Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Saab Receives Gripen E/F Order for Thailand

08/27/2025

Saab has today signed a contract with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) and received an order for four Gripen E/F fighter aircraft from FMV for the Kingdom of Thailand. The order value is approximately SEK 5.3 billion and deliveries will take place 2025-2030. The contract between Saab and FMV includes three Gripen E and one Gripen F aircraft as well as associated equipment, support and training.

USAF Picks Red 6 AR System to Train F-16 Pilots Against Virtual Enemies

08/27/2025

The US Air Force has contracted Red 6, an augmented reality (AR) solutions company headquartered in Florida, to supply its AR system for the F-16 Fighting Falcon. With the integration of the company’s ATARS (Airborne Tactical Augmented Reality System) into the fighter aircraft, an F-16 pilot can “train against intelligent, maneuvering virtual adversaries in real-time during live flight.”

Will The Philippines Buy The F-16 Fighter?

08/26/2025

The Philippines is eyeing a major $5.58 billion purchase of advanced F-16 fighter jets from the United States to counter increasing aggression from China in the South China Sea. The U.S. government has already approved the sale, and defense contractor Lockheed Martin is sweetening the deal with new technology partnerships. However, the acquisition is shrouded in mystery, as the Filipino Defense Secretary recently downplayed the reports as “media hype,” claiming there was “nothing on the table.”

China builds smaller but more capable air force

08/26/2025

According to the report, the PLAAF in 2007 fielded about 400,000 personnel and nearly 2,700 fighters, bombers, and attack aircraft. By 2025, the force numbers 403,000 personnel with roughly 2,284 combat aircraft. The headline figures conceal a steep dip during the early 2010s, when second- and third-generation jets were retired faster than new aircraft could enter service. At one point, combat aircraft fell to about 1,500 and personnel to around 330,000.

Is This China’s F-47 ‘NGAD’ Killer? Meet The New J-36 Fighter

08/26/2025

China’s new sixth-generation J-36 fighter represents a game-changing strategic pivot designed to counter American airpower. While the U.S. focuses on producing small, technologically superior “boutique” fleets like the F-47, China is emphasizing both quality and quantity. The J-36 is a large, multi-role stealth aircraft designed for mass production on a scale the U.S. industrial base may be unable to match.

France may double Mirage 2000-5 fighter jet transfer to Ukraine

08/26/2025

Former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has suggested that France is preparing to expand its promised supply of Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets to Ukraine, doubling the original commitment from 10 to 20 aircraft. The statement came during an interview with Le Monde analyzing the recent meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Russian Il-20 Buzzes Alaska Again: NORAD Scrambles Fighters for a Third Interception in a Week

08/26/2025

Fighters from the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) intercepted a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) on August 24, marking the third such encounter in one week, ABC News reported on August 25. NORAD deployed one E-3 Sentry command-and-control plane, two F-16 fighters, and two KC-135 Stratotankers to visually identify the Russian aircraft, which remained in international airspace.

Maris visits Sweden for Gripen deal, highlights Cambodian violations

08/25/2025

Maris paid an official visit to Sweden on Sunday (August 24) at the invitation of Maria Malmer Stenergard, Sweden’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Thai foreign minister attended the signing ceremony for the Royal Thai Air Force’s purchase of Gripen E/F fighter jets from Saab and held discussions on defence industry cooperation.

Why Japan’s F-2 “Viper Zero” Fighter Is a Born Ship Killer

08/24/2025

Even though Japan is making the transition to the F-35, the F-2s are still valuable; their anti-ship capabilities are truly impressive, and are likely among the best in the region.

Russia’s Su-57 Felon Has A ‘New’ Enemy (Not The F-22 Or F-35 Fighters)

08/24/2025

Russia’s Su-57 stealth fighter program is being crippled by a “double-whammy” of sanctions and corruption. Western sanctions have blocked the import of critical microchips, forcing the military to accept delivery of the jets without their essential 101KS-N electro-optical targeting systems, leaving them incapable of all-weather surveillance.

Ukrainian MiG-29 Fighter Crashes After Combat Mission, Pilot Killed on Landing

08/24/2025

A Ukrainian Air Force MiG-29 fighter jet crashed during landing after completing a combat mission on the night of August 23, according to the Air Force Command. The pilot, Major Serhii Viktorovych Bondar, born in 1979, was killed in the incident. He was 46 years old. The Air Force stated that an investigation has been launched to determine the causes and circumstances of the crash.

New Zealand will buy US helicopters in a $1.6B military aircraft spending package

08/23/2025

New Zealand ‘s government announced new military spending Thursday of 2.7 billion New Zealand dollars ($1.6 billion) to replace aging aircraft, including helicopters it plans to purchase from the United States, senior officials said.

Denmark Expands Defense Capabilities Amid Arctic Tensions and Ukraine Support

08/23/2025

Denmark is pursuing an ambitious defense modernization program that spans from F-35 fighter jet acquisitions to coordinating European support for Ukraine’s air defenses, while simultaneously bolstering its Arctic presence in response to growing geopolitical pressures.

How China’s Air Force Was Born Thanks To Russia’s Su-27 Flanker

08/23/2025

China’s interest in the Su-27 stemmed from its need to modernize its air force and acquire advanced technology – particularly relating to air superiority. The Su-27 was a top-tier, fourth-generation fighter jet with excellent range, maneuverability, and advanced avionics. It was a significant upgrade over China’s existing aircraft at the time.

Collaborative Combat Aircraft First Flights are Imminent, Sources Say

08/23/2025

At least one, and possibly both, of the Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft prototypes is expected to fly in the coming days, sources told Air & Space Forces Magazine, beginning a flight test and evaluation program leading to production contracts sometime in fiscal 2026. Anduril Industries’ YQ-44A Fury and General Atomics’ YFQ-42A are both “basically ready to go,” a Pentagon official said.

NORAD F-16s Intercept Russian Spy Plane Near Alaska 2 Days in a Row

08/23/2025

U.S. Air Force F-16s intercepted a Russian spy plane operating off the coast of Alaska on consecutive days, North American Aerospace Defense Command officials said. A Russian Il-20 surveillance aircraft ventured near Alaska Aug. 20, NORAD said in a statement at the time. And roughly 24 hours later, NORAD disclosed that a similar incident occurred the next day on Aug. 21.

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.