Sudan’s air war shifts to drones as SAF pursues fighter jet revival
While both sides in the Sudan Civil War have largely pivoted to combat drones for airpower, the Sudanese Air Force still seeks to rebuild its fighter-jet capability. However, the Iran war appears to have indirectly derailed these attempts. At this stage, both sides are fighting air-to-air engagements using apparently foreign-supplied higher-end Turkish and Chinese-made drones.
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Russia’s Crown-Jewel Su-57 May Have Crashed Outside Moscow
A Russian military aircraft crashed near Zvenigorod in the Moscow region, with preliminary reports suggesting it may have been a Su-57, Russia’s only operational fifth-generation fighter, Russian media Astra reported on July 23. Astra stated that the pilots likely managed to eject before the aircraft went down. No official confirmation of the aircraft type, crew condition, or cause of the crash has yet been released.
BAE, Boeing, Saab Sign UK Next-Gen Pilot Training Partnership
BAE Systems, Boeing, and Saab have signed a teaming agreement to jointly offer a new pilot training system for the UK Royal Air Force (RAF), based on Boeing’s T-7 advanced jet trainer. The agreement includes plans to establish a final assembly and integration facility in the UK.
Tempest demonstrator build reaches midway point
Final assembly of the main structure of Team Tempest’s demonstrator fighter aircraft is at the halfway point, according to the BAE-led consortium. Comprising the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD), BAE Systems, Leonardo, MBDA and Rolls-Royce, Team Tempest has been working towards a sixth-generation multirole fighter aircraft - the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) - since 2018.
BAE Unveils Brontanax CCA
BAE Systems has lifted the lid on its hitherto secret Brontanax collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) program. A full-scale model was unveiled for the first time at Farnborough on Wednesday by the UK’s newly appointed defense secretary, Wes Streeting, along with BAE Systems group CEO Charles Woodburn and the chief of the air staff, Air Chief Marshal Harv Smyth.
Qarbon Aerospace returns to F-22 Raptor program with composite structures contract for fleet sustainment
Qarbon Aerospace has won a contract to produce composite structures for sustainment of the F-22 Raptor fleet. The award brings the aerostructures manufacturer back to a fighter program it supported during the aircraft’s development.
Russia again deploys a Tu-95 near Japan, this time escorted by a Su-35 fighter
Russia once again deployed a Tu-95 strategic bomber near Japan, this time accompanied by a Su-35 fighter, prompting the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) to scramble aircraft in response. Japan’s Joint Staff reported that the formation was detected over the Sea of Japan on July 21 and also included two additional Russian military aircraft that were not immediately identified.
Autonomy and AI in combat aviation: A fighter pilot’s lament?
For decades, fighter aircraft have been the ultimate concentration of combat power, speed, and flexibility. A four-ship of Typhoons is complex and expensive, but for an urgent, difficult problem, fighter pilots knew they were probably the right answer.
Here's Why Australia Canceled Its Order For F-35 Fighter Jets
Australia has canceled (or, rather, paused) its planned purchase of a fourth squadron of Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter jet aircraft. The F-35 is now fully operational in Australia and forms the backbone of the country's fighter jet capability. The door remains open for Australia purchasing a fourth squadron of F-35s, but the longer it's delayed, the more choice Australia will have in purchasing upcoming aircraft, like the Tempest/GCAP.
Senior US general says Ukrainian F-16 has shot down Russian fighter jet for first time
General Dan Caine, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, has said that a Ukrainian F-16 fighter jet has recently shot down a Russian fighter jet in air-to-air combat for the first time.
