This is a developing story. Information may change as official details are released.

Five Indian Air Forces (IAF) personnel were killed and one was injured when an Antonov An-32 transport aircraft crashed while attempting to land at Jorhat Air Force Station in Assam on June 13, 2026.

The twin-engine turboprop was conducting a routine cargo sortie when the accident occurred at approximately 10:00 AM local time (04:30 UTC). According to an official statement from the IAF, the aircraft caught fire upon landing, prompting the immediate deployment of emergency response teams and the sealing of the military airbase.

Casualties and emergency response

The IAF confirmed the deaths of five personnel on board the aircraft. The deceased were identified as Squadron Leader Prashant Singh, Flight Lieutenant Shubham Kumar, Sergeant Jitendra Sharma, Agniveervayu Khemaram Kumawat, and Agniveervayu Danish Alam.

The Indian Air Force deeply regrets the loss of five personnel in the An-32 accident at Jorhat, Assam. Sqn Ldr Prashant Singh, Flt Lt Shubham Kumar, Sgt Jitendra Sharma, Agniveervayu Khemaram Kumawat and Agniveervayu Danish Alam made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty. IAF extends its deepest condolences to the bereaved families and stands firmly with them in this hour of grief.

A sixth occupant, identified as the co-pilot, survived the crash with injuries and is currently undergoing treatment at an IAF medical facility, according to reporting by Gulf News. Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh issued a statement honoring the deceased personnel, stating that their courage and service to the nation will always be remembered with pride and gratitude.

Investigation and fleet history

The cause of the accident has not been determined. The IAF announced that a Court of Inquiry has been constituted to investigation the circumstances surrounding the crash.

The Antonov An-32 has operated as a primary medium-lift transport aircraft for the IAF since 1984. The fleet, which currently comprises approximately 100 to 105 aircraft according to Al Jazeera, is heavily utilized for logistics and operations in the high-altitude and remote regions of Northeast India and the Himalayas.

The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) recently initiated a $400 million upgrade program to modernize the avionics and extend the service life of the An-32 fleet. The aircraft type has been involved in previous fatal accidents in the region. According to the Times of India, a 2019 crash involving an An-32 departing from the same Jorhat airbase resulted in 13 fatalities in Arunachal Pradesh, and a 2016 disappearance over the Bay of Bengal resulted in the loss of 29 people.

AirPro News analysis

The loss of another An-32 in the Northeast frontier underscores the severe operational environment in which the IAF operates its transport fleet. While the recent $400 million avionics upgrade was intended to enhance situational awareness and safety, the Himalayan foothills remain one of the most challenging flying environments globally. We expect the Court of Inquiry will closely examine whether environmental factors, technical issues, or a combination thereof played a role in this landing phase accident.

Sources: Indian Air Force

The Boeing Company (BA) has expanded its German industry consortium for the MQ-28 Ghost Bat Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), adding Diehl Defence GmbH & Co. KG and Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co KG to pitch a customized variant of the autonomous drone to the German Air Force (Luftwaffe).

Announced on June 10, 2026, at the ILA Berlin Air Show, the expanded team joins existing strategic partner Rheinmetall AG. The group aims to deliver a tailored version of the Australian-developed aircraft to Germany by 2029, integrating local sensors, communications, and weapons systems to meet national requirements.

Industry partnerships and German customization

The addition of Diehl Defence and Rohde & Schwarz brings specific domestic capabilities to the MQ-28 platform. Diehl Defence will focus on integrating air-to-ground weapons and guided missiles. Chief Executive Officer Helmut Rauch stated the company is prepared to contribute its munitions expertise to offer the CCA to its home country customer.

Rohde & Schwarz will provide secure, interoperable communications architecture. Andreas Domann, Vice President of Multidomain Directional Communications Systems Business, highlighted the integration of the Networked Multipoint Array Communications System (NEMACS) to provide broadband access to the combat cloud.

Rheinmetall AG, which previously joined the team as a strategic partner, is tasked with integrating the MQ-28 into the broader systems of the German Ministry of Defense (Bundeswehr). Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger noted the company is taking responsibility for the seamless integration of the autonomous combat drone into existing military networks.

Upgraded MQ-28 capabilities and stealth validation

Alongside the partnership expansion on June 10, 2026, Boeing unveiled significant capability upgrades for the MQ-28. The new configuration features a wingspan increase of more than 25 percent, allowing for an additional 2,000 pounds of fuel and mission payloads.

The upgraded design includes two internal weapons stations capable of carrying munitions such as AMRAAM missiles or Small Diameter Bombs, as well as Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) communication links. The physical expansion follows a June 1, 2026, announcement that Boeing successfully validated the aircraft’s stealth performance and radar cross-section inside a dedicated test chamber.

“That additional capacity gives operators freedom to balance payload and endurance to configure for the mission at hand, whether that means carrying extra fuel for longer-range operations, increasing weapons carriage, or any combination of both,” said Glen Ferguson, MQ-28 Global Program Director at Boeing.

AirPro News analysis

While Boeing and its industry partners are targeting a 2029 delivery date for the Luftwaffe, we note that a formal procurement contract has not yet been finalized. According to reporting by Breaking Defense, the German Ministry of Defense has declined to comment on the timeline prior to pending parliamentary deliberations. The MQ-28 is currently competing against other European CCA concepts to fulfill Germany’s requirement for an unmanned wingman. The aggressive 2029 target suggests Boeing is positioning the Ghost Bat as a mature, low-risk option compared to clean-sheet European designs, leveraging its existing flight test history with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and a localized supply chain.

Sources: The Boeing Company

The Republic of Poland officially inducted its first three Lockheed Martin F-35A Husarz aircraft into service on June 12, 2026, while simultaneously announcing plans to double its total procurement to 64 airframes.

The induction ceremony at the 32nd Tactical Air Base in Łask marks a major milestone in the modernization of the Polish Air-Forces. According to a press release from Lockheed Martin, the 5th-generation fighters will replace the country’s aging Soviet-era MiG-29 and Su-22 fleets, reinforcing NATO deterrence along the alliance’s eastern flank.

Fleet expansion and delivery timeline

During the June 12 ceremony, Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz revealed that the government’s classified Armed Forces Development Program includes funding to purchase two additional F-35 squadrons. According to reporting by Breaking Defense, this acquisition of 32 additional aircraft would bring Poland’s total planned fleet to 64.

The initial three aircraft physically arrived in Poland on May 22, 2026, stemming from a $4.6 billion contract signed in January 2020. Breaking Defense reports that 14 of the original 32 aircraft are expected to be fully inducted by the end of 2026, with Deliveries for the first order concluding in 2029.

Infrastructure investments and public debut

Preparing for the F-35A required substantial facility modernization. Starting in 2022, the 32nd Tactical Air Base underwent approximately $700 million in infrastructure upgrades to meet NATO standards for 5th-generation operations. This included the construction of a highly secured Operations and Command Center.

To mark the induction, the Polish government organized a cross-country fly-past on June 12. TVP World reported that the jets flew at low altitude over prominent national landmarks, including Wawel Castle in Krakow, Westerplatte in Gdansk, and the Vistula River in Warsaw. Deputy Defense Minister Cezary Tomczyk emphasized the importance of public visibility for the defense expenditure, telling TVP World that taxpayers must see what their money funds and calling the F-35 a fundamental change for the military.

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics President OJ Sanchez highlighted the strategic importance of the Delivery during the ceremony.

“The arrival of the first F-35 combat aircraft in Poland represents an important milestone for the nation’s defense and for regional security across Europe. Poland continues to demonstrate strong leadership within NATO through its commitment to modernization and interoperability with allied forces.”

AirPro News analysis

We view Poland’s intention to double its F-35A fleet as a clear indicator of a long-term strategic shift away from legacy Soviet hardware and toward deep integration with NATO air combat systems. Procuring 64 F-35s would position the Polish Air Force as one of the largest operators of the type in Europe. The $700 million investment in the Łask air base also suggests Poland is building the foundational infrastructure not just for its own fleet, but potentially to support allied F-35 deployments along the eastern flank if required.

Sources: Lockheed Martin