All Fixed-wing articles – Page 4
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NewsLockheed Martin non-committal on Trump’s Saudi F-35 sales announcement
Lockheed Martin has adopted a cautious stance following US President Donald Trump’s announcement that he will approve F-35 fighter sales to Saudi Arabia, with the company emphasising the government-to-government nature of the process.
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NewsRussia showcases Su-57E stealth nozzles and weapons at Dubai show
Russia is displaying advanced airpower capabilities at Dubai, including prospective stealth thrust nozzle updates for the Su-57E fighter and a range of air-launched weapons systems.
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NewsTrump to approve F-35 fighter sale to Saudi Arabia
President Donald Trump says he will approve the sale of Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighters to Saudi Arabia, marking a significant shift in US Middle East defence policy and potentially making the kingdom the F-35 programme’s 21st global operator.
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NewsUkraine signs deal with France to purchase up to 100 Rafale fighters
Ukraine has signed a procurement agreement with France covering the acquisition of 100 Dassault Rafale F4 fighters by 2035, along with air defence systems and joint drone production programmes.
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NewsUAE orders Embraer’s Praetor 600 to meet air force VIP transport need
Embraer will supply the United Arab Emirates’ air force with a VIP-configured version of its Praetor 600 business jet, with the acquisition announced on the opening day of the Dubai air show.
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NewsL3Harris eyes UAE multi-mission aircraft need with Bombardier Global-derivative
L3Harris is eyeing an opportunity to equip the United Arab Emirates with a new multi-mission aircraft, pitching a development of the Bombardier 6000/6500 ultra-long-range business jet.
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NewsBoeing proposes F-15EX as command platform for CCAs
Boeing is positioning the F-15EX as a command and control platform for managing collaborative combat aircraft (CCA), with the twin-seat fighter’s rear cockpit offering capabilities to coordinate unmanned assets like the MQ-28 Ghost Bat.
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NewsBombardier Defense eyes Middle East opportunities for Global 6500
Bombardier Defense identifies significant Middle East opportunities for military-configured Global 6500 aircraft, citing the platform’s optimal size and capabilities for modern mission systems as sensor miniaturisation enables business jets to perform roles previously requiring larger aircraft.
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AnalysisEmbraer debuts new KC-390 demonstrator at Dubai air show
Embraer is giving a worldwide show debut to its new KC-390 demonstrator, with the specially-liveried airlifter proudly displaying the flags of 10 customer nations just behind its forward crew door.
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NewsBoeing flies first KC-46 with upgraded remote vision system
Boeing has achieved a milestone with the first flight of a KC-46 Pegasus tanker equipped with its upgraded Remote Vision System 2.0, as the manufacturer continues pursuing Middle East sales opportunities.
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NewsGermany’s Eurofighter EK programme advances as Saab lands Arexis EW contracts
Saab has been awarded contracts valued at almost a combined €550 million ($639 million) to supply its Arexis electronic warfare (EW) equipment for use on the German air force’s future EK-version of the Eurofighter.
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NewsAl Fursan display team makes Dubai show debut with Hongdu L-15 jet trainers
The United Arab Emirates’ Al Fursan aerobatic display team is making its first Dubai air show appearance flying Chinese-produced Hongdu L-15 advanced jet trainers.
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NewsBlack Eagles to miss Dubai air show after Japan blocks refuelling stop
A territorial dispute between Japan and South Korea has forced the Republic of Korea Air Force’s Black Eagles display team to withdraw from the Dubai air show after Tokyo blocked a planned refuelling stop at Okinawa.
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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.