DefenceTalkRussia will regard Western F-16 fighter jets sent to Ukraine as a “nuclear” threat because of their capacity to carry atomic weapons, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday. Modern warplanes have been at the forefront of Kyiv’s demands for military aid from its Western allies as it fights back against Russia’s offensive. Lavrov spoke […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-says-f-16-fighter-jets-in-ukraine-will-be-seen-as-nuclear-threat-80051/

DefenceTalkIran has finalized a deal to buy Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets from Russia, state media reported, as defence cooperation between the two countries deepens. The air force of sanctions-hit Iran has an ageing fleet of aircraft and has struggled to acquire spare parts to keep its warplanes in the air. In a statement to the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/iran-says-deal-reached-to-buy-russian-su-35-fighter-jets-79934/

DefenceTalkTwo American F-16 warplanes intercepted four Russian aircraft near Alaska, the joint US-Canadian North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said Tuesday. The “routine” intercept of the Russian planes — which included Tu-95 bomber and Su-35 fighter aircraft — occurred Monday, NORAD said in a statement. “Russian aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-jets-intercept-russian-aircraft-near-alaska-79847/

DefenceTalkThe Pentagon said Thursday that it was tracking a Chinese spy balloon flying high over the United States that appeared to be surveilling highly sensitive nuclear weapons sites. At President Joe Biden’s request, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and top military officials considered shooting the balloon down but decided doing so would endanger too many people […]https://www.defencetalk.com/pentagon-tracking-chinese-spy-balloon-over-us-79833/

DefenceTalkPoland is not in talks to send F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, a deputy defence minister said Tuesday, a day after the US ruled out delivering fighter jets to the war-torn country. “There are no official discussions on transferring F-16s at the moment,” Poland’s Wojciech Skurkiewicz told AFP. Poland currently has 48 American-made F-16 warplanes. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/poland-not-in-talks-to-send-f-16s-to-ukraine-79813/

DefenceTalkTwo Indian Air Force fighter jets crashed Saturday, killing one pilot and injuring two others, in an apparent mid-air collision while on exercises south of the capital New Delhi. The crash is the latest in a string of military aircraft accidents at a time when the government is trying to modernise its armed forces and […]https://www.defencetalk.com/two-indian-military-jets-crash-one-pilot-killed-79801/

DefenceTalkFrance is reportedly considering the possibility of supplying Ukraine with fighter jets, as the country seeks to upgrade its air force capabilities. Ukraine has been facing difficulties in obtaining new fighter jets due to ongoing tensions with Russia, but France’s potential involvement could help to fill the gap. The news of France’s potential involvement in […]https://www.defencetalk.com/france-could-meet-ukraines-demand-for-fighter-jets-79792/

DefenceTalkJapan and India began their first joint fighter jet exercise on Monday near Tokyo as the countries upgrade defence and security ties with an eye on China’s growing military might. The 11-day joint exercise will involve eight Japanese fighter jets, with India sending four fighters, two transport aircraft and an aerial refueling tanker, Japan’s defence […]https://www.defencetalk.com/japan-india-start-first-joint-fighter-jet-drill-79718/

DefenceTalkGermany’s defence ministry has raised serious concerns about the planned purchase of US-made F-35 fighter jets, part of the country’s military modernization drive, according to documents seen by AFP. Berlin announced in March it would buy 35 of the warplanes made by Lockheed Martin to replace its ageing Tornado fleet, in the wake of Russia’s […]https://www.defencetalk.com/concerns-mount-about-germanys-f-35-jet-purchase-plan-79639/

DefenceTalkSpain on Saturday said it would send 14 fighter jets to Bulgaria and Romania to bolster NATO’s eastern flank as the defence alliance strengthens its deterrence capacity following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Madrid will send six Eurofighter jets and 130 soldiers to Bulgaria between mid-November and early December to train local forces, the Spanish defence […]https://www.defencetalk.com/spain-to-bolster-natos-eastern-flank-with-14-fighter-jets-79536/