Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

The U.S. military has built up a large force in the Caribbean Sea. Here’s what’s there

10/22/2025

The U.S. military has built up an unusually large force in the Caribbean Sea and the waters off the coast of Venezuela since this summer, when the Trump administration first began to shift assets to the region as part of its so-called war against narcoterrorism.

Military aircraft, air defense, Ukrainian weapons: Zelensky holds meeting with Umerov

10/22/2025

New agreements to strengthen Ukraine's combat aviation and air defense, transformation of the NSDC Secretariat became the main topics of President Volodymyr Zelensky's meeting with Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) Rustem Umerov.

Boeing to Test the ‘Collaborative’ in its Collaborative Combat Aircraft

10/22/2025

Boeing’s MQ-28 Ghost Bat collaborative combat aircraft will take two important steps in its development when it tests its ability to conduct combat and then later collaborate with another jet fighter, a senior company official said Oct. 20. Boeing previously announced that it would autonomously fire an air-to-air missile from the MQ-28 by the end of the calendar year. That test is still on track, Randy Rotte, the company’s regional director for India, Asia and Pacific, told reporters at the ADE

Shield AI’s unmanned fighter jet concept pitched as a drone wingman or solo aircraft

10/22/2025

Shield AI’s new unmanned, vertical-takeoff-and-landing fighter jet concept is designed to be a drone wingman or a standalone aircraft, marking the latest autonomous aircraft announcement by defense companies in recent weeks. The X-BAT, revealed at a private event in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday evening, is Shield AI’s first unmanned fighter jet offering.

Cobra Maneuver: The Fighter Jet Trick That Looks Like A ‘Motorcycle Popping A Wheelie’

10/21/2025

There is a significant fighter jet maneuver that seems to wow the crowd at Russian air shows called the Pugachev Cobra Maneuver. It’s more for show than for tactical advantage in a dog fight, but it looks intriguing and demonstrates just how much certain fighter jets can conduct aerial feats like no other aircraft in the world.

Saab hands over first Gripen E fighter to Swedish Air Force in major step toward future air capability

10/21/2025

The Swedish Armed Forces officially received their first JAS 39 Gripen E fighter aircraft during a handover ceremony on 20 October 2025 at the Skaraborg Air Wing (F 7) in Såtenäs. The event marks a key milestone in Sweden’s air power modernisation, bringing a new generation of combat air capability into service.

Raytheon delivers first PhantomStrike radar for Korea Aerospace Industries’ FA-50 aircraft

10/21/2025

Raytheon has delivered the first PhantomStrike radar to Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) for its FA-50 Light Combat Aircraft, marking a key milestone in their defence technology partnership. The radar is a compact, fully air-cooled fire-control system that combines advanced threat detection, tracking, and targeting with high efficiency and reduced cost.

US Falls Behind in Air Superiority as Fighter Jets Retire Faster Than They’re Built

10/21/2025

The United States Air Force is retiring combat aircraft nearly five times faster than it is building new ones, raising concerns among defense analysts about the country’s long-held aerial dominance. According to Defense Express, citing a recent analysis published by Defense News, the United States is on track to decommission approximately 340 aircraft in the 2026 fiscal year while producing only 76 new ones.

Australia accuses China of 'unsafe' military jet manoeuvres

10/21/2025

Australia has accused a Chinese military aircraft of releasing flares "in close proximity" to its patrol jet over the South China Sea. The Australian government has raised its concern with Beijing over the "unsafe and unprofessional" manoeuvre, the defence department said in a statement on Monday. There was no damage to Australia's P-8A aircraft and its personnel were unharmed after Sunday's encounter.

Pakistan deploys JF-17 fighter jets to Azerbaijan

10/20/2025

Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has deployed its latest JF-17 Thunder Block III fighter jets to Azerbaijan to participate in the bilateral air combat exercise Indus Shield Alpha, the service announced via its official channels on Sunday.

Canada delays F-35 decision as Ottawa weighs Gripen option and industrial return

10/20/2025

Canada’s long-delayed F-35A fighter jet program is facing renewed uncertainty as Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government weighs whether to proceed with its planned fleet of 88 aircraft from Lockheed Martin or diversify toward a mixed fleet that could include Saab’s Gripen E.

Taiwan spots 27 Chinese military aircraft, 8 Naval ships near its territory

10/19/2025

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) reported on Friday that it had tracked 27 Chinese military aircraft and eight naval vessels operating close to its territorial boundaries. The ministry said that 19 of the aircraft had crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, entering the northern, central, and southwestern parts of Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).

F-15E Strike Eagle: How the Air Force Turned a Dogfighter Into a Strike Aircraft

10/19/2025

When McDonnell Douglas first conceived of the F-15 in the late 1960s, they had one, and only one, purpose: to create the world’s best air superiority fighter. When the F-15A and B variants entered service in the mid-1970s, they embodied that design philosophy, incorporating powerful twin engines, a massive thrust-to-weight ratio, and a radar built only for finding other aircraft. In short, the original F15s were built strictly for air superiority, and had virtually no use beyond that.

How Do Pilots Actually Eject From A Fighter Jet?

10/19/2025

A civilian-owned Hawker Hunter fighter jet, acting as a “red air” adversary for the U.S. Navy, crashed into the Pacific off Big Sur, California, this week. The pilot, working for the contractor ATAC, safely ejected after a suspected engine failure and was rescued uninjured. The incident highlights the role of private companies in military training and the inherent dangers of aviation.

General Atomics Selected To Support U.S. Navy CCA Design Effort

10/19/2025

GA-ASI was selected to work on Navy CCA designs emphasizing a modular approach to platform selection, capable of being rapidly reconfigured and upgraded to meet changing mission requirements, including operations on and from aircraft carriers. GA-ASI’s approach supports the Navy’s revolutionary acquisition strategy of smaller, frequent purchases that enable rapid technology insertion rather than traditional long-lifecycle programs.

Qatar coming to Idaho for military aircraft trainings. Here’s what we know

10/18/2025

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s announcement took many by surprise, including Idaho’s governor and federal lawmakers who weren’t informed ahead of time. And it was criticized across the political spectrum, with a number of prominent right-wing Republicans questioning what came off as the U.S. permitting the Middle East nation to establish an air base in Idaho.

Rare photo reveals Su-57’s hidden weapon bay

10/18/2025

A previously unseen image of Russia’s Su-57 multirole fighter has surfaced on pro-Kremlin social media channels, showing the aircraft’s internal tail-mounted weapons bay in detail. The release appears to be part of a broader effort by Moscow to promote the export potential of the fifth-generation jet as it seeks foreign funding to complete development.

NATO conducts exercises for fighter-based nuclear roles

10/18/2025

NATO has begun its annual nuclear deterrence training exercise, Steadfast Noon 25, involving 70 aircraft and approximately 2,000 personnel from 14 Allied nations, the alliance confirmed this week. The long-scheduled drill, which runs from October 13 to 24, is part of NATO’s recurring efforts to validate its nuclear posture and joint force readiness. The exercise does not involve live nuclear weapons, and NATO officials emphasized that it is unrelated to current geopolitical developments.

U.S. Marine F-35Bs return after combat missions in Middle East

10/18/2025

The U.S. Marine Corps’ Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 542 has returned from a five-month deployment to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. Operating under CENTCOM’s Ninth Air Force, VMFA-542 flew over 1,099 combat sorties and logged 4,736 mishap-free flight hours, according to the Marine Corps. During the deployment, the unit conducted Close Air Support, Defensive Counter-Air, and Armed Overwatch missions in support of U.S. and partner forces across the region.

Russian Forces Shoot Down Own Fighter-Bomber Amid Overnight UAV Assault on Crimea

10/18/2025

Russian forces accidentally shot down one of their own military aircraft overnight while attempting to intercept Ukrainian drones over Crimea, Ukrainian officials said Friday. Ukrainian authorities say they are still gathering information about the incident. Dmytro Pletenchuk, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Navy, said the plane was shot down by Russian air defense missiles while defending against incoming Ukrainian drones.

Indonesia buys Chinese J-10 fighter jets

10/17/2025

Indonesia will acquire 42 Chinese-built Chengdu J-10C fighter jets in a deal valued at over $9 billion, marking the country’s first major non-Western aircraft procurement, according to top defense officials in Jakarta. Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin confirmed the move on Wednesday, stating that the aircraft, produced by China’s Chengdu Aerospace Corporation, would soon be flying over Jakarta.

RAF fighter pilots to be trained by Indian ‘Top Guns’

10/17/2025

Royal Air Force fighter pilots will be trained by Indian flying instructors for the first time under a new defence deal with Delhi. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has agreed to send some of its “Top Guns” to teach British cadets how to fly Hawk T2 fast jets from October next year, The Times has learnt.

Army asks General Atomics for additional uncrewed aircraft for reconnaissance and attack

10/17/2025

General Atomics will build MQ-9B SkyGuardian uncrewed aircraft for the U.S. Army under an $86.4 million contract. The MQ-9B, derived from the Reaper, offers 40-hour endurance, SATCOM-only control, and full all-weather capability with advanced radar and infrared sensors. Operators including Canada, the U.K., Belgium, and Japan employ the MQ-9B for reconnaissance, electronic warfare, anti-submarine missions, and precision strike operations.

US-China Rivalry Intensifies Over Next-Generation Combat Weapons

10/17/2025

The United States and China are locked in an intense race to develop unmanned aerial vehicles — a new class of weapon poised to transform the future of aerial warfare. In late August, the US military conducted the first flight test of its YFQ-42A unmanned aircraft. Just a week later, China unveiled a drone closely resembling it during a military parade marking what they call the 80th anniversary of the War of Resistance Against Japan.

Netherlands joins CCA programme to develop unmanned aircraft supporting F-35 combat missions

10/17/2025

The Netherlands has officially joined the United States Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) programme, an initiative focused on developing autonomous unmanned air systems designed to fly in coordination with manned fighter jets such as the F-35. The agreement was confirmed on 16 October with a letter of intent signed by State Secretary for Defence Gijs Tuinman in Washington, just ahead of the annual Defence Industry Days held at the Dutch embassy.