Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Thailand confirms acquisition of Saab Gripen E/F jets by 2029 to boost air defence and replace older fleet

08/06/2025

On August 5, the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) officially confirmed the future procurement of Saab JAS 39 Gripen E and F multirole fighter jets to enhance its air combat capabilities. The Thai government has approved an initial order of four aircraft, with deliveries beginning by 2029 as part of a broader programme targeting a total of twelve jets by 2035.

Russia’s Su-57 Fighter Jet Just Got a Hypersonic Upgrade

08/06/2025

Russia’s fifth-generation Sukhoi Su-57 (NATO reporting name “Felon”) could soon carry hypersonic weapons, according to a high-ranking official with the Russian Aerospace Forces. The Zircon (Tsirkon) has been named as one of the potential weapons employed on the multirole stealth fighter.

Why Spanish Fighter Jets Are Patrolling Iceland’s Skies

08/06/2025

Spain’s commitment to NATO was called into question this spring after the western European nation sought to be excluded from the international military alliance’s defense spending goals. Madrid has confirmed it would commit to the 32-nation coalition by spending 2.1 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) on defense, but sought an exclusion from the 5 percent target called for by NATO leaders.

Türkiye's Kaan fighter jet emerges as affordable alternative to F-35: Report

08/06/2025

Türkiye’s domestically produced fifth-generation fighter jet Kaan is emerging as a potential competitor to the U.S.-made F-35 in defense exports, according to Newsweek. The aircraft is drawing growing interest from developing nations, with Indonesia becoming the first buyer after inking a deal in July for 48 units.

SCAF - Dead on arrival?

08/06/2025

An exchange of messages late Friday 1 August signalled more trouble for the multinational Future Combat Air System/Systeme de Combat Aerien du Futur programme. Launched in 2018 and with France, Germany and Spain as partners, the project is ostensibly splitting because the French sub-team insisted on responsibility being allocated according to corporate experience – which, given that France is 100% responsible for Rafale, would leave German and Spanish industry in the back seat.

Boeing’s F-15EX Eagle II Can Beat the Original F-15 Hands Down

08/05/2025

Boeing’s F-15EX Eagle II is a significant upgrade on the iconic F-15 platform. Thanks to the integration of cutting-edge technology, the F-15EX is arguably the most capable fourth-generation fighter aircraft ever built. While the original F-15 platform debuted in the 1970s, the new EX variant leverages decades of operational experience and 21st-century engineering to create a multirole fighter that can serve as a bridge between fourth-generation and fifth-generation platforms.

New Chinese stealth aircraft spotted in test flight

08/05/2025

A new image circulating on Chinese social media appears to show another next-generation combat aircraft undergoing flight testing—marking the third such design spotted in recent months, and underscoring China’s rapid expansion of its advanced airpower programs.

Ukrainian strike destroys Russian fighter jet

08/05/2025

Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) confirmed Monday that its special operations unit “A” conducted a drone strike on the Russian-occupied Saky military airfield in Crimea overnight, damaging and destroying multiple combat aircraft and a stockpile of aviation munitions. According to an official statement released on August 4, unmanned aerial vehicles operated by the SBU successfully penetrated Russian defenses and struck targets on the airfield.

Egypt set to join Turkey’s KAAN fighter jet program: reports

08/05/2025

Turkey has reportedly approved Egypt’s participation in its KAAN fifth-generation fighter jet program, marking a potential milestone in the two countries’ expanding military cooperation following years of strained ties, according to media reports. The development was recently reported by Tactical Report, a Middle East-focused intelligence weekly specializing in defense and geopolitical developments in addition to Turkish media outlets.

China’s J-20 Shot Down! State Media Claims Its 4.5-Gen J-10C Destroyed J20 Stealth Fighter During War Drills

08/05/2025

After promoting the J-10C in the export markets as ‘Rafale Killers’ ever since the brief four-day war between India and Pakistan in May, in which Islamabad claimed to have shot down five Indian fighter jets, including three Rafales, Beijing is now going one step further. It intends to claim a tagline of ‘stealth fighter jet killer’ for the J-10C.

Thousands of Boeing workers who build fighter jets and weapons go on strike

08/05/2025

Several thousand workers at three Midwest manufacturing plants where Boeing develops military aircraft and weapons went on strike early Monday, potentially complicating the aerospace company’s progress in regaining its financial footing. The strike started at Boeing facilities in St. Louis; St. Charles, Missouri; and Mascoutah, Illinois.

India rules out F-35s as defense ties with US face new turbulence

08/04/2025

India has rejected a US push to sell it F-35 stealth fighters, dealing a blow to defense ties just as President Donald Trump announced new tariffs and publicly criticized New Delhi’s close ties with Russia.

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.