Russia’s High-End Su-57 Stealth Fighters Struck in Deep Rear Operation, Ukraine Says
Ukraine’s military says it hit some of Russia’s most advanced combat aircraft deep inside its territory, striking Su-57 stealth fighters and a Su-34 bomber in the Chelyabinsk region, roughly 1,700 kilometers (1,056 miles) from the Ukrainian border.
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US Air Force earmarks $1bn to procure collaborative combat aircraft in FY27
The US Air Force is preparing to buy its first wave of autonomous “loyal wingman” drones, with nearly $1bn set aside in the FY27 budget for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) programme. The move signals that the programme is shifting from experimentation to real-world deployment.
Argentina to buy KC-135 tankers to extend F-16 combat range
Argentina’s Air Force chief has confirmed the service is actively pursuing two Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker aerial refueling aircraft, a capability acquisition that would directly extend the combat reach of the F-16AM/BM Fighting Falcons Argentina is already in the process of receiving.
The A-10 Warthog’s Stay of Execution Is Not ‘Mission Accomplished’
The “Dude 44” rescue mission over Iran exposed a looming capability gap in US airpower, prompting the Pentagon to order the Air Force to extend the A-10’s service life. “Long live the Warthog,” Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth triumphantly wrote on X in the mission’s aftermath. The Air Force’s response to Hegseth was merely to keep the Warthog flying only until 2030. Don’t be fooled—this “extension” will not save the A-10 program. With a shuttered supply chain and no training pipeline, a two-year stay of execution is of little help to the A-10 or the Sandy (pilot search and rescue) mission.
Demand Tracker: The Pakistan Air Force’s Air Training System Requirements
The Pakistan Air Force (PAF)’s training pipeline is increasingly misaligned with the needs of its rapidly modernizing frontline fleet. The PAF’s primary jet trainer – the Cessna T-37 Tweet – entered service in the 1960s, and its remaining airframes had gone through repeated service-life extension programs (SLEPs). Its intermediate trainer – the Hongdu K-8 Karakorum – dates to a joint Sino-Pakistani program launched in the 1980s, and while PAC has been developing a glass cockpit variant (K-8P) since at least 2010, open sources cannot confirm the program’s completion status.
Russia runs full combat aviation grouping in Mali
Russia has quietly assembled one of its most capable combined aviation groupings outside of Ukraine — not in the Middle East or Central Asia, but in West Africa, where the African Corps is running a sustained air campaign across Mali with a fleet that includes attack helicopters, strike drones, heavy transport aircraft, and front-line bombers operating out of Bamako’s international airport.
U.S. Outclasses “Combined Fleet” of China, Russia & the World: Meet the Aircraft Giving USAF Unrivaled Air Power
“Amateurs talk strategy, professionals talk logistics. Infantry wins battles, logistics win wars.” This is a well-known adage of modern-era warfare. Widely attributed to Second World War General Omar Bradley, it emphasizes that while strategy (the big plan) is important, execution hinges on logistics.
U.S. F-22 Stealth Fighters Operated Near South China Sea to Reinforce Allied Air Combat Strategy
U.S. F-22 Raptors operated from Basa Air Base in the Philippines during Cope Thunder 26-1, placing fifth-generation stealth airpower close to the South China Sea, the Luzon Strait, and the Taiwan contingency environment. The deployment strengthens forward air combat readiness as China expands military pressure across the first island chain.
Ukraine Receives First Mobile F-16 Pilot Training Simulators
The Ukrainian Air Force has received its first mobile simulators designed to train pilots flying F-16 fighter jets. The Ministry of Defense announced the delivery. These systems are expected to make pilot training more effective and enhance the overall capabilities of Ukraine’s air force.
Hungary takes delivery of two new Gripen C fighter jets
The Hungary Defence Forces (HDF) has taken delivery of two new Gripen C fighter jets at its Kecskemét Air Base, Hungary. This is the first arrival from a February 2024 order for four additional aircraft, with another two aircraft to be delivered this summer. The new Gripen C fighter jets will be operated by the HDF’s 101st Aviation Wing, Saab said in a statement on 30 April 2026.
