April, 2026 Military Aviation News

Italy closes Sicily base to US flights in Iran operations: Reports

04/01/2026

Italy has refused to grant the U.S. permission to land military planes at an air base in Sicily before departing to the Middle East, according to Italian media reports. Corriere della Sera reported on Tuesday that “several US bombers” planned to land at Sigonella air base on their way to the Middle East earlier this week but were denied because the U.S. had not requested authorization or consulted with Italian military leaders.

Canadian supplier FTG supports global F-35 production with advanced circuit boards for fifth-generation fighter

04/01/2026

Production of the F-35 fighter jet is expanding globally, with Canadian companies playing a growing role in the supply chain supporting the program. Lockheed Martin highlighted the contribution of Toronto-based Firan Technology Group, which produces key electronic components for the aircraft.

US ‘wild weasel’ squadron in Japan begins transition from F-16 to F-35

04/01/2026

The aircraft, which arrived at Misawa air base on 28 March, are the first tranche of F-35s intended to modernise the US Air Force (USAF) fighter squadron in Japan assigned to the specialised – and dangerous – “wild weasel” mission. Officially known as suppression of enemy air defences, or SEAD, the task involves flying into defended airspace to identify and destroy ground-based radars and missile batteries.

NORAD Chief: F-35 “Not Needed” for North American Defense — Canada’s Fighter Jet Review Just Got Tougher?

04/01/2026

The Commander of NORAD (North American Air Defence) has said that the American F-35 Lightning II is “not needed” for the North American defence at a time when Canada is dealing with its own F-35 predicament and reviewing the purchase of the American stealth fighter.

Trump Approves F-35 Sale to Saudi Arabia, Triggering a New Middle East Air Power Shift

04/01/2026

President Donald Trump has again declared that Washington has agreed to sell F-35 stealth fighters to Saudi Arabia, and because the F-35 is not simply an aircraft but a software-defined combat system, the statement immediately elevates the issue from transactional arms sales into regional force-posture politics.

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