Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Four Confirmed Deceased in Loss of U.S. KC-135 Over Iraq

03/13/2026

At approximately 2 pm ET on March 12, a U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft went down in western Iraq. Four of six crew members on board the aircraft have been confirmed deceased as rescue efforts continue. The circumstances of the incident are under investigation. However, the loss of the aircraft was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire.

KC-135 Crashes In Iraq While Supporting Iran Ops

03/13/2026

A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker supporting Operation Epic Fury against Iran crashed in western Iraq after a refueling incident involving two aircraft March 12, U.S. Central Command announced.

Russia Quietly Armed Iran’s Air Force for Years, Leaked Files Reveal. Su-35 Jets Expected Next

03/13/2026

An F-35 made history on March 4, 2026, by shooting down a Russian-made aircraft over Tehran—the first confirmed air-to-air kill by the stealth fighter. Leaked documents show how the downed Yak-130 reached Iran.

Fear of defections may have stopped flights

03/13/2026

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) could have held off flying military aircraft close to Taiwan over the past two weeks over fear of defections by pilots, Taiwanese researchers said yesterday. The decline in sorties could be due to factors other than US President Donald Trump’s planned state visit to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping from March 31 to April 2, the experts said at a symposium held by Secure Taiwan Associate Corp.

PLA military flights off Taiwan resume

03/13/2026

China between Wednesday and yesterday sent more military aircraft into a sensitive area off Taiwan following a brief period that saw it mysteriously hold off on the flights. Five Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft were detected in Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) — a space closely monitored by the military — from 6am on Wednesday to 6am yesterday, the Ministry of National Defense said in a statement.

Norway scrambles fighter jets for 2 consecutive days after Russian military aircraft detected

03/13/2026

Norwegian Air Force fighter jets were scrambled for two consecutive days after sensors detected Russian military aircraft in international airspace off Finnmark, the country's armed forces said Wednesday. In a statement, the Norwegian Armed Forces said Norwegian sensors detected Russian Il-20M aircraft off Finnmark’s coast Tuesday and Wednesday. "NOR F-35s from Evenes scrambled, identified and shadowed them," said the statement.

US Scrambles Fighter Jets After Russian Anti-Submarine Aircraft Enter Alaska Defense Zone

03/13/2026

Radar operators monitoring the skies over the North Pacific detected an unusual flight path approaching the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone on March 4, 2026. The aircraft were moving along a corridor frequently used during long-range military patrol missions across the Arctic region. Their approach immediately drew attention from defense monitoring systems operated by the United States and Canada.

Inside the Cockpit: How F-35 and Typhoon Work Together to Protect the Skies

03/12/2026

Each aircraft contributes different strengths. Typhoon is a fast, highly manoeuvrable air superiority fighter carrying a large weapons load. The F-35, meanwhile, is designed around stealth and advanced sensor fusion-technology that allows it to detect and track threats earlier than conventional aircraft.

Air force expected to conduct exercises this week

03/12/2026

Taiwan’s air force is expected to conduct a series of exercises this week as part of its joint combat tactics specialty course, implementing a combat-like simulated environment, airdefensenews.com wrote on Facebook on Sunday, with Ministry of National Defense sources yesterday appearing to confirm the report.

Lockheed Martin receives $700 million contract to begin production work for additional Danish F-35A Lightning II fighters

03/12/2026

The U.S. Department of War announced on March 9 that it had signed a contract with Lockheed Martin to begin the production process for additional F-35A Lightning II aircraft ordered by Denmark. The agreement marks another step in expanding Denmark’s fleet of fifth-generation fighter aircraft.

Romania agrees to allow US to use its military bases for Iran missions

03/12/2026

The United States was granted permission to use bases in NATO ally Romania for operations in Iran on Wednesday following a meeting of defense officials in Bucharest. Romanian President Nicusor Dan called a defense council meeting to discuss whether to allow U.S. aircraft to carry out such missions, multiple Romanian news agencies reported Wednesday.

Why Did the US Just Send a Dozen Planes After Two Russian Bombers Near Alaska?

03/12/2026

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) deployed overwhelming force against the two Russian aircraft: two US Air Force F-35A Lightning II fighter aircraft, two F-22 Raptor fighter aircraft, four KC-135 Stratotanker air tankers, one E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS), two Canadian CF-18 Hornet fighter jets, and one CC-150 Polaris air tanker.

Norwegian F-35s intercept Russian spy aircraft during NATO drill

03/12/2026

Norwegian F-35s intercepted Russian intelligence-gathering aircraft two days in a row during an ongoing NATO military exercise here. On March 11 at 9:30 am, the deep and distinctive rumble of two Norwegian fighter jets echoed across the silent, mountainous terrain here in northern Norway, where NATO forces are currently conducting part of the biennial Cold Response 2026 exercise.

Australia is sending an aircraft and personnel to the Middle East. Does this mean we are entering the war?

03/11/2026

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is off to another Middle Eastern war, which is likely a surprise to many given how contentious the country’s involvement in the Iraq war was. The Albanese government has decided to send a RAAF E-7A Wedgetail surveillance aircraft to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), along with 85 personnel and a supply of air-to-air missiles capable of shooting down drones.

Serbia Armed Its MiG-29 Fighter Jets with Chinese CM-400AKG Missiles

03/11/2026

Serbia has purchased Chinese CM-400AKG air-to-surface missiles for its MiG-29 fighter jets. Analyst Danube Intel published a photo of the aircraft and suggested that the missiles could have been delivered as early as 2025. The MiG-29 fighters also received universal pylons from the Chinese company CATIC, which allow the integration of other missiles and guided bombs.

Iran War Provides Opportunity for Russia To Test U.S. Alaska Defenses

03/11/2026

As the U.S.-led war against Iran’s clerical regime continues apace, Russia is testing American capabilities in another corner of the globe. Two Russian maritime patrol aircraft flew through the Alaskan and Canadian Air Defense Identification Zones (ADIZ) on March 4. The pair of Tu-142 planes were met by 12 Canadian and American aircraft sent to monitor and intercept the Russian patrol, according to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).

RAF fighter jets shoot down drones targeting UK allies in Middle East

03/11/2026

RAF fighter jets carried out military action to defend Jordan and Bahrain overnight as fighting intensifies in the Middle East. The jets intercepted a drone heading towards Bahrain and took out an uncrewed aerial system to defend Jordan, the Ministry of Defence said. Defence secretary John Healey confirmed the military action and said fragments of a drone that struck the UK base at Akrotiri, Cyprus, were being examined for “foreign military equipment”.

African Air Forces Update Their Fleets

03/11/2026

Some African air forces are overhauling their fleets while weighing affordability, the types of fighter aircraft to buy, and getting rid of older aircraft too expensive to maintain. The air forces are investing in advanced aircraft to deal with terrorists, criminal groups and regional security threats. They also are working toward defense partnerships with such countries as Italy, Türkiye and the United States.

On the flightline with Swedish fighter jets in Iceland, in Cold War 2.0

03/10/2026

It’s harsh here, with blustery winds at the Icelandic air station that the US shut down two decades ago. The gray, hardened aircraft shelters in concrete give a true sense of Cold War 2.0. The six Swedish JAS 39 Gripen C fighters deployed here for Arctic air policing were grounded for two days when Breaking Defense visited the air station with a group of other media.

Australia to send military aircraft to the Gulf

03/10/2026

Australia will deploy an E-7A Wedgetail aircraft and 85 Defence personnel to the Gulf at the request of the United Arab Emirates to help protect Australians and others in the region, as 12 countries come under attack from Iran. Australian advanced and medium-range air-to-air missiles will also be provided to the UAE. The E-7A Wedgetail is one of Australia’s most sophisticated military planes, and will be deployed for an initial four weeks.

Turkish Deployment of F-16s in Occupied Portion of Cyprus Raises Tensions in Eastern Mediterranean

03/10/2026

Using the regional turmoil sparked by the war against Iran’s clerical regime as a cover, Turkey has deployed six F-16 fighter jets to the occupied part of Cyprus. Turkey’s March 9 action represents a significant escalation in the militarization of the Eastern Mediterranean. It also raises serious legal questions over the export and end use of U.S.-made military equipment.

NCIST mulls Kratos drone collaboration

03/10/2026

Taiwan’s state-run defense research group is mulling developing autonomous “loyal wingman” drones to support fighter jets in a potential collaboration with a US-based manufacturer, a source said. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a defense official said the National Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology (NCIST) has reached out to Kratos Defense in a bid to collaborate in building combat aircraft utilizing technologies featured in the latter’s XQ-58A Valkyrie.

China signals push for military aircraft exports

03/10/2026

A Global Times report said China plans to expand military aircraft exports following what it described as the first overseas combat success of the export-oriented J-10CE fighter jet in 2025. The report cites AVIC official Ji Ruidong saying China should shift from exporting individual aircraft to offering integrated combat systems that include fighters, missiles, sensors and communications networks.

Sharp drop in Chinese military aircraft near Taiwan raises questions

03/10/2026

Taiwan has not detected a single Chinese military aircraft around the island for nine of the past 10 days, leaving experts puzzling over the reasons for the dramatic reduction in sorties. China claims Taiwan is part of its territory and has threatened to use force to bring the island under its control.

UK preparing aircraft carrier for possible Middle East deployment

03/09/2026

The UK is preparing an aircraft carrier before a possible deployment to the Middle East, the Ministry of Defence has said. Royal Navy workers in Portsmouth are readying HMS Prince of Wales, the navy’s flagship, meaning it could be deployed more quickly if a decision is made to mobilise it to the region.