Fighter jets have been seen coming and going from Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers for military training. According to Flightradar 24, the planes are owned and operated by ATAC (Airborne Tactical Advantage Company), a defense contractor and subsidiary of Textron Inc. The spotted planes include Israeli-built IAI Kfir C2 delta-wing fighter jets, designed to simulate enemy aircraft like the MiG-23 in U.S. Navy training exercises. Photographed on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026.

Fighter jets have been seen coming and going from Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers for military training. According to Flightradar 24, the planes are owned and operated by ATAC (Airborne Tactical Advantage Company), a defense contractor and subsidiary of Textron Inc. The spotted planes include Israeli-built IAI Kfir C2 delta-wing fighter jets, designed to simulate enemy aircraft like the MiG-23 in U.S. Navy training exercises. Photographed on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026.

Andrew West/Fort Myers News-Pres

USA TODAY Network, Reuters

Fighter jets have been roaring over Southwest Florida.

The roar and rumble of the jets have created a buzz – literally and conversationally, including chatter on social media from Facebook to Reddit.

On social media, some have questioned the noise, wondering if it’s just a shift in flight patterns at Southwest Florida International Airport in south Fort Myers – or maybe an uptick in flights at the region’s smaller airports for mosquito control, given all the rain of late.

A closer look reveals that Top Gun-like fighter jets are taking off and landing at Southwest Florida International (RSW) and flying overhead – without a contract. So, what gives?

Victoria Moreland, a spokeswoman for the airport, declined to comment, referring questions to defense contractor ATAC, a subsidiary of Textron Inc.

Asked if ATAC had recently signed a contract for military training at RSW, she said in an email: “They don’t need permission. RSW is a public airport. You need to go to the contractor for all your questions.”

Representatives for ATAC could not immediately be reached by phone or email for comment on why their planes are suddenly flying over Southwest Florida.

Flightradar24 shows the planes spotted and heard are Israeli-built IAI Kfir C2 delta-wing fighter jets. These jets are designed to simulate enemy aircraft like the MiG-23 in U.S. Navy “bad guy” training exercises, with rapid acceleration and a top speed exceeding Mach 2.

According to its website, ATAC operates as a defense contractor providing tactical airborne training and adversary air support at the Naval Air Station in Key West, Florida.

The air station has been a vital hub for military aviation, supporting 79,000 flight hours for 1,220 aircraft in fiscal 2024 alone, but it’s undergoing $72.4 million in critical repairs to its runways and taxiways at the Boca Chica field, which may not be finished until January, according to U.S. Navy reports.

Peter Busch, a TV anchor for Gulf Coast News, reported that the jets make sharp turns out to the Gulf after reaching Collier County, and do most of their training exercises over the water. He said a representative for the defense contractor told him the jets would be doing that for a few more weeks in Southwest Florida, but that could change with Hurricane Isaias barreling toward the northern Gulf Coast.

The jets were seen and heard operating on Friday, continuing the buzz on social media. While some residents welcome the free air show and display of military might, others have complained about the noise and anxiety caused by the loud, low-flying planes, including for their pets.

Aviation and military enthusiasts have made their way to RSW to catch up-close views of the jets. That includes Chris Grosser, a Naples Realtor, who enthusiastically shared his “full-throttle” video footage from Friday in a Facebook post.

“Seeing these jets on the runway was impressive enough … watching them fire up and take off from the Southwest Florida International Airport was next level,” he wrote.

He added: “Definitely not something you see every day here in SWFL.”

Laura Layden is a senior business and government reporter. Reach her by email at laura.layden@naplesnews.com.

Please support Southwest Florida community journalism and stay informed about Southwest Florida news by subscribing to The News-Press and Naples Daily News; download the free News-Press or Naples Daily News app, and sign up for daily briefing email newsletter, food & dining and growth & development newsletters here and here.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Why are fighter jets roaring over Southwest Florida?

Reporting by Laura Layden, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Fort Myers News-Press

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Fighter jets have been seen coming and going from Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers for military training. According to Flightradar 24, the planes are owned and operated by ATAC (Airborne Tactical Advantage Company), a defense contractor and subsidiary of Textron Inc. The spotted planes include Israeli-built IAI Kfir C2 delta-wing fighter jets, designed to simulate enemy aircraft like the MiG-23 in U.S. Navy training exercises. Photographed on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. Fighter jets have been seen coming and going from Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers for military training. According to Flightradar 24, the planes are owned and operated by ATAC (Airborne Tactical Advantage Company), a defense contractor and subsidiary of Textron Inc. The spotted planes include Israeli-built IAI Kfir C2 delta-wing fighter jets, designed to simulate enemy aircraft like the MiG-23 in U.S. Navy training exercises. Photographed on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. Andrew West/Fort Myers News-Pres USA TODAY Network, Reuters Fighter jets have been seen coming and going from Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers for military training. According to Flightradar 24, the planes are owned and operated by ATAC (Airborne Tactical Advantage Company), a defense contractor and subsidiary of Textron Inc. The spotted planes include Israeli-built IAI Kfir C2 delta-wing fighter jets, designed to simulate enemy aircraft like the MiG-23 in U.S. Navy training exercises. Photographed on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. Fighter jets have been seen coming and going from Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers for military training. According to Flightradar 24, the planes are owned and operated by ATAC (Airborne Tactical Advantage Company), a defense contractor and subsidiary of Textron Inc. The spotted planes include Israeli-built IAI Kfir C2 delta-wing fighter jets, designed to simulate enemy aircraft like the MiG-23 in U.S. Navy training exercises. Photographed on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. Andrew West/Fort Myers News-Pres USA TODAY Network, Reuters

Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect

This story was originally published October 9, 2026 at 2:42 PM.