January 08, 2026 Military Aviation News

Fire Breaks Out at Moscow Factory Producing Engines for Sukhoi Fighter Jets

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.

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia in JF-17 jets-for-loans talks

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.

Lockheed Martin F-35 reaches record deliveries and expands combat and global operations in 2025

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.

Ukraine’s F-16 Pilots Think NATO Tactics Don’t Work

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.

China’s First J-35A Fighter Jet for Local Air Force Takes Off in 2026

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.

Taiwan's F-16 fighter fleet has been grounded after an 'anomaly' saw a jet and its pilot disappear

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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