4/1/2026 Italy closes Sicily base to US flights in Iran operations: Reports  Italy has refused to grant the U.S. permission to land military planes at an air base in Sicily before departing to the Middle East, according to Italian media reports. Corriere della Sera reported on Tuesday that “several US bombers” planned to land at Sigonella air base on their way to the Middle East earlier this week but were denied because the U.S. had not requested authorization or consulted with Italian military leaders. |
4/1/2026 Canadian supplier FTG supports global F-35 production with advanced circuit boards for fifth-generation fighter  Production of the F-35 fighter jet is expanding globally, with Canadian companies playing a growing role in the supply chain supporting the program. Lockheed Martin highlighted the contribution of Toronto-based Firan Technology Group, which produces key electronic components for the aircraft. |
4/1/2026 US ‘wild weasel’ squadron in Japan begins transition from F-16 to F-35  The aircraft, which arrived at Misawa air base on 28 March, are the first tranche of F-35s intended to modernise the US Air Force (USAF) fighter squadron in Japan assigned to the specialised – and dangerous – “wild weasel” mission. Officially known as suppression of enemy air defences, or SEAD, the task involves flying into defended airspace to identify and destroy ground-based radars and missile batteries. |
4/1/2026 NORAD Chief: F-35 “Not Needed” for North American Defense — Canada’s Fighter Jet Review Just Got Tougher?  The Commander of NORAD (North American Air Defence) has said that the American F-35 Lightning II is “not needed” for the North American defence at a time when Canada is dealing with its own F-35 predicament and reviewing the purchase of the American stealth fighter. |
4/1/2026 Trump Approves F-35 Sale to Saudi Arabia, Triggering a New Middle East Air Power Shift  President Donald Trump has again declared that Washington has agreed to sell F-35 stealth fighters to Saudi Arabia, and because the F-35 is not simply an aircraft but a software-defined combat system, the statement immediately elevates the issue from transactional arms sales into regional force-posture politics. |
3/31/2026 Despite Significant Interest, IAF Hesitant on F-35 Acquisition Due to US End-Use Monitoring and Indigenous Weapon Integration Issues  While the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has explored the American F-35 as a potential temporary solution for India’s fifth-generation fighter needs, the Indian Air Force (IAF) remains strongly opposed to the idea. Recent high-level proposals from Washington have attempted to sweeten the deal, but Indian military leaders remain concerned about losing operational independence. |
3/31/2026 Finnish Air Force prepares for arrival of first F-35 Lightning II fighters as integration and training progress  Finnish Air Force is preparing to receive its first F-35A multirole fighters this autumn, marking a key milestone in the country’s transition to a new combat aircraft capability. The introduction of the platform is progressing across training, infrastructure and operational planning as Finland moves toward full integration of the system. |
3/31/2026 Saab CEO: Canada could get its first Gripen fighter in five years  Saab’s chief executive said Canada’s existing aerospace infrastructure sets it apart from previous Gripen customers and could support a faster delivery timeline. Saab president and CEO Micael Johansson said on March 29, 2026, that delivering Gripen fighter jets to Canada within five years is “absolutely doable,” arguing that the country’s industrial base gives it a stronger starting point than previous customers such as Brazil. |
3/31/2026 Taiwan tracks 10 Chinese ships, 1 military aircraft  The Ministry of National Defense tracked nine Chinese naval vessels, one military aircraft, and one official ship around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Sunday and 6 a.m. on Monday. The People’s Liberation Army aircraft entered the country’s southwestern and southeastern air defense identification zone, according to the MND. |
3/31/2026 Spain Bars U.S. Iran-Related Military Flights From Its Airspace  Spain said Monday that it has closed its airspace to U.S. aircraft involved in military actions targeting Iran. The decision expands an earlier move to deny the use of jointly operated military bases at Rota and Morón. Defense Minister Margarita Robles said Monday that Spain would not permit either the bases or the nation’s airspace to be used for operations tied to the U.S. military involvement in Iran. |