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.
US AIR FORCE
The global race for sixth-generation fighter aircraft is moving beyond the traditional pursuit of speed, manoeuvrability and stealth.
Kingsley Field Air National Guard Base is located at Crater Lake-Klamath Regional Airport in Klamath Falls, Oregon (LMT).
The former Qatari Boeing 747-8 now serving as an interim Air Force One has been taken out of service for what an administration source described as “cosmetic upgrades.”
The US Air Force is revising its 2A maintenance career strategy from an earlier seven-AFSC concept to a 14-specialty structure. New aviation maintenance technicians would begin with 18 months of broad foundational training before choosing a specialty, while a selective Master Aviation Technician track would develop advanced technical experts.
The US Air Force is nearing a dedicated F-47 production line as Boeing expands its St. Louis facilities. The program is advancing toward design completion and a targeted 2028 first flight, with at least 185 aircraft planned. The Air Force says existing fighter production capacity must also expand as it prepares for the F-47 and Collaborative Combat Aircraft.
The F-35A deployment introduces a fifth-generation combat aircraft into the Indian exercise environment, where it is operating alongside Indian and foreign aircraft.
US Air Force to buy Boeing 737 MAX for its C-40 fleet, adding a new military operator and expanding VIP transport.
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.
U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons from Eielson Air Force Base (EIL) have moved across North America toward Greenland as part of a multinational Arctic operation designed to test how quickly combat aircraft can operate from remote northern locations.