Air Forces

Latest in Air Forces

Celebrations for the 80th anniversary of the Korean People’s Air Force (KPAF) provided an apparent first look at three new types of air-launched weapon, intended to arm the KPAF’s Su-25 Frogfoot ground-attack aircraft, and potentially others. The event also yielded a better look at the country’s ‘copycat’ drones, the Saetbyol-4 and Saetbyol-9 that are almost exact visual copies of the U.S.-made RQ-4 Global Hawk and MQ-9 Reaper, respectively.
North Korean Air Force

Analyzing North Korea’s New Air-Launched Guided Weapons

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 2, 2025

Turkish industry and media alike have heralded the recent live-fire test in which a Kizilelma uncrewed combat air vehicle (UCAV) used a Turkish-made air-to-air missile to destroy a target drone. Turkey claims the test marks the first occasion a UCAV has launched a radar-guided air-to-air missile. But, while undoubtedly impressive, there are unanswered questions about how the engagement actually played out, especially to what degree the UCAV was being controlled by crewed fighter jets.
Turkish Air Force

Turkey’s Fighter-Like Kizilelma Drone Shot Down Aerial Target With Radar-Guided Missile

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 1, 2025

War Secretary Pete Hegseth has arrived in the Caribbean as Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro rattles his sabre.
U.S. Air Force

Maduro Literally Rattles His Saber As Hegseth Arrives In Caribbean

By Howard Altman

Posted on Nov 26, 2025

Japan's plans to place SAMS on an island near Taiwan has China outraged.
Japan Air Self Defense Force

Japan’s Plan To Put SAMs On Strategic Island 70 Miles From Taiwan Could Be Just The Beginning

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Nov 26, 2025

J-36 shows its new thrust vector nozzles
People's Liberation Army Air Force (China)

China’s J-36 Tailless Stealth Jet’s New Thrust Vectoring Nozzles Seen From Behind

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Nov 24, 2025

F-35B UK issues
Royal Air Force

United Kingdom’s F-35 Program Slammed For Cost-Saving Blunders

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Nov 24, 2025

A U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress bomber assigned to the 2nd Bomb Wing, receives fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing, in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility, Oct. 15, 2025. B-52s are world-wide deployable and deter foreign terrorist and transnational criminal organizations, which threaten the safety, security and stability of the Western Hemisphere. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Zachary Foster)
U.S. Air Force

U.S. Pressure Campaign Against Venezuela Has Entered A New Phase

By Howard Altman

Posted on Nov 24, 2025

The U.S. Air Force says it estimates a fleet of Next Generation Airlift (NGAL) aircraft will be flying operational missions by the 2040-2041 timeframe.
U.S. Air Force

C-17 Will Fly Until 80 Years Old Under New USAF Airlifter Strategy

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 21, 2025

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - NOVEMBER 21: Smoke rises after an Indian fighter jet crashed into a field while performing a demonstration flight during the Dubai Airshow in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on November 21, 2025.
Indian Air Force

Fatal Crash Of India’s Tejas Light Fighter Mars Dubai Airshow

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Nov 21, 2025

‘Crew One,’ a three-man weapons load team, completes the first full external loadout with live munitions for the F-35A Lightening II May 3, 2019, at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates. F-35A Lightning IIs assigned to the 4th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron were configured in a full external live loadout of six GBU-49 small glide munitions and two AIM-9x Sidewinder missiles to execute an operation in Southwest Asia.
Royal Saudi Air Force

Impact Of Selling F-35s To Saudi Arabia On The Region

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Nov 20, 2025

The Utah Air National Guard demonstrated new capabilities that expand the KC-135 aerial refueling tanker's ability to also act as an airborne communications and data-sharing node during major exercises in the Pacific earlier this year.
U.S. Air Force

KC-135 Refueling Pods Have Been Converted Into Flying Communication Nodes

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 20, 2025

The Yantar, a notorious Russian spy ship, directed lasers at the crews of U.K. Royal Air Force aircraft in waters off the north of Scotland, the British government said today.
Royal Air Force

Russian Spy Ship Targets Royal Air Force Jets With Laser

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Nov 19, 2025

Boeing, Saab, and BAE Systems have teamed up to offer the T-7A Red Hawk advanced jet trainer to the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force. With a plan to build the jets in the United Kingdom, the partnership aims to deliver a successor to the Royal Air Force’s current fleet of BAE Systems Hawks from 2030.
Royal Air Force

T-7 Red Hawk Jet Trainer Offer To United Kingdom Includes Local Assembly

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Nov 18, 2025

In its latest efforts to modernize its air force, Ukraine has signed a letter of intent to buy up to 100 Dassault Rafale multirole fighters from France over the next 10 years. Today’s agreement comes less than a month after Sweden and Ukraine unveiled a plan to export as many as 150 Gripen E fighters to Kyiv. While the Rafale is the most advanced combat aircraft so far included in Ukraine’s defense plans, there remain huge questions about whether the acquisition of one of these aircraft types, let alone two, is really feasible, especially in such numbers.
Ukrainian Air Force

Ukraine’s Questionable Plan To Buy Up To 100 Rafale Fighters

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Nov 17, 2025

With the first example of Boeing’s F-47 sixth-generation stealth fighter for the U.S. Air Force now in production, a company official has highlighted how its prototyping effort allowed the program to move forward at a rapid pace. Winning the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program was “humbling,” said Steve Parker, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space and Security. He added that the fact the F-47 is now in production is testament to “the maturity of our design and pedigree coming off the prototype.”
U.S. Air Force

F-47 Program’s Accelerated Pace Made Possible By NGAD X-Plane Efforts

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Nov 17, 2025

Israel's stocks of AIM-9M Sidewinder air-to-air missiles are now more effective against long-range kamikaze drones like Iran's Shahed-136, thanks to changes to their seekers, according to a new report.
Israeli Air Force

Israel Modified AIM-9M Sidewinder Missile Seekers To Better Target Drones: Report

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Nov 15, 2025