Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Syria accuses Israel of carrying out air strikes

09/09/2025

Israel has carried out air strikes in the central and western parts of Syria, the country's state news agency said on Monday night. Syria's Foreign Ministry condemned the air strikes as "a blatant infringement" of its sovereignty and regional stability, Reuters reported.

The current state of the F-16s in Venezuela: past, present, and decline of the multirole fighters that were the most modern in South America

09/09/2025

The recent flyby carried out by Venezuelan F-16s near a United States Navy destroyer in the Caribbean Sea has put the spotlight on the Fighting Falcons of the Bolivarian Military Aviation (AMB). Of U.S. origin and manufactured by what was then General Dynamics, they once were, at the time of their arrival in Venezuela, the most technologically advanced and capable multirole fighters in South America.

Switzerland says F-35A delivery on track for 2027 despite cost, delay concerns

09/09/2025

Delivery of the F-35A fighter jets to Switzerland remains scheduled to begin in mid-2027, Switzerland’s defense procurement agency Armasuisse confirmed on September 6, 2025. The first aircraft will come from Lockheed Martin’s factory in Fort Worth, Texas, before a second production line in Cameri, Italy, starts deliveries in mid-2028. Switzerland’s fleet is due to arrive in the latest “Block 4” configuration, an Armasuisse spokesperson told Swiss agency Keystone-ATS.

The Air Force Only Has 143 ‘Combat-Coded’ F-22 Raptor Fighters

09/09/2025

The U.S. Air Force faces a potential “air superiority gap” due to the small size and maintenance issues of its F-22 Raptor fleet. While the F-22 remains a qualitatively superior fighter, only 143 (numbers vary by source) of the 186 aircraft are combat-coded, a number dwarfed by China’s rapidly growing fleet of J-20s.

A Sobering Report on the DoD’s Largest Weapons Program

09/09/2025

In a scathing assessment of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter effort and associated contractors, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) published a 54-page report on the program’s recent performance. The federal agency identified troubling trends related to modernization efforts for the F-35 Block 4 upgrade, related delivery underperformance, and failed contract requirements. Below are some of the leading highlights.

For $103.9 Million, U.S. Approves Sale of Advanced AIM-9X Missiles for Belgian, Italian, and Romanian Air Force Fighters

09/08/2025

The United States government has authorized the potential sale of a new batch of advanced AIM-9X Sidewinder air-to-air missiles to equip the fighter fleets of the Belgian, Italian, and Romanian Air Forces. This follows one of the most recent notifications submitted by the State Department to the U.S. Congress, seeking approval for the $103.9 million transaction through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program.

F-47 next-generation fighter jet to fly sooner than expected, says Boeing Phantom Works chief

09/07/2025

The first flight of the US Air Force’s sixth-generation F-47 fighter will happen sooner than many anticipate, according to Boeing’s Phantom Works division. Colin Miller, vice president and general manager, said people will “be surprised by how fast you see [the F-47] flying.”

Anduril joins U.S. Navy’s carrier drone fighter race

09/07/2025

Amid growing competition in the U.S. defense industry, Anduril Industries announced Friday that it has been chosen by the U.S. Navy to develop designs for the service’s future carrier-ready Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). “The US Navy has selected Anduril to develop designs for carrier-ready Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA),” the company said. “We are focused on delivering an aircraft built specifically to the Navy’s distinct needs, at rapid speed and formidable scale.”

KAAN fighter jet prototypes enter system integration, first flight set for 2026

09/06/2025

The first of Türkiye's next KAAN indigenous combat aircraft prototypes has entered the system integration phase, with Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) planning first flights for spring 2026, company officials announced. TAI officials, speaking to Tony Osborne from Aviation Week on Tuesday, confirmed that two prototypes are in an advanced state of structural assembly, with system integration work underway at the company's final assembly line in Ankara.

The F-15 Eagle Just Might Be the Greatest Plane of All Time

09/06/2025

The F-15 Eagle is a dominant aircraft, unrivaled in air-to-air combat—still in active service, and credited with over 100 aerial kills without a single loss. The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is one of the most respected fighter aircraft ever built. Boasting an undefeated air-to-air record, the F-15 is an air superiority virtuoso benefitting from exceptional maneuverability and handling characteristics combined with raw power.

Pentagon warns Venezuela as 2 military aircraft fly near US warship

09/06/2025

Two Venezuelan military aircraft flew near a United States Navy ship in international waters, the US Department of Defense has said, in a move described as “highly provocative” amid escalating tension between Washington and Caracas. The Defense Department warned Venezuela in a statement late on Thursday to cease further provocative moves, describing the Venezuelan aircraft buzzing over the US vessel – reported to be the guided-missile destroyer Jason Dunham.

Boeing completes early MQ-28 Ghost Bat Collaborative Combat Aircraft demonstrations in Australia

09/06/2025

Boeing and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) have completed a series of demonstrations validating the operational viability of the MQ-28 Ghost Bat Collaborative Combat Aircraft. The Capability Demonstration 2025 missions concluded in early June, four months ahead of schedule, after 150 hours of flight and more than 20,000 hours of virtual testing.

Trump plays down possible regime change in Venezuela; US deploys stealth fighter jets

09/06/2025

The United States is not talking about regime change in Venezuela, President Donald Trump said on Friday, as the United States ordered an additional 10 stealth fighter jets to a military buildup in the Caribbean. "We're not talking about that, but we are talking about the fact that you had an election which was a very strange election, to put it mildly," Trump said, referring to the contested 2024 election the Venezuelan government says President Nicolas Maduro won.

Venezuelan fighter jets flew over U.S. Navy ship in "show of force"

09/05/2025

Two armed Venezuelan F-16 fighter jets flew over the USS Jason Dunham on Thursday, according to multiple Defense Department officials who described the action as a "show of force." The Dunham, an Aegis guided-missile destroyer, is among a flotilla of U.S. warships dispatched to the region in recent weeks that the Pentagon says have been deployed to target criminal organizations and narco-terrorism.

Hellenic Air Force considers procuring additional M-346 aircraft

09/05/2025

The Hellenic Air Force is considering the acquisition of additional M-346 aircraft, including the armed variant, to support the advanced stage of training new second lieutenants. There are plans for the addition of at least four aircraft to the fleet, bringing the total number to 14, as the current existing fleet is barely sufficient to meet the needs of the Air Force.

Ukraine Now Flying Former Azerbaijani MiG-29 Fulcrum

09/05/2025

Evidence has emerged that Ukraine has topped up its hard-worked fleet of MiG-29 Fulcrum fighters from a somewhat surprising source: Azerbaijan. While the number of aircraft involved is not considerable, any addition to the MiG-29 fleet will be welcome for the Ukrainian Air Force, which has also received Fulcrums donated by Poland and Slovakia and which has suffered steady attrition since Russia’s full-scale invasion began.

What Is an Aircraft’s “Thrust-to-Weight Ratio,” and Why Does It Matter?

09/05/2025

An aircraft’s thrust-to-weight ratio is a statistic that is often thrown around, but one that is poorly understood, even among aviation buffs. The number is less easily understandable than an aircraft’s wingspan or its top speed. Yet the thrust-to-weight ratio is foundational to a fighter jet’s performance.

India Is Inching Closer to Adopting the Russian Su-57 Fighter Jet

09/05/2025

After years of attempts to entice India to adopt its Sukhoi Su-57 (NATO reporting name “Felon”) fifth-generation multirole stealth fighter, Russia is reportedly carrying out feasibility studies to determine whether the aircraft could be built under license in the subcontinent. Russian state-owned military-industrial conglomerate Rostec’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) had sought to close a deal with New Delhi for years. It had more recently floated a co-production agreement.

Russia Urges India to Buy Su-57 Stealth Fighters, Eyes Local Production

09/04/2025

Russia is eyeing the production of its Su-57 fighter jets in India and has launched a study on the required investments, inside sources shared with the Indian news agency ANI. Given India’s historical reliance on Russian defense materiel before diversifying, officials noted that Su-57 local production could be possible on the Hashik-based Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) facility, which is already licensed to manufacture Su-30MKI aircraft.

F-15EX Eagle II: The ‘New’ Fighter Jet That Can Carry A Staggering 22 Missiles

09/04/2025

The F-15EX Eagle II is a two-seat, twin-engine, multi-role fighter aircraft. It is a derivative of the Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle. The F-15EX incorporates modern advancements, including “fly-by-wire” flight controls, dual Digital Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems, a large touchscreen display, and additional enhancements, such as the AN/ALQ-250(V)1 Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System for electronic warfare.

Air Guard Pilots Test HH-60 Helicopters Against an F-15 Fighter Attack

09/04/2025

In a first, the Air National Guard recently tested how its new rescue helicopter would survive against attacks from enemy fighter aircraft to prepare for a potential war in the Pacific. Guard pilots engaged electronic countermeasures on a HH-60G Pave Hawk and on the newer HH-60W Jolly Green II rescue helicopter when an F-15D Eagle fighter launched simulated attacks over water.

All types of fifth-generation combat planes displayed at V-Day parade

09/04/2025

The People's Liberation Army has displayed all types of its fifth-generation combat planes on active duty for the first time via the grand parade on Wednesday, a move that observers say is intended to show its world-class air prowess.

Swedish defense minister talks post-war, ‘long-term endeavor’ to get Ukraine advanced Gripens

09/04/2025

Following interest from Kyiv, Sweden is open to selling advanced Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine once the war with Russia ends, Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson told Breaking Defense. “We have a dialogue also with Ukraine, and since they certainly expressed an interest for the Gripen system … predominantly Gripen Echo, the new version that Sweden, Brazil are operating as well,” then a future sale is a possibility, Jonson said.

Ukraine Unveils French Mirage 2000-5F Fighter Jet

09/03/2025

Celebrating Ukrainian Aviation Day, President Zelensky officially unveiled the first full-length image of a Dassault Mirage 2000-5F fighter jet. The aircraft retains its original French Air and Space Force camouflage, now with Ukrainian markings on its tail.

The Boeing F-15EX Eagle II Fighter Is ‘Back’

09/03/2025

The U.S. Air Force is signaling a renewed commitment to the F-15EX Eagle II, with the fiscal year 2026 budget requesting funds for an additional 21 aircraft. This move revives hopes that the service will acquire its original goal of 144 fighters. The program’s future had been in doubt, with planned procurement numbers slashed due to budget constraints and the need to fund next-generation programs like the F-47.