Special Purpose

Military Aviation News

Russian fighter jets pose challenges

04/15/2026

Norwegian fighter jets were reportedly sent out more than 40 times last year to identify and document a total of 53 Russian fighter jets flying close to Norwegian airspace. During Easter came reports of an unusually close encounter in the Arctic, which Norway regularly patrols on behalf of NATO.

The war in the Middle East delays the delivery of 30 Mirage 2000-9 fighter jets to Morocco by the United Arab Emirates

Despite the agreement reached in 2024, Morocco will not yet receive the French-made fighter jets, which have been deployed by the UAE’s air defence forces in response to the conflict in the Middle East.

The Iran war took a toll on the Air Force’s Reaper fleet

The MQ-9 Reaper, a staple for the U.S. since the turn of the 21st century, has remained a go-to asset for the military, even as recently as the war with Iran. But over the last few years, the U.S. has lost at least 35 Reaper drones — at least 16 were downed over Iran, 7 were shot by the Houthis in Yemen in Spring 2025, and 12 from other aircraft accidents recorded by the Air Force.

Why Can’t India Talk to Lockheed Martin About the F-35 Anymore?

Lockheed Martin can no longer directly offer the F-35 to foreign countries; all negotiations for its purchase must go through the US government. It is highly unlikely that India will ever adopt the F-35 Lightning II, a fifth-generation multirole jet fighter—but that will not be for want of trying on America’s part. Last year, in a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Washington, DC, President Donald Trump pitched US military hardware to the South Asian nation.

United States: Air National Guard leaders urge Congress to fund up to 100 new fighter jets annually to modernize aging fleet

Adjutants general from nearly two dozen U.S. states have urged Congress to support multiyear funding for the Air Force to procure between 72 and 100 new fighter aircraft annually. The request is aimed at modernizing the Active, Guard and Reserve components with platforms including the F-35A Lightning II, F-22 Raptor, F-15EX Eagle II and F-47.

Russia Mounts Fighter Jet Missiles on Trucks to Counter Ukrainian Drones

Russia has been observed deploying an improvised surface-to-air missile system using R-77 air-to-air missiles mounted on a Ural truck chassis, as imagery circulating online suggests the system was recently spotted in the city of Oryol. According to Defense Express on April 13, the appearance of this system reflects ongoing Russian efforts to adapt air-to-air missiles for ground-based air defense roles, reviving earlier Soviet-era concepts that were never fully implemented.

Turkish jet drone optical sensor detects target at 110 km

Turkish Bayraktar KIZILELMA unmanned combat air vehicle successfully detected a passenger airliner at a range of 110 kilometers during a performance validation test of the ASELSAN KARAT Infrared Search and Track system. The result was disclosed through ASELSAN’s monthly publication, a-Bülten, confirming that one of the KIZILELMA’s three primary sensor systems has cleared a significant detection range milestone.

Swiss air force chief says Switzerland is ‘not defense-ready’

Switzerland’s new Air Force Commander, Major General Christian Oppliger, has warned in stark terms that the country cannot defend itself against modern air threats, describing the situation as a “fight against time” as key procurement programs face delays and cost overruns. In an interview published by Swiss outlet Blick on April 12, 2026, Oppliger said Switzerland’s responses to airborne threats are “modest and outdated” and that the country has no solution against ballistic missiles.

$1.5T US defence budget reveals shift to drones, NGAD and future air combat

President Donald Trump’s proposed $1.5 trillion defence budget does more than set a new spending record. It reveals a decisive shift in how the United States plans to fight in the air, with drones, combat mass and next-generation systems moving to the centre of US Air Force strategy. Behind the headline number lies a clear rebalancing of priorities, combining continued investment in high-end fighters with the first meaningful push to field autonomous “wingman” drones at scale.

World-leading, proven uncrewed combat aircraft to bolster German forces’ aerial power

Edgewing wins £686m contract for design and development of GCAP

India Accelerates Passive IRST Sensor Fusion for Tejas Mk2, Super Sukhoi, and AMCA to Counter Stealth Threats

Russia Offers India Up to 40 Su-57 Stealth Jets by 2030 as Interim 5th-Gen Solution Until AMCA Induction Begins

Pakistan Deploys JF-17 Block III Fighters to Saudi Arabia as New Mutual Defence Pact Raises Stakes in Iran Crisis

russia Prepares First Yak-130M Batch, Eyes Role Against Ukrainian Long-Range Drones

Canada Is Planning to Join the GCAP Sixth-Gen Fighter Program

Greek fighter jets intercept Turkish aircraft after six violations in Athens FIR

Fire at Russian aircraft plant producing Su-57 fighters may further delay already limited production output

Pakistan sends fighter jets to Saudi Arabia amid fragile US-Iran ceasefire

Morocco pushing military aviation overhaul amid Algerian arms race