Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Northrop Grumman unveils the concept image of what could be the future sixth-generation F/A-XX fighter of the U.S. Navy

08/09/2025

The U.S. company Northrop Grumman recently published a concept image of the F/A-XX, the sixth-generation fighter projected to be the future backbone of the U.S. Navy’s carrier air wings. The image, available on the company’s Naval Aviation section, depicts a sleek, stealth-focused design.

Why Did Spain Change Its Mind About the F-35 Fighter?

08/09/2025

Spanish media reports circulated earlier in the week indicating that the Spanish military—which had planned to purchase the F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter jet—would no longer go through with the deal. If those reports prove accurate, Spain would be the second country from the Iberian Peninsula to turn away from the stealth fighter jet, after Portugal’s hesitations to procure the aircraft earlier in the year.

Indra develops new fully digital self-protection systems for military aircraft and helicopters

08/09/2025

Spanish defence company Indra is pioneering the development of a new generation of fully digital self-protection systems for military aircraft and helicopters, designed to improve response times to missile threats and increase survivability in combat environments. The company has finalised the design phase and produced the first units, which will be delivered this year for integration and testing.

Fighter Deliveries at 2025 Mid-Year Show Pressures for U.S. Primes

08/09/2025

Recent second-quarter reports from the U.S.’s two prime fighter producers—Boeing and Lockheed Martin—reveal some strengths, but also underlying challenges at the midpoint of 2025. Together, they delivered 117 fourth- and fifth-generation fighters during the period, including Boeing’s F-15 and F/A-18, and Lockheed Martin’s F-16 and F-35.

Is China Secretly Developing A Third 6th Next-Generation Stealth Fighter?

08/09/2025

Social media is often where the first images of new Chinese military aircraft appear. Images can go on being shared and discussed on Chinese social media for months before there is any official recognition of a program, and before the aircraft makes what is then called its “first” flight. It might be happening again. Recent images of a previously unknown stealth aircraft have started to circulate on the usual Chinese social media outlets.

Why the F/A-18 Super Hornet Still Matters

08/08/2025

Reports indicate that the United States Navy could still award a contract for the F/A-XX later this year, but it still has yet to receive the last of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornets. The current timeline calls for the sea service to receive the carrier-based aircraft in 2027, while the scheduled deliveries for Block III variants are expected to be completed in 2030.

Japan Self-Defense Force Fighter Jet Crashes in Pacific

08/08/2025

An F-2 fighter jet of the JASDF crashed off Ibaraki. The pilot ejected safely and is in stable condition, but the cause of the crash remains unknown. At around 12:35 PM on August 7, an F-2 fighter jet from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force's (JASDF) Hyakuri Air Base crashed during a training exercise over the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Ibaraki Prefecture. The base is located in Omigawa City, Ibaraki.

Japan deploys first F-35B stealth fighter jet

08/08/2025

The Japanese Air Self Defense Force on Thursday deployed its first three F-35B stealth fighters in southwestern Japan. The three stealth fighters were piloted by U.S. personnel as they flew from Guam to the Nytuabaru Air Base in the Miyazaki Prefecture, one of them making a vertical landing.

The Problem With Canada’s CF-18 Fighter

08/08/2025

The pressing need for Canada to replace its moribund CF-18 fleet is long overdue, and can’t wait, many aviation analysts say. Canada’s Hornet aircraft have “been desperately in need of replacement for more than a decade,” said Justin Bronk, a research fellow for airpower and military technology at the U.K.-based Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) think tank.

Canada To Buy All 88 F-35 Fighters? That’s What Defense Officials Want

08/08/2025

Back in June, Canada’s Auditor General, Karen Hogan, released a report finding that the government’s plan to purchase 88 Lockheed Martin jets was facing numerous problems, including “skyrocketing costs, a shortage of trained pilots, and a lack of critical infrastructure.”

Sudan says army destroys Emirati aircraft, killing 40 mercenaries

08/07/2025

Sudan's air force has destroyed an Emirati aircraft carrying Colombian mercenaries as it landed at a paramilitary-controlled airport in Darfur, killing at least 40 people, the army-aligned state TV said Wednesday. A military source, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, said the UAE plane "was bombed and completely destroyed" at Darfur's Nyala airport.

South Korea’s KF-21 Fighter To Get Stealthier With Internal Weapons Bays

08/07/2025

Korea Aerospace Industries has provided us with a look at the future, stealthier version of its KF-21 fighter, which is now known as the KF-21EX. Concept artwork of the refined version of the jet has been released, with internal weapons carriage being its distinguishing feature. This is part of an effort to make the KF-21 more survivable in the face of ever more capable air defense systems, although the resulting aircraft will not offer the same level of low observability as the F-35.

Spain Just Pulled Out of the F-35 Program

08/07/2025

Spain’s decision not to adopt the F-35 Lightning II fighter could widen its rift with the United States. NATO member Spain announced on Wednesday that it would buy European instead of American fighter jets, opting for either the Eurofighter or the Future Combat Air System (FCAS). The Spanish language El País reported that talks over the purchase of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II had been suspended “indefinitely.”

Thailand confirms acquisition of Saab Gripen E/F jets by 2029 to boost air defence and replace older fleet

08/06/2025

On August 5, the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) officially confirmed the future procurement of Saab JAS 39 Gripen E and F multirole fighter jets to enhance its air combat capabilities. The Thai government has approved an initial order of four aircraft, with deliveries beginning by 2029 as part of a broader programme targeting a total of twelve jets by 2035.

Russia’s Su-57 Fighter Jet Just Got a Hypersonic Upgrade

08/06/2025

Russia’s fifth-generation Sukhoi Su-57 (NATO reporting name “Felon”) could soon carry hypersonic weapons, according to a high-ranking official with the Russian Aerospace Forces. The Zircon (Tsirkon) has been named as one of the potential weapons employed on the multirole stealth fighter.

Why Spanish Fighter Jets Are Patrolling Iceland’s Skies

08/06/2025

Spain’s commitment to NATO was called into question this spring after the western European nation sought to be excluded from the international military alliance’s defense spending goals. Madrid has confirmed it would commit to the 32-nation coalition by spending 2.1 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) on defense, but sought an exclusion from the 5 percent target called for by NATO leaders.

Türkiye's Kaan fighter jet emerges as affordable alternative to F-35: Report

08/06/2025

Türkiye’s domestically produced fifth-generation fighter jet Kaan is emerging as a potential competitor to the U.S.-made F-35 in defense exports, according to Newsweek. The aircraft is drawing growing interest from developing nations, with Indonesia becoming the first buyer after inking a deal in July for 48 units.

SCAF - Dead on arrival?

08/06/2025

An exchange of messages late Friday 1 August signalled more trouble for the multinational Future Combat Air System/Systeme de Combat Aerien du Futur programme. Launched in 2018 and with France, Germany and Spain as partners, the project is ostensibly splitting because the French sub-team insisted on responsibility being allocated according to corporate experience – which, given that France is 100% responsible for Rafale, would leave German and Spanish industry in the back seat.

Boeing’s F-15EX Eagle II Can Beat the Original F-15 Hands Down

08/05/2025

Boeing’s F-15EX Eagle II is a significant upgrade on the iconic F-15 platform. Thanks to the integration of cutting-edge technology, the F-15EX is arguably the most capable fourth-generation fighter aircraft ever built. While the original F-15 platform debuted in the 1970s, the new EX variant leverages decades of operational experience and 21st-century engineering to create a multirole fighter that can serve as a bridge between fourth-generation and fifth-generation platforms.

New Chinese stealth aircraft spotted in test flight

08/05/2025

A new image circulating on Chinese social media appears to show another next-generation combat aircraft undergoing flight testing—marking the third such design spotted in recent months, and underscoring China’s rapid expansion of its advanced airpower programs.

Ukrainian strike destroys Russian fighter jet

08/05/2025

Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) confirmed Monday that its special operations unit “A” conducted a drone strike on the Russian-occupied Saky military airfield in Crimea overnight, damaging and destroying multiple combat aircraft and a stockpile of aviation munitions. According to an official statement released on August 4, unmanned aerial vehicles operated by the SBU successfully penetrated Russian defenses and struck targets on the airfield.

Egypt set to join Turkey’s KAAN fighter jet program: reports

08/05/2025

Turkey has reportedly approved Egypt’s participation in its KAAN fifth-generation fighter jet program, marking a potential milestone in the two countries’ expanding military cooperation following years of strained ties, according to media reports. The development was recently reported by Tactical Report, a Middle East-focused intelligence weekly specializing in defense and geopolitical developments in addition to Turkish media outlets.

China’s J-20 Shot Down! State Media Claims Its 4.5-Gen J-10C Destroyed J20 Stealth Fighter During War Drills

08/05/2025

After promoting the J-10C in the export markets as ‘Rafale Killers’ ever since the brief four-day war between India and Pakistan in May, in which Islamabad claimed to have shot down five Indian fighter jets, including three Rafales, Beijing is now going one step further. It intends to claim a tagline of ‘stealth fighter jet killer’ for the J-10C.

Thousands of Boeing workers who build fighter jets and weapons go on strike

08/05/2025

Several thousand workers at three Midwest manufacturing plants where Boeing develops military aircraft and weapons went on strike early Monday, potentially complicating the aerospace company’s progress in regaining its financial footing. The strike started at Boeing facilities in St. Louis; St. Charles, Missouri; and Mascoutah, Illinois.

India rules out F-35s as defense ties with US face new turbulence

08/04/2025

India has rejected a US push to sell it F-35 stealth fighters, dealing a blow to defense ties just as President Donald Trump announced new tariffs and publicly criticized New Delhi’s close ties with Russia.