The U.S. Air Force is targeting 1,509 combat-coded fighters by 2035 while evaluating whether new-production F-16s should replace aging aircraft. The decision will depend on procurement funding, manufacturing capacity, the service life of existing fighters, and the growing role of Collaborative Combat Aircraft. A separate low-risk estimate of 1,723 fighters highlights the importance of operational risk in long-term force planning.
Defense
The U.S. Air Force has added KestrelX, A2G International and Fleet Adversary Support and Training to a $5.4 billion contract for adversary air and close air support training.
Russia is upgrading factories and restoring supplier networks to support Tu-160M strategic bomber production.
An unnamed foreign government is funding $18.79 million in development and integration work on a tailored F-35 variant, with the effort continuing through December 2030.
Canada has reportedly paused the planned purchase of 16 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters amid worsening trade tensions with the United States. The move comes as Ottawa reassesses its dependence on US defence suppliers, reviews its F-35 fighter acquisition and faces growing calls to strengthen domestic military manufacturing.
Saab will develop a replacement flight computer for the Gripen fighter family under a 1.3 billion Swedish kronor contract.
US leads with 444 combat drones, ahead of Türkiye and Iran. See the top 10 air force fleets and key platforms.
The US Marine Corps has demonstrated an eight-weapon StormBreaker ripple release from an F-35B, advancing efforts to engage multiple targets in a single pass. The test highlights the weapon’s precision-guidance capabilities and potential to reduce pilot workload, while software integration and additional testing remain critical to full operational fielding.
The Dutch government has approved a 240-hectare expansion of Lelystad Airport for F-35 fighter operations. The project includes new military infrastructure and a longer runway, requiring six businesses and four agricultural homes to relocate. The Ministry of Defence has acknowledged the impact on affected communities, while the implementation timeline remains unknown.
The U.S. Navy’s F-35C Lightning II completed its first arrested landing aboard the future USS John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) on October 13, 2026, marking a major milestone in integrating the fifth-generation stealth fighter with the Ford-class aircraft carrier ahead of its planned delivery in spring 2027.