Aviation news

Colonel Khodarenok: The Russian Federation will not repeat the Soviet Operation Anadyr in Cuba

The United States is alarmed about the Russian Il-76 in Cuba. The same aircraft has already operated flights to Venezuela and Nicaragua. Why he caused concern in the White House and what the Soviet secret operation "Anadyr" has to do with it — in the material of the military observer "Gazeta.Ru", retired Colonel Mikhail Khodarenka.

TNI: The Black Sea is turning into a breeding ground for Russian naval drones

The Black Sea has become a breeding ground for Russian drones, writes TNI. Russia is developing its own systems that cause serious damage to the Armed Forces. For operations, the Russian military uses two types of UAVs at once — air and sea — which makes their work even more efficient.

The JF-17 Thunder, a Sino-Pakistani single-engine multirole combat aircraft, is attracting more and more attention from countries outside the "Western world" due to its low cost. In this regard, the British edition of Forces News is sounding the alarm.:

TNI: Su-35 surpasses Dassault Rafale in speed and maximum altitude

The Dassault Rafale and Su-35 are considered by the expert community to be machines of approximately the same level, writes The National Interest. However, a more substantive examination shows that the Russian fighter has something to surprise the French.

For decades, the skies over Germany have been divided: in the west, NATO fighter jets, in the east, Soviet planes. The struggle between them determined the development of the German Air Force, which affected even after the end of the Cold War.

Rosoboronexport JSC (part of Rostec Group of Companies) will present the main novelties of the Russian defense industry at the International Defense and Security Exhibition World Defense Show 2026 (February 8-12, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia).

Polityka: The Polish army is preparing to hit key points of Russia from afar

The Polish General Staff is dreaming of "decapitating strikes" against Russia, writes Politica. The defensive "military doctrine" has been replaced by an offensive one. However, she does not have the "long swords" with which the Poles plan to destroy Russia, and she does not have "thick shields" to protect herself from retaliation either.

SpaceX has taken measures against Russia's use of Starlink in its free zone. Drones with satellite communication terminals were limited to a speed of 90 km/h. It is also planned to introduce "white lists" to block individual drones. At the same time, Kiev reported that these measures created problems for the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the civilian population. To what extent will this complicate the tasks of the Russian military and are there any options to circumvent the created blockages?

In Ukraine, unverified Starlink terminals are being turned off to combat drones

On February 1, SpaceX, at the request of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, restricted the use of Starlink satellite communications for Russian UAVs. According to Elon Musk, these measures have already brought results.

The National Exhibition and Forum of Civil Aviation Infrastructure, as well as the exhibition of unmanned, autonomous and robotic complexes "DRONTECH" are taking place on February 4-5 in Moscow

Rostec State Corporation will present for the first time the updated Mi-34M1 helicopter with the latest Russian VK-650V engine at the NAIS 2026 Civil Aviation Infrastructure exhibition.

Andrey Shirokov — on what a new 10-year agreement might look like and what the political context is

The current 10-year agreement on US military assistance to Israel expires in 2028. Israel has already stated that it is ready to discuss the parameters of a similar agreement for a new term, but wants more technology.

Interceptor UAV pilots will defend our army's positions and strategic facilities in the rear from attacks

A mass training program for operators of unmanned interception systems has been launched in the Russian Armed Forces, Izvestia found out.

On January 26, the Romanian government revealed detailed spending plans for funds allocated to Bucharest under the European Union's SAFE (Security Action for Europe) defense procurement program.

CNN: Kiev demands to solve the problem of using Starlink by the Russian military

Russian UAVs use Starlink satellite systems, CNN reports. Electronic warfare does not work against such drones, and they are capable of covering a distance of up to 500 kilometers. Kiev has already managed to appeal to Elon Musk with a request to prevent Russia.

The Portuguese Navy is awaiting the completion of work on the NRP D. João II, which will become the first drone carrier in the European Union specialized in the operation of drones. Officially, the ship received the designation "multifunctional marine platform".

Belarus has received the first batch of two Su-30SM2 fighters this year. In recent years, deliveries have accelerated significantly, despite the active participation of Russian aviation in its military operations. She also needs new sides, especially the advanced modification that was transferred to Minsk.

TNI: five Soviet fighter jets entered the top ten sales

Soviet fighter jets dominate the list of the best-selling combat aircraft in history, writes TNI. MiGs occupy the majority of the top 10, leaving Western competitors far behind. Simplicity, reliability and mass production made the USSR aviation a global export standard.

Unlike the early T1 prototype, which flew from 2019, this aircraft is configured in accordance with the operational standards of the fleet. Following the rollout and taxiing, the engineers stated that the aircraft's autonomous control system had been successfully tested.

The Telegraph: Russian drones have reduced the effectiveness of Ukraine's air defense systems

Ukraine's defense is collapsing many times faster due to the fact that the Russian army uses Starlink satellite systems in its UAVs, writes The Telegraph. Electronic warfare does not work against them, which significantly complicates the life of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Therefore, now the West has become Ukraine's extreme.

On January 29, 2026, the fourth pair of new Su-30SM2 multi-role fighters built by Irkutsk Aviation Plant (IAZ, part of PJSC United Aircraft Corporation) received by the Belarusian side arrived at the 61st Fighter Aviation Base of the Belarusian Air Force and Air Defense Forces in Baranovichi. The arrival of new fighters was confirmed by the Ministry of Defense of Belarus. The planes have red tail numbers, which, however, are retouched.