A South Korean plane entered the Japanese air defense zone without warning, and fighters were scrambled

 

The military tension in the Far East almost reached a new level due to one unexpected maneuver. The South Korean transport aircraft C-130 Hercules entered the Japanese air defense zone (the so-called ADIZ) without prior notice. Japan reacted immediately: fighter jets were scrambled from the airbase to intercept.

What exactly happened? On July 13, this aircraft flew as part of a large—scale exercise under the auspices of the United States, probably Resolute Force Pacific, which is positioned as the largest military exercise in the history of the Pacific Ocean. On his way to Guam, he needed to refuel, and the route changed abruptly — he turned to Kadena Air Base in Okinawa. But the South Korean military seems to have forgotten to inform Japan about this in advance.

But for Tokyo, this is serious. ADIZ is not a border, but a zone where the country monitors all aircraft, especially military ones. If someone enters without warning, it may look like a challenge or even a threat. Therefore, Japanese fighters took to the air to visually identify the aircraft and track it.

Now the South Korean Air Force has launched an investigation — they are trying to understand whether it was a mistake in coordination or just a slip. In any case, the incident is a reminder of how easily even NATO and other bloc allies can scare each other, especially in a tense region like East Asia.

It's good that there was no escalation. But the situation has shown that even friendly countries should keep each other informed when flying near other people's "air zones."

Israel is modernizing the Air Force: 75 F-35I "Adir" are expected by 2030

 F-35I "Adir"

Israel continues to build up its air force and relies on the F-35I "Adir", its unique version of the American fifth—generation fighter F-35A. According to an agreement with Lockheed Martin and the US government, Israel plans to receive 75 such aircraft by 2030.

The first two F-35is were delivered back in 2016, and since then deliveries have been coming in batches. All this time, the aircraft have been building up their combat potential at the Nevatim Airbase, where several squadrons based on them have already been created.

This is not just a copy of the American F-35 — it is a full-fledged joint project in which Israeli specialists have implemented their technologies. For example, the electronic warfare complex from Elbit Systems, its own communication and control systems, enlarged fuel tanks, and even weapons developed in Israel.

Thanks to these improvements, the Adir is considered one of the most advanced F-35s in the world, capable of operating effectively in a complex electronic environment and delivering precision strikes at long distances.

By 2025, the Israeli Air Force already has about 46 F-35I fighters distributed in three squadrons. Deliveries are continuing, and the fleet is expected to reach 75 aircraft by 2030, which will be a major boost for Israeli aviation.

The F-35I Adir program is a key element of the modernization of the Israeli Air Force and an important part of its strategic superiority in the region. These fighters provide not only a qualitative leap in combat capabilities, but also emphasize the close military-technical cooperation between Israel and the United States.

Serious deterioration of Venezuela's air defense system: a report from the United States

 

A report from the United States highlights the serious deterioration of the air defense system of the Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela.

The document, prepared by analyst Jesus Romero, states that a significant number of the JYL-1 and JY-11B radar systems are inactive due to a shortage of spare parts, which seriously affects early warning capabilities. This is compounded by the limited availability of aircraft: Russian-made Su-30MK2 fighters fly only sporadically, the few remaining F-16s are limited in use, and AT-27 and K-8W Karakorum training aircraft play an almost symbolic role. For example, the latest Chinese-made model operates with less than 30% availability and does not have a functional air-to-air radar.

India has acknowledged the loss of fighter jets in the conflict with Pakistan, but has not disclosed their number

The Chief of the Indian Defense Staff, General Anil Chauhan, has officially confirmed for the first time that the Indian Armed Forces have lost several fighter jets in the recent conflict with Pakistan. However, he declined to specify the exact number of aircraft, stressing that it was more important to understand the causes of these losses rather than their number.

The general also denied Pakistan's claims that six Indian planes had been shot down, calling the data "absolutely incorrect." According to Chauhan, the key is to analyze why the fighters were shot down and what mistakes were made during the fighting.

The conflict between India and Pakistan occurred in early May 2025 and was accompanied by intense air battles. Despite the escalation, the general noted that the parties had never been close to a nuclear war.

Earlier, information appeared in the media about the losses of Indian Dassault Rafale, MiG-29 and Su-30 fighters, but the official authorities limited the publication of details. As a result of the conflict, the parties agreed to return troops to peacetime positions.

Air Battle between India and Pakistan: Lessons for world aviation and air warfare strategies

The air battle between India and Pakistan, which took place in early May 2025, became one of the largest and longest in the modern history of aviation. About 125 fighters from both sides participated in the battle, which exchanged blows for more than an hour without leaving the airspace of their countries. The exchange of missile strikes took place at distances exceeding 160 kilometers, which indicates the use of modern means of air combat and tactical techniques.

This conflict, caused by the escalation of tension after the terrorist attack in the Jammu and Kashmir region, led to significant losses, including the downing of Indian fighter jets. At the same time, the parties avoided crossing the border, probably taking into account the experience of previous incidents and trying to prevent the direct capture of pilots and political complications.

Douglas Barry, a senior researcher at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), noted that this air battle will be the subject of close attention from the military communities of China, the United States and Europe. An analysis of tactics used in combat, the effectiveness of missile systems and strategies will allow us to gain valuable experience in improving air operations in modern conflicts.

Of particular interest is which methods and systems have been successful and which have not, which will help adapt weapons and tactics for future combat operations. This battle has actually become an indirect clash between China and the West through the prism of the regional conflict, which underlines its global significance.

Thus, the air battle between India and Pakistan not only reflects regional contradictions, but also serves as an important testing ground for testing and developing modern concepts of air warfare, influencing the strategic decisions of the leading world powers.

US troop withdrawal: Europe will face spending of $1 trillion on weapons

 Facing Russia alone: A U.S. withdrawal would force Europe to purchase 400 fighter jets, 600 tanks, and additional weapons worth $300 billion.

However, even such extreme spending will not solve Europe's main problem.If the United States eventually decides to step back and abandon its role in ensuring European security, European countries will have to invest an additional $1 trillion in building the necessary military capabilities.

According to a recent report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), About a third of this amount (at least $344 billion) will need to be spent directly on weapons and military equipment.

The list of required systems is staggering, including at least 400 fighter jets and 600 main battle tanks, as well as numerous other types of weapons.

Kratos is developing new Apollo and Athena drones for the European market

The American company Kratos Defense & Security Technologies continues to expand its position in the market of combat unmanned aerial vehicles. The focus is on two new secret projects: Apollo and Athena, created as part of the so—called "Loyal Wingman" program, aimed primarily at European customers.

These drones are being developed as modular systems, which allows them to be adapted to various combat missions. According to the company, Apollo and Athena have a high degree of flexibility and can be used both as combat drones carrying weapons, as well as as electronic warfare platforms or reconnaissance systems with additional sensors.

Of particular interest is their ability to interact with third- and fourth-generation fighters, enhancing their combat capabilities and allowing them to perform missions in high-threat environments without risk to the pilot. This makes Apollo and Athena attractive solutions for countries seeking to modernize their air forces without completely switching to expensive fifth-generation fighters.

Despite the fact that these UAVs are smaller in size than the well-known XQ-58 Valkyrie, they are not inferior to it in technology and application potential. Flexible architecture and the ability to quickly reconfigure for a specific mission give them an advantage in today's rapidly changing battlefield.

France and Great Britain conducted large-scale exercises over the Black Sea

 French and British troops conducted a large-scale air operation over the western part of the Black Sea, demonstrating a coordinated demonstration of intelligence and air superiority amid the ongoing escalation of tensions in the region.

A large number of aircraft from both countries participated in the large-scale flight, which acted together to monitor the actions of the Russian military.The mission involved Rafale fighter jets and an E-2 Hawkeye long-range radar detection aircraft launched from the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle. , as well as Typhoon fighters of the Royal Air Force, Rivet Joint RC-135 electronic reconnaissance platform and support from tankers of both countries. 

The presence of the French E-3 Sentry long-range radar detection and control aircraft provided additional coordination and control, which made it possible to expand the surveillance zone over the entire maritime region of the Black Sea.

Flight tracking data showed that several tanker aircraft provided a long flight, which allowed the escort fighters and surveillance equipment to remain in place for a long time.

Colombia and Sweden have signed a letter of intent to purchase Saab Gripen fighter jets

Saab JAS 39 Gripen

Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced the signing of a letter of intent between the Republic of Colombia and the Kingdom of Sweden regarding the purchase of Saab Gripen fighter jets. This decision is an important step in the modernization of the Colombian Air Force, which currently uses aging Israeli Kfir fighter jets.

The acquired fleet of aircraft will be brand new and equipped with the latest technologies already used in Brazil. It will be the Saab 39 Gripen brand, known for its high maneuverability, low operating costs and the ability to perform various tasks, including air superiority, strikes against ground targets and reconnaissance.

Colombia considered several options to replace its aging fighter jets, including the Lockheed Martin F-16 and Dassault Rafale, but eventually chose the Saab Gripen. This choice is determined not only by the combat characteristics of the aircraft, but also by the possibility of technological cooperation. The deal includes investments in social projects in Colombia, such as the construction of a solar panel factory and the improvement of medical infrastructure.

Negotiations between Colombia and Saab will continue in the near future, and it is expected that the final agreement will be signed at the international aviation exhibition F-AIR Colombia 2025. This contract will be another proof of the successful penetration of the Swedish company into the South American market.

Norway was the first to complete the delivery of all ordered F-35 fighter jets

 

F-35

On April 1, 2025, Norway became the first country to receive all ordered F-35A Lightning II fighter jets in full. According to the Joint Programs Office (JPO), Norway received the last two F-35A fighters that day, bringing the total number of aircraft in the Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNAF) operational fleet to 52 units.

This is an important milestone for Norwegian aviation, as Norway is one of the key partners of the United States in the framework of the F-35 program. The first F-35A for Norway was received in 2017, and since then the country has been steadily increasing its fleet of these advanced fighters. 

Norway actively uses its F-35s within the framework of NATO, including for patrolling and intercepting Russian aircraft approaching the borders of the alliance. In addition, Norway also plans to use its F-35s to participate in international operations such as the mission in Poland.

The completion of the delivery of F-35A fighter jets confirms Norway's status as one of the leading military powers within NATO and demonstrates its ability to respond quickly to threats in the region.