US AIR FORCE TESTS HOW SMALL TEAMS WILL OPERATE ITS NEW UNCREWED FIGHTERS
Buying hundreds of relatively inexpensive uncrewed fighters is only part of the challenge facing the U.S. Air Force . The service also needs to operate them without creating a manpower and logistics burden comparable to that of conventional fighter squadrons.
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China’s J-16 Fighters Reach Egypt, Expanding Beijing’s Combat Reach
Six J-16 fighters supported by KJ-500 airborne command-and-control and Y-20 strategic airlift are testing China’s expeditionary combat reach across Pakistan, Egypt and the strategically vital Suez corridor.
Africa’s largest military spender emerges as likely buyer of Russia’s new Il-78 tanker aircraft after receiving Su-57 stealth fighter jets
Months after delivering the first Su-57E stealth fighters to Algeria, Russia has unveiled a new Il-78MK-90A aerial refuelling tanker in export configuration, raising speculation that the aircraft could join Algeria’s growing fleet of Russian-built military aircraft and support systems.
Switzerland’s First F-35 Fighter Jets Are Under Construction in Italy
Though the Swiss aircraft will be mostly built in Italy, they will be finished in Texas and tested in Arkansas before their return to Europe.
US Air Force trials portable command centres for collaborative combat aircraft
Highly portable command and control systems that can be rapidly deployed and operated anywhere in the world could prove critical to the USAF's future drone wingman operations.
China’s Mirror-Coated J-35 Ignites New Stealth Arms Race With US F-35C
The unusual surface has acquired the Chinese nickname “Galaxy Battleship,” while its visual resemblance to experimental mirror-like treatments previously tested aboard American F-22A Raptors and F-35C Lightning IIs has intensified international scrutiny of the aircraft.
Bulgaria’s Second Batch of F-16 Block 70s Faces Delivery Delays Until 2030
Lockheed Martin’s delivery of the second batch of eight F-16 Block 70 fighters to Bulgaria could be delayed from the end of 2027 to the second quarter of 2030 due to production difficulties. However, company representatives informed Bulgarian Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov at an August 14 meeting that the revised timeline is not final and that Lockheed will take all steps to minimize the schedule delays.
Ukraine using Slovak MiG-29s to destroy Russian bridges (Ukraine Battlefield update, Day 1,637)
A new detailed photograph and fresh information have emerged on the missions of former Slovak MiG-29s. Last week, Ukraine’s air force lost one aircraft of this type. However, it is not known whether it was an original Ukrainian aircraft or one of those donated. On Tuesday, the Russians also said they had shot down another MiG-29 in the Donetsk region.
Boeing upgrades EA-18G Growler for next generation jamming as U.S. Navy strengthens electronic warfare against modern threats
Boeing is marking 20 years since the first flight of the EA-18G Growler, the U.S. Navy’s carrier-based airborne electronic attack aircraft. The anniversary comes as the Navy and Boeing continue upgrading the platform’s processing, detection and jamming capabilities for future operations.
Kratos Valkyrie flies with F-35 fighters in electronic warfare test, demonstrating beyond line of sight control in contested operations
Kratos said a missionized U.S. Marine Corps Valkyrie Collaborative Combat Aircraft flew alongside multiple F-35s and an F/A-18 during an electronic warfare test in Southern California. The April 2026 mission demonstrated beyond line of sight command and control while the aircraft completed coordinated electronic warfare objectives with Marine Corps fighters.
