Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

As drones disrupted Danish airports, they also turned up at an F-35 stealth fighter base

09/26/2025

Amid what it described as a "hybrid attack," NATO ally Denmark said drones were spotted near an airbase housing F-16 and F-35 fighter jets. Drones also disrupted airports across the country. Danish officials reported drone sightings near multiple airports Wednesday night and early Thursday morning, with the military saying it saw drones at "several military installations."

Alaskan NORAD Region conducts Agile Combat Employment from King Salmon

09/26/2025

Alaskan NORAD Region and Alaskan Command, under NORAD and U.S. Northern Command, conducted Agile Combat Employment operations at King Salmon Airport, Alaska, from Sept. 8-12, 2025. Four F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft assigned to the 18th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, conducted Homeland Defense operations from remote airfield King Salmon, demonstrating the capability to conduct Homeland Defense missions from dispersed locations in the Alaskan.

Helsing unveils CA-1 Europa, a European autonomous combat jet

09/26/2025

Helsing has unveiled the CA-1 Europa, an autonomous uncrewed combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) that the company says could be operational within the next four years. The full-scale design study was presented at Grob Aircraft, the German light-aircraft manufacturer that Helsing acquired in June 2025. Development and testing of the platform will take place at Grob’s facilities with support from European partners across the aerospace ecosystem.

Pratt & Whitney advances turbofan technology for future Combat Aircraft

09/26/2025

Pratt & Whitney (P&W) has successfully completed a critical round of testing on its small turbofan engine family, paving the way for integration into next-generation Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). The tests confirmed that thrust levels on these engines can be significantly increased, strengthening their suitability for advanced military applications.

NORAD detects and tracks Russian aircraft operating in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone

09/26/2025

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) detected and tracked two Tu-95s and two Su-35s operating in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) on Sept. 24, 2025. NORAD responded with an E-3, four F-16s, and four KC-135 tankers to positively identify and intercept in the Alaskan ADIZ.

The Nato dilemma: when is it right to shoot down a Russian drone?

09/25/2025

Late on a Friday night, a handful of Russian fast jets veer into the airspace of one of Nato’s frontline states with their transponders switched off. Instead of flying parallel to the border and then slipping away as they usually would, this time they make an abrupt turn inland, seemingly heading towards a military facility.

Russia Delivers MiG-29 Jets to Iran Air Force

09/25/2025

Russian MiG-29 fighter jets have touched down in Iran, giving the country’s aging air force a short-term boost amid escalating Middle East tensions, an Iranian lawmaker said Tuesday. Abolfazl Zohrevand, a member of parliament’s National Security Committee, called the MiG-29s a “short-term solution” while Tehran awaits the more advanced Sukhoi Su-35 jets, signaling a broader push to strengthen its military capabilities.

Study Ongoing of Number of USAF Combat Coded Fighters Needed

09/25/2025

Air Force may get a reading on how many combat coded fighters it will need in years ahead as the result of a study that just began. “I know we don’t have enough right now,” Maj. Gen. William Betts, the director of plans, programs and requirements at Air Combat Command (ACC) at Langley AFB, Va., said in an interview on Wednesday.

The sun sets on India's iconic and controversial Soviet fighter jet

09/25/2025

The first time he throttled the MiG-21 to full power, soaring 20km above the Earth at twice the speed of sound, the young fighter pilot felt utterly weightless, as if the sky itself had let him go. "At Mach 2 you can feel the lightness in the stomach. The MiG-21's turns at that speed are vast - banking sharply can carry you over many kilometres before completing a full arc," recalls Air Marshal (retired) Prithvi Singh Brar. He joined the Air Force in 1960, switched to the Soviet jet in 1966, an

Due to the incursion of Russian MiG-31s, Estonia is considering allowing the future deployment of British F-35A fighters with nuclear capability on its territory

09/24/2025

Through recent statements by Estonia’s Defense Minister, Hanno Pevkur, the Baltic country expressed its readiness to host on its territory the future stealth F-35A fighters of the Royal Air Force (RAF), which the United Kingdom is set to acquire with nuclear strike capability provided by the United States. The declaration follows the September 19 incursion of three Russian Aerospace Forces MiG-31 interceptors, which violated the country’s airspace for twelve minutes.

US military to get world’s largest cargo plane to haul fighters, Apaches, boosters

09/24/2025

On September 19, US aerospace company Radia announced a massive new cargo aircraft designed to move outsized military equipment without disassembly, aiming to plug what it calls a growing strategic airlift gap for the Pentagon and allied defense ministries. The aircraft, branded WindRunner for Defense, was announced at the Air Force Association’s Air, Space & Cyber Conference outside Washington.

The Air Force Could Soon Have 32 Additional F-22 Combat Ready ‘Raptor’ Stealth Fighters

09/24/2025

Lockheed Martin is pushing to expand F-22 modernization to include 35 older Block 20 trainers—saving them from scrapping—and to pursue a broader “fifth-gen-plus” path for the F-35. Skunk Works’ OJ Sanchez says discussions are underway to fold Block 20s into upgrades already hitting Block 30/35 jets (open mission systems, new IR defenses, radar/EW enhancements).

Live-fire training advances air dominance in WSEP 25.09

09/24/2025

The 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group hosted Weapons System Evaluation Program Combat Archer 25.09 here Sept. 8-19, 2025. WSEP is a recurring exercise that provides units with a chance to evaluate combat readiness by conducting live-fire exercises with real air-to-air weapons, supported by full-scale and subscale drones, allowing aircraft, weapons and crews to perform in realistic scenarios.

China’s Aircraft Carrier Capability Just Made A Stunning Leap Forward

09/23/2025

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has demonstrated its ability to launch and recover aircraft from its first catapult-equipped aircraft carrier, the Fujian. Official imagery released by the PLAN today confirms that the new J-35 naval stealth fighters and KJ-600 airborne early warning and control aircraft are carrying out carrier trials, something that had not been seen until now.

First F-47 now being built, will fly in 2028: US Air Force chief

09/23/2025

The Air Force’s first F-47 fighter is now being built by Boeing, and the advanced jet is expected to have its initial flight in 2028, Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin said Monday. Allvin, speaking at the Air and Space Forces’ Air, Space and Cyber Conference, said that Boeing’s team worked quickly to start manufacturing the sixth-generation fighter after their selection was announced in March.

Why NATO held fire on Russian jets – and why Estonia may need its own

09/22/2025

Estonian MP and security expert Eerik-Niiles Kross says NATO’s rules of engagement explain why Russian fighters weren’t shot down – but argues Estonia still needs its own jets. Russia’s violation of Estonia’s state border on 19 September was clearly unfriendly and deeply unsettling. I understand those who ask why the aircraft were not shot down. As a nation we cannot, and will not, tolerate aircraft from an aggressor state entering our airspace.

Germany scrambles jets after Russia military aircraft flies over Baltic Sea

09/22/2025

Germany’s air force says it has scrambled two Eurofighter jets to track a Russian reconnaissance aircraft after it had entered neutral airspace over the Baltic Sea. In a statement, the air force said its “quick reaction alert force” was ordered on Sunday by NATO to investigate an unidentified aircraft flying without a plan or radio contact.

Meet ‘Vectis’: Lockheed Skunk Works Unveils CCA-Like Fighter Escort Platform

09/22/2025

Lockheed Martin unveiled a new autonomous drone called “Vectis,” which the company’s Skunk Works advanced products division thinks is the right-sized platform to partner with both Air Force and Navy crewed combat aircraft.

The Only Real Choice: Canada Needs The F-35 Stealth Fighter

09/21/2025

Canada is reassessing whether to complete its 88-jet F-35 purchase or pivot to Saab’s JAS 39 Gripen amid political frictions and cost debates. Security advocates argue the F-35’s stealth, sensors, and MADL networking are essential to police Canada’s vast Arctic and western approaches while interoperating with NORAD and allied F-35 fleets. Sixteen jets already purchased are insufficient to maintain a continuous 5th-gen air envelope.

Russian jets over Estonia ‘ignored signals from NATO pilots’

09/21/2025

Russian military aircraft violated Estonian airspace on Friday, ignoring signals from Italian jets on NATO's Baltic Air Policing Mission, a senior Estonian military official confirmed. The 12-minute incursion represents the latest test of the alliance's response to Russian airborne threats, following around 20 Russian drones entering Polish airspace on 10 September.

The U.S. Military Has ‘Mini Aircraft Carriers’ With F-35s: Meet The America-Class Assault Ship

09/21/2025

America-class LHAs are the Navy’s largest amphibs and “lightning carriers” for USMC F-35B STOVL jets. USS America (LHA-6) and USS Tripoli (LHA-7)—omit a well deck to add fuel, maintenance space, and a 20–25 aircraft air group, boosting F-35B reach and sortie rates.45,700 tons, 844 ft, two gas turbines, >20 knots, and ESSM/RAM/CIWS self-defense. America is returning to San Diego; Tripoli is forward-deployed to Sasebo.

France Throws Lifeline To India’s Fighter Jet Dreams As America Keeps Delhi Waiting – Analysis

09/21/2025

India’s ambitious fighter jet program stands at a crossroads. While American promises of engine technology transfer remain stuck in bureaucratic delays, French aerospace giant Safran has stepped forward with a game-changing proposal that could reshape India’s military aviation future.

Poland scrambles jets as Russia launches massive aerial assault on Ukraine

09/21/2025

Polish and allied military aircraft were scrambled early Saturday after Russia launched a massive aerial assault on Ukraine including strikes that targeted near its western border with Poland. It came hours after NATO intercepted three Russian jets over Estonia’s airspace and with Europe on heightened alert following a series of Russian airspace violations in eastern countries.

Airpower for the Post-Dominance World: Restoring US Air Superiority Through a New Combined Arms Approach

09/20/2025

The Air Force cannot return to dominance by scaling up today’s force or chasing a single breakthrough. Adversaries now field sensors, precision weapons, and resilient command and control that are comparable to what the United States has. Meanwhile, each new crewed aircraft generation costs more to acquire and sustain, and personnel costs outpace inflation.

Russian fighter jets violate safety zone of Baltic drilling platform – Polish Border Guard

09/20/2025

The Polish Border Guard reported that two Russian fighter jets violated the safety zone of the Petrobaltic drilling platform in the Baltic Sea on Friday, September 19, flying directly over it. TVP World reported this, according to Ukrinform. “Two Russian fighter jets performed a low pass over the Petrobaltic platform in the Baltic Sea. The platform's safety zone was violated,” the Border Guard stated.