Private Fighter Jets to Hunt Shaheds: Ukraine's Bold New Air Defense Plan
Around the world, a number of private companies own and operate combat aircraft, including F-16s, complete with pilots and technicians. A new initiative by Ukraine to involve private aircraft in its air defense system may be aimed at leveraging this very resource.
A recent decree from the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has opened the door to a compelling new direction for the country’s air defense. It enables the creation of groups authorized to operate drones, aircraft, small arms, electronic warfare (EW) systems, and artificial intelligence for protecting airspace.
Read more: Defense Express' Weekly Review: Phoenix Strikes, Ukrainian Su-27 Precision Hit, and russia's Costly Rebuild of Lost Power
Tu-160M Repairs Take 18 Months and 10 Companies, and It's Even Before Ukraine's Operation Spiderweb
The data obtained by intelligence points to the real capacity of russian defense industry to resuscitate it's strategic bomber fleet, especially acute after Ukraine's successful attack on the said aircraft.
The focal point of this analysis is the Tu-160M bomber named Ilya Muromets, tail number 801.
russia Now Has Around 300 X-101, Iskander-K Missiles, Which Could Signal Significant Changes in Missile Strikes Against Ukraine
Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence has provided updated data on the production pace and overall stockpile of long-range missiles within the rssian federation as of mid-May 2025. These figures offer insight into the current capabilities of the russian military-industrial complex and potential scenarios for future missile attacks on Ukraine.
Norway Quietly Doubles Its F-16 Fighter Jet Donation to Ukraine
Norway has provided Ukraine with more than twice the number of the F-16 fighter jets than it had officially announced. While the Norwegian government had publicly committed to delivering six F-16 aircraft, a newly released annual report on the import and export of conventional arms reveals that the actual number is fourteen.
This starkly contrasts with earlier official statements and suggests that Oslo opted to quietly expand its contribution, possibly to avoid unwanted attention or strategic complications during the transfer process.
russia Can’t Build New MiG-31Ks: Every Loss of Kinzhal Carrier Hits Hard
russia is currently unable to produce new MiG-31K aircraft capable of carrying the Kinzhal hypersonic missile. This makes the loss of any such aircraft especially painful for the kremlin.
Serial production of the MiG-31 ended in 1993, with around 500 aircraft built. Today, only about 150 remain in active service. This highlights both the aircraft’s limited service life and the challenges of maintaining such an old platform under russian conditions.
Laser Weapons and russia's Shrinking Air Fleet: Ukraine's Air Force Comments on Future Warfare
According to Colonel Yurii Ihnat, head of the Communication Department of the Ukrainian Air Force Command, there is currently no confirmed evidence that russia is using laser weapons to target Ukrainian drones. While such claims have occasionally surfaced in public discourse, Ukrainian military intelligence and operational monitoring have yet to verify their actual deployment in the ongoing war.
Read more: Defense Express' Weekly Review: France's Nuclear Dilemma, Ukrainian Drone Precision, and russia's Air Chaos Over the Black Sea
