The National Interest

The F-35 Lightning II is the world's most advanced and populous fifth-generation fighter, designed to ensure air superiority in potential conflicts. Lockheed Martin has delivered over 1,060 F-35s across its three variants (A, B, and C), with the U.S. ordering 2,456 units for its forces.

At the Zhuhai Air Show, China unveiled its CH-7, a high-altitude, long-endurance stealth drone developed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). Designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and strike missions, the CH-7 is stealth-equipped, making it difficult to detect.

The USS Harry S. Truman, a Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, has deployed to the Arctic Circle for joint training with Norway’s Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF), marking a strategic shift from its expected Middle East mission.

There is good news and bad news on the inflation front. The good news is that inflation has come down from its May 2022 high of 9 percent to close to the Federal Reserve’s 2 percent inflation target. The bad news is that, if implemented, President-elect Donald Trump’s economic plan will lead to the return of inflation.

Russia’s Su-57 Felon showcased at the China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition has sparked speculation about potential buyers.

China has unveiled a mockup of its ambitious new 6th generation stealth aircraft, the "White Emperor" (Baidi), at the Zhuhai Airshow. Developed under the Nantianmen Project, this "integrated space-air fighter" aims to perform in both atmospheric and potential space operations, posing a hypothetical threat to U.S. satellites.

Viktor Belenko, a Soviet pilot, defected to the West in 1976 by flying his MiG-25 Foxbat to Japan, shocking both the Soviet Union and the world. The MiG-25, one of the USSR’s most advanced interceptors, boasted unmatched speed and altitude capabilities.

North Korea’s active involvement in the Ukraine War, marked by the deployment of 12,000 troops, underscores a growing alliance between Pyongyang and Moscow. This participation signifies the DPRK’s intensified commitment to Russia, exchanging military support for advanced technology and international leverage.

The formidable China-Russia nexus calls for America and Europe to put their strategic interests above their short-term tactical divergences and political expediencies.

Jorn Fleck is the Senior Director of the Atlantic Council’s Europe Centre.