Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Japan frets over fighter rollout target and weighs stopgap options, sources say

05/31/2025

apan has growing doubts that its next-generation fighter project with Britain and Italy will meet a 2035 rollout target, potentially forcing Tokyo to plug air defense gaps with new U.S. F-35 stealth planes or upgrades to aging jets, two sources said. The joint Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) established in 2022 is falling behind schedule due to a lack of urgency from Britain and Italy, which could push deployment beyond 2040, according to one of the sources.

Jet jamming: Fighter plane future rests on mastering electronic warfare

05/31/2025

The ferocity of the shots fired in the recent India-Pakistan conflict have quietened but the skirmish is already having an impact on global air forces. Jamming devices are now considered essential, experts have told The National. A major investigation among Western powers is under way to understand how potentially three French-built Rafales were lost to Pakistan's Chinese made J-10Cs, alongside the worrying development of long-range aerial warfare.

Dutch F-35s Fighter Jets Take Part in Finland’s Baana 25 Exercises

05/31/2025

Dutch F-35s joined Finland’s Baana 25 exercises, simulating highway landings to boost NATO’s Agile Combat Employment strategy, showcasing operational flexibility, readiness, and alliance interoperability amid modern warfare threats. It has been over two years since Finland officially joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). However, in that short time, it has worked closely with its allied nations in numerous drills, including its annual “Baana” exercises.

For first time GBU-53/B glide bomb launched by U.S. F-15E fighter jet controlled by Norwegian P8A aircraft

05/31/2025

According to information published by the Norwegian Ministry of Defense on May 28, 2025, Norwegian Armed Forces achieved a groundbreaking milestone in NATO’s advancement of network-enabled warfare. While the operation was conducted on May 14, 2025, the newly revealed details emphasize a major leap in allied digital integration and precision strike capability.

The F-35 could be 'pilot optional' in the not-too-distant future, Lockheed Martin CEO says

05/31/2025

Lockheed Martin is developing an advanced version of its F-35 stealth fighter jet that could potentially be uncrewed, the company's CEO said on Wednesday. Speaking at the Bernstein's 41st Annual Strategic Decisions Conference, CEO Jim Taiclet floated the possibility of an F-35 whose pilot could be "optional" within a "relatively modest time frame."

Taiwan tracks 16 Chinese military aircraft, 9 ships

05/30/2025

The Ministry of National Defense tracked 16 Chinese military aircraft, eight naval vessels, and one official ship around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Thursday and 6 a.m. on Friday. Seven of the 16 People’s Liberation Army aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line in the country’s northern and eastern air defense identification zone, according to the MND.

UK Warns of Critical Delay in SPEAR 3 Missiles for its F-35B Fighter Jets

05/30/2025

According to information published by the British daily The Telegraph on May 20, 2025, the Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm’s F-35B fighters will remain limited in their air-to-ground strike capabilities for several more years. Despite their advanced design, these aircraft currently rely solely on Paveway series guided bombs, due to the lack of integration of more sophisticated weaponry. The SPEAR 3 missile program, intended to fill this gap, has experienced significant delays.

China continues search for fighter export success

05/30/2025

China has emerged as a manufacturing superpower in several industries but has failed to gain traction as an exporter of combat aircraft. Could this be about to change? A fateful night in the skies above mountainous Kashmir hints that the world’s perception of Chinese combat aircraft may have reached a turning point.

Russia Completes Delivery of New Sukhoi Su-30SM2 Fighter-Bombers to Equip the Belarusian Air Force

05/30/2025

Despite international sanctions and the fact that its industrial complex is focused on the war effort, Russia has completed the delivery of a new batch of Sukhoi Su-30SM2 fighter-bombers to equip the Belarusian Air Force. The news emerged through the viral circulation of images showing an undisclosed number of aircraft delivered by the Irkutsk Aviation Plant to the Belarusian Ministry of Defense.

Despite “Anti-Rafale” Propaganda, Indonesia Likely To Place Follow-Up Order For French Fighter Jets

05/29/2025

French President Emmanuel Macron appears to have convinced Indonesia to place follow-on orders for Rafale and Scorpene submarines as it seeks to deepen defense and trade ties with Southeast Asia’s largest economy. Macron arrived in Jakarta, Indonesia, from Vietnam on May 27 for the second leg of his three-country Southeast Asia tour, which also includes Singapore, and aims to project France as a balancing power in the Indo-Pacific.

India and France Are At Each Other’s Throats Over the Dassault Rafale Fighter

05/29/2025

The crisis within the IAF cannot by itself explain the excellent performance of Pakistani PL-15 missiles against what were supposedly India’s superior air capabilities. The dismal showing of India’s expensive French-built Dassault Rafales in its recent war against Pakistan has triggered a wave of recriminations between the Indian and French governments. Not only has the unimpressive display of the Dassault Rafales in the opening phases of the recent conflict come as a shock to the world.

India’s coming counter to Pakistan’s Chinese-made fighters

05/29/2025

India’s new stealth fighter plan aims to reassert air dominance in a region where Pakistan’s Chinese-made jets recently drew first blood in an intensifying South Asian arms race. This month, India’s Ministry of Defense green-lighted a blueprint for developing its most sophisticated stealth fighter jet, known as the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), Reuters reported.

India approves development of prototype advanced fighter jet

05/28/2025

India, one of the world's largest arms importers, has made the modernisation of its forces a top priority in the face of tensions with nuclear-armed Pakistan and China. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh approved the prototype of a 5th generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), the ministry said in a statement, calling it a "significant push towards enhancing India's indigenous defence capabilities".

The Ukrainian Air Force Evaluates SAAB’s Proposal to Modernize Its Russian/Soviet-Origin Fighter Jets

05/28/2025

Over more than three years of conflict, various Russian/Soviet-origin fighter jets operated by the Ukrainian Air Force have been observed modified or adapted to deploy Western weaponry. To cite just a few examples, Su-27 fighters have been seen using French-made AASM HAMMER guided bombs and U.S.-made GBU-39 glide bombs. The Su-24 Fencer aircraft have also been employed as launch platforms for SCALP EG/Storm Shadow cruise missiles.

Finland summons russian ambassador over violation of its airspace by 2 military aircraft

05/27/2025

The Finnish Foreign Ministry has summoned russian Ambassador Pavel Kuznetsov to demand an explanation in connection with the alleged violation of the country's airspace by russian military aircraft on May 23.

Is Egypt Considering the Chinese J-35 for Its Next-Generation Fighter Program?

05/27/2025

During the recent China-Egypt joint air drills, Eagles of Civilization 2025, held between April and May at Wadi Abu Rish Air Base, non-official sources reported that the Commander of the Egyptian Air Force, Lieutenant General Mahmoud Fuad Abdel Gawad, expressed a strong interest in China’s J-35 stealth fighter. While this information has not been officially confirmed by either Egyptian or Chinese authorities.

Netherlands Sends Final Dispatch of F-16 Fighter Jets to Ukraine

05/27/2025

The Dutch Ministry of Defense confirmed on Monday that the final batch of six F-16 fighter jets promised to Kyiv has left the Netherlands on its way to Ukraine. The Netherlands has been a key ally of Ukraine and an early advocate for Ukraine to receive fighter jets from the West. In May 2023, former US President Joe Biden agreed to allow the Netherlands and other European countries to begin training Ukrainian pilots and to transfer F-16s to Ukraine.

New order for 24 Chinese JF-17s reported in South Caucasus

05/27/2025

Recent reports from various international media outlets, including Defense Arabic, suggest that Azerbaijan is poised to significantly bolster its air force by expanding its order of JF-17 Thunder Block III fighter jets, a joint production between Pakistan and China.

Algeria becomes first foreign operator of Russian Su-57E fighter jet with delivery in 2025

05/27/2025

As reported by TASS on May 22, 2025, the first confirmed foreign customer of the Russian Su-57E fifth-generation multirole fighter jet will begin operating the aircraft in 2025. While the Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation did not disclose the identity of the purchasing country during the MILEX 2025 defense exhibition in Minsk, multiple independent sources, including Algerian state television and statements from Russian officials, confirm that Algeria is the first export

US National Guard Replaces A-10s with Powerful F-15EX Eagle II Fighters Offering Greater Range and Firepower

05/26/2025

A major shift is underway for one of the most prominent units of the United States Air National Guard. The 127th Wing, based at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Michigan, will replace its A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft with 21 new F-15EX Eagle II fighters. President Donald J. Trump announced this development during his visit to Selfridge on April 29, 2025. It marks a new phase for the unit, which has operated the A-10 for the past 15 years.

Chinese aircraft carrier conducts fighter jet operations in East China Sea

05/26/2025

Japan’s Defense Ministry has announced for the first time that China sent its Liaoning aircraft carrier into the East China Sea, some 200 kilometers from the Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands, for practice deploying fighter jets. The Defense Ministry’s Joint Staff Office said in a statement late Sunday that the Chinese carrier was sailing alongside four destroyers in the waters north of Kuba Island in the Senkaku chain, which is also claimed by Beijing, where the islets are known as the Diao

Ukraine and Sweden explore Soviet aircraft upgrades and Saab jet transfers

05/26/2025

Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Defence for Aviation Development Oleksandr Kozenko met with a Swedish delegation led by Thomas Lindén, Director for Ukraine Affairs at Saab, on May 23, 2025. The discussions centered on modernizing Ukraine’s aging fleet of Soviet-era aircraft and exploring the potential transfer of advanced Swedish aviation platforms.

Why China’s fighter jets should worry the US and Taiwan

05/26/2025

The recent aerial clash between Pakistan and India offers a glimpse of how China is narrowing the gap in military airpower with the US. It is a warning not just for Washington, but for Taipei, too. Claims from both sides remain contested, but a broader picture is emerging among experts who track China’s air force and fighter jet development: Beijing’s defense systems are growing increasingly credible.

Why Turkey’s Development of Stealth Fighter Jet Should Alarm the Region and the World

05/26/2025

In 2016, Ankara announced the launch of its Turkish Fighter (TF-X), a stealth, twin-engine, all-weather air superiority fighter plane, rechristened as the KAAN project, which is part of a wider initiative intended to reduce Turkey’s dependence on foreign imports for its defense industry. At the start of the 2000s, Turkey relied on imports for 80% of its defense requirements, a figure that has now been reduced to around 20%.

Israeli Air Force F-15 Baz fighter-bombers carried out strikes against Houthi positions in Yemen

05/26/2025

Almost simultaneously with U.S. President Donald Trump concluding his tour of the Middle East, the Israeli Air Force confirmed that it carried out airstrikes against Houthi positions in Yemen, using its F-15 Baz fighter-bombers for the operation. According to the Air Force, the missions took place on Friday, May 16th, and specifically targeted the ports of Hodeidah and Salif—an action that, according to Jerusalem, was a response to the ongoing missile and drone attacks launched by the rebels.