February, 2025 Military Aviation News
02/22/2025
The delivery of Belgium’s promised F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine has hit yet another snag, with the first of the 30 aircraft now not expected to arrive in Kyiv until at least the end of 2025. This delay, announced on February 21, 2025, stems from a ripple effect caused by the United States’ lagging delivery of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters to Belgium, according to Belgian Air Force Chief of Staff General Frederik Vansina.
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02/22/2025
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has expressed significant interest in Turkiye’s national fighter jet project KAAN, signalling attempts by Abu Dhabi to deepen defence cooperation with Ankara. According to Turkish media, Turkish defence firms attracted considerable attention at the IDEX 2025 defence exhibition in Abu Dhabi this week, with a key interested party reportedly being the Emiratis and their defence companies.
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02/21/2025
Frontliner has released footage of an F-16 fighter jet in combat on one of the frontline directions, according to Frontliner founder and editor-in-chief Andrii Dubchak. "Silence. Frost. We are making a report on a heavy drone unit in the field. Suddenly, we hear a recognizable increasing roar of a jet engine, and a plane flies at ultra-low altitude towards the front, just beyond a nearby tree line," Dubchak described.
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02/21/2025
Engines from GE Aerospace and RTX’s Pratt & Whitney have cleared the Air Force’s “Detailed Design Reviews” for the Next-Generation Adaptive Propulsion program, paving the way for the engine-makers to build prototype ground demonstrators, the two companies announced separately. The plan is for the winner of the NGAP program to power the Air Force’s Next-Generation Air Dominance NGAD fighter.
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02/21/2025
Turkey will consider creating a carrier-based version of the KAAN fighter jet based on a domestic aircraft carrier. Relevant discussions are ongoing between the Turkish Navy’s design office and Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI).
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02/21/2025
The U.S. Air Force (USAF) is preparing its F-35 Lightning II pilots for a conflict in the Indo-Pacific amid the potential threat of a war with China. This was displayed at the recently-concluded ‘Bamboo Eagle’—USAF’s new advanced combat-readiness exercise. The U.S. Air Force Warfare Center recently wrapped up Bamboo Eagle 25-1 exercises. Over 10,000 troops from various Air Force major commands, the Joint Force, and allied air forces participated in the exercise, the USAF said in a statement on F
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02/21/2025
The head of Swedish manufacturer Saab remains optimistic that the Scandinavian nation will decide to send JAS 39 Gripen multirole fighter jets to Ukraine and strengthen strike capabilities on top of US-made F-16 and French Mirage 2000 aircraft. “Without jumping into conclusions [at a political level] I hope it will happen” Saab CEO Micael Johansson told Breaking Defense at the Munich Security Conference.
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02/21/2025
Gen. Lee Young-soo, Chief of Staff of the South Korean Air Force, conducted a test flight of the KF-21, South Korea’s supersonic fighter jet, on Wednesday to evaluate its readiness for operational deployment as it approaches the final stage of development.
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02/20/2025
Current calculations show that the French Air Force has such a small stockpile of missiles and other munitions that it would last only three days of intense combat under modern warfare conditions. For Meteor-type missiles, the available stockpile would barely sustain even one day of combat.
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02/20/2025
Russian warplanes were spotted flying off the coast of Alaska, the North American Aerospace Defense Command said Tuesday, marking the latest incident involving Russian military activity being tracked by the U.S. military near the state. The Russian planes did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace, NORAD said, adding that the planes were "not seen as a threat." NORAD did not identify the type of Russian aircraft that were detected nor the number of planes.
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02/15/2025
The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) showcased the long-range operational capabilities of its indigenous JF-17 fighter jets during the Exercise Spears of Victory-2025 in Saudi Arabia, the military’s media wing said on Friday, as the PAF contingent returned home.
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02/15/2025
The Aero India 2025, which concludes today, witnessed a face-off between the US’ F-35 fighter jet and Russia’s SU-57. Both the US and Russia are offering their respective fifth-generation fighter jets – which were seen side by side for the first time on an airstrip – to India.
Though the SU-57 took to the skies during Asia’s biggest air show on Thursday, the F-35 remained on static display.
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02/14/2025
According to the Australian Department of Defence, the incident occurred on February 11, 2025, when an RAAF P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft was conducting a routine surveillance mission. A People’s Liberation Army Air Force J-16 fighter intercepted the aircraft and released flares in dangerously close proximity.
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02/14/2025
On February 6-7, 2025, Service members from the Royal Netherlands, Royal Norwegian and United States Air Forces demonstrated readiness, interoperability and maintenance proficiency during Spartan Lightning at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. A total of seven F-35A Lightning II aircraft participated in the exercise, with pilots and maintainers from the Dutch, Norwegian and United States air forces working to achieve key training objectives. The exercise provided the maintainers cross-servicing opport
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02/13/2025
On February 10, 2025, French Air and Space Force Chief of Staff General Jérôme Bellanger shared a video on his LinkedIn account, showcasing a French Rafale fighter aircraft destroying a suicide drone in flight using the MICA IR (Infrared) missile. The general also highlighted that similar drones had been intercepted and neutralized by both Rafale and Mirage 2000-5F aircraft deployed in the Middle East,
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02/13/2025
Algerian pilots are currently undergoing training in Russia to operate the Su-57, Russia’s fifth-generation stealth fighter, Algerian TV reports. This marks a significant step in Algeria’s military modernization and confirms the country’s deepening defense ties with Moscow.With deliveries of the advanced fighter expected within the year, Algeria is set to become the first foreign customer of the Su-57, a development with wide-ranging geopolitical and military implications.
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02/13/2025
Russia is offering the production of Sukhoi Su-57, its fifth-generation stealth fighter and most advanced warplane, in India for boosting the Indian Air Force’s fleet, after unveiling the jet in the South Asian country’s air show this week.
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02/12/2025
On September 14, 2024, a senior Emirati official dismissed reports about the country’s interest in resuming long-deadlocked negotiations to purchase Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning II aircraft should Donald J. Trump secure a second presidential term. However, Trump’s return to the White House in January has reignited questions regarding the potential for a resumption of talks.
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02/12/2025
Russia has offered to make its fifth-generation stealth fighter jet Sukhoi Su-57 in India for the Indian Air Force, a Russian and an Indian official said on Tuesday, as Moscow looks to boost defence ties with New Delhi. Russia has for decades been the main weapons supplier to India, the world's biggest arms importer, and its fighter jets are part of India's military fleet. But Moscow's ability in recent years to export has been hobbled by the war in Ukraine, making New Delhi look westward.
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02/11/2025
Currently, numerous aviation projects are being implemented, including both manned and unmanned systems, Caliber.Az reports via Turkish media. The recent updates to the technical specifications of the KAAN and Hürjet combat aircraft serve as notable examples of this progress. The length of the national fifth-generation fighter, KAAN, has been reduced by 0.7 metres.
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02/11/2025
A Polish fighter pilot has flown an F-35A Lightning II aircraft for the first time at the US Ebbing Air National Guard Base (ANGB) in Fort Smith, Arkansas. The milestone flight came after F-35 pilot training under the guidance of the US’ 33rd Fighter Wing began in October last year, which was followed by a couple of aircraft deliveries in December.
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02/11/2025
The constant evolution of aerial threats, such as operations in contested environments, is redefining the equipment that combat aircraft of the United States Armed Forces must possess. This is evident in the integration of new Infrared Search and Track (IRST) sensors into current combat platforms. The latest milestone was reported by the U.S. Navy, which confirmed that the new IRST Block II pod, set to equip its F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, has achieved Initial Operational Capability (IOC).
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02/11/2025
India expects stable delivery of a domestically-made light combat aircraft powered by a GE, opens new tab engine in the upcoming fiscal year after a delay of nearly 12 months, a top government official said on Sunday. India's state-run planemaker Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), opens new tab would have the capacity to hand over 16 to 24 aircraft in the fiscal year that starts in April following stable delivery of the engine made by the aerospace division of GE, the official said.
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02/10/2025
The plane was shot down by an “Igla” MANPADS on the outskirts of Toretsk (Donetsk region). The Russians later sent an Mi-8 helicopter to evacuate the pilot, but Ukrainian FPV operators prevented this from happening.
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02/10/2025
Taiwan said on Saturday that 11 Chinese fighter jets and eight ships, as well as a balloon, were detected around Taiwan. According to Taiwan’s Defense Ministry, nine out of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s northern and southwestern air defense identification zone. They were detected until 6 a.m. (2200GMT) and the balloon was flying at an altitude of 20,000 feet (6 kilometers), said the ministry.
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02/10/2025
It is considered one of the world's toughest air combat training environments where pilots hone their war-fighting skills. RAF personnel, including Rivet Joint aircrew, Air Operations Controllers from 19 and 20 Squadron, along with eight Typhoons and a Voyager aircraft are participating.
Exercise Red Flag at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, provides opportunities to train for challenges – from mission generation to command and control.
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02/10/2025
The U.S. Air Force has announced that the United Operational Test Team conducted the first ever dual release of externally mounted GBU-54 LJDAMs (Laser Joint Direct Attack Munition) from an F-35. The test saw an F-35C, assigned to the U.S. Navy’s Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Nine (VX-9) release the guided bombs again a remote controlled High-Speed Moving Target, said the statement.
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02/07/2025
Ukraine received the first Mirage 2000 fighter jets promised by France on Thursday, French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu said, giving the country its second type of Western aircraft in addition to F-16 jets handed over by allies last year. The Mirage 2000 jets arrived with Ukrainian pilots on board, after several months of training in France, Lecornu said in a post on X. “They will now participate in defending the skies of Ukraine.”
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02/07/2025
Over the past week, the strategic bombers of the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) have been conducting various patrol flights focused on the Arctic region. One of the most recent incidents occurred today, February 5, when Tu-95MS bombers, escorted by fighter jets, were intercepted by Royal Norwegian Air Force F-35A stealth fighters while flying over the Barents Sea airspace.
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02/07/2025
A Russian soldier is reported to have rammed a truck into one of President Vladimir Putin's prized Su-25 fighter jets, rendering it unusable. It adds to the many military jets Russia has lost throughout the war in Ukraine. Russia's air force has suffered extensive casualties—both in cases of friendly fire, and as a result of Ukrainian forces shooting down Putin's military jets.
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02/06/2025
Russia has launched a new show of military strength as two Tu-95MS nuclear bombers conducted a four-hour flight over the Norwegian Sea north of Britain. The strategic bombers were escorted by Russian MiG-31 and Su-33 fighter jets during their mission over neutral waters. Nato warplanes shadowed the pair of Tu-95MS 'Bears' throughout their flight, which took place just days after Sir Keir Starmer urged European leaders to increase efforts against Russian aggression.
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02/06/2025
Aerospace manufacturer Boeing and satellite antenna maker ThinKom Solutions successfully demonstrated high-bandwidth satellite communications technology aimed at military aircraft, the companies announced Feb. 5.
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02/06/2025
The IAF, looking to arrest the dwindling fighter squadrons, is looking to acquire 114 Medium-Role Fighter Aircraft. Saab insists that the Gripen-E will be the fastest-delivered fighter aircraft if chosen. Kent-Ake Molin, Head of the Gripen India campaign, said: “Gripen’s exceptional capabilities align seamlessly with India’s defense needs, offering advanced weapons, cutting-edge sensors, countermeasures systems, and pilot-friendly Human-Machine Collaboration (HMC).”
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02/06/2025
The electronic warfare suite which will protect the Air Force’s F-15E and F-15EX in contested airspace has been declared “operationally effective,” the Pentagon’s test director said in its recent annual report. But the system can’t be evaluated to the very limits of its capabilities because of test range limitations, and because the Air Force doesn’t want to expose what the system can really do in open-air testing.
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02/05/2025
Iran has reportedly purchased Russian-made Sukhoi 35 fighter jets amid Western concerns about Tehran and Moscow’s growing military cooperation. Ali Shadmani, the deputy Coordinator of the Khatam-ol-Anbia, who was quoted by the media, did not clarify how many jets were purchased and whether they had already been delivered to Iran.
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02/05/2025
The Government of Colombia has signed a new contract for the maintenance of its fleet of obsolete Kfir fighters. According to ArmyRecognition, the agreement was signed with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), which will be responsible for servicing the aircraft. The deal is worth $7.2 million. The agreement came into force in December 2024 and will be valid until July 30, 2026.
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02/05/2025
U.S. and Philippine fighter aircraft staged a joint patrol and training Tuesday over a disputed South China Sea shoal where Chinese fighter jets fired flares last year to drive away a Philippine aircraft, Philippine officials said. The joint patrol and air-intercept drills over the hotly disputed Scarborough Shoal off the northwestern Philippines were the first by the longtime treaty allies since U.S. President Donald Trump took office again.
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02/04/2025
On January 31, 2025, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov confirmed that the Netherlands will deliver another batch of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine this year. The announcement followed a meeting in The Hague with Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans, during which both officials discussed strengthening Ukraine’s air capabilities and ongoing training programs for Ukrainian pilots and technicians.
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02/04/2025
The U.S. government’s objective of procuring 2,456 F-35 Lightning II aircraft for the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Navy marks a monumental effort to modernize and enhance the U.S. military’s air combat capabilities. As outlined in the latest report published by Lockheed Martin in January 2025, this ambitious procurement plan remains at the heart of the F-35 program, which continues to advance with strong production numbers, new international commitments.
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02/04/2025
Conscious of serious capability gaps, India’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) had announced formation of a high-level committee to address shortages in the Indian Air Force (IAF). For some time, the IAF has been grappling with the reduced fighter aircraft with the squadron strength coming to an all-time low of 31 vis-à-vis the authorised strength of 42.
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02/04/2025
As reported by Astro Awani on February 1, 2025, the Royal Malaysian Air Force is expected to finalize the acquisition of 30 used F/A-18C/D Hornet fighter jets from the Kuwaiti Air Force in 2025. The deal has been under negotiation for several years and is now in its final stages, requiring only documentation and approvals from Kuwait and the United States. This purchase is intended to maintain Malaysia’s air defense capabilities while awaiting the implementation of its Multi-Role Combat Aircraft
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02/03/2025
Iran has purchased Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets from Russia as part of its military modernisation efforts amid rising tensions with Israel and the United States. The advanced jets, known for their speed and altitude capabilities, will significantly enhance Iran’s ageing air force, which mostly consists of older American and Soviet aircraft.
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02/02/2025
According to information from Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, the Deputy Prime Minister of Poland, shared via his official X account on January 31, 2025, a historic moment unfolded when a Polish pilot took control of the F-35 Lightning II for the first time at the U.S. Air Force base in Fort Smith, Arkansas. This marks a pivotal step forward for the Polish Air Force as the country modernizes its military capabilities.
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02/01/2025
The Netherlands will help train 26 Ukrainians for positions as F-16 aircraft crew chiefs. The training will run until the end of January, according to the Dutch Ministry of Defense. These technical specialists are responsible for the fighter jets before takeoff and after returning to base. Their training will take place at an airbase and will continue until the end of April. The exact location of the airbase has not been disclosed.
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02/01/2025
On January 31, 2025, the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense announced that the country's Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov was on a three-day visit to the United States, leading a delegation to attend the official handover ceremony of Bulgaria’s first F-16 Block 70 fighter jet. The event, scheduled for the same day, was set to take place at Lockheed Martin’s facility in Greenville, South Carolina. This marks the beginning of Bulgaria’s acquisition of 16 F-16 Block 70 aircraft under contracts signed i
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02/01/2025
Türkiye’s efforts to modernize its air force are advancing, with plans to acquire Eurofighter Typhoon European multinational fighter jets equipped with the advanced Meteor air-to-air missile, designed and manufactured by MBDA, a multi-national European group. This move has raised tensions in the region. Turkish media reports that despite opposition from Greece, France has approved the delivery of the Meteor missiles, which are set to enhance Türkiye’s air defense capabilities significantly.
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