Military Aviation News Archive

Fighter jets, refuelling aircraft, frigate: UK assets in Mideast

06/17/2025

Britain is deploying extra fighter jets and other assets to the Middle East amid the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said.

PARIS AIR SHOW NEWS: General Atomics' Collaborative Combat Aircraft Makes International Debut

06/17/2025

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems displayed a full-scale model of its collaborative combat aircraft at the Paris Air Show June 16 for its first international showing. The aircraft, dubbed YFQ-42A by the U.S. Air Force, is part of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, the service’s quest to develop a semi-autonomous, unmanned aerial vehicle that can operate alongside manned fighter jets and perform various missions, including air-to-air and air-to-ground combat.

British jets fend off Russian warplanes buzzing U.S. ship

06/16/2025

A Russian fighter jet conducted low-altitude passes near a United States Navy ship in the Baltic Sea on Sunday, prompting a rapid response from Royal Air Force Typhoons deployed under NATO’s enhanced Air Policing mission.

Air of anticipation: RAAF planners look beyond F-35

06/16/2025

Even though the RAAF accepted the last of its planned 72 fifth-generation Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fighters only in December, planners are already looking to what comes next. During its decades-long development, the F-35 was touted by pundits as the last of the manned fighter aircraft, with the future of air combat to be uncrewed and autonomous systems.

Boeing’s Ghost Bat Readies for Interoperability Trials

06/16/2025

By September, Boeing Australia hopes to have demonstrated how its MQ-28A Ghost Bat collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) can fit into a force mix. The uncrewed airplane will employ autonomous behavior to team with crewed assets such as F/A-18s, EA-18Gs, F-35As, and the E-7 Wedgetail airborne early warning aircraft. As of late last year, the CCA had proven its abilities to establish communications links with other aerial assets as well as fuse and share data from sensors and payloads.

UK sends fighter jets to Middle East

06/15/2025

Britain is moving additional military forces, including combat aircraft, to the Middle East in response to rising instability in the region, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Friday. “We are moving assets to the region, including jets, and that is for contingency support in the region,” Starmer told reporters during a flight to the G7 summit in Canada, according to Reuters.

British fighter jets in Poland scrambled six times in six days to intercept Russian Intel aircraft

06/15/2025

According to information published by the British Royal Air Force on June 13, 2025, Typhoon FGR4 fighter jets of the British Royal air Force (RAF) based at the 22nd Tactical Air Base in Malbork, Poland, have executed six NATO enhanced Air Policing (eAP) missions within six days, intercepting a total of 15 Russian military aircraft operating close to NATO airspace. The missions, conducted from June 7 to June 12, 2025, mark the most intense operational period since the RAF deployed to Poland.

Private Fighter Jets to Hunt Shaheds: Ukraine's Bold New Air Defense Plan

06/15/2025

Around the world, a number of private companies own and operate combat aircraft, including F-16s, complete with pilots and technicians. A new initiative by Ukraine to involve private aircraft in its air defense system may be aimed at leveraging this very resource.

3rd Israeli fighter jet shot down in Iran: IRNA

06/15/2025

Iran's air defenses have shot down a third Israeli F-35 fighter, state news agency IRNA reported on Saturday, a claim dismissed by the Israeli army. The jet's pilot ejected, and army commandos arrested the pilot, the agency also said in a post on X. Israeli army spokesperson Lt. Col. Avichay Adraee denied the reports on X, describing the claims as lies.

China blaming Japan for fighter jet incidents 'unacceptable': Tokyo

06/14/2025

Tokyo's defense minister said Friday it was "unacceptable" for China to blame Japan for close encounters between their military planes over the Pacific high seas last weekend. Japan says recent Chinese military activities in the Pacific — where Beijing's two operating aircraft carriers were sighted simultaneously for the first time — reveal its intent to improve operational capacity in remote areas. Chinese officials have hit back, calling the carrier outings routine training.

The Israeli Air Force deployed 200 fighter jets in the most recent attacks against Iran’s Nuclear Program

06/14/2025

With the deployment of 200 combat aircraft and over 330 guided munitions, the Israeli Air Force carried out one of the most forceful air operations in its recent history, as part of Operation “Rising Lion”. The mission aimed to severely degrade Iran’s nuclear program and the military capabilities associated with its development. The attacks targeted around one hundred strategic sites on Iranian territory.

Initial production funding for UK’s new fighter jet radar to support innovation across UK defence industry

06/14/2025

Chief Secretary to the Treasury, The Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, confirmed during a visit to defence company Leonardo in Edinburgh that the UK Government has released £204.6m of funding towards the production and integration of the innovative new radar for the Royal Air Force (RAF)’s Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft.

Europe’s Sixth-Generation Fighter Programs Face Turbulence

06/14/2025

Despite international cooperation, Europe’s sixth-gen fighter jets, face delays and rivalries. As global powers race ahead, Japan’s growing urgency and Europe’s fragmented efforts could hamper long-term competitiveness.

Everything We Know About Operation Rising Lion: Israel’s Attack on Iran

06/13/2025

Following days of heightened tension, Israel launched a large attack against Iran in the early hours of Jun. 13, 2025, targeting leadership, nuclear research, and military sites both in Tehran and beyond. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a video statement at around 0100 UTC, in which he said: “Moments ago, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a targeted military operation to roll back the Iranian threat to Israel’s very survival.

Morocco's F-35 fighter jet deal gains momentum with Israeli approval

06/13/2025

The possibility of Morocco's Royal Armed Forces (FAR) acquiring F-35A fighter jets is once again gaining momentum. A specialized English-language defense outlet reported on Wednesday, June 11, that Israel has given the green light for the acquisition of 32 aircraft, a key step given Israel’s influence in facilitating the sale of this advanced jet to Arab countries. The deal is estimated to cost around $17 billion over a 45-year period.

Chinese J-15 Fighters Make ‘Unusual Maneuver’ Toward Japanese Surveillance Aircraft

06/13/2025

Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy J-15 fighters came within 50 meters of a Japanese surveillance aircraft in what officials have called an “unusual maneuver,” announced this week. The fighter from aircraft carrier CNS Shandong (17) carried out the unusual maneuvers against Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force P-3C Orion Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) over the Philippine Sea last weekend.

European Fighter Jet Orders Surge Amid Geopolitical Uncertainty

06/13/2025

With much of Europe’s fighter fleets heavily dependent on the U.S., President Donald Trump’s apparent siding with NATO adversaries and calls to annex Canada and Greenland must be causing sleepless nights for some of the alliance’s European leaders. His disruptive words and actions, particularly in targeting tariffs, continue to prompt questions about the reliability of the U.S. as an ally and defense supplier.

Israel strikes dozens of targets in Iran, including nuclear program: IDF

06/13/2025

Israel said it has launched a series of strikes against Iran that included dozens of military targets, including the country's nuclear program, according to the Israel Defense Forces. The IDF said the operation, titled "Rising Lion," comes after intelligence identified that Iran has "significantly advanced towards obtaining a nuclear weapon," alleging this capability would allow them to act against Israel.

Taiwanese air force to retire F-5 jets after more than half a century

06/12/2025

Taiwan's Air Force will officially retire its F-5 series jets on July 4 at Hualien Air Base, Defense Minister Wellington Koo said Wednesday. Koo made the statement the same day he attended a meeting of the Legislative Yuan Foreign and National Defense Committee to brief lawmakers on the implementation and effectiveness of the Air-Sea Combat Power Improvement Plan and other matters.

Chinese fighter jets in close encounters with MSDF patrol plane over Pacific

06/12/2025

Chinese fighter jets risked collisions with a Maritime Self-Defense Force P-3C surveillance plane over the high seas in the Pacific Ocean in two close calls over the weekend that the Defense Ministry in Tokyo has characterized as “abnormal approaches.”

Saab achieves AI milestone with Gripen E fighter jet

06/12/2025

Saab has completed the first three test flights integrating Helsing’s artificial intelligence agent Centaur into a Gripen E fighter jet. The flights, conducted as part of Saab’s Project Beyond program, mark an advance in bringing AI capabilities to military aircraft, said the Swedish aerospace and defense firm.

South Korean fighter jet crashes at Eielson Air Force Base

06/12/2025

A South Korean F-16 fighter jet crashed on takeoff from Eielson Air Force Base near Fairbanks Tuesday afternoon. Both crew members ejected and were taken to a local hospital. U.S. Air Force officials say the F-16D Fighting Falcon from the Republic of Korea Air Force crashed on the runway at Eielson at about 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Indonesia signs $10bn deal to buy 48 Turkish Kaan fighter jets

06/12/2025

Indonesia will purchase 48 Kaan fifth-generation fighter jets from Turkey in a deal valued at more than $10bn, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Wednesday. The agreement was signed at the Indo Defence 2025 exhibition in Jakarta, which has been attended by Turkish defence firms. The deal will span 10 years and includes the co-production of some Kaan jet components in Indonesia.

USAF slashes F-35 buy, boosts next-gen fighter in unconventional 2026 budget proposal

06/12/2025

The Pentagon is proposing to halve its planned F-35 buy and boost funding for the sixth-gen F-47 fighter jet—but many of its 2026 budget-proposal details hinge on the reconciliation legislation still being debated on Capitol Hill. The budget proposal was quietly delivered to Congress yesterday—an unorthodox rollout without the typical public release and background briefings for press.

Cost of Canada's new US-made fighter jet fleet set to rise, watchdog says

06/11/2025

Canada's planned purchase of 88 Lockheed Martin, opens new tab F-35 fighters will cost at least 45% more than initially estimated and the project is also threatened by a pilot shortage, the country's top watchdog reported on Tuesday. Canada, seeking to replace its antiquated fleet of CF-18 jets, announced the C$19-billion ($13.89 billion) deal in January 2023.