Airforce News

On this page you will find news from the world’s airforces including first flights, latest deployments, procurement programs, weapon upgrades, training and technology, fleet retirements, the changing operational theatres and missions.

Whether it is the RAF, France’s Armée de l’air or the United States Airforce, airforces around the world are buying new platforms, choosing between legacy fleets, which maybe Russian, European or American, and building their own domestic capabilities in sub-systems, missiles or whole aircraft.

Whether the manufacturing contracts are for domestic or foreign firms, worldwide instability is driving airforce fleet renewals, recapitalisation and investment in support infrastructure, military technology, offensive and defensive systems, from missiles, super and hypersonic, to chaff and directed infra-red countermeasures.

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UK MOD criticised over E-7A Wedgetail procurement in damning new report

The UK's decision to cut its order for Boeing E-7A Wedgetail AEW1 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft from five examples to three has been described as an "absolute folly" in a damning new report by an influential group of MPs

Travis AFB becomes sixth USAF base to welcome KC-46A Pegasus

Boeing resumed deliveries of KC-46A Pegasus tankers to the USAF on July 28 following a hiatus that began in March, when a problem with the aircraft’s centre fuel tank was discovered

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Norway postpones helicopter fleet recap, opts to partially upgrade ageing Bell 412s

The Norwegian Ministry of Defence has approved plans to partially upgrade its ageing Bell 412HP/SP utility helicopters and postpone the recapitalisation of the Royal Norwegian Air Force’s special operations rotorcraft fleet by at least 15 years in a move that goes against the advice of the head of the nation’s armed forces

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Spitfire versatility: three pilots’ diverse combat experiences

Through the experiences of a trio of pilots, Air Cdre Graham Pitchfork highlighted the versatility of an amazing fighter in the February 2013 issue of FlyPast

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How Israel made an air-dropping transport out of the Boeing 377

Needing to air-drop supplies to British mercenaries in Yemen, the Israeli Air Force set about having some veteran Boeing 377 Stratocruisers converted — and an unusual operating concept

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Canada buys more CC-330 Husky tankers in bid to bolster aerial refuelling capabilities

Canada’s Minister of National Defence Anita Anand announced on July 25 that the nation has purchased four new Airbus A330 MRTTs – along with a further three used A330-200s – for approximately CA$3.6bn (US$2.7bn), as it moves to recapitalise its air-to-air refuelling capabilities and enable the Royal Canadian Air Force to replace its ageing CC-150 Polaris fleet

Hungary welcomes first H225M helicopters to Szolnok

The Hungarian Air Force formally welcomed the first two of 16 Airbus Helicopters H225M Caracal medium-lift multi-purpose helicopters to Szolnok Air Base – home of the MH 86 Helikopter Ezred (HE; Helicopter Regiment) – on July 17

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Russia's intense air and missile defence operation in Ukraine War

Alexander Mladenov examines Russia’s air and missile defence operations in its protracted and hotly contested war with Ukraine

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The next Exercise Point Blank…dates for the diary

Key.Aero can reveal the next dates for Exercise Point Blank, which in the past has often involved European air forces deploying to RAF Lakenheath.

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ANALYSIS: Why is the F-22A Raptor already facing retirement?

The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor leads the way as a fifth-generation air superiority fighter, but its days appear to be numbered – Jon Lake examines why

Your source for all the latest Airforce and military aircraft news

As the latest fifth-generation platform, the Lockheed Martin F-35 is in use globally for international partner airforces, from the United States Airforce (USAF) to the RAF and the Australian airforce, the sixth-generation fighters are already on the drawing board.

Find out which airforces are looking at virtual cockpits, networked platforms and piloted aircraft working with drone wingmen for the stealth fighters of the 2030s and discover which airforces are planning to replace their existing fleets with the fighter planes of the future.

Military Aircraft Retirement and Technology Updates

International forces around the world are deploying military aircraft manufactured in France, Russia and America including aircraft from Saab, France’s Dassault Rafale, Russian Mig-29s and the Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon, which it will operate for years to come.

What will also be flying well into the next decade is the USAF’s Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor air superiority fighter. The next decade will also see the USAF’s newest stealth bomber, the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider enter service, while the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress strategic bomber will be in its seventh decade of operational service after refurbishments and restorations. This page is the only place you need to be to find out all the latest news on retirements and new deployments.

Be the first to find out which existing platforms such as France’s Dassault Mirage 2000 light weight jet and the Eurofighter Typhoon are facing the need for wholesale technology updates. The Eurofighter is being upgraded for an electronic warfare role in the 2020s and the USAF is improving some of its Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcons with F-35 fifth generation technology.

From restorations to retirement and procurement, international projects for new networked technologies including piloted and autonomous platforms and the contracts to manufacture them, all of this fast-moving defence aviation news and analysis can be found here.

Related Airforce Topics

Want to find out more about other types of military aircraft? We have dedicated pages for the latest Military Aircraft Shows, Military Fighter Aircraft and all the latest cutting-edge Military Aircraft Technology.

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