Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Still More Fighters, Bombers Set to Join Iran Air War

03/08/2026

The U.S. is moving to surge firepower over Iran, including its capital of Tehran, defense officials leading the campaign said March 5 at U.S. Central Command headquarters here. Bomber strikes are being stepped up and additional fighter squadrons are being deployed.

Royal Air Force deploys additional Eurofighter Typhoon jets to Qatar to reinforce UK air presence

03/08/2026

Four Royal Air Force Typhoon aircraft have deployed from RAF Coningsby to Qatar to strengthen the United Kingdom’s air presence in the Middle East. The aircraft will integrate with the existing UK Typhoon force already operating in the region.

RAF Typhoon jets to help defend Bahrain, Starmer tells King Hamad

03/07/2026

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told ?the king of Bahrain that four jets the UK is deploying to Qatar could be ?used to help ?defend ?the ?kingdom ?from Iranian ?missile and ?drone strikes against Gulf states. “The Prime Minister also offered further defensive ?air cover from these ?jets ?for Bahrain ?to ?bolster their security,” ?Starmer told King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in a call ?late on Thursday, according to a readout ?from ?Starmer’s office on Friday.

Turkish fighter jets conduct patrol flights along Iran border amid war

03/07/2026

Turkish Air Force (TurAF) fighter jets are conducting patrol flights along Türkiye's border with Iran as the war between the United States and Iran continues, with aircraft observed flying over the border region near the Yuksekova district of Hakkari province. Aircraft were observed flying at regular intervals along the border line as part of ongoing operations.

S-400 stand-alone use 'most reasonable solution' for F-35 impasse: Defense Minister

03/07/2026

Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler stated that Türkiye still considers using the Russian S-400 air defense system in a stand-alone configuration, without NATO integration, as "the most reasonable solution" to the impasse blocking its reinstatement in the F-35 fighter jet program.

Why Didn’t Iran’s Air Force Put Up a Fight Against the United States?

03/07/2026

Iran’s air force was the most powerful in the Middle East in 1979, and nothing about it has changed since then. That’s a big problem for Tehran. Operation Epic Fury has exposed the limitations of Iran’s aging air force. Within the first days of the campaign, US and Israeli forces achieved air superiority over Iranian air space—a contest during which Iranian fighters were largely absent from the skies.

Swiss government reduces F-35 fighter jet order

03/07/2026

Switzerland confirmed it will proceed with the F-35A fighter jet procurement but expects to acquire about 30 aircraft instead of the originally planned 36 due to rising program costs. The Swiss Federal Council will request an additional 394 million Swiss francs from parliament to cover inflation and raw material cost increases while remaining within the voter-approved funding ceiling.

Ukraine Prepares Down Payment for Gripen and Rafale Fighter Jets

03/07/2026

Ukraine is moving forward with plans to secure advanced fighter jets from Sweden and France. “We must have a down payment from the Ukrainian side for future aviation, regarding the Gripen and Rafale,” the President stated. He noted that the matter was discussed on March 4 during a meeting with Ukraine’s Minister of Defense. The country is preparing a down payment for Swedish-made Gripen and French-made Rafale aircraft, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on March 5.

Sukhoi Su-30 MKI fighter jet goes missing in Assam, IAF launches search ops

03/06/2026

A Sukhoi-30 fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) went missing from radar contact while flying over Assam’s Karbi Anglong district on Thursday evening, officials said. “An IAF Su-30 MKI is reported overdue. The aircraft had taken off from Jorhat air base in Assam and was last in contact at 7.42 pm,” Defence PRO Lt Col Mahender Rawat said in a statement. He said search and rescue operations have been initiated to ascertain the status of the fighter jet.

Pair of low-flying Iranian bombers came within 2 minutes of hitting Al Udeid Air Base, report says

03/06/2026

Iranian fighter planes flying less than 100 feet above ground came within minutes of hitting the U.S. military’s largest base in the Middle East, CNN reported this week. The incident, which happened Monday morning, involved two Russian-made Su-24 bombers that were headed toward Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. Several thousand U.S. troops operate out of Al Udeid, making it the main hub for U.S. operations in the region.

British F-35s Just Scored an Air Combat Kill over Jordan

03/06/2026

The British fighter jets are in the Middle East to defend the UK’s regional military installations, most notably on Cyprus. Royal Air Force (RAF) Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning stealth fighters have reportedly scored their first aerial victory, downing Iranian drones over Jordan this week.

Fresh Off Labor Strike, Boeing Set to Double F-15EX Production

03/06/2026

The expanded production line comes even as the Air Force has expressed a desire to shrink its F-15EX fleet. This week, the United States Air Force lost three F-15E Strike Eagle fighters in a friendly fire incident over Kuwait as part of its ongoing Operation Epic Fury. Any loss of combat aircraft is significant—not only because of the immense cost of the aircraft, but because of the risk to the lives of the pilots and weapons systems officers. Fortunately, all six crewmembers ejected and were r

France will expand the number of Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets to be transferred to the Ukrainian Air Force

03/06/2026

With the publication of a brief statement on its official website, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has confirmed that it expects to receive an additional batch of Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets to equip its Air Force, which will be delivered from France as part of a new military assistance package.

France to let US planes not involved in Iran strikes use air base

03/06/2026

The announcement came after President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday said that US-Israel military operations in Iran were conducted "outside international law". "US aircraft providing operational support (not combat aircraft) have been accepted at the Istres air base in France," the general staff said.

NATO Scrambles a Dozen Aircraft as Russian Warplanes Approach Alaska

03/06/2026

NORAD scrambled a half-dozen American and Canadian fighters, along with six support aircraft, to intercept two Russian military aircraft that entered the Air Defense Identification Zone off the coast of Alaska and Canada on March 4. The response, which included fifth-generation F-35s and F-22s and Canadian CF-18s, is among the largest NORAD has mounted in the past decade and comes as hundreds of U.S. combat aircraft are massed in the Middle East for operations against Iran.

Somalia explores buying up to 24 JF-17 Block III fighters to rebuild air force

03/05/2026

More than three decades after its air force effectively disappeared with the collapse of the Somali state, Mogadishu is now exploring what could become the most ambitious defence procurement in its modern history.

Kuwaiti F/A-18 Suspected in Downing of Three U.S. F-15Es

03/05/2026

New reporting indicates a Kuwaiti Air Force F/A-18 Hornet may have been responsible for the downing of three U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles over Kuwait on March 2. People familiar with the incident told Air & Space Forces Magazine that at least one Kuwaiti fighter aircraft is believed to have fired the missiles that struck the jets. The aircraft had previously been reported shot down in what officials described as “an apparent friendly fire incident,”.

Saab sees role for Canada in sixth-generation fighter development

03/05/2026

Saab has said Canada could play a role in the development of future sixth-generation combat aircraft technologies, as Ottawa continues to review the scope of its planned acquisition of F-35A fighter jets. According to a CBC News report on March 4, 2026, the Swedish defense company believes Canada could become a partner in shaping next-generation air combat capabilities while positioning its Gripen fighter as a potential alternative in Canada’s fighter replacement program.

U.S. could hold a 'red card' over Canada's Gripen fighter jet option

03/05/2026

There is a way the U.S. could play hardball with Canada, if the Liberal government of Prime Minister Mark Carney decides it wants to limit its purchase of F-35s in favour of the Gripen. Critics who favour the Lockheed-Martin stealth fighter have long argued that the Swedish-built Gripen would not be interoperable with American aircraft and the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD).

Israeli F-35I shoots down Iranian Yak-130 jet

03/04/2026

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Wednesday that an Israeli F-35I fighter jet shot down an Iranian Yak-130 aircraft, marking what officials described as the first fighter-to-fighter aerial engagement of the ongoing war between Israel and Iran.

Downing of U.S. F-15s and the Role of Joint All-Domain Command and Control

03/04/2026

For years, U.S. and allied nation military planners have been seeking to improve planning, technology development and deployment of advanced systems for command, control and communications across all domains of a potential conflict space. This has been an acutely imperative concern for disparate nations conducting operations within each other’s airspace. Recent events in the start of U.S./Israeli military strikes on Iran, have profoundly illustrated the importance of this effort.

British Royal Air Force F-35 stealth fighter jets just scored their first-ever combat kill

03/04/2026

British F-35s shot down drones over Jordan within the past 24 hours, the UK government said. It marks the first time a Royal Air Force F-35 has destroyed a hostile target during operations. The Middle East has been locked in an air defense frenzy as Iran fires waves of missiles and drones.

What Is Known About the Military Forces of Arab States in the Persian Gulf Amid Iranian Strikes

03/04/2026

If Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, currently targeted by Iranian strikes, were to take direct military action, it could significantly accelerate the process, effectively doubling the forces already deployed by the U.S. and Israel

Malaysia Scraps Kuwaiti Hornet Purchase Plans

03/04/2026

The government of Malaysia has officially abandoned its plans to acquire F/A-18 Hornets from Kuwait, due to continued uncertainty on when the aircraft would be available and their long-term logistical support. Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari told lawmakers on February 26, that the cabinet had decided to cancel the planned purchase during a February 6 meeting, following a technical assessment by a Royal Malaysian Air Force delegation that inspected the Kuwaiti aircraft in November 2025.

Next-Generation Adaptive Propulsion system matters for Korea -U.S. pact

03/04/2026

In recent talks with Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby recently praised South Korea as a "model ally" for committing to increase defense spending to 3.5% of gross domestic produce. And Seoul is truly stepping up. Defense spending increased 7.5% to $44.8 billion in fiscal 2026, the KF-21 Boramae fighter begins deliveries this year and the F-15K fleet is receiving major upgrades to ensure interoperability with U.S. forces.