Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Pakistan to strike multi-billion-dollar fighter jet deal with Haftar

12/22/2025

The Times of Islamabad newspaper has revealed that Pakistan and Benghazi are in the process of signing a major defense memorandum of understanding that could include the supply of 16 to 18 JF-17 Thunder fighter jets, in a deal estimated to be worth several billion dollars.

Switzerland needs more fighter jets: Could Saab’s Gripen be a viable option?

12/21/2025

Switzerland’s decision to cap spending on its F-35A fighter programme has raised an obvious follow-on question: could Bern look beyond Lockheed Martin to fill a growing gap in its future fighter force? While the country remains contractually committed to the F-35, rising costs and a reassessment of Switzerland’s long-term air defence needs have created tension at the heart of its procurement strategy.

Japan’s Fleet of F-35 Fighter Jets Is Growing. So Are Its Military Bases

12/21/2025

Japan is the largest operator of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fifth-generation stealth fighter. There are currently 105 F-35As, the conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variants, and 42 F-35Bs, the short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) models now in service. Three squadrons operate the F-35A at Misawa and Komatsu air bases, and as additional aircraft are received, each base will host two squadrons.

SBU Successfully Destroys Two Russian Su-27 Jets in Crimea Attack, Damages Control Tower

12/21/2025

Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) successfully struck two Russian Su-27 fighter jets at the Belbek military airfield in temporarily occupied Crimea, SBU wrote in Telegram on December 20. One of the jets, fully equipped with munitions and ready for combat, was destroyed in the attack. The estimated value of the two aircraft is around $70 million.

South Korean firm to supply advanced displays for Air Force’s new F-15EX fighters

12/20/2025

A South Korean defense technology firm will supply advanced cockpit displays for the U.S. Air Force’s new F-15EX Eagle II fighter jet and South Korea’s F-15K Slam Eagle under a new deal with Boeing. Hanwha Systems announced Thursday that it had signed a contract with the U.S. aircraft manufacturer to provide Eagle Large-Area Displays for both jets.

F-15EX Eagle II Fighter Resumes Production Post Delays

12/20/2025

Following temporary production delays earlier this year, the US Air Force has resumed its deliveries of the new F-15EX Eagle II iteration to the Portland Air National Guard Base. Beginning in August, a strike affecting workers employed at Boeing’s St. Louis facility halted progress on the Eagle II’s production. However, following rounds of negotiations, members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District 837 returned to work in November.

Radar, other upgrades planned for experimental US Air Force AI fighter

12/20/2025

The Air Force is upgrading its experimental, autonomous X-62 VISTA aircraft with new radar and other mission systems to expand its ability to conduct complicated tests of artificial intelligence technology. The X-62 VISTA, which stands for Variable Stability In-flight Simulator Test Aircraft, is now undergoing a comprehensive mission systems upgrade, according to a Thursday statement from Edwards Air Force Base in California.

Israel Worries as Qatar Eyes F-35 Jets

12/19/2025

For more than half a century, the United States has worked to ensure Israel’s qualitative military edge in the Middle East. That could change if Qatar gets the F-35 Lightning II. Israeli officials are growing more concerned regarding Qatar’s renewed interest in a potential F-35 Lightning II acquisition deal with the United States. According to a Channel 12 news report, Washington appears to be weighing the possible arms deal.

Bulgaria holds official ceremony for completion of delivery of first eight F-16s

12/19/2025

Bulgarian government ministers and representatives of the US as well as of F-16 manufacturer Lockheed Martin attended an official ceremony on December 18 at Graf Ignatievo air base for the completion of deliveries of the fighter jets under the 2019 initial contract.

Ukrainian Drone Hits Fully Armed MiG-31 Fighter Jet

12/19/2025

Ukrainian drones carried out strikes on the Belbek military airfield in Crimea, hitting a MiG-31 interceptor fighter jet and components of air defense systems. Ukraine’s Security Service (SSU) reported that the successful operation was conducted on December 18 by Alpha Special Operations Center forces. Local residents recorded the strikes, sharing videos on social media showing explosions and attempts by Russian troops to shoot down the drones.

E-3 Sentry Joins U.S. Combat Aircraft Tracked Off Venezuelan Coast

12/19/2025

As military and economic pressure builds on Venezuelan dictator Nicholas Maduro, an E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft was tracked on FlightRadar24 flying close to the Venezuelan coast. To our knowledge, at least in recent days, these aircraft have not been present on flight tracking software in this increasingly high-activity area. And if they have popped-up, their presence has been impersistent at best. At the same time, E-3s are no stranger to this region.

What really happened: How Turkish F-16s tracked and shot down unidentified drone

12/18/2025

New details have emerged about how Turkish Air Force Command's F-16s intercepted and shot down an unidentified drone that entered Turkish airspace from the Black Sea on the evening of Dec. 15, with defense sources speaking to Turkish media outlets revealing the step-by-step sequence from initial radar detection to the AIM-9X missile strike near Cankiri, a district in central Anatolia.

Europe’s Mighty Eurofighter May Soon Fly for Bangladesh

12/18/2025

Bangladesh is the latest nation to take steps to procure the Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet series. Last week, officials representing the Bangladesh Air Force penned a letter of intent to purchase these famous jets from Italian manufacturer Leonardo. As part of a Multi-Role Combat Aircraft requirement, Dhaka is expected to receive roughly a dozen Eurofighters.

Finland Debuts First F-35A Fighter Jet at Lockheed Martin

12/18/2025

Government and military leaders from the United States and Finland gathered today at Lockheed Martin’s (NYSE: LMT) F-35 production facility to mark the rollout of the first F-35A Lightning II aircraft for the Finnish Air Force, a milestone signaling a new generation of Finnish air power and reinforcing transatlantic ties amid saber-rattling by the Russian Bear.

KAI to Equip KF-21 Boramae Fighter Jet With IFF From BAE Systems

12/18/2025

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has contracted BAE Systems to integrate its latest Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) systems into the KF-21 Boramae fighter jet. Under the $11-million contract, BAE will supply its AN/APX-127(V)1 Combined Interrogator Transponder (CIT) to enhance the 4.5-generation combat aircraft’s capabilities to distinguish between allied forces and potential threats.

Senate Passes National Defense Bill with Provisions Secured by Peters to Strengthen Michigan’s Defense Footprint

12/18/2025

U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), a member of the Armed Services Committee, helped the Senate pass the annual national defense bill. The bipartisan legislation includes numerous provisions authored and secured by Peters to strengthen U.S. national security, invest in Michigan’s military facilities and defense sector, clean up PFAS contamination, and give servicemembers a pay raise.

India Will Receive Decommissioned Jaguars from Oman to Maintain its Own Aircraft Fleet

12/16/2025

India has agreed with Oman to transfer decommissioned SEPECAT Jaguar fighter-bombers as part of efforts to support the current fleet of this type of aircraft in the country’s Air Force. This was reported by the aviation publication Scramble. Omani Jaguars were decommissioned back in 2014. In total, the country received 27 aircraft of various modifications, which began to be delivered in the late 1970s.

Diehl Aerospace develops tablet-based control interface to link Eurofighter pilots with UAVs

12/16/2025

Diehl Aerospace is developing a new technology that will allow fighter pilots, including those flying the Eurofighter, to interact directly with unmanned aerial systems and other mission-related platforms. The initiative aims to expand the operational capabilities of existing fighter aircraft and prepare them for future, network-centric combat scenarios.

Unknown Source Fires Laser at US Fighter Jets Landing at NATO Ally Base

12/16/2025

Authorities in Germany have launched a criminal probe into apparent laser attacks on U.S. Air Force (USAF) F-16 pilots approaching a NATO base in the west of the country earlier this month. On three occasions, fighter jet pilots were approaching Spangdahlem Air Base "when unknown persons targeted the aircraft with a blue laser beam," German police said in a statement.

Lockheed Martin completes production of initial F-16 Block 70 aircraft for Bulgaria, Slovakia

12/16/2025

Lockheed Martin has completed production of all F-16 Block 70 aircraft for the initial fleets of Bulgaria and Slovakia. The aircraft are intended to equip both air forces for NATO and allied operations. The aircraft were manufactured at Lockheed Martin’s facility in Greenville, South Carolina. They have completed DD250 final acceptance under the U.S. government’s Foreign Military Sales programme.

Peruvian Air Force acquisition plan for 24 combat aircraft faces procurement scrutiny

12/16/2025

Peru’s Contraloría, the national audit watchdog, reported procedural observations on December 12 regarding the technical dossier for the Peruvian Air Force’s planned acquisition of 24 new fighter jets. The observations target the validation process of the Air Force’s technical documents, a step required before information is submitted to the Armed Forces Procurement Agency for negotiations with foreign vendors.

A fifth-gen frontier: Algeria’s Su-57 signals a new order in the Maghreb

12/16/2025

When the head of Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), Vadim Badekha, went on record in November to announce that the first Su-57 fighters had been delivered to a foreign customer and were already on combat duty, he did not need to say “Algeria.” He simply noted that the aircraft were “demonstrating their best qualities” and that “our customer is satisfied,” and left it at that.

India Can’t Give Up Its Jaguar Strike Aircraft

12/16/2025

India, now the sole operator of the Anglo-French SEPECAT Jaguar strike aircraft, is to acquire surplus examples of the Cold War-era jets from Oman, which retired the type in 2014. The decision reflects the continued value of the Jaguar to the Indian Air Force (IAF) but also points to the service’s shrinking fighter force and delays in acquiring new equipment.

US military aircraft approved to operate from Dominican Republic

12/15/2025

The Dominican Republic government has authorized several United States military aircraft to land and operate in the country in the coming days as part of an operational support deployment in the Caribbean. According to officials, the aircraft have been granted temporary permits to operate from restricted areas at San Isidro Air Base and Las Américas International Airport. The cooperation agreement allows for surveillance, transport, and technical support missions.

Combat Rescue Aircraft, Tankers Arrive In Caribbean As U.S. Military Buildup Accelerates

12/15/2025

The Pentagon is continuing to rapidly add military capabilities to Operation Southern Spear, a mission that began as a counter-narcotics effort but is increasingly aimed at Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro. Images emerged online today of Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) aircraft having arrived in Puerto Rico. In addition, KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refuelers are now flying missions out of the Dominican Republic.