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.

Swiss F/A-18s return to Leeming for Yorknite 2022

From November 15 to December 9, Swiss Air Force F/A-18C Hornets are operating from RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire for Exercise Yorknite 2022

Australia completes first major international F-35A deployment

The RAAF has marked a major milestone in its operation of the F-35A Lightning II after aircraft from No 75 Squadron departed RAAF Base Tindal in Australia’s Northern Territory to Malaysia, where it completed the type's first international deployment (outside the US) in Australian service

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Lancaster RAF debut – Into action with 44 Sqn

In a 2022 special publication on the Avro Lancaster Andrew Thomas tells the story of the Lancaster’s introduction to RAF service with 44 Squadron at Waddington

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Learning to fly the Lancaster: BBMF pilot insights 

Flight Lieutenant Seb Davey joined the Battle of Britain Memorial
Flight as a Dakota captain and Lancaster co-pilot for the 2013 season. 

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Why does the 'Suffolk Spitfire' boast a USAAF scheme?

When the United States Army Air Forces entered the war in Europe, Spitfires appeared adorned with stars and bars. Darren Harbar reveals why and details their operations with the 309th Fighter Squadron in North Africa

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How is the USAF's PACAF command posturing to address the China threat?

The USAF’s Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) command faces an increasing challenge amid growing tensions with China. AirForces Monthly takes a detailed view of PACAF and the vital role it plays

Just a Nice Pic Competition - Top 10!

Combat Aircraft Journal presents ten outstanding images from its first ‘just a nice pic’ competition.

RNLAF receives final CH-47F Chinook from Boeing

Boeing has delivered the 20th and final CH-47F Chinook to the Royal Netherlands Air Force

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Falcon 7X spotted in Indonesian Air Force colours

A Dassault Falcon 7X business jet wearing the markings of the Indonesian Air Force has been spotted in the Netherlands ahead of what is believed to be the aircraft’s imminent delivery to the Asian air arm

Romania inks €388m deal to buy F-16s from Norway

A contract for the sale of 32 second-hand Royal Norwegian Air Force Lockheed Martin F-16AM/BM (MLU) Fighting Falcons to Romania was signed by the Romanian government and the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency on November 4

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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