4/11/2026 Morocco pushing military aviation overhaul amid Algerian arms race  Morocco is aggressively modernising its air force to counter Algiers’ formidable arsenal, thanks in part to a large defence budget increase. Complementing acquisitions, Morocco is fostering a burgeoning defence industry through joint ventures, partnerships, and financial incentives. Morocco has also been locked in a kind of cold war with neighbouring Algeria for decades, driven by several long-standing disputes, most notably over Western Sahara. |
4/11/2026 The Eurofighter Typhoon Could Be a Drone Killer  The multirole twin-engine Eurofighter Typhoon was developed to rapidly switch between combat roles during a single mission, capable of air superiority, air-to-air combat, precision surface attack, and even intelligence-gathering missions. It has been described as excelling in both Beyond Visual Range (BVR) and close-range combat, using its advanced Captor-E radar to identify and track targets quickly. |
4/11/2026 US Blocks Direct F-35 Talks With This Asian Country  The United States remains cautious about discussions surrounding the F-35 Lightning II fighter jet for India, with Lockheed Martin clarifying that no direct commercial engagement is taking place. The company reiterated that all discussions must follow strict government-to-government channels under the United States Foreign Military Sales (FMS) framework. |
4/11/2026 Norway Pledged Six F-16s to Ukraine. They’re Still Stuck in Belgium  Of the six F-16s promised by Norway to Ukraine, four of them still need heavy maintenance at a facility in Belgium before they can be deployed to the battlefield. The war in Ukraine is now in its fifth year, and despite efforts by the Trump administration to end the conflict, neither side seems any closer to reaching a peace deal. Even as Kyiv continues to receive aid from Western allies, it faces severe strain and could use additional support. |
4/11/2026 First Look – First Shot – First Kill: The Raptor Nation’s 20 Years of Air Dominance  The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s F-22 Program Office, in partnership with the Dayton Development Coalition and Jobs Ohio, hosted a celebration at the National Museum of the United States Air Force on April 1, commemorating the F-22 Raptor’s 20 years of air dominance. |
4/11/2026 France Offers Greece Rafale Jets Deal to Secure Mirage 2000 Transfer to Ukraine  France is intensifying pressure on Greece to supply its Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets to Ukraine, Ekathimerini reported on April 10. This comes as Athens remains highly reluctant to approve the transfer due to domestic political concerns, financial commitments, and regional security priorities. |
4/10/2026 Polish F-16s intercept Russian spy plane over Baltic Sea  According to the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces, the jets identified and escorted an Ilyushin Il-20 conducting a mission in international airspace. The aircraft did not enter Polish airspace but was monitored and guided out of the area. Officials emphasised that such interceptions are routine measures used to maintain airspace security and identify aircraft that fail to comply with international aviation rules. |
4/10/2026 UAE Mirage-2000-9 Jets Accused of Striking Iran’s Lavan Island Refinery, Threatening Collapse of Strait of Hormuz Ceasefire  Unverified Iranian claims that UAE-operated Mirage-2000-9 fighter jets struck the Lavan Island refinery have intensified fears of a wider Persian Gulf conflict, placing the Strait of Hormuz, global oil markets and the fragile U.S.-brokered ceasefire under immediate pressure. |
4/10/2026 US Navy Overhauls Carrier Pilot Training: First Landings Now Required in Combat Aircraft  The United States Navy has fundamentally restructured its carrier aviator training program, marking a decisive departure from protocols established over multiple decades. Under the revised framework, naval aviators will now conduct their maiden carrier landings while operating advanced combat aircraft—specifically the F/A-18 Super Hornet or F-35C Lightning II—rather than transitioning through traditional trainer platforms. |
4/10/2026 S. Korea, US to hold joint Freedom Flag air drill  South Korea and the United States will conduct the joint “Freedom Flag” air drill starting Friday, the South Korean Air Force said Thursday. Freedom Flag is a large-scale bilateral air exercise held twice a year in the first and second halves. This edition will run through April 24, according to the Air Force. A range of air assets will be mobilized, including fighter jets, transport aircraft, aerial refueling tankers, airborne early warning and control aircraft, and unmanned aerial systems.
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