Military Aviation News Archive
06/28/2025
Two Danish F-16 fighter jets and a Challenger transport aircraft landed yesterday at the American Pituffik Space Base in Northwest Greenland. The deployment marks part of the Danish Armed Forces’ increased presence in the Arctic region.
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06/28/2025
The last A-10 in the Air Force will be retired in 2026, two years earlier than previously planned.
In priorities for its 2026 budget released this week, the Air Force asked Congress for permission and funding to move up the planned retirement of the beloved close support fighter to the 2026 fiscal year, which runs until October 1, 2026.
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06/28/2025
Iranian authorities recognize the Iranian Air Forces no longer can rely on antiquated aircraft, such as F-4D/E Phantoms, F-5E Tiger IIs, and F-14s that highlight its need for modernization, and appear ready to purchase cutting-edge Chinese combat aircraft, including the Chengdu J-10CE “Vigorous Dragon.”
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06/28/2025
After meeting with President Donald Trump at the NATO Summit in The Hague, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed optimism over discussions to enable Turkey to receive fifth-generation F-35 stealth fighter jets from the United States. “We discussed the F-35 issue. We made payments of $1.3 to $1.4 billion for the jets, and we saw that Mr. Trump was well-intentioned about delivering them,” Erdogan said.
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06/28/2025
Ukrainian drones struck four Su-34 fighter jets at the Marinovka airfield in Russia's Volgograd Oblast overnight on June 27, Ukraine's General Staff said. The operation was carried out by the Special Forces and the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) in cooperation with other military units, according to the General Staff. Volgograd Oblast is located some 900 kilometers (560 miles) southeast of Moscow.
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06/27/2025
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) confirmed on June 24, 2025, that Japanese-made Mitsubishi F-2 multirole fighters are under consideration for future acquisition programs. This statement was made by Air Force Chief Lt. Gen. Arthur Cordura during a media briefing held at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City. Cordura noted that the FA-50 light attack aircraft, specifically the Block 70 variant from Korea Aerospace Industries, are already part of an approved procurement plan.
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06/27/2025
Switzerland and the United States are quibbling over the final price of 36 new Lockheed Martin F-35A fighter jets bought to replace the ageing Swiss fleet, Bern said Wednesday. The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) wants Switzerland to assume additional costs, but Bern says it is sticking to the agreed price of just over six billion Swiss francs ($7.5 billion at current exchange rates).
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06/27/2025
On 25 June, the United States Department of Defense announced the signing of a contract with Vectrus Systems LLC to provide operational support for Iraq’s fleet of Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Fighting Falcon multirole combat aircraft. The agreement, with a maximum value of $118 million, was concluded under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme at the direct request and funding of the Iraqi government.
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06/27/2025
In February, Ukraine received its first Mirage 2000 fighters from France, part of an undisclosed number of the multi-role aircraft that had been pledged the previous year. Before the recent NATO summit in The Hague, French President Emmanuel Macron met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss the transfer of additional Mirage 2000-5F jets, as well as the co-production of interceptor drones and enhanced diplomatic coordination.
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06/27/2025
The Air Force is planning on buying only 24 F-35s in fiscal 2026—half the previously planned amount—and instead acquire 21 more F-15EXs, Pentagon officials revealed in their June 26 budget proposal to Congress—major shifts for the service’s tactical fleet.
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06/26/2025
Without a doubt, this could be the news of the day, and even the year, in the field of naval defense in Spain, if confirmed. The US Department of Defense sets a deadline for Spain to acquire the F-35B fighter. The Commander of the Aircraft Flotilla of the Spanish Navy speaks clearly about the F-35.
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06/26/2025
Argentine Defense Minister Luis Petri traveled to Denmark to monitor the preparation work on the first six second-hand Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter jets acquired by the country in 2024. Petri was at the Aalborg logistics base and even posed in the cockpit of one of the F-16s, which will be delivered to the Argentine Air Force (FAA) in December of this year.
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06/26/2025
The Indian Air Force (IAF), which is facing continued depletion of its fleet of combat fighters, is looking at the induction of indigenously developed aircraft and helicopters to maintain its combat effectiveness. This effort will be paired with domestic upgrades of imported platforms. At present, the air force’s most modern combat aircraft is its fleet of 36 Rafale fighter jets. These are backed by three squadrons each of upgraded Mirage 2000T/TIs and MiG-29UPGs.
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06/26/2025
Members from the 104th Fighter Wing, 103rd Airlift Wing, and 158th Fighter Wing recently participated in a series of integrated combat turn (ICT) exercises, June 11-12, 2025, at Westover Air Reserve Base, Chicopee, Mass. The Distributable-ICT exercises consisted of F-15C Eagle’s from the 104th Fighter Wing and F-35A Lightning II’s from the 158th Fighter Wing getting refueled by a C-130H Hercules from the 103rd Airlift Wing that also delivered a full missile loadout for each jet.
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06/26/2025
Based on recent reports, the United States is expected to finalize the delivery of the first 10 F-16 Block 70 fighter jets to the Taiwanese Air Force by the end of the year. These combat aircraft are part of a broader acquisition of 66 new units aimed at strengthening and modernizing the Taiwanese Armed Forces.
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06/25/2025
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with French President Emmanuel Macron to coordinate their next joint steps and discuss diplomatic efforts aimed at increasing pressure on Russia, Zelenskyy said. During the meeting, they discussed the possibility of expanding Ukraine's air fleet with additional Mirage fighter jets, as well as joint production and investment in interceptor drones.
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06/25/2025
On June 18, 2025, Boeing, based in St. Louis, Missouri, secured a $49.7 million ceiling contract to provide Foreign Military Sales sustainment for the Royal Saudi Air Force’s fleet of F-15 fighters. This new agreement underscores the strategic importance of maintaining Saudi airpower capabilities amid rising regional tensions. As threats multiply around the Strait of Hormuz and broader Gulf region, sustaining legacy and advanced F-15 variants becomes a geopolitical imperative.
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06/25/2025
The UK government is to purchase 12 new fighter jets which can be equipped with nuclear bombs, and join Nato's airborne nuclear mission. Downing Street says the move is "the biggest strengthening of the UK's nuclear posture in a generation". The new F-35 A jets can still carry conventional weapons, but have the option of being equipped with US-made nuclear bombs.
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06/25/2025
A Royal Navy F-35B remains stranded at an Indian airport after a hydraulic failure, raising concerns over security, repairs, and sensitive technology exposure during a major UK carrier deployment.
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06/25/2025
Europe is going through a pivotal moment. On one side, Europe is increasing its military spending to boost its defense preparedness. Simultaneously, Europe is also attempting to reduce its reliance on the US for critical defense systems, including fighter jets.
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06/24/2025
Boeing and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) have successfully flown two MQ-28 Ghost Bat uncrewed aircraft controlled by a single operator onboard an E-7A Wedgetail, simulating a live engagement with an airborne target. The mission, conducted at Woomera, South Australia, marks the first time two MQ-28 aircraft, plus a third digital twin, were operated from an airborne platform, validating a key concept for collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) systems.
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06/24/2025
Eurofighter is shifting to a mid-life upgrade strategy and plans to double Typhoon production to meet global demand amid delays in sixth-gen fighter programs. As Europe’s sixth-generation fighter programs struggle with the risk of delays and industrial friction, the Eurofighter Typhoon, long considered a mature platform, is poised for a dramatic resurgence.
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06/24/2025
A new chapter in global defence collaboration began today with the official launch of Edgewing, a joint venture bringing together international aerospace leaders BAE Systems (UK), Leonardo (Italy) and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Co. Ltd. (Japan). Edgewing will be accountable for the design and development of the next generation combat aircraft and will remain the design authority for the life of the product, which is expected to go out beyond 2070.
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06/21/2025
Israeli military operations inside Iran continue to evolve as fighter jets, unmanned systems carry out strikes, reconnaissance, and limited special operations deep in Iranian territory. Despite earlier claims by Israeli officials of full control over Iran’s airspace, the situation remains more fluid, particularly in the country’s eastern regions.
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06/21/2025
As fighting between Israel and Iran carries on for a second week, the United States continues to build up its already large presence in the Middle East. For the last 20 months, U.S. forces have sent ground, air, and naval assets into the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, both as deterrents against Iran and as part of more than a year of fighting against the Houthis in Yemen.
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