Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

South Korea develops new single-seat variant of its FA-50 light attack aircraft to match US F-16 roles at lower acquisition cost

05/10/2025

As reported by kf21_military on May 5, 2025, the development of a single-seat variant of the South Korean FA-50 light attack aircraft advanced with the issuance of a formal tender by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), which involves the construction of a cockpit for a controllability evaluation simulator specifically for the single-seat version of the FA-50. This step marks the beginning of technical work under the F-50 program, which was reactivated in 2024 after being previously suspended.

China has spent billions developing military tech. Conflict between India and Pakistan could be its first major test

05/10/2025

The escalating conflict between India and Pakistan could be offering the world a first real glimpse into how advanced Chinese military technology performs against proven Western hardware – and Chinese defense stocks are already surging. Shares of China’s AVIC Chengdu Aircraft rose 40% this week, as Pakistan claimed it used AVIC-produced J-10C fighter jets to shoot down Indian combat aircraft – including the advanced French-made Rafale – during an aerial battle on Wednesday.

BBC verifies India jet crash as Pakistan dominates dogfight, shocking global military watchers

05/09/2025

Dramatic footage is emerging from Indian Punjab's Bathinda region showing what appears to be the smouldering wreckage of an Indian Air Force jet, as Islamabad claims its pilots downed five Indian sophisticated fighter aircraft in an alarming escalation along the India-Pakistan frontier on Wednesday morning. India has so far remained tight-lipped, offering no confirmation or denial.

New F-35 test force stands up

05/09/2025

A first-of-its-kind F-35 Lightning II Combined Test Force stood up May 1, 2025 to become part of Eglin’s developmental and operational fighter test complex. This major milestone by the Air National Guard Air Force Reserve Command Test Center establishes the Air Reserve Component as a key player in fifth-generation fighter aircraft testing.

India and Pakistan are fighting with a mixed bag of foreign-made fighter jets. The aircraft kills are being counted

05/09/2025

Nuclear powers India and Pakistan are clashing again, and there are claims of aircraft kills from air battles that sound like a hodgepodge of foreign-made fighters. Pakistani officials said Thursday that the country had shot down five Indian fighter jets and a number of drones since India launched cross-border strikes earlier this week, kicking off a new round of fighting between the nuclear-armed neighbors.

Global militaries to study India-Pakistan fighter jet battle

05/09/2025

A dogfight between Chinese-made Pakistani jets and French-made Indian Rafale fighters will be closely scrutinized by militaries seeking insights that could offer an edge in future conflicts. A Chinese-made Pakistani fighter plane shot down at least two Indian military aircraft on Wednesday, two U.S. officials said, marking a potential milestone for Beijing's advanced fighter jet.

Chinese-made Pakistani fighter jet shot down at least one French Rafale

05/09/2025

Chinese-made fighter jets operated by Pakistan were responsible for shooting down at least two Indian warplanes, a battlefield achievement that marks a breakthrough for Beijing’s technology. Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar told parliament on Wednesday evening that Chinese J-10Cs were used to shoot down Indian jets, in what has been described as one of the longest dogfights in history.

India-Pakistan: 125 Jets Clash in One of Largest Dogfights in Recent History

05/08/2025

Some 125 Indian and Pakistani fighter jets battled for over an hour in one of the biggest dogfights in recent history, according to a Pakistani security source quoted by CNN. If the numbers of aircraft were confirmed, it would make it one of the largest air battles since World War Two.

Pakistan may have shot down own fighter jet

05/08/2025

An ejection seat believed to be from a Pakistani Air Force Mirage V fighter jet was discovered in Lahore, sparking speculation that Pakistan may have lost one of its aircraft amid a night strike from India. Footage showing the seat was first shared on TikTok earlier today. While the video’s authenticity and the exact time of recording remain unverified, the imagery clearly shows a military ejection system consistent with that used in Pakistan’s Mirage V fighter jet.

Pakistan’s Rafale takedown: A crippling blow to India’s air power, strategic superiority

05/08/2025

The downing of three Indian Rafale fighter jets by Pakistan has dealt a severe blow to New Delhi’s security apparatus, with strategic, psychological and diplomatic repercussions. According to government sources, the successful engagement marks a major milestone for Pakistan’s air force and exposes serious vulnerabilities in India’s air defence readiness and rules of engagement.

Pakistan says it downed 5 Indian jets as retaliation for late-night strikes at 5 sites

05/08/2025

The Pakistan military has brought down five Indian jets in retaliation for late-night strikes by its neighbouring country, launched after midnight at the sites of Kotli, Bahawalpur, Muridke, Bagh and Muzaffarabad, reports DAWN, citing state media. The same was confirmed by Pakistan's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, who said that the response is ongoing, but did not share operational details, the report states, citing Sky News.

Türkiye’s KAAN Stealth Fighter to Receive New Design and Enter Expanded Testing Phase

05/08/2025

On May 7, 2025, during Teknofest 2025, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) announced a new phase for its indigenous stealth fighter program, KAAN. CEO of TAI, Mehmet Demiroglu, revealed that the second prototype is currently under construction and will feature notable changes to its airframe, including reshaped air intakes and structural enhancements. The prototype is expected to be completed before the end of the year.

Finnish Air Force F/A-18 Hornet crashes near Rovaniemi, pilot ejects safely

05/08/2025

A Finnish Air Force F/A-18C Hornet fighter jet crashed near Rovaniemi Airport (RVN) in northern Finland on the morning of May 7, 2025, at 10:50 local time, the military confirmed. The aircraft fell within a designated military area, prompting an emergency response.

The F-22 Raptor Is Already the Best Fighter Jet in the World. Now It’s Getting Even Better

05/08/2025

The Air Force plans on flying the F-22 Raptor well into the 2040s. But to remain competitive against near-peer fighter jets, it needs upgrades now and in the future. The U.S. Air Force operates a plethora of superb fighter jets. With a fleet of several different types of fighter jets, the Air Force knows that it can take on any threat out there. But if there is any particular fighter jet that stands out from the rest, it is certainly the F-22 Raptor.

China’s PL-15 Air-To-Air Missile Appears To Have Been Used In Combat For The First Time

05/08/2025

The air war currently unfolding between India and Pakistan is exceedingly murky, but one aspect that seems almost certain is the use of the Chinese-made PL-15 active-radar-guided air-to-air missile (AAM) by Pakistan. So far, Pakistan claims to have shot down five Indian aircraft, and there are multiple accounts, including from Indian officials, pointing to the crash of at least two aircraft, without specifying the reasons.

Second US Navy jet is lost at sea from Truman aircraft carrier

05/08/2025

Another F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet from the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier has been lost in the Red Sea, the second jet lost from the carrier in just over a week, five people familiar with the matter told CNN. It is not entirely clear what happened yet, as the investigation is ongoing, but two of the people said there was some kind of arrestment failure as the jet was trying to land on the carrier and the pilot and weapons systems officer had to eject. They were recovered by a rescue

India launches air strikes on Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir

05/07/2025

The Indian government says it has launched an attack on nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Three locations have been attacked, Pakistan's military says. It says seven people including two children have been killed. Residents in Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-administered Kashmir told the BBC how they were jolted awake by huge explosions.

Progress continues on Britain’s sixth generation combat jet

05/07/2025

The Ministry of Defence has confirmed continued progress on the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), with over £2 billion invested to date and formal programme structures now in place to deliver the next-generation fighter aircraft under the trilateral Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) with Japan and Italy.

India’s Rafale and Su-30 star in daring drills near Pakistan

05/07/2025

On May 7, 2025, the Indian Air Force launched a significant military exercise over the desert skies of Rajasthan, just miles from the Pakistan border, deploying its frontline Rafale and Su-30MKI fighter jets in a bold display of aerial prowess.

Japan receives first F-35 fighters at Komatsu Air Base, marking key defence milestone

05/07/2025

Komatsu Air Base on Japan’s western coast has become the latest hub for the country’s advanced air power with the arrival of its first F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft. This delivery, which took place on 26 April 2025, represents a historic moment for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF).

From the Mojave to Ukraine: F-16 Parts Are on the Move to Europe

05/06/2025

The U.S. is sending non-flyable, stripped-down F-16s from Arizona storage to Ukraine for spare parts, supporting NATO-donated jets and aiding Kyiv’s air capabilities amid ongoing Russian missile attacks.

Türkiye’s KIZILELMA Unmanned Fighter Jet Set to Join Turkish Navy Carrier Fleet by 2026

05/06/2025

On May 5, 2025, TürkiyeToday published a pivotal interview with Haluk Görgün, President of the Presidency of Turkish Defense Industries (SSB), revealing crucial developments about Türkiye’s most ambitious unmanned aerial combat system—the Bayraktar KIZILELMA. Developed by leading Turkish drone manufacturer Baykar, the KIZILELMA is expected to be officially inducted into the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) by 2026, marking a transformative moment in Türkiye’s defense capabilities.

Vendor vows to hasten Turkey’s fifth-generation ‘Kaan’ fighter plane

05/06/2025

Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAS) is working to expand flight testing and accelerate prototype production of the Kaan aircraft. The company says it now aims to deliver the first aircraft to the Turkish Air Force by the end of 2028. Speaking on the sidelines of the Teknofest aerospace and technology festival in an interview with Turkey’s public broadcaster TRT, TUSAS CEO Mustafa Demiroglu provided an update on the project’s progress.

The Missile Used By Ukrainian Magura Drone For Historic Su-30 Downing Was the AIM-9 Sidewinder

05/05/2025

Friday, May 2, the Ukrainian Defense Forces shot down two russian Su-30 fighter jets in one mission. First, footage showing one of the fighters falling into the sea after a missile hit was published by the Defense Intelligence, later Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi reported that another russian aircraft was destroyed, too, although without specifying what type it was.

Indian Air Force Fighters Operate from Highway Amid Mounting Tensions with Pakistan

05/05/2025

On May 2, 2025, the Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted touch-and-go operations on a 3.5-kilometer stretch of the Ganga Expressway in Uttar Pradesh’s Shahjahanpur district. The exercise featured various frontline aircraft, including Rafale, Sukhoi Su-30MKI, Jaguar, and Mirage 2000 jets, demonstrating the IAF’s operational readiness. ?