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Military Aviation News

Boeing discloses MQ-28A Block 3 development with weapons bay and range improvements

02/08/2026

Boeing has disclosed development of the MQ-28A Ghost Bat Block 3, a new version of its combat unmanned aircraft designed for Australia and aimed at expanding the aircraft’s strike and endurance capabilities. The Block 3 variant is to feature a scalable internal weapons bay capable of carrying one AIM-120 AMRAAM missile or two GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bombs, with the possible addition of GBU-53/B StormBreaker glide bombs.

The air forces with the most combat fighter jets in 2026

As a numbers game, the US, China, and Russia have the world’s largest combat fleets, although there are layers of naunce that give these numbers meaning. Some air forces have old 1960s-era aircraft counted even though they may never fly again.

Shot Down, Retired, Yet Flying! U.S. Air Force’s “Bat Planes” To Fly Until 2034 Despite Retiring 26 Years Ago

In the eerie dark nights of the Nevada desert, people have often seen an aircraft that looks less like a fighter jet and more like a bat plane. First flown in 1981, over the years, people had grown used to its alien-looking shape. The F-117 Nighthawk was the world’s first operational stealth aircraft. However, its recent sightings in the Nevada night sky are a mystery. The aircraft had been officially retired from the US Air Force (USAF) way back in 2008.

SWEDISH JAS 39 GRIPEN DEPLOYMENT TO ICELAND MARKS HISTORIC MOMENT FOR NATO'S NEWEST ALLY

In a landmark deployment, six Swedish JAS 39 Gripen fighter aircraft and a contingent of more than 110 personnel from Skaraborg Air Wing F7 have arrived at Keflavík Air Base . This rotation, running from early February to mid-March 2026, represents the first time the Swedish Air Force have led NATO’s Icelandic air policing mission since their accession to NATO in March 2024.

Turkish Air Force F-16 fighter jets have arrived in Somalia to support the fight against the Al-Shabaab terrorist group

Turkish Air Force F-16 fighter jets, recently deployed to Somalia, arrived in the city of Mogadishu with the aim of supporting operations against the terrorist group Al-Shabaab, marking a new level of Ankara’s military involvement in the Horn of Africa country. The arrival of these aircraft represents the first time Türkiye has deployed manned fighter aircraft on Somali territory, expanding its role beyond training, advisory, and indirect support tasks.

Air Force’s Anticipated William Tell Weapons Meet Postponed

A few weeks after the Air Force announced its prestigious William Tell Air-to-Air Weapons Meet would return in March, the service has decided to postpone the event to later this year, according to Air Combat Command. “The decision to postpone the competition was made to maximize available resources, and [William Tell] is intended to continue in the future,” an ACC spokesperson told Air & Space Forces Magazine, adding that a new date for the competition will be released as soon as its available.

US approves $3bn sustainment package for Saudi F-15 fleet

The US State Department has approved the possible Foreign Military Sale to Saudi Arabia of equipment and support services related to the ongoing sustainment of the nation’s extensive fleet of Boeing F-15 Eagle fighters for an estimated cost of $3bn. Approval of this prospective FMS was announced by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency – which handles most of Washington’s impending military export sales – after it had notified US Congress of the proposed multi-billion deal.

China’s Third Neighbor Eyes Rafale Jets Amid Russian Squeeze, Pressure From Beijing & Washington: Reports

A French publication, L’Express, claimed on February 4, 2026, that Vietnam could be one of the Rafale’s next customers. The report claimed that Vietnam had already had the opportunity to secretly evaluate the aircraft in 2018 when two Rafales had a stopover in the country during an Indo-Pacific deployment.

Can Fighter Aircraft Hunt Down Tanks? It’s Complicated

Specialized anti-armor aircraft date back to World War II—but not all planes are well-equipped to take on ground targets. The idea of aircraft destroying tanks is deeply embedded in modern warfare. From World War II to the Ukraine War, air power has repeatedly been used to counter armored forces on the ground. Indeed, aircraft can be devastating against tanks or other ground vehicles—but a plane’s effectiveness against tanks depends upon a specific set of circumstances.

Saudi Arabia may invest in Turkish fighter jet Kaan 'any moment', Erdogan says

General Atomics, Anduril Hint at Concepts for New U.S. Navy Unmanned Combat Aircraft

American, Chinese, and Russian fighters flew in a rare triple appearance. Here's how their performances compared.

Saab shares ‘detailed information’ on Gripen with Canada as part of ‘dual fleet’ pitch

Ukraine’s Gripen jets likely to come with long-reach Meteor missiles

South Korea’s F-15K “Slam Eagle” Fighter Jets Are Getting a Massive Upgrade

Canada’s Fighter Debate Reopens Door for Gripen

New Report: Air Force Needs 200 B-21s, 300 F-47s to Deny Enemy ‘Sanctuaries’

US State Department Examines Possible Sanctions on Algeria for Su-57 Purchase

HAL excluded from India’s AMCA stealth fighter jet as private consortia take the lead

Rafale Rising: Production Ramp-Up and the Road to the F5 Standard