Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Trump plays down possible regime change in Venezuela; US deploys stealth fighter jets

09/06/2025

The United States is not talking about regime change in Venezuela, President Donald Trump said on Friday, as the United States ordered an additional 10 stealth fighter jets to a military buildup in the Caribbean. "We're not talking about that, but we are talking about the fact that you had an election which was a very strange election, to put it mildly," Trump said, referring to the contested 2024 election the Venezuelan government says President Nicolas Maduro won.

Venezuelan fighter jets flew over U.S. Navy ship in "show of force"

09/05/2025

Two armed Venezuelan F-16 fighter jets flew over the USS Jason Dunham on Thursday, according to multiple Defense Department officials who described the action as a "show of force." The Dunham, an Aegis guided-missile destroyer, is among a flotilla of U.S. warships dispatched to the region in recent weeks that the Pentagon says have been deployed to target criminal organizations and narco-terrorism.

Hellenic Air Force considers procuring additional M-346 aircraft

09/05/2025

The Hellenic Air Force is considering the acquisition of additional M-346 aircraft, including the armed variant, to support the advanced stage of training new second lieutenants. There are plans for the addition of at least four aircraft to the fleet, bringing the total number to 14, as the current existing fleet is barely sufficient to meet the needs of the Air Force.

Ukraine Now Flying Former Azerbaijani MiG-29 Fulcrum

09/05/2025

Evidence has emerged that Ukraine has topped up its hard-worked fleet of MiG-29 Fulcrum fighters from a somewhat surprising source: Azerbaijan. While the number of aircraft involved is not considerable, any addition to the MiG-29 fleet will be welcome for the Ukrainian Air Force, which has also received Fulcrums donated by Poland and Slovakia and which has suffered steady attrition since Russia’s full-scale invasion began.

What Is an Aircraft’s “Thrust-to-Weight Ratio,” and Why Does It Matter?

09/05/2025

An aircraft’s thrust-to-weight ratio is a statistic that is often thrown around, but one that is poorly understood, even among aviation buffs. The number is less easily understandable than an aircraft’s wingspan or its top speed. Yet the thrust-to-weight ratio is foundational to a fighter jet’s performance.

India Is Inching Closer to Adopting the Russian Su-57 Fighter Jet

09/05/2025

After years of attempts to entice India to adopt its Sukhoi Su-57 (NATO reporting name “Felon”) fifth-generation multirole stealth fighter, Russia is reportedly carrying out feasibility studies to determine whether the aircraft could be built under license in the subcontinent. Russian state-owned military-industrial conglomerate Rostec’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) had sought to close a deal with New Delhi for years. It had more recently floated a co-production agreement.

Russia Urges India to Buy Su-57 Stealth Fighters, Eyes Local Production

09/04/2025

Russia is eyeing the production of its Su-57 fighter jets in India and has launched a study on the required investments, inside sources shared with the Indian news agency ANI. Given India’s historical reliance on Russian defense materiel before diversifying, officials noted that Su-57 local production could be possible on the Hashik-based Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) facility, which is already licensed to manufacture Su-30MKI aircraft.

F-15EX Eagle II: The ‘New’ Fighter Jet That Can Carry A Staggering 22 Missiles

09/04/2025

The F-15EX Eagle II is a two-seat, twin-engine, multi-role fighter aircraft. It is a derivative of the Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle. The F-15EX incorporates modern advancements, including “fly-by-wire” flight controls, dual Digital Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems, a large touchscreen display, and additional enhancements, such as the AN/ALQ-250(V)1 Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System for electronic warfare.

Air Guard Pilots Test HH-60 Helicopters Against an F-15 Fighter Attack

09/04/2025

In a first, the Air National Guard recently tested how its new rescue helicopter would survive against attacks from enemy fighter aircraft to prepare for a potential war in the Pacific. Guard pilots engaged electronic countermeasures on a HH-60G Pave Hawk and on the newer HH-60W Jolly Green II rescue helicopter when an F-15D Eagle fighter launched simulated attacks over water.

All types of fifth-generation combat planes displayed at V-Day parade

09/04/2025

The People's Liberation Army has displayed all types of its fifth-generation combat planes on active duty for the first time via the grand parade on Wednesday, a move that observers say is intended to show its world-class air prowess.

Swedish defense minister talks post-war, ‘long-term endeavor’ to get Ukraine advanced Gripens

09/04/2025

Following interest from Kyiv, Sweden is open to selling advanced Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine once the war with Russia ends, Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson told Breaking Defense. “We have a dialogue also with Ukraine, and since they certainly expressed an interest for the Gripen system … predominantly Gripen Echo, the new version that Sweden, Brazil are operating as well,” then a future sale is a possibility, Jonson said.

Ukraine Unveils French Mirage 2000-5F Fighter Jet

09/03/2025

Celebrating Ukrainian Aviation Day, President Zelensky officially unveiled the first full-length image of a Dassault Mirage 2000-5F fighter jet. The aircraft retains its original French Air and Space Force camouflage, now with Ukrainian markings on its tail.

The Boeing F-15EX Eagle II Fighter Is ‘Back’

09/03/2025

The U.S. Air Force is signaling a renewed commitment to the F-15EX Eagle II, with the fiscal year 2026 budget requesting funds for an additional 21 aircraft. This move revives hopes that the service will acquire its original goal of 144 fighters. The program’s future had been in doubt, with planned procurement numbers slashed due to budget constraints and the need to fund next-generation programs like the F-47.

Air Force blames engine stall for F-16C crash off South Korea last year

09/03/2025

An Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcon that crashed off South Korea’s western coast last year went down after an engine stall caused by hardware failure, according to Pacific Air Forces’ investigation. The jet took off from Kunsan Air Base at 8 a.m. Jan. 31, 2024, for a routine training mission that included midair refueling from a KC-46 Pegasus over the Yellow Sea, said the Aug. 22 report.

Polish fighter buy on hold for planning doc, but F-35 order won’t be cut: General

09/03/2025

“F-35 is a very crucial platform for the Polish air power projection concept. I don't see any issues with that” contract going forward, said Maj. Gen. Cezary Wisniewski, deputy general commander of the Polish Armed Forces.

Czech Air Force to continue operating Gripen fighter jets until 2035 under extended lease deal

09/02/2025

The Czech Air Force will operate JAS-39 C/D Gripen aircraft until 2035 following the signing of a new lease agreement. The document was signed in Prague by Lubor Koudelka, Director General of the Armaments and Acquisitions Section of the Ministry of Defence, and in Sweden by Mikael Granholm, Director General of the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV).

Romania takes delivery of three more F-16 aircraft from Norway under bilateral defence agreement

09/02/2025

On 28 August, the Romanian Ministry of National Defence announced that three multirole Lockheed Martin F-16AM/BM Fighting Falcon aircraft delivered from Norway landed at the 86th Air Base Borcea, located near Fete?ti. The aircraft will be assigned to the 571st Fighter Squadron, which will operate from the 57th Air Base currently undergoing modernisation to support Western combat aircraft.

Germany OKs Procurement of New Eurofighter Typhoon Targeting Pods From Rafael

09/02/2025

Germany has approved the purchase of 90 Rafael Litening 5 targeting pods for its Eurofighter Typhoon fleet, aiming to boost its armed forces’ precision strike and reconnaissance capabilities. The Litening 5 is a fifth-generation air-to-ground and air-to-air platform incorporating a mid-wave and short-wave infrared sensor suite, high-resolution color imaging, and dual-wavelength laser designation.

Europe's new fighter jet at risk amidst Franco-German ownership disputes

09/02/2025

Uncertainty is hanging over the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), a joint project between France, Germany and Spain, that aims to develop a sixth-generation fighter aircraft supported by interconnected drones within a combat cloud. The idea, launched in 2017 and costing at least €100 billion, aims to strengthen European defence.

Japan to deploy F-15J fighter jets to the UK in first-ever Self-Defence Forces mission in Europe

09/01/2025

Japan’s Ministry of Defence announced on 28 August that, under arrangements with the United Kingdom, an undisclosed number of Boeing F-15J Eagle fighter aircraft from the Japan Self-Defence Forces will be periodically deployed to Britain. The initiative is intended to strengthen military cooperation between the two countries and will mark the first time Japanese Air Self-Defence Forces have operated in Europe.

Boeing Strike: What Happens To The New F-47 NGAD Fighter?

09/01/2025

The strike at Boeing’s military aircraft facilities, now a month old, is at a stalemate with no new talks scheduled. The union, representing thousands of workers, has made a direct appeal for President Trump to intervene as the deadlock threatens work on the new F-47 fighter.

U.S. firm to build fighter jet engines that deliver 40,000 lb thrust

08/31/2025

A Connecticut-based firm is set to build new units of world’s most powerful fighter jet engine. Pratt & Whitney has received a contract to build Lot 18 of F135 engines. These will power all three variants of the F-35 Lightning II 5th-generation fighter aircraft.

Dutch F-35 fighter jets land in Poland to secure NATO airspace over eastern flank for three months

08/31/2025

Dutch F-35 fighter jets landed in Poland today and will, from Sunday, safeguard NATO airspace over Eastern Europe for three months together with Norwegian aircraft. Earlier this week, support personnel including maintenance crews had already arrived, completing the detachment.

Why the US Air Force Prefers the T-38 Talon over the Navy’s T-45 Goshawk

08/30/2025

The US Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps each have their own air wing, and all three services have a litany of high-performance fighter aircraft in their arsenals. However, the methods by which each branch trains its future fighter pilots vary significantly. The three services do not even use the same kind of training aircraft; while the US Air Force trains its future fighter pilots in the Northrop T-38 Talon, the Navy and Marine Corps rely upon the McDonnell Douglas T-45 Goshawk.

The F-35 Fighter’s Real Power Isn’t Stealth

08/30/2025

The F-35 Lightning II’s most remarkable attribute is not its stealth but its revolutionary suite of integrated sensors. The jet functions as a powerful “informational node,” fusing data from its advanced AESA radar, Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS), and 360-degree Distributed Aperture System (DAS). This technology collates a vast amount of battlespace information into a single, unified picture for the pilot, lightening their workload and transforming them into a “battlespace manager.”