Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Korean Air, Lockheed Martin to Maintain US Military Aircraft in Asia

10/29/2025

Korean Air has signed a partnership framework with Lockheed Martin to maintain and repair American military aircraft stationed across the Indo-Pacific. Announced in Goyang, the deal supports the Pentagon’s Regional Sustainment Framework, which aims to improve combat readiness by moving plane repairs and upgrades closer to where US and allied forces operate.

Russia says it has tested nuclear-powered Burevestnik missile

10/28/2025

Russia has tested the nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile, Moscow's top general has said. "We have launched a multi-hour flight of a nuclear-powered missile and it covered a 14,000km (8,700-mile) distance, which is not the limit," Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov told President Vladimir Putin in a televised meeting. The low-flying experimental weapon, first announced in 2018, has been hailed as having a potentially unlimited range and the ability to evade missile defences.

Northrop Grumman integrates next-gen radar and EW systems to boost F-16 combat capability

10/28/2025

Northrop Grumman has combined two advanced technologies—its Integrated Viper Electronic Warfare Suite (IVEWS) and Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR) AESA radar—to enhance the F-16 fighter jet’s survivability and lethality. The systems were designed to operate together, sharing the same portion of the electromagnetic spectrum without interference or performance loss.

Philippines looks to buy KF-21 fighter jets

10/28/2025

The Philippines is in talks with South Korea’s Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) for additional fighter jet acquisitions, as reported by South China Morning Post on Monday. The discussions come on the heels of the Seoul International Aerospace & Defence Exhibition 2025, where KAI showcased its KF-21 Boramae multirole fighter.

Jets Converge on Tyndall for Major Exercise, Despite Shutdown

10/28/2025

Dozens of fighter jets gathered at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida last week to kick off one of the service’s biggest air combat exercises—even as much of the government remains in shutdown. More than 50 aircraft and 500 personnel are participating in Checkered Flag 26-1, which began Oct. 21 and runs through Nov. 6. USAF is flying F-16, F-22, and F-35A fighters, and the U.S. Marine Corps and Royal Australian Air Force are contributing F-35C and E-7 aircraft, respectively.

Indonesia’s J-10 fighter buy from China a geopolitical play with capability risks: Experts

10/28/2025

An Indonesian official’s announcement earlier this month that Jakarta intends to buy at least 42 Chinese J-10 fighter aircraft raised more than a few eyebrows. After all, the development followed similar pledges to acquire the South Korea’s KF-21 Boramae and Turkey’s TAI Kaan. The Asian nation has also previously expressed an interest in operating the Boeing F-15EX Eagle II from the US.

UK's Starmer visit to Turkey set to finalise multibillion-dollar Eurofighter deal

10/27/2025

Turkey and the UK are expected to finalise a multibillion-dollar Eurofighter Typhoon deal during British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s first official visit to Ankara on Monday, several sources told Middle East Eye. Ankara has been in talks with the UK, the lead country in the Eurofighter consortium, since 2023 over the purchase of the fighter jets. In 2024, Turkey cleared a key hurdle by overcoming Germany’s veto, which had blocked the sale.

France pledges more Mirage 2000-5F fighter jets, Aster missiles for Ukraine

10/27/2025

France will provide Ukraine with additional Mirage 2000-5F fighter jets and Aster surface to air missiles for the country’s SAMP/T batteries, French president Emmanuel Macron announced on October 24, 2025. The handout of these weapons systems, which will also be accompanied by the provision of the related training programs for Ukrainian personnel, may take place in the very short term.

US Navy helicopter and fighter jet crash in separate incidents in the South China Sea

10/27/2025

A US Navy helicopter and a fighter jet went down Sunday during separate routine operations over the South China Sea, and all crew members were safely rescued, the Navy’s Pacific Fleet said. The Navy has launched an investigation into the cause of both incidents.

Shield AI Unveils X-BAT VTOL Collaborative Combat Aircraft Concept

10/26/2025

On October 21, 2025, Shield AI, a prominent player in aerospace and defense technology, introduced an innovative concept of an AI-driven, vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) named the X-BAT in Washington, D.C. This development represents a significant advancement in military aviation, emphasizing autonomy and adaptability in complex operational environments.

Lockheed Martin invests in self-funded prototypes and sixth-gen upgrades for F-35 and F-22 fighters

10/26/2025

Lockheed Martin is investing heavily in self-funded prototype development, aiming to demonstrate advanced capabilities directly to the U.S. government, CEO Jim Taiclet said on 20 October. The approach marks a shift toward "big-bet, home-run heavy allocation," including full-scale prototypes to prove scalable, reliable systems.

US Navy’s ‘most lethal combat platform,’ the carrier USS Gerald R Ford, is being sent to the Caribbean

10/26/2025

The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford, billed by the US Navy as “the most capable, adaptable, and lethal combat platform in the world,” is being sent to the Caribbean as the Trump administration ramps up military pressure on Venezuela over alleged drug trafficking. Here’s a look at the Ford and the military assets it will bring to US operations in the region. With a displacement of more than 100,000 tons and a length of 1,100 feet, the Ford is the largest warship the US has ever put to sea.

Zelensky Hails ‘Historic’ Gripen Deal as Ukraine Secures 150 Fighter Jets Starting in 2026

10/26/2025

President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine expects to receive up to 150 Swedish Gripen fighter jets, with the first deliveries planned for next year. Writing on Telegram, he said that together with Sweden, Ukraine will significantly strengthen its combat aviation. He called the deal an ambitious but necessary task.

Japan scrambles jets as Russian nuclear-capable bombers fly near its coast

10/26/2025

Japan scrambled fighter jets to monitor nuclear-capable Russian warplanes that flew over international waters along the edge of Japanese airspace off its coast. Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said Japan’s air force launched the jets in response to Russian bombers approaching the Sea of Japan.

What Could Sweden’s Gripen-E Fighter Jet Offer Ukraine Against Russia’s Air Force?

10/25/2025

Sweden’s Gripen E multirole fighter could provide Ukraine with a high-survivability platform capable of contesting Russian airspace and defending against long-range threats. Designed for electronic warfare resilience and dispersed operations, the aircraft’s capabilities could alter the tactical balance in the region.

Eurofighter deal with Türkiye nearing finalization; Germany removes blockade: Airbus Chief

10/25/2025

Talks on selling 40 Eurofighter Typhoon jets to Türkiye are approaching final stages, with Germany lifting its longstanding reservations about the sale, according to Airbus Defense and Space CEO Michael Schoellhorn. In an exclusive interview with state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), Schoellhorn said Germany's past objections have been overcome, and the new coalition government led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz has made clear it will not block the sale to NATO's second-largest military force.

France’s Jet Fighter Sales Are Endangering Allies

10/25/2025

France’s approach to defense exports, especially fighter aircraft, has long favored industrial reach and diplomatic flexibility over strict end-use control. Once seen as deft statecraft, this policy now arms U.S. adversaries and undermines the security of America’s closest partners—notably, Greece, Cyprus, Israel, and Taiwan.

How American Is F-35? Nearly 42% Built Abroad, Why U.S. Controls 100% Of The Stealth Fighter Aircraft?

10/25/2025

Lockheed Martin’s F-35 is arguably the most popular aircraft. The fifth-generation fighter jet has already delivered over 1,200 units, and total program commitments exceed 3,000 aircraft across 20 nations.

Russian aircraft enter airspace of NATO member Lithuania

10/24/2025

Lithuania's army reported on Thursday that two Russian military aircraft had crossed the Lithuanian border, remaining in the NATO member state's airspace for 18 seconds. The aircraft, a fighter jet and a tanker, flew 700 meters (nearly half a mile) into Lithuania from the Kaliningrad region. The Lithianian air force detected the Russian SU-30 and IL-78 aircraft near Kybartai at around 6 p.m. (1600 GMT).

British and German military aircrafts join forces to hunt down Russian submarines

10/23/2025

Britain and Germany will join forces to hunt down Russian submarines. The Royal Air Force (RAF) and Deutsche Marine aircraft will jointly conduct defensive patrols for Russian submarines, working side by side from RAF Lossiemouth, defending NATO’s Eastern and Northern flanks. British and German forces will also ramp up their cyber and military co-operation in a bid to strengthen Nato’s security.

France plans to order 60 additional Dassault Rafale fighters by 2035

10/23/2025

France plans to expand its Rafale fighter fleet by more than 60 aircraft under its 2026 finance bill, potentially raising the total number of combat-ready jets for the French Air and Space Force and French Navy to 286.

Sweden and Ukraine eye export deal for up to 150 Gripen fighter jets

10/23/2025

Sweden has signed a letter of intent that could see it supply up to 150 of its domestically produced Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on Wednesday after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. The two leaders met for talks in Linkoping in southern Sweden and visited Saab, opens new tab, which is the maker of the JAS 39 Gripen fighter, the GlobalEye surveillance aircraft, missile systems, anti-tank infantry weapons and other equipment.

Turkey pressing for Western fighter jets to claw back regional edge

10/23/2025

Anxious to bolster its air power, Turkey has proposed to European partners and the U.S. ways it could swiftly obtain advanced fighter jets as it seeks to make up ground on regional rivals such as Israel, sources familiar with the talks say.

Ukraine hits Russian chemical plant with UK-made Storm Shadow missiles

10/23/2025

Ukraine has hit a Russian chemical plant with Storm Shadow missiles, its military said on Tuesday, referring to the UK-made long-range weapon. Calling the strike "a successful hit" that penetrated the Russian air defence system, Ukraine's general staff of the armed forces said they were still assessing the outcome of the "massive" strike.

France’s Dassault Rafale Fighter Can Fly From U.S. Navy Aircraft Carriers

10/22/2025

France’s carrier-capable Dassault Rafale M is the only non-U.S. fighter jet certified to operate from American aircraft carriers, a unique interoperability proven since 2007. This capability holds particular strategic significance in the vast Indo-Pacific region, where both France (with its extensive Pacific territories) and the U.S. have major interests.