All articles tagged with #fighter jets
Romania says a Russian drone boat laden with explosives was spotted near the Neptun Deep offshore gas platform in the Black Sea. Romanian F-16s fired on the vessel to disable it, allowing explosive ordnance experts to detonate it safely, in what authorities say is a continuation of Russian attempts to threaten European energy infrastructure near a pivotal EU gas project.
Qatar denied Iran’s claim that it is holding Iranian pilots after downing jets, while Tehran says pilots were captured and seeks access to verify their fate with Red Cross involvement. The dispute, part of broader Iran–US tensions in the Middle East, has prompted calls for transparency and investigations into the pilots’ status.
Marine Corps fighter pilot Dave Berke, who flew the F/A-18, F-16, F-22, and F-35B for about 3,000 flight hours and later commanded the F-35B program, says each jet excelled in its own way, but the F-22 Raptor stands apart with unmatched speed, stealth, thrust-vectoring, and maneuverability, while the F-35B emphasizes information dominance through sensor fusion.
An Arkia Airbus A321neo LR en route from Tel Aviv to Prague briefly lost radio contact while passing through Hungarian airspace. NATO activated its highest air-policing alert and scrambled two fighter jets to identify and escort the plane; the aircraft was located, visual contact established, and communications restored. The plane continued to Prague via Austria with no danger to passengers; the incident is under internal review and NATO/Hungarian authorities say standard procedures were followed.
Ukraine could operate 96–129 Western fighter jets by the early 2030s (F-16s, Mirage 2000s, and Gripens), with used Gripen Cs/Ds arriving around 2030 and new Gripen Es possibly joining later; total numbers depend on donor schedules and combat-readiness of aircraft.
Ukraine will purchase 20 new Gripen fighters and Sweden will donate 16 older C/D jets next year as part of a broader plan to acquire up to 150 Gripen E aircraft; deliveries of the newer model are expected from 2030, with Kyiv earmarking €2.5 billion of an EU loan for the planes.
Sweden will transfer 16 used Saab JAS 39 Gripen C/D fighters to Ukraine and back Kyiv’s plan to acquire up to 20 Gripen E aircraft, financed by 2.5 billion euros from the EU Ukraine Support Loan mechanism. Deliveries of the C/D jets could start in early 2027 after export approvals, while talks to procure Gripen E/F are ongoing with potential deliveries around 2030. This forms Sweden's largest military aid package to Kyiv and will add Western fighters to Ukraine's fleet, though its impact depends on numbers and timely delivery; Ukrainian pilots have already begun training.
Two EA-18G Growlers collided during the Mountain Home Air Force Base air show in Idaho; all four crew members ejected safely and are in stable condition as investigators probe the incident and the remainder of the event was canceled.
A December 2021 midair collision between two South Korean Air Force F-15Ks was linked to pilots taking photos and filming during the mission; as they tried to regain separation, one aircraft pulled up and the lead plane was clipped, causing damage exceeding $600,000. The audit found the air force partly responsible for lax in-flight photography rules; the wingman was ordered to pay one-tenth of the bill and has since left the military, with no injuries reported.
U.S. officials say Kuwaiti air defenses accidentally shot down three American F-15E jets amid a broader Iranian assault; all six crew members ejected safely and are in stable condition as the incident is investigated.
NORAD detected and tracked two Tu-95s, two Su-35s, and one A-50 operating in the Alaskan ADIZ on Feb. 19, 2026. It dispatched two F-16s, two F-35s, one E-3, and four KC-135s to intercept, positively identify, and escort them until they departed; the aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter U.S. or Canadian sovereign airspace. NORAD said the activity is routine and not a threat.
Israeli fighter jets intercepted and escorted a Wizz Air flight from London Luton to Ben-Gurion after a security concern involving a passenger who allegedly changed a WiFi name to 'terrorist'; the threat was lifted and the plane landed safely with no injuries.
Saab proposes a Gripen production hub in Canada large enough to supply the Canadian Air Force and export customers, with initial aircraft built in Sweden and later in Canada to reach about 36 planes per year. Ottawa is reviewing a mixed F-35/Gripen fleet after committing to 88 jets (16 ordered). Saab has touted up to 10,000 Canadian jobs and pledged local sustainment with Canadian partners, and signaled potential orders from Ukraine if the facility is established; the plan aligns with the company’s push for a "Made-in-Canada Fighter".
Poland scrambled fighter jets and activated air defense systems in response to a massive Russian attack on Ukraine, which led to temporary airport closures and coordinated efforts with allied forces, including US, Spanish, and Dutch units, to protect Polish airspace.
Sweden is progressing in negotiations to help fund Ukraine's potential purchase of up to 150 Gripen E fighter jets, possibly through export credits, aid, and frozen Russian assets, with some European countries potentially contributing to the financing.