The US ambassador in Lisbon has urged Portugal to buy the F-35 as a potential replacement for its aging F-16 fleet. Defense Minister Nuno Melo said no purchase decision had been made, but internal work is moving ahead.
Sweden and Ukraine are making progress on a multi-billion-crown deal for up to 150 Saab JAS 39 Gripen E fighters. The two governments are exploring funding mechanisms that combine Ukrainian payments with Swedish military assistance and multilateral support, Breaking Defense reports.
South Korea has completed the KF-21 flight test program, marking a key milestone in the development of its indigenous fighter jet. The program successfully completed approximately 1,600 flight tests over a 42-month period without accident, verifying the aircraft's flight stability and performance.
Dassault Aviation recently conducted a Rafale demonstration at Le Bourget, providing a glimpse into the capabilities of the French fighter jet. Breaking Defense reports that the event was a high-speed display of the aircraft's performance.
Peru is moving toward selecting the Lockheed Martin F-16V Block 70 Viper as its next-generation fighter jet, marking a significant pivot in modernizing the Peruvian Air Force. According to local media, the Peruvian government has decided to proceed with the purchase of up to 24 F-16 Block 70 aircraft valued at approximately $7 billion.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has questioned whether the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) can deliver a jointly developed next-generation fighter jet due to a growing mismatch between French and German operational requirements. The program faces challenges with its requirements profile, and Germany is considering exploring new fighter variants or partnerships if a compromise proves impossible.
Lockheed Martin has successfully tested an artificial intelligence feature on its F-35 Lightning fighter, designed to quickly identify unknown contacts for pilots. The system uses machine learning to resolve ID ambiguities and improve situational awareness.
A Kazakhstan Air Force Sukhoi SU-30SM fighter jet crashed on February 25, 2026, during a training flight near Balkhash, according to reports from the Ministry of Defense. The crew safely ejected, and medical specialists placed them under observation.
France is testing combat AI on its upgraded Mirage 2000D RMV fighter jet, with the goal of developing more effective human-machine teaming capabilities. According to Colonel Alexandre Ribot, the Air and Space Force asked Dassault Aviation to replace one of the aircraft's mission computers with an open-architecture system capable of hosting new digital applications.
France and Germany are considering scaling back their involvement in the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program, according to a report from the Financial Times. The two governments may cancel the joint New Generation Fighter (NGF) component and focus on the 'combat cloud' architecture instead.
Dassault Aviation is developing new features for its Rafale fighter jet, including enhanced networked combat capabilities and advanced weapon systems. The F4 standard, currently under development, will feature these upgrades, while the F5 standard will focus on collaborative combat and future-proof technologies.
The production of the 300th Rafale has been completed by Dassault Aviation, marking a significant milestone for the French aerospace giant. The company has involved 400 French companies in the Rafale program and has received firm orders from France and eight export customer countries.
Dassault Aviation has signed a deal to supply the Ukrainian military with Rafale fighter jets, following a declaration of intent from the Ukrainian authorities. The French defense contractor has expressed confidence in the operational capabilities of the aircraft, which have been recognized by both countries.
Boeing is abandoning plans to sell its F-15EX fighter jet to Indonesia, a deal that was announced years ago but never materialized due to lack of formalization. The State Department cleared the sale in 2022, but Boeing appears to be ditching the campaign.