2026 Military Aviation News

Supersonic Without the Burn: The Hidden Power of Supercruise

01/02/2026

Supercruise is sustained supersonic flight without afterburner.Distinguishable from a brief supersonic fast, or afterburner-assisted flight, supercruise is becoming a premium feature of modern fighter design for its offering of efficiency, survivability, and operational flexibility. And although supercruise unlocks supersonic flight, the technology is not about raw speed—it’s about sustained advantage.

Why the Flanker Fights Like No Western Jet

01/02/2026

The Flanker platform is famous for airshow maneuvers, but those maneuvers are not merely for entertainment value; they allow the Flanker to win engagements within visual range. The Russian “Flanker” aircraft is not one aircraft, but a family of fighters derived from the original Su-27. Introduced as the Soviet Union’s answer to the American F-15 Eagle, the Su-27 prioritizes range, payload, and maneuverability—reflecting a distinctive Russian approach to air combat.

Taiwan confirms over 200 Chinese military aircraft during drills

01/02/2026

Taiwan's Defense Ministry said Wednesday it has confirmed a total of 207 Chinese military aircraft flew around the self-ruled island during the 48 hours until early Wednesday, as China conducted drills seen as a warning against separatism. Of the total plane sightings until 6 a.m., 125 had crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's air defense identification zone, the ministry said. The median line was long respected by both sides but has been increasingly ignored by China

Kizilelma unmanned fighter jet makes first flight with Aselsan's KARAT IRST

01/02/2026

Baykar's Kizilelma unmanned fighter jet completed its first test flight with Aselsan's KARAT Infrared Search and Track (IRST) system in its final test of 2025, enabling enhanced detection and tracking of low radar cross-section (RCS) targets, including 5th-generation fighter aircraft. Baykar Chairman Selcuk Bayraktar announced the test on his social media account, saying the KARAT IRST was tested during the last Kizilelma flight of 2025.

Berlin says decision postponed on European fighter jet

01/02/2026

Efforts to break a deadlock in 2025 over plans for a new European fighter jet have been unsuccessful, a German government spokesman told AFP on Wednesday. The Future Combat Aircraft System (FCAS) programme was launched in 2017 to replace France's Rafale jet and the Eurofighter planes used by Germany and Spain.

With the deployment of A-29 Super Tucano and F-5M aircraft, the Brazilian Air Force continues to strengthen airspace control in border regions

01/01/2026

Within the framework of efforts to strengthen aerospace surveillance and control tasks, as well as to combat illicit incursions, the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) has intensified its interdiction operations in coordination with Brazil’s Federal Revenue Service (Receita Federal), through the deployment of F-5M Tiger II aircraft and A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft.

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