Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Boeing discloses MQ-28A Block 3 development with weapons bay and range improvements

02/08/2026

Boeing has disclosed development of the MQ-28A Ghost Bat Block 3, a new version of its combat unmanned aircraft designed for Australia and aimed at expanding the aircraft’s strike and endurance capabilities. The Block 3 variant is to feature a scalable internal weapons bay capable of carrying one AIM-120 AMRAAM missile or two GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bombs, with the possible addition of GBU-53/B StormBreaker glide bombs.

The air forces with the most combat fighter jets in 2026

02/08/2026

As a numbers game, the US, China, and Russia have the world’s largest combat fleets, although there are layers of naunce that give these numbers meaning. Some air forces have old 1960s-era aircraft counted even though they may never fly again.

Shot Down, Retired, Yet Flying! U.S. Air Force’s “Bat Planes” To Fly Until 2034 Despite Retiring 26 Years Ago

02/08/2026

In the eerie dark nights of the Nevada desert, people have often seen an aircraft that looks less like a fighter jet and more like a bat plane. First flown in 1981, over the years, people had grown used to its alien-looking shape. The F-117 Nighthawk was the world’s first operational stealth aircraft. However, its recent sightings in the Nevada night sky are a mystery. The aircraft had been officially retired from the US Air Force (USAF) way back in 2008.

SWEDISH JAS 39 GRIPEN DEPLOYMENT TO ICELAND MARKS HISTORIC MOMENT FOR NATO'S NEWEST ALLY

02/07/2026

In a landmark deployment, six Swedish JAS 39 Gripen fighter aircraft and a contingent of more than 110 personnel from Skaraborg Air Wing F7 have arrived at Keflavík Air Base . This rotation, running from early February to mid-March 2026, represents the first time the Swedish Air Force have led NATO’s Icelandic air policing mission since their accession to NATO in March 2024.

Turkish Air Force F-16 fighter jets have arrived in Somalia to support the fight against the Al-Shabaab terrorist group

02/07/2026

Turkish Air Force F-16 fighter jets, recently deployed to Somalia, arrived in the city of Mogadishu with the aim of supporting operations against the terrorist group Al-Shabaab, marking a new level of Ankara’s military involvement in the Horn of Africa country. The arrival of these aircraft represents the first time Türkiye has deployed manned fighter aircraft on Somali territory, expanding its role beyond training, advisory, and indirect support tasks.

Air Force’s Anticipated William Tell Weapons Meet Postponed

02/07/2026

A few weeks after the Air Force announced its prestigious William Tell Air-to-Air Weapons Meet would return in March, the service has decided to postpone the event to later this year, according to Air Combat Command. “The decision to postpone the competition was made to maximize available resources, and [William Tell] is intended to continue in the future,” an ACC spokesperson told Air & Space Forces Magazine, adding that a new date for the competition will be released as soon as its available.

US approves $3bn sustainment package for Saudi F-15 fleet

02/07/2026

The US State Department has approved the possible Foreign Military Sale to Saudi Arabia of equipment and support services related to the ongoing sustainment of the nation’s extensive fleet of Boeing F-15 Eagle fighters for an estimated cost of $3bn. Approval of this prospective FMS was announced by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency – which handles most of Washington’s impending military export sales – after it had notified US Congress of the proposed multi-billion deal.

China’s Third Neighbor Eyes Rafale Jets Amid Russian Squeeze, Pressure From Beijing & Washington: Reports

02/07/2026

A French publication, L’Express, claimed on February 4, 2026, that Vietnam could be one of the Rafale’s next customers. The report claimed that Vietnam had already had the opportunity to secretly evaluate the aircraft in 2018 when two Rafales had a stopover in the country during an Indo-Pacific deployment.

Can Fighter Aircraft Hunt Down Tanks? It’s Complicated

02/06/2026

Specialized anti-armor aircraft date back to World War II—but not all planes are well-equipped to take on ground targets. The idea of aircraft destroying tanks is deeply embedded in modern warfare. From World War II to the Ukraine War, air power has repeatedly been used to counter armored forces on the ground. Indeed, aircraft can be devastating against tanks or other ground vehicles—but a plane’s effectiveness against tanks depends upon a specific set of circumstances.

Saudi Arabia may invest in Turkish fighter jet Kaan 'any moment', Erdogan says

02/06/2026

Saudi Arabia and Turkey are considering a joint investment in Turkey’s fifth-generation fighter jet programme, Kaan, with a decision possibly imminent, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday. “We are signing significant defence industry cooperation agreements with Saudi Arabia, and we are determined to further strengthen them,” Erdogan told journalists while returning to Turkey following his visits to Egypt and Saudi Arabia this week.

General Atomics, Anduril Hint at Concepts for New U.S. Navy Unmanned Combat Aircraft

02/06/2026

Two aviation companies under contract to develop armed, unmanned aircraft and control systems for the U.S. Navy teased what they are working on this week during the Singapore Air Show. Anduril will leverage elements for the Navy from the autonomous collaborative combat aircraft under development for the U.S. Air Force to develop unmanned aircraft for the U.S. Navy’s iteration of the program, according to company leadership.

American, Chinese, and Russian fighters flew in a rare triple appearance. Here's how their performances compared.

02/06/2026

Singapore's biggest aviation event offered a rare treat this year: the chance to see modern fighters used by the world's top three military powers, all tearing through the sky in the span of 90 minutes. The biennial Singapore Airshow typically features a flying display, where pilots from around the world showcase aerobatic skills and stunt maneuvers that push their aircraft to the limit.

Saab shares ‘detailed information’ on Gripen with Canada as part of ‘dual fleet’ pitch

02/06/2026

Sweden’s Saab appears to be capitalizing on deteriorating political relations between the US and Canada by pushing for Ottawa to fly its Gripen E/F fighter jets along with US-made F-35s, and offering domestic production to sweeten the deal. In a call with investors today Saab CEO Micael Johansson claimed Canada was considering ways “not to be too dependent on the US by having a dual fleet, both F-35 and the Gripens.”

Ukraine’s Gripen jets likely to come with long-reach Meteor missiles

02/05/2026

Ukraine and Sweden are discussing the prospect of arming Kyiv with Europe’s top air-to-air missile, the Meteor, which a Saab official said would be a “natural content” of a weapon package for Gripen users. Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced last week that the country was discussing the potential transfer of JAS 39 Gripen jets and Meteor missiles to the war-torn country.

South Korea’s F-15K “Slam Eagle” Fighter Jets Are Getting a Massive Upgrade

02/05/2026

Aerospace giant Boeing has been awarded a $2.8 billion contract to modernize South Korea’s fleet of F-15K Slam Eagle jet fighters. The existing aircraft will be upgraded to the United States Air Force’s F-15EX Eagle II standard—following a similar effort undertaken by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF), which modernized its F-15Js to the F-15JSI (Japan Super Interceptor) standard.

Canada’s Fighter Debate Reopens Door for Gripen

02/05/2026

Commenting on the speculation that Canada might revise its plans to acquire a fleet consisting entirely of F-35s, Mikael Franzén, Saab chief marketing officer for the Gripen multirole fighter, said his company is “responding to questions.” Advocating for the combined strength of a potential mixed fleet, Franzén said, “Gripen is strong on availability and adaptability and would give combat mass to Canada.”

New Report: Air Force Needs 200 B-21s, 300 F-47s to Deny Enemy ‘Sanctuaries’

02/05/2026

In order to deny China “sanctuaries” from which it can launch air and missile salvos during a potential invasion of Taiwan, the U.S. Air Force needs to buy far more B-21 bombers and F-47 fighters than currently planned, according to a new report from AFA’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies.

US State Department Examines Possible Sanctions on Algeria for Su-57 Purchase

02/05/2026

The US administration is considering the imposition of sanctions on Algeria in response to the country’s acquisition of Russian fighter jets. The announcerment was made by Robert Palladino, the head of the US State Department’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs on February 3 during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, according to Russia state-run news agency TASS.

HAL excluded from India’s AMCA stealth fighter jet as private consortia take the lead

02/05/2026

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s absence from India’s flagship fifth-generation fighter programme has sent ripples through the country’s defence industrial ecosystem, but officials and analysts alike say the development reflects a deliberate restructuring of execution rather than a retreat from ambition.

Rafale Rising: Production Ramp-Up and the Road to the F5 Standard

02/05/2026

The Dassault Rafale program is entering a period of sustained high-rate production, with export customers increasingly interested in acquiring the aircraft despite strong competition provided by the Lockheed Martin F-35, Saab Gripen, and Eurofighter Typhoon. The French fighter is thriving at the moment. Dassault closed out 2025 with a firm order backlog for 220 aircraft, including 45 for France and 175 for export customers.

Keeping top combat aircraft flying is expected to only get more expensive

02/05/2026

The cost for the US and other militaries to keep newer combat aircraft ready to fly is going to soar in the coming years, a new report on sustainment trends argues. A new report from the American consulting firm Oliver Wyman projects global military aircraft spending over the next decade, including an annual sustainment cost growth of 1.1% through 2036. That's a pace roughly 11 times faster than the previous decade.

Turkish F-16 Vipers Seen Operating Out Of Mogadishu’s International Airport

02/04/2026

Turkish Air Force F-16 Vipers can be seen flying over the skies of Somalia in new videos that have emerged online. The deployment of these jets comes as Turkey is seeking to increase its presence in the troubled nation where the al-Shabab extremist group is wreaking havoc. One video shows a Turkish F-16 taking off, afterburner ignited, from an airport in the Somali capital of Mogadishu.

US fighter jet shoots down Iranian drone approaching US aircraft carrier

02/04/2026

A U.S. fighter jet shot down an Iranian drone as it approached the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea on Tuesday, according to a statement from U.S. Central Command. Later in the day, a Navy destroyer came to the assistance of a U.S.-flagged tanker that was harassed by multiple Iranian small boats as it transited the Strait of Hormuz.

Canadian military goes to U.S. for F-35 ceremony despite renewed trade tensions

02/03/2026

The Canadian Armed Forces will participate in a ceremony in Texas on Monday to celebrate the imminent arrival of their first F-35 — as Ottawa has still yet to announce how many U.S.-made fighter jets it will ultimately buy. The event comes as the future of the CF-18 replacement program is under review because of the ongoing trade and political disputes between Canada and the United States.

Ukraine may get more than Gripen jets — Europe's top air-to-air missile is also on the table

02/03/2026

Ukraine and Sweden have discussed the possibility of Stockholm sending Meteor missiles to Kyiv. The Meteor is considered a top European air-to-air missile, and it can be carried and fired by Gripen fighter jets. It would offer Ukraine a powerful new weapon to strike Russian aircraft from a distance.