Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Boeing downplays impending fighter jet worker strike

07/30/2025

Boeing leaders say they are not concerned about the impact of 3,200 union workers going on strike next week at three St. Louis-area facilities that produce fighter jets and munitions. The number of workers planning to strike is an “order of magnitude less” than the 30,000 machinists who went on strike last fall in the Pacific Northwest, CEO Kelly Ortberg said Tuesday during the company’s second quarter earnings call.

Diversifying from West, Egypt to join Turkey's Kaan fighter jet development

07/29/2025

Turkey has reportedly approved Egyptian participation in the programme for the development of the TAI Kaan fighter jet, opening the door for enhanced military industry cooperation with the Arab country. Egypt had been eyeing participation in the programme for some time, and Egyptian interest in this regard was purportedly expressed by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi during his visit to Ankara, his first to the Turkish capital as president, in September last year.

Air power is about a system, not merely fighter jets

07/29/2025

Today's airpower is defined by a foundational defense system that seamlessly integrates multilayered technologies such as land and space-based detection platforms, missiles, UAVs as well as cyber operations in a centralized command system; one that requires a vision far beyond headline-grabbing aircraft acquisitions for short-term political visibility.

It’s Over: The 50-Year-Old Russia-India Military Partnership Is Dying

07/29/2025

One of the biggest recent indicators that this change is consolidating came earlier this year, when India signed one of its biggest-ever defense import contracts – a $7.5 billion agreement to procure 26 Rafale M fighter jets. The Rafale M is a carrier-capable version of the land-based Rafale fighter – the Indian Air Force purchased 36 Rafale fighters more than a decade ago. India this year selected the Rafale M over other options including the Russian-made MiG-29K and the U.S. F/A-18E/F Super Ho

Boeing fighter jet workers poised to strike after rejecting contract offer

07/29/2025

Boeing Co expects more than 3,200 union workers at three St Louis-area plants that produce US fighter jets to strike after they rejected a proposed contract on Sunday that included a 20% wage increase over four years.

The JAS 39 Gripen Fighter Jet Engages in Combat in Thailand

07/29/2025

After nearly 30 years in service, the Swedish-made JAS 39 Gripen fighter saw its first combat use by Thailand, in a border clash with Cambodia, signaling its growing regional strategic value.

Poland Scrambles Fighter Jets Amid Russian Attack on Ukraine

07/29/2025

Poland's armed forces have scrambled aircraft in response to the threat posed by a combined drone and missile attack by Russian forces on Ukraine. The NATO member said in a statement the aircraft were deployed overnight Sunday and air defense and radar reconnaissance systems had been placed on high alert.

Man with most flying hours on MIG-21 wants one last sortie as it flies into the sunset

07/28/2025

When it comes to MIG-21s, there is no one more knowledgeable than Air Commodore Surendra Singh Tyagi (retd), who has a record-breaking 4,306 hours flying the aircraft–a feat acknowledged by the Russians themselves–and a staggering 6316 sorties in total. So when he speaks about the pros and cons of the Russian aircraft, everyone listens.

I Have Studied Russia’s Military For 3 Decades. Putin Sends Bombers To Test America

07/28/2025

On 22 July, a combined formation of two Tupolev Tu-95 bombers and two Sukhoi Su-35 fighter aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) conducted flight operations off the coast of Alaska. At one point, this formation entered the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), triggering a response from the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).

South Korean C-130 plane triggers Japanese jets scramble

07/27/2025

A South Korean Air Force C-130 transport aircraft prompted a response from Japanese fighter jets earlier this month after it entered Japanese airspace without prior authorization, according to South Korean defense officials. The incident occurred on July 13 as the aircraft was en route to Guam for training.

China Wants More Fighter Pilots—and Is Finding Creative Ways to Get Them

07/27/2025

Rather than targeting only one group of young people, Beijing has directed its recruitment efforts to a wider range of sources. Even as all branches of the United States military met their respective recruiting goals for fiscal year 2025 (FY25) and are either on track to reach or exceed them, there is still one area where the services continue to fall short for FY26. Across the Department of Defense (DoD), a shortage of pilots remains.

Russian Su-27UB Burned at Training Airbase Overnight, Ukrainian Intelligence Says

07/27/2025

A Russian Su-27UB combat trainer aircraft was destroyed in a fire at the Armavir military airfield in Krasnodar Krai overnight on July 25–26, according to Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (HUR). In a statement published via its official Telegram channel, HUR confirmed the incident, stating that the aircraft belonged to the Russian Armed Forces and was stationed at a base primarily used for training cadets from the Krasnodar Higher Military Aviation School.

Ukraine's F-16 have a new trick to avoid Russian ballistic missiles

07/27/2025

Ukraine's fleet of F-16 fighter jets have been given a badly-needed boost with the creation of new mobile maintenance and operations modules which will help them evade Russian ballistic missile strikes. Developed by the Come Back Alive charity foundation and Ukraine's Defense Ministry, the two types of mobile modules contain everything needed to both maintain and equip the aircraft and to conduct operations.

Türkiye, Indonesia finalize historic sale of 48 Kaan fighter jets

07/27/2025

Türkiye and Indonesia on Saturday finalized the sale of 48 Kaan fighter jets with a ceremony at the International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF) 2025 in Istanbul. Representatives from both sides signed the agreement that makes the Southeast Asian nation the first buyer of Türkiye’s homegrown aircraft.

French “F-35 Taunt” Prompts NATO’s ‘Founding Father’ To Evaluate Franco-German FCAS Program Participation

07/26/2025

Days after committing to seek full-partner status in the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) sixth-generation aircraft program, Belgium has taken a sharp U-turn, notifying that it is “reconsidering” its position due to the arrogance displayed by Dassault Aviation CEO Eric Trappier.

NATO Countries Choose F-35 as it Offers Key Advantages Over F-16 and Eurofighter

07/26/2025

The U.S. outlet Task & Purpose raised the question of why 14 out of 32 NATO member states are ordering the F-35 despite its known shortcomings, and what makes it better than the F-16 or Eurofighter, which also form the backbone of NATO’s combat aviation fleet. The article is insightful in light of how the U.S. military press assesses both the strengths and weaknesses of their domestically designed aircraft. Interestingly, for American observers, the answer is not obvious by default.

Thai F-16s Deployed To Hit Cambodian Targets In Border Clash

07/26/2025

The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has deployed six Lockheed Martin F-16A/B fighter jets in response to cross-border rocket and artillery attacks by Cambodian forces. The developments mark a sharp escalation in tensions between the two Southeast Asian neighbors.

Kaan progresses, bolstered by international interest

07/25/2025

Türkiye’s indigenous 5th-Gen stealth fighter, Kaan, built by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI, also known as Tusas), is entering a new phase of development. New prototypes are under construction and the aircraft’s future is looking increasingly bright, underpinned by growing international interest and a national determination to ensure the programme flies high, despite geopolitical tensions.

Boeing’s F-15EX Eagle II: The New Fighter Jet That’s Secretly A Bomber

07/25/2025

The newest variant of Boeing’s F-15 is the F-15EX, an extensively upgraded version of the jet fighter that first entered service in the 1970s. Updated avionics, as well as what Boeing calls the world’s most powerful fighter jet radar, and other upgrades give that Cold War-era platform new life.

Why Belgium’s F-35 Fighter Jet Deal Makes France Angry

07/25/2025

The Belgian government announced earlier this week that it would seek to expand its acquisition of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, increasing the number from 34 to 45 aircraft. Antwerp, following the lead of its neighbor, the Netherlands, sought to expand its fleet of fifth-generation multi-role stealth fighters as part of its recently published “Strategic Vision,” which called for increased defense spending.

Thai fighter jet bombs Cambodian targets as border battle escalates

07/25/2025

Thailand scrambled an F-16 fighter jet to bomb targets in Cambodia on Thursday after artillery volleys from both sides killed at least 11 civilians, as border tension boiled over into rare armed conflict between the Southeast Asian countries.

Taliban Vows to Recover Military Aircraft Held in Uzbekistan

07/24/2025

The aircraft in question, including American-made A-29 Super Tucanos, Mi-17 transport helicopters, and UH-60 Black Hawks, were flown across the border by Afghan military personnel escaping the Taliban’s rapid takeover in August 2021. On the day Kabul fell, Uzbek authorities confirmed that 22 planes and 24 helicopters entered their airspace.

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

07/24/2025

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) detected and tracked Russian military aircraft operating in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) on 22 July 2025. The Russian aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace. This Russian activity in the Alaskan ADIZ occurs regularly and is not seen as a threat.

Lockheed ‘Steals’ Boeing’s F-15EX Strategy; Pitches Its 5.5-Gen “Ferrari” Stealth Fighter As A Bridge To F-47

07/24/2025

Speaking at the second quarter earnings call, Lockheed Martin CEO Jim Taiclet said, “We did bid on NGAD, and we weren’t selected.” “But the pivot that we made is one we’re taking very seriously, which is how we create a bridge from today’s fifth generation to the sixth-generation NGAD, which might not be fielded for a lot of years.”

Ukraine Confirms A Prized Mirage 2000 Jet Was Lost, But Not To Russian Fire

07/24/2025

On Tuesday, 22 July, the Ukraine Air Force (PSU) lost a French-made Mirage 2000-5 fighter aircraft that had been donated in February 2025. This is the first crash of this aircraft type by the PSU, which has previously lost four of its donated F-16 models, with three of the pilots of those aircraft killed. According to the PSU, “In the evening of July 22, 2025, during the performance of a flight mission on a Mirage 2000 fighter, an aviation equipment failure occurred.