Fighters(Page 3)

Latest in Fighters

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

The first Druze Israeli Air Force aviator opens up about breaking barriers.
F-16

This F-16I Navigator Is The First Druze Aviator In Israeli Air Force History

By Howard Altman

Posted on Jul 23, 2025

Official roll out for first Oman Eurofighter Typhoon combat jet.
Typhoon

Turkey Lines Up Eurofighter Typhoon As Its Next Fighter

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jul 23, 2025

Ukrainian F-16s Get Specialized Vehicles For Operating Constantly On The Move
F-16

Ukrainian F-16s Get Specialized Vehicles For Operating Constantly On The Move

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jul 23, 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

Reworked F-35 Pitched As ‘Bridging Fighter’ Ahead Of F-47

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jul 22, 2025

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Thomas Clewell, 495th Fighter Generation Squadron crew chief, marshals an F-35A Lightning II aircraft at RAF Lakenheath, England, Nov. 19, 2024. The 495th FGS is essential to generating daily sorties, enabling pilots to train and maintain readiness to respond quickly and effectively when called upon.
F-35A

Major Indications Nuclear Bombs Are Back At USAF Air Base In England

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jul 21, 2025

A new photo suggests that China’s Shenyang J-35, its next-generation carrier-based fighter, has now entered limited series production and is also in service with the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). The photo joins a succession of imagery showing some of China’s latest military aircraft in great detail, including previous views of the same type of jet, although still in prototype form, as you can see in our previous coverage here.
J-31

China’s J-35 Naval Stealth Fighter Looks Set For Service

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jul 19, 2025

Spanish photographer Javier Alonso de Medina Salguero captured some amazing images of a Eurofighter striking a bird.
Typhoon

Eurofighter Typhoon Canopy-Shattering Bird Strike Captured In Amazing Images

By Howard Altman

Posted on Jul 18, 2025

A first rendering has been released showing the new fighter demonstrator being built in the United Kingdom as part of the Tempest next-generation air combat program. The crewed flight test vehicle, which is planned to take to the air in 2027, will feed into the design of the Tempest, which is being developed as a stealthy fighter for the U.K.’s Royal Air Force, as well as for Italy and Japan, and is expected to be in service by 2035.
Typhoon

This Is What The UK’s New Stealth Fighter Demonstrator Will Look Like

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jul 17, 2025

A U.S. Air Force F-15EX Eagle II, assigned to the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., taxis on the runway after landing to participate in exercise Resolute Force Pacific 2025 at Andersen AFB, Guam, July 11, 2025. REFORPAC is a large-scale contingency response exercise, which prepares service members to maintain readiness and execute missions under stress.
F-15

F-15EX Arrives In Japan For The First Time As Part Of Massive Pacific Exercise

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jul 15, 2025

An annual U.S. Navy wishlist sent to Congress reportedly includes $1.4 billion that would help keep its dreams of a next-generation carrier-based combat jet alive.
F-47

Navy Puts Gutted F/A-XX Next Generation Fighter Program In Wishlist To Congress: Reports

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jul 10, 2025

While the J-20S was officially unveiled at the Zhuhai Airshow last year, there are rumors that it might be publicly unveiled as an operational PLAAF asset in September of this year, when the PLAAF marks the 80th anniversary of Japan’s defeat in World War II.
J-20

China’s Two-Seat J-20 Stealth Fighter Poised To Enter Operational Service

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Jul 8, 2025

Boom On KC-46 Tanker Just Broke Off During F-22 Refueling Mission (Updated)
F-22

Boom On KC-46 Tanker Just Broke Off During F-22 Refueling Mission (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Jul 8, 2025

The unique RF-5E Tigergazer reconnaissance aircraft operated by the Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF) has been stood down from service. The retirement of Taiwan’s RF-5Es comes after the country bid farewell to its F-5E Tiger II fighters at the end of 2023, after almost half a century of operations. With high levels of tension between Taiwan and the People’s Republic of China, the ROCAF’s future tactical reconnaissance needs will be handled by drones and pod-equipped F-16 fighters.
F-5

Taiwan’s RF-5 Tigergazer Reconnaissance Jets Have Retired

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jul 7, 2025

F-22 Raptors Will Be First To Control ‘Fighter Drone’ Collaborative Combat Aircraft
F-22

F-22 Raptors Will Be First To Control ‘Fighter Drone’ Collaborative Combat Aircraft

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Jul 3, 2025

The U.S. Air Force's F-22 Raptor stealth fighters are set to get an array of new "viability" upgrades to help protect them from emerging threats and otherwise ensure their continued relevance in future conflicts.
F-22

New F-22 Upgrade Package To Keep The Jets Viable Laid Out

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jul 2, 2025

A-10 firing rockets
F-15

A-10 Warthog Already Has The Capability To Use Laser-Guided Rockets To Shoot-Down Drones

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Jul 1, 2025

Plans To Finally Give F-35 External Fuel Tanks Emerge In New Air Force Budget (Updated)
F-35A

Plans To Finally Give F-35 External Fuel Tanks Emerge In New Air Force Budget (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 30, 2025

The Pentagon’s proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget fully commits to the U.S. Air Force's F-47 sixth-generation stealth fighter, while effectively shelving the U.S. Navy's plans for a next-generation carrier-based F/A-XX combat jet.
F-35

Pentagon “All In” On Air Force’s F-47, Puts Navy’s F/A-XX On Ice

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 27, 2025

F-15EX will have 129 aircraft in its fleet under trump.
F-15

F-15EX Planned Fleet Size Grows To 129 Jets

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Jun 26, 2025

U.K. Royal Air Force F-35B Lightning.
F-35A

Royal Air Force Goes Nuclear With F-35A

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jun 25, 2025

A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft, assigned to the 100th Air Refueling Wing, refuels a U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II aircraft during exercise RAMSTEIN FLAG 2024 while flying over the coast of Greece, Oct. 4, 2024. RAFL24 demonstrates NATO unity and strength, as Allies across the Euro-Atlantic area train side by side in defensive and offensive air operations scenarios in support of the enduring commitment to shared values and ability to adapt to the emerging environment.
F-35A

U.S. Air Force Fighters Deploy To Reinforce Middle East

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jun 17, 2025

Israel strikes Iranian F-14 tomcat.
F-14

Iranian F-14 ‘Persian Tomcats’ Obliterated In Israeli Airstrike

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Jun 16, 2025

A Dassaullt Rafale fighter and two Dassault Falcon business jets are on display 21 June 2001 at the 44th Paris-Le Bourget Air show, billed as the biggest ever event of its kind, bringing together 1800 exhibitors from the aviation industry from 43 countries.
Rafale

Rafale Reemerges With Conformal Fuel Tanks

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jun 12, 2025

More details have emerged about the problems the U.S. Navy is facing with its ill-starred podded Infrared Search And Track System, or IRST, an important capability planned for its F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighters. The latest issues to be highlighted come after TWZ previously reported on delays caused by production quality issues with the system and a Pentagon assessment of “significant reliability problems during operational testing,” which emerged earlier this year.
F/A-18E/F

New Details On F/A-18 Super Hornet’s Troubled IRST Pod

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jun 11, 2025

APKWS rockets were kept from Ukraine to be used to defend US in the Middle East.
F-15

Counter-Drone Weapons Diverted From Ukraine To Middle East Amid Rising Tensions, Hegseth Confirms

By Howard Altman

Posted on Jun 11, 2025

AI JAS-36 gripen tests for long-range air-to-air combat are underway.
Gripen

Saab’s Gripen Tests AI In Long-Range Air-To-Air Engagements

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Jun 11, 2025

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has released photos showing two of its aircraft carriers operating simultaneously for the first time beyond the so-called First Island Chain in the western Pacific.
Flankers

Two Chinese Aircraft Carriers Are Operating Beyond The First Island Chain For The First Time

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jun 10, 2025

Newly released footage records the unique formation flight over Nevada’s Nellis Air Force Air Base last November, which brought together U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor stealth fighters and Soviet-era MiG-21 and MiG-29 jets. The four-ship took to the skies to mark the passing of Col. Gail Peck (ret.), the former commander of the legendary 4477th Test and Evaluation Squadron “Red Eagles” that conducted highly classified missions using Soviet combat jets in the late 1970s and 1980s.
MiG-29

F-22s Fly Alongside MiGs To Commemorate Founder Of America’s Secret Soviet Fighter Squadron

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jun 9, 2025

Su-35 shot down in ukraine
F-16

Claims Swirl Around Russian Su-35S Flanker Shootdown

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jun 9, 2025

A new image appearing to show China’s ‘J-36’ 6th generation tactical jet parked on the ground has emerged online. If legitimate, this would be the best front view of the aircraft to date, notably providing clear proof of the canopy design and further confirmation of a side-by-side seating arrangement.
J-36

This Could Be Our Best View Yet Of China’s J-36 Very Heavy Stealth Tactical Jet

By Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Jun 6, 2025

Germany plans to buy Joint Strike Missile (JSM) cruise missiles from Norway, to arm its forthcoming fleet of F-35A stealth fighters. While these jets were primarily chosen as launch platforms for U.S.-owned nuclear gravity bombs, under a long-standing NATO agreement, Germany is increasingly viewing the F-35A as part of an expanding conventional long-range strike arsenal.
F-35A

German F-35s Will Be Armed With Stealthy Joint Strike Missiles

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jun 5, 2025