Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Navy pilot rescued after ejecting from US fighter jet that crashed off Virginia coast

08/22/2025

A pilot was rescued from a U.S. Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet crash that went into the ocean off the coast of Virginia on Wednesday morning, according to officials. The pilot ejected from a Super Hornet during a routine training flight, said Navy spokesperson Lt. Jackie Parashar. Search teams were deployed around 11:21 a.m., the spokesperson added.

Shocking Video Captures Malaysia's F/A-18 Hornet Fighter Jet Exploding During Takeoff At Kuantan Airport

08/22/2025

A shocking incident rocked the Sultan Ahmad Shah Airport in Kuantan after one of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) F/A-18D Hornet fighter jets reportedly crashed during takeoff. A purported viral video of the fighter jet crash has surfaced, wherein the aircraft was captured bursting into flames as soon as it took off from the airport. Reportedly, the pilot managed to escape without any reported fatalities.

China’s J-35A: The Stealth Fighter No Air Force Wants To Buy

08/22/2025

The Chinese-designed Shenyang J-35A continues to generate considerable interest as more information about the aircraft becomes available. However, despite the fighter’s growing public profile, its advertised advanced capabilities, and its resemblance to the US F-35 jet, the J-35 has not attracted the flock of foreign buyers that the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) had hoped.

We Are Watching China Become An Air Force Superpower

08/22/2025

China’s airpower has entered a startling new era, moving beyond its history of copying Russian designs and stealing U.S. technology to producing a flurry of unique, indigenous combat aircraft. In the last year, several new variants and at least three truly new, tailless fighter concepts have appeared.

Rafale ‘Scores A Kill’ Against F-35 Fighter In Finnish Wargames? French Air Force Releases Video Of “Lock”

08/22/2025

The French Dassault Rafale may have “scored a kill” against the American F-35 stealth fighter at a multinational military exercise in Finland. The feat comes years after it achieved an unexpected kill against an F-22 Raptor in 2009 wargames in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Taiwan tracks 21 Chinese military aircraft, 7 naval ships

08/21/2025

The Ministry of National Defense tracked 21 Chinese military aircraft and seven naval vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Tuesday and 6 a.m. on Wednesday. Seventeen of the 21 People’s Liberation Army aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line and entered the nation’s southwestern air defense identification zone, according to the MND.

Robles does not rule out the possible purchase of F-35B fighters for the Spanish Navy

08/21/2025

On August 6, Pedro Sánchez's government leaked to the newspaper El País that Spain's purchase of F-35 fighters was "definitively on hold", meaning the Spanish Navy would lose its carrier-based combat aircraft once the Harrier II Plus become operational in 2030. The news was not denied by the government and became a matter of international interest, reaching as far away as the United States.

China’s Answer To U.S. V-22 Osprey Appears To Be Ready; Beijing Unveils Tiltrotor In Yet Another Tech Feat

08/20/2025

New images have appeared on Chinese social media platforms showing a Chinese version of the US military’s Osprey tiltrotor aircraft, in what seems to be its maiden flight. If the flight-testing is successful, then this could become China’s first tilt-rotor aircraft. Notably, China is already testing a large tiltrotor drone —the Zhang Ying R6000 (also known as UR6000). The drone appeared in prototype form late last year.

Maximum Adaptability: US Army's MV -75 FLRAA Embraces Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA)

08/20/2025

The U.S. Army's MV-75 Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) is ushering in a new era of military aviation through its adoption of a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA). This architectural framework allows for rapid, cost-effective upgrades to essential aircraft systems, ensuring adaptability and relevance against evolving threats.

Canada is running out of runway for its F-35 review

08/20/2025

It was courtesy of the U.S. ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra, who perhaps spoke the quiet part out loud last week in an interview with Canadian independent podcaster Jasmin Laine. Hoekstra, a no-nonsense Republican from Michigan, was asked about the Liberal government's review of the $27.7-billion purchase of stealth fighters and the possibility that after delivery of the first tranche of jets, Canada could decide to fill the rest of its order with another type of aircraft.

China’s J-20S Stealth Fighter Mothership Just Might Have ‘All The Tools’

08/20/2025

Recently-circulated images of the J-20S, a two-seater version of China’s fifth-generation J-20, raised questions about what makes this variant different than the parent J-20 fighter—and what the jet’s intended role will be. Though there are several possibilities, as well as the possibility of something else entirely, speculation about the aircraft has run rampant.

ATAC Awarded Task Order for FMS F-16 Chase Fighter Jet Services

08/20/2025

Airborne Tactical Advantage Company (ATAC), part of the Textron Systems segment of Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT), announced today an initial task order under the Combat Air Forces Contracted Air Services indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract to provide the Defense Contract Management Agency with chase flight support services for F-16 aircraft. The task order has a potential period of performance of up to 27 months.

Aerial photos show scale of destruction across Gaza

08/19/2025

Aerial footage taken onboard a plane dropping aid over Gaza shows the scale of destruction in the area during Israel's 22-month offensive.

Russia’s $37M Su-57 Stealth Fighter Deployed Incomplete Amid Sanctions, Experts Say

08/19/2025

Russia’s Su-57 fighter jet has long been advertised by Moscow as the crown jewel of its military aviation, but newly obtained classified documents suggest the aircraft was delivered to the Russian military in stripped-down form—missing critical targeting subsystems—and at inflated costs.

US Air Force to integrate F-16s with augmented reality training system

08/19/2025

Software company Red 6 has won a contract with the US Air Force (USAF) to integrate its ATARS (Airborne Tactical Augmented Reality System) into the F-16 Fighting Falcon. On August 15, 2025, Red 6 said that the contract was awarded to the company through Air Combat Command and the Air Force Research Laboratory.

Türkiye plans diversification strategy on fighter jet formula while awaiting indigenous KAAN aircraft

08/19/2025

ürkiye is advancing plans to acquire 40 Eurofighter jets, 40 next-generation F-16 aircraft, and 40 F-35 fighter jets as part of a comprehensive air force modernization strategy while awaiting the deployment of its indigenous fifth-generation KAAN fighter aircraft. The procurement strategy aims to strengthen Türkiye's air defense capabilities during the transition period before the domestically developed KAAN aircraft becomes operational, according to information reported by Türkiye daily.

Morocco Nears $600 Million Military Aircraft Deal with Brazil’s Embraer

08/18/2025

Morocco is close to finalizing a major military aircraft deal with Brazilian aerospace company Embraer to acquire KC-390 Millennium military transport planes. The deal comes closer to finalization even as American defense giant Lockheed Martin continues pushing its C-130J Super Hercules aircraft to maintain its market position in the North African country.

F-35 And F-16 Viper Fighters: Poland Is Sending A Message To Russia

08/18/2025

As part of that, Poland has been seeking to modernize its defense capabilities, and the latest step entails an upgrade to its fleet of F-16s. As reported by The War Zone, Poland has signed a $3.8 billion contract to “upgrade the country’s 48 F-16C/D Block 52+ Viper fighters to the F-16V configuration.”

“Deadly Duo”! U.S. Integrates F-35-A Stealth Fighter With C100 Drone For Precision Strikes In New War Doctrine

08/18/2025

In a demonstration of the next-generation joint air warfare concept, Performance Drone Works (PDW), a US company specializing in artificial intelligence and unmanned aerial systems (UAS), and the US Department of Defense, exhibited joint fire support using the PDW C100 and F-35A Lightning II multirole stealth fighter jet.

Morocco on the verge of acquiring U.S. advanced F-35 jets

08/17/2025

Morocco is on the cusp of securing a deal for 32 U.S. advanced fighter jets, becoming the first Arab and African nation to operate the fifth-generation stealth combat aircraft, says Military Africa news platform. The $17 billion deal, spanning over 45 years, covers maintenance and technical support and spare parts, says the report, noting that the F-35, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, is at the top of modern aviation engineering, blending stealth, versatility, and cutting-edge avionics.

Switzerland reviews Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jet procurement as U.S. demands higher payment

08/17/2025

Switzerland’s government has instructed its defence ministry to examine options for the planned acquisition of Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets after the United States refused to drop demands for additional funding. One option now under consideration is to reduce the number of aircraft purchased.

The F-15EX Eagle II Is The ‘Energizer Bunny’ Of Fighter Jets

08/17/2025

Once derided by its competitors as “too old, too expensive, too big for the stealth era, etc,” the F-15EX Eagle II is turning into the Energizer Bunny of fighter aircraft. The Department of Defense’s (DoD’s) Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposal features a number of changes in procurement priorities that this long-serving twin-engine fighter is benefiting from.

Belarus to add 4 new Su-30SM2 fighter jets to air force fleet by year-end

08/17/2025

Belarus plans to expand its Air Force fleet with the addition of four Su-30SM2 fighter jets by the end of this year, Azernews reports, according to local media reports. Speaking at an official ceremony marking Air Force and Air Defense Forces Day, Major General Andrei Lukyanovich, commander of Belarus’ Air Force and Air Defense Forces, said the country is continuing to modernize its aerial capabilities.

Italian Air Force F-35As dispatched from Estonia to intercept Russian aircraft

08/15/2025

Italian Air Force F-35A fighter jets were dispatched to intercept Russian aircraft in its first Baltic Air Policing mission since taking over safeguarding NATO airspace from the Romanian Air Force. NATO Air Command confirmed that F-35s from the Italian Air Force’s 32nd Wing detachment at Ämari Air Base in Estonia were scrambled on August 13, 2025, to respond in defense of the Baltic countries’ airspace.

Switzerland Vows to Press on With US Fighter Jet Deal

08/15/2025

Switzerland vowed Wednesday to continue its attempts to buy F-35A fighter jets from the United States despite spiralling expenses. The US is pushing for Switzerland to bear extra costs for producing the jets of between 650 million and 1.3 billion Swiss francs ($807 million-$1.6 billion), but the Swiss want to agree on a fixed price.