U.S. Department of State approves possible $236 million Joint Strike Missile sale to Belgium for F-35A fleet
The U.S. State Department has approved Belgium’s request for a possible purchase of AGM-184 Joint Strike Missiles for its Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II multirole combat aircraft. The proposed package has a maximum estimated value of $236 million.
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NATO fighter downs drone over Estonia in second Baltic incursion in 48 hours
One of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing fighter jets shot down an intruding drone over Lake Võrtsjärv in southern Estonia on May 19, 2026, after the Estonian Defense Forces issued an air threat alert covering six counties. Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said debris fell on land near the village of Kablaküla, close to Põltsamaa, with no civilian damage reported.
The rising cost of Operation Epic Fury: US aircraft losses could hit $7bn
The US has lost billions of dollars of aircraft so far during its Operation Epic Fury (OEF) in Iran, according to a recently published Defence and Intelligence report prepared for Congress. The report lists 42 fixed-wing or rotary-wing aircraft, including uncrewed aircraft (drones), that were reportedly lost or damaged in OEF, based on news reports and statements from the Department of Defence and US Central Command (CENTCOM).
Marine Corps to Retire Hornet Fleet by 2030 in Shift to All F-35 Fighters
A recent Marine administrative message (MARADMIN) confirmed the service will fully phase out the F/A-18 Hornet by 2030 while pushing Marines in Hornet-related maintenance fields to transition into F-35 specialties and other critical aviation jobs. The transition has been underway for years, but recent Marine Corps planning documents and force restructuring announcements show the service is now entering the final stages of consolidating tactical aviation almost entirely around the F-35B and F-35C Lightning II platforms.
Indonesia’s Rafale Power Shift: Prabowo Unveils New Air Combat Shield as Jakarta Quietly Rewrites Southeast Asia’s Military Balance
President Prabowo Subianto’s public handover of Rafale fighters, Meteor missiles, A400M transports and advanced surveillance systems signals more than military modernization, revealing a calculated effort to reshape Indonesia’s strategic posture across Southeast Asia and the wider Indo-Pacific.
Germany orders more Kongsberg Joint Strike Missiles for its future F-35A Lightning II fighter jet fleet
Germany has signed a follow-on contract with Kongsberg for additional Joint Strike Missiles intended for its future F-35A Lightning II fighter fleet. The May agreement is valued at about NOK 3.5 billion and continues Berlin’s procurement of the Norwegian-made strike missile.
KAAN fighter jet could reshape Pakistan’s air power
In this context, KAAN could prove to be an invaluable defense acquisition for Pakistan. However, whenever speculation arises regarding Islamabad acquiring this advanced fighter jet, a crucial detail is often overlooked: Pakistan has been intrinsically linked to the program since its very inception.
South Korea Built A Fighter That Costs Less Than The F-35 And Can Carry More Weapons Under The Wings — And It Just Entered Production
South Korea has rolled out the first mass-produced KF-21 Boramae fighter at Korea Aerospace Industries’ Sacheon facility, with President Lee Jae Myung attending the March 25, 2026, ceremony. The Republic of Korea Air Force received its first Block I aircraft in September. The KF-21 was developed with Indonesian backing as a cheaper, less-stealthy alternative to the F-35, which South Korea also operates. Powered by twin General Electric F414 turbofans, the 4.5-generation fighter flies at Mach 1.8, carries 17,000 pounds across ten hardpoints, and integrates a Hanwha Systems AESA radar and the MBDA Meteor missile. Seoul plans to field 120 KF-21s by 2032.
Pakistan deploys jet squadron, thousands of troops to Saudi Arabia during Iran war
Pakistan has deployed 8,000 troops, a squadron of fighter jets and an air defence system to Saudi Arabia under a mutual defence pact, ramping up military cooperation with Riyadh even as Islamabad serves as the main mediator in the Iran war. The deployment, the full scale of which is reported here for the first time, was confirmed by three security officials and two government sources, all of whom described it as a substantial, combat-capable force intended to support Saudi Arabia's military if the kingdom comes under further attack.
How Collaborative Combat Aircraft Are Reshaping Airpower
The rapid evolution of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is fundamentally transforming modern airpower. The way defense planners think about unmanned systems, how they are employed, and ultimately the very nature of the combat system itself, is undergoing significant changes. What was once associated mainly with intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions or limited strike roles is now moving toward collaborative, contested, and increasingly autonomous operations. At the center of this shift are Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), often described as “loyal wingmen”: uncrewed systems designed to operate alongside manned aircraft as part of a broader combat architecture.
