In 2026, the global balance of air power continues to reflect both historic military dominance and rapid modernisation efforts, particularly across Asia.
USAF
The U.S. Air Force plans to increase production capacity for the B-21 Raider stealth bomber.
The United States is intensifying its air campaign against Iran with expanded bomber strikes and additional fighter deployments.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) launched a large interception mission after Russian military aircraft approached the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone.
The McDonnell Douglas F-15C/D Eagle remains one of the longest-serving fighter aircraft in the United States Air Force (USAF) inventory.
The United States Air Force (USAF) has deployed one of its oldest strategic bombers, the B-52 Stratofortress, in recent air operations targeting Iranian military infrastructure.
US B-2, B-1 and B-52 bombers join Israeli strikes on Iran as over 2,000 targets hit in the first 100 hours of air war.
The US Air Force (USAF) has updated scoring charts for its new Physical Fitness Readiness Assessment as a three-month diagnostic period begins March 1, 2026.
In 2026, total military aircraft numbers continue to highlight which countries possess the most expansive and versatile aerial forces.
The United States Air Force has launched a major sensor integration initiative aimed at accelerating combat decision-making across air, space, and cyber domains