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Military Aviation News

Reports Resurface About UAE’s Plans to Transfer 30 Mirage Jets to Morocco

01/21/2025

New reports have emerged suggesting that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is preparing to transfer 30 Mirage 2000-9E fighter jets to Morocco. The transfer is expected to take place in 2027 when the UAE receives its new batch of Rafale F4 aircraft. According to Military Africa and several international media outlets, the potential transfer would involve half of the UAE’s operational fleet of Mirage 2000-9E fighters.

Philippines to Double FA-50 Supersonic Fighter Jet Fleet

The Philippines is considering the purchase of 12 more FA-50 Fighting Eagle supersonic combat aircraft from South Korea. The potential 40-billion Philippine peso ($683.7 million) deal would double Manila’s FA-50 fleet, which has been in service since the early 2010s.

Bangladesh could purchase up to 32 Pakistani JF-17 Thunder fighter jets to modernize its Air Force.

As reported by The Express Tribune on January 16, 2025, Bangladesh has officially expressed interest in the JF-17 Thunder, a fighter aircraft jointly developed by Pakistan and China, following a high-level Bangladeshi defense delegation's visit to Pakistan on January 15, 2025. Led by Lieutenant General SM Qamarul Hassan, Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division, the delegation met with Pakistan Air Force Chief, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar Sidhu, at the Air Headquarters.

UK’s future fighter and early warning programmes ‘unachievable’

Two of the UK’s main air domain defence programmes, the Future Combat Aircraft System (FCAS) and E-7 Wedgetail, have been given a ‘red’ rating in the government’s Infrastructure and Projects Authority Annual Report 2023-24, published on 17 January 2025. Of the 49 defence programmes listed in the report the vast majority are listed as being ‘amber’, which means that significant issues remain but the programme can still meet its targetted timelines.

Report to Congress on U.S. Air Force Next-Generation Air Dominance Fighter

U.S. Air Force officials paused a planned contract award for the Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) to rethink the aircraft’s requirements. NGAD is an advanced fighter jet intended to replace the stealthy F-22 Raptor (see Figure 1). According to the Air Force, NGAD is also a “family of systems,” enabling air superiority, defined as the ability to operate without threat of attack, even in highly contested environments.

Taiwan tracks 9 Chinese military aircraft and 6 ships

The defense ministry reported nine Chinese military aircraft and six vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Four of the aircraft entered the country’s southwestern and eastern air defense identification zones (ADIZ). In response, Taiwan sent aircraft and naval ships and deployed coastal-based missile systems to monitor Chinese activity.

Türkiye’s 1st unmanned fighter jet Bayraktar Kizilelma passes key flight test

The production prototype of Turkish defense giant Baykar’s Bayraktar Kizilelma, Türkiye’s first-ever unmanned fighter jet, successfully passes another flight test. The development of Bayraktar Kizilelma, Baykar’s indigenous and original aircraft, continues according to the established test timeline.

Why Saudi Arabia is so keen on the Turkish KAAN

Just before the turn of the year, Saudi and Turkish officials engaged in a flurry of talks on defense cooperation. In one such conversation—which included Turkish defense industry representatives—Saudi Arabia reportedly indicated it intends to buy one hundred Turkish KAAN fighter jets. But with Saudi Arabia previously keen on acquiring F-35 fighter jets from the United States, what has steered Riyadh toward Turkish technology?

French maritime patrol aircraft targeted by Russian S-400 radar over Baltic Sea

In a concerning escalation of tensions over the Baltic Sea, a French Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft was subjected to Russian military intimidation. The aircraft was engaged in an international NATO operation when it was targeted by the fire-control radar of a Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile system. The incident occurred between Wednesday night and Thursday morning while the aircraft was flying in international airspace over the Baltic Sea.

Japan Orders More Air-to-Surface Missiles From US for Fighter Jets

China’s other new combat aircraft: a crewed fighter, maybe for aircraft carriers

First F-15E Fighter Jet with EPAWSS World's Most Advanced EW System Delivered to US Air Force in UK

Norway Flies First F-35 Fighter Jets Using Synthetic Aviation Turbine Fuels

Rafale, F-16V & F-35! U.S. Delivers 30th ‘Upgraded’ Jet To Hellenic Air Force As It Amplifies Its Firepower

JF-17 Thunder: Bangladesh “Officially” Shows Interest In China-Pak Fighters; Comes After Murmurs Over J-10C

Air Force Approves New Electronic Warfare Suite for F-15E Fighter

Investigation Launched Into Transfer Of Ukrainian MiG-29 Maintainers, Air Defenders To Front Lines

A Ukrainian F-16 pilot's reported shootdown of 6 missiles in a single mission shows how its air force has evolved

What China’s New Fighter Jet Really Signals

Philippine Air Force to create a second fighter squadron with 12 new South Korean FA-50 Block 20 light attack aircraft