Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Massive NATO show of force in Nordic region sends message to Russia

09/28/2025

The bombing mission is the first time fighter jets have flown from an aircraft carrier in the North Sea to reach a target at the entrance to the Gulf of Finland, the easternmost arm of the Baltic Sea. "We can fly the F-18s 1,000 miles (1,600 km), and even longer with aerial refuelling. No problem to reach Finland," said Capt. David J. Dartez, commander of the Air Wing Eight which is attached to the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford.

Denmark says new drone sightings overnight at military installations

09/27/2025

Unidentified drones were observed near military installations in Denmark overnight, the Armed Forces said on Saturday, following several drone incursions near airports and critical infrastructure this week. "The Danish Defence can confirm that drones were observed at several of the Danish Defence's locations last night. Several capabilities were deployed," a spokesperson said in an email to Reuters.

Turkish Kizilelma fighter drone completes first armed flight test

09/27/2025

Türkiye's unmanned fighter aircraft Bayraktar Kizilelma completed its first captive flight test successfully, carrying Aselsan's TOLUN precision munition, marking a significant milestone in the drone's weapons integration phase. Baykar Chairman Selcuk Bayraktar and the company shared footage of the test on social media platforms, showing the third prototype of Kizilelma carrying two SADAK-4T smart racks, each fitted with one TOLUN small-diameter bomb on external hardpoints.

Dassault chief: Customers want Rafale

09/27/2025

Speaking before the National Assembly, Trappier highlighted that several countries — including India, Qatar, Egypt, Greece, and the United Arab Emirates — are now planning to replace their Mirage 2000 fleets with Rafale fighters.

Russia’s ‘Mach 2.8’ MiG-31 Foxhound Might Be Putin’s Unreplaceable Warplane

09/27/2025

Russia’s MiG-31 remains pivotal thanks to rugged steel/titanium airframes, periodic depot overhauls, and major upgrades. Variants like MiG-31BM add Zaslon-M radar and R-37M shots; MiG-31K carries the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal, turning a Cold War interceptor into a long-range strike host.With Mach 2.8 speed, big sensors, and heavy missile loads, the MiG-31 fills a niche Russia can’t readily replace, evidenced by recent NATO-border incidents.

Ukrainian Forces Shoot Down Russian Su-34 Fighter-Bomber Near Zaporizhzhia

09/26/2025

Ukraine’s Defense Forces shot down a Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber over the Zaporizhzhia axis on the morning of September 25, the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported on Telegram. The aircraft was downed at around 4 am while conducting strikes on Zaporizhzhia with guided aerial bombs.

India signs $7.5B contract with HAL for 97 Tejas Mk1A jets

09/26/2025

India’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a landmark contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the supply of 97 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A to the Indian Air Force (IAF). The deal, valued at Rs 62,370 crore (around $7.5 billion), was signed in New Delhi on September 25, 2025. It covers 68 single-seat fighters and 29 twin-seat trainers, along with associated equipment.

As drones disrupted Danish airports, they also turned up at an F-35 stealth fighter base

09/26/2025

Amid what it described as a "hybrid attack," NATO ally Denmark said drones were spotted near an airbase housing F-16 and F-35 fighter jets. Drones also disrupted airports across the country. Danish officials reported drone sightings near multiple airports Wednesday night and early Thursday morning, with the military saying it saw drones at "several military installations."

Alaskan NORAD Region conducts Agile Combat Employment from King Salmon

09/26/2025

Alaskan NORAD Region and Alaskan Command, under NORAD and U.S. Northern Command, conducted Agile Combat Employment operations at King Salmon Airport, Alaska, from Sept. 8-12, 2025. Four F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft assigned to the 18th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, conducted Homeland Defense operations from remote airfield King Salmon, demonstrating the capability to conduct Homeland Defense missions from dispersed locations in the Alaskan.

Helsing unveils CA-1 Europa, a European autonomous combat jet

09/26/2025

Helsing has unveiled the CA-1 Europa, an autonomous uncrewed combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) that the company says could be operational within the next four years. The full-scale design study was presented at Grob Aircraft, the German light-aircraft manufacturer that Helsing acquired in June 2025. Development and testing of the platform will take place at Grob’s facilities with support from European partners across the aerospace ecosystem.

Pratt & Whitney advances turbofan technology for future Combat Aircraft

09/26/2025

Pratt & Whitney (P&W) has successfully completed a critical round of testing on its small turbofan engine family, paving the way for integration into next-generation Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). The tests confirmed that thrust levels on these engines can be significantly increased, strengthening their suitability for advanced military applications.

NORAD detects and tracks Russian aircraft operating in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone

09/26/2025

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) detected and tracked two Tu-95s and two Su-35s operating in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) on Sept. 24, 2025. NORAD responded with an E-3, four F-16s, and four KC-135 tankers to positively identify and intercept in the Alaskan ADIZ.

The Nato dilemma: when is it right to shoot down a Russian drone?

09/25/2025

Late on a Friday night, a handful of Russian fast jets veer into the airspace of one of Nato’s frontline states with their transponders switched off. Instead of flying parallel to the border and then slipping away as they usually would, this time they make an abrupt turn inland, seemingly heading towards a military facility.

Russia Delivers MiG-29 Jets to Iran Air Force

09/25/2025

Russian MiG-29 fighter jets have touched down in Iran, giving the country’s aging air force a short-term boost amid escalating Middle East tensions, an Iranian lawmaker said Tuesday. Abolfazl Zohrevand, a member of parliament’s National Security Committee, called the MiG-29s a “short-term solution” while Tehran awaits the more advanced Sukhoi Su-35 jets, signaling a broader push to strengthen its military capabilities.

Study Ongoing of Number of USAF Combat Coded Fighters Needed

09/25/2025

Air Force may get a reading on how many combat coded fighters it will need in years ahead as the result of a study that just began. “I know we don’t have enough right now,” Maj. Gen. William Betts, the director of plans, programs and requirements at Air Combat Command (ACC) at Langley AFB, Va., said in an interview on Wednesday.

The sun sets on India's iconic and controversial Soviet fighter jet

09/25/2025

The first time he throttled the MiG-21 to full power, soaring 20km above the Earth at twice the speed of sound, the young fighter pilot felt utterly weightless, as if the sky itself had let him go. "At Mach 2 you can feel the lightness in the stomach. The MiG-21's turns at that speed are vast - banking sharply can carry you over many kilometres before completing a full arc," recalls Air Marshal (retired) Prithvi Singh Brar. He joined the Air Force in 1960, switched to the Soviet jet in 1966, an

Due to the incursion of Russian MiG-31s, Estonia is considering allowing the future deployment of British F-35A fighters with nuclear capability on its territory

09/24/2025

Through recent statements by Estonia’s Defense Minister, Hanno Pevkur, the Baltic country expressed its readiness to host on its territory the future stealth F-35A fighters of the Royal Air Force (RAF), which the United Kingdom is set to acquire with nuclear strike capability provided by the United States. The declaration follows the September 19 incursion of three Russian Aerospace Forces MiG-31 interceptors, which violated the country’s airspace for twelve minutes.

US military to get world’s largest cargo plane to haul fighters, Apaches, boosters

09/24/2025

On September 19, US aerospace company Radia announced a massive new cargo aircraft designed to move outsized military equipment without disassembly, aiming to plug what it calls a growing strategic airlift gap for the Pentagon and allied defense ministries. The aircraft, branded WindRunner for Defense, was announced at the Air Force Association’s Air, Space & Cyber Conference outside Washington.

The Air Force Could Soon Have 32 Additional F-22 Combat Ready ‘Raptor’ Stealth Fighters

09/24/2025

Lockheed Martin is pushing to expand F-22 modernization to include 35 older Block 20 trainers—saving them from scrapping—and to pursue a broader “fifth-gen-plus” path for the F-35. Skunk Works’ OJ Sanchez says discussions are underway to fold Block 20s into upgrades already hitting Block 30/35 jets (open mission systems, new IR defenses, radar/EW enhancements).

Live-fire training advances air dominance in WSEP 25.09

09/24/2025

The 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group hosted Weapons System Evaluation Program Combat Archer 25.09 here Sept. 8-19, 2025. WSEP is a recurring exercise that provides units with a chance to evaluate combat readiness by conducting live-fire exercises with real air-to-air weapons, supported by full-scale and subscale drones, allowing aircraft, weapons and crews to perform in realistic scenarios.

China’s Aircraft Carrier Capability Just Made A Stunning Leap Forward

09/23/2025

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has demonstrated its ability to launch and recover aircraft from its first catapult-equipped aircraft carrier, the Fujian. Official imagery released by the PLAN today confirms that the new J-35 naval stealth fighters and KJ-600 airborne early warning and control aircraft are carrying out carrier trials, something that had not been seen until now.

First F-47 now being built, will fly in 2028: US Air Force chief

09/23/2025

The Air Force’s first F-47 fighter is now being built by Boeing, and the advanced jet is expected to have its initial flight in 2028, Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin said Monday. Allvin, speaking at the Air and Space Forces’ Air, Space and Cyber Conference, said that Boeing’s team worked quickly to start manufacturing the sixth-generation fighter after their selection was announced in March.

Why NATO held fire on Russian jets – and why Estonia may need its own

09/22/2025

Estonian MP and security expert Eerik-Niiles Kross says NATO’s rules of engagement explain why Russian fighters weren’t shot down – but argues Estonia still needs its own jets. Russia’s violation of Estonia’s state border on 19 September was clearly unfriendly and deeply unsettling. I understand those who ask why the aircraft were not shot down. As a nation we cannot, and will not, tolerate aircraft from an aggressor state entering our airspace.

Germany scrambles jets after Russia military aircraft flies over Baltic Sea

09/22/2025

Germany’s air force says it has scrambled two Eurofighter jets to track a Russian reconnaissance aircraft after it had entered neutral airspace over the Baltic Sea. In a statement, the air force said its “quick reaction alert force” was ordered on Sunday by NATO to investigate an unidentified aircraft flying without a plan or radio contact.

Meet ‘Vectis’: Lockheed Skunk Works Unveils CCA-Like Fighter Escort Platform

09/22/2025

Lockheed Martin unveiled a new autonomous drone called “Vectis,” which the company’s Skunk Works advanced products division thinks is the right-sized platform to partner with both Air Force and Navy crewed combat aircraft.