The U.S. Air Force plans to field at least 500 CCAs and 500 MMAs by 2032, expanding autonomous, attritable, strike, and ISR capabilities.
Defense
A German-registered business jet mistakenly landed at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on Saturday, September 12, after apparently approaching the wrong airport.
US military pilots serve in the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and Army, with each branch operating different aircraft and career structures.
NATO fighters scrambled after a suspected drone alert closed Vilnius Airport (VNO), but radar later identified a flock of birds.
Singapore will permanently base 12 F-35Bs at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Arkansas, while eight F-35As will operate from Tengah Air Base, balancing overseas training with a local fifth-generation fighter capability.
Canada’s F-35 fighter program has taken an unusual political turn, with former Royal Canadian Air Force fighter pilot Stephen Fuhr now playing a senior role in defence procurement after once becoming one of the aircraft’s most outspoken Canadian critics.
Lockheed Martin’s first F-35A Lightning II built for Germany has completed its maiden flight, marking a major step toward the Luftwaffe’s introduction of the fifth-generation fighter.
The U.S. destroyed five Iranian oil tankers after repeated missile attacks on a Navy warship. Iran retaliated against Jordan as Washington deployed more F-35s and F-16s and expanded sanctions targeting Iran’s aviation network.
France plans to have at least 47 Rafale fighter jets in the new F5 configuration by 2035 as Paris accelerates the modernisation of its combat aviation and nuclear deterrence capabilities.
The U.S. Air Force is accelerating plans for a low-cost successor to the MQ-9A Reaper as combat losses increase pressure to field more affordable unmanned aircraft.