Special Purpose

Military Aviation News Archive

Belgium to Receive First F-35A Fighters on October 13

10/13/2025

Belgium will receive its first four F-35A fighter jets at Florennes Air Base on October 13, according to the service. Belgian Air Force pilots were preparing to fly these aircraft from the US to Europe over the weekend. The delivery initiates the next step in Belgium’s transition from F-16s to fifth-generation fighters.

The U.S. could move forward with the sale of new AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles for the Pakistan Air Force’s F-16 fighters

10/13/2025

While the attention of the defense community has focused on the performance of new Chinese-origin platforms such as the JF-17 Thunder and J-10CE, the F-16 fighters remain one of the main pillars of the Pakistan Air Force’s combat aviation. Given their importance, the U.S. government could move forward—at Islamabad’s request—with the provision of new AMRAAM air-to-air missiles to equip them, according to a recent contract dated September 30 published by the Department of Defense.

India is now lead supplier of fuel additives for Russia’s fighter jets, Ukrainian think tank warns

10/12/2025

India is now believed to be the biggest supplier of fuel additives used to enhance the capabilities of Russian fighter jets, according to a new report. More than half a dozen Indian companies – suppliers and manufacturers based in Delhi and Mumbai – were found to have supplied nearly half of the total of Russia’s imported fuel additives in 2024, a Kyiv-based think tank has found.

Canada’s F-35 Fighter Program Has Passed The Point Of No Return

10/12/2025

A strong case is made that Canada is already “all-in” on acquiring the F-35, with the final contract signing being a mere formality. The proof lies in irreversible actions already underway: Canadian pilot training slots are booked in the U.S. for 2026, and air bases like Cold Lake and Bagotville are undergoing major upgrades to F-35 standards. The F-35 is not a standalone purchase but the “keystone” of a broader, integrated strategy to modernize Canada’s Arctic and NORAD defenses.

Ka-52 Attack Helicopter Crashes in Russia: Crew Did Not Survive

10/12/2025

Russia has suffered another loss of combat aircraft – a Ka-52 Alligator attack helicopter crashed. The incident was reported by Russian propagandist Fighterbomber, who published an emotional post. Another Russian propaganda outlet, Voyevoda Veshchayet, reported that two ‘experienced’ pilots were killed. The Ministry of Defence of Russia has not commented on the situation, and there is no public information about the crash site or the circumstances of the incident.

US Authorizes Qatar Air Force to Establish Permanent Facility in Idaho

10/12/2025

The United States has finalized an agreement with Qatar to deploy an Air Force facility at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced the arrangement following a meeting with his Qatari counterpart, Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani. The facility will support the training of Qatari pilots on F-15 fighter aircraft. The number of F-15s to be based at the site has not been disclosed.

France Handed Over New Rafale Fighters to Egypt

10/12/2025

Egypt has received a batch of Rafale F3R fighters under a contract signed with France in 2021. This was reported by the Egyptian media. The number of aircraft in the batch was not disclosed. The contract for the supply of 30 Rafale F3R fighter jets was signed in 2021. It became the second large-scale aviation agreement between Cairo and Paris after the first deal in 2015. The total value is €3.75 billion.

Sweden sending Gripens to NATO’s Steadfast Noon nuclear drill, in historic first

10/11/2025

Sweden will participate in NATO’s annual nuclear military exercise for the first time, a major step for a nation that avoided military alliance for 200 years and has avoided nuclear entanglements entirely. The Swedish government’s statement on Friday regarding the deployment of Saab Gripen fighter jets to the Steadfast Noon exercise follows Finland’s confirmation of its participation with F/A-18 Hornets.

F-16 Fighter Jets Carry Out 80% of Ukrainian Air Force Combat Missions – U.S. Statement

10/11/2025

F-16 fighter jets, provided to Ukraine as part of military aid, carry out about 80% of all combat sorties flown by the Ukrainian Air Force. The Air and Space Forces Magazine reported on this. These combat aircraft are used, in particular, to intercept Russian cruise missiles and Shahed kamikaze drones.

Russian MiG-31 fighter jet crashed in western region during landing, Moscow says

10/11/2025

A Russian MiG-31 fighter-interceptor jet crashed in Lipetsk Oblast while attempting to land, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Oct. 9. The MiG-31, a twin-seat supersonic aircraft capable of carrying Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, has been widely used by Russia to strike targets deep inside Ukraine.

Pentagon agrees to host Qatari F-15 fighter jets and pilots at Idaho air base

10/11/2025

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced Friday that the Pentagon has agreed to build a new facility in Idaho to host fighter jets and pilots from Qatar. Hegseth made the announcement during a Pentagon ceremony honoring Qatari Minister of Defense Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, where the Trump administration official also highlighted the “core part” the Gulf nation played in securing the Gaza peace deal.

Denmark commits $4.5 billion for additional F-35 jets, invests in Arctic defense spending plan

10/11/2025

Denmark pledged today to spend 56.4 billion Danish Krone ($8.77 billion) on “significantly strengthening” its defense capabilities, split between a second tranche acquisition of 16 Lockheed Martin F-35 fifth-generation fighter jets, valued at 27.4 billion Danish Krone, and an Arctic spending plan at a cost of 27.4 billion Danish Krone.

Kabul blames Pakistan for airstrikes that killed 3 people in eastern Afghanistan

10/10/2025

Airstrikes that Afghanistan’s Taliban government blamed on neighboring Pakistan struck two eastern provinces of the country, killing at least three people, wounding seven others and damaging homes, officials and witnesses said Thursday. In Kabul, the foreign ministry decried the strikes that took place late Wednesday in Nangarhar and Khost provinces, calling them a “provocative act” by Pakistan and summoning the Pakistani ambassador in Kabul.

Wilsbach: F-15EX Delayed by Strike; Fourth-Gen Fighters Still Bring Value

10/10/2025

Deliveries of F-15EX aircraft are being delayed by labor strikes at Boeing, Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach told the Senate Armed Services Committee ahead of his Oct. 9 confirmation hearing to be Air Force Chief of Staff. During the hearing, Wilsbach touted the value of the EX and other fourth-generation platforms despite their lack of stealth, saying they can contribute in other ways. As an example, he cited the F-15EX’s expected ability to carry oversized hypersonic weapons.

U.S. Navy Nears Decision on F/A-XX Sixth-Generation Fighter with Boeing or Northrop Grumman

10/10/2025

The United States Navy is close to naming the winner of its highly anticipated contract for its sixth-generation fighter. The still-unnamed aircraft, known simply as the F/A-XX, will eventually replace the service’s aging carrier-capable F/A-18 Super Hornet, the updated variant of the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet.

NATO Considers Letting Pilots Fire on Russian Aircraft After Airspace Violations

10/10/2025

NATO allies are discussing the possibility of a stronger response to Russia’s ongoing provocations, including potentially allowing pilots to open fire on Russian aircraft and expanding military exercises along the Alliance’s eastern border, the Financial Times (FT) reported on October 8, citing four NATO officials.

Air Force Must Increase Flying Hours, Invest in Spare Parts: CSAF Nominee Wilsbach

10/10/2025

Air Force pilots are not flying enough, and the service must fix what has become a chronic issue and the myriad of factors that contribute to it, particularly a lack of spare parts, the nominee to become the next Chief of Staff of the Air Force told senators during his confirmation hearing Oct. 9.

NATO's air policing mission is getting riskier for the F-35s, Gripens, F-16s, and other fighter jets at the front

10/09/2025

More frequent and more provocative Russian aircraft incursions into NATO airspace and rising pressure within the alliance to respond with force are raising the risks for front-line pilots flying air policing missions.

Why Greece Needs The F-35 Stealth Fighter

10/09/2025

Greece is buying 20 F-35s (Lot-20) for about $8.6 billion, with deliveries targeted from 2028, to complement its F-16V fleet and transform the Hellenic Air Force’s reach, survivability, and ISR. The F-35’s stealth, sensor fusion, and electronic warfare sharpen air policing and intercept missions across Greece’s vast coastline and islands while deepening NATO interoperability.

Boeing completes critical F-15C upgrades to rxtend combat readiness for U.S. Air Force fleet

10/09/2025

Boeing’s Government Services team has completed subsystem upgrades on 37 F-15C Eagle fighter jets at the Louisiana Air National Guard Base in New Orleans. The enhancements are part of a four-year effort to ensure the ageing aircraft remain combat-effective and secure into the 2030s.

The Hidden Cost of Flying Yesterday’s Trainers

10/09/2025

When the first T-7A Red Hawk trainer arrives at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph this December, it will mark more than just the introduction of a new aircraft. It represents the U.S. Air Force’s acknowledgment of a decades-long training crisis that has quietly undermined pilot development: the service has been teaching aviators habits they’ll later need to unlearn, building muscle memory for aircraft that retired before many current pilots were born.

Germany signs off on $4.4 billion Eurofighter Typhoon deal

10/09/2025

The German budget committee approved a long-planned order of advanced Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets today, greenlighting the €3.75 billion ($4.36 billion) procurement of 20 additional aircraft, designed to the Tranche 5 standard. In a translated statement, the German Ministry of Defense (MoD) said that the combat jets will be equipped with E-scan radars with deliveries set to run from 2031 to 2034.

Bangladesh air force gets nod to spend billions on multirole fighters

10/08/2025

Two air forces fly the Chinese-manufactured J-10 fighter – China and Pakistan – but a third nation could soon become an operator of this 4.5-generation jet. Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, Bangladesh’s top air force officer, announced last month that his country’s interim government had given an in-principle approval for the purchase of “multirole combat and attack aircraft” plus new surface-to-air missiles and long-range radars.

Mysterious Aircraft Crash Near Area 51 Just Got Weirder

10/08/2025

Details remain scant about an unspecified U.S. Air Force aircraft, widely believed to be a drone of some kind, which came down in southern Nevada not far from Area 51 nearly two weeks ago. Whether the aircraft was ever actually inside Area 51’s highly restricted airspace, also known as “The Box,” is unknown. The mishap prompted authorities to temporarily close the airspace above the crash site, with some exemptions, while the wreckage was cleared.

India, Brazil Weigh Barter Deal for Military Aircraft

10/08/2025

India and Brazil are in talks over a landmark defense deal that could see both nations swap high-value military platforms instead of paying in cash, according to local media. While specifics remain undisclosed, reports suggest New Delhi would acquire Brazil’s Embraer C-390 Millennium transport aircraft, while Brasília would receive an equivalent value of Indian-made defense systems.

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