All Fixed-wing articles – Page 3
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NewsSaab confirms sale of 17 Gripen E/Fs to Colombia
Swedish aerospace group Saab has confirmed its €3.1 billion ($3.6 billion) sale of 17 Gripen E/F fighters to Colombia, with deliveries scheduled between 2026 and 2032.
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AnalysisStood down: which types departed national fleets during our World Air Forces review?
We detail some of the most notable national fleet retirements recorded in the 12 months since we published our last World Air Forces directory at the end of 2024.
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NewsNATO ditches Boeing E-7 acquisition to seek European alternatives
Faced with continued uncertainty over the USA’s long-term commitment to the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail programme, a group of NATO members has ditched plans to acquire the airborne early warning and control jet.
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NewsEmbraer’s KC-390 completes tanker certification trials with Brazilian Gripen Es
The Brazilian air force, Embraer and Saab have completed a certification flight-test campaign to clear the Gripen E for in-flight refuelling operations with the KC-390 tanker.
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AnalysisHow regime change in Syria affected our annual World Air Forces fleet review
Our annual review of the global military aircraft fleet details the in-service equipment and acquisition plans of 161 nations – with one of the Middle East’s biggest air forces wiped out amid regime change.
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NewsWestern sanctions could accelerate Russian fighter aircraft production decline
Analysis by the Royal United Services Institute identifies vulnerabilities in Russia’s fighter aircraft supply chain that could be exploited through targeted Western sanctions to disrupt production of types including the Sukhoi Su-35 and Su-57.
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NewsUS clears $330m Taiwan military aircraft spares sale
The USA has approved a potential $330 million Foreign Military Sales contract covering spare parts for Taiwan’s F-16 fighters, F-CK-1 Ching-kuo fighters and C-130 transports, aimed at improving operational readiness amid increased regional tensions.
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NewsUS clears $319m Denmark AIM-9X Sidewinder missile sale
The US has approved a potential $319 million sale of 340 Raytheon AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II air-to-air missiles to Denmark, supporting the Nordic nation’s F-35A fleet and ground-based air defence systems.
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NewsEmbraer promotes A-29 Super Tucano for counter-drone missions
Embraer is marketing the A-29 Super Tucano as a counter-UAS platform, highlighting the light attack aircraft’s electro-optical sensors, laser-guided rockets and machine guns for engaging unmanned systems at low cost.
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NewsUSA now has sufficient military assets in Caribbean to wage air campaign against Venezuela
According to recent analysis, the Pentagon has assembled sufficient military assets in the Caribbean to launch an air campaign against Venezuela, including the USS Gerald R Ford carrier strike group and F-35B stealth fighters, as tensions between Washington and Caracas smolder.
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NewsTurkish air force C-130 breaks apart mid-flight over Caucasus
Video circulating on social media shows what appears to be a portion of the aircraft’s fuselage and wing spiraling downward and ultimately impacting the ground.
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NewsAzerbaijan confirms JF-17 fighter acceptance with Baku flypast
Azerbaijan has confirmed acceptance of at least five Chengdu/Pakistan Aeronautical Complex JF-17 fighters following their appearance in a military parade over Baku on 9 November.
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NewsFirst P-8A anti-submarine warfare aircraft arrives in Germany
Germany’s first Boeing P-8A Poseidon has arrived at Berlin-Brandenburg airport, marking the beginning of a fleet modernisation that will replace the country’s retired P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft with eight advanced anti-submarine warfare jets by 2029.
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NewsRussia’s Su-57 fighter to take part in flying display at Dubai air show
Russia’s fifth-generation Sukhoi Su-57 fighter will make its debut Dubai air show appearance next week, Moscow’s state-owned Rostec conglomerate has announced.
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OpinionCould Gripen E buy give Ukraine ‘Wings for victory’?
Having already secured Lockheed Martin F-16s from European allies, Ukraine’s leader now wants to buy up to 150 new Gripen E fighters, along with US-produced attack and utility helicopters.
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NewsChina commissions Fujian electromagnetic CATOBAR super carrier
China has commissioned the CNS Fujian, making it the third nation with an in-service CATOBAR aircraft carrier equipped with electromagnetic aircraft launch systems.
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NewsTaiwan to receive first MQ-9B UAVs in 2026
Taiwan will receive its first pair of General AtomicsAeronautical Systems MQ-9B SkyGuardian unmanned air vehicles in the third quarter of 2026, while Lockheed Martin works to accelerate delivery of the island’s F-16V fighters amid production delays.
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NewsBombardier sees growing role for defence unit amid year-end delivery ramp-up
Bombardier intends to hand over “around a double-digit number” of military-role business jets before year-end as part of a fourth-quarter delivery push.
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NewsUS Marine Corps plans for two more XQ-58A test flights before year-end
The US Marine Corps will conduct two more test flights with the Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie before year-end, evaluating the uncrewed jet for electronic warfare and autonomous mission applications as part of its collaborative combat aircraft assessment.
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NewsShield AI selects GE F110 engine for X-Bat VTOL fighter
Shield AI and GE Aerospace have signed a memorandum of understanding to power the developmental X-Bat unmanned vertical take-off and landing fighter with the proven F110-GE-129 engine, featuring thrust vectoring capabilities for VTOL operations.