Ukraine is preparing a major military aviation transformation targeting 2035, with plans to introduce Swedish Gripen fighters, upgrade existing F-16s and replace Soviet-era air force infrastructure with a more flexible NATO-style system.
F-16 Fighting Falcon
US Air Force F-16 fighters returned to air defense alert duty at Eareckson Air Station on Alaska’s remote Shemya Island in October 2026. The deployment brought together American and Canadian fighter units under NORAD, strengthened coverage across the North Pacific and demonstrated the strategic value of the island’s runway and Cobra Dane radar installation.
The United States and Japan have agreed to establish a facility in Japan for the final assembly and inspection of AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM), strengthening bilateral cooperation on weapons production.
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.
The U.S. Air Force is preparing to replace the mission computer aboard its older F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets, as it seeks to keep the aircraft operational into the 2040s.
Portugal is weighing the F-35A against the Eurofighter Typhoon, Dassault Rafale and Saab Gripen E as it considers replacing its aging F-16 fleet. The decision will depend on operational capability, lifecycle costs, NATO interoperability, industrial benefits and long-term defense strategy.
The first F-16 Block 72 fighter built for the Royal Moroccan Air Force (RMAF) has completed its maiden flight, opening the next stage of a major program to modernize Morocco’s combat aircraft fleet and strengthen its future airpower capabilities.
Dassault Aviation has formally entered the race to replace Portugal’s aging F-16 fighter fleet, submitting the Rafale to the Portuguese government and Air Force as Lisbon prepares for one of its most important military aircraft procurement decisions.
Belgium has received three additional Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fighters at Florennes Air Base, expanding its in-country fifth-generation fleet to seven aircraft.
A US Air Force F-16 assigned to the 52nd Fighter Wing crashed during approach to Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany on September 22, 2026. The pilot ejected safely and received medical treatment as German and US emergency teams responded. The cause remained under investigation.