3/24/2026 Spain hints F-18 Hornet fighters could stay in service until 2040  Spain’s government has indicated that the Spanish Air and Space Force’s F-18 fleet could remain in service until as late as 2040, a sign that Madrid is preparing to keep at least some of its legacy fighters flying longer than previously expected. |
3/24/2026 Dutch F-35s visit Hill AFB to integrate and train with 388th FW  For much of March, a contingent of Dutch F-35A Lightning IIs, along with support personnel from across the RNLASF Air Combat Command, have been deployed to Hill Air Force Base for exercise Lightning Forge – flying and training alongside their U.S. Air Force F-35 counterparts from the 388th Fighter Wing. The primary goal is to sharpen combat skills in a realistic, contested environment, with a focus on integration between the NATO allies. |
3/24/2026 USAF Pilot Suffered Shrapnel Wounds after F-35 Hit Over Iran  A U.S. Air Force F-35A pilot suffered shrapnel wounds after their aircraft was damaged during a combat mission over Iran on March 19, people familiar with the matter told Air & Space Forces Magazine. |
3/23/2026 U.S. Army announces arrival of first AH-64E Apache attack helicopters to 1st Armored Division Combat Aviation Brigade  On March 12, the U.S. Army announced that the 1st Battalion, 501st Aviation Regiment, known as the “Iron Dragons,” received its first AH-64E Apache helicopters at Biggs Army Airfield. The delivery marks the beginning of the Combat Aviation Brigade’s transition to the latest Apache variant. |
3/23/2026 All seven on board Qatar military helicopter killed in crash  All seven people on board a Qatari military ?helicopter, including three Turkish nationals, have been killed in a crash in the Gulf state’s territorial waters, authorities ?said. The Qatari and Turkish defence ministries on Sunday said the helicopter crashed after suffering a ?technical malfunction, which the Qatari ministry said happened during a “routine duty”. |
3/23/2026 Dutch F-35 fighters conduct joint training with U.S. Air Force at Hill AFB During exercise Lightning Forge  Dutch F-35A fighter jets and personnel have deployed to Hill Air Force Base in Utah to train alongside U.S. Air Force units during exercise Lightning Forge. The deployment, involving the Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force Air Combat Command, marks the largest F-35 deployment by the Dutch service to date. |
3/23/2026 Taiwan Expected to Receive Long-Delayed U.S. Fighter Jets This Year  Taiwan’s defense ministry announced that long-awaited F-16V fighter aircraft from the United States will finally begin arriving this year, with manufacturing now operating at maximum capacity following a high-level visit to the production facility. The island nation, which confronts growing military pressure from China, has expressed frustration over recurring postponements of weapons deliveries from the U.S., its most crucial international ally and primary arms provider.
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3/23/2026 US rejects Iran's claim of hitting F-35  US Central Command on Sunday rejected Iran's claims that it shot down a fifth-generation F-35 fighter jet over central Iran. "US forces have flown more than 8,000 combat flights during Operation Epic Fury. No US fighter aircraft have been shot down by Iran," CENTCOM said on US social media company X. Before the post, a spokesman of CENTCOM told Anadolu that they had no comment at that time regarding Iran’s claim that it had “shot down an F-15.” |
3/22/2026 Taiwanese officials shown 1st F-16V jet due this year  Taiwanese officials were shown the first of 66 F-16V fighter jets purchased by Taiwan from the United States, the Ministry of National Defense said yesterday, adding the aircraft has completed an initial flight test and is expected to be delivered later this year. A delegation led by Deputy Minister of National Defense Hsu Szu-chien visited Lockheed Martin’s F-16 C/D Block 70 (also known as F-16V) assembly line in South Carolina on March 16 to view the aircraft. |
3/22/2026 Israeli fighter jet targeted by surface-to-air missile over Iran  An Israeli fighter jet was targeted by a surface-to-air missile during operational activity over Iran but was not damaged and completed its mission, the Israeli army said on Saturday. The Israeli Defense Minister, Israel Katz, also announced that strikes against Iran will "significantly escalate" this week, as Iranian media reports drone attacks on fuel infrastructure at Ben Gurion Airport. |