Defense Minister Pete Hegseth deploys additional forces to counter Iran in the Strait of Hormuz. The military is preparing operations to neutralize missile threats.
The delivery of the aircraft will begin after the Belgian fleet is updated with F-35s. Ukraine may not receive the last aircraft before 2029 due to delays.
The vessel's readiness period has been reduced to five days due to a possible operation against Iran. The crew has been warned of deployment to protect interests in the region.
The Pentagon has requested $12 billion from Congress by 2031 for the F-35. The funds are needed for spare parts due to the intensive use of the fighter jets in the war with Iran.
Israel reported that an Iranian Air Force Russian Yak-130 was shot down by an F-35 fighter jet over Tehran. The IDF dropped 5,000 munitions on Iran, destroying the air defense of Mehrabad Airport.
Great Britain appealed to Ukraine with a request to help partners from the Persian Gulf in shooting down Iranian drones. President Zelensky agreed, and expert Andriy Kramarov noted that Ukraine can provide methodology and instructors, but not combat crews.
The US Department of Justice has charged former Air Force instructor Gerald Eddy Brown Jr. He is suspected of cooperating with the Chinese armed forces and training Chinese army pilots.
The Trump administration is threatening European countries with retaliatory measures if the EU prioritizes domestic arms manufacturers. The Pentagon warned that restricting access for American arms manufacturers to the European market would provoke a reaction.
On February 19, the US and Canada intercepted five Russian aircraft near Alaska. They remained in international airspace, not entering sovereign US or Canadian airspace.
UNN tells about the uniqueness of American aircraft, how much the machines cost, and what made them popular.
The Swedish company Saab is building a portfolio of potential orders for over 300 JAS 39 Gripen E/F fighters. Ukraine could order up to 150 aircraft, and Canada – 72, with the possibility of localizing production.
In the Arabian Sea, the US military shot down an Iranian Shahed-139 drone that aggressively approached the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier. The drone was maneuvering towards the ship 500 miles off the coast of Iran.
The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier group and F-35 fighters have arrived in the Middle East. The US is deploying additional air defense assets to protect allies and American troops.
A Pentagon report revealed that US military bases are defenseless against drones due to legislative confusion. This creates legal paradoxes and makes timely response to threats impossible.
Lockheed Martin delivered a record 191 F-35 fighter jets last year, but almost half of them were supposed to be delivered two years ago. The delays are due to software issues and system modernization.
The United States and Norway have begun deploying troops for the "Cold Response 26" exercise in the High North. Approximately 3,000 U.S. Marines are arriving in January to train in extreme winter conditions before the active phase of the maneuvers in March 2026.
Two Danish F-35 fighter jets and a French MRTT tanker aircraft conducted joint exercises in southeastern Greenland. The mission was to practice aerial refueling and flights in Arctic conditions.
US President Donald Trump has announced his intention to accelerate arms production for allies to shorten the multi-year delivery times for aircraft and helicopters. He plans to strictly control defense companies to avoid delays in the supply of military equipment.
Turkish President Erdogan insists on the country's reintegration into the F-35 program, which he discussed with Donald Trump. Ankara seeks to obtain the aircraft for which it has already paid part of the funds, but Israel opposes it due to the use of unique technologies in the aircraft.
The head of the Swiss armed forces, Thomas Süssli, stated that the country is not ready for large-scale military threats and can only counter cyberattacks. Only a third of soldiers would be equipped in an emergency.
The F-35 fighter jets' readiness for flight in 2024 was only 50% due to poor maintenance by Lockheed Martin and a lack of Pentagon oversight. Despite this, the Pentagon paid the company $1.7 billion without penalties, and the US Air Force reduced its F-35 order for 2026 due to rising costs.
Czech Defense Minister Jaromír Zuna confirmed the continuation of the ammunition initiative for Ukraine until 2026. Funding has been secured for the purchase of 760,000 shells, and support for Ukraine is "a matter of course."
Turkey is negotiating with Russia to return the S-400 systems to resolve the conflict with NATO and acquire F-35 fighters. This will allow Ankara to resume military cooperation with the West and strengthen its air force.
The FCAS fifth-generation fighter jet program between France, Germany, and Spain has fallen into a deep crisis due to strategic disagreements. The project's implementation is now "very unlikely," and a decision on it will likely be postponed until 2026.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb has canceled a planned visit to the United States to participate in European discussions on the peace process in Ukraine. He will join talks in Berlin, where other European leaders and high-ranking officials will also be present.
Switzerland has decided to purchase fewer F-35 fighter jets from the US than planned to keep costs within the approved limit. The country faced additional costs of up to 1.3 billion Swiss francs due to rising energy and raw material prices.
US B-52 bombers, capable of carrying nuclear weapons, flew over the Sea of Japan alongside Japanese F-35 and F-15 fighters. This was a response to joint China-Russia exercises in the region, as well as increased Chinese military activity around Taiwan.
US Ambassador Tom Barrack said that Turkey must abandon the Russian S-400 air defense system. This is a condition for the country's return to the F-35 program.
The Netherlands scrambled two F-35 fighter jets in response to reports of an unknown drone in its airspace. The drone posed no threat and left the country's airspace; its origin remains unclear.
The United States and Saudi Arabia have signed a multi-billion dollar civilian nuclear energy agreement. This happened during Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's visit to Washington.
