Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Vietnam Receives Final Czech-Made L-39 Skyfox Military Aircraft

03/12/2025

Czech manufacturers Aero Vodochody and Omnipol have completed delivery of the final batch of trainer and light combat aircraft to Vietnam. Hanoi ordered a fleet of 12 L-39 Skyfox aircraft from the Czech firm in 2021 and received the first half in 2023, the year Prague also expressed interest in supplying the Southeast Asian country with dual-use radars, cargo aircraft, and more Skyfoxes.

US Marine Corps Deploys First F-35B Fighter Squadron to Japan to Boost Airpower in Indo-Pacific

03/09/2025

According to information released by the U.S. Department of Defense on March 8, 2025, the U.S. Marine Corps has deployed its first F-35B squadron from the continental United States to Japan to enhance airpower capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region. Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 214, known as the Black Sheep, arrived at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, Japan, under the Marine Corps’ Unit Deployment Program (UDP).

Meet the defense giants that will rearm Europe as the EU eyes a massive military buildup

03/09/2025

The European Union announced plans to increase its defense spending by €800 billion ($867 billion), European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said this week, unveiling the ReArm Europe plan. The plan includes €150 billion in loans to help member states buy air defenses, artillery, missiles, “ammunition drones,” and anti-drone systems as well as address other needs like cybersecurity and mobility.

U.S. Becomes 1st Country To Classify Armed Drones As Fighters! Can They Replace Or Augment Combat Jets?

03/09/2025

US Air Force has officially classified its first two Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) as fighters. The two prototype aircraft, the YFQ-42A developed by General Atomics and the YFQ-44A from Anduril Industries, are the first uncrewed aircraft to receive a fighter designation. Under Air Force naming conventions, the “Y” indicates a prototype, “F” stands for fighter, and “Q” signifies an unmanned system. Once these aircraft transition into production, the “Y” will be dropped from their names.

British Navy tests F-35B fighter jet equipped with Meteor missile for first time

03/08/2025

The British Royal Navy has carried out flight tests of the F-35B Lightning fighter jet armed with the nation’s latest air-to-air missile, the Meteor, for the very first time. Pilot Lieutenant Commander Nick Baker and engineer Lieutenant Commander Lewis Roach, both stationed with the F-35 Integrated Test Force at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in the US, have been central to the recent trials involving the Meteor missile.

Florida Air National Guard now in fifth-generation fighter era

03/08/2025

The Florida Air National Guard’s 125th Fighter Wing started its week by becoming the fourth Air National Guard unit to be equipped with fifth-generation fighter aircraft, according to a unit press release. With the March 4 arrival of F-35A Lightning II craft in Jacksonville, Fla., the wing will have more power to serve its mission of guarding the southeastern coast, the release said, noting that the coastline is not only crucial for homeland defense but for projecting force globally.

Mitchell Trophy Air Race revived at Selfridge

03/08/2025

Members of the 127th Wing, Michigan Air National Guard, hosted the 1st Fighter Wing at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mar. 6, 2025, reviving an aerial competition made popular when World War I flying aces were front-page news. In a collaboration 89 years in the making, the 1st Fighter Wing, whose lineage dates back to the 1st Pursuit Group, brought part of the Mitchell Trophy Air Race back to Selfridge, a heritage home of both the unit and the race.

North Korea to have first early warning aircraft, satellite image shows

03/07/2025

North Korea “appears close to completing its first airborne early warning aircraft,” a significant upgrade for its air force, said U.S.-based research website 38 North, citing commercial satellite imagery. Airborne early warning, or AEW, aircraft use radars to detect incoming missiles, as well as other aircraft and warships at long ranges. They are also used for aerial reconnaissance over the ground and the sea.

Sweden to deploy Gripen fighter jets for NATO air defence operations in Poland

03/07/2025

The Swedish Government has submitted a bill to the Riksdag proposing Sweden’s involvement in NATO’s air defence operations in Poland. The objective is to safeguard military and civil support to Ukraine by strengthening airspace security.

Fifteen hurt after SK fighter jets drop bombs by accident

03/07/2025

Fifteen people in South Korea were injured, two of them seriously, after a pair of fighter jets accidentally dropped eight bombs in a civilian district on Thursday during a live-fire military exercise, local media reported. The incident involving the Air Force KF-16 aircraft, in the city of Pocheon near North Korea, was part of routine drills held by the South to maintain combat readiness against potential attacks from the North.

NGAD Vs China’s 6th-Gen Fighter: U.S. Official Says NGAD ‘Best Bet’ Against PLAAF’s Sixth-Gen J-36 Aircraft

03/05/2025

As the United States enters the era of next-generation aerial combat, a top US Air Force (USAF) official said at a symposium that China’s sixth-generation aircraft is likely intended as an air superiority aircraft. The participating officials also affirmed that the Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program was irreplaceable.

Russian fighter jet provokes French Reaper drone over Mediterranean, French Defense Minister says

03/05/2025

A Russian Su-35 fighter jet engaged in a dangerous provocation against a French Reaper drone over the Mediterranean Sea on March 2, French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu reported on March 4. "The Russian Su-35 fighter jet behaved dangerously toward the French Reaper drone... Three consecutive approaches could have led to the loss of control of the drone," Lecornu posted on X.

US eyes Euro-Japanese next-gen fighter program

03/05/2025

A Trump administration envoy’s push for US involvement in a Euro-Japanese fighter jet program has sparked new intrigue, skepticism and strategic questions about transatlantic defense ties. This month, Defense News reported that Paolo Zampolli, a close associate of US President Donald Trump and US special envoy to Italy, proposed US participation in the Euro-Japanese Global Combat Air Program.

US Navy fighter competition ejects Lockheed, sources say

03/05/2025

The U.S. Navy will eliminate defense giant Lockheed Martin Corp, opens new tab from the competition to build its next-generation carrier-based stealth fighter - a key part of plans to confront China on its home turf, people familiar with the decision said.

First Mirage 2000-5F fighter jet possibly spotted in Ukrainian airspace following French transfer

03/04/2025

On March 3, 2025, the Telegram account Sunflower shared a video reportedly showing a French Mirage 2000-5F in flight over Ukraine, possibly marking the first verified sighting of this aircraft in Ukrainian airspace. The transfer of these fighter jets follows France’s decision to provide Ukraine with additional air combat capabilities, modifying the aircraft to meet operational requirements and training Ukrainian personnel for their use. Initially designed as an air superiority fighter.

A Philippine fighter jet and 2 pilots are missing on a mission against insurgents

03/04/2025

A Philippine fighter jet with two pilots on board has lost contact during a night combat assault in support of ground forces battling communist insurgents in a southern province, and an extensive search is underway, officials said Tuesday. The FA-50 jet lost communication during the mission with other air force aircraft around midnight Monday before reaching a target area. The other aircraft were able to return safely to an air base in central Cebu province after carrying out assaults.

Air Force designates CCA drones as first unmanned fighter aircraft

03/04/2025

“Maybe [it’s] just symbolic, but it’s telling the world that we are leaning into a new chapter of aerial warfare," Gen. David Allvin said. The Air Force has officially given aircraft designations for its first two Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) prototypes ahead of the platforms’ first flights scheduled for this summer, according to the service’s top official.

Ireland plans €2.5bn fighter jet purchase, first acquisition in 50 years

03/02/2025

Ireland’s planned purchase of combat jets and the development of a long-overdue national radar system mark a historic turning point in the country’s approach to air defence, ending decades of reliance on the United Kingdom to protect Irish skies.

Turkey’s Kizilelma Unmanned Fighter Tests More Powerful Engine

03/01/2025

The Turkish unmanned fighter aircraft Bayraktar Kizilelma has completed its first flight tests with a new afterburning engine, Baykar announced in a press release. The third production prototype, the Kizilelma PT3, made a test flight at medium altitude for 53 minutes. It is reported that the aerodynamic system was successfully tested during the flight.

Iran Has Long Lagged Behind Neighbors In Joint Fighter Jet Production

03/01/2025

The sighting of a Russian Su-57 Felon stealth fighter in Iran in late February 2025 was noteworthy for several reasons. One reason was that it served as an indirect reminder that Iran lags far behind many countries around it regarding the joint production of modern combat aircraft.

Navy Secretary Nominee Touts Service’s NGAD, with Improved Range and Capacity

03/01/2025

The Navy’s secretive sixth-generation fighter—which will likely share attributes with the Air Force’s own Next-Generation Air Dominance fighter—will have substantially greater range and payload than its predecessors, President Donald Trump’s nominee to be Secretary of the Navy said—indicating enthusiasm for the program amid uncertainty about both services’ path forward for advanced fighters.

Starmer: Britain Is Ready to Send Peacekeepers And Fighter Jets To Ukraine

02/28/2025

The United Kingdom is ready to send troops and combat aircraft to Ukraine for a peacekeeping mission. This was stated by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer after a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House.

China denies selling Egypt J-10 fighter jets

02/28/2025

China today denied that the Egyptian Air Force received its first batch of J-10 fighter jets from China, state media reported. “It is inconsistent with the facts. Total fake news,” said Chinese Defence Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian. Wu’s remarks came following various media reports that Egypt had received the jets from China. Daily News Egypt had reported on 13 February that Cairo received J-10 fighter jets from China.

The 56th Fighter Wing Is Ending F-16 Training—And Starting On The F-35

02/28/2025

The United States Air Force has begun to retire the oldest and least capable F-16 Fighting Falcons in its fleet, even as the newest models—the Block 40 and Block 50 versions of the Cold War aircraft—will remain in service until the early 2040s. Training options for the F-16 are already being scaled back, and the Air Education and Training Command announced that the final F-16 training unit at Luke Air Force Base (AFB), Arizona, had recently completed its final training sortie on Wednesday, Febru

Chinese military patrols Scarborough Shoal amid rising tension

02/28/2025

The Chinese military held a combat readiness exercise around a flashpoint with the Philippines in the South China Sea, its Southern Theater Command said, the latest exercise Beijing has undertaken in the region. The command on Thursday “organized naval and air forces to carry out combat readiness patrols in the territorial waters and airspace of China’s Huangyan Island and surrounding areas,” it said in a statement, referring to the disputed Scarborough Shoal by its Chinese name.