Air Forces

Latest in Air Forces

F-22 Raptor “2.0” Spotted Undergoing Flight Testing
U.S. Air Force

F-22 Raptor “2.0” Spotted Undergoing Flight Testing

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Updated 4 Hours Ago

SAAB 340 AEW&C spotted over Ukraine.
Ukrainian Air Force

Ukraine’s Saab 340 Airborne Early Warning Radar Plane Spotted Operating Over The Country

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Mar 20, 2026

As part of its seemingly never-ending search for new fighters, the Indian Ministry of Defense says it wants to team up with one of the two rival European next-generation combat aircraft programs.
Indian Air Force

India Joining One Of Europe’s Fighter Programs Is Anything But Easy

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Mar 19, 2026

The U.S. Air Force has confirmed that it has, for the first time, used its new 5,000-pound-class GBU-72/B bunker-buster bomb in combat.
U.S. Air Force

U.S. Used Its New 5,000-Pound Bunker Busters To Hit Iranian Anti-Ship Missile Sites: Reports

By Thomas Newdick, Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Mar 18, 2026

Japan's ugly EC-2 surveillance aircraft.
Japan Air Self Defense Force

Japan’s EC-2 Electronic Warfare Jet, Arguably The World’s Ugliest Aircraft, Just Flew For The First Time

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Mar 17, 2026

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) claims that it destroyed the Iranian government’s Airbus A340 in a strike on Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran. Last summer, the aircraft had been part of an exodus of Iranian state-operated airliners to Oman, but its apparent demise now underscores the intensity of the current airstrikes against Iran, which have been systematically removing aircraft of all types from the Iranian order of battle.
Iranian Air Force

Israel Claims Destruction Of ‘Iran Force One’

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Mar 16, 2026

A KC-135 refueling tanker crashed in Iraq, according to CENTCOM.
U.S. Air Force

KC-135 Tanker Crashes In Iraq During Operation Epic Fury Sortie (Updated)

By Howard Altman, Thomas Newdick, Joseph Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Mar 13, 2026

Iran continues its campaign against commercial tankers, with another two vessels apparently set ablaze earlier today in Iraqi waters. Now, the U.S. government is looking at providing protective escorts.
Iranian Air Force

U.S. Navy Won’t Be Ready To Escort Tankers Through Hormuz For Weeks (Updated)

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Mar 12, 2026

F-35B ready to carry out defensive counter-air sortie operations across the Middle East. British jets are protecting UK personnel and allied nations across the Middle East. These operations form part of the UK’s broader commitment to regional security and an active commitment to protect our personnel and allies. ** Some blurring has been applied for operational security reasons **
Royal Air Force

UK Grows Its Defensive Posture Abroad In Response To Iran Conflict

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Mar 11, 2026

B-1B bomber used to strike Iran from RAF Fairford.
U.S. Air Force

Epic Fury Day 11: U.S. Promises “Most Intense Day Of Strikes” On Iran

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Mar 10, 2026

An Australian E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning and control plane is headed for the Persian Gulf.
Royal Australian Air Force

Massive Leap In Ability To Spot Iranian Drones Headed To Persian Gulf

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Mar 10, 2026

Less than a week into Operation Epic Fury, we have seen a wide variety of munitions used by the U.S. and Israeli military and have previously looked at how their employment has involved as the conflict has progressed. We have also gotten a look at an apparently mysterious version of the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) in Israeli Air Force (IAF) service.
Israeli Air Force

Israeli F-16 Appears Carrying A Mysterious Precision Bomb

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Mar 7, 2026

Kuwait F/A-18 shoot down up for debate.
U.S. Air Force

Kuwaiti F/A-18’s Triple Friendly Fire Shootdown Gets Stranger By The Day

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Mar 6, 2026

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has denied claims circulating online of the loss of another F-15E Strike Eagle, this time over enemy territory, as part of ongoing operations against Iran.
U.S. Air Force

U.S. Denies F-15E Strike Eagle Went Down In Iran

By Howard Altman, Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Mar 5, 2026

For more than three weeks, Ukraine was left with only “a handful” of U.S.-made AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles for its F-16 fleet, after the supply of the weapons dried up. This is the conclusion of a Reuters report, citing three sources, all of whom are said to have direct knowledge of the situation. It also comes as Kyiv is increasingly in competition with the U.S. military and its Gulf allies as they come under continued pressure from Iranian drones and missiles in the Middle East.
Ukrainian Air Force

Ukrainian F-16s Had Only A Handful Of Sidewinder Missiles Available: Report

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Mar 5, 2026

For the first time, an F-35 has shot down a crewed aircraft in combat. According to the Israeli military, an Israeli Air Force (IAF) F-35I Adir brought down an Iranian Yak-130 Mitten combat trainer over Tehran.
Iranian Air Force

Israeli Air Force First To Claim F-35 Air-To-Air Kill Of A Crewed Aircraft

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Mar 4, 2026