Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Pentagon Is Doubling Fleet of A-10 Attack Planes in Middle East

04/02/2026

The Pentagon is doubling its Middle East fleet of Air Force A-10 attack planes, which can support advancing ground troops, even as President Trump says he wants to end the Iran war in two to three weeks. The Air Force is dispatching 18 A-10s to join roughly a dozen A-10s already in the region that U.S. commanders have used to attack Iranian boats and Iran-backed militias in Iraq, two Pentagon officials said on Wednesday.

30 killed in Russian military transport aircraft crash in Crimea

04/02/2026

At least 30 passengers and crew were killed when a Russian military transport plane went down during a routine flight over a remote, mountainous region of Crimea, the Russian Defense Ministry and Russian investigators said Wednesday. Communication had been lost with the AN-26, a twin-engined prop plane made by Ukrainian aircraft manufacturer Antonov, before it crashed into a cliff at about 6 p.m. local time on Tuesday with seven crew and 23 passengers on board.

France Refuses Rafale Source Codes to India, Triggering Major Blow to New Delhi’s Airpower Independence Strategy

04/01/2026

Paris has reportedly denied India access to the Rafale fighter’s core source codes, preventing New Delhi from independently modifying the Thales RBE2 AESA radar, MDPU mission computer and SPECTRA electronic warfare suite.

Dozens Of A-10 Warthogs Appear Poised To Join Epic Fury

04/01/2026

With the iconic attack jet now in the twilight of its career, there are signs that the A-10C is set to deploy to the Middle East region for Operation Epic Fury. Such a deployment might well provide the combat swansong for the A-10, which the USAF plans to retire for good by the end of the decade, if not sooner. The development comes as U.S. President Donald Trump ramps up his threats against Iran, including threatening to eliminate its civilian infrastructure and oil-producing capability.

Russia Reportedly Loses Another Su-34 Fighter-Bomber

04/01/2026

Russian military bloggers have reported the loss of another Su-34 fighter-bomber. The information about the loss of the Su-34 by the Russian Armed Forces was shared by the Russian Telegram channel Fighterbomber. The post did not include specific details about the location or cause of the incident. However, the message included the phrase "Eternal flight, brother," which suggests that the pilot did not survive the event.

F-35 Crashes In The Nevada Test And Training Range Complex (Updated)

04/01/2026

An F-35 crashed in the Nevada Test and Training Range in Southern Nevada. The pilot ejected and is reportedly safe after sustaining only minor injuries. According to KSNV News 3, “The U.S. military is searching for a pilot who had to eject from an aircraft over Southern Nevada on Tuesday, sources tell News 3… The aircraft reported trouble maneuvering around noon, according to sources.” The outlet subsequently reported that the pilot was found in good condition.

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.

Despite Significant Interest, IAF Hesitant on F-35 Acquisition Due to US End-Use Monitoring and Indigenous Weapon Integration Issues

03/31/2026

While the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has explored the American F-35 as a potential temporary solution for India’s fifth-generation fighter needs, the Indian Air Force (IAF) remains strongly opposed to the idea. Recent high-level proposals from Washington have attempted to sweeten the deal, but Indian military leaders remain concerned about losing operational independence.

Finnish Air Force prepares for arrival of first F-35 Lightning II fighters as integration and training progress

03/31/2026

Finnish Air Force is preparing to receive its first F-35A multirole fighters this autumn, marking a key milestone in the country’s transition to a new combat aircraft capability. The introduction of the platform is progressing across training, infrastructure and operational planning as Finland moves toward full integration of the system.

Saab CEO: Canada could get its first Gripen fighter in five years

03/31/2026

Saab’s chief executive said Canada’s existing aerospace infrastructure sets it apart from previous Gripen customers and could support a faster delivery timeline. Saab president and CEO Micael Johansson said on March 29, 2026, that delivering Gripen fighter jets to Canada within five years is “absolutely doable,” arguing that the country’s industrial base gives it a stronger starting point than previous customers such as Brazil.

Taiwan tracks 10 Chinese ships, 1 military aircraft

03/31/2026

The Ministry of National Defense tracked nine Chinese naval vessels, one military aircraft, and one official ship around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Sunday and 6 a.m. on Monday. The People’s Liberation Army aircraft entered the country’s southwestern and southeastern air defense identification zone, according to the MND.

Spain Bars U.S. Iran-Related Military Flights From Its Airspace

03/31/2026

Spain said Monday that it has closed its airspace to U.S. aircraft involved in military actions targeting Iran. The decision expands an earlier move to deny the use of jointly operated military bases at Rota and Morón. Defense Minister Margarita Robles said Monday that Spain would not permit either the bases or the nation’s airspace to be used for operations tied to the U.S. military involvement in Iran.

Iraq vows to respond to rocket attack destroyed military aircraft

03/31/2026

The Iraqi Ministry of Defense denounced on Monday a rocket attack targeting an airbase in the capital Baghdad, vowing to firmly respond through legal measures. The ministry said in a statement that the attack represents a despicable criminal act against the Iraqi military and its defensive capabilities, the state-run news agency (INA) reported.

UK receives 48th F-35B Lightning II fighter, completing first procurement batch amid ongoing capability challenges

03/30/2026

The UK has declared an overall requirement for 138 F-35B aircraft, although only 48 were included in the initial tranche. The first aircraft were delivered to RAF Marham in June 2018. One aircraft, ZM152, was lost on November 17, 2021, after falling into the Mediterranean Sea following an unsuccessful take-off from the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth. The wreckage was recovered in early December 2021.

Is Su-57 Dead ? With 114 Rafales, AMCA & 6th-Gen Jet on Cards for IAF, Is It End of Road For Russian Fighter

03/30/2026

India recently approved $25 billion in fresh defence proposals to buy transport aircraft, S-400 AD systems, and remotely piloted aircraft amid tensions with Pakistan. Earlier, New Delhi authorized $40 billion to purchase more Rafale fighter jets and P-8I aircraft for the Navy.

Türkiye Accelerates KAAN Fighter Deliveries to 2028 as Ankara Targets Sanctions-Proof 5th-Gen Airpower Dominance

03/30/2026

Türkiye’s decision to advance KAAN deliveries to 2028, while delaying exports until the indigenous TF35000 engine is ready after 2032, signals a calculated bid to build a sanctions-resistant fifth-generation fighter ecosystem with major implications for global airpower competition.

KF-21's Sky Developers: 1,500-Day Risk

03/30/2026

All their flights were “firsts.” Mach 1.8, 50,000 feet altitude, air-to-air missile launches, mid-air refueling—extreme aviation tests simulating combat scenarios. Though they sometimes risked their lives, the moments of breakthrough were fierce and wondrous.

South Korea’s KF-21 Boramae Fighter Jet Has Started Mass Production

03/30/2026

Development of the South KoreanKF-21 Boramae (Fighting Hawk) fifth-generation multirole fighter has been underway for more than a decade. Still, it was only this month that Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) announced that thefirst production fighter rolled off the assembly line at Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province. That aircraft was the first of 40 serial-production fighters, and is now on track to enter service with the Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF) later this year.

U.S. Navy launches competition for new jet trainer system to modernize pilot training for future combat aircraft

03/30/2026

The U.S. Navy has issued a request for proposals for its Undergraduate Jet Training System, seeking new jet trainer aircraft and associated training systems. Proposals are due by June 29, 2026, as part of a program supporting both Navy and U.S. Marine Corps aviators.

F-16V: The upgraded fighter that earns Taiwan $80m in royalties each year

03/30/2026

The Lockheed Martin F-16V Viper, also known as the F-16 Block 70/72, is the latest variant of the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon. With upgraded cockpit systems, radars, and electronic warfare suites, the manufacturer offers both new production and retrofit options to its customers. The F-16 has a long history of receiving warfare upgrades, currently equipping it with fifth-generation combat capabilities.

South Korea Unveils KF-21EJ Escort Jammer to Break Enemy Air Defenses and Redefine Boramae’s Warfighting Role

03/29/2026

South Korea’s unveiling of the KF-21EJ has transformed the KF-21 Boramae from a national fighter production story into a far more consequential signal about Seoul’s intent to breach, degrade, and outmaneuver advanced enemy air defense networks. By publicly attaching an escort jammer concept to its emerging fighter family, South Korea is indicating that future air operations will not rely solely on speed, sensors, or missiles, but on electromagnetic disruption as a decisive operational enabler.