Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

US, Canada to send military aircraft to Greenland for routine drills, NORAD says Read more at: https://www.stripes.com/theaters/europe/2026-01-20/norad-greenland-trump-nato-20463347.html Source - Stars and Stripes

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.

Saab’s Bold Bid to Canada: 72 Gripen Jets, 6 AEW&C Aircraft, 12K Jobs; Is F-35 at Risk Amid Trump’s Greenland Push?

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.

Italy faces GCAP warplane price tag topping $21 billion

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.

F-15E Strike Eagles shift from RAF Lakenheath to Jordan as aircraft carrier approaches

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.

Germany awards Top Aces decade-long €420 million contract to deliver advanced air combat training to 2035

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.

Sweden sends Gripen fighters to Iceland for NATO Arctic air policing

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

Pakistan deploys F-16 Block-52 jets to Saudi Arabia for multinational air combat exercise

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.

Danish F-35 fighters and French tanker conduct joint Arctic training flight over southeast Greenland

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.

Why Is Saudi Arabia Mediating a Fighter Jet Deal Between Pakistan and Sudan?

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.

KC-135R Stratotanker: More Than Just the Future Complement and Support for the Argentine Air Force’s F-16 Fighters

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

The Next Dassault Rafale Fighter Jets Could Be Built in India

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.

Denmark formally ends F-16 service after 46 years as air force completes transition to F-35 fighters

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.

Taiwan tracks 34 Chinese military aircraft, 12 ships

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.

Ex-Air Commodore Explains Why Pakistan’s JF-17 Excels in Today’s Fighter Jet Market

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.

U.S. Air Force F-15 fighter jets spotted over Syria

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.

Italian Fighter Jet Intercepts Russian Be-200PS Amphibious Jet — What Is Its Purpose?

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.

U.S. Air Force secures F-35 delivery and technology as Finland prepares to field Lightning II fleet

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.

Czechia signals readiness to send fighter jets to Ukraine for drone defense

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.

Bangladesh treads carefully as it explores closer defense ties with Pakistan

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.

Poland to Transfer Up to 9 MiG-29 Fighter Jets to Ukraine

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.

Fighter aircraft training

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.

Turkish F-16 Fighter Jets Could Soon Patrol Baltic Airspace

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.

Saab wants Canada to buy 72 Gripens and 6 GlobalEyes to fulfil promise of 12,600 jobs

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.

Shield AI begins wind tunnel trials for X-Bat fighter drone

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.

F-47: The US Air Force’s Next Step In The Strategic Race For Air Superiority – Analysis

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.