering aircraft, simulators, and long-term support. The decision marks a major milestone for Türkiye’s defense industry and reflects shifting procurement dynamics within NATO.
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12/31/2025
New-build F-15 Eagle fighters are headed to Israel again, with a contract for 25 new F-15IA aircraft placed with Boeing. These will be the first new Eagles that the country has acquired since 1999, when it received the last of its F-15I Ra’am jets and continues the enduring legacy of the F-15 in Israeli Air Force service.
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12/29/2025
The Ministry of National Defense tracked two Chinese military aircraft, nine naval vessels, and two official ships around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Sunday and 6 a.m. on Monday. The two People’s Liberation Army did not cross the Taiwan Strait median line, according to the MND. In response, Taiwan deployed aircraft, naval ships, and coastal-based missile systems to monitor PLA activity.
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12/29/2025
Turkish defense company Baykar announced on Sunday that two prototypes of its Bayraktar KIZILELMA unmanned combat aircraft have successfully carried out the world’s first fully autonomous close-formation flight by jet-powered drones.
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12/29/2025
On 19 December, the United States Department of War announced the signing of another contract with Lockheed Martin for the provision of logistics support services for the global fleet of multirole combat aircraft from the F-35 Lightning II family. The December agreement is valued at USD 3.6 billion and is to be completed by the end of 2026, with an initial tranche of USD 1.8 billion released at the time of signing.
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12/29/2025
On 9 December 2025, at Tsuiki Air Base of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF), at least 16 F-2 fighter aircraft were observed conducting training flights with each jet carrying four ASM-2 air-to-ship missiles mounted under their main wings. The ASM-2 is an indigenously developed Japanese anti-ship missile with a range exceeding 140 km. It employs an imaging infrared (IIR) seeker and is equipped with infrared counter-countermeasures (IRCCM) as well as target discrimination capabilities.
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12/28/2025
Last weekend, the Ukrainian Security Service and Ukrainian Military Intelligence were on the hunt for Russian fighter jets. In two separate operations, the Ukrainian forces claimed to have destroyed four Russian aircraft (a Su-27 Flanker and three Su-30 Flankers). The four aircraft cost approximately $170 million. On Saturday, the GUR used a saboteur to attack the Russian air base in Lipetsk. In a post released by the Ukrainian Military Intelligence, the Ukrainians called the operation “unique.
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12/28/2025
A Maryland-based company is set to integrate advanced AI-driven sustainment solutions into the U.S. combat aircraft fleet. For this, Lockheed Martin has partnered with MANTECH, which provides mission-focused technology solutions and services for U.S. defense, intelligence and federal civilian agencies.
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12/27/2025
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), a Korean aircraft manufacturer, said Friday it has signed a deal with the Philippine defense ministry to upgrade the performance of its FA-50 fighter jets operated by the Philippine Air Force. The company said it will carry out a 93 billion-won ($64 million) performance upgrade program for 11 FA-50PH light attack aircraft through 2029.
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12/26/2025
The Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU) officially received the first batch of new Rafale F4 fighters during a ceremony held on November 28, 2025, at Dassault Aviation’s facility in Mérignac, Bordeaux. The event, led by the Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force (Wakasau), Air Marshal TNI Ir. Tedi Rizalihadi S., M.M., formally marks the start of the delivery schedule for a total of 42 new aircraft, of which 30 are single-seat and 12 are twin-seat, to be supplied by the French manufacturer.
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12/26/2025
Russian nuclear-capable bombers conducted a “scheduled” flight over the Norwegian and Barents Seas, prompting “fighter jets of foreign countries” to escort them, Russia’s defense ministry said on Thursday, according to Russian news agencies. Neither the date of the Tu-95 flights nor the countries that deployed monitoring aircraft were specified.
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12/26/2025
Canada’s government is reconsidering its plan to buy 88 F-35A stealth fighters and is openly weighing Saab’s Gripen as a cheaper, less political alternative. Maj. Gen. Chris McKenna stresses Canada faces fifth-generation threats and needs “overmatch,” not compromise, especially in its NORAD role alongside the United States. His message is clear: politics may change, but Canada’s pilots still need the best jet available to defend North America.
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12/26/2025
Polish aviation intercepted a Russian reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea, and weather balloons from Belarus violated Polish airspace. The Operational Command of the Armed Forces of Poland (DORSZ) reported this. On the morning of December 25, 2025, Polish fighter jets intercepted a Russian reconnaissance aircraft over the international waters of the Baltic Sea.
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12/25/2025
The US military has moved a large number of special-operations aircraft, troops and equipment into the Caribbean as President Trump openly considers military action to oust Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro, according to a new report. At least 10 CV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, used by special-operations forces, arrived in the region Monday night from Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico, an official told the Wall Street Journal.
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12/25/2025
The Ukrainian air force went to war against invading Russian forces in February 2022 with just 125 combat aircraft concentrated at around a dozen large bases. Given Russia’s overwhelming deep-strike advantage—hundreds of deployed warplanes and thousands of cruise and ballistic missiles—few observers expected the Ukrainian brigades to survive the first hours of the war. But they did survive. And 38 months later, they’re still surviving—and flying daily air-defence and strike sorties.
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12/25/2025
South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration confirmed that the indigenous KF-21 Boramae fighter will receive full air-to-ground combat capabilities starting in 2027, years ahead of the original schedule. The accelerated timeline underscores rising confidence in the aircraft’s technical maturity and strengthens Seoul’s push for greater airpower independence.
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12/23/2025
If the Chinese navy’s task group sailing around Australia a few weeks ago showed us anything, it’s that Australia has a deterrence gap so large you can drive a ship through it. Waiting for AUKUS or hoping Australia’s troubled shipbuilding program will deliver—in the 2030s—is a recipe for annual panic about grey zone coercion as Chinese deployments become routine.
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12/23/2025
Lockheed Martin and MANTECH today announced a strategic teaming agreement to integrate advanced AI driven sustainment solutions into the U.S. combat aircraft fleet. Through this effort, we will deliver real-time aircraft performance monitoring, predictive maintenance, optimized logistics support and improved mission availability across legacy and next-generation platforms, while adhering to the highest standards of security.
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12/23/2025
The U.S. Air Force announces the designation of YFQ-48A as the Mission Design Series for Northrop Grumman’s Project Talon, a semi-autonomous prototype aircraft. This designation marks a key step forward in the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, underscoring the Air Force’s commitment to rapidly delivering next-generation capabilities that meet the urgent and evolving needs of the warfighter.
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12/23/2025
Russia has begun flight testing a new engine on its Sukhoi Su-57 fifth-generation fighter as part of an effort to introduce a more powerful and efficient powerplant on future versions of the aircraft.
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12/23/2025
Ukraine said it destroyed two more Russian fighter jets by sneaking into an airfield hangar over the weekend, estimating the destroyed aircrafts' combined worth at up to $100 million. The hits add to the large haul of Russian jets Ukraine says it has been able to strike even at bases hundreds of miles from the front lines. Business Insider was not able to independently verify Ukraine's claim.
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12/22/2025
Saab has submitted proposals to the Canadian government to build Gripen fighter jets and GlobalEye surveillance aircraft in Canada, with the potential to create 12,600 jobs. Local media reported that the plan includes domestic production for export markets, including Ukraine, following recent U.S. tariffs that have affected Canadian industry.
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12/22/2025
The Times of Islamabad newspaper has revealed that Pakistan and Benghazi are in the process of signing a major defense memorandum of understanding that could include the supply of 16 to 18 JF-17 Thunder fighter jets, in a deal estimated to be worth several billion dollars.
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12/21/2025
Switzerland’s decision to cap spending on its F-35A fighter programme has raised an obvious follow-on question: could Bern look beyond Lockheed Martin to fill a growing gap in its future fighter force? While the country remains contractually committed to the F-35, rising costs and a reassessment of Switzerland’s long-term air defence needs have created tension at the heart of its procurement strategy.
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12/21/2025
Japan is the largest operator of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fifth-generation stealth fighter. There are currently 105 F-35As, the conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variants, and 42 F-35Bs, the short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) models now in service. Three squadrons operate the F-35A at Misawa and Komatsu air bases, and as additional aircraft are received, each base will host two squadrons.
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12/21/2025
Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) successfully struck two Russian Su-27 fighter jets at the Belbek military airfield in temporarily occupied Crimea, SBU wrote in Telegram on December 20. One of the jets, fully equipped with munitions and ready for combat, was destroyed in the attack. The estimated value of the two aircraft is around $70 million.
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12/20/2025
A South Korean defense technology firm will supply advanced cockpit displays for the U.S. Air Force’s new F-15EX Eagle II fighter jet and South Korea’s F-15K Slam Eagle under a new deal with Boeing. Hanwha Systems announced Thursday that it had signed a contract with the U.S. aircraft manufacturer to provide Eagle Large-Area Displays for both jets.
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12/20/2025
Following temporary production delays earlier this year, the US Air Force has resumed its deliveries of the new F-15EX Eagle II iteration to the Portland Air National Guard Base. Beginning in August, a strike affecting workers employed at Boeing’s St. Louis facility halted progress on the Eagle II’s production. However, following rounds of negotiations, members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District 837 returned to work in November.
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12/20/2025
The Air Force is upgrading its experimental, autonomous X-62 VISTA aircraft with new radar and other mission systems to expand its ability to conduct complicated tests of artificial intelligence technology. The X-62 VISTA, which stands for Variable Stability In-flight Simulator Test Aircraft, is now undergoing a comprehensive mission systems upgrade, according to a Thursday statement from Edwards Air Force Base in California.
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12/19/2025
For more than half a century, the United States has worked to ensure Israel’s qualitative military edge in the Middle East. That could change if Qatar gets the F-35 Lightning II. Israeli officials are growing more concerned regarding Qatar’s renewed interest in a potential F-35 Lightning II acquisition deal with the United States. According to a Channel 12 news report, Washington appears to be weighing the possible arms deal.
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12/19/2025
Bulgarian government ministers and representatives of the US as well as of F-16 manufacturer Lockheed Martin attended an official ceremony on December 18 at Graf Ignatievo air base for the completion of deliveries of the fighter jets under the 2019 initial contract.
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12/19/2025
Ukrainian drones carried out strikes on the Belbek military airfield in Crimea, hitting a MiG-31 interceptor fighter jet and components of air defense systems. Ukraine’s Security Service (SSU) reported that the successful operation was conducted on December 18 by Alpha Special Operations Center forces. Local residents recorded the strikes, sharing videos on social media showing explosions and attempts by Russian troops to shoot down the drones.
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12/19/2025
As military and economic pressure builds on Venezuelan dictator Nicholas Maduro, an E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft was tracked on FlightRadar24 flying close to the Venezuelan coast. To our knowledge, at least in recent days, these aircraft have not been present on flight tracking software in this increasingly high-activity area. And if they have popped-up, their presence has been impersistent at best. At the same time, E-3s are no stranger to this region.
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12/18/2025
New details have emerged about how Turkish Air Force Command's F-16s intercepted and shot down an unidentified drone that entered Turkish airspace from the Black Sea on the evening of Dec. 15, with defense sources speaking to Turkish media outlets revealing the step-by-step sequence from initial radar detection to the AIM-9X missile strike near Cankiri, a district in central Anatolia.
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12/18/2025
Bangladesh is the latest nation to take steps to procure the Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet series. Last week, officials representing the Bangladesh Air Force penned a letter of intent to purchase these famous jets from Italian manufacturer Leonardo. As part of a Multi-Role Combat Aircraft requirement, Dhaka is expected to receive roughly a dozen Eurofighters.
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12/18/2025
Government and military leaders from the United States and Finland gathered today at Lockheed Martin’s (NYSE: LMT) F-35 production facility to mark the rollout of the first F-35A Lightning II aircraft for the Finnish Air Force, a milestone signaling a new generation of Finnish air power and reinforcing transatlantic ties amid saber-rattling by the Russian Bear.
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12/18/2025
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has contracted BAE Systems to integrate its latest Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) systems into the KF-21 Boramae fighter jet. Under the $11-million contract, BAE will supply its AN/APX-127(V)1 Combined Interrogator Transponder (CIT) to enhance the 4.5-generation combat aircraft’s capabilities to distinguish between allied forces and potential threats.
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12/18/2025
U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), a member of the Armed Services Committee, helped the Senate pass the annual national defense bill. The bipartisan legislation includes numerous provisions authored and secured by Peters to strengthen U.S. national security, invest in Michigan’s military facilities and defense sector, clean up PFAS contamination, and give servicemembers a pay raise.
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12/16/2025
India has agreed with Oman to transfer decommissioned SEPECAT Jaguar fighter-bombers as part of efforts to support the current fleet of this type of aircraft in the country’s Air Force. This was reported by the aviation publication Scramble. Omani Jaguars were decommissioned back in 2014. In total, the country received 27 aircraft of various modifications, which began to be delivered in the late 1970s.
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12/16/2025
Diehl Aerospace is developing a new technology that will allow fighter pilots, including those flying the Eurofighter, to interact directly with unmanned aerial systems and other mission-related platforms. The initiative aims to expand the operational capabilities of existing fighter aircraft and prepare them for future, network-centric combat scenarios.
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12/16/2025
Authorities in Germany have launched a criminal probe into apparent laser attacks on U.S. Air Force (USAF) F-16 pilots approaching a NATO base in the west of the country earlier this month. On three occasions, fighter jet pilots were approaching Spangdahlem Air Base "when unknown persons targeted the aircraft with a blue laser beam," German police said in a statement.
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12/16/2025
Lockheed Martin has completed production of all F-16 Block 70 aircraft for the initial fleets of Bulgaria and Slovakia. The aircraft are intended to equip both air forces for NATO and allied operations. The aircraft were manufactured at Lockheed Martin’s facility in Greenville, South Carolina. They have completed DD250 final acceptance under the U.S. government’s Foreign Military Sales programme.
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12/16/2025
Peru’s Contraloría, the national audit watchdog, reported procedural observations on December 12 regarding the technical dossier for the Peruvian Air Force’s planned acquisition of 24 new fighter jets. The observations target the validation process of the Air Force’s technical documents, a step required before information is submitted to the Armed Forces Procurement Agency for negotiations with foreign vendors.
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12/16/2025
When the head of Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), Vadim Badekha, went on record in November to announce that the first Su-57 fighters had been delivered to a foreign customer and were already on combat duty, he did not need to say “Algeria.” He simply noted that the aircraft were “demonstrating their best qualities” and that “our customer is satisfied,” and left it at that.
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12/16/2025
India, now the sole operator of the Anglo-French SEPECAT Jaguar strike aircraft, is to acquire surplus examples of the Cold War-era jets from Oman, which retired the type in 2014. The decision reflects the continued value of the Jaguar to the Indian Air Force (IAF) but also points to the service’s shrinking fighter force and delays in acquiring new equipment.
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12/15/2025
The Dominican Republic government has authorized several United States military aircraft to land and operate in the country in the coming days as part of an operational support deployment in the Caribbean. According to officials, the aircraft have been granted temporary permits to operate from restricted areas at San Isidro Air Base and Las Américas International Airport. The cooperation agreement allows for surveillance, transport, and technical support missions.
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12/15/2025
The Pentagon is continuing to rapidly add military capabilities to Operation Southern Spear, a mission that began as a counter-narcotics effort but is increasingly aimed at Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro. Images emerged online today of Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) aircraft having arrived in Puerto Rico. In addition, KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refuelers are now flying missions out of the Dominican Republic.
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12/14/2025
Turkey and the United States are discussing the US sanctions and obstacles to Ankara rejoining the F-35 jet programme but nothing has changed with respect to its possession of Russian S-400 air defences, the defence ministry said on Friday. The NATO allies have been at loggerheads since 2020 when Washington removed Ankara from Lockheed Martin’s fighter jet programme and imposed sanctions over Turkey’s acquisition of the S-400s, which Washington calls a security threat.
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12/14/2025
The defense ministry detected two Chinese military aircraft and seven naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Saturday and 6 a.m. on Sunday. Neither of the aircraft were reported to have crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait nor to have entered the air defense identification zone. Taiwan sent aircraft and naval ships and deployed coastal-based missile systems to monitor the Chinese activity.
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12/14/2025
India won’t be “quitting” Russia anytime soon, as it still needs Russian military platforms, but New Delhi is all-in on developing indigenous platforms. Indian news outlet The Hindu reported that New Delhi is no closer to finalizing a deal for the Russian-made Sukhoi Su-57 following Russian president Vladimir Putin’s recent visit to the country than it was in March. If anything, India may be less interested in the fifth-generation fighter, even as Russia has offered a co-production deal.
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12/14/2025
As fighter jets have grown more and more expensive, pressure has mounted on modern air forces to enable those aircraft to carry out multiple distinct missions. The term “multirole fighter” is thrown around a lot in the modern era, one of the most common levels applied to modern combat aircraft, often without much precision. Many assume the definition applies to any fighter that can also drop bombs, giving it a semblance of ground attack capability as well as its more traditional role as a dogfig
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12/14/2025
Announced on December 8, 2025, via a formal notification to Congress from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the deal includes cutting-edge avionics, secure communication systems, and comprehensive sustainment support to keep these Cold War-era jets in service until the 2040s. The package breaks down into two main buckets: $37 million for “major defense equipment” and $649 million for the nuts-and-bolts extras like software tweaks, training programs, and logistical backbone.
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12/13/2025
Finland’s Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen has authorised the Finnish Defence Forces to procure AIM-120D-3 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles from the United States. The missiles will be compatible with the F-35A multi-role combat aircraft and will supplement the armament of Finland’s future F-35 fleet.
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12/13/2025
The Pentagon is rapidly expanding U.S. military capabilities tied to Operation Southern Spear, a mission that began as a counter-narcotics effort but is increasingly focused on pressure against Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
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12/13/2025
While the French create problems with the FCAS sixth-generation fighter project, a serious competitor from the U.S. has appeared in Europe. And we're talking about General Atomics, which wants to sell Germany and other countries in the region its Gambit unmanned fighter. So, a mockup of the European variant of this UAV was presented at the German airport Oberpfaffenhofen. This is promoted as a low-risk and realistic solution for enhancing capabilities in the
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12/13/2025
In the midst of the wait for the definition of the future multirole fighter that will be chosen to renew the combat fleet of the Peruvian Air Force, Congress approved the second tranche of financing destined for the acquisition of 24 next-generation fighter aircraft. The measure was formalized in the Public Sector Borrowing Law for the 2026 fiscal year.
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12/13/2025
Switzerland said on Friday it would reduce the number of Lockheed Martin, opens new tab F-35A Lightning II fighter jets it is buying from the United States so it can stick to the original budget plan after the cost of the order rose. Bern chose the F-35A as its next-generation fighter plane in 2021 for what it considered a fixed price of 6 billion Swiss francs ($7.54 billion) for 36 jets. The United States later said that sum was a misunderstanding.
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12/13/2025
US Air Force pilots have a new training aircraft, the T-7 Red Hawk, promising to prepare them to fly fifth-generation fighters, stealth bombers, and the US' planned sixth-generation fighter. The first T-7 Red Hawk trainer, made by Boeing, arrived at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph in Texas this month. The new training aircraft will replace Northrop Grumman's T-38 Talon, which pilots have been training on for six decades.
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12/12/2025
Russia’s Su-57 began life powered by the AL-41F1/117S, a deeply modernized Su-27 engine used as a stopgap while a true 5th-generation powerplant was developed. That engine, now designated AL-51F1 (177S), only flew on a Su-57 testbed in 2017 and has just entered low-rate production.
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12/12/2025
The U.S. military buildup around Venezuela is no routine counternarcotics mission. Washington is assembling a carrier strike group, amphibious forces, long-range bombers, and dense ISR coverage to coerce Nicolás Maduro into dismantling the foothold China, Russia, and Iran have built inside the Western Hemisphere.
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12/12/2025
Ukrainian sources say Russia’s defense industry delivered roughly 14 Su-34 frontline bombers and about 10 Su-35S fighter jets to its armed forces in 2025, expanding Moscow’s tactical aviation inventory as the war enters its fourth year.
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12/12/2025
Germany, France and Spain will try this week to break a deadlock over Europe’s next-generation fighter jet programme, a project worth up to 100 billion euros ($117 billion) seen as vital for the region’s defence ambitions as the war in Ukraine grinds on. The push for progress at talks between the countries' defence ministers follows mounting political pressure to salvage the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), launched more than eight years ago but stalled by industrial rivalries.
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12/12/2025
U.S. nuclear-capable bombers flew over the Sea of Japan alongside Japanese fighter jets on Wednesday, Tokyo said, in a show of force following Chinese and Russian drills in the skies and seas around U.S. allies Japan and South Korea. Japan and the U.S. "reaffirmed their strong resolve to prevent any unilateral attempt to change the status quo by force and confirmed the readiness posture of both the Self-Defense Forces and U.S. forces," Japan's defence ministry said in a statement on Thursday.
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12/11/2025
Two U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning IIs from the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath flew over Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia on 4 December, underscoring U.S. Air Forces in Europe’s ability to deliver agile airpower with NATO Allies. The sortie highlighted cooperation across the region as part of ongoing support to Europe’s Eastern Flank.
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12/11/2025
The U.S. has reiterated that Turkey must give up the S-400 missile defense system it purchased from Russia to be eligible for the acquisition of advanced F-35 fighter jets. "As laid out in U.S. law, Turkiye must no longer operate nor possess the S-400 system to return to the F-35 program," U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack wrote in a statement on his X account. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been discussing the issue with President Donald Trump for months.
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12/11/2025
A semi-autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft drone shot down an air-to-air target in a Dec. 8 test supported by the U.S. Air Force, a notable milestone in the development of the loyal wingman-type drones that will join the fleets of the USAF, other American services, and allies and adversaries.
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12/11/2025
"As weapons technology continues to develop, fighter pilots need to shoot and intercept adversaries from increasingly longer distances," said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Alexander Vane, 20th Operations Support Squadron commander. "As a result, we are starting to outgrow our primary air combat training airspace off the S.C. coastline. Additionally, Shaw AFB is situated near one of the busiest air traffic corridors in the United States; there is physically no room for our airspace to grow."
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12/10/2025
Bangladesh has committed to operating the Eurofighter Typhoon, signing a letter of intent with Italy’s Leonardo in Dhaka today. The LOI was signed at the headquarters of the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF). Present at the signing were Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, Ambassador of Italy to Bangladesh H.E. Antonio Alessandro, and other representatives from both the Bangladesh armed forces and Italy.
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12/10/2025
Poland is in talks over donating further MiG-29 fighter aircraft to Ukraine. Warsaw hopes to receive access to drone and missile technologies from Kyiv in return. In a statement on Tuesday evening, the general staff of the Polish armed forces announced that “negotiations are ongoing with the Ukrainian side regarding the transfer of MiG-29 aircraft”, without specifying the number.
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12/10/2025
Nine Chinese and Russian military aircraft briefly entered and exited South Korea’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on December 9, 2025, prompting the country’s Air Force to scramble fighter jets, according to Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).
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12/10/2025
Russian and Chinese bombers conducted a joint patrol Tuesday, flying over the East China Sea and Western Pacific, prompting Seoul and Tokyo to scramble fighter aircraft to monitor the flights. At approximately 10:00 a.m. local time, seven Russian military aircraft and two Chinese military aircraft entered the Korean Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ) over the Sea of Japan, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the same day in a news release. No airspace violation occurred, the release re
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12/10/2025
The two Super Hornets, callsigns Rhino 11 and Rhino 12, look to have remained in international airspace throughout the duration of their sorties in the Gulf of Venezuela today, though this remains unconfirmed. Spoofing aircraft in open-source flight tracking is possible and does happen, but in this case, considering what we are seeing, and the recent history of certain U.S. platforms making their presence very known off the coast of Venezuela, this seems unlikely.
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12/09/2025
A Ukrainian Su-27 fighter jet was lost during a combat mission on December 8 in the eastern region of the country, the Ukrainian Air Force confirmed in a public statement. “At noon on December 8, 2025, in the eastern direction, during the execution of a combat mission in a Su-27 aircraft, the senior navigator of the 39th Tactical Aviation Brigade, Lieutenant Colonel Yevhenii Vitaliiovych Ivanov, was killed. The circumstances are being clarified.
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12/09/2025
Japan on Monday rejected China's claim that interference by Japanese Self-Defense Forces fighter jets during Chinese naval training prompted radar to be locked on the planes, local media reported. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara told reporters that the Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF) jets kept a "safe distance" from Chinese military aircraft off Japan's southernmost province of Okinawa, according to the Tokyo-based Kyodo News.
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12/09/2025
Lawmakers resolving differences in the House and Senate versions of the National Defense Authorization bill want to stop cuts to the Air Force’s combat fleet by blocking scores of planned divestments of aging A-10 and F-15E fighters. The bill, unveiled Dec. 7, rejects the Air Force plan to retire all 162 A-10s still flying along with 21 F-15Es in 2026. If passed into law, the measure would limit divestments this fiscal year to just 59 A-10s and no F-15Es.
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12/09/2025
Before it bought the more modern Su-30MK2 Flanker fighter jet from Russia, Venezuela’s most advanced combat aircraft was the F-16A/B Fighting Falcon. Indeed, the F-16 was the most advanced combat aircraft in the entire region. Purchased during a period of close US-Venezuelan cooperation, the F-16s symbolized Venezuela’s efforts to modernize and align with the US. Yet four decades later, the fleet is a shadow of its former self.
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12/09/2025
The United States government has authorized the possible sale of hundreds of GBU-39/B SDB-I glide bombs intended to equip the Republic of Korea Air Force’s fighter aircraft. This information comes from one of the most recent notifications submitted by the Department of State to the U.S. Congress in order to approve the operation, which falls under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Program and is valued at US$118.8 million.
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12/09/2025
Congress’ proposed compromise National Defense Authorization Act would authorize $900.6 billion in discretionary defense spending in fiscal 2026, which would be an $8 billion increase over the Pentagon’s budget request this summer.
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12/08/2025
The United States government has authorized the sale of new AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles to equip the Royal Danish Air Force’s F-35A stealth fighters. This was disclosed in one of the most recent notifications issued by the U.S. Department of State to Congress, approving the operation under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program and valued at US$ 730 million.
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12/08/2025
Norwegian F-35 fighter aircraft returned to Ørland Air Base on December 1, marking the end of their operational deployment in Poland. The mission formed part of a joint Norwegian–Dutch air readiness commitment under NATO command.
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12/07/2025
After months of speculation and diplomatic manoeuvres, Bangladesh appears to have made its choice in the race to modernise its air force. Despite earlier interest in European aircraft, Dhaka is now leaning towards a deal with Beijing – a decision that could shift the balance of power in South Asia’s skies.
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12/07/2025
The U.S. Marine Corps says pilots and deck crews from the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) wrapped up a fresh round of F-35B Lightning II fighter jet deck landing qualifications aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Boxer while underway in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of responsibility. Unit officials described the evolution as a routine but essential step that keeps shipborne aviation procedures sharp, particularly as the MEU prepares for a busy operational cycle across the Pacific.
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12/07/2025
Chinese J-15 fighter jets launched from the Liaoning aircraft carrier “intermittently directed their radar" at ASDF F-15 fighters, the ministry said early Sunday. The F-15s had been scrambled as a response to a potential airspace intrusion, and came as the Chinese carrier and three missile destroyers were holding exercises.
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12/06/2025
The Chief of Staff of the Air and Space Force (JEMA), General Francisco Braco, has revealed that the Spanish Air Force will take delivery of a total of six new aircraft in the first months of 2026: three Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets and three C295 VIGMA maritime surveillance aircraft, and that he is confident in the continuity of the NGWS/FCAS programme for the future European air combat system.
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12/06/2025
MBDA, Lockheed Martin and the F-35 Joint Program Office have completed major ground integration tests to validate safe carriage and release of the Meteor missile from the F-35A’s internal bay. The step positions the program for flight trials and marks a significant shift in NATO air combat reach and readiness.
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12/06/2025
Argentina has officially received its first six Lockheed Martin F-16A/BM Fighting Falcon fighters, ending a decade without a supersonic interceptor. The jets landed at the Río IV Material Area on Friday, December 5, after a weeklong trip from Skrydstrup, Denmark, with stopovers in Zaragoza, Gando in Spain, and Natal in Brazil.
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12/06/2025
The Austrian Ministry of Defence confirmed on 29 November that it has finalised its purchase of 12 M-346FA (Fighter Attack) aircraft from the Italian aerospace/defence manufacturer, Leonardo. The finalisation of this acquisition – which has been inked as a government-to-government agreement – comes almost a year after Vienna initially announced its decision to procure 12 M-346FAs to replace the Austrian Air Force’s now-retired fleet of Cold War-era Saab J105Ö twin-engine jet trainers.
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12/06/2025
Saab, opens new tab and Airbus, opens new tab are discussing co-operation on unmanned warplane technology, senior executives of the companies told Reuters, a move highlighting surging interest in drones and evolving alliances in Europe's fractured defence industry. The project, revealed in separate CEO interviews at a European industry event this week, focuses on exploring unmanned aircraft to support the current generation of crewed combat jets.
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12/05/2025
South Korea has approved a 435.9 billion won program to develop a homegrown short-range air-to-air missile for the KF-21 Boramae. The effort aims to deepen strategic autonomy and strengthen the fighter's export value as regional demand for advanced aircraft grows.
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12/05/2025
Ukrainian military intelligence forces reportedly carried out a precision operation targeting Russian military infrastructure in temporarily occupied Crimea, destroying a MiG-29 fighter jet at the Kacha airbase and damaging a radar installation near Simferopol, on December 4.
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12/05/2025
It’s a big deal whenever an aircraft carrier loses a plane during a deployment. In a six-month span while deployed to the Red Sea this year, the USS Harry S. Truman lost three F/A-18 Super Hornets, including one that was accidentally shot down by another Navy ship in a friendly fire incident.
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12/05/2025
Northrop Grumman has unveiled a new autonomous combat drone known as Project Talon, with an eye toward dramatically lowering the price point and speeding up the development and manufacture of large uncrewed aircraft.
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12/04/2025
The Brazilian Air Force has completed its first firings of the Meteor Beyond Visual Range Air to Air Missile from the Gripen E, marking an important step in the fighter’s operational development. Saab said the November tests confirmed the aircraft’s long range air combat capability after both missiles hit their designated targets during the BVR X Technical Exercise at Natal Air Base.
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12/04/2025
The first jet fighters appeared in World War II – yes, that long ago! Soon after, propeller-driven light combat aircraft were pushed to the margins. This process accelerated further with the spread of missile air defense systems. A shoulder-launched missile can eliminate any slow aircraft, so it seems better not to even come on the modern battlefield with a propeller-driven fighter plane.
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12/04/2025
The exercise was designed to test the 354th Fighter Wing’s ability to rapidly generate, deploy, and sustain its combat aircraft in a near-peer operational environment. F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter jets have recently been deployed to Alaska to hone their arctic warfare capabilities. The Air Force conducted the exercise to test and validate its Arctic warfare capabilities and prepare for potential combat operations in the High North.
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12/04/2025
An Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcon belonging to the Thunderbirds aerial demonstration team crashed this afternoon in California, the Air Force said. “On December 3, 2025, at approximately 10:45 a.m., a Thunderbird pilot safely ejected from a F-16C Fighting Falcon aircraft during a training mission over controlled airspace in California,” according to a statement from the 57th Wing Public Affairs Office. “The pilot is in stable condition and receiving follow-on care.”
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12/03/2025
Amid various doubts that seemed to point toward purchasing new F-35 fighters at the expense of the upgrade program, the Hellenic Air Force has ultimately decided to continue moving forward with modernizing its fleet of F-16 Block 50 fighters to the Block 70 standard, a fleet that currently consists of around 38 aircraft. According to local media reports, the decision already has the approval of the current Greek government.
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12/03/2025
Egypt officially announced a significant step in its journey toward localizing defense industries after the Arab Organization for Industrialization revealed its success in locally manufacturing components of the French Rafale fighter jet. This announcement was made during the launch of the Egypt Defense Expo (EDEX 2025), currently hosted by Egypt under the patronage of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
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12/03/2025
The French Ministry of the Armed Forces has publicly confirmed that India is pursuing a plan to acquire 90 Rafale F4 fighter jets, with an additional option for 24 Rafale F5s, marking the most explicit acknowledgment yet of New Delhi’s commitment to the aircraft’s upcoming variant.
The reference appeared in a ministry analysis, since removed from public access, addressing the information campaign launched by China and echoed by Pakistan following the loss of an Indian Air Force Rafale during M
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12/03/2025
China’s navy is gradually moving closer to becoming a peer adversary for U.S.naval forces in the Pacific region, as evidenced by China’s growing number of modern aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships. The increasing quality of these flattops also threatens to erase the qualitative advantages that U.S. ships currently have.
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12/03/2025
Air, land and naval forces from Qatar, Turkey, Italy, France, the United Kingdom and the United States converged across their respective domains to raise combat efficiency by building integrated command and control systems capable of achieving combat readiness in joint operations during Ferocious Falcon 6, an exercise hosted and led by Qatar, Nov. 16-20.
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12/03/2025
Carrier Air Wing 8 provides powerful options. Yet while US aircraft carriers have delivered remarkable results in Operation Rough Rider and other strikes in the Middle East, their recent combat success is masking a problem that will only get worse: old planes.
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12/02/2025
On November 28, 2025, the Indonesian Air Force held an acceptance ceremony for the first three Rafale fighters at Dassault Aviation’s Merignac production line in Bordeaux. Marking the official handover of these jets, the event was attended by representatives of Dassault Aviation, Safran, and Thales, the Indonesian Deputy Air Force Chief of Staff, who represented the Air Force leadership and oversaw technical presentations, airframe inspections, and reviews of airworthiness and op readiness.
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12/02/2025
Swedish and British armed forces conducted the Viking flame trials at Donna Nook Air Weapons Range in Lincolnshire between 10 and 14 November. The aim was to strengthen self protection capabilities and improve the survivability of NATO combat aircraft.
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12/02/2025
South Korea has formed a government-wide task force to push the development of a locally manufactured engine for next-generation fighter aircraft, according to local media. The ministerial group consists of agencies for industry, land, and defense, with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) and the Korea AeroSpace Administration directing coordination.
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12/02/2025
The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is an American single-seat, single-engine, supersonic stealth multirole combat aircraft that originated from the U.S. Department of Defense's Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program.1 Classified as a fifth-generation fighter, it is designed for both air superiority and strike missions, while also possessing advanced electronic warfare and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.
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12/02/2025
The Sudanese Defence Ministry is reportedly in talks with Russia to acquire Su-30 and Su-35 fighter aircraft, which would be provided in exchange for rights to build a major naval facility on the Red Sea, according to Military Watch Magazine. The development comes as Russia pushes to establish a permanent naval base in Africa, while Sudan seeks additional weapons for its ongoing conflict, despite repeated calls for a ceasefire from Western powers, particularly the United States.
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12/01/2025
NATO has once again been forced into action after four Russian fighter jets sparked an urgent response near the border with Poland. The MiG-31 aircraft flew towards Russia's western border, Bild am Sonntag reported, citing NATO sources. Poland and Germany both placed their air defence systems on high alert.
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12/01/2025
Training for the Czech Republic’s future F-35 pilots moved forward last week as members of the 211th Tactical Squadron completed simulator exercises at the Tactical Simulation Centre in Pardubice. The sessions ran from 10 to 14 November and included instructors from the United States Air Force who specialise in the fifth-generation aircraft.
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12/01/2025
Russia’s Su-57 “Felon” fifth-generation stealth-fighter once again enthralled the spectators at the recent Dubai air show. As India prepares to host Putin, defence cooperation has moved to the centre. Expectations around Putin’s visit are high. S-400 is expected to be the star point of discussion. There could be some discussions on Su-57 collaboration as well.
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12/01/2025
The Philippines is eyeing the acquisition of the most advanced fighter jet made by South Korea, the KF-21. An official of Korea Aerospace Industries told The STAR that KAI is in talks with the Department of National Defense and Philippine Air Force for the procurement of the 4.5-generation fighter jets for the PAF.
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12/01/2025
Baykar’s KIZILELMA unmanned combat aircraft has achieved a breakthrough moment in aviation, completing the world’s first confirmed shoot-down of a jet-powered target using a beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile. The test, conducted over Sinop, took place before the UCAV has even entered operational service.
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