Viggen stars at Swedish AF 100th anniversary airshow Malmen, August 2026

 

" The Saab 37 Viggen was, along with other aircraft of the Swedish Air Force Historic Flight (SwAFHF), one of the most memorable acts to appear at the Swedish Air Force’s 100th anniversary air show at Malmen last weekend.

The Viggen was developed during the Cold War for a very specific Swedish requirement: an aircraft capable of operating from a network of dispersed road bases rather than relying solely on conventional airfields. Saab’s solution produced an unusually capable design, combining high performance with the ability to land and stop on short stretches of runway. The aircraft entered Swedish service in the early 1970s and was produced in several variants, taking on roles ranging from ground attack and reconnaissance to air defence. It remained an important part of the Swedish Air Force until the final Viggens were retired in 2005.

Its appearance at Malmen was therefore about more than simply putting a classic aircraft in the air. The Viggen represented an important chapter in the development of Sweden’s independent approach to military aviation.

For many spectators, however, the appeal was much simpler: the Viggen is an extraordinary aircraft to see and hear in flight. Its powerful acceleration, distinctive shape and characteristic sound make it immediately recognisable, even among a crowded air-show line-up. With the Swedish Air Force celebrating 100 years, bringing the Viggen back into the Malmen sky was a fitting reminder of how far Swedish military aviation has developed.

This video features footage taken from both the Saturday and Sunday air show days including a very quick start up (just over sixty seconds) as well as one of the Viggen's signature manoeuvres - landing before a three point turn on the runway followed by departure in the opposite direction! "

Aviation Highlights channel video on youtube reposted here via the YT 'embed' function

How many Tu-22M-3 strategic bombers do the Russians have left?

 

From the Euromaiden website;

   "..A Russian air force Tupolev Tu-22M Backfire bomber crashed in Irkutsk Oblast near Mongolia on or just before Monday, 15 June 2026. Dramatic videos from the ground depict the swing-wing bomber falling to the ground after apparently suffering some kind of mechanical malfunction near Belaya air force base, which hosts Russian long-range bombers. The crash is a victory of sorts for Ukraine, as it labors to reduce Russia's fleet of long-range bombers. The bombers routinely launch cruise missiles at Ukrainian cities as part of Russia's wider campaign of terror targeting Ukrainian civilians..."

Russia’s Tupolev Tu-22M is one of the Kremlin’s Soviet-era legacy bomber aircraft, designed to fly at supersonic speeds and launch long-range strategic strikes against NATO targets on land, as well as high value shipping targets - US Carrier Strike Groups or other points of strategic importance. The war in Ukraine is a rather different conflict, with highly contested front-lines and multi-layered defences, which have meant that the Tu-22s have been kept largely out of harm's way. Both belligerents have had to find new ways of launching strategic strikes. Russia started its invasion of Ukraine in 2022 with around 60-70 Tu-22 M-3 strategic bombers from a total production of around 268 machines. Only around 50% of these would have been serviceable. Production ended in 1993 and although capabilities were upgraded in the period 2014-2018 this has not prevented losses continuing to mount even despite the war against Ukraine - some 24 machines from all causes. The Tu-22M-3 serves as one of Russia's primary platforms for Kh-22 and Kh-32 cruise missile strikes against Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure. Ukrainian analysis indicates up to 70% of Russia's combat-ready Tu-22M-3 long-range bombers have been lost since 2022 and it now retains as few as 20 operational aircraft (Defense Express). Obviously with no production, spares inventories are particularly low with individual machines being 'cannibalised' to keep the 'fleet' in the air. The Ukrainian defense outlet published its assessment in mid-June as a third Tu-22M-3 was lost in a crash since 2022.

The largest single loss of Tu-22M-3 bombers has been attributed to the Ukraine Security Service (SBU) Operation Spiderweb on 1 June 2025, which reportedly destroyed as many as 12 Tu-22M-3 aircraft at the Olenya, Belaya, and Dyagilevo airbases. The SBU claim that the operation struck 41 Russian aircraft across multiple bases (in red below). Even prior to Spiderweb in August 2024, a Ukrainian drone strike hit Soltsy-2 airbase, a military installation in Russia’s Novgorod region. The strike destroyed a single Tu-22M. As Ukraine does possess the ability to strike far beyond its borders the Tu 22M-3 force remains vulnerable on the ground, even while operating far behind the front...

During Operation Spider Web an FPV drone targets a Tu-22 M-3 at Dyagilevo training base near Ryazan

Tupolev Tu-22M-3 (RF-94233, Bort'Red 20') launches into its takeoff run in Belaya, Siberia. Dimitry Pichugin photo. The aircraft was lost after a takeoff accident in September 2017 in Shaikowka. 

British drone technology deployed in strikes deep inside Russia

 

UK drone technology is being deployed by Ukraine to strike targets deep inside Russia. For the Russians this represents something of an escalation. Were the Russians so dumb that they did not expect the West to stand up to their aggression following their invasion of Ukraine ? They have been complaining about the use of UK drone technology in the war that they started for some time now. In 2024, foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said drones using UK components and configurations had hit a fuel depot in the Kamensky district of the Rostov region. As their economy is based almost entirely on oil revenues, hitting Russian fuel depots and logistic centres is now a key part of Ukraine's defence - demonstrating to the Russians that the West will not simply allow Putin to wage aggressive war without consequences. The latest strikes also tell Putin that the West and the UK are not 'nervous' about stepping up support for Ukraine - especially as the Russians are showing themselves to be such 'paper tigers'..

Two British companies are known to have built drones supplied to Kyiv. FalconWorks, a BAE Systems subsidiary is one, the other unnamed. A military source confirmed to the BBC that UK drones had been used in recent attacks on Russia, which are said to have caused more than £35bn in economic damage.

In April, the UK defence ministry announced it would supply Ukraine with tens of thousands of drones, including long-range strike devices, in its biggest package of military aid so far.

Andy Burnham told Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky when they visited a British naval base late last month that he "can count on the UK for as long as it takes". Burnham also said the UK would share its new "Stone Cloak" technology with Kyiv which would enable electronic jamming of Russian air defences.

UK companies such as Meggitt and Qinetiq have been building target drones for the British Army and the Royal Navy for decades and in 2024 a drone that appeared to be an adaptation of the QinetiQ Banshee Jet 80+ was widely photographed after coming down in Russia - according to Thomas Newdick, " ..bearing in mind the apparent attack mission, the drone will have been fitted with a warhead, but may otherwise be little changed from the original product.."

In July 2026 the new jet-powered Griffen interceptor drone developed by British-Ukrainian company Firebolt Engineering successfully destroyed a Russian Shahed-type attack drone in combat for the first time.

Below; UK Ministry of Defence image showing testing of the Nyan Effector carbon-fibre jet-powered drone built by British Aerospace Systems subsidiary Falcon works. The Nyan has a nearly three metre wingspan and a maximum takeoff weight exceeding 75 kgs. Launched from a pneumatic catapult and powered by a gas-turbine engine, it cruises at around 222 km/h, carries up to 20 kgs and has a stated range exceeding 250 kms.