Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Aircraft Carrier Moves Into the Caribbean as U.S. Confronts Venezuela

11/12/2025

The Navy’s largest and most advanced aircraft carrier, the Gerald R. Ford, moved into the Caribbean region on Tuesday, adding to the capability of the United States to strike boats suspected of carrying drugs or targets on land in Venezuela as the Trump administration weighs further military steps aimed at ousting the country’s president, Nicolás Maduro.

Turkish military plane with 20 on board crashes in Georgia

11/12/2025

A Turkish military cargo plane with 20 people on board crashed in Georgia near the border with Azerbaijan on Tuesday, authorities said, but they gave no immediate confirmation of feared casualties. Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and top officials from Georgia and Azerbaijan signaled that at least some of those aboard were believed to have been killed, without providing details.

Countering Chinese Satellites: Japan to Build Air Defense Shelter in Okinawa in 2026

11/11/2025

The Ministry of Defense of Japan plans to equip air bases with camouflage shelters for aircraft to protect them from detection by satellites. The relevant information was published in the budget request for 2026. According to the document, a shelter for fighter aircraft will be built at the Naha air base on the island of Okinawa, where F-15J/DJ fighters are currently based.

Rostec’s Su-57E fighter jet to make Middle East debut at Dubai Airshow 2025 with flying display

11/11/2025

Rostec State Corporation will present the Su-57E fifth-generation fighter jet for the first time in the Middle East during the Dubai Airshow 2025, where it will also take part in the official flying display. The aircraft is designed for high manoeuvrability, low radar visibility, and precision engagement, and has already proven its performance in large-scale combat operations.

Air Force Fighter Roadmap Projects Slow Growth for F-35 Fleet

11/11/2025

The Air Force is projecting relatively limited growth for its main F-35 fleet for the rest of the decade, according to the new fighter roadmap it provided to Congress. That roadmap also calls for the overall fighter fleet to shrink for two more years before starting to grow.

The U.S. Has 1 Big Reason For Hiding The F-47 Fighter (And China Knows It)

11/10/2025

A central mystery in military aviation is why China constantly shows off its 6th-generation J-36 and J-50 fighters, while the U.S. Air Force’s F-47 NGAD remains top secret. The answer lies in a “PR War.” Chinese developers may be flaunting their aircraft to secure funding in a competitive political system. The U.S., in contrast, feels no need to “show off,” prioritizing the secrecy of its superior technology, such as new adaptive cycle engines and advanced sensor fusion, which form the F-47’s.

France uses Mirage 2000D RMV to test combat AI and human-machine teaming

11/10/2025

France’s upgraded Mirage 2000D RMV, a mid-life program covering 55 aircraft, is evolving from a straightforward modernization into one of the French Air and Space Force’s most experimental platforms.

US Deploys Combat Aircraft to El Salvador in Push Against Cartels

11/10/2025

The United States has stationed combat aircraft in El Salvador, marking a shift in its military approach to regional security threats. Flights from the country’s main international airport began in mid-October, involving planes equipped for strikes on land and sea targets.

UK Deploys Record Number of F-35B Fighter Jets on Its Aircraft Carrier

11/10/2025

For the first time since the end of World War II, the UK’s Royal Navy has deployed 24 fighter jets on an aircraft carrier – a major milestone that significantly boosts the ship’s operational capabilities. The War Zone reported on this. This deployment was carried out entirely by the UK, without assistance from foreign forces – unlike previous missions, when the United States had stationed its own aircraft on the British carrier.

HAL Signs Pact With GE Aerospace For 113 More F404-GE-IN20 Jet Engines To Power Tejas Mk1A Fleet

11/09/2025

In a significant boost to India’s fighter jet programme, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on Friday (7 November) inked an agreement with GE Aerospace to acquire 113 F404-GE-IN20 engines for the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), India Today reported. The deal comes amid improving India–US defence cooperation following recent tariff-related frictions.

Gripen E/F vs Gripen C/D: Inside the key upgrades to Sweden’s new generation combat jet

11/09/2025

Just as the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet was essentially an all-new fighter jet compared with the older F/A/18 Hornet, so too is the new Gripen E essentially a new aircraft over the Gripen C/D. In Russia, such upgrades would come with a higher number, implying a new aircraft (e.g., MiG-29 vs MiG-35 or Su-27 vs Su-35), but Saab retained the original brand with just an upgrade to the variant. Here is what to know about the dramatically improved capabilities of the new Saab Gripen E/F.

Ukraine in talks with Sweden on Gripen jet supply and future local production from 2033

11/09/2025

Ukraine is continuing discussions with Sweden regarding the supply of Saab JAS 39 Gripen fighter aircraft, as well as the future localisation of their production in Ukraine, according to statements made by Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal. The minister made the announcement during a joint briefing with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, following high-level meetings in Sweden.

After Decades of Homeland Defense, Barnes ANG Base Bids Farewell to F-15s

11/09/2025

U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagles have roared out of Barnes Air National Guard Base, Mass., for the last time. The 104th Fighter Wing’s final three remaining F-15Cs departed the base Oct. 23 for the “Boneyard” at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., ending the aircraft’s era on the frontlines of homeland defense.

Lockheed Martin aims to deliver 200 F-35 jets in 2025 as global demand reaches record high

11/09/2025

At the company’s third-quarter earnings call, CEO Jim Taiclet stated Lockheed is on track to “manufacture one plane for every working day of the year.” The firm confirmed it had already delivered 143 jets by the end of Q3, surpassing its previous annual record of 142 set in 2022. If the target is met, Lockheed Martin could achieve its strongest F-35 delivery year of the decade, marking a 64% increase compared to 2023.

Maldives to acquire military aircraft next year, inaugurates first dedicated air station

11/08/2025

Maldives will acquire a military aircraft next year, President Mohamed Muizzu said as he inaugurated the national defence force's first dedicated air station. "The landmark event formalises a key component of the island nation's defence strategy, significantly expanding the capabilities of the newly constituted Air Corps," state-run Public Service Media (PSM News) said.

China seeks to project power far beyond its coast with the new Fujian aircraft carrier

11/08/2025

China has commissioned its latest aircraft carrier after extensive sea trials, state media reported Friday, adding a ship that experts say will help what is already the world’s largest navy expand its power farther beyond its own waters. The official Xinhua news agency said the Fujian had been commissioned Wednesday at a naval base on southern China’s Hainan island in a ceremony attended by top leader Xi Jinping.

Ukraine’s first fighter jet factory: Swedish deal includes full domestic Gripen production

11/08/2025

Ukraine and Sweden have agreed to begin localizing the production of Swedish Saab JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets on Ukrainian territory, with plans to establish significant domestic manufacturing by 2033, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced on 7 November, as reported by Ukrainian national broadcaster Suspilne.

Europe And Canada Are Finally Saying No To The F-35 Stealth Fighter

11/08/2025

European nations and Canada are “pushing away” from the F-35, motivated by a desire for “strategic autonomy” and political friction with the Trump administration. Spain officially canceled its F-35 purchase in August 2025, opting for European-built alternatives after PM Pedro Sanchez clashed with Trump over NATO spending. Switzerland, meanwhile, is now reviewing its 36-jet deal after being hit with a “shocking” $1.3 billion price hike and new 39% U.S. tariffs.

Saudi Arabia to Buy 48 Most Expensive Fighter Jet in the World Worth $142 Billion

11/08/2025

Saudi Arabia’s request for F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters is reportedly progressing within the Pentagon, according to sources cited by Reuters. The move could make Riyadh (RUH) the first Arab nation to field a fifth-generation stealth jet, breaking Israel’s exclusive control of the platform in the region.

Egypt continues talks with the US for up to 46 F-15 Eagle fighter jets.

11/07/2025

As reported by Tactical Report on November 3, 2025, Egypt’s negotiations with the United States for the acquisition of Boeing F-15 Eagle fighter jets are still ongoing, with no final agreement or production schedule confirmed. The proposed sale, valued at several billion dollars and covering up to 46 units, is expected to replace the canceled Su-35 procurement and expand Egypt’s Air Force modernization program.

MILITARY HARDWARE: TANKS, BOMBERS, SUBMARINES AND MORE China’s New J-35 Is No F-35 Stealth Fighter (For Now)

11/07/2025

China’s J-35 borrows the F-35’s silhouette and internal bays, and it’s being tailored for carrier ops on Fujian. But resemblance isn’t parity. The jet’s twin-engine layout, immature coatings, and unproven avionics trail the F-35’s combat-tested stealth, sensor fusion (DAS), mission-data libraries, and allied network. The Lightning II keeps widening the gap with Block 4 upgrades while the J-35 is still in low-rate production.

Sweden Considers Financing Part of Gripen Fighter Jet Deal With Ukraine in Landmark Defense Move

11/07/2025

Sweden and Ukraine are progressing in talks over a major defense agreement that could see Kyiv acquire up to 150 Gripen E multirole fighter jets, Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson told Reuters on November 6, adding that Stockholm could fund part of the deal via military aid. The deal, if finalized, would mark Sweden’s largest-ever aircraft export.

The Air Force Will Soon Have 32 Additional F-22 Combat Ready ‘Raptor’ Fighters

11/07/2025

The Air Force plans to modernize early Block 20 F-22s—once training jets—adding open mission systems, improved stealth coatings, EW upgrades, and AIM-9X/AIM-120D/AIM-260 compatibility. The move could boost the combat-coded Raptor fleet to 178 and hedge against delays to the sixth-gen F-47 amid rising J-20/Su-57 threats.

GCAP fighter jet designers push to keep weapons, drone options open

11/07/2025

The new sixth-generation GCAP fighter should be able to carry a wide variety of armaments and work with any number of different “Loyal Wingman” drones, a leading official on the UK-Japanese-Italy program has said. British defense ministry official Group Captain Bill Sanders said the under-development platform needed to have a weapons bay ready to accept any armament used by the partners, by NATO and by the United States.

F-35 Sale To Saudi Arabia Being Mulled By Trump Admin: Report

11/06/2025

Saudi Arabia could become the next customer for the Lockheed Martin F-35, with the Trump administration reportedly weighing up the sale of up to 48 jets to the kingdom. Selling the stealth jet to Saudi Arabia would be a significant policy shift, with Washington previously being unwilling to export F-35s to Arab states in the region, for fear of upsetting the strategic balance in relation to Israel.