Australian Wedgetail plane gave NATO 'critical' information during Russian incursion over Estonia
Australia's Wedgetail military surveillance plane gave "critical" information to NATO as it responded to an incursion by Russian fighter jets over Estonia in September. A European official says they would welcome Australia's government deploying the aircraft to Europe again.
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Mexico Moves to Replace Aging F-5s as US Tensions Cloud F-16 Bid
FAM commander General Román Carmona Landa confirmed the program on April 25, 2026, at the Tulum Air Show, telling Janes that the F-5 “represents Mexico’s greatest capability, but it is old technology and we are planning its replacement in the short and medium term.” He said candidates include the Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70/72, Saab JAS-39 Gripen E, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) FA-50 Fighting Eagle, and Leonardo M-346FA.
New Tu-160M photo confirms Russia’s slow but steady bomber upgrades
Fighterbomber channel published the first photo of Tu-160 '8-04' Deynekin after Tu-160M upgrade, bringing confirmed modernized Tu-160M count to six plus three new Tu-160M2s. AviVector analysis indicates only seven of Russia's 18 Tu-160M conduct combat missions against Ukraine, with seven to nine aircraft in Kazan workshops at any given time.
The F-35’S Combat Radius Is 670 Miles — Northern Japan To The Taiwan Strait Is 1,200 Miles, And China Knows It
The problem the Air Force is trying to solve: the F-35A’s combat radius on internal fuel is approximately 590 to 670 nautical miles, while the distance from northern Japan to the Taiwan Strait is roughly 1,200 miles, meaning the most advanced tactical aircraft in U.S. service cannot reach the Pacific’s most likely flashpoint without aerial refueling.
Ukraine and Sweden move toward deal on Gripen aircraft supply
Ukraine, together with Swedish partners, is working to strengthen its aviation and air defense capabilities. In Stockholm, Ukrainian Minister of Defense Mykhailo Fedorov held a meeting with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and a separate discussion with Swedish Minister of Defence Pål Jonson. During talks with his Swedish counterpart, Mykhailo Fedorov discussed the process of providing Ukraine with Gripen fighter aircraft. Strengthening air defense and aviation capabilities is one of the key priorities for implementing Ukraine’s defense strategy and protecting its airspace.
Taiwan tracks 8 Chinese military planes and 8 ships
The Ministry of National Defense tracked eight Chinese military aircraft, six naval vessels, and two official ships between 6 a.m. on Friday and the same time Saturday. The ministry reported all eight of the sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan’s central, southwestern and eastern air defense identification zone, or ADIZ. In response, Taiwan deployed aircraft, naval ships, and coastal-based missile systems.
Canada weighs Saab, Boeing and L3Harris early warning aircraft for future surveillance fleet
Canada is preparing to select a new fleet of airborne early warning and control aircraft as part of a military modernization effort focused on detecting threats such as hypersonic and cruise missiles. The program, valued at more than $5 billion, aims to acquire about six aircraft equipped with advanced radar and surveillance systems capable of operating at altitudes above 10 kilometres.
Italian Air Force 6th Wing Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fighters Reach 5,000 flight hours
The Italian Air Force’s 6th Wing has surpassed 5,000 flight hours with its Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fighter aircraft, marking a significant milestone in the unit’s transition to fifth-generation air operations. The achievement was recognised during a ceremony held on 17 April at Ghedi Air Base.
Pratt & Whitney hits key readiness mark on next-gen fighter engine
Pratt & Whitney completed a fully digital assembly readiness review for its XA103 NGAP adaptive engine, with physical hardware testing expected in the late 2020s. The Department of War awarded Pratt & Whitney and GE Aerospace each $975 million in August 2022 for NGAP technology maturation and risk reduction services.
Pakistan Unveils J-35 Stealth Fighter Deal With China, Triggering New South Asia Airpower Crisis Against India
Pakistan’s announcement that it is pursuing four major Chinese combat aviation procurements has intensified strategic concern across South Asia because the initiative directly links stealth airpower, long-range strike capability, and network-centric warfare into a unified modernization architecture following the May 2025 India-Pakistan aerial clashes.
