Fighters(Page 2)

Latest in Fighters

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.”
F-22

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

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Nov 17, 2025

French authorities have provided the first real look at the latest version of the Air-Sol Moyenne Portee (ASMP; or Medium-Range Air-to-Surface) ramjet-powered, nuclear-armed cruise missile.
Rafale

France’s New Nuclear-Armed Supersonic Cruise Missile Seen Clearly For The First Time

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 13, 2025

Imagery has been published providing a rare look inside the weapons bays of one of the prototypes of Russia’s Su-57 Felon new-generation fighter. While internal weapons carriage is a key design feature of the Sukhoi jet, the main weapons bays, at least, haven’t been seen in such detail, with weapons loaded. The footage comes as Moscow embarks on another export drive for the Su-57, which has reportedly so far only been ordered by Algeria.
Su-57

Su-57 Felon Brandishes Its Loaded Weapons Bays For The First Time

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Nov 10, 2025

China's growing weapons programs puts pressure on intelligence community.
J-XDS

Can U.S. Intel Keep Up With China’s Tsunami Of Weapons Developments?

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Nov 7, 2025

The U.K. Royal Navy flagship, HMS Prince of Wales, is now carrying 24 F-35B fighters — the largest number to go aboard either of the U.K’s two aircraft carriers. This is a significant achievement for the British F-35 force, which has long faced questions about the feasibility of deploying a meaningful number of the short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) jets at sea — without U.S. Marine Corps aircraft making up the numbers.
F-35B

British Carrier Hosts Largest Number Of F-35Bs On A Ship Ever

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Nov 7, 2025

An Italian Air Force F-35 Lighting II arrives at an undisclosed location within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, June 30, 2024. The F-35A is an agile, versatile, high-performance, 9g capable multirole fighter that combines stealth, sensor fusion and unprecedented situational awareness. The ITAF stopped in CENTCOM as a part of Operation Indo-Pacific Jump (IPJ) 2024.
F-35A

F-35 Sale To Saudi Arabia Being Mulled By Trump Admin: Report

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Nov 5, 2025

A group of men run on the tarmac during the opening ceremony of the European F-16 Training Center at the 86th Romanian Military Airbase in Fetesti, Romania, on November 13, 2023.
F-16

Romania Just ‘Bought’ 18 F-16s For One Euro

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Nov 4, 2025

We now have the first known commercial satellite imagery of the two Chinese sixth-generation stealth fighter designs that emerged nearly a year ago.
Fighters

China’s New Tailless Stealth Fighters Both Appear At Secretive Test Base

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Nov 4, 2025

Second J-36 prototype has major alterations compared to the first.
J-36

China’s Massive J-36 Stealth ‘Fighter’ Gets Major Design Tweaks With Second Prototype

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Oct 28, 2025

Nimitz hornet and seakhawk crash
F/A-18E/F

“Bad Fuel” May Have Caused Back-To-Back Nimitz Aircraft Crashes: Trump

By Howard Altman

Posted on Oct 27, 2025

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (R) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky walk past a Gripen fighter jet after they delivered a joint press conference in Linkoping, Sweden, on October 22, 2025, after talks on Russia's ongoing of aggression against Ukraine and the countries' deepening defense cooperation. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on october 22 that Sweden and Ukraine had signed a letter of intent to develop air capabilities, which could see Ukraine buy up to 150 Gripen fighter jets.
Gripen

Huge Gripen Fighter Order Letter Of Intent Signed By Ukraine

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Oct 22, 2025

jAS 39 E
Gripen

Gripen E Fighter Officially Joins The Swedish Air Force

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Oct 21, 2025

The Swedish Defense Materiel Administration (FMV) recently awarded Saab with the contract, worth around $276 million and covering the period from 2025 to 2027. As well as the FMV, Saab will work with the Swedish Armed Forces, the Swedish Defense Research Agency, GKN Aerospace, and other industry partners.
Gripen

Sweden Pushes Ahead With Future Fighter Program

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Oct 20, 2025

With a steady drumbeat of reports raising the prospect of some kind of U.S. military intervention in Venezuela, it’s worth looking at what is potentially one of its most threatening weapons: the Russian-made Kh-31 air-to-surface missile. Known to NATO as the AS-17 Krypton, the ramjet-powered missile is available in both anti-radiation and anti-ship versions, with the ship-killer being the most relevant in this context.
Flankers

Venezuela’s Supersonic Anti-Ship Missiles Are A Real Threat To American Warships

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Oct 20, 2025

Lockheed Martin has received a new full-rate production contract, valued at $233 million, for Block II IRST21 infrared search and track sensors to go into pods for U.S. Navy and U.S. Air National Guard fighters.
F/A-18E/F

Troubled Infrared Pod For Navy Super Hornets Gets New Vote Of Confidence

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Oct 20, 2025

Two U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning IIs, assigned to the F-35A Lightning II Demonstration Team, fly in formation prior to conducting air-to-air refueling over Utah, July 1, 2025. The F-35A Lightning II is the Air Force’s most advanced multirole fighter, capable of conducting both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions.
F-35A

Time Is Running Out For Canada’s Fighter Decision

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Oct 8, 2025

The U.S. Department of Defense may finally be ready to choose which company will develop and build the U.S. Navy’s F/A-XX next-generation carrier-based fighter. A report from Reuters today states that U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth personally gave the green light for the selection last Friday. However, this is not the first time that there have been reports that this decision was imminent, as you can read about here.
F/A-XX

Navy F/A-XX Stealth Fighter Selection Imminent: Reports

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Oct 7, 2025

A U.S. Marine Corps plane captain assigned to the Marine Fighter Attach Squadron 225 (VMFA-225) signals to a pilot in a F35B Lightning II as it taxis on the flightline after landing in the U.S. Southern Command Area of Responsibility, Sept. 13, 2025. U.S. military forces are deployed to the Caribbean in support of the U.S. Southern Command mission, Department of War-directed operations, and the president’s priorities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Katelynn Jackson)
F-35B

F-35s Deployed To Puerto Rico Showcased In First Official Images (Updated)

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Oct 2, 2025

A design of a patch for the F-47 System Management Office (SMO) that has been circulating on social media was indeed created by members of that organization, but is still being refined and hasn't been formalized, the Air Force has confirmed.
F-47

F-47 ‘Phoenix’ Patch Authentic, Still A Work In Progress, U.S. Air Force Confirms

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 30, 2025

USAF eyes large flying wing arsenal ship.
F-47

Flying Wing Arsenal Plane Packed With Air-To-Air Missiles Eyed By USAF: Report

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Sep 29, 2025

India’s then-controversial decision to buy the MiG-21 ushered in an era in which Soviet (and latterly Russian) fighters were dominant in the Indian Air Force, a situation that continues to this day. While India buying arms from Moscow is now well established, the Fishbed helped kick off this trend. The delta-winged fighter was selected in favor of Western designs to revamp the Indian Air Force. A key driver was the need to field a fighter that would challenge the F-104 Starfighter that the Pakistan Air Force was then operating.
MiG-21

India’s Iconic MiG-21 Blasts Off Into Retirement

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Sep 26, 2025

J-XDS images of china's new 6th generation stealth fighter
J-XDS

Is This Our Best Look At China’s Tailless J-XDS Stealth Fighter?

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Sep 25, 2025

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon receives fuel from a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, May 25, 2025. Aerial refueling allows Fighting Falcons to extend their mission and guarantee war-winning airpower throughout the CENTCOM AOR. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Natalie Jones)
F-15

Laser-Guided Rockets Now Primary Anti-Drone Weapon For USAF Jets In Middle East

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Sep 25, 2025

Renderings from General Atomics offer new looks at how its air-launched LongShot drone might be employed from F-15 fighters, as well as B-52 bombers and C-17 cargo aircraft.
F-15

F-15 Depicted Launching LongShot Air-To-Air Missile Carrier Drone In New Renderings

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 24, 2025

The crew of a U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle attempted to take down a long-range kamikaze drone with a Laser Joint Direct Attack Munition (LJDAM) precision-guided bomb after running out of missiles in the frantic midst of an all-out Iranian barrage aimed at Israel.
F-15

F-15Es Tried To Shoot Down Iranian Kamikaze Drones With Laser Guided Bombs

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Updated on Sep 24, 2025

The Danish police are seen at Copenhagen Airport, in Kastrup near Copenhagen, on September 22, 2025. Danish police said on September 23, 2025 they did not know who was responsible for flying drones over Copenhagen airport the previous evening, but that they appeared to have been knowledgeable. "The number, size, flight patterns, time over the airport. All this together ... indicates that it is a capable actor. Which capable actor, I do not know," police inspector Jens Jespersen told reporters. The airport was closed for several hours before reopening early Tuesday, causing numerous delays and travel disruptions to 20,000 passengers, airport officials said.
Fighters

Denmark Says Drone Incursions Were A Deliberate “Attack”

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Sep 23, 2025

A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor assigned to the 433rd Weapons Squadron, U.S. Air Force Weapons School, takes off for a training mission at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Aug. 21, 2025. The USAFWS provides academic and advisory support to numerous units, enhancing air combat training for Airmen from the Air Force, Department of Defense and U.S. allied services each year.
F-22

Lockheed Eyes Upgrades For Oldest F-22 Raptors

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Sep 22, 2025

Boeing has started production of the first F-47 sixth-generation stealth fighter for the U.S. Air Force, ahead of an expected first flight in 2028.
F-47

First F-47 6th Generation Fighter Now Being Built

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 22, 2025

Three Russian MiG-31 Foxhounds intruded into Estonian airspace.
Fighters

Russian MiG-31s Busting Estonian Airspace Has Eastern Europe On Edge

By Howard Altman

Posted on Sep 19, 2025

Cracks seem to be appearing in the pan-European Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program, at the heart of which will be crewed New Generation Fighter (NGF). Reports now suggest that Germany, one of the two major partners in FCAS, is looking at how it might kick France out of the program, amid long-running misgivings over workshare arrangements.
Fighters

Germany Considers Split From France On Next Generation Fighter

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Sep 19, 2025

U.S. military aircraft employed GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bombs (SDB) and laser-guided 70mm Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) rockets as part of the operation to strike Iranian nuclear facilities earlier this year.
F-22

Pentagon Moves To Replace Weapons It Used In Operation Midnight Hammer

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Sep 17, 2025

Peru has received approval to buy 12 F-16C/D Block 70 jets, which would make it the fourth South American operator of the Lockheed Martin fighter. If the acquisition goes ahead, it will also confirm the Peruvian Air Force’s move away from Russian-made combat aircraft, which currently make up a significant proportion of its fleet. These aircraft are now increasingly hard to support and, in general, Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has had a serious impact on its arms exports.
F-16

F-16 Cleared To Be Peru’s Next Fighter

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Sep 16, 2025

A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor has achieved what is, according to missile manufacturer Raytheon, the longest known AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) shot. Exactly how far away the fighter was from its target when it fired the radar-guided is unclear, but the milestone points both to the continued development of the AMRAAM’s capabilities as well as the growing focus, across the U.S. military, on extended-range air-to-air missiles to keep pace with developments in China and Russia.
F-22

F-22 Raptor Scores “Longest Known” AIM-120 AMRAAM Shot

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Sep 16, 2025

F-35B Puerto Rico
F-35B

F-35s Arrive In Puerto Rico For Counter-Drug Operation

By Howard Altman

Updated on Sep 14, 2025

An Italian Air Force F-2000 Eurofighter Typhoon flies a routine presence patrol mission over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Feb. 6, 2025. Close collaboration with partner nations improves interoperability, ensuring rapid crisis response and sustained operations to protect vital mutual interests in the AOR.
Typhoon

Drone-Killing APKWS Laser-Guided Rockets Eyed For Eurofighter Typhoon

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Sep 12, 2025

An air-to-air view of an F-15 Eagle sent to identify an aircraft which is possibly hauling drugs as detected by the Southern Regional Operations Center. The F-15 is part of Coronet Night Hawk, an all-guard mission using F-16s or F-15s on 24-hour alert status.
F-15

Deploying Fighter Jets To Hunt Drug Smugglers In The Caribbean Isn’t New

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Sep 10, 2025

Authorities in Poland say they have assessed that the incursions were not accidental. Polish and Dutch fighters shot down several of the intruding uncrewed aircraft.
F-35A

After Unprecedented Night Of Downing Drones Over Poland, NATO Reports No Posture Changes (Updated)

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Sep 10, 2025

An official familiar with operations confirmed to us that U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered 10 F-35 Joint Strike fighters to head to Puerto Rico to take part in ongoing counter-narcotics opertions(
F-35

F-35s Deploying To Caribbean Amid Growing Tensions With Venezuela (Updated)

By Howard Altman

Updated on Sep 5, 2025

Yesterday’s “show of force” by a pair of Venezuelan F-16s close to a U.S. Navy destroyer has put the spotlight very much back on the intriguing history of the South American nation’s Viper fleet. While you can catch up with our initial reporting on the incident, which involved the Arleigh Burke class destroyer USS Jason Dunham, here, it’s an opportune time to review why a country now so hostile to the United States flies F-16s.
F-16

The Unlikely Saga Of Venezuela’s F-16s

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Sep 5, 2025

Evidence has emerged that Ukraine has topped up its hard-worked fleet of MiG-29 Fulcrum fighters from a somewhat surprising source: Azerbaijan. While the number of aircraft involved is not considerable, any addition to the MiG-29 fleet will be welcome for the Ukrainian Air Force, which has also received Fulcrums donated by Poland and Slovakia and which has suffered steady attrition since Russia’s full-scale invasion began.
MiG-29

Ukraine Now Flying Former Azerbaijani MiG-29 Fulcrum

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Sep 4, 2025

We now have our first look at a U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike actually firing air-to-air optimized variants of the laser-guided 70mm Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) rocket.
F-15

F-15E Strike Eagle Fires Drone Killing Laser-Guided Rockets In New Images

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 4, 2025

First Look At Ukraine’s New Glide Bomb On A MiG-29
MiG-29

First Look At Ukraine’s New Glide Bomb On A MiG-29

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Sep 2, 2025

Boeing has provided a new rendering for its F/A-XX proposal and it’s remarkably similar to concept artwork that has already been released for its F-47, selected for the U.S. Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) ‘fighter’ initiative. While it’s important to not read too much into the final appearance of either of those aircraft, based on these concepts, the new rendering does, at least, correspond with Boeing’s previous suggestions that the F/A-XX and F-47 would incorporate some commonality.
F-47

Boeing’s New F/A-XX Next Gen Naval Fighter Concept Looks Familiar

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Aug 29, 2025

Ice buildup in the landing gear of a U.S. Air Force F-35A was the root cause of a crash at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska in January, according to a recently released report on the mishap.
F-35A

Dramatic F-35 Crash At Alaskan Air Base Caused By Iced-Up Landing Gear

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 26, 2025

Three nozzle binding incidents have cost the Air Force nearly $27 million.
F-15

KC-46’s Refueling Boom “Nozzle Binding” Issues Are Costing The USAF Tens Of Millions In Damage

By Howard Altman

Posted on Aug 25, 2025

U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Daniel Cheever, commonly referred to as the service's "Air Boss," is still "eagerly awaiting" a new F/A-XX next-generation carrier-based fighter despite the uncertainty now swirling around that program.
F/A-XX

F/A-XX Next Generation Naval Fighter Selection Could Still Happen

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 25, 2025

Newly published footage shows an ADM-160 Miniature Air Launched Decoy (MALD) fitted to a Ukrainian Air Force Su-27 Flanker fighter. The video confirms that the store is used by both this and Ukraine’s MiG-29 Fulcrum jets and also that it is carried on the same specially adapted underwing pylon that is used for various Western-supplied guided munitions.
Su-27

Ukraine Shows Off ADM-160 Miniature Air Launched Decoy On Su-27

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Aug 22, 2025

The U.K. Royal Air Force F-35B stealth jet that was forced to make an emergency diversion to Japan last week is still there, the U.K. Ministry of Defense has told TWZ.
F-35B

UK F-35B Still Stranded In Japan Is Awaiting Spare Parts

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Aug 14, 2025

Taiwan is testing a new external electronic countermeasures pod, reportedly due to be integrated on its F-CK-1 Indigenous Defense Fighter (IDF). The multirole combat aircraft has undergone a comprehensive upgrade in recent years, but until now has not had anything approaching a comprehensive electronic warfare self-protection capability. This requirement is now even more urgent, as the threat from the China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) continues to grow.
Fighters

Electronic Warfare Pod For Taiwan’s F-CK-1 Fighter Is In Testing

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Aug 14, 2025

A backseat passenger on an Air National Guard F-15 accidentally ejected while on the ground.
F-15

F-15 Ride-Along Passenger Accidentally Ejects While On The Ground (Updated)

By Tyler Rogoway, Howard Altman

Updated on Aug 14, 2025

The Polish Ministry of Defense has signed a $3.8 billion contract to upgrade the country's 48 F-16C/D Block 52+ Viper fighters to the F-16V configuration.
F-16

Poland’s F-16s Are About To Become Much More Potent

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Aug 13, 2025

Bizarre footage has emerged from Russia, showing what’s claimed to be part of an experiment to integrate a counter-uncrewed aerial system (CUAS) interceptor drone on a MiG-29 Fulcrum jet fighter. On closer inspection, the quadcopter drone is lashed to the fighter using zip ties and, even if that weren’t the case, the overall practicality of the solution is extremely questionable — to say the least.
MiG-29

Russian MiG-29 Fitted With An “Interceptor Drone” Is A Laughable Mess

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Aug 11, 2025

Northrop Grumman has released a new rendering of a possible configuration for its submission for the U.S. Navy’s F/A-XX next-generation carrier-based combat jet. The program has long been even more secretive than the U.S. Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance jet, with only a handful of concept artworks previously released. In the meantime, the future of the Navy program is being increasingly questioned, with the service and Pentagon officials apparently at loggerheads about how best to proceed with it.
F/A-XX

F/A-XX Next Generation Naval Fighter Concept Art Emerges From Northrop Grumman

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Aug 7, 2025

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has provided us with a look at the future, stealthier version of its KF-21 fighter, which is now known as the KF-21EX. Concept artwork of the refined version of the jet has been released, with internal weapons carriage being its distinguishing feature. This is part of an effort to make the KF-21 more survivable in the face of ever more capable air defense systems, although the resulting aircraft will not offer the same level of low observability as the F-35, which is also operated by South Korea.
Fighters

South Korea’s KF-21 Fighter To Get Stealthier With Internal Weapons Bays

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Aug 6, 2025

A fuel venting issue has emerged in some of the U.S. Air Force's new F-15EX Eagle II fighters, which has reportedly left them sidelined.
F-15

F-15EX Fuel Venting Troubles Emerge, Boeing Testing Fixes

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 5, 2025

The latest addition to China’s growing family of Shenyang J-15 carrier-based fighter series, the J-15DT electronic warfare version, appears to have entered operational service. Crucially, this electronic attack Flanker is equipped for operations aboard catapult-equipped aircraft carriers like the Fujian, which recently began to host fixed-wing aircraft trials. Progress with the J-15DT points not only to China’s the scope of carrier aviation ambitions, but the growing focus on catapult assisted takeoff but arrested recovery (CATOBAR) operations, which offer many advantages.
Flankers

Our Best Look At China’s New J-15DT Carrier-Based Electronic Warfare Jet

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Aug 5, 2025

Another chinese stealthy tailless combat jet emerges.
J-36

New Chinese Stealth Tactical Jet Breaks Cover

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Aug 5, 2025

The Senate Appropriations Committee has advanced a draft defense spending bill that would reverse the Pentagon's plan to freeze the U.S. Navy's F/A-XX next-generation carrier-based combat jet program.
F/A-XX

Congress Moves To Save Gutted F/A-XX 6th Generation Naval Fighter Program

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Jul 31, 2025

F-35C Crashes At Naval Air Station Lemoore (Updated)
F-35

F-35C Crashes At Naval Air Station Lemoore (Updated)

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Jul 31, 2025

F/A-18 from spain nearly crashed into sea during an air show performance.
F/A-18

Spanish F/A-18 Hornet Seen Nearly Crashing Into Surf During Beach Airshow (Updated)

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Jul 28, 2025

AIM-120 being launched from NASAMS
F-16

Egypt Finally Cleared To Buy AIM-120 AMRAAMs

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Jul 25, 2025

Russia appears to be using a new type of air-to-air missile in its war in Ukraine. Evidence is mounting that the R-77M — a significantly upgraded version of the R-77 beyond-visual-range missile known to NATO as the AA-12 Adder — is not only operational but being employed in combat. The arrival of the new weapon presents another major challenge for the Ukrainian Air Force, as well as other potential adversaries.
Flankers

Signs Russia’s Using New R-77M Air-To-Air Missile In Ukraine

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jul 25, 2025

F-16I has taken part in all aspects of Israeli operations since the October 7th attacks.
F-16

Israeli F-16I Navigator Opens Up About Striking Iran

By Howard Altman

Updated on Jul 25, 2025

A Royal Thai Air Force F-16 takes off from the Korat Air Base runway during Exercise Thai Boomerang 2015.
F-16

Thai F-16 Strikes As Border Dispute With Cambodia Erupts

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jul 24, 2025