Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

?What Other Aircraft Besides Gripen and Rafale Does Ukraine Need, Billions of Dollars Are Also Needed for This

11/23/2025

Plans to put 100-150 Swedish Gripen fighters and/or 100 French Rafales into service with the Ukrainian Air Force mean not only the insane costs of their purchase. And not even just the astronomical costs of their maintenance, especially when it comes to 250 fighters, which only a small number of countries can afford. But these are far from all the aircraft that need to be purchased in order to have combat fighters, as they will not fly without pilots.

For US$82 million, the U.S. authorizes the sale of new GBU-53 glide bombs for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force’s fighter aircraft

11/23/2025

The United States government has authorized the possible sale of new GBU-53 glide bombs to equip the fighter aircraft of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. This approval is reflected in one of the most recent notifications issued by the State Department to the U.S. Congress, aimed at greenlighting the operation under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Program, valued at US$82 million.

Not In The U.S. Air Force: Israel F-35I Adir Might Be The Best Stealth Fighter On Earth

11/22/2025

Israel’s F-35I Adir is a uniquely customized variant of the F-35, tailored for deep, high-risk strikes across the Middle East. Built on the U.S. airframe but fitted with Israeli electronic warfare suites, plug-and-play mission computers, local weapons, and jamming pods, the Adir is optimized for long-range, stealthy penetration.

Indian combat aircraft crashes during a demonstration at Dubai Air Show, killing the pilot

11/21/2025

The pilot of an Indian combat plane died after the aircraft crashed Friday during a demonstration flight for spectators at the Dubai Air Show, the Indian Air Force said.The Indian HAL Tejas, a combat aircraft used in the Indian Air Force, crashed around 2:10 p.m. local time after the pilot had flown across the site of the biennial air show in Dubai several times. The plane appeared to lose control and dive directly toward the ground just prior to crashing inside the grounds of the airfield.

Impact Of Selling F-35s To Saudi Arabia On The Region

11/21/2025

The Trump administration’s agreement to sell F-35 stealth fighters to Saudi Arabia marks a major policy shift, with Washington previously being unwilling to export these high-end jets to Arab states in the Middle East. Such a sale would have significant ramifications for the airpower balance in the region, especially as regards Israel, currently the only F-35 operator in the Middle East, but its ripples could also be felt well beyond Tel Aviv.

Saab says Canada's air force could have Gripen fighter jets in as little as 3 years

11/21/2025

Should Canada choose to fly the Swedish-built Gripen-E, the country’s air force could receive the first aircraft as quickly — or perhaps even sooner — than the long-awaited American-manufactured F-35, the CEO of Saab signalled Thursday. Micael Johansson also said the defence giant is willing to set up not only an assembly factory in Canada, but a full-fledged manufacturing centre and a research and development hub.

Türkiye's Kizilelma rules skies: Stealth UAV nails F-16 in simulated strike

11/21/2025

Türkiye’s unmanned stealth fighter jet Kizilelma has reached a milestone, locking on an F-16 and achieving a direct hit in its simulated test fire using locally produced advanced MURAD AESA radar and firing a local air-to-air missile.

'Friendly country' signed MoU to buy Pakistan's JF-17 fighter jet

11/21/2025

The Pakistan Army on Thursday announced a pact with a "friendly country" for the procurement of its JF-17 fighter jet. Without revealing the name of the country, the Pakistan Army's media wing said in a statement that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was "signed with a friendly country for the procurement of the JF-17 Thunder, marking another significant milestone in Pakistan’s expanding defense and industrial partnerships."

Kola-based spy ship pointed lasers at UK military aircraft

11/21/2025

The Yantar, an infamous spy ship from the Olenya Bay north of Murmansk, is currently sailing north of Scotland. This is its second voyage in UK waters this year. “My message to Russia, and to Putin, is this: We see you, we know what you are doing, and if the Yantar travels south this week, we are ready,” John Healy said at a news conference. Healy said the vessel is gathering intelligence and mapping undersea cables.

India Turns Down Russian Su-57 as It Builds “Better” AMCA Stealth Jet at Home

11/20/2025

India is prioritizing the development of its domestic stealth fighter aircraft, AMCA, over potential cooperation with Russia on the Su-57, despite Moscow’s continued offers of technology transfer and local production. According to Defense Express on November 19, Russia has offered India a package deal involving the Su-57E fighter jet, which includes technology transfer and domestic assembly through Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

US Air Force F-22 controls MQ-20 Avenger unmanned aircraft for the first time

11/20/2025

The US Air Force conducted a successful integration demonstration between an F-22 Raptor fighter and a MQ-20 Avenger unmanned aerial vehicle on October 21 at the Nevada Test and Training Range. The milestone, however, was only revealed by the service in recent days. This flight is part of a series of internally funded demonstrations aimed at advancing collaboration between crewed and uncrewed combat aircraft.

Russia unveils 3400-pound fifth-gen aircraft engine, promising supercruise for fighter jets

11/20/2025

Russia’s primary engine manufacturer, United Engine Corporation (UEC), part of Rostec, has revealed its new 177S turbofan engine at the Dubai Airshow 2025. The fifth-generation propulsion system for tactical combat aircraft was designed as a direct evolution of the proven AL-31F/FP series currently powering the entire Su-27 family of fighter aircraft.

Boeing’s F-15EX Multirole Fighter Jet To Lead MQ-28 Ghost Bat Drones In Future Air Combat

11/20/2025

Boeing used the Dubai Airshow 2025 to detail how the F-15EX could serve as the command hub for a network of MQ-28 Ghost Bat drones, sharing targeting and sensor data in real time. The approach signals a shift toward scalable mass and lower operating costs as the U.S. and partner air forces prepare for high-end air combat.

Recent data shows significant spike in US military aircraft accidents

11/20/2025

The number of major accidents involving military aircraft spiked in 2024, internal Pentagon figures show, and a series of high-profile aviation mishaps with deaths and the loss of aircraft in 2025 suggest the disturbing trend may be continuing. Across the military, the rate of severe accidents per 100,000 flight hours rose 55% in the 2024 budget year compared with four years earlier. The Marine Corps saw the highest increase, nearly tripling its rate over the same period.

F-15Es complete historic forward operations from Diego Garcia

11/19/2025

F-15E Strike Eagles assigned to the 336th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron have rotated out of Kadena Air Base, Japan, concluding a six-month deployment that included a groundbreaking three-month forward operation to U.S. Navy Support Facility Diego Garcia.

How F-35 Tech Turned The ‘Old’ F-16 Into A New Killer Jet

11/19/2025

Born in the 1970s, the F-16 should be aging out. Instead, a sweeping Service Life Extension Program and F-35–grade tech have effectively rebuilt the jet for modern war. Structural upgrades and new systems push service life toward 12,000 hours, while an AESA radar lets pilots track dozens of targets at far greater ranges. A revamped cockpit, added automation, and the F-16V’s high-def displays, new data bus, EW suite, and helmet cueing all sharpen lethality.

Russia’s Su-57 Fighter Jet Just Made Its Debut over the Middle East

11/19/2025

Russia is attempting to drum up Arab interest in the Su-57 Felon through impressive aerial displays in the skies over Dubai. The United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), Russia’s state-run military aviation conglomerate, announced that Hero of Russia test pilot Sergey Bogdan, the chief pilot of the Sukhoi Design Bureau, was at the controls of the Sukhoi Su-57E (NATO reporting name “Felon”) at this week’s Dubai Airshow 2025, which kicked off on Monday in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

What to know about the F-35 fighter jet that Trump is selling to Saudi Arabia

11/19/2025

President Donald Trump says he has agreed to sell the nation’s most advanced fighter jet to Saudi Arabia despite concerns that China could gain access to the plane’s vaunted American technology. The sale to the Middle Eastern nation, whose top trading partner is China, was reaffirmed Tuesday during Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to Washington.

Airpower on display at the Dubai Airshow 2025

11/19/2025

The Dubai Airshow 2025 roared to life this week as American air power took a leading role, captivating attendees with aerial demonstrations featuring the venerable B-52 Stratofortress, the cutting-edge F-35 Lightning II, the versatile F-16 Fighting Falcon and the capable U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon. The displays highlighted the United States’ commitment to regional security and underscored the unmatched capabilities of American air power.

Saudi Arabia weighs U.S. F-15EX and F-35 fighter jets to build Middle East's most powerful air force

11/18/2025

As reported by Aviation Week on November 16, 2025, Saudi Arabia is once again at the center of Boeing’s export strategy as the company promotes the F-15EX Eagle II as a candidate for the Kingdom’s next fighter jet review. Ahead of the Dubai Airshow, Boeing indicated that it aims to secure new F-15EX orders in the Middle East and that Saudi Arabia remains a primary focus for both upgrades of existing F-15C/D airframes and possible new-build acquisitions.

Ukrainian Mirage 2000 Fighter Jet Displays Six Russian Cruise Missile Kill Markings

11/18/2025

On 17 November 2025, the Ukrainian Air Force published a new video on its official X account showing a Mirage 2000 on an active combat mission. The clip is accompanied by the caption: “Mirage 2000 of the Ukrainian Air Force flies on a combat mission, awaiting good news from France.” The short sequence offers an unusually clear view of the aircraft, its weapons loadout and a series of kill markings under the cockpit.

US to sell F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, Trump confirms

11/18/2025

President Donald Trump said the US will sell the advanced F-35 stealth fighter jet to Saudi Arabia, marking a significant shift in American defense policy in the Middle East. “We’ll be selling the F-35s,” Trump told reporters on November 17, 2025. The planned sale comes on the eve of the visit of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the White House, further underscoring the strategic importance of Saudi Arabia to Washington.

F-22 Pilot Controls ‘CCA Surrogate’ Drone from Cockpit

11/18/2025

An F-22 pilot controlled an MQ-20 drone from the fighter’s cockpit last month, General Atomics announced Nov. 17—a preview of the Air Force’s vision for Collaborative Combat Aircraft. General Atomics partnered with F-22 maker Lockheed Martin and L3Harris, which provided radios and data links, for the self-funded demonstration, which took place Oct. 17 at the Nevada Test and Training Range.

Canada considers diversifying fighter jet purchases beyond F-35 deal: Defense minister

11/17/2025

Canada is considering diversifying its fighter jet purchases from multiple companies to meet defense requirements as a review of F-35 fighter jets purchases continues, Defense Minister David McGuinty said Sunday. The government is "grateful for any forthcoming offer" and open to joint ventures that create Canadian jobs, McGuinty told the Canadian CTV news.

Russia displays Su-57E next-generation stealth fighter for the first time at Dubai Airshow 2025

11/17/2025

Russia displays the Su-57E export variant of the fighter jet at the Dubai Airshow 2025, marking the stealth fighter’s first public appearance in the Middle East and signaling Moscow's bid to become a key competitor in the global stealth fighter market.