Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

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.

Global Partnership in Action: Belgian Pilots Train in US for F-35 Future with Simulation Event

04/12/2025

As Belgium prepares to transition to the F-35 Lightning II fighter jet with the arrival of its first aircraft later this year, its pilots are getting a head start on mastering fifth-generation air power. Belgian fighter pilots recently participated in an F-35 Manned Tactical Simulation (MTS) education and training event at Lockheed Martin’s facility in Fort Worth, Texas, March 31-April 4, marking an important milestone for the country’s future arrival of F-35 aircraft.

Dassault CEO strikes dark tone on Europe’s sixth-gen fighter progress

04/12/2025

Dassault Aviation CEO Éric Trappier slammed the cooperation with Airbus on developing a European sixth-generation fighter jet, telling French lawmakers that working together is “very, very difficult” amid continued bickering over work share. “Something is not working,” Trappier said in a hearing of the National Assembly defense committee here on Wednesday. “So it needs to be reviewed.

After U.S. Air Force’s F-47, Now U.S Navy Is Preparing For 6th-Gen Fighter Jet That Can Fight In The Pacific!

04/12/2025

The US’s quest to counter China’s growing military prowess in the Indo-Pacific has brought traction to the development of sixth-generation fighter jets. After Boeing won the contract for the US Air Force’s F-47, competition is heating up between Northrop Grumman and Boeing for the US Navy’s sixth-generation carrier-based fighter, F/A-XX.

Modernised Mirage 2000D enters operational service with French Air and Space Force

04/11/2025

On 9 April, the French Air and Space Force officially marked the entry into operational service of the upgraded Mirage 2000D combat aircraft during a ceremony held at Nancy-Ochey Air Base. The upgrade project, commissioned by the French defence procurement agency (DGA), involved the modernisation of 50 aircraft previously dedicated to precision strikes against ground targets using conventional weaponry.

US Air Force officially retires the legendary F-15C Eagle air superiority fighter jet after more than 40 years of service.

04/11/2025

On March 26, 2025, the Kadena Air Base announced that the U.S. Air Force has officially retired the F-15C from its active-duty inventory, marking the end of more than four decades of service for the air superiority fighter. The decision, part of a broader effort to modernize U.S. airpower, culminated in the permanent retirement of the F-15C/D Eagle fleet from Kadena.

Saab Makes Gripen Offer To F-35 Customer; MoD Says New Offer More Cost Effective, Enticing: Reports

04/11/2025

As it hunts for new customers for its latest Gripen variant, SAAB is also looking to keep the older customers hooked. The Swedish manufacturer has made a new offer to extend the lease of Gripen fighter jets for the Czech Republic. In 2004, the Czech Republic leased 12 single-seat and two double-seat Gripen versions. The delivery of all aircraft was concluded by 31 August 2005, when the last two landed at the Caslav Air Base. This lease was to expire in 2027.

Indonesia’s shift to Turkey’s KAAN fighter jet stirs buzz

04/11/2025

On April 10, 2025, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto announced his country’s interest in joining Turkey’s ambitious KAAN fighter jet program, a next-generation combat aircraft still in development, while also expressing a desire to leverage Turkey’s growing defense industry for Indonesia’s submarine efforts.

Turkey reportedly aims to produce KAAN fighter jet for Brazil

04/10/2025

The agreement between Embraer and Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAS), signed in early April, officially involves a potential collaboration in the production of E2 commercial jets, but the Turkish media sees the partnership as having a broader scope. The two companies could theoretically support each other in defense projects, where they work in a complementary manner.

Satellite Captured russia Bring Su-35 to Algeria and Revealed the Number of Operational Su-57s

04/10/2025

Latest satellite imagery brings two important news at once. First, at least one Su-35 fighter jet has been delivered to Algeria from Komsomolsk-on-Amur, sourced from the batch originally ordered by Egypt but never accepted. There are signs of several more fighters being in preparation for shipment. Second, satellite monitoring has confirmed that the russian Aerospace Forces currently possess 19 Su-57 multirole fighters, but slow production rates continue to hinder export potential.

Inside the Navy’s Upcoming “Terminator” AI Fighter Jets

04/10/2025

In April, three F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets arrived at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, to take part in the “Viper Experimentation and Next-gen Operations Model—Autonomy Flying Testbed”?program (VENOM-AFT). n total, the Air Force is planning on converting six F-16s to autonomous aircraft to test the viability of the project.

US rotates combat aircraft to Japan’s frontline base

04/10/2025

The U.S. Air Force has deployed F-35A Lightning IIs and F-15E Strike Eagles to Kadena Air Base in Okinawa as part of its continued rotational presence in the Indo-Pacific. The deployment includes F-35As from the 355th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, based at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska, and F-15Es from the 336th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron out of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina.

India approves purchase of 26 French Rafale jets for navy, sources say

04/10/2025

India has approved the purchase of 26 Rafale fighter jets from France for its navy, two people aware of the decision said on Wednesday, a move aimed at deterring threats as rival China grows its naval presence in the Indian Ocean. A deal is expected to be signed over the next few weeks, the people said, requesting anonymity as they were not authorised to speak to the media, after the purchase was approved by India's cabinet committee on security affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.