Fighters

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South Korea today rolled out the first series-produced example of its homegrown KF-21 fighter. This major milestone in the program also underscores just how quickly the program has progressed, with the rollout coming a little over five years since the first prototype of the fighter was unveiled. The development schedule is especially impressive when compared with other new-generation fighter programs, although Seoul has taken some notable shortcuts to meet this aggressive timeline.

First Series-Produced KF-21 Fighter Rolled Out In South Korea

By Thomas Newdick

Posted 10 Hours Ago

U.S. Marines assigned to the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 311 (VMFA), Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, prepare to launch an F-35C Lightning II at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, May 16, 2024. Checkered Flag is a large-force aerial exercise which fosters readiness and interoperability through the incorporation of 4th and 5th-generation aircraft in combat training. The 24-2 iteration of the exercise was held May 9-22. Nordheim)

Land-Based Marine Corps F-35Cs Are Now Moving Towards The Middle East

By Thomas Newdick

Updated Yesterday

F-22 Raptor “2.0” Spotted Undergoing Flight Testing

F-22 Raptor “2.0” Spotted Undergoing Flight Testing

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Updated on Mar 23, 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.

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

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Mar 19, 2026

F-35 made emergency landing after Iran claims it struck one with a SAM.

USAF F-35 Makes Emergency Landing After Allegedly Being Hit by Iranian Fire

By Thomas Newdick, Howard Altman

Posted on Mar 19, 2026

A picture of a U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler taking part in the current operations against Iran shows the plane carrying an interesting split load of two different electronic warfare pods.

EA-18G Growlers Carrying Mixed Load Of Old And New Jamming Pods Are Flying Iran Missions

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Mar 16, 2026

Satellite imagery from Vantor shows at least two, and more likely three, swing-wing F-14 Tomcat fighters, as well as at least 10 other aircraft destroyed on the ground following strikes on an Iranian airbase in Isfahan.

Iranian F-14 Tomcats Meet Their Doom In Israeli Airstrikes

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Mar 11, 2026

In a surprising development, Serbia has emerged as an operator of the Chinese-made CM-400 air-launched supersonic missile. The weapon has been integrated into Serbia’s Soviet-era MiG-29 Fulcrums, which have undergone various upgrades.

Serbian MiG-29 Appears Armed With Chinese Supersonic Standoff Missiles

By Thomas Newdick

Updated 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 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.

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. 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 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.

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

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Mar 4, 2026

Kuwaiti Hornet shot down F-15Es: REPORT

Kuwaiti F/A-18 Hornet Responsible For Shooting Down Three USAF F-15E Strike Eagles: Report

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Mar 4, 2026

The U.S. is sending more fighters jets to the Middle East.

More U.S. Fighter Aircraft Heading To Middle East

By Howard Altman

Posted on Mar 3, 2026

A U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18C Hornet assigned to Carrier Air Wing 17, deployed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), flies over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility during a mission in support of Operation Inherent Resolve Sept. 28, 2020. The F/A-18 is a highly versatile aircraft due to its avionics, cockpit displays, aerodynamic characteristics, and its ability to carry a wide variety of weapons. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Duncan C. Bevan)

Friendly-Fire Incidents Are Nothing New In Modern Air Warfare

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Mar 2, 2026