Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Taiwan tracks 2 Chinese military aircraft and 7 naval vessels

12/14/2025

The defense ministry detected two Chinese military aircraft and seven naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Saturday and 6 a.m. on Sunday. Neither of the aircraft were reported to have crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait nor to have entered the air defense identification zone. Taiwan sent aircraft and naval ships and deployed coastal-based missile systems to monitor the Chinese activity.

Sorry, Russia: India Just Doesn’t Want Your Fifth-Gen Fighter

12/14/2025

India won’t be “quitting” Russia anytime soon, as it still needs Russian military platforms, but New Delhi is all-in on developing indigenous platforms. Indian news outlet The Hindu reported that New Delhi is no closer to finalizing a deal for the Russian-made Sukhoi Su-57 following Russian president Vladimir Putin’s recent visit to the country than it was in March. If anything, India may be less interested in the fifth-generation fighter, even as Russia has offered a co-production deal.

Why Are All Modern Fighter Jets “Multirole” Aircraft?

12/14/2025

As fighter jets have grown more and more expensive, pressure has mounted on modern air forces to enable those aircraft to carry out multiple distinct missions. The term “multirole fighter” is thrown around a lot in the modern era, one of the most common levels applied to modern combat aircraft, often without much precision. Many assume the definition applies to any fighter that can also drop bombs, giving it a semblance of ground attack capability as well as its more traditional role as a dogfig

No Link 22 For Pakistan’s F-16 Jets! Why U.S. Only Trusts 7 Allies With Its Most Secure Air Combat Network?

12/14/2025

Announced on December 8, 2025, via a formal notification to Congress from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the deal includes cutting-edge avionics, secure communication systems, and comprehensive sustainment support to keep these Cold War-era jets in service until the 2040s. The package breaks down into two main buckets: $37 million for “major defense equipment” and $649 million for the nuts-and-bolts extras like software tweaks, training programs, and logistical backbone.

Finland authorises procurement of AIM-120D-3 AMRAAM missiles for future F-35A fighter fleet

12/13/2025

Finland’s Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen has authorised the Finnish Defence Forces to procure AIM-120D-3 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles from the United States. The missiles will be compatible with the F-35A multi-role combat aircraft and will supplement the armament of Finland’s future F-35 fleet.

U.S. boosts airpower presence near Venezuelan airspace

12/13/2025

The Pentagon is rapidly expanding U.S. military capabilities tied to Operation Southern Spear, a mission that began as a counter-narcotics effort but is increasingly focused on pressure against Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.

While France Stalls FCAS, General Atomics Offers Germany Its Gambit Fighter Drone

12/13/2025

While the French create problems with the FCAS sixth-generation fighter project, a serious competitor from the U.S. has appeared in Europe. And we're talking about General Atomics, which wants to sell Germany and other countries in the region its Gambit unmanned fighter. So, a mockup of the European variant of this UAV was presented at the German airport Oberpfaffenhofen. This is promoted as a low-risk and realistic solution for enhancing capabilities in the

While final decisions are still pending, Peru has approved the second tranche of funding for the purchase of 24 new multirole fighter jets

12/13/2025

In the midst of the wait for the definition of the future multirole fighter that will be chosen to renew the combat fleet of the Peruvian Air Force, Congress approved the second tranche of financing destined for the acquisition of 24 next-generation fighter aircraft. The measure was formalized in the Public Sector Borrowing Law for the 2026 fiscal year.

Swiss to reduce F-35 fighter jet order from US as costs rise

12/13/2025

Switzerland said on Friday it would reduce the number of Lockheed Martin, opens new tab F-35A Lightning II fighter jets it is buying from the United States so it can stick to the original budget plan after the cost of the order rose. Bern chose the F-35A as its next-generation fighter plane in 2021 for what it considered a fixed price of 6 billion Swiss francs ($7.54 billion) for 36 jets. The United States later said that sum was a misunderstanding.

US Air Force pilots finally have a training jet built for a modern air war of stealth fighters and bombers

12/13/2025

US Air Force pilots have a new training aircraft, the T-7 Red Hawk, promising to prepare them to fly fifth-generation fighters, stealth bombers, and the US' planned sixth-generation fighter. The first T-7 Red Hawk trainer, made by Boeing, arrived at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph in Texas this month. The new training aircraft will replace Northrop Grumman's T-38 Talon, which pilots have been training on for six decades.

Russia’s Su-57 Felon Stealth Fighter Just Got The Engine It Always Needed

12/12/2025

Russia’s Su-57 began life powered by the AL-41F1/117S, a deeply modernized Su-27 engine used as a stopgap while a true 5th-generation powerplant was developed. That engine, now designated AL-51F1 (177S), only flew on a Su-57 testbed in 2017 and has just entered low-rate production.

Aircraft Carriers, Marines And Bombers: What The U.S. Miliary Is Really Signaling To Venezuela

12/12/2025

The U.S. military buildup around Venezuela is no routine counternarcotics mission. Washington is assembling a carrier strike group, amphibious forces, long-range bombers, and dense ISR coverage to coerce Nicolás Maduro into dismantling the foothold China, Russia, and Iran have built inside the Western Hemisphere.

Russia deploys two dozen new combat aircraft in 2025

12/12/2025

Ukrainian sources say Russia’s defense industry delivered roughly 14 Su-34 frontline bombers and about 10 Su-35S fighter jets to its armed forces in 2025, expanding Moscow’s tactical aviation inventory as the war enters its fourth year.

Germany, France, Spain move to end deadlock in fighter jet dispute

12/12/2025

Germany, France and Spain will try this week to break a deadlock over Europe’s next-generation fighter jet programme, a project worth up to 100 billion euros ($117 billion) seen as vital for the region’s defence ambitions as the war in Ukraine grinds on. The push for progress at talks between the countries' defence ministers follows mounting political pressure to salvage the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), launched more than eight years ago but stalled by industrial rivalries.

US bombers join Japanese jets in show of force after China-Russia drills, Tokyo says

12/12/2025

U.S. nuclear-capable bombers flew over the Sea of Japan alongside Japanese fighter jets on Wednesday, Tokyo said, in a show of force following Chinese and Russian drills in the skies and seas around U.S. allies Japan and South Korea. Japan and the U.S. "reaffirmed their strong resolve to prevent any unilateral attempt to change the status quo by force and confirmed the readiness posture of both the Self-Defense Forces and U.S. forces," Japan's defence ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

U.S. Air Force F-35s and KC-135 stage flyover across Baltics to demonstrate agile NATO airpower

12/11/2025

Two U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning IIs from the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath flew over Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia on 4 December, underscoring U.S. Air Forces in Europe’s ability to deliver agile airpower with NATO Allies. The sortie highlighted cooperation across the region as part of ongoing support to Europe’s Eastern Flank.

US Sets Conditions for Turkey’s F-35 Hopes

12/11/2025

The U.S. has reiterated that Turkey must give up the S-400 missile defense system it purchased from Russia to be eligible for the acquisition of advanced F-35 fighter jets. "As laid out in U.S. law, Turkiye must no longer operate nor possess the S-400 system to return to the F-35 program," U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack wrote in a statement on his X account. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been discussing the issue with President Donald Trump for months.

Australian MQ-28 CCA Downs Drone in Milestone Air-to-Air Test

12/11/2025

A semi-autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft drone shot down an air-to-air target in a Dec. 8 test supported by the U.S. Air Force, a notable milestone in the development of the loyal wingman-type drones that will join the fleets of the USAF, other American services, and allies and adversaries.

SEASHOT expands joint combat training for Shaw and U.S. Navy

12/11/2025

"As weapons technology continues to develop, fighter pilots need to shoot and intercept adversaries from increasingly longer distances," said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Alexander Vane, 20th Operations Support Squadron commander. "As a result, we are starting to outgrow our primary air combat training airspace off the S.C. coastline. Additionally, Shaw AFB is situated near one of the busiest air traffic corridors in the United States; there is physically no room for our airspace to grow."

Bangladesh signs for Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets from Italy’s Leonardo

12/10/2025

Bangladesh has committed to operating the Eurofighter Typhoon, signing a letter of intent with Italy’s Leonardo in Dhaka today. The LOI was signed at the headquarters of the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF). Present at the signing were Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, Ambassador of Italy to Bangladesh H.E. Antonio Alessandro, and other representatives from both the Bangladesh armed forces and Italy.

Poland in talks to transfer MiGs to Ukraine in exchange for drone and missile tech

12/10/2025

Poland is in talks over donating further MiG-29 fighter aircraft to Ukraine. Warsaw hopes to receive access to drone and missile technologies from Kyiv in return. In a statement on Tuesday evening, the general staff of the Polish armed forces announced that “negotiations are ongoing with the Ukrainian side regarding the transfer of MiG-29 aircraft”, without specifying the number.

South Korea scrambles jets after Chinese and Russian planes enter ADIZ

12/10/2025

Nine Chinese and Russian military aircraft briefly entered and exited South Korea’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on December 9, 2025, prompting the country’s Air Force to scramble fighter jets, according to Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).

Russian, Chinese Bombers Fly Joint Patrol Near Japan, South Korea

12/10/2025

Russian and Chinese bombers conducted a joint patrol Tuesday, flying over the East China Sea and Western Pacific, prompting Seoul and Tokyo to scramble fighter aircraft to monitor the flights. At approximately 10:00 a.m. local time, seven Russian military aircraft and two Chinese military aircraft entered the Korean Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ) over the Sea of Japan, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the same day in a news release. No airspace violation occurred, the release re

F/A-18 Super Hornets Were Just Tracked Flying Deep Inside The Gulf Of Venezuela (Updated)

12/10/2025

The two Super Hornets, callsigns Rhino 11 and Rhino 12, look to have remained in international airspace throughout the duration of their sorties in the Gulf of Venezuela today, though this remains unconfirmed. Spoofing aircraft in open-source flight tracking is possible and does happen, but in this case, considering what we are seeing, and the recent history of certain U.S. platforms making their presence very known off the coast of Venezuela, this seems unlikely.

Ukrainian Air Force confirms loss of Su-27 fighter jet

12/09/2025

A Ukrainian Su-27 fighter jet was lost during a combat mission on December 8 in the eastern region of the country, the Ukrainian Air Force confirmed in a public statement. “At noon on December 8, 2025, in the eastern direction, during the execution of a combat mission in a Su-27 aircraft, the senior navigator of the 39th Tactical Aviation Brigade, Lieutenant Colonel Yevhenii Vitaliiovych Ivanov, was killed. The circumstances are being clarified.