Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

State of the Air Force 2025

04/19/2025

The Air Force is prepping for a potential showdown with China, seeking cutting-edge technology like stealthy jets and AI-powered drone wingmen. Just two months into the new presidential administration, it learned it will have a new weapon in its arsenal: the first sixth-generation fighter jet. President Donald Trump, flanked by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and a rendering of the F-47 peeking through a shadowy background, called the jet “virtually unseeable” with “unprecedented power.”

Berlin blocks fighter jet sale to Turkey over Ekrem Imamoglu’s arrest

04/19/2025

Germany’s outgoing government is said to have blocked a British proposal to sell dozens of Eurofighter Typhoon combat jets to Turkey after the arrest of the mayor of Istanbul, potentially creating significant tensions between London and Berlin. Britain is understood to have been finalising a deal for about 40 of the jets after John Healey, the defence secretary, visited his counterpart in Ankara.

With Over Fifty Aging MiG-29s and Su-27s, Uzbekistan Seeks Replacement From China, Not russia

04/18/2025

Uzbekistan is looking to replace its aging Soviet-era aircraft, and despite plans to order the French Rafale in late 2023, the acquisition hasn't seen much progress since then. Now, Uzbeks may be looking towards China instead, as russian media report with apparent frustration.

Portugal approaches Saab to purchase Gripen fighter jets following withdrawal from US F-35 program

04/18/2025

On April 6, 2025, Saab Chief Executive Officer Micael Johansson confirmed during an interview with Dagens Industri that negotiations are ongoing with Portugal and Canada regarding the potential acquisition of the Saab JAS 39 Gripen. This confirmation follows Portugal’s cancellation of its planned procurement of the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II and reflects a shift in Lisbon’s defense planning priorities amid evolving geopolitical circumstances.

Turkey seeks return to F-35 programme, considers redirecting USD 1.4 billion from F-16 deal

04/18/2025

According to Turkish defence website TurkDef, which cites senior officials from Turkey’s Ministries of Defence and Foreign Affairs, Ankara is seeking to rejoin the F-35 Lightning II programme and acquire the fifth-generation fighter jets. The report states that Turkey is considering diverting USD 1.4 billion—originally allocated to the F-16 programme—towards the F-35, contingent on approval from the Trump administration for the aircraft sale.

Chinese jets train with Egypt in bold Middle East military move

04/18/2025

In a move that signals a deepening of military ties in an already volatile region, China and Egypt have embarked on their first-ever joint air exercise, dubbed Civilization Eagle 2025. This unprecedented collaboration, which began in mid-April and is set to continue until early May, involves the Chinese People’s Liberation Army [PLA] Air Force and the Egyptian Air Force conducting coordinated flights and tactical training.

Poll shows majority of Swiss oppose purchase of F-35A Lightning II fighter jets

04/17/2025

Switzerland’s decision to acquire 36 F-35A Lightning II fighter jets, under a contract signed in 2022, has led to ongoing political debate within the country. The aircraft are scheduled to replace the Swiss Air Force’s F/A-18 Hornet and F-5 Tiger jets from 2027 onwards.

Is the UAE preparing to purchase the South Korean KF-21 Boramae fighter jet for its Air Force?

04/17/2025

As reported by Yonhap on April 15, 2025, the United Arab Emirates and South Korea held a joint air defense exercise on Emirati territory involving the South Korean Cheongung-II medium-range surface-to-air missile system. The activity marks the first publicly confirmed instance of operational integration of this system in a Middle Eastern setting. Discussions are ongoing regarding a potential UAE acquisition of the KF-21 Boramae multirole fighter.

Italian Air Force conduct missile firing campaigns in the UK

04/17/2025

The Italian Air Force practiced missile firings from Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft at the UK Ministry of Defence’s Hebrides Range in Scotland. Their campaign assessed the viability of firing Meteor and AMRAAM beyond visual range air-to-air missiles from the Typhoon’s weapon system.

Italy says Britain is not sharing technology on fighter project

04/16/2025

Defence Minister Guido Crosetto has said Britain is not fully sharing technologies with Italy and Japan in a major project to develop a new fighter jet and urged London to bring down the "barriers of selfishness". In an interview with Reuters, Crosetto emphasised the importance of the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), which aims to develop by 2035 an aircraft that incorporates the most advanced technologies.

The Swedish Parliament authorizes the signing of agreements with Peru for the sale of 12 JAS-39 Gripen E/F fighter jets

04/16/2025

Building on the recent selection of the JAS-39 Gripen E/F by the Colombian Aerospace Force, Sweden is stepping up its efforts to position Saab’s fighter jet as a strong contender for other air forces in the region. This is reflected in the latest budget proposal submitted to the Swedish Parliament, aimed at securing authorization for the government to sign an intergovernmental agreement with Peru for the sale of up to 12 Gripen fighter jets, along with other military equipment.

It’s time to fully fund the Air Force’s collaborative combat aircraft

04/16/2025

As Defense Department leaders build their fiscal 2026 budget request, they must prioritize Air Force modernization. Three decades’ worth of chronic underfunding, paired with high combat demand, have worn the service’s aircraft so hard that the capacity and capability of the Air Force have declined to dangerous levels. It is well past time for a reset. Top leaders will only be able to successfully deter and, if necessary, defeat adversaries if they have sufficient and capable forces to do both.

South Korea, with its 'cheaper' version of the F-35, watches as Canada reviews U.S. fighter deal

04/16/2025

The reception hall at Korean Aerospace Industries Ltd. is, in many respects, every plane and helicopter lover's dream. Filled with model aircraft, there's one in particular that stands out. At first glance, you'd be forgiven for confusing it for the now politically infamous — at least in Canadian terms — F-35 fighter. The KF-21 Boramae (Hawk) has the same angled twin tails and similar sleek lines. When pointed out, a senior KAI manager sheepishly acknowledged the "stealthy design" resemblance.

F-16 Shootdown: Why U.S. Could Be Behind The 2nd Confirmed Crash Of Ukraine’s Fighting Falcon: OPED

04/16/2025

On April 12, 2025, the Ukrainian Air Force reported the loss of an F-16 fighter jet during a combat mission in eastern Ukraine—marking the second confirmed F-16 loss since the aircraft’s operational induction in August 2024. Unusually, the incident was acknowledged within hours, following initial reports on social media around 1:00 PM Kyiv time. At 2:42 PM, Acting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly confirmed the loss on X.com, posting:

Belgium asks Italy to produce its future F-35 fighter jets as alternative to US assembly line in Texas.

04/15/2025

In an interview with Het Laatste Nieuws on April 14, 2025, Belgium’s Defense Minister, Theo Francken, formally proposed that future F-35 fighter jets ordered by Belgium be assembled in Italy rather than in the United States. The minister also revealed that he had already made the request to his Italian counterpart, Guido Crosetto. Francken emphasized that this initiative could create jobs within Europe and help align Belgium’s defense investments with broader European industrial and strategic ob

Defence minister hopes to order extra F-35 fighter jets in Italy

04/15/2025

Belgian Defence minister Theo Francken has asked his Italian counterpart whether the extra F-35 fighter jets Belgium wants to order could be built in Italy, and not in the US. The move would create jobs in Europe, Francken said on Monday in an interview with Het Laatste Nieuws.

Philippines Cleared For Purchase of F-16 Fighter Jets

04/15/2025

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced that a proposed purchase of twenty F-16 Falcon fighter jets was approved by the US State Department. The total estimated cost of the sale comes in at $5.58 Billion and will include 20 airframes, twenty four F110-GE-129D or F100-PW-226 engines, twenty two AN/APG-83 AESA radars and other assorted equipment and systems in or related to the F-16, including weapon systems, avionics, computers and targeting equipment.

Bulgarian Air Force receives first F-16 Block 70 fighter jet

04/15/2025

The Bulgarian Air Force has officially received its first Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 Fighting Falcon combat aircraft into service following a ceremony at the Third Air Base in Graf Ignatievo. The aircraft is the first of 16 fighter jets that will be delivered to the nation. Bulgaria signed its first Letter of Acceptance (LOA) for eight F-16s in 2019, followed by a second LOA for an additional eight jets in 2022.

For $1.04 Billion, the U.S. authorizes the sale of the most advanced AMRAAM missiles to equip the Royal Australian Air Force’s fighter jets

04/15/2025

The United States government has authorized the potential sale of 400 new long-range air-to-air AMRAAM missiles to equip the Royal Australian Air Force’s fighter aircraft. This information comes from the latest notification submitted by the U.S. State Department to Congress for approval of the transaction through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program.

Lockheed Martin to supply Morocco with F-16 fighter planes and air defence systems

04/14/2025

The multinational company Lockheed Martin has announced that it will supply F-16 fighter planes and air defence systems to Morocco, following a statement made during the visit of a delegation from the US defence giant to Moroccan territory. he visit was arranged with the Moroccan Agency for Investment and Export Development (AMDIE), the organisation responsible for promoting investment throughout the North African country.

Exclusive: U.S. Marine Corps VMFA-312 Conducts Daily F/A-18C Fighter Jet Operations in Panama.

04/14/2025

According to information published by the U.S. Department of Defense on April 8, 2025, U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18C Hornet aircraft with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 312 took off from Panama Pacifico Airfield, Panama, marking the continuation of the squadron's day-to-day operations in support of an expanded strategic security partnership with the Republic of Panama.

Uzbekistan picks Chinese jets to replace old Soviet air fleet

04/13/2025

Reports surfaced recently that China has greenlit the sale of advanced fighter jets to Uzbekistan, a move that signals a deepening military partnership between Beijing and the Central Asian nation. According to sources close to Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Defense, cited by regional defense outlets, the deal could involve modern aircraft such as the JF-17 Block III, J-10C, or even the fifth-generation J-35, though no official confirmation has pinned down the exact model.

Turkiye successfully tests indigenous radar signal detection pod for its F-16 fighter jets

04/13/2025

Turkiye has successfully completed testing of its indigenous radar signal detection and tactical electronic support pod, known as EDPOD, which was integrated into F-16 fighter jets, the country’s industry and technology minister announced Friday.

Ukraine Just Lost Another F-16

04/13/2025

Ukraine lost a Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter and its pilot, Capt. Pavlo Ivanov, on or just before Saturday. It’s the second loss of an F-16 and pilot since the single-engine, supersonic fighter—85 of which a Belgian-Danish-Dutch-Norwegian consortium has pledged to Ukraine—entered front-line service in Ukraine back in August.

Japan Jets Scrambled at Chinese Drones Up Threefold On-Year

04/12/2025

Japan scrambled jets in response to Chinese drones 30 times during the past year, the military said, up over threefold year-on-year as Beijing bolsters its air force. “Overall, we are seeing the trend staying at a high level,” Japan’s military chief of staff Yoshihide Yoshida said at a press conference on Thursday. In the financial year to March 31, Japan scrambled fighter jets 704 times to intercept foreign aircraft.