Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

India may buy South Korea’s KF-21 fighter jet

08/04/2025

According to Indian defense media reports published on August 1, the KF-21 is being evaluated amid growing interest from the Indian Air Force (IAF) in acquiring both 4.5- and 5th-generation fighters. The South Korean jet is viewed as a cost-competitive platform with future growth potential and compatibility with India’s domestic industrial policy.

The Big India F-35 Fighter Deal Looks Dead

08/03/2025

Earlier this year, U.S. President Donald Trump indicated a willingness to sell F-35 stealth fighters to India. But India’s government has now said there are no ongoing discussions about a potential purchase of Lightning IIs, according to a report by the Hindustan Times. “No formal discussions have been held as yet on this issue,” Indian Minister of State Kirti Vardhan Singh said in response to a question from the press this week.

Air Force creates a second ‘super squadron’ in South Korea

08/03/2025

The U.S. Air Force is relocating nearly three dozen F-16 fighter jets in South Korea in order to beef up its air power closer to the north. At the end of July, F-16s based out of Kunsan Air Base began moving to Osan Air Base, several dozen miles north, closer to the demilitarized zone with North Korea. 31 F-16s based out of Kunsan Air Base will shift to Osan Air Base, creating a new “super squadron” at the base.

Kizilelma unmanned combat aircraft enters serial production, delivery expected 2026

08/03/2025

Baykar Chairman Selcuk Bayraktar announced Friday that the company's Kizilelma unmanned combat aircraft also known as "Fighter UAV" has entered serial production, with the sixth prototype currently on the production line and delivery to the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) inventory planned for next year.

Thracian Star 25

08/02/2025

U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons assigned to the 510th Fighter Squadron and around 220 Airmen based out of the 31st Fighter Wing joined Bulgarian, Romanian and Hellenic air forces for Thracian Star 25, a multinational integration exercise aimed at enhancing interoperability and strengthening NATO’s airpower across Europe.

Cambodia’s Air Force Is No Match for Thailand’s

08/02/2025

The recent border skirmish between Thailand and Cambodia has raised interest in the respective armed forces of the belligerents. While Thailand holds a clear advantage in terms of air power, the Royal Cambodian Air Force (RCAF) is still worthy of study. The RCAF’s capabilities are fairly modest, with about 1,500 personnel and—notably—zero operational fighter jets. The service’s inventory consists of only 24 or 25 aircraft, all of which are fixed-wing transports and utility helicopters.

F-22 Raptor: Why Only The U.S. Air Force Flies The Best Fighter Ever

08/02/2025

The US Air Force’s F-22 Raptor program was the most expensive and most advanced fighter in the world – some say the best raw fighter ever. Although some say it was eclipsed only by the USAF’s fifth-generation system, the F-35.

Joint forces conclude Red Flag-Alaska 25-3

08/02/2025

Personnel from each U.S. military branch concluded the two-week, joint force training exercise, Red Flag-Alaska 25-3, at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, today. “The purpose of Red Flag-Alaska is for the joint force to practice combat skills we don't normally get to practice at a home station,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Christian Bergtholdt, RF-A 25-3 deployed forces commander.

With a fiery disaster in a California field, the F-35 stealth fighter suffers another major crash

08/01/2025

Naval Air Station Lemoore said in a statement on Wednesday that an F-35C "went down" not far from the central California base at 6:30 p.m. local time. "We can confirm the pilot successfully ejected and is safe. There are no additional affected personnel," it said. The Fresno County Sheriff's Office shared video footage showing a fiery wreck, with a thick plume of black smoke rising from a cotton field just north of the base.

Congress Moves To Save Gutted F/A-XX 6th Generation Naval Fighter Program

08/01/2025

The Senate Appropriations Committee has advanced a draft defense spending bill that would reverse the Pentagon’s plan to freeze the U.S. Navy’s F/A-XX next-generation carrier-based combat jet program. In addition, the legislation includes funding for the U.S. Air Force to continue with the acquisition of E-7 Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft, something the Department of Defense also wants to axe.

Why India Must Accept Trump’s Offer of F-35 Combat Aircraft

08/01/2025

In February, U.S President Donald Trump, in one of his trademark off-script surprises, offered to supply the Indian Air Force (IAF) with the United States’ most capable and secretive combat aircraft: the F-35 Lightning II “joint strike fighter” (JSF). This is the first time that Washington has signaled interest in supplying India with the F-35.

Seven Dead In Venezuelan Military Plane Crash

07/31/2025

A small military plane transporting members of an indigenous community to their Amazonian home territory crashed in the jungle Tuesday, killing seven people on board, Venezuela’s defence ministry said.

Ukraine arrests air force officer for spying on Western-supplied fighter jets

07/31/2025

Ukraine's domestic security agency has detained an air force officer on charges of having spied for Russia by leaking the location of prized F-16 and Mirage 2000 fighter jets, officials said on Wednesday. The unidentified officer, a flight instructor holding the rank of major, stands accused of helping Russia carry out air strikes by providing coordinates and suggesting strike tactics, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said in a statement.

France surges in fighter sales as GCAP, SCAF loom

07/31/2025

Selling combat aircraft against US competition has never been easy. Pentagon research budgets tend to push US fighters to the front of the technological pack, and Washington’s political clout slants the playing field even further.

Israel closely monitoring US F-47 fighter jet project amid regional F-35 interest

07/31/2025

Israel is closely observing growing interest from Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey, in acquiring the advanced F-35 stealth fighter from the United States. Security officials warn that any potential sale could affect the Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) qualitative military edge in the region.

Air force modernisation in Southeast Asia: Deterrence or danger?

07/31/2025

Southeast Asia is in the midst of a sweeping wave of air force modernisation, signalling a profound transformation in the region’s defence posture. From Indonesia and Malaysia to the Philippines and Thailand, governments are investing heavily in new combat aircraft.

Türkiye to integrate indigenous engine into KAAN fighter jet by 2032

07/30/2025

Türkiye's indigenous TF35000 turbofan engine will undergo initial testing in 2026 and begin integration with the KAAN fighter jet in 2032, according to information published in TAI Magazine's 141st edition. The timeline represents a crucial milestone for Türkiye's most strategic defense project, as the country develops its fifth-generation fighter aircraft to replace aging F-16s beginning in the 2030s.

New F-22 Raptor Upgrade to Keep Platform Viable

07/30/2025

Despite the newer F-35 Lightning II’s introduction, the F-22 remains dominant in terms of stealth and speed. The US Air Force’s dwindling fleet of F-22 Raptor fighters may be aging, but these fifth-generation jets will not be scrapped for retirement just yet. According to recent reports, the Raptor platform may become the first operational airborne controllers for the Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) drones.

The Western Tech Inside Russia’s Warplanes Bombing Civilians

07/30/2025

Despite more than a decade of sanctions, Western tech is still powering Russia’s deadliest weapons linked to deliberate strikes on Ukrainian civilians. A new investigation uncovered more than 1,100 foreign-made microchips inside Russia’s most advanced fighter jets: the Su-34 and Su-35.

Boeing downplays impending fighter jet worker strike

07/30/2025

Boeing leaders say they are not concerned about the impact of 3,200 union workers going on strike next week at three St. Louis-area facilities that produce fighter jets and munitions. The number of workers planning to strike is an “order of magnitude less” than the 30,000 machinists who went on strike last fall in the Pacific Northwest, CEO Kelly Ortberg said Tuesday during the company’s second quarter earnings call.

Diversifying from West, Egypt to join Turkey's Kaan fighter jet development

07/29/2025

Turkey has reportedly approved Egyptian participation in the programme for the development of the TAI Kaan fighter jet, opening the door for enhanced military industry cooperation with the Arab country. Egypt had been eyeing participation in the programme for some time, and Egyptian interest in this regard was purportedly expressed by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi during his visit to Ankara, his first to the Turkish capital as president, in September last year.

Air power is about a system, not merely fighter jets

07/29/2025

Today's airpower is defined by a foundational defense system that seamlessly integrates multilayered technologies such as land and space-based detection platforms, missiles, UAVs as well as cyber operations in a centralized command system; one that requires a vision far beyond headline-grabbing aircraft acquisitions for short-term political visibility.

It’s Over: The 50-Year-Old Russia-India Military Partnership Is Dying

07/29/2025

One of the biggest recent indicators that this change is consolidating came earlier this year, when India signed one of its biggest-ever defense import contracts – a $7.5 billion agreement to procure 26 Rafale M fighter jets. The Rafale M is a carrier-capable version of the land-based Rafale fighter – the Indian Air Force purchased 36 Rafale fighters more than a decade ago. India this year selected the Rafale M over other options including the Russian-made MiG-29K and the U.S. F/A-18E/F Super Ho

Boeing fighter jet workers poised to strike after rejecting contract offer

07/29/2025

Boeing Co expects more than 3,200 union workers at three St Louis-area plants that produce US fighter jets to strike after they rejected a proposed contract on Sunday that included a 20% wage increase over four years.

The JAS 39 Gripen Fighter Jet Engages in Combat in Thailand

07/29/2025

After nearly 30 years in service, the Swedish-made JAS 39 Gripen fighter saw its first combat use by Thailand, in a border clash with Cambodia, signaling its growing regional strategic value.