Concerns of delay loom over KF-21 fighter jet program as production costs likely to rise
South Korea's first homegrown fighter jet program may face delays as costs for follow-on production are projected to sharply rise from the original estimate, a document drafted by the state arms procurement agency showed Tuesday. The "Block-II" production of the KF-21 Boramae fighters was projected to cost 18.44 trillion won (US$12.5 billion) as of March, an increase of 29.5 percent, or 4.19 trillion won, from the initial estimate of 14.24 trillion won made in August 2024, according to the document by the Defense Acquisition Procurement Administration (DAPA) submitted to a lawmaker.
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Pakistan quietly hosted Iranian military aircraft during US war, despite public mediator role
US officials told CBS that Tehran moved aircraft to Pakistan and Afghanistan in an apparent effort to shield aviation assets from possible American strikes, even as Islamabad presented itself as a diplomatic channel between Iran and Washington.
A Swiss F-35 dilemma
Paying more for less doesn’t sound like a great deal, but this is where Switzerland has landed in the purchase of its next combat aircraft, the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II. The Swiss Ministry of Defence had first planned to buy 36 of the type, but the budget, even with a modest increase, is now expected to cover no more than 30 of the fighter/ground-attack aircraft.
Air Combat Command to Take Over Fighter and Drone Pilot Training
The Air Force is placing Air Combat Command in charge of teaching combat tactics to fighter and remotely-piloted aircraft units, according to a May 12 announcement. Beginning this summer, the service will reassign the formal training units for the F-35, F-16, and MQ-9 from Air Education and Training Command to ACC at seven installations.
China’s J-10C Armed With World’s Longest-Range Air-to-Air Missile Sparks Indo-Pacific Alarm
China’s apparent decision to integrate the PL-17 ultra-long-range air-to-air missile onto the lightweight Chengdu J-10C fighter is rapidly emerging as one of the most strategically disruptive airpower developments in the Indo-Pacific since the operational debut of the J-20 stealth fighter.
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.
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.
