USAF Chief Wilsbach on lessons from Iran, T-7 flight and F-35 delays
The general additionally weighed in on the Air Force’s new training jet, the T-7 Red Hawk built by Boeing, which Breaking Defense recently explored in a three-part series that uncovered a host of unreported issues facing the program. And, he addressed delays for the F-35 program, where upgrade woes have left jets non-combat capable and even delivered without new radars.
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US Deploying F-16s and F-35s to Middle East as Iran War Heats Back Up
As the U.S. war with Iran intensifies, the Pentagon is rushing more warplanes to the region, deploying additional Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-35 Lightning II fighters to the Middle East, people familiar with the matter told Air & Space Forces Magazine.
Turkey Unlikely to Get F-35 Fighter Jets Even If It Sells Russian S-400s to UAE or Qatar, Israeli Analyst Warns
Turkey is actively pursuing a strategy to divest itself of its Russian-made S-400 air defense system, including selling it off to potential buyers. However, analysts remain skeptical that it alone would be sufficient to secure Turkey’s full return to the F-35 program.
Canada, Sweden back Gripen fighter jet simulators as Ottawa weighs F-35 alternatives
Canada’s discussion over its future fighter fleet has taken another step after aerospace firms outlined plans for an advanced training and mission support network centered on the Saab Gripen. The proposal would move ahead only if Ottawa ultimately selects the Swedish fighter as part of its long-term air combat strategy.
DARPA and US Air Force fly F-16 under AI control in VENOM tests
DARPA and the US Air Force have flown a modified F-16 under the control of an artificial intelligence agent, moving autonomous combat testing from a one-off research project to actual modified frontline fighters.
China’s 500 J-20 Stealth Fighters vs. India’s Zero: Inside the Fifth-Generation Airpower Crisis Reshaping the Himalayan Frontier
As Beijing's J-20 fleet approaches 500 airframes and races toward 1,000 by 2030, India's AMCA stealth fighter remains a decade from operational service — creating a widening capability gap with direct consequences for the Line of Actual Control, the Indo-Pacific balance, and the Quad alliance.
The Rise of the Light Fighter
The dawn of a new global defense procurement cycle leaves smaller and mid-tier air forces facing a critical, highly expensive crossroad. For nations seeking to transition away from aging, legacy fleets of Northrop F-5 Tiger IIs or Cessna/Northrop T-38 Talons, the natural strategic urge is to look toward the apex of Western military aviation.
Canada joining international program to build next generation of fighter jets
Defence Minister David McGuinty is expected to announce next week in the United Kingdom that Canada will play a role in an international program to build the next generation of stealth fighter jets, CBC News has learned.
UK commits €300 million to Ukraine Gripen fighter jet squadron by 2029, linking air defence support with British defence jobs
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced a €300 million UK investment to help deliver Swedish Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine, the government said in a statement. The funding is aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s ability to defend its skies from Russian attacks while supporting high-skilled work across the UK defence industry.
The Autonomous Tanker That Will Finally Free The F/A-18 Super Hornet From Its Most Hated Mission
On June 25, 2026, a Boeing MQ-25 Stingray demonstrator was lashed to the deck of USS Nimitz as the carrier took part in FLEETEX 25 alongside 25 allied warships in the Atlantic. The aircraft was Boeing's T1 test demonstrator, displayed without its Cobham aerial refueling pod.
