3/19/2026 RAF Typhoons deploy to Romania to lead NATO Air Policing mission under Operation Biloxi 2026 on Alliance’s eastern flank  Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft from 3 (Fighter) Squadron have deployed to Romania to begin the United Kingdom’s four-month commitment to NATO’s Air Policing mission on the Alliance’s eastern flank. The deployment forms part of Operation Biloxi 2026 and will see the RAF operate from Borcea Air Base as part of NATO’s enhanced vigilance activities. |
3/19/2026 Marines plan ‘sunset’ salute for AV-8B Harrier II jet as it leaves service  The legacy of the Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier II ground-attack “jump jet” will be celebrated during a week’s worth of events late this spring in North Carolina. The “Harrier Sundown Celebration” will be hosted by the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point from June 1-4, according to a memorandum posted Tuesday on the Marine Corps Administration website. |
3/19/2026 Next Gen Propulsion – the Time Is Now  In recent months, Iranian drone and missile attacks have pushed U.S. and allied aircrews to operate at the edge of their range and survivability. The next crisis, whether in the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea, or over Taiwan, will demand fighters that can fly farther, stay on station longer, and power more advanced defenses than today’s engines allow. |
3/19/2026 Air Power and the Politics of Defence Dependence: Ethiopia’s Strategic Imperative  In 2020, former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, in discussing his country’s fleet of American-made F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets, revealed a constraint that most purchasing states accept but rarely articulate. Malaysia had been incapable of programming the aircraft for offensive operations without the involvement of the United States, and any military use required reverting to Washington. |
3/19/2026 What Macron’s “forward deterrence” demands from France’s Rafale fleet  French President Emmanuel Macron introduced “forward deterrence” in his speech at Île Longue on March 2, 2026, signaling France’s intent to involve European allies more explicitly in its sovereign nuclear deterrent. |
3/19/2026 F-47 Won’t Be Available Until Mid-2030s, Top Lawmaker Says  The Air Force’s sixth-generation F-47 and the Navy’s F/A-XX fighter won’t be “available” until the mid-2030s, a leading congressman said March 17, which will require the services to keep older jets flying in the interim. “The question then becomes, what do we do in the meantime?” |
3/18/2026 Russian fighters with 'hypersonic' missiles fly over Sea of Japan  Russia's defense ministry says some of its fighter jets carrying Kinzhal missiles flew over international waters in the Sea of Japan. Moscow says the Kinzhal is a hypersonic weapon. The ministry announced on Tuesday that MiG-31 aircraft armed with the missiles conducted a planned flight and also practiced air-to-air refueling. It is unusual for Russia to make such an announcement. |
3/18/2026 Large-scale air activities near Taiwan restart  The Ministry of National Defense yesterday reported the return of large-scale Chinese air force activities after their unexplained absence for more than two weeks, which had prompted speculation regarding Beijing’s motives. China usually sends fighter jets, drones and other military aircraft around the nation on a daily basis. Interruptions to such routine are generally caused by bad weather. |
3/18/2026 Indian Air Force plans Jaguar retirement and Mirage-2000 life extension to 2039  The Indian Air Force is beginning the gradual retirement of its ageing Jaguar strike aircraft. To maintain squadron strength during the transition, the dependable Mirage 2000 is now expected to remain in frontline service for several more years while the IAF searches worldwide for Jaguar spare parts, according to a Defence Ministry official. |
3/18/2026 EUCOM commander says U.S. European bases key to Operation Epic Fury campaign against Iran .jpg) U.S. military forces and infrastructure in Europe are playing a critical role in supporting operations against Iran as part of Operation Epic Fury, the head of U.S. European Command told lawmakers. Air Force Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich said American bases across the continent provide key logistical and operational advantages for projecting power into multiple regions. |
