Canada Rethinks Fighter Plans for North American Defence
The reported Gripen option could reshape Canada's contribution to North American Aerospace Defense Command while reopening debate over defence dependence.
F-35A Lightning II News
Air
Bilateral Relations
Defence Politics
Air
Bilateral Relations
Regional / Strategy
Erdoğan Reframes F-35 Return as a NATO Security Issue
Erdoğan outlines Türkiye’s F-35 return as vital to NATO security, signalling a shift at long waited F-16 talks expose deeper questions about US priorities.
Analysis
Air
Logistics
Pentagon audit questions sustainability of F-35 programme
Pentagon’s audit found weak oversight, low readiness rates and continued payments within the F-35 programme, raising questions systemic risk for the US.
Air
Türkiye prioritises F-35s as F-16 Block 70 path stays open
MoD Güler said Ankara does not foresee problems in the ongoing F-16 procurement process, while Türkiye’s primary objective is returning to the F-35 programme.
Navy / Maritime
Air
Latest Position in Türkiye’s Eurofighter Procurement
Türkiye to acquire interim Eurofighter aircraft from Qatar and Oman while it moves forward with naval equipment purchases through the Seferihisar construction.
Air
Weapon / Missile
Lockheed Martin Tests Meteor BVRAAM Integration on F-35A
Lockheed Martin announced that the ground-based integration tests were completed for MBDA’s IWB-compatible Meteor BVRAAM variant for F-35A fighter jets.
Air
Trump’s F-35 Signal to Saudi Arabia Revives Old Tensions
Trump’s declaration that Washington “will be selling F-35s” to Saudi Arabia echoes earlier debates, including the UAE’s stalled request, Israel’s opposition.
Air
Saudi Arabia Seeks 48 F-35s in Major Defence Push
White House weighs multi-billion-dollar sale that could reshape Middle East military balance and test US’s pledge to preserve Israel’s qualitative edge.
Analysis
Bilateral Relations
Turkiye and the US Enter a New Rapprochement Phase
President Erdoğan’s recent meeting with President Trump in the Oval Office signals a new warming period in relations between Türkiye and the United States.
Air
Weapon / Missile
Expo and Air Show
US Approves Aircraft Munition Sales to Norway and Belgium
The US State Department has approved a AIM-9X Block II/Block II+ sale for Belgian F-35A Lightning II fighters and a GBU-39B sale for Norwegian fighters.
Air
Bilateral Relations
US lawmakers tie F-35 sales to Türkiye’s Israel relations
Amendments to the 2026 defence budget would block F-35 deliveries unless Ankara cuts ties with Hamas and avoids threatening Israel, deepening tensions with DC.
Air
Engine and Transmission
F-35 Unit Price Passes $100m as Engine Costs Surge
The Pentagon’s Lot 18 deal with Pratt & Whitney sets F135 engine cost at $20m, up from $14–15m in Lot 17, pushing Lockheed Martin F-35A unit price past $100m.
Air
Simulator / AI / Drill/ Software
Bilateral Relations
US Deploys 10 F-35s to the Republic of Korea, Pyongyang Furious
The US has stationed ten F-35 stealth fighters at Kunsan Air Base for joint drills with the Republic of Korea, drawing sharp condemnation from North Korea.
Navy / Maritime
Air
India drops P-8I Poseidon purchase over US tariffs
India has called off its agreement to acquire six more P-8I Poseidon maritime patrol planes from Boeing for $2.42 billion in response to new US tariffs.
Air
Bilateral Relations
India Cancels F-35 Fighter Talks in Response to Tariffs
India has informed the U.S. that it is no longer considering the acquisition of F-35 fighter jets after the declaration of a 25% tariff on Indian products.
Air
Bilateral Relations
Israel Urges Congress to Block F-35 Sale to Türkiye
A senior Israeli official told Breitbart News that selling F-35A Lightning IIs to Türkiye would endanger Israel and said Congress must act to stop it.
