3/5/2026 Somalia explores buying up to 24 JF-17 Block III fighters to rebuild air force  More than three decades after its air force effectively disappeared with the collapse of the Somali state, Mogadishu is now exploring what could become the most ambitious defence procurement in its modern history. |
3/5/2026 Kuwaiti F/A-18 Suspected in Downing of Three U.S. F-15Es  New reporting indicates a Kuwaiti Air Force F/A-18 Hornet may have been responsible for the downing of three U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles over Kuwait on March 2. People familiar with the incident told Air & Space Forces Magazine that at least one Kuwaiti fighter aircraft is believed to have fired the missiles that struck the jets. The aircraft had previously been reported shot down in what officials described as “an apparent friendly fire incident,”. |
3/5/2026 Saab sees role for Canada in sixth-generation fighter development  Saab has said Canada could play a role in the development of future sixth-generation combat aircraft technologies, as Ottawa continues to review the scope of its planned acquisition of F-35A fighter jets. According to a CBC News report on March 4, 2026, the Swedish defense company believes Canada could become a partner in shaping next-generation air combat capabilities while positioning its Gripen fighter as a potential alternative in Canada’s fighter replacement program. |
3/5/2026 U.S. could hold a 'red card' over Canada's Gripen fighter jet option  There is a way the U.S. could play hardball with Canada, if the Liberal government of Prime Minister Mark Carney decides it wants to limit its purchase of F-35s in favour of the Gripen.
Critics who favour the Lockheed-Martin stealth fighter have long argued that the Swedish-built Gripen would not be interoperable with American aircraft and the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD). |
3/4/2026 Israeli F-35I shoots down Iranian Yak-130 jet  The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Wednesday that an Israeli F-35I fighter jet shot down an Iranian Yak-130 aircraft, marking what officials described as the first fighter-to-fighter aerial engagement of the ongoing war between Israel and Iran. |
3/4/2026 Downing of U.S. F-15s and the Role of Joint All-Domain Command and Control  For years, U.S. and allied nation military planners have been seeking to improve planning, technology development and deployment of advanced systems for command, control and communications across all domains of a potential conflict space. This has been an acutely imperative concern for disparate nations conducting operations within each other’s airspace. Recent events in the start of U.S./Israeli military strikes on Iran, have profoundly illustrated the importance of this effort. |
3/4/2026 British Royal Air Force F-35 stealth fighter jets just scored their first-ever combat kill  British F-35s shot down drones over Jordan within the past 24 hours, the UK government said. It marks the first time a Royal Air Force F-35 has destroyed a hostile target during operations. The Middle East has been locked in an air defense frenzy as Iran fires waves of missiles and drones. |
3/4/2026 What Is Known About the Military Forces of Arab States in the Persian Gulf Amid Iranian Strikes  If Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, currently targeted by Iranian strikes, were to take direct military action, it could significantly accelerate the process, effectively doubling the forces already deployed by the U.S. and Israel |
3/4/2026 Malaysia Scraps Kuwaiti Hornet Purchase Plans The government of Malaysia has officially abandoned its plans to acquire F/A-18 Hornets from Kuwait, due to continued uncertainty on when the aircraft would be available and their long-term logistical support. Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari told lawmakers on February 26, that the cabinet had decided to cancel the planned purchase during a February 6 meeting, following a technical assessment by a Royal Malaysian Air Force delegation that inspected the Kuwaiti aircraft in November 2025. |
3/4/2026 Next-Generation Adaptive Propulsion system matters for Korea -U.S. pact  In recent talks with Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby recently praised South Korea as a "model ally" for committing to increase defense spending to 3.5% of gross domestic produce. And Seoul is truly stepping up. Defense spending increased 7.5% to $44.8 billion in fiscal 2026, the KF-21 Boramae fighter begins deliveries this year and the F-15K fleet is receiving major upgrades to ensure interoperability with U.S. forces. |