NATO Clears Fighter Jets to Engage Russian Drones Over Romania for the First Time
British Royal Air Force fighter jets were authorized to engage Russian attack drones over Romanian territory for the first time during a large-scale Russian strike on Ukraine overnight on April 25. According to Romania’s Ministry of Defense, radar systems detected multiple drones approaching the country’s airspace during the attack, prompting a response under NATO air policing protocols.
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Taiwan tracks 8 Chinese military aircraft and 7 naval vessels
The Ministry of National Defense tracked eight Chinese military craft and seven naval ships between 6 a.m. on Friday and the same time Saturday. The ministry reported none of the sorties entered Taiwan’s air defense identification zone, or ADIZ. In response, Taiwan deployed aircraft, naval ships, and coastal-based missile systems to monitor Chinese activity.
VIETNAM LINKED TO POTENTIAL SU-57 FIGHTER INTEREST
Vietnam is reportedly evaluating Russia’s Sukhoi Su-57 as a potential option to modernize its fighter fleet, according to a report published by Military Watch Magazine. The outlet said Vietnam’s defense ministry could seek between 12 and 24 aircraft in the early 2030s, potentially replacing part of its aging fleet of Sukhoi Su-27 air superiority fighters and Sukhoi Su-22 strike jets.
US Air Force graduates final class of new A-10 pilots as retirement looms
After years of noise about wanting to retire the Fairchild Republic A-10 fighter, the US Air Force now says it has graduated the last class of pilots assigned to fly the venerable ground-attack jet commonly known as the “Warthog”. The milestone took place on 3 April at Davis-Monthan AFB in Arizona, home to the 357th Fighter Squadron that conducts Mission Qualification Training (MQT) for new aviators. Upon graduation, MQT-certified A-10 pilots are approved for combat duty as basic wingmen and sent to frontline fighter squadrons.
Can KF-21 and Kaan fighter jets dislodge rivals on export market?
While numerous countries have expressed interest in the Korean KF-21 Boramae and Turkish TAI Kaan, these programmes face a major uphill battle to dislodge established players. As of the time of writing, neither of these aircraft has secured firm export orders. While they may be marketed as a stealth aircraft by their manufacturers, they are designed to be low-observable aircraft and are to compete in the mid-tier segment, not the high-end market segment that the F-35 does.
RAF fighter jets scrambled to threat of Russian drones on Nato border
Two RAF jets were scrambled in the early hours of Saturday morning to respond to the threat of Russian drones on the Nato border. The Romanian defence ministry said it recovered drone fragments in the southeastern city of Galati after an overnight Russian attack on neighbouring Ukraine, with an electricity pole and a household annex damaged.
Polish fighter jets intercepted Russian Su-30s over the Baltic Sea
On Friday, April 24, Polish F-16 fighter jets intercepted and escorted two Russian Su-30 aircraft over the Baltic Sea. This was reported by reported at the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces. It is noted that the Russian aircraft were flying in international airspace without a filed flight plan and with their transponders switched off. No violation of Polish airspace was recorded.
Will a potential Su-57 deal lead to IAF opting for Russian MUM-T model over US? Manned-Unmanned Teaming combat EXPLAINED
It was reported earlier this month that the Indian Air Force (IAF), which has been facing a severe fighter squadron shortage, has not given up on the Russian fifth-generation Su-57 offer, despite official claims of not actively pursuing a deal. Delays in key indigenous programmes, particularly the fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), have prompted India to look for stop-gap measures, including the Russian stealth fighter jet.
NATO, Russian pilots eye each other in ‘cat’ game
When NATO’s call came, the French fighter pilots scrambled with practiced urgency, already suited up to shorten their response times. They dashed in vans to hangars where their prepped and armed Rafale jets awaited, clambered into the cockpits and fired up the engines, which puffed and screamed.
US Air Force orders 23 new T-7A Red Hawk jets in FY2027 budget to modernize fighter pilot training
The U.S. Air Force is accelerating the production of the T-7A Red Hawk with 23 new aircraft funded in the FY2027 budget, expanding pilot training capacity for modern fighter fleets. This increase signals a deliberate push to close the gap between legacy training systems and the demands of high-performance, sensor-driven combat aviation.
