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Military Aviation News

RAF Typhoon jets to help defend Bahrain, Starmer tells King Hamad

03/07/2026

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told ?the king of Bahrain that four jets the UK is deploying to Qatar could be ?used to help ?defend ?the ?kingdom ?from Iranian ?missile and ?drone strikes against Gulf states. “The Prime Minister also offered further defensive ?air cover from these ?jets ?for Bahrain ?to ?bolster their security,” ?Starmer told King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in a call ?late on Thursday, according to a readout ?from ?Starmer’s office on Friday.

Turkish fighter jets conduct patrol flights along Iran border amid war

Turkish Air Force (TurAF) fighter jets are conducting patrol flights along Türkiye's border with Iran as the war between the United States and Iran continues, with aircraft observed flying over the border region near the Yuksekova district of Hakkari province. Aircraft were observed flying at regular intervals along the border line as part of ongoing operations.

S-400 stand-alone use 'most reasonable solution' for F-35 impasse: Defense Minister

Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler stated that Türkiye still considers using the Russian S-400 air defense system in a stand-alone configuration, without NATO integration, as "the most reasonable solution" to the impasse blocking its reinstatement in the F-35 fighter jet program.

Why Didn’t Iran’s Air Force Put Up a Fight Against the United States?

Iran’s air force was the most powerful in the Middle East in 1979, and nothing about it has changed since then. That’s a big problem for Tehran. Operation Epic Fury has exposed the limitations of Iran’s aging air force. Within the first days of the campaign, US and Israeli forces achieved air superiority over Iranian air space—a contest during which Iranian fighters were largely absent from the skies.

Swiss government reduces F-35 fighter jet order

Switzerland confirmed it will proceed with the F-35A fighter jet procurement but expects to acquire about 30 aircraft instead of the originally planned 36 due to rising program costs. The Swiss Federal Council will request an additional 394 million Swiss francs from parliament to cover inflation and raw material cost increases while remaining within the voter-approved funding ceiling.

Ukraine Prepares Down Payment for Gripen and Rafale Fighter Jets

Ukraine is moving forward with plans to secure advanced fighter jets from Sweden and France. “We must have a down payment from the Ukrainian side for future aviation, regarding the Gripen and Rafale,” the President stated. He noted that the matter was discussed on March 4 during a meeting with Ukraine’s Minister of Defense. The country is preparing a down payment for Swedish-made Gripen and French-made Rafale aircraft, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on March 5.

Sukhoi Su-30 MKI fighter jet goes missing in Assam, IAF launches search ops

A Sukhoi-30 fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) went missing from radar contact while flying over Assam’s Karbi Anglong district on Thursday evening, officials said. “An IAF Su-30 MKI is reported overdue. The aircraft had taken off from Jorhat air base in Assam and was last in contact at 7.42 pm,” Defence PRO Lt Col Mahender Rawat said in a statement. He said search and rescue operations have been initiated to ascertain the status of the fighter jet.

Pair of low-flying Iranian bombers came within 2 minutes of hitting Al Udeid Air Base, report says

Iranian fighter planes flying less than 100 feet above ground came within minutes of hitting the U.S. military’s largest base in the Middle East, CNN reported this week. The incident, which happened Monday morning, involved two Russian-made Su-24 bombers that were headed toward Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. Several thousand U.S. troops operate out of Al Udeid, making it the main hub for U.S. operations in the region.

British F-35s Just Scored an Air Combat Kill over Jordan

The British fighter jets are in the Middle East to defend the UK’s regional military installations, most notably on Cyprus. Royal Air Force (RAF) Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning stealth fighters have reportedly scored their first aerial victory, downing Iranian drones over Jordan this week.

Fresh Off Labor Strike, Boeing Set to Double F-15EX Production

France will expand the number of Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets to be transferred to the Ukrainian Air Force

France to let US planes not involved in Iran strikes use air base

NATO Scrambles a Dozen Aircraft as Russian Warplanes Approach Alaska

Somalia explores buying up to 24 JF-17 Block III fighters to rebuild air force

Kuwaiti F/A-18 Suspected in Downing of Three U.S. F-15Es

Saab sees role for Canada in sixth-generation fighter development

U.S. could hold a 'red card' over Canada's Gripen fighter jet option

Israeli F-35I shoots down Iranian Yak-130 jet

Downing of U.S. F-15s and the Role of Joint All-Domain Command and Control

British Royal Air Force F-35 stealth fighter jets just scored their first-ever combat kill