While advanced fighter jets and bombers often dominate headlines, trained military pilots remain the foundation of every combat-ready air force.
Defense
The United States has paused its air campaign against Iran after nearly 2 weeks of consecutive nightly strikes, with a US source describing military operations as being on a hold.
Two Royal Air Force (RAF) Typhoon fighter jets were scrambled on Friday after a Qatar Airways (QR) flight from Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH) to Manchester Airport (MAN) triggered a Quick Reaction Alert while entering United Kingdom airspace.
The F-35 Joint Program Office, which runs the fighter effort from just outside Washington, awarded Lockheed Martin a $1.6 billion spare parts contract last week. It is the largest such deal in the history of the F-35 Lightning II program.
Germany could eventually strengthen the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), according to the chief executive of Italian aerospace and defense company Leonardo.
The Pentagon has raised its estimated cost of the ongoing Iran conflict to $37.5 billion, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warning lawmakers that military training could be reduced unless Congress quickly approves supplemental funding.
Canada has officially joined the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) as its first observer nation, gaining access to classified discussions on one of the world’s most advanced sixth-generation fighter aircraft projects.
American, Australian, and Japanese Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters have begun flying joint combat missions over northern Australia as part of Exercise Pitch Black 2026, one of the world’s largest multinational air combat drills.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) scrambled F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets on July 19, 2026, after more than 10 general aviation aircraft violated Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) airspace over Bedminster and East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The US Air Force has reached a major milestone in military aviation after successfully flying a modified F-16 Fighting Falcon under the control of artificial intelligence during flight tests at Eglin Air Force Base (VPS), Florida.