Free Republic

President Donald Trump, during the first day of the NATO Summit in Ankara on Tuesday, said he will consider allowing Turkey to buy American F-35 fighter jets -- despite possessing Russian-made air defense systems, which his first administration sanctioned the country for six years ago. "It's a decision we're going to make," Trump said as he met Turkish President Recep Erdogan at Erdogan's presidential compound. "We have a better relationship with Turkey, and Turkey's been, in many ways, much more loyal than other countries that we think would be loyal," Trump said. "So, it's something, certainly, we would consider. It's...

A massive wave of armed insurrections and targeted assassinations has erupted across western Iran, leaving multiple regime security forces dead as overstretched IRGC units struggle to contain internal rebellions while fighting a broader regional war. A fresh wave of violence is shaking Iran’s Kurdish west, where Kurdish opposition fighters and Iranian regime forces are now clashing across multiple flashpoints from Mahabad and Baneh to Paveh and Marivan. The sudden intensification of domestic fighting comes at a critical moment for the Islamic Republic, as its elite military forces find themselves highly vulnerable to localized insurgencies. Tehran is forced to divert critical...

The U.S. military has now confirmed the acceptance of at least six F-35 Joint Strike Fighters for the U.S. Marine Corps without radars. This is due to issues tied to the development of the new AN/APG-85 radar, the first production lot of which is scheduled to be delivered in 2028. The prospect of radarless F-35s had first emerged publicly back in February. The AN/APG-85 is a critical component of the larger Block 4 upgrade package for all variants of the F-35, an effort that has been mired in cost growth and delays. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Gregory Masiello, head of...

For those who cling to the insistence that President Trump is always playing 5D chess with his opponents, now would be a great time to explain to the rest of us what the strategy is behind his repeated recent moves to empower our existential Islamic enemies. First Trump prevented Israel from finishing the job with the savage terror group Hamas in Gaza, going so far as to promise to invest in developing the Palestinian territories into the “Riviera of the Middle East.” Then, after vowing to rescue the Iranian people from the oppressive fundamentalist regime, Trump stopped short of finishing...

The U.S. Department of War has announced a major investment in North Texas aerospace, awarding Lockheed Martin military contracts totaling more than $1 billion. The bulk of the funding is tied directly to the F-35 aircraft program. These next-generation fighter jets are manufactured at Lockheed Martin’s sprawling facility in Fort Worth, further cementing the city’s status as a global leader in defense technology. According to the Department of War, the contracts will support the continued development and production of the F-35, ensuring the military maintains its edge in national security. The contract provides for the production and delivery of aircraft...

Leaders of the Air National Guard argued that the Air Force's readiness was woefully inadequate... "The United States Air Force is the oldest, the smallest, and the least ready in its 78-year history," the letter, which was obtained by Air and Space Forces Magazine, read. To rectify the historic deficiency, military leaders are requesting between 72 and 100 new fighter jets across the Air Force's active duty, reserve and guard corps. Specifically, the adjutants generals — the leader of the National Guard in their respective state — are requesting at least 48 new F-35s and 24 new F-15EXs. The letter...

WASHINGTON — Starting this fall, all new F-35 Joint Strike Fighters delivered to the American military will come without radars, an issue that could stretch into the future and restrict the jets from participating in combat operations, Breaking Defense has learned.In the best case, a new, redesigned radar could be ready as soon as next year, meaning only a handful of jets may be impacted. But if delays for the sensor stretch on, over a hundred jets may be delivered with a ballast where the new radar is supposed to be.Any aircraft delivered without a radar are expected to remain...

A US F-35 fighter jet made an emergency landing at US air base in the Middle East after it was struck by what is believed to be Iranian fire, according to two sources familiar with the matter. Capt. Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for US Central Command, said the fifth-generation stealth jet was “flying a combat mission over Iran” when it was forced to make an emergency landing. Hawkins said the aircraft landed safely and the incident is under investigation. “The aircraft landed safely, and the pilot is in stable condition,” Hawkins added. “This incident is under investigation.” The incident would...

Dramatic footage has captured the moment an Israeli stealth fighter shot down an Iranian jet in a first-of-its-kind combat strike on Wednesday. Footage released by the Israeli Defense Forces on Thursday showed the Israeli F-35 jet focusing in on its target – a Russian-made Iranian Yak-130 – over Tehran before the air-to-air kill. A streak of light can be seen blazing across the screen as the enemy plane comes down. “Target down. The target is down. Continue for strike,” Israeli forces say in the video, which is played to the “Star Wars” theme tune. It was the first shootdown in...

Lockheed Martin is using AI to evolve the F-35 jet, integrating drones into its system to boost capability and relevance. But after missing out on big contracts due to increased competition and tariffs, can Lockheed pivot to stay relevant? WSJ visited Lockheed Martin’s facilities in Fort Worth, Texas, to get a closer look at the jets and their new capabilities.

Consequently, Trump’s technical team has sought to create a loophole, according to 4 sources familiar with discussions on the matter. Turkey will remove a component from the S-400 and declare it ‘inoperable’. It would be the anti-aircraft system equivalent of rendering a rifle inoperable by removing the bolt or taking the firing pin out of other firearms.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) is calling for a federal investigation into radical organizer Aisha Nizar, after Nizar openly encouraged Palestinian activists to intervene in the U.S. F-35 fighter jet supply chain. The so-called “People’s Conference for Palestine,” held August 29 in Detroit, brought together thousands of anti-Israel agitators, leftist groups, and pro-Hamas sympathizers under one roof. Far from a “peace” summit, the event quickly devolved into calls for sabotage, economic warfare, and even direct intervention against the United States military supply chain. According to recently released reports, radical organizers are furious that shipments of U.S.-made F-35 components are being...

The fact is, said a retired Dassault executive, that “those questioning the Rafale’s combat capability forget just how long the aircraft has been around, how Dassault was one of the first aircraft design companies to seriously mitigate the aircraft’s signature by treating the inlets with radar absorbing materials, how it was one of the first aircraft to have an electronically-scanning array radar, and so on.” “These and other features of Rafale make it more than a match for these US aircraft within the visual range part of the engagement envelope,” he continued.

Ever since the Europeans signed on to the F-35 program, it has been clouded by one persistent fear: that in some future geopolitical crisis, Washington might seek to exercise leverage by denying software updates or spare parts, thereby rendering the European fleet inoperable. But where does this geopolitical anxiety come from? Is it grounded in historical fact (i.e., have there been precedents in which the United States weaponized its control over advanced weapon systems against its allies)?

China’s stealth air force has exploded from a small, elite capability into a massive and rapidly growing fleet designed to challenge American air power. With hundreds of J-20s in service, the new J-35 entering production, and three different sixth-generation prototypes already flying, Beijing’s ambition is clear. This formidable force, supported by a growing fleet of new tankers and AWACS aircraft, is specifically tailored to counter the U.S. in the Pacific by hunting key support assets and penetrating defenses.

The wild upgrades to the F-35 pitched by the designer of the YF-23

Vladimir Putin appeared rattled by Donald Trump's military jet flyover after the two leaders shook hands for the first time in six years today during a historic moment in Alaska. A B2 bomber and four F-35 figher jets flew above Putin and Trump as they walked to the US president's motorcade - a symbolic ride together into one of the most high-stakes diplomatic showdowns in decades. The Russian leader appeared shocked as the jets took off, pausing his walk to look up overhead.

While the U.S. F-35 and F-22 may be qualitatively superior, China’s ability to mass-produce its J-20 stealth fighter presents a grave quantitative threat. China’s “offset strategy with Chinese characteristics” focuses on overwhelming the limited number of American fifth-generation jets with a massive fleet of J-20s.

Spain has formally ruled out buying US-made F-35 fighter jets, opting instead to expand its fleet of Eurofighter Typhoons and invest in the Franco-German Future Combat Air System (FCAS). The move reflects both strategic and political divergence from Washington, especially amid renewed pressure from Donald Trump over NATO spending. .. Why the F-35 lost out Spain’s pivot is part of a wider rethink in Europe. The F-35 programme, long plagued by soaring costs, software delays, and mechanical issues, is losing ground. Recent operational mishaps, including a British F-35B grounded in India and a US Navy crash in California, haven’t helped....

Air superiority is no longer just a matter of the capabilities of individual aircraft. It’s a question of posture, doctrine, and overall warfighting infrastructure. And in that domain, the contest is no longer so lopsided. The West can no longer take comfort in its F-35 fleet. The J-20 has evolved into its operational equal—if not its superior.