Multi-Role Fighter
Friendly fire downs former Ukrainian Falcons MiG-29 display jet
A Ukrainian Air Force-operated MiG-29 Fulcrum fighter painted in the colours of the air arm's long-disbanded 'Ukrainian Falcons' aerobatic team has been shot down in a friendly fire incident, resulting in the death of its pilot
First F-35A to receive TR-3 upgrades completes maiden flight
A developmental test team from the USAF’s 461st FLTS ‘Deadly Jesters’ conducted the first flight of an F-35A Lightning II in the fifth-generation fighter’s new Technology Refresh 3 (TR-3) configuration at Edwards AFB in California on January 6
Spain to arm Eurofighters with Brimstone missiles
The Spanish Air and Space Force has selected MBDA’s Brimstone air-to-ground missile for its fleet of Eurofighters
Canada inks $14bn F-35A deal to replace ageing Hornet fleet
The Canadian government announced on January 9 that it had finalised an agreement with its US counterpart, along with Lockheed Martin and Pratt & Whitney, for the acquisition of 88 F-35A Lightning II fifth-generation multi-role stealth fighters for an estimated cost of CA$19bn (US$14bn)
UK MOD claims Russia has been using Su-57 in Ukraine conflict
The UK Ministry of Defence has claimed that the Russian Aerospace Forces have “almost certainly” been using fifth-generation Sukhoi Su-57 multi-role fighters in combat missions against Ukraine for at least seven months
Russia receives more Su-57s as production ramps up
Russia’s state-owned Rostec State Corporation announced on December 28, 2022, that another batch of serial production-standard Sukhoi Su-57 fifth-generation multi-role stealth fighters has been handed over to the Russian Ministry of Defence
Lockheed Martin to build nearly 400 F-35s under new $30bn contract
The F-35 Joint Program Office and Lockheed Martin rounded off 2022 by finalising a $30bn contract for the production and delivery of up to 398 F-35s for both US and Foreign Military Sales customers under Low-Rate Initial Production Lots 15, 16 and 17
Colombia opts for Rafale to replace ageing Kfir fleet
After spending almost a decade searching for a new multi-role fighter to replace its ageing Israel Aerospace Industries Kfir C10/C12 fleet, Colombian President Gustavo Petro has announced that the Colombian Air Force will receive new jets in 2023
Brazil inducts first F-39E Gripens into operational service
The Brazilian Air Force inducted its first two Saab F-39E Gripen multi-role fighters into operational service with the 1st Air Defense Group ‘Jaguar Squadron’ during a ceremony at Anápolis Air Base on December 19
Could Putin arm Belarusian jets with nuclear weapons?
Fears that the Belarusian Air Force and Air Defence Forces could become nuclear capable have been raised after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that its jets were being converted to carry “special warheads”