Saab has officially rolled out the first Gripen F two-seat fighter aircraft destined for the Brazilian Air Force, marking a significant milestone in the long-standing partnership between Sweden and Brazil. The aircraft was presented during a ceremony held on 2 June at Saab's production facilities in Linköping, Sweden. The Gripen F is the two-seat variant of the latest-generation Gripen E fighter and has been specifically developed to meet the evolving training and operational

Russia has taken another step in the evolution of its flagship stealth fighter programme, with a newly developed two-seat version of the Sukhoi Su-57 “Felon” reportedly completing initial ground taxi trials. The development signals Moscow’s growing focus on export markets as it attempts to expand international sales of its fifth-generation combat aircraft. Images circulating in Russian defence media during May showed what appears to be a modified Su-57 airframe featuring an e

Hungary has taken delivery of two additional Gripen C fighter aircraft, marking a further step in the ongoing modernisation of the Hungarian Defence Forces’ air combat capability. The aircraft will be operated by the 101st Aviation Wing from Kecskemét Air Base, reinforcing the country’s ability to meet both national defence requirements and its commitments to NATO operations. The delivery follows a contract signed in February 2024 between the Hungarian Ministry of Defence and

Peru has selected the Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon Block 70 as the future backbone of its combat aviation fleet, announcing plans to acquire 12 aircraft in a move aimed at strengthening national defence capabilities and modernising the country’s air force. The aircraft will be built by Lockheed Martin at its production facility in Greenville, South Carolina. The decision represents one of the most significant defence procurement steps taken by Peru in recent years. Th

Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), part of the Rostec state conglomerate, has delivered another batch of new-build Su-35S multirole fighters to the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS), reinforcing one of the service’s key frontline combat aircraft fleets. The delivery was announced on 17 April and marks the latest in a continuing series of transfers intended to sustain operational readiness and modernise Russia’s tactical aviation inventory. According to official statemen

The recent US rescue of two downed Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle crew members over Iran will likely be remembered not simply as a successful personnel recovery mission, but as one of the clearest modern demonstrations of how much airpower is required to retrieve a single isolated aircrew in heavily defended airspace. Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle What emerged in the days after the operation was not the story of one helicopter slipping quietly into hostile territory, but of an extraor

Brazil’s Gripen fighter programme reached a significant new milestone on 25 March with the official unveiling of the first Gripen E combat aircraft assembled in Brazil, a development that underlines the growing maturity of the country’s defence aerospace sector. Presented during a ceremony at Embraer’s industrial complex in Gavião Peixoto, São Paulo State, the aircraft represents an important step in the long-running cooperation between Embraer, Saab and the Brazilian Air For

Exercise Cold Response 26, a Norwegian-led multinational training event, has concluded following several weeks of operations across Norway, Sweden and Finland. The exercise brought together more than 25,000 military and civilian personnel from over a dozen NATO and partner nations, with a focus on improving interoperability, readiness and coordination in Arctic conditions. The training event incorporated air, land and maritime components, with air operations playing a central

The global fleet of Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft has officially surpassed one million cumulative flying hours, a figure that represents not just a numerical achievement, but millions of take-offs, landings, intercepts, training sorties and the occasional pilot wondering. More than two decades after entering frontline service, the Typhoon continues to demonstrate that it is very much in its prime, combining operational maturity with a steady stream of upgrades that keep

By Garth Calitz Photos by Garth Calitz and Trevor Cohen The South African Air Force (SAAF) marked its 106th anniversary with a traditional Prestige Day Parade at Air Force Base (AFB) Swartkop, reaffirming its enduring legacy as one of the world’s oldest independent air forces and underscoring its continued relevance in a challenging operational and fiscal environment. Held at the historic Swartkop Air Force Base (recently renamed Air Force Mobile Deployment Wing), widely rega