Former Thunderbirds pilot on how to not crumble under pressure
Michelle Curran earned her call sign “Mace” from a mistake she made during training. The former Air Force Thunderbirds pilot accidentally went supersonic during dogfighting training, a close-range aeri ......We hope you appreciate our content. Subscribe today to continue reading this story, and all of our stories.
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Taiwan tracks 12 Chinese ships, 1 military aircraft
The Ministry of National Defense tracked eight Chinese naval vessels, four official ships, and one military aircraft around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Saturday and 6 a.m. on Sunday. In response, Taiwan deployed aircraft, naval ships, and coastal-based missile systems to monitor PLA activity.
Rafale Fighter Jet Pilots Are French-Trained, Says Indonesian Air Force
Indonesian Air Force pilots who will operate Rafale fighter jets manufactured by Dassault Aviation have been training in France since 2025, with subsequent domestic training conducted for pilot regeneration. Air Commodore Nyoman Suadnyana, the Head of the Indonesian Air Force Information Service, said human resource capacity building is part of the air force's current priority programs, as newly acquired weaponry calls for a higher level of professionalism.
China’s YY-20 Aerial Refueler Spotted Near Taiwan
China’s new investments in tanker aircraft are an ominous sign for US forces in the Indo-Pacific. From May 24–26, China flew nearly 60 aircraft, helicopters, and drones near Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ). The activity indicates another large PLA pressure operation around Taiwan. But more interestingly, during the operation, Taiwanese aircraft captured infrared imagery of a YY-20 aerial refueling tanker refueling J-16 fighters.
Italy Deploys Troops and Jets to Romania After Russian Strike
Italy is deploying approximately 100 troops and several fighter jets to Romania to train the Romanian military in counter-drone tactics. The deployment, originally scheduled for a later date, was accelerated following a May 29 incident where a Russian drone crashed into a residential building in Galați. Stationed at the Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base near Constanța, the Italian contingent will spend roughly a month training Romanian forces to intercept and destroy unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Facing the U.S. withdrawal, European militaries will have to make up for hundreds of combat aircraft
The United States has notified NATO headquarters of a significant withdrawal of conventional assets allocated to the defense of Europe, a communication delivered by Alexander Velez‑Green, senior adviser at the Pentagon. Washington maintains the nuclear guarantee but is reducing by 50% the long‑range strike capabilities assigned to the European theatre. Allies have been asked to present a coverage plan ahead of a meeting preceding the NATO summit in Ankara in July. The issue concerns the rapid reconstitution of capabilities whose scale exceeds the volume currently deployed by U.S. forces on the continent.
Why Sweden Is Giving 16 Gripen Fighter Jets to Ukraine
Sweden, the newest member of the NATO alliance, has reached a deal to sell Ukraine 20 new JAS 39 Gripen multirole jet fighters. Stockholm is also planning to donate 16 older models of the Gripen to the Ukrainian Air Force. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced the news at a joint news conference on Thursday.
French Rafales intercept two Russian Su-30SM fighter jets
French Rafale fighters scrambled from Šiauliai Air Base in Lithuania to intercept two Russian Su-30SM fighters that entered Baltic airspace without a flight plan, with France’s Armed Forces General Staff publishing footage of the intercept and confirming the alert launched on very short notice.
Boeing supplying 4 military aircraft, upgrading fleet for $855 million
Four P-8A aircraft will go to unnamed foreign countries after the Pentagon awarded a $855 million contract to Boeing, per a release on Wednesday. The defense contractor will also replace old hardware and software in the aircraft fleet operated by the United States and other countries that have purchased it in the past.
Taiwan tracks 12 Chinese ships, 10 military aircraft
The Ministry of National Defense tracked 10 Chinese military aircraft, eight naval vessels, and four official ships around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on Thursday and 6 a.m. on Friday. The 10 People’s Liberation Army aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line in the country’s northern, central, southwestern, and eastern air defense identification zone, according to the MND.
