Special Purpose

Military Aviation News

Northrop Grumman to develop U.S. Marine Corps collaborative combat aircraft using Kratos Valkyrie UAS

01/09/2026

Northrop Grumman has been competitively selected by the U.S. Marine Corps to develop the Marine Air-Ground Task Force Uncrewed Expeditionary Tactical Aircraft Collaborative Combat Aircraft programme. The award combines the company’s autonomous and uncrewed capabilities with the Valkyrie uncrewed aerial system from Kratos Defense and Security Solutions to operate alongside crewed fighters in high-threat environments.

F-35s And JF-17s: Saudi Arabia Acquiring Highly Diverse Fighter Fleet

Saudi Arabia may become the second Arab country to buy Pakistan’s JF-17 Thunder multirole fighter jet. The reported deal could put Riyadh on track to acquire the most diverse fleet of advanced combat aircraft in the entire Middle East and possibly beyond.

Fire Breaks Out at Moscow Factory Producing Engines for Sukhoi Fighter Jets

A fire broke out in Moscow on the premises of Russia’s United Engine Corporation’s Salyut enterprise, which is part of the state-owned Rostec corporation. According to preliminary information, the fire started in one of the production workshops, the Telegram channel 112 reported. According to the channel’s source, the fire engulfed technological equipment inside a building on Budyonny Avenue.

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia in JF-17 jets-for-loans talks

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are in discussions to convert approximately $2 billion of Saudi loans into a deal for JF-17 fighter jets, according to two Pakistani sources. This move is set to deepen military cooperation between the two countries, following the signing of a mutual defense pact last year, News.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Lockheed Martin F-35 reaches record deliveries and expands combat and global operations in 2025

Lockheed Martin reported a record-breaking year for the F-35 Lightning II programme in 2025, delivering 191 aircraft and surpassing the previous annual high of 142 jets. The company said annual F-35 production is now running at a pace five times faster than any other allied fighter aircraft currently in production, reflecting the scale and maturity of the programme.

Ukraine’s F-16 Pilots Think NATO Tactics Don’t Work

Though Ukrainian pilots have praised the F-16 itself, they have criticized NATO tactics for relying too much on air superiority—a luxury that Ukraine does not have. The US-made F-16 Fighting Falcon has been one of the most widely adopted fixed-wing combat aircraft of the modern era. The F-16 first flew more than 50 years ago, and although the United States Air Force is no longer acquiring the aircraft, Lockheed Martin continues to produce the Fighting Falcon for foreign military sales.

China’s First J-35A Fighter Jet for Local Air Force Takes Off in 2026

Chinese aircraft manufacturer Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) has conducted the first flight of a J-35A fighter jet intended for the Chinese Air Force in 2026. Photos of the aircraft were published by Chinese military aviation observer Ruprecht_A on the X platform. Local aviation spotters recorded the aircraft in its Chinese Air Force configuration during a test flight over the territory of the manufacturer’s airfield.

Taiwan's F-16 fighter fleet has been grounded after an 'anomaly' saw a jet and its pilot disappear

Taiwan's air force has grounded its F-16 fleet and suspended training missions on the jet after one of the planes and the pilot went missing earlier this week. The search continues for the pilot and aircraft, which officials believe went down following an in-flight "anomaly," but rough seas off the island have made efforts difficult.

F-16V Fighter Goes Missing Off Taiwan’s Eastern Coast, President Orders All-Out Search for Pilot

Taiwan mounted a large-scale emergency response late Tuesday night after a frontline F-16V fighter jet disappeared from radar during a routine training exercise over the waters off its eastern coast. The incident triggered immediate concern at the highest levels of government, with President Lai Ching-te directing all agencies to focus on one goal: bringing the missing pilot home safely.

Bangladesh, Pakistan air chiefs discuss fighter jet purchase

Ukraine revises F-16 combat tactics for frontline operations

Philippines requests KF-21 fighter jet delivery from South Korea between 2027 and 2029

Ukrainian F-16 Pilot’s Account Of The Challenges Of The Air War

Japan confirms Chinese aircraft fly through Okinawa corridor

RAF Typhoon and French Rafale strike ISIS targets in Syria under Operation Inherent Resolve

Iraq, France prepare for Rafale fighter jet deal

America Is Selling Israel Another 25 F-15IA Fighter Jets. Not Everyone Is Happy

NAWCAD simulation milestone advances F-35 Lightning II integration with U.S. Navy collaborative combat aircraft

150 aircraft, cyber effects and ‘overwhelming force:’ How the Venezuela operation unfolded

Why Does America Have an “Air National Guard”?