2026 Military Aviation News
02/18/2026
This past summer, UAE Defense Undersecretary Ibrahim Nasser Mohammed Al Alawi climbed into the rear seat of a South Korean KF-21 Boramae prototype for a symbolic “friendship flight” over Sacheon Air Base in South Korea. A few months later, during President Lee Jae-myung’s visit to Abu Dhabi, Seoul followed up with a far more consequential signal: a reported full value-chain partnership built around joint development, local assembly, and the co-export of future KF-21 variants.
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02/18/2026
The Army is one step closer to turning the AH-64 Apache helicopter into a drone-hunting tool. Soldiers recently carried out live-fire tests of a new explosive round specifically designed to take out enemy drones at the Yuma Proving Grounds in Arizona.
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02/18/2026
The Indian Air Force is one of the world’s largest air forces and operates in one of the most complex security environments on earth. The IAF faces a two-front challenge: China to its north and east, and Pakistan to its west. And unlike many Western air forces focused on expeditionary operations, the IAF is built primarily for continental deterrence and high-altitude combat. Though modernizing aggressively, the IAF remains caught between legacy platforms, procurement delays.
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02/18/2026
Media reports that the Philippine government had declined to buy the F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jet may have been premature—though its high price tag remains an obstacle. Last June, the Philippines began reconsidering whether to proceed with the purchase of American-made F-16 Fighting Falcons, even after the sale had received US State Department approval.
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02/18/2026
Saudi Arabia’s growing interest in Turkey’s next-generation KAAN fighter jet program is attracting pushback from the administration of US President Donald Trump, which views the potential deal as cutting into Washington’s share of the kingdom’s arms market, Middle East Eye reported, citing current and former US officials.
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02/18/2026
The United States has moved more than 50 advanced fighter jets toward the Middle East over the past two days, a massive show of military force that coincides with a pivotal moment in negotiations over Iran's nuclear program, according to open-source flight tracking data and a US official.
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02/18/2026
The Air Force has delayed delivery of the 18th Wing’s first F-15EX Eagle II fighters to Kadena Air Base on Okinawa, according to the wing. The wing expects an updated timeline for the aircraft’s arrival this spring, according to an unsigned email from Kadena on Tuesday. The delay is due to a strike at Boeing’s St. Louis plant that occurred from Aug. 4 to Nov. 17, Ann Stefanek, spokeswoman for the secretary of the Air Force, wrote in an email Tuesday.
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02/18/2026
Australia is one of the pioneers exploring collaborative combat aircraft, or CCAs, as it throws its full weight behind Boeing Defence Australia’s MQ-28A Ghost Bat platform. The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) already has eight Block 1 aircraft in testing. In addition, the first of three Block 2 aircraft ordered in February 2024 is currently performing ground testing and will fly soon, according to the manufacturer.
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02/16/2026
Russia’s Taganrog Aviation Scientific-Technical Complex named after Beriev (TANTK Beriev) reported a net loss of more than 5 billion rubles, or approximately $65 million, in 2025, according to financial statements published on Interfax.
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02/16/2026
Danish F-35 fighter jets landed in Keflavik, Iceland on Friday to train alongside Swedish JAS 39 Gripen aircraft, marking Denmark’s first contribution to NATO’s Arctic Sentry activity, which began on 13 February. German Eurofighter jets will also be based at Keflavik in the coming period, with all aircraft operating under NATO’s Joint Force Command Norfolk as part of efforts to strengthen the Alliance’s collective defence.
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02/16/2026
Nigeria’s Air Force said on Friday it is accelerating the acquisition of more than 46 advanced fighter jets, attack helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles, reaffirming procurement plans first announced in July 2025 as Africa’s major military powers modernise their fleets.
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02/16/2026
International media reports at the weekend indicated that United States military aircraft and an initial batch of American troops have arrived in north-east Nigeria, in what many describe as a possible expansion of counter-terrorism cooperation between Nigeria and Washington.
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02/16/2026
Lockheed Martin’s F-21 is a proposed India-tailored evolution of the F-16 Block 70/72, marketed as a “fourth-generation++” fighter with modern AESA radar, upgraded cockpit displays, sensor-fusion style avionics, and open-architecture systems. A central selling point is “Make in India” production through an industrial partnership tied to Tata, with spillover into the global F-16 supply chain.
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02/15/2026
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) claims that one of its fighter jets was able to radar-lock a “foreign” stealth aircraft at close range. Initially reported by the PLA Daily (China’s official military paper), the incident reportedly occurred at a distance of 2,624 feet (800 meters).
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02/15/2026
Reports online indicate that the Russian Aerospace Forces have massed most of its Sukhoi Su-57 (NATO reporting name “Felon”) fifth-generation fighter fleet at Dzyomgi Air Base in the Khabarovsk region of Russia’s Far East, approximately 280 kilometers (174 miles) from the border with Manchuria (Heilongjiang). Satellite imagery shared by OSINT air analyst AviVector on social media showed multiple Su-57s at the remote facility.
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02/15/2026
Few air forces list their military pilot strengths, so estimating the number is difficult and requires estimates, sometimes broad estimates. But when doing so, an unmistakable picture of the US dominance emerges.
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02/14/2026
As part of discussions between Belgium and US giant Lockheed Martin for a potential deal covering 11 additional F-35A fifth-generation fighter jets, Brussels is pushing hard for hefty domestic industrial returns, according to the country’s defense minister.
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02/14/2026
The U.S. Marine Corps has released its 2026 organizational plans, outlining future steps for its aviation branch as units transition to new combat platforms and retire legacy aircraft. As part of an intensive modernization effort across the armed forces, the Corps will phase out the AV-8 Harrier vertical takeoff aircraft, which will fully give way this year to the F-35B.
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02/14/2026
Even as one door has closed for aerospace giant Boeing in recent weeks, another has opened. Only days after Indonesia announced it would not proceed with a deal to acquire the F-15ID variant of Boeing’s upgraded F-15EX Eagle II twin-engine multi-role fighter, reports circulated that Saudi Arabia had expressed interest in the aircraft instead. Riyadh has been a loyal customer of Boeing for many years.
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02/14/2026
Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) is in the "final stages" of negotiations with Saudi Arabia over the kingdom's potential participation in Türkiye's next-generation KAAN fighter program, with a decision expected this year, the company's CEO told Breaking Defense on Feb. 12. "It is in the final stages of decision-making process," Turkish Aerospace Industries General Manager Mehmet Demiroglu said at World Defense Show (WDS) 2026.
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02/14/2026
The Air Force is working with Collins Aerospace and Shield AI to develop the software Collaborative Combat Aircraft will use to fly missions alongside manned fighters, the service revealed Feb. 12—and drone-maker General Atomics was quick to announce it has already flown its YFQ-42A aircraft with Collins’ system.
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02/14/2026
Canada has reportedly begun making payments for “long-lead items” tied to 14 additional F-35 fighter jets despite a contract review triggered by US trade tensions and sovereignty concerns.
The purchases involve key components that must be ordered before the delivery of a fully assembled aircraft and were made to ensure that Ottawa maintains its place in the long queue for the stealth aircraft, according to unnamed sources quoted by CBC News.
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02/13/2026
Sweden will contribute JAS 39 Gripen fighter aircraft to the newly established NATO operation Arctic Sentry, aimed at strengthening security in the Arctic and the High North, the Swedish Ministry of Defence said. The operation brings together ongoing and future NATO activities in the region to reinforce deterrence and stability.
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02/13/2026
India has approved the $39 billion purchase of 114 Dassault Rafale fighter jets, in an effort to bolster the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) operational readiness and modernize its military fleet. On February 12, 2026, the Defense Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired under the guidance of Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, backed the deal, along with the purchase of swathe of other military hardware including combat missiles.
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02/13/2026
Russia’s Rosoberonexport arms exporter indicated last year that two Su-57s had already been sold abroad. One of them may have been seen for the first time. A video circulating on social media appears to show a Russian Sukhoi Su-57 flying over a field in Algeria. According to media reports, the short clip, which first appeared on the popular Chinese video-sharing platform TikTok, was recorded by a potato farmer near the Oum El Bouaghi Air Base, located outside of Ain Beida.
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02/13/2026
Beyond China’s ostentatious display of its J-35A fighter jet at the Singapore Airshow was a lower-profile piece of equipment, the new Wing-Loong X combat drone, which experts say is far more likely to find international success. Beijing banked on Asia’s largest aerospace event, organized here from Feb. 3-7, to flex its aviation muscle, in a bid to attract more customers.
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02/13/2026
As the skies over Southeast Asia grow more crowded and contested with advanced military aircraft, small countries can no longer assume that geography and diplomacy alone will guarantee security. For Brunei Darussalam, this raises a difficult but increasingly important question: should it invest in fighter jets to defend its airspace, or focus instead on building a surface-to-air missile air defence system?
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02/12/2026
During a series of air exercises in December 2025, a People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) J-16 fighter jet reportedly fired flares at a RoC Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon during the PLA’s “Justice Mission” exercises. The J-16 fired decoy flares towards the Fighting Falcon, which had been scrambled after the Chinese aircraft moved to cross the Taiwan Strait median line. The PLAAF J-16 then flew between the F-16s, which were seen as in the “firing position.”
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02/12/2026
A new policy paper by the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies argues that the US Air Force must expand its fleet of next-generation combat aircraft substantially to deter or prevail in a potential conflict with China. Titled Strategic Attack: Maintaining the Air Force’s Capacity to Deny Enemy Sanctuaries, the report calls for procuring far more sixth-generation fighters and long-range stealth bombers than currently planned.
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02/12/2026
After completing at the beginning of 2024 the modernization to Block 70 of 139 aircraft, the Taiwan Air Force continues to advance in strengthening the combat capabilities of its F-16 fighters. The most recent milestone was the confirmation that Lockheed Martin will equip the Fighting Falcons with new Legion-ES infrared search and track systems —also referred to as IRST21— through a contract valued at US$ 328.5 million and encompassed within the United States Foreign Military Sales Program.
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02/12/2026
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has been competitively selected by the United States Marine Corps for evaluation in the Marine Air-Ground Task Force Uncrewed Expeditionary Tactical Aircraft (MUX TACAIR) Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program. The agreement integrates GA-ASI’s expertise in autonomy and uncrewed aircraft systems with a government-provided mission package, using the YFQ-42A platform as a surrogate to assess integration with crewed fighters.
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02/12/2026
The Royal Air Force deployed six F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter jets to a key base in the Eastern Mediterranean in anticipation of a military clash between the United States and Iran. The stealth fighter jets will bolster British air power in the region—and are expected to play an important role in a potential conflict.
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02/11/2026
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Saudi Arabia and Egypt earlier this month, marking fresh steps in the normalization of relations with key regional powers and opening the door to new defense deals. The first stop of the two-day tour was Riyadh, where Erdogan met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. According to official statements, both sides emphasized the need to activate existing defense cooperation agreements.
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02/11/2026
A People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) J-15 was spotted fielding two YJ-15s, one of Beijing’s latest anti-ship missiles, in images circulated last week. Revealed during China’s 2025 military parade, the missile joins China’s existing stockpiles of subsonic YJ-83 and supersonic YJ-12 anti-ship cruise missiles, which have been deployed by Chinese fighters and bombers exercising for contingencies around Japan, the Philippines and Taiwan.
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02/11/2026
The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) is set to receive its first US-made Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter jets by the end of this year, according to an announcement at the recently concluded Singapore Airshow 2026. The program of record for the Southeast Asian city-state is for eight conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) F-35A aircraft, and for 12 short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) F-35Bs.
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02/11/2026
Saab is exploring arming the JAS 39 Gripen fighter jet with the advanced precision kill weapon system (APKWS) as a low-cost counter-drone option. Observations from the Ukraine war — where cost-efficient capabilities instead of expensive missiles are better fielded against typically cheap but lethal enemy drones — have driven this move, the Swedish company’s executives informed Business Insider during the Singapore Airshow.
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02/10/2026
Negotiations with Saudi Arabia on potential cooperation in Türkiye's homegrown fifth-generation stealth fighter jet program have reached the "highest level," according to the aircraft's developer, signaling that a partnership agreement could be announced as early as this year.
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02/10/2026
Azerbaijan has been linked in recent defense reporting to a possible interest in acquiring Saab Gripen E/F multirole fighters, amid broader efforts to modernize its air force. The reports suggest that Baku could be evaluating the Swedish-built aircraft as part of a large-scale renewal of its combat aviation capability, but no confirmation has been issued by Azerbaijani or Swedish authorities.
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02/10/2026
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on 8 February that Ukraine has secured commitments for 250 combat aircraft from partner nations, marking what would be a significant expansion of the country's air capabilities. Speaking with students at the Kyiv Aviation Institute on 8 February, Zelenskyy outlined the specifics of the agreements.
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02/10/2026
In October 2024, the skies over a European test range witnessed a landmark step in the evolution of air power. During an AI-supported joint surveillance mission, two uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAV) executed a complex, synchronised flight pattern that moved with the real-time precision of collective intelligence rather than pre-programmed routines.
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02/10/2026
Singapore: Sweden's SAAB has proposed to the Indian Government the creation of the world's most advanced aerospace industry, comprising multi-layered design, production and maintenance as well as induction of fighter jet Gripen E.
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02/10/2026
France is preparing to transfer Mirage 2000 fighter jets to Ukraine as part of expanded military cooperation aimed at strengthening Kyiv’s air force and air defense capabilities.According to a statement released by Ukraine’s Defense Ministry on Monday, Feb. 9, the plans were discussed during talks between Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov and French Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin.
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02/09/2026
Morocco ranked fourth in Africa and 37th worldwide in a new 2026 ranking of the continent’s largest military aircraft fleets, with a total of 271 military aircraft, reflecting a strategy focused on qualitative modernization, multi-role capability, and operational readiness.
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02/09/2026
In the final week of January 2026, China’s state-run broadcaster CCTV released footage showing a PLA Navy destroyer launching electronic jamming missiles during a maritime encounter near Taiwan. The event, captured on video and distributed nationally, features one of China’s most advanced surface combatants engaging in electronic warfare procedures not previously shown to the public.
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02/09/2026
The Paraguayan Air Force intercepted a Bolivian Cessna 206 aircraft suspected of transporting cocaine. Two light attack aircraft – a Tucano and a Super Tucano – were used in the interception. According to preliminary reports, the incident began around 11:00 a.m. local time, when Paraguayan military personnel detected an “irregular” aircraft in the northern part of the country. During the interception, the aircraft was identified as a Cessna 206 bearing Bolivian registration CP-2088.
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02/08/2026
Canada’s military readiness is at a crossroads as Prime Minister Mark Carney reviews the Lockheed Martin F-35 contract amid escalating trade tensions with Washington. Expert Richard Shimooka warns that pivoting to the 4.5-generation Saab Gripen E would “institutionalize weakness,” burdening the Royal Canadian Air Force with a platform designed for a previous era.
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02/08/2026
Danish F-35 fighter jets have operated alongside U.S. and Canadian forces during Operation Noble Defender in the Arctic and the North Atlantic, according to the Danish Armed Forces. The annual operation is conducted by the North American Aerospace Defense Command to demonstrate and sustain air power under extreme climatic conditions.
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02/08/2026
Boeing has disclosed development of the MQ-28A Ghost Bat Block 3, a new version of its combat unmanned aircraft designed for Australia and aimed at expanding the aircraft’s strike and endurance capabilities. The Block 3 variant is to feature a scalable internal weapons bay capable of carrying one AIM-120 AMRAAM missile or two GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bombs, with the possible addition of GBU-53/B StormBreaker glide bombs.
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02/08/2026
As a numbers game, the US, China, and Russia have the world’s largest combat fleets, although there are layers of naunce that give these numbers meaning. Some air forces have old 1960s-era aircraft counted even though they may never fly again.
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02/08/2026
In the eerie dark nights of the Nevada desert, people have often seen an aircraft that looks less like a fighter jet and more like a bat plane. First flown in 1981, over the years, people had grown used to its alien-looking shape. The F-117 Nighthawk was the world’s first operational stealth aircraft. However, its recent sightings in the Nevada night sky are a mystery. The aircraft had been officially retired from the US Air Force (USAF) way back in 2008.
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02/07/2026
In a landmark deployment, six Swedish JAS 39 Gripen fighter aircraft and a contingent of more than 110 personnel from Skaraborg Air Wing F7 have arrived at Keflavík Air Base . This rotation, running from early February to mid-March 2026, represents the first time the Swedish Air Force have led NATO’s Icelandic air policing mission since their accession to NATO in March 2024.
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02/07/2026
Turkish Air Force F-16 fighter jets, recently deployed to Somalia, arrived in the city of Mogadishu with the aim of supporting operations against the terrorist group Al-Shabaab, marking a new level of Ankara’s military involvement in the Horn of Africa country. The arrival of these aircraft represents the first time Türkiye has deployed manned fighter aircraft on Somali territory, expanding its role beyond training, advisory, and indirect support tasks.
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02/07/2026
A few weeks after the Air Force announced its prestigious William Tell Air-to-Air Weapons Meet would return in March, the service has decided to postpone the event to later this year, according to Air Combat Command. “The decision to postpone the competition was made to maximize available resources, and [William Tell] is intended to continue in the future,” an ACC spokesperson told Air & Space Forces Magazine, adding that a new date for the competition will be released as soon as its available.
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02/07/2026
The US State Department has approved the possible Foreign Military Sale to Saudi Arabia of equipment and support services related to the ongoing sustainment of the nation’s extensive fleet of Boeing F-15 Eagle fighters for an estimated cost of $3bn. Approval of this prospective FMS was announced by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency – which handles most of Washington’s impending military export sales – after it had notified US Congress of the proposed multi-billion deal.
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02/07/2026
A French publication, L’Express, claimed on February 4, 2026, that Vietnam could be one of the Rafale’s next customers. The report claimed that Vietnam had already had the opportunity to secretly evaluate the aircraft in 2018 when two Rafales had a stopover in the country during an Indo-Pacific deployment.
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02/06/2026
Specialized anti-armor aircraft date back to World War II—but not all planes are well-equipped to take on ground targets. The idea of aircraft destroying tanks is deeply embedded in modern warfare. From World War II to the Ukraine War, air power has repeatedly been used to counter armored forces on the ground. Indeed, aircraft can be devastating against tanks or other ground vehicles—but a plane’s effectiveness against tanks depends upon a specific set of circumstances.
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02/06/2026
Saudi Arabia and Turkey are considering a joint investment in Turkey’s fifth-generation fighter jet programme, Kaan, with a decision possibly imminent, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday. “We are signing significant defence industry cooperation agreements with Saudi Arabia, and we are determined to further strengthen them,” Erdogan told journalists while returning to Turkey following his visits to Egypt and Saudi Arabia this week.
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02/06/2026
Two aviation companies under contract to develop armed, unmanned aircraft and control systems for the U.S. Navy teased what they are working on this week during the Singapore Air Show. Anduril will leverage elements for the Navy from the autonomous collaborative combat aircraft under development for the U.S. Air Force to develop unmanned aircraft for the U.S. Navy’s iteration of the program, according to company leadership.
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02/06/2026
Singapore's biggest aviation event offered a rare treat this year: the chance to see modern fighters used by the world's top three military powers, all tearing through the sky in the span of 90 minutes. The biennial Singapore Airshow typically features a flying display, where pilots from around the world showcase aerobatic skills and stunt maneuvers that push their aircraft to the limit.
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02/06/2026
Sweden’s Saab appears to be capitalizing on deteriorating political relations between the US and Canada by pushing for Ottawa to fly its Gripen E/F fighter jets along with US-made F-35s, and offering domestic production to sweeten the deal. In a call with investors today Saab CEO Micael Johansson claimed Canada was considering ways “not to be too dependent on the US by having a dual fleet, both F-35 and the Gripens.”
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02/05/2026
Ukraine and Sweden are discussing the prospect of arming Kyiv with Europe’s top air-to-air missile, the Meteor, which a Saab official said would be a “natural content” of a weapon package for Gripen users. Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced last week that the country was discussing the potential transfer of JAS 39 Gripen jets and Meteor missiles to the war-torn country.
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02/05/2026
Aerospace giant Boeing has been awarded a $2.8 billion contract to modernize South Korea’s fleet of F-15K Slam Eagle jet fighters. The existing aircraft will be upgraded to the United States Air Force’s F-15EX Eagle II standard—following a similar effort undertaken by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF), which modernized its F-15Js to the F-15JSI (Japan Super Interceptor) standard.
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02/05/2026
Commenting on the speculation that Canada might revise its plans to acquire a fleet consisting entirely of F-35s, Mikael Franzén, Saab chief marketing officer for the Gripen multirole fighter, said his company is “responding to questions.” Advocating for the combined strength of a potential mixed fleet, Franzén said, “Gripen is strong on availability and adaptability and would give combat mass to Canada.”
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02/05/2026
In order to deny China “sanctuaries” from which it can launch air and missile salvos during a potential invasion of Taiwan, the U.S. Air Force needs to buy far more B-21 bombers and F-47 fighters than currently planned, according to a new report from AFA’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies.
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02/05/2026
The US administration is considering the imposition of sanctions on Algeria in response to the country’s acquisition of Russian fighter jets. The announcerment was made by Robert Palladino, the head of the US State Department’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs on February 3 during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, according to Russia state-run news agency TASS.
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02/05/2026
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s absence from India’s flagship fifth-generation fighter programme has sent ripples through the country’s defence industrial ecosystem, but officials and analysts alike say the development reflects a deliberate restructuring of execution rather than a retreat from ambition.
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02/05/2026
The Dassault Rafale program is entering a period of sustained high-rate production, with export customers increasingly interested in acquiring the aircraft despite strong competition provided by the Lockheed Martin F-35, Saab Gripen, and Eurofighter Typhoon. The French fighter is thriving at the moment. Dassault closed out 2025 with a firm order backlog for 220 aircraft, including 45 for France and 175 for export customers.
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02/05/2026
The cost for the US and other militaries to keep newer combat aircraft ready to fly is going to soar in the coming years, a new report on sustainment trends argues. A new report from the American consulting firm Oliver Wyman projects global military aircraft spending over the next decade, including an annual sustainment cost growth of 1.1% through 2036. That's a pace roughly 11 times faster than the previous decade.
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02/04/2026
Turkish Air Force F-16 Vipers can be seen flying over the skies of Somalia in new videos that have emerged online. The deployment of these jets comes as Turkey is seeking to increase its presence in the troubled nation where the al-Shabab extremist group is wreaking havoc. One video shows a Turkish F-16 taking off, afterburner ignited, from an airport in the Somali capital of Mogadishu.
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02/04/2026
A U.S. fighter jet shot down an Iranian drone as it approached the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea on Tuesday, according to a statement from U.S. Central Command. Later in the day, a Navy destroyer came to the assistance of a U.S.-flagged tanker that was harassed by multiple Iranian small boats as it transited the Strait of Hormuz.
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02/03/2026
The Canadian Armed Forces will participate in a ceremony in Texas on Monday to celebrate the imminent arrival of their first F-35 — as Ottawa has still yet to announce how many U.S.-made fighter jets it will ultimately buy. The event comes as the future of the CF-18 replacement program is under review because of the ongoing trade and political disputes between Canada and the United States.
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02/03/2026
Ukraine and Sweden have discussed the possibility of Stockholm sending Meteor missiles to Kyiv. The Meteor is considered a top European air-to-air missile, and it can be carried and fired by Gripen fighter jets. It would offer Ukraine a powerful new weapon to strike Russian aircraft from a distance.
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02/03/2026
China’s military aviation industry has shocked Western analysts repeatedly over the last few years, with designs such as the Chengdu J-20 and Shenyang J-35 fifth-generation fighters and, more recently, the Chengdu J-36 and Shenyang J-XX sixth-generation fighter prototypes. The speed of technological advance has led to a major leap in China’s military capabilities, and with the latest revelations, the country's aerospace industry is showing no signs of slowing down.
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02/02/2026
Peru is advancing toward selecting the Lockheed Martin F-16V Block 70 Viper as its preferred next-generation fighter jet, officials and defence sources told local media, marking a significant pivot in Lima’s long-running effort to modernise the Peruvian Air Force (FAP) combat fleet.
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02/02/2026
Modern combat aircraft increasingly carry weapons bays internally rather than on external pylons. Internal weapons bays are closely associated with reducing radar cross-sections (RCS), improving a plane’s stealth capabilities. However, the bays’ purpose is broader than radar evasion. While complex and in certain respects constraining, internal weapons bays are becoming an increasingly popular design choice for modern fifth- and sixth-generation aircraft.
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02/02/2026
The US Department of Defense (DoD) has contracted Sabena Aerospace to maintain European F-16 fighter jet engines and manage materials supporting Ukraine’s growing fleet. The agreement funds intermediate and depot-level maintenance for donated aircraft, strengthening Ukraine’s air defense capacity as more F-16s enter service.
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02/02/2026
Lockheed Martin has completed the inaugural flight demonstration of its Sniper Networked Targeting Pod, validating real-time data sharing between two F-16 fighter aircraft. The test reflects the growing operational demand for integrated intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance functions executed simultaneously rather than sequentially.
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02/02/2026
The Belarusian Air Force has received a new batch of modern Su-30SM2 fighter jets. The country’s Ministry of Defense reported this on its Telegram channel. However, based on the size of previous deliveries to Belarus, it is likely one or two fighters.The exact number of aircraft delivered is not confirmed.
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02/01/2026
TheSouth Korea’s Agency for Defense Development (ADD) has launched the final phase of testing and evaluation for the domestically developed Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar intended for the KF-21 Boramae fighter, with the aim of verifying its multi-mode operational capabilities prior to full entry into service.
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02/01/2026
Every year, the Royal Air Force joins the United States and partner forces on Exercise Red Flag. It’s one of the world’s toughest air combat training environments, allowing participating nations to hone their war-fighting skills. The Exercise was established in 1975 after the Vietnam War showed that the first ten combat missions flown are the most dangerous for aircrew. Red Flag recreates the first ten missions of a modern air campaign to provide pilots and crew with realistic combat scenarios.
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01/30/2026
The United States is intensifying a military build-up off Iran that experts say could be an indicator that Washington is planning to strike the country. The USS Abraham Lincoln, a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, is one of several military assets the US has deployed to the Arabian Sea in recent days.
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01/30/2026
Pakistan’s JF-17 Thunder (or FC-1 Xiaolong) is a lightweight, affordable, single-engine, multirole combat aircraft that was jointly developed by Pakistan Aeronautical Complex and China’s Chengdu Aircraft Corporation. This bird is meant for maneuverability, and it features an advanced avionics suite to ensure that capability. The plane also comes with highly effective beyond-visual-range (BVR) missile capabilities. There are currently three iterations of this plane.
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01/30/2026
Spanish Air Force EF-18M fighter jets intercepted Russian combat aircraft flying near NATO airspace over the Baltic region in late January, as part of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission, according to Spain’s Defense Staff.
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01/30/2026
Türkiye is rapidly transforming its air power ambitions into reality as domestically developed platforms move from concept to deployment. Flagship projects such as Kizilelma, Hürjet and Anka-III illustrate how the country’s aviation industry is not only closing long-standing capability gaps but also redefining operational standards in unmanned and manned combat aviation. In a recent article, Daily Sabah highlighted these advances as evidence of Türkiye’s growing technological self-reliance.
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01/30/2026
Turkey deployed three F-16 fighter jets to Mogadishu on Wednesday amid increasing Turkish investments in Somalia’s energy and space sectors. Somali officials familiar with the matter told Middle East Eye that Ankara has been constructing a facility to host the F-16s over the past few months.
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01/29/2026
UKRAINE has hammered Russia’s air force with attacks on 15 aircrafts deep behind the front lines. Dramatic drone footage showed strikes on 15 aircraft including 11 Sukhoi and MiG fighter jets, three helicopters and an Antonov An-26 cargo plane.
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01/29/2026
Unconfirmed reports emerged late on Wednesday that a Russian Su-30SM fighter jet was shot down over the Black Sea near southern Ukraine, according to multiple Ukrainian sources familiar with the situation. The reports state that the aircraft belonged to the Russian Armed Forces and was lost in the maritime area south of Ukraine’s coastline.
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01/29/2026
Initial reports claimed that Ukraine’s Air Force had shot down a Russian Su-34 Fullback strike aircraft during operations over southern Ukraine, with the incident initially linked to combat activity near the Black Sea region. The aircraft was first believed to have been engaged during a combat mission in the south, where Russian tactical aviation has routinely operated in support of missile and guided bomb strikes. Early reports stated that the Su-34 was destroyed during the mission.
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01/29/2026
Taiwan's air force showcased its ability to rapidly replenish and get back in the air its most advanced F-16 fighter jets in a readiness drill on Wednesday, designed to demonstrate combat-oriented training. Taiwan's air force scrambles on an almost daily basis to monitor and warn off Chinese aircraft which routinely fly around the island. Taipei views the incursions as part of an ongoing harassment campaign to test and tire out the much smaller Taiwanese forces and exert political pressure.
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01/29/2026
Ukraine and France are working on the transfer of additional Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets, as well as missiles for French anti-aircraft missile systems. Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced this following a meeting with his French counterpart Catherine Vautrin.
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01/28/2026
“The purchase of new military transport aircraft is being postponed,” Deividas Matulionis, the president’s chief adviser on national security, told reporters at the Presidential Palace. Last June, Lithuania announced plans to buy three new Embraer C-390 transport planes to replace its existing Spartan aircraft.
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01/28/2026
The Ministry of National Defense tracked five Chinese naval vessels and four military aircraft around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Tuesday and 6 a.m. on Wednesday. The four People’s Liberation Army aircraft did not cross the Taiwan Strait median line, according to the MND. The MND also tracked one Chinese balloon to the northeast of the country.
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01/28/2026
The US has announced plans to hold multi-day military exercises in the Middle East as it deploys what Donald Trump has called an “armada” led by the USS Abraham Lincoln to the region as part of a tense standoff with Iran. The display of US air power was announced as the White House has suggested it could launch new strikes on Iran after the government’s crackdown on pro-democracy protesters that has left thousands dead and many more in detention with their fates uncertain.
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01/28/2026
The concept of fifth-generation air warfare was clearly articulated by former Secretary of the Air Force Michael Wynne during the early development of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program. Wynne emphasized a fundamental shift from platform-centric thinking to network-centric operations, where stealth, sensor fusion, and information dominance would define a new era of air combat.
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01/28/2026
Russia has delivered up to six Yak-130 advanced trainer and light combat aircraft, along with at least one Orion combat drone, to Ethiopia, according to Defense Express on January 27, citing images from the Aviation Expo 2026 held at Bishoftu Air Base. Photos from the air show show Yak-130 jets bearing tail numbers 2301 through 2306. The aircraft, produced by Russia’s defense industry, are designed primarily for pilot training but can also perform light combat missions.
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01/27/2026
An elite U.S. Navy test and evaluation squadron, the VX-9 “Vampires” based out of NAWS China Lake, are now flying the U.S. Air Force’s F-35A model. The Navy traditionally flies the carrier-capable F-35C and the Marines fly both the short-takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) F-35B and the F-35C.
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01/27/2026
Sweden’s Armed Forces detected two Russian Su-35S fighter jets and one Tu-22M3 bomber flying over the Baltic Sea on January 23, prompting a response by Swedish Air Force quick reaction alert aircraft.
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01/27/2026
A precision missile strike carried out by Ukraine targeted the Skif-M plant in Belgorod, a facility identified by defense analysts as critical to Russia’s military aircraft production. According to open-source intelligence groups CyberBoroshno and Exilenova+, four domestically produced Flamingo cruise missiles were used in the September 23, 2025 operation. The site is known for supplying specialized tooling essential for manufacturing Su-34, Su-35, Su-57, and MiG aircraft.
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01/27/2026
Indonesia has received three Rafale fighter jets from France in the first deliveries from a multi-billion-dollar defence deal between the two countries, a defence ministry official told Reuters on Monday, marking a major upgrade to the country's ageing military hardware.
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01/27/2026
U.S. President Donald Trump's ambassador to Canada is warning of consequences to the continental defence pact if Canada does not move forward with the purchase of 88 F-35 fighter jets. "NORAD would have to be altered," U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra told CBC News in an exclusive interview at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona.
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01/26/2026
As previously reported days ago by Zona Militar, the Argentine Air Force confirmed the receipt of a new logistics package intended to support the F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters recently received by the institution, aimed at ensuring the start of operations with the weapons system.
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01/26/2026
The US Air Force said Sunday it was about to begin a multi-day readiness exercise across the Middle East “to demonstrate the ability to deploy, disperse, and sustain combat airpower” in the region, amid heightened tensions with Iran. “This exercise reinforces peace through strength by fielding a credible, combat-ready, and responsible presence designed to deter aggression, reduce the risk of miscalculation and assure partners,” a statement released by US Air Forces Central said.
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01/26/2026
Stavatti Aerospace has presented the SM-39 Razor as an independent proposal for the U.S. Navy’s Next Carrier Air Dominance effort, informally known as F/A-XX, intended to replace the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet in the 2030s. Program assumptions published in January 2026 call for at least 600 aircraft at USD 85 million each—USD 51 billion total—with deliveries planned for 2031–2037 and a training system that includes 50 mission simulators.
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01/26/2026
Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš has categorically ruled out the transfer of L-159 aircraft to Ukraine, despite support from Czech President Petr Pavel and the country's top military official, according to Idnes. The statement came amid contrasting positions from Czech officials on the potential sale of L-159 aircraft to Ukraine as Kyiv continues to seek international assistance amid Russia’s full-scale invasion.
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01/25/2026
Owing to shortcomings in the F-35 program—and its F-47 successor—the F-15 Eagle will remain in service with the US Air Force at least into the 2040s. The F-15 Eagle is slowly becoming America’s “Forever Fighter.” That’s because, despite decades of talk regarding the retirement of these fourth-generation warplanes, the United States Air Force just can’t seem to quit these magnificent birds.
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01/25/2026
According to Euronews, Italy is preparing for a parliamentary decision on whether to invest around €9 billion in the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) over the coming decade. The project is described as a costly but strategic attempt to strengthen Italy’s technological autonomy after decades of participation in defence programmes dominated by stronger partners.
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01/25/2026
The Czech Armed Forces have no objection to transferring four L-159 combat aircraft to Ukraine. Such a transfer would not threaten the country’s security, but the decision to transfer them is political. This was reported by the publication iROZHLAS, citing a statement by the Chief of the General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces, Karel Rehka.
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01/24/2026
Morocco is among several countries showing interest in acquiring the JF-17 fighter jet from Pakistan, with ongoing discussions with Islamabad regarding the potential purchase, according to reports from Pakistani media.
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01/24/2026
Yesterday, January 22, Sweden’s Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) forces intercepted two Russian fighter jets over the Baltic Sea, according to a statement by the Swedish Armed Forces on Twitter (X). It is noted that on Thursday, January 22, Swedish military personnel intercepted two Su-35S fighter jets that were escorting a Tu-22M bomber over the Baltic Sea. "4/7 Air Policing protecting NATO," the statement said.
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01/24/2026
After senior defense officials from Turkey, Qatar and the UK held trilateral talks in Doha, Qatar, Ankara is moving closer to receiving its first Eurofighter Typhoon jets, Daily Sabah reported.
According to the Turkish Defense Ministry, the Turkish Air Force (TurAF) Commander Gen. Ziya Cemal Kadioglu participated in talks with his counterparts from Qatar and the UK focused on the Eurofighter procurement process.
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01/24/2026
RAF Eurofighter Typhoons have deployed to Qatar while US Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles move into Jordan and a US carrier strike group heads toward the region. The parallel deployments form part of a broader allied military buildup as Washington sharpens its focus on Iran while publicly stressing deterrence over confrontation.
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01/24/2026
Air Combat Command will hold its distinguished William Tell Air-to-Air Weapons Meet in March after it was postponed last year. Hundreds of Airmen from ACC, Pacific Air Forces, and the Air National Guard competed in the last iteration of the competition in 2023, which ended a 19-year hiatus for the famous contest named after the Swiss folk hero and legendary archer. With a rich history dating back to the 1950s.
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01/24/2026
The United States is preparing Misawa Air Base, one of its major military outposts in Japan for projecting air power, to support the future hosting of stealth fighter aircraft. As part of a plan announced in July 2024 to modernize its Japan-based tactical aircraft, the Pentagon has decided to deploy 48 F-35A jets, capable of evading radar detection, to Misawa to replace 36 older F-16 jets with greater capacity and capability.
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01/23/2026
India's first domestically manufactured C-295 military transport aircraft will roll out of the Vadodara facility before September this year, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar confirmed during bilateral talks with Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares.
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01/23/2026
Converting Swiss military airfields to support the future fleet of F-35 fighter jets is behind schedule and over budget, according to a report by federal auditors cited by swissinfo.ch. New infrastructure is required to house and operate the aircraft, which are due to begin arriving from the United States in mid-2027.
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01/22/2026
Evacuations began in the city of Belgorod after a Russian bomb fell on Gubkina Street. The incident was reported by the ASTRA Telegram channel and regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov. The published video shows the munition embedded deeply in the ground, without detonating.
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01/22/2026
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI), a world leader in unmanned aircraft systems, and Calidus Aerospace, one of the leading defence and manufacturing companies, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaborate on the prospective co-production of MQ-9B Remotely Piloted Aircraft and Gambit Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) in the UAE, as well as command and control and battle management systems.
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01/22/2026
January 18 marked the end of the F-16 fighters’ service in Denmark, after completing 46 years of distinguished duty. Nevertheless, the future of the former Royal Danish Air Force combat aircraft is now being decided between Argentina and Ukraine, both countries currently in the process of incorporating them.
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01/22/2026
F-15 crews with the 494th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron played a major role in shooting down Iranian drones launched against Israel nearly two years ago in what the Air Force has described as “the largest air-to-air enemy engagement in over 50 years.” Now, F-15s from the squadron are back in the Middle East as President Donald Trump reportedly weighs military options for possible strikes against Iran for cracking down on anti-regime protests.
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01/22/2026
The US Navy was the first to pioneer a carrier-based stealth fighter jet, the F-35C Lightning II, and to achieve unrivalled naval capability. However, China is catching up fast, and if the Pentagon doesn’t expedite the next-generation F/A-XX, it risks losing that edge.
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01/21/2026
The Czech Republic’s ruling coalition has moved to block the transfer of its Aero L-159 light combat aircraft to Ukraine, overriding comments by President Petr Pavel and insisting the jets remain essential to national defence. The decision undercuts earlier signals that Prague was preparing to release a small number of the Soviet-era aircraft for Ukraine’s air defence effort, highlighting growing divisions within the Czech government over further military support for Kyiv.
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01/21/2026
For two days in late January, the sightlines at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport will briefly blur the familiar boundary between civil aviation and military air power. Amid the steady rhythm of widebody airliners and short-haul traffic, four Dutch F-35 fighter jets and a military transport aircraft will arrive, depart and manoeuvre as part of a carefully planned training exercise by the Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force.
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01/21/2026
U.S. and Canadian military aircraft will soon be headed to Greenland for routine defense drills, the North American Aerospace Defense Command said in a statement this week. They come amid high tension between the United States and European allies over President Donald Trump’s bid to take control of Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark.
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01/21/2026
Swedish defence giant SAAB has offered 72 Gripen E/F fighter jets and 6 GlobalEye surveillance aircraft to the Canadian Armed Forces, which would generate thousands of jobs in the country. Reiterating its offer, Saab informed the Canadian Armed Forces last week that it could deliver on its promise to create 12,600 jobs locally if Ottawa buys 72 Gripen jets and six GlobalEye surveillance aircraft.
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01/21/2026
Italy’s outlay on the design and development of the tri-nation GCAP fighter has tripled from €6 billion to €18.6 billion — or from $7 billion to $21.8 billion — in the last five years, the country’s defense minister has told parliament. The announcement of the price hike came in a request to parliament to authorize the pay-out which prompted criticism from Italy’s opposition Five Star party.
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01/20/2026
US F-15E Strike Eagles appear to be redeploying to the Middle East as the USS Abraham Lincoln transits the Straits of Malacca. The moves come as the US once again seeks to bolster its posture in the region amid dramatic developments in Iran.
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01/20/2026
The German Armed Forces have awarded Top Aces Inc. a 10-year contract worth up to €420 million to deliver advanced air combat training across the Air Force, Army and Navy. Officially titled “Contracted Fast Adversary Air”, the agreement renews a partnership that will run to 2035 and builds on more than a decade of service to the Bundeswehr.
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01/20/2026
Sweden will deploy a Gripen fighter unit to Iceland in February and March 2026 to support NATO’s incident preparedness mission, taking on joint air defense tasks in the Arctic region, the Swedish Armed Forces said on January 19, 2026. The deployment will see a fighter unit equivalent to a fighter division, along with ground personnel from Skaraborg Air Flotilla (F 7), operate from Keflavik Air Base. In Swedish Air Force terminology, a fighter division typically fields around eight to twelve airc
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01/20/2026
Pakistan Air Force has deployed F-16 Block-52 fighter aircraft to Saudi Arabia to take part in the multinational air combat exercise Spears of Victory-2026, marking a significant overseas deployment of its frontline combat jets, the military said on Monday. The exercise is being hosted at King Abdulaziz Air Base and includes participation from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, France, Italy, Greece, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, the United Kingdom and the United States.
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01/19/2026
Two Danish F-35 fighter jets and a French MRTT tanker aircraft carried out a planned training mission in southeastern Greenland on 16 December. The mission focused on practising joint operations, including aerial refuelling, long-range flying and safety procedures in demanding Arctic conditions.
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01/19/2026
Sudan, currently embroiled in a brutal civil war, is the frontline for a regional contest between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates—and both nations are intent on their side winning. Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are in talks about a major fighter jet deal. This comes on top of the news that the two countries are increasingly connecting their security policies, possibly even on nuclear weapons—with rumors abounding that the Pakistanis have extended a nuclear umbrella over the Saudi Arabia.
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01/19/2026
With the arrival, in early December, of the first six F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters to Argentina, the Argentine Air Force reached the most significant milestone in the incorporation of a new weapons system for the institution. However, as has already been noted, a combat aircraft by itself does not represent a silver bullet for restoring the Nation’s military capabilities. Rather, it is its integration and employment alongside other air, land, and naval platforms, as well as within new operation
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01/19/2026
India is negotiating a major fighter aircraft deal with France to purchase 114 Dassault Rafale jets for the Indian Air Force (IAF). This is an extraordinary move, considering that less than a year ago, the government of India and the French aerospace firm were in a brutal war of words with each other following the poor performance of the French-made Dassault Rafale warplanes in the Indo-Pakistani War that lasted for four days last May.
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01/19/2026
Denmark has formally ended the operational use of its F-16 fighter aircraft during a ceremony at Skrydstrup Air Base, closing a 46-year chapter in the country’s air power history. The event marked the completion of the Danish Air Force’s transition to the F-35A Lightning II as its sole combat aircraft.
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01/18/2026
The Ministry of National Defense tracked 34 Chinese military aircraft, 11 naval vessels, and one official ship around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Thursday and 6 a.m. on Friday. Eighteen of the 34 People’s Liberation Army aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line in the country’s northern, central, southwestern, and eastern air defense identification zone, according to the MND.
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01/18/2026
In an era where modern air combat is defined as much by affordability and adaptability as by raw power, Pakistan’s JF-17 Thunder has emerged as one of the most competitive multirole fighter jets in the global market. According to a former Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Air Commodore, the aircraft’s growing appeal lies not in trying to outmatch fifth-generation stealth fighters, but in offering a smart, balanced solution for countries seeking reliable air power without unsustainable costs.
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01/18/2026
United States Air Force F-15 fighter jets were spotted flying at low altitude over the eastern Aleppo countryside in northern Syria as Syrian government forces moved into the towns of Deir Hafer and Maskana following the withdrawal of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) units from the area.
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01/18/2026
Yesterday, January 16, at 1:30 p.m. Kyiv time, Italian Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets took off from the Ämari Air Base in Estonia. This was reported by NATO Air Command. They intercepted a Russian Be-200PS search and rescue aircraft of the Russian Navy approaching the Baltic Sea.
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01/17/2026
Long before Finland’s first F-35A reaches Europe, the aircraft’s journey has involved secure U.S. facilities, according to a press release from the U.S. Air Force. As Finland, a NATO member since 2023, prepares to introduce the fighter into service, the Air Force Office of Special Investigations’ Office of Special Projects, known as AFOSI PJ, has been working to secure delivery of the aircraft and its capabilities.
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01/17/2026
Czech President Petr Pavel said that his country will soon deliver combat aircraft to Ukraine capable of intercepting approaching drones, reports Reuters. “The Czech Republic can in relatively short time provide several medium combat planes, which are highly effective in fighting drones, and I believe we will manage to quickly and successfully conclude this issue,” Pavel said at a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
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01/17/2026
Bangladesh appears to be moving with caution as Dhaka and Islamabad forge closer ties and explore a potential defense deal, experts said on Friday. Following decades of acrimonious ties, relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan have been growing since a student-led uprising ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2024.
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01/16/2026
Poland has decided to transfer up to nine MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine in exchange for drone technology. Deputy Minister of Defense Pavel Zalewski announced this in an exclusive interview with the TVP World program On the Record. In December, Poland’s military leadership confirmed that talks were ongoing about a potential deal where Poland would receive Ukrainian drone technologies in return for supplying the aircraft.
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01/16/2026
For almost 25 years, Canada operated the NATO Flying Training Centre at 15 Wing Moose Jaw and 4 Wing Cold Lake, training Canadian and allied pilots to become fighter pilots under its Fighter Lead-In Training (FLIT) program. In March 2024, the FLIT program came to an end when the CT-155 Hawk trainer aircraft were retired from service to begin the required transition to training solutions needed for the RCAF’s future fighter aircraft.
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01/16/2026
NATO member Turkey could soon be the latest alliance nation to deploy combat aircraft to the Baltic countries, to help monitor Russia’s activity in the region, Bloomberg first reported. Since 2004, various member nations have provided continuous air defense for Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania—the year those three states joined NATO—as none have significant aerial assets to protect the airspace.
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01/15/2026
The Canadian Armed Forces would need to buy 72 Gripen fighter jets and six GlobalEye surveillance aircraft for Swedish manufacturer Saab to deliver on its pledge of creating 12,600 jobs in Canada, CBC News has learned. Government and industry sources said Saab's proposals for both aircraft are currently being studied by experts in defence matters and economic benefits in Ottawa.
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01/15/2026
Shield AI announced on Wednesday that it has begun wind tunnel testing of its X-Bat unmanned combat aircraft, marking the first major evaluation phase for the company’s next-generation autonomous strike platform. The company said the tests are intended to accelerate design refinement and reduce developmental risk as the aircraft moves toward flight demonstrations.
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01/15/2026
In late 2025, Washington made a potentially decisive move in the race for air dominance by commencing construction on the F-47, with a first flight planned for 2028. This is not a routine modernisation; it heralds a faster-than-expected shift in air warfare, one defined by range, technology, and the ability to operate in heavily contested environments.
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01/15/2026
This new capability will be a feature on the J-20S, the third publicly announced variant of China’s first domestically produced stealth fighter. Unveiled alongside the country’s latest fighters, electronic warfare jets and drones during the 2025 military parade, this twin-seater variant has the potential to bring new capabilities and mission sets into the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF).
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01/14/2026
Northrop Grumman and defense partner Kratos were selected on January 8, to develop the U.S. Marine Corps’ first collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) drones under the Marine Air-Ground Task Force Uncrewed Expeditionary Tactical Aircraft (MUX TACAIR) initiative. The Other Transaction Agreement award is worth about $231.5 million and funds a rapid two-year effort.
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01/14/2026
The U.S. Navy recently completed a second successful demonstration advancing multi-platform coordination of autonomous systems, an essential step toward developing future Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA).
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01/14/2026
On January 1, 2026, NATO member Croatia assumed complete air policing duties, concluding a transition period during which aircraft from the Italian and Hungarian air forces had filled the role. Following the modernization of its air force, Croatia now independently monitors the skies over its homeland—yet it continues to operate 24/7 under NATO’s Integrated Air and Missile Defense System (NATINAMDS).
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01/14/2026
China’s State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense confirmed on Jan. 12 that the export-oriented J-10CE fighter jet achieved its first combat victory last May, stating that the aircraft downed several adversary aircraft in an aerial engagement without suffering losses.
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01/13/2026
India and France are moving closer to a major follow-on Rafale agreement for the Indian Air Force (IAF), with talks expected to accelerate ahead of French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to India in February 2026. According to new Indian media reports, New Delhi is examining a government-to-government framework that would combine a large IAF order with expanded local manufacturing, as the service looks to plug growing gaps in its fighter inventory.
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01/13/2026
Dassault Aviation and Harmattan AI have announced a strategic partnership aimed at accelerating the integration of controlled autonomy and artificial intelligence into combat aviation systems. As part of the agreement, Dassault Aviation is leading Harmattan AI’s $200 million Series B funding round.
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01/13/2026
Indonesia's defence minister met Pakistan's air force chief in Islamabad to discuss a potential deal that includes the sale of combat jets and killer drones to Jakarta, three security officials with knowledge of the meeting on Monday said. The talks come as Pakistan's defence industry moves forward with a series of defence procurement negotiations, including deals with Libya's National Army and Sudan's army, and looks to establish itself as a sizable regional player.
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01/13/2026
The Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program is centered around the F-47, a manned fighter contract that was awarded to Boeing last spring. But the NGAD program contains more than just the F-47—the program also includes unmanned collaborative combat aircraft (CCAs), for manned-unmanned teaming, and a series of sensors, networks, and other weapons.
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01/13/2026
Dassault Aviation has announced a strategic partnership with French defense technology company Harmattan AI and is leading the startup’s $200 million Series B funding round to accelerate the integration of “controlled autonomy” and artificial intelligence into future combat aviation systems.
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01/12/2026
The issue of transferring several Polish MiG-29s to Ukraine has been resolved, and technical consultations are ongoing regarding Kyiv's transfer of certain UAV and missile production technologies to Warsaw. These consultations will continue for several more weeks, and the transfer of aircraft may take place in February.
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01/11/2026
The fleet of six Il-78MKI refueling aircraft, introduced more than twenty years ago, has exhausted its service life. It is no longer able to meet the current requirements for long-range operations of the Rafale, Su-30MKI and indigenous Tejas variants. The IAI plans to modify six used Boeing 767s into MMTT multirole refueling aircraft.
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01/11/2026
Last November, the Italian Air Force announced plans to create an international training facility for the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II. Currently, all pilots from allied and partner nations receive their F-35 training at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith, Arkansas, following its relocation from Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. The latter base remains the primary hub for US F-35A pilot training, with Eglin AFB, Florida.
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01/11/2026
Iraq has expressed a keen interest in acquiring Pakistan's JF-17 Thunder fighter aircraft as senior air force commanders from both countries held talks in Baghdad, underscoring growing defence cooperation and Islamabad's expanding profile as a supplier of combat aviation platforms.
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01/10/2026
Pakistan is in the final stage of negotiating a defense agreement estimated at around USD 1.5 billion to supply weapons and military aircraft to Sudan, Reuters reported, citing a former senior Pakistani Air Force official and three sources with direct knowledge of the process. If finalized, the contract would not only substantially strengthen the Sudanese Armed Forces in their war against the Rapid Support Forces, but would also have direct implications for the strategic balance in the Red Sea.
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01/10/2026
Russian tactical aviation suffered significant losses in 2025, although formally its numbers even increased at the end of the year. This is stated in an analysis by Polish military observer Maciej Szopa on Defence24. According to a Polish military observer, Russia lost between 18 and 21 combat aircraft of this class during the year.
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01/10/2026
Northrop Grumman and Kratos Defense and Security Solutions are collaborating to build autonomous military drones for the US Marine Corps, the two companies announced this week. The partnership will see Northrop lend its expertise to the development of Kratos’ pilotless Valkyrie drone. Their goal is to prepare the platform to fly alongside crewed Marine Corps fighter jets in high-threat environments.
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01/10/2026
When the United States military launched an operation to fly directly into downtown Caracas and snatch Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, top US officials noted that the invading force was met with limited ground-to-air fire — but they made no mention of any aerial resistance.
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01/10/2026
Less than a week into the new year, after a meeting between Pakistan’s Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu and his Bangladeshi counterpart Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, the Pakistani military announced that a deal to sell its domestically produced JF-17 Thunder fighter jet could be imminent.
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01/09/2026
At least three American aircraft took off from Wick John O’Groats Airport, which is owned by the Scottish Government. The planes were assisting with the US seizure of the Marinera, a Russian-flagged vessel previously known as Bella-1, which is said to have escaped Donald Trump’s “total naval blockade” of Venezuela. After refusing to comment, the UK’s Ministry of Defence eventually confirmed it took part in the operation, saying it provided “operational support” to the US Air Force.
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01/09/2026
Britain’s Ministry of Defence said it had provided military help to the US forces that seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker north-west of Britain and Ireland, initially arguing the operation was legal because the vessel had breached US sanctions on Iran. John Healey, the defence secretary, said the UK had allowed US aircraft to use bases to prepare for and carry out the mission, while the RAF had provided extra surveillance and the navy refuelling while the final capture was under way.
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01/09/2026
Dassault Aviation slightly exceeded its Rafale delivery target in 2025, but the French manufacturer is still producing its flagship fighter at a pace that leaves customers facing long waits amid intense global demand. In a financial release published on January 7, 2026, Dassault said it delivered 26 Rafale fighters last year, including 15 for export customers and 11 for the French armed forces, compared with guidance for 25 aircraft.
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01/09/2026
Northrop Grumman has been competitively selected by the U.S. Marine Corps to develop the Marine Air-Ground Task Force Uncrewed Expeditionary Tactical Aircraft Collaborative Combat Aircraft programme. The award combines the company’s autonomous and uncrewed capabilities with the Valkyrie uncrewed aerial system from Kratos Defense and Security Solutions to operate alongside crewed fighters in high-threat environments.
(Read More...)
01/09/2026
Saudi Arabia may become the second Arab country to buy Pakistan’s JF-17 Thunder multirole fighter jet. The reported deal could put Riyadh on track to acquire the most diverse fleet of advanced combat aircraft in the entire Middle East and possibly beyond.
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01/08/2026
A fire broke out in Moscow on the premises of Russia’s United Engine Corporation’s Salyut enterprise, which is part of the state-owned Rostec corporation. According to preliminary information, the fire started in one of the production workshops, the Telegram channel 112 reported. According to the channel’s source, the fire engulfed technological equipment inside a building on Budyonny Avenue.
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01/08/2026
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are in discussions to convert approximately $2 billion of Saudi loans into a deal for JF-17 fighter jets, according to two Pakistani sources. This move is set to deepen military cooperation between the two countries, following the signing of a mutual defense pact last year, News.Az reports, citing foreign media.
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01/08/2026
Lockheed Martin reported a record-breaking year for the F-35 Lightning II programme in 2025, delivering 191 aircraft and surpassing the previous annual high of 142 jets. The company said annual F-35 production is now running at a pace five times faster than any other allied fighter aircraft currently in production, reflecting the scale and maturity of the programme.
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01/08/2026
Though Ukrainian pilots have praised the F-16 itself, they have criticized NATO tactics for relying too much on air superiority—a luxury that Ukraine does not have. The US-made F-16 Fighting Falcon has been one of the most widely adopted fixed-wing combat aircraft of the modern era. The F-16 first flew more than 50 years ago, and although the United States Air Force is no longer acquiring the aircraft, Lockheed Martin continues to produce the Fighting Falcon for foreign military sales.
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01/08/2026
Chinese aircraft manufacturer Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) has conducted the first flight of a J-35A fighter jet intended for the Chinese Air Force in 2026. Photos of the aircraft were published by Chinese military aviation observer Ruprecht_A on the X platform. Local aviation spotters recorded the aircraft in its Chinese Air Force configuration during a test flight over the territory of the manufacturer’s airfield.
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01/08/2026
Taiwan's air force has grounded its F-16 fleet and suspended training missions on the jet after one of the planes and the pilot went missing earlier this week. The search continues for the pilot and aircraft, which officials believe went down following an in-flight "anomaly," but rough seas off the island have made efforts difficult.
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01/07/2026
Taiwan mounted a large-scale emergency response late Tuesday night after a frontline F-16V fighter jet disappeared from radar during a routine training exercise over the waters off its eastern coast. The incident triggered immediate concern at the highest levels of government, with President Lai Ching-te directing all agencies to focus on one goal: bringing the missing pilot home safely.
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01/07/2026
Air chiefs of Pakistan and Bangladesh held detailed discussions on the ‘potential procurement’ of JF-17 Thunder aircraft, reported DAWN on Tuesday, quoting the Inter Services Public Relations of Pakistan. The JF-17 Thunder multi-role fighter jointly developed by China and Pakistan has proved its combat capabilities during two military conflicts with India in 2019 and 2025, according to the report published online by the English language daily of Pakistan.
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01/07/2026
Ukrainian Air Force pilots operating F-16 fighter jets were forced to revise NATO-taught air combat tactics after returning from training abroad, as the methods proved unsuitable for the realities of combat near the front line in Ukraine, according to a report published by Militarnyi citing official Air Force video footage.
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01/07/2026
On January 6, 2026, Reportera indicated that, according to a Korea Aerospace Industries official, the Philippines requested delivery of the KF-21 Boramae fighter jet between 2027 and 2029, aligning the timeline with the Philippine Air Force’s Horizon 3 planning cycle. This request is directly connected to ongoing FA-50PH procurement, production capacity considerations, sustainment planning, and the limited availability of fighter aircraft slots on the global market.
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01/07/2026
A newly published video interview with a Ukrainian Air Force fighter pilot sheds more light on the operations of the country’s F-16 fleet in its war with Russia. The interview with the pilot, whose name is not provided, is a rare first-hand opportunity to hear about how the Ukrainian Air Force has gone about introducing its first Western fighter jet. The Viper is now heavily engaged on various fronts, combating cruise missiles and drones, as well as striking ground targets.
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01/06/2026
Japan’s Ministry of Defense confirmed that Chinese military aircraft, including H-6 bombers, J-16 fighters, and a Y-9 intelligence-gathering aircraft, flew between Okinawa Island and Miyako Island into the Pacific Ocean on December 29, prompting an emergency response by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force.
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01/06/2026
European air power was once again on display on 2 January 2026, as the United Kingdom and France conducted coordinated strike missions against Islamic State (ISIS) targets in Syria.
Operating under Operation Inherent Resolve, both nations deployed advanced multirole combat aircraft, precision-guided weapons, and aerial refuelling tankers to engage targets near Palmyra, hundreds of miles from their home bases.
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01/06/2026
Iraq is anticipated to sign a deal with France in 2026 to buy 14 Rafale F4 fighter jets for the Iraqi Air Force. According to Avions Legendaires, a French publication specializing in military aviation news, discussions between the two sides are approaching completion. Sources predict that the deal might be finished in the first half of 2026, while others merely say that it will take place next year.
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01/06/2026
Earlier this week, the United States military’s Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (AFB), Ohio, awarded aerospace giant Boeing an $8.6 billion “hybrid cost-plus-fixed-fee, fixed-price incentive” contract for 25 F-15IA aircraft, the modernized variant of the F-15 for the State of Israel. The contract also included an option for 25 additional fighters.
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01/06/2026
The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division has completed a tactical demonstration advancing the integration of the F-35 Lightning II with the Navy’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft in its Joint Simulation Environment. The event showed how advanced modelling and simulation can be used to develop tactics for fifth-generation aircraft operating alongside uncrewed combat systems.
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01/05/2026
“The word integration does not explain the sheer complexity of such a mission, an extraction so precise it involved more than 150 aircraft launching across the western hemisphere in close coordination, all coming together in time and place to layer effects for a single purpose, to get an interdiction force into downtown Caracas while maintaining the element of tactical surprise,” he said. “Failure of one component of this well-oiled machine would have endangered the entire mission.”
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01/05/2026
The Air National Guard (ANG) is often perceived as a reserve or secondary force to the US Air Force. In reality, the ANG performs a vital national security function, close to home, without the headlines or fanfare associated with the Air Force. Sitting at the crossroads of territorial defense, global operations, and civil response, the ANG is a versatile component of US air power.
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01/04/2026
New footage has been released that seems to show a Chinese Chengdu J-20 stealth fighter flying close to a Taiwanese airbase during a recent military exercise. Purportedly taken during the recent “Justice Mission 2025,” this has sparked debate as to whether the aircraft was able to approach undetected or not.
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01/04/2026
Saab CEO Micael Johansson has said the company is ready to partner with Germany on a future fighter aircraft, presenting itself as an alternative as doubts continue over Europe’s next-generation air combat plans. In an interview with Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Johansson placed the offer in the context of Europe still struggling to move fast enough on defence modernisation nearly four years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
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01/04/2026
U.S. Marine Corps F-35 fighter jets destroyed Venezuelan Air Force aircraft during precision strikes on air bases across Venezuela, according to local reports describing the operation. The reports said Marine Corps F-35s carried out targeted attacks on Venezuelan fighter aviation bases shortly after missile strikes hit areas hosting long-range air defense systems, including S-300V and Buk-M2 units, along with their ammunition depots.
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01/04/2026
It has emerged that Turkey secured the procurement of 10 GE F110 engines from US-based GE Aerospace, the successor to General Electric. The engines are a critical component of Turkey’s first indigenous fighter jet, KAAN, which is being developed by state-owned Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI).
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01/04/2026
While Ukraine’s deep-strike interdiction drones and partisan agents are executing the grand strategy that is taking the offensive to the airfields, factories, and oil refineries of the Russian heartland, nerve centers in Moscow, and the Kremlin arteries of pipelines and railways, back in Ukraine’s homeland theater, more traditional, conventional air power is also being upgraded.
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01/03/2026
The US Department of State has approved the potential sale of 3 P-8A Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) to Denmark under an FMS (Foreign Military Sale) program, according to a US DSCA’s (Defense Security Cooperation Agency) announcement made on December 29, 2025. The total cost of the program is estimated to be $1.8 billion.
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01/03/2026
Ukraine has reported training nearly 100 cadet pilots during 2025, as part of a broader effort to expand and professionalize its aviation personnel pipeline while continuing combat operations against Russia, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
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01/03/2026
The post-stall maneuvers, like the Cobra, Tail Slide, and Kulbit are often dismissed as airshow tricks, for the sake of entertainment value, but that’s not quite right. Post-stall capabilities reflect deeper technological advances in flight control surfaces, thrust vectoring, and high-alpha aerodynamics. So, from a technological standpoint, post-stall maneuvers are absolutely impressive. The question, however, is how relevant are these capabilities to modern air combat?
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01/03/2026
South Korea is preparing to hand over the first production KF-21 Boramae fighter jets to the Republic of Korea Air Force in 2026, according to a January 2, 2026, report by Korea JoongAng Daily. Developed by Korea Aerospace Industries, the twin-engine multirole fighter represents the most technically demanding weapons program ever pursued domestically, reflecting years of investment aimed at reducing reliance on foreign combat aircraft while strengthening export competitiveness.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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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