U.S. Army spyplane pops-up on Flightradar24 during mission south of the Korean DMZ
Online flight tracking reminds us that the secretive EO-5Cs regularly fly along the border between North and South Korea. The above screenshot was taken from Flightradar24 by Guglielmo Guglielmi, an…
Flightradar24 exposes the presence of U.S. and allied ISR planes operating over Daesh stronghold in Iraq
Several spyplanes and drones keep an eye on Mosul, ISIS headquarters in northern Iraq. As our readers know, we've been reporting about U.S. and allied planes that can be tracked…
A U.S. Global Hawk UAV might have popped up on Flightradar24
As North Korea conducted one of the largest-ever military drill a Global Hawk UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) could be tracked online. On Mar. 26, at around 12.00AM GMT, a weird…
A330 MRTT (Multi-Role Tanker Transport) adds two new combat types: UAE Mirage 2000 and F-16 Block 60. And does it live on Flightradar24.com
Airbus Military has been very busy recently adding another two combat types able to be refueled from its A330 MRTT tanker aircraft, which has been ordered in three examples by…
Forget any security concern and welcome Air Force One on Flightradar24!
In my article titled Would modern transponders have made the hijacked planes visible to radars on 9-11? about Mode-S and ADS-B usage I wrote: According to an esteem by Flightradar24.com, around…
The aircraft you don't expect to see on Flightradar24: another "black" C-32
Yesterday at 19.45 GMT Today at 22.19 GMT: Looks like Foreign Emergency Support Team C-32s are quite active these days......and doesn't care about transmitting their information directly in the Public…
The "black" USAF C-32B….Live on Flightradar24
One or two days ago, I read that Flightradar24.com had added a new feeder in Washington DC. So, on Sunday May 08, 2011 at 19.50 GMT I thought it would…
Rare Sighting: Elusive RAT55 737 Radar Test Aircraft Captured in Flight Alongside B-2 Spirit
Photographer Julian Elnasser spotted the two aircraft over Death Valley earlier this year. The secretive RAT55 NT-43A is thought to be almost exclusively used to test the airborne radar signatures…
Netherlands Completes Delivery of 24 F-16s to Ukraine
Less than a year after the first deliveries, the RNLAF completed the transfer of the last of the 24 F-16s promised to Ukraine, which will reach the country after a…
SNC’s RAPCON-X Completes Initial Flight Testing
The completion of the Flight Performance Handling & Qualification testing is a key milestone in proving the jet’s airworthiness with consistent performance for the full flight envelope. Sierra Nevada Corporation’s…
Protector RG1 Completes UK Certification Enabling Flights Outside of Restricted Airspace
The UK Military Aviation Authority issued a Military Type Certificate for the RAF’s MQ-9B Protector RG1, clearing the aircraft for flight in regular airspace. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc (GA-ASI)…
End of an Era: Kadena Conducts Last Operational F-15 Eagle Flight
After 45 years of operations, the 18th Wing conducted its last F-15C Eagle sortie, which also represents the type's last U.S. Air Force active-duty flight. Kadena’s final F-15C/D Eagle flight…
China’s Mysterious J-36 Next-Gen Aircraft Spotted During Second Test Flight
The next-generation J-36 appears to be still in the initial phases of flight testing, flying with landing gear down and a flight data probe installed on the nose. One of…
Turkey’s Akıncı UCAV Flies with MURAD AESA Radar
Equipped with the new MURAD AESA radar, the Akıncı can track both aerial and ground targets, paving the way for a future in an air-to-air role with the integration of…
Turkey’s Bayraktar TB2T-AI Variant Takes Maiden Flight
The TB2T-AI has three new “AI computers,” a new turboprop engine and winglet. Recently, the TB2 also flew with the Antidot Electronic Warfare pods. Turkey’s Baykar Tech, maker of the…
Italy Has Already Ordered 17 AW249 Helicopters as Testing Progresses
According to Italian government’s documents, a prototype and three pre-production AW249s are currently being tested, while the initial order has been now increased to 17 helicopters. The Italian Army has increased…
Royal Air Force Protector RG1 Completes Further Flight Testing
Following the type’s first UK flight in November 2023, unmanned Protector RG1s, the UK designation for MQ-9B, are now conducting regular flights from their Lincolnshire base. Over the past week,…
Airbus, Navantia to Explore SIRTAP UAV’s Flight Operations from Spanish Juan Carlos I Carrier
The integration of SIRTAP of the Juan Carlos I will focus on command and control, combat system integration and navigation support, including take-off and landing operations. European defense and aerospace…
Airbus A320 ATRA Performs Maiden Flight After E-Scan AESA Radar Modification
The Advanced Technology Research Aircraft is equipped with the nose of a Eurofighter to test the new E-Scan Mk1 AESA radar, also known as European Common Radar System (ECRS) Mk1.…
Jared Isaacman’s Tornado F2’s Assembly Progresses, as Jet Awaits Certification and First Flight
The former Royal Air Force Tornado F2, acquired by the future NASA chief, is the specially equipped TIARA (Tornado Integrated Avionics Research Aircraft), used as a testbed for various avionics…
First Photos of Chinese KJ-3000 AEW Aircraft in Flight Emerge Online
XAC (Xi’an Aircraft Corporation) has not fallen behind CAC and SAC exposing new aircraft this year, and has now flown its Y-20B-based KJ-3000 Airborne Early Warning aircraft. Right on the…
Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243 Hit By Russian SAM, Azeri Authorities Claim
The investigation on the crash of the Embraer E190 while attempting an emergency landing is still ongoing, however reports of a possible involvement of Russian air defenses are quickly spreading…
Italy Orders New Batch Of Up To 24 Eurofighter Typhoons
Fresh on the heels of Spain’s order for 25 new Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft, Italy has now signed a contract for 24 jets to replace earlier Tranche 1 airframes. The long…
Airbus Unveils A320 Flying Testbed with New Nose for ECRS Mk.1 Radar Testing
The nose section was specifically designed and manufactured by a team of Airbus Defence and Space engineers to install the ECRS Mk.1 AESA radar on the A320 D-ATRA flying testbed.…
PLAN’s Naval Aviation University Performs J-15 Flight Training on Simulated Carrier Deck
Recently released images show J-15s of one of the brigades attached to the Naval Aviation University practicing launch and recovery operations at an unspecified coastal base where a flight deck…
2024 Fundamental for GCAP, Working to Make 2035 Goal a Reality, Says Leonardo
The three nations made important steps forward this year, establishing equal work sharing, locations and coordination of the different areas of GCAP, with the objective of cutting in half timeline…
Eurofighter Typhoon Flies with E-Scan Radar for the First Time
A Spanish Eurofighter conducted the first test flight with the E-Scan radar system which will replace the older mechanically scanned Captor-M in the Spanish and German fleets. The Spanish Air…
VMUT-2 Performs First MQ-9A Reaper Flight at MCAS Cherry Point
Marines on the East Coast will soon have their own MQ-9A Reaper training unit, which will train pilots and sensor operators from spring 2025. An MQ-9A Reaper from the VMUT-2…
Sierra Nevada Corporation’s RAPCON-X Performs Successful Inaugural Flight
The maiden flight of RAPCON-X marks a significant step forward for the U.S. Army’s ATHENA program, showcasing the future of adaptive ISR capabilities to address evolving global threats. Sierra Nevada…
All the Highlights of the 2024 China Airshow
The J-35A, Su-57 and many Flanker variants were all on the menu for this year’s China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai. The 2024 China International Aviation & Aerospace…
Take A Look At These New Photographs Of The B-21 Raider During A Test Flight
Sightings of the secretive B-21 Raider flying at high altitude continue. And we can't get enough of the incredible photos captured during test flights. In the last few weeks we…
Photographer Takes Breathtaking Images Of B-21 Raider Stealth Bomber During Test Flight
Sightings of the B-21 Raider stealth bomber are becoming more frequent on the U.S. West Coast, as testing of the 6th generation bomber continues. On Oct. 31, 2024, aviation photographer…
An In-Depth Look at the NGAD Review Expected to Conclude by the End of 2024
The U.S. Air Force's Next-Generation Air Dominance program is currently under a comprehensive review to reassess the requirements of the 6th generation manned fighter in face of rising costs and…
F-16 from 85th Squadron Completes First Flight with Integrated Viper Electronic Warfare Suite
Set to replace the legacy Viper's EW systems, the new IVEWS flew for the first time in an F-16 last month. Last month, an F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 85th…
First Bulgarian F-16 Block 70 Performs Maiden Flight
Bulgaria will be the second European country to receive the newly built F-16 Block 70, with 16 fighters to be delivered as replacement for the MiG-29 fleet. Lockheed Martin announced…
Germany’s PEGASUS SIGINT Aircraft Performs Maiden Flight
The PEGASUS aircraft, based on the Bombardier Global 6000, is the first of three that will be later integrated with the Hensoldt Kalætron Integral SIGINT sensor suite for the German…
Royal Navy Wildcat Pilot Awarded After Landing Helicopter Safely With Major Engine Fault During MEDEVAC Flight
Pilot Lt Dan Burnett has received a commendation from the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society for his actions in safely recovering a Wildcat AH1 helicopter to its ship after it developed a…
Production Prototype of Turkey’s Kizilelma UCAV Makes Maiden Flight With New Engine and Sensors
The third prototype of Kizilelma is also the production prototype, which shows a number of changes, including an afterburning engine, structural differences and aerodynamic improvements for higher performance. The production…
RAF Eurofighter Typhoon Flies with Leonardo’s ECRS Mk.2 Radar For The First Time
The first flight of the new ECRS Mk.2 AESA radar on the Typhoon marks a milestone in the ongoing development of the aircraft to keep it relevant in the next…
Aurora Flight Sciences Shows Liberty Lifter Concept Of Operations
The video shows how Liberty Lifter can combine heavy-lift transport at the scale of a ship with the speed of an aircraft for fast logistics missions in a sea environment.…
Royal Air Force E-7 Wedgetail Completes First Post-Conversion Test Flight
The first of three Boeing E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning aircraft ordered by the Royal Air Force completed its first test flight on Sept. 20, 2024 following conversion at Birmingham…
Leonardo AW249 Next-Gen Attack Helicopter Takes Part In “Stella Alpina 2024” Operational Exercise
Exercise “Stella Alpina 2024” saw specialized components of the Italian Army training with new systems and technologies, including a pre-production model of the new AW249 attack helicopter and electronic warfare…
Northrop Grumman Demonstrates Multimode Sensor for Radar, Electronic Warfare and Communications
Northrop Grumman says EMRIS leverages technologies developed for other programs, combining them with an open architecture and technology from DARPA’s Arrays on Commercial Timescales program. Northrop Grumman has announced the…
B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber Returns to Edwards AFB for Major Upgrade on 35th Anniversary of First Flight
The upgrades involve integrating open mission systems architecture, new software, sensors and weapons to enhance the B-2’s survivability and combat capability. Thirty-five years after the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber first…
Mystery Flying Wing Aircraft Model Appears in Satellite Images of China’s Radar Test Facility
The Chinese mystery aircraft might not be an actual flying asset but rather a model used to test the design’s radar characteristics. A mysterious flying-wing aircraft appeared in satellite images…
Israeli Air Force Completes In-Flight Refueling Exercise In Apparent “Show of Force” to Iran
Israel flexes its aviation muscles as tensions with Iran soar, with an exercise simulating “a long-range flight deep in enemy territory” supported by aerial refueling. On Aug. 15, 2024, the…
F-22 Raptor Spotted During Rare Flight With External AIM-120 Missiles
While the feature was not fielded to operational units, the F-22 has also the capability to carry AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles externally. A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor has been…
USAF Airmen Embed with Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail Unit At Pitch Black 2024
U.S. Air Force pilots and air battle managers are getting "hand-on" experience with the E-7A Wedgetail during the latest iteration of Pitch Black. Beginning in 2022, the U.S. Air Force…
All The Highlights Of Royal International Air Tattoo 2024
F-15QA, CF-188, and many F-16s among the notable attendees of RIAT 2024. Taking place on Jul. 19-21, 2024, this year's Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) celebrated some historic milestones for…
B-2 Stealth Bomber Demoes QUICKSINK Low Cost Maritime Strike Capability During RIMPAC 2024
The U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit carried out a QUICKSINK demonstration during the second SINKEX (Sinking Exercise) of RIMPAC 2024. This marks the very first time a B-2 Spirit has…
Royal Navy’s 809 Naval Air Squadron Completes First F-35 Flight
After reforming in December 2023, 809 Naval Air Squadron has now flown its first ever independent sortie as the UK’s newest F-35B unit. Joining 617 Squadron of the Royal Air…
B-52’s Upgraded AN/ALQ-172 Self-Protection System Tested During Recent Flight
Advanced EW Upgrades Keep B-52 Stratofortress Combat-Ready. The upgraded B-52’s AN/ALQ-172 electronic warfare (EW) self-protection system was successfully tested recently, L3Harris has announced. The ALQ-172 self-protection integrated RF subsystem is…
Italy Moves Forward With Plan To Buy 24 New Eurofighter Typhoons
The Ministry of Defense requested the government’s approval for the acquisition of the 4th tranche of the European fighter jet, effectively launching the acquisition process. Shortly after the news of…
Air Force Research Laboratory Releases First Video Of XQ-67A’s Maiden Flight
The first flight of the new XQ-67A took place in February 2024 but the first air-to-air footage was just released. Developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) as part of…
B-52 Bombers Tour Scandinavia While Heading Home At The End Of Bomber Task Force 24-3
The first two bombers returned to Minot Air Force Base a month after their arrival in the U.K., integrating with Swedish, Norwegian and Finnish assets on their way back. After…
Leonardo AW249 Next Generation Gunship Helicopter Makes International Debut
The AW249 was presented Eurosatory in Paris, where Leonardo finally shared some more details about the next generation combat helicopter. Leonardo has not disclosed many details about its new AW249…
F-22 Raptor Surpasses 500,000 Flight Hours
The first 5th generation air superiority fighter of the U.S. Air Force has recently reached the important milestone, more than 25 years after its introduction in service. Lockheed Martin has…
Russia’s A-100 AEW&C Prototype Will Test New Powerful AESA Radar
The A-100 project had been delayed as sanctions cut Russia’s access to modern Western electronics and microprocessors. The Russian A-100 "Premier" AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning and Control) aircraft, currently being…
Ukraine to Get Sweden’s AWACS in First Airborne Radar Donation
The two Saab 340B AEW&C aircraft are part of a $1.3 Billion military aid package announced by Stockholm. In one of the most interesting military aviation donations to Ukraine since…
Northrop Grumman Has Just Dropped A New Inflight Photo Of The B-21 Raider
One day after the U.S. Air Force released the first air-to-air image of the B-21 Raider bomber, Northrop Grumman has made available another one. Here are all the details we…
Poland Buys US-made Radar Aerostats To Monitor Border With Russia
The Aerostat-based sensors will bolster the airspace monitoring assets deployed to the NATO Eastern Flank. Poland signed the LOA executive agreement on May 22, 2024 to procure four reconnaissance and…
Aurora Flight Sciences to Continue Design Liberty Lifter Experimental Heavy Cargo Seaplane
If Aurora’s concept passes the Preliminary Design Review by 2025, it will be expected to float, fly and then demonstrate the Liberty Lifter by late-2027 or early 2028. Following General…
ROKAF’s Last F-4E’s Carry Out Formation Flight Over South Korea
Republic of Korea Air Force Phantom II with special liveries flew in formation with its replacement, KF-21, across the Korean peninsula. On May 9, 2024, the Republic of Korea Air…
Italian Air Force F-35s Flew In Full “Stealth Mode” During Red Flag Alaska 24-1
Italy deployed Typhoons, F-35s, a KC-767, and a G550 CAEW to Alaska for the first time to take part in the two-week exercise with other U.S. assets. Interestingly, the Italian…
B-21 Raider Spotted During Test Flight
A video appears to show the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider bomber during a test flight over California. The B-21 Raider is carrying out test flights out of Edwards Air Force Base,…
F-15EX Delivery To Operational Units Nears With Maiden Flight Of First Jet Destined To 142nd FW
F-15EX-008 is the first planned to be delivered to the 142nd Fighter Wing of the Oregon Air National Guard. The introduction into operational service of the F-15EX Eagle II is…
USAF’s XQ-67A Drone Makes First Flight
AFRL announced that its new XQ-67A Off-Board Sensing Station successfully accomplished its first flight. USAF’s Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) announced that on Feb. 28, 2024, its new XQ-67A accomplished…
The First Flight Of The B-21 Revealed Some Interesting Details Of The New Bomber
Here are all the interesting things we have noticed in the images of the B-21's first flight. At 6:51 a.m on Nov. 10, 2023, local time, the B-21 Raider made…
Everything You Need To Know (And See) About The Historic First Flight Of The B-21
We have noticed a lot of interesting details in the photos and videos of the new B-21 Raider bomber during its first flight. At 6:51 a.m on Nov.10, 2023, the…
The U.S. Military Wants To Limit Flight Tracking Of Its Aircraft
The move is supposed to mitigate the operational security threats posed by open-source ADS-B systems. Earlier this year, we reported about the U.S. Air Force Air Mobility Command making a…
F-117 Stealth Jets (Fitted With Radar Reflectors) In New Photos From Alaska Exercise
The F-117s have operated from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson for NE 23-1 earlier this month. But the most interesting thing is the presence of the removable radar reflectors installed on the…
Deep Dive Into The International Flight Training School, ‘World’s Leading 5th Gen. Training System’
We have recently talked to the Chiefs of Staff of the ITAF, RAF, JASDF and RCAF and here's why the Italian training system, based on the M-346 and already chosen…
First F-16 Block 70 Jet Makes Maiden Flight
The new F-16 Block 70 is the world’s newest and most advanced production F-16. On Jan. 24, 2023, at 09.17AM ET, the first F-16 Block 70 jet carried out its…
The F-35 Lightning II Will Get A New Radar
The new APG-85 radar will replace the older APG-81 on the upcoming Block 4 fighters. Last year, the U.S. Air Force’s unfunded wish list for Fiscal Year 2023 mentioned the…
U.S. And Dutch F-35s Have Flown Without Radar Reflectors During First Week Of ‘Falcon Strike 2022’
Some of 5th gen. aircraft have operated in “full stealth mode” to train in the most realistic scenarios. As we already reported, F-35s from Italy, United States and the Netherlands…
Dissecting The Italian Defense Planning Document For 2022-2024
The Italian MoD is continuing the modernization of the military, with investments in many areas that will also sustain the national industry. The Italian government published, during the summer, the…
The New AW249 Attack Helicopter Flies For The First Time
The helicopter will replace the AH-129D Mangusta in service with the Italian Army. The first prototype of the Leonardo AW249 next-generation attack helicopter flew for the first time on August…
Ukrainian MiG-29s Are Hunting Russian Radars With AGM-88 HARM Missiles
US officials confirmed that the AGM-88 has been integrated on the Fulcrum to enhance its SEAD capabilities. The United States announced another security assistance package to support Ukraine, worth $775…
South Korea’s Domestically Developed KF-21 Boramae Makes First Flight
The KF-21 Boramae has just made its maiden flight. The first prototype of the KF-21 Boramae (Korean for “Hawk”), the next-generation fighter developed by KAI (Korea Aerospace Industries), carried out its…
Super Hornet Blown Off Flight Deck Of USS Truman In Mediterranean Sea
A U.S. Navy Super Hornet blew off deck due to very bad weather. A Super Hornet belonging to Carrier Air Wing 1 aboard USS Truman sailing in the Mediterranean Sea,…
South Korea’s KF-21 Begins Ground Tests Ahead Of Imminent First Flight
The aircraft was spotted taxiing to the runway at Sacheon airport, home of Korea Aerospace Industries’ facilities. The first prototype of the KF-21 Boramae (Korean for “Hawk”), the next-generation fighter…
Northrop Grumman Says It’s Confident On B-21’s Rollout Later This Year And First Flight in 2023
B-21 will not fly until next year. But we should be able to see it as it rolls out later in 2022. Here are the latest updates. An article published…
Romanian Air Force Supends Flight Activites With The MiG-21 LanceR
Given their "considerably high accident rate", all the Romanian MiG-21 LanceR aircraft have been grounded. The Romanian Air Force has suspended all the flight activities of the remaining MiG-21 LanceR…
Romanian F-16s Intercept Turkish Airlines Flight From Moscow To Istanbul After Bomb Threat
The Romanian Air Force F-16s in QRA (Quick Reaction Alert) were scrambled to intercept a Turkish A330 today. Turkish Airlines and Air Serbia, the only airlines to allow passengers to…
M-346 Crashes During Test Flight In Northern Italy. One Of The Two Crew Members Killed In The Incident
An M-346 destined to an export customer crashed in the mountains near Como. The crew ejected: one found dead, the other rescued and hospitalized. An M-346 aircraft crashed at approximately…
U.S. F-35s Have Flown Patrols Over Eastern Europe Without Radar Reflectors
Photos released by the U.S. Air Force prove F-35s have flown in "full stealth mode" over Poland. On Feb. 27, 2022, we reported that at least one F-35 Lightning II…
Everything You Need To Know About The Recent B-52’s 24-HR Mission Across The Med And Red Sea Regions
The BUFF took off from RAF Fairford, where it is deployed as part of Bomber Task Force Europe, and integrated with Typhoons, F-15s and F/A-18s during a long-range presence patrol.…
Take A Look At These Cool Photos Of The Delivery Flight Of The Kuwait Air Force’s First Eurofighter Typhoons
The first Eurofighter Typhoons destined to the Kuwait Air Force have been delivered. These stunning images show them during their delivery flight. On Dec. 14, 2021, the first two out…
First German C-130J Hercules Performs Maiden Flight
The aircraft is the first of six C-130Js that will be operated together with four French ones in a joint binational squadron. The Bundeswehr announced on November 8, 2021, the…
Upcoming Russian Movie Recalls The Story Of The RuAF Su-24 Shot Down In Syria And The Death Of Its Pilot
The Russian movie "Sky" is based on the shootdown of the Russian Air Force Su-24 over Syria in 2015 and the pilot killed after successfully ejecting from the Fencer with…
China’s New Carrier-Based Stealth Fighter Makes First Flight
China has flown the carrier variant of its FC-31 stealth fighter, possibly dubbed J-35 (and bearing some resemblance to the F-35C). On Oct. 27, 2021, we reported about the first…
Kuwait’s First Two Eurofighter Typhoons Break Cover, Perform First Flight
Kuwaiti Air Force Typhoons are going to be the most advanced in service among the eight Eurofighter operators. On Oct. 15, 2021, the first two Eurofighter Typhoon jets destined to…
Leonardo Celebrates 50th Anniversary Since First Flight Of Iconic Lynx Helicopter
The Lynx helicopter was the backbone of the British Army and the Royal Navy before it was replaced by the AW159 Wildcat. On Mar. 21, 1971, the yellow prototype of…
F-35A Carried Out First In-Flight Drop Of JSM (Joint Strike Missile) Anti-Ship And Land-Attack Missile
The Norwegian Defense Materiel Agency has just released the first photos from a successful test conducted in February of the Joint Strike Missile (JSM). The first drop test of a…
Here Are All The Details We Noticed In The Photos Of The New F-15EX During Its First Flight
Some interesting details can be found in the first photos of the F-15EX, which are useful also for a comparison with the F-15C that will be replaced by the new…
First Greek F-16V Performs Maiden Flight After Block 72 Upgrade
The F-16V will continue flight testing before being ferried to the U.S. for final upgrades and certification. The first F-16V of the Hellenic Air Force flew for the first time…
First AW169 In New Advanced Light Utility Helicopter Configuration Begins Flight Testing
The AW169 LUH helicopter, based on the AW169M light intermediate twin-engine helicopter, features a new skid landing gear which replaces the standard retractable gear. The first Leonardo AW169 LUH (Light…
Let’s Talk About The Su-57 And The Radar Blockers Allegedly Sighted For The First Time Inside The Felon’s Air Intake
The Su-57 Felon's radar blockers were allegedly exposed by a video part of a longer feature aired by Russian television for the centenary of the Chkalov State Flight Test Center.…
5th Generation Aerial Target Drone to Make its Maiden Flight Later This Month
5GAT ready for first flight. According to the U.S. Department of Defense the 5th generation aerial target drone is to make its maiden flight later this month. The first flight…
The APG-83 AESA Radar Reached The Full Operational Capability With The U.S. Air Force Air National Guard
The new radars were also employed recently in a cruise missile defense exercise. Northrop Grumman announced that its AN/APG-83 SABR (Scalable Agile Beam Radar) Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar…
Royal Air Force To Get New AESA Radars for the Eurofighter Typhoon
The new radar, called European Common Radar System Mark 2, will enter service in the mid-2020s. The Royal Air Force signed a £ 317 million (about USD 421 million) contract…
Second Successful Flight of X-61A Gremlin Air Vehicle (GAV) For DARPA’s Swarming Program
The DARPA Gremlins initiative aims to demonstrate aerial launch and recovery of "swarms" of low-cost reusable unmanned aerial systems (UASs). Dynetics, Inc., has successfully test-flown a second X-61A Gremlins Air…
Virgin Orbit Performs First Test Launch of LauncherOne Rocket. But Debut Flight Fails.
The test failed prematurely because of an unknown rocket anomaly. A little less than one year after the first drop test, Virgin Orbit conducted a launch demonstration of the LauncherOne…
The F-15 Eagle’s Most Advanced Production Version Performs Its First Flight
The F-15QA is the first of 36 aircraft developed specifically for Qatar. Boeing announced that the F-15QA, the most advanced version of the F-15 Eagle, performed successfully its first flight…
Multiple Aerial Refuelings From KC-130J Tankers Keep HH-101A “Caesar” Helicopters In Flight For +6 Hours
Record flight for the Aeronautica Militare (Italian Air Force) that showcases a new capability. KC-130J tankers from the 46^ Brigata Aerea (Air Brigade), based at Pisa airport, and HH-101A helicopters…
Let’s Talk About The Israeli F-35I Adir That Appeared (Again) on Flight Tracking Websites
F-35s can be tracked online almost daily. However, the fact that the IDF allowed journalists to post the screenshots of its stealth jet tracking on FR24.com is worth a comment.…
Online Flight Tracking Provides A Look At The US Build Up In Middle East Following the Attack on US Embassy In Iraq
Here’s everything we know about the deployment that followed the attack on the US embassy in Baghdad which involved at least 30 aircraft (that could be tracked online via ADS-B).…
Let’s Talk About The Story Of A German Radar Vendor That Claims To Have Tracked Two F-35s With Passive Radar
A German radar vendor tracked the F-35 jets in 2018 from a pony farm. But it turns out the aircraft were flying with radar reflectors and ADS-B transponder (that could…
U.S. Air Force’s F-35A Jets With Radar Reflectors And External AIM-9X Missiles Carry Out First Airstrikes In Iraq
Photos of the U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II aircraft involved in an airstrike at Wadi Ashai, Iraq, show a really interesting configuration. Two U.S. Air Force F-35 belonging to…
U.S. B-52 Bombers Belonging To Task Force Deployed To UK Perform “Theater Familiarization Flights” Across Europe
Stratofortress bombers are part of a Task Force of 6 "Buffs": the largest American bomber deployment to RAF Fairford since the Iraq war in 2003. On Mar. 18, 2019, a…
F-35 Stealth Aircraft Goes “Live” On Flight Tracking Websites As It Flies Mission Over Israel
An F-35, most probably one of the Adir jets recently delivered to the Israeli Air Force, appears on Flightradar24.com: deliberate action or just a case of bad OPSEC? On Jul.…
VUP-19 DET PM MQ-4C “Triton” Drone Performs First Flight From NBVC Point Mugu
U.S. Navy's MQ-4C "Triton" belonging to the Unmanned Patrol Squadron One Nine (VUP-19) DET Point Mugu conducted first flight from Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) Point Mugu. On Jun. 27,…
Russia’s New Tu-214ON Open Skies Surveillance Aircraft Tracked Online During Flights Over Taganrog Region
The new Tu-214ON has carried out a series of test flights in southwest Russia, close to the border with Ukraine. Tupolev is continuing the testing of the new Tu-214ON (Otkrytoye…
Video Shows Ukrainian Air Force Su-24MR Fencer Buzzing The Flight Line At An Airbase in Ukraine
Here's yet another ultra-low pass of a Ukrainian combat aircraft. The following footage was reportedly filmed in 2014. It shows a Su-24MR Fencer-E performing a low pass over the flight…
Take A Look At This Unusual Drone Video Of Two Russian Su-57 Fighters In Flight
Two Su-57s flying in formation as seen from a drone. An interesting video was shared online by the Russian "Zvezda " TV channel. It shows, two Su-57 fighter aircraft flying…
Image Of Israeli F-35 Flying Off Beirut (With Radar Reflectors) As Well As More Details About The Adir’s First Strikes Emerge
A photograph of an Israeli Air Force F-35 flying (more or less..) "over" Beirut has been made public. Interestingly, the image seems to prove the stealthy aircraft was flying with…
Saab GlobalEye Airborne Early Warning & Control Aircraft Completes First Flight
Saab's new AEW&C aircraft has successfully completed its maiden flight. On Mar. 14, Saab GlobalEye, a modified Bombardier Global 6000 jet turned into surveillance platform, took off on its first…
Interesting Photos Show U.S. Air Force F-35A Stealth Jets Deployed To Japan About To Launch Without Radar Reflectors
Some recent photos of the Hill AFB F-35s deployed to Kadena Okinawa, seem to suggest the 5th Generation fighters have started operating in "stealth mode". Stealth aircraft, such as the…
America’s Secret Airline To Area 51 Is Now Hiring Flight Attendants
JANET airlines, flying non-stop to Area 51, Tonopah Test Range and other "sensitive locations" is hiring. Janet (that unofficially stands for “Just Another Non Existent Terminal”), is the name of…
With Three Flights To Batajnica, A Volga-Dnepr An-124 Cargo Has Delivered Six “New” MiG-29 Fulcrum Jets To Serbia
These are the first new (used and for the moment disassembled) combat aircraft for Serbia since 1987. Three pairs of partially disassembled MiG-29 Fulcrum jets destined to Serbia have been…
Russian Il-76 “Candid” Modified To Support Special Operations Conducts Flight Test Over The Black Sea
A special version of the Il-76MD-90A (Il-476) airlifter, developed for special forces support was tracked online during flight test recently. A really interesting aircraft was spotted conducting flight testing over…
New Search For Avro Arrow Flight Models Lost 60 Years Ago in Lake Ontario Has Begun
Scale Model Flight Test Prototypes Sunk in Lake May Provide Clues to Mystery. The Canadian-built CF-105 Avro Arrow is many things in aviation history, but more than anything else, it…
Russian Su-24 Fencer Combat Aircraft (Closely Watched By Swedish JAS 39 Gripen Jets) Buzz Dutch Navy Frigate In The Baltic
Russian Fencers have started buzzing NATO warships in the Baltic Sea again. On May 17, two Russian Su-24M Fencer attack jets flew quite close to the Royal Netherlands Navy Frigate…
Watch a US guided missile destroyer launch Tomahawk cruise missiles against Houthi rebels radar sites in Yemen
The guided missile destroyer USS Nitze (DDG 94) launched a TLAM strike against three coastal radar sites in Houthi-controlled territory on Yemen's Red Sea coast. On Oct. 13, at around…
Before Topgun Days: a book reveals how F-14 Tomcat Radar Intercept Officers were trained
Behind the scenes of the making of an F-14 Tomcat RIO. Although the Grumman F-14 Tomcat had evolved into a multi-mission strike fighter when it was eventually retired from U.S.…
Japan’s X-2 “Shinshin” indigenous stealth jet makes first flight
The first Japanese stealth jet made its maiden flight. The first prototype of the indigenous stealth war plane that Japan Air Self-Defense Force will operate in the air defense role,…
There were seven French tankers in flight last night. Exercise or real operation?
Many French C-135s flying at the same time recently. One of our readers has spotted something quite unusual: as many as 7 French Air Force tankers were flying in southwestern…
How An F-15E Strike Eagle Shot Down An Iraqi Mi-24 Gunship With A GBU-10 Bomb During Operation Desert Storm
The impressive story of the only air-to-air victory achieved by the F-15E Strike Eagle. Developed to replace the General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark, the McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F-15E is a…
Online flight tracking exposes FBI Aerial Surveillance over San Bernardino Mosque after Terrorist Attack
FBI aircraft have been particularly active over San Bernardino, California, during and after the mass shooting. As already highlighted on Twitter, several assets, including FBI planes and media helicopters, could…
“Turkish Air Force F-16s ambushed the Su-24 Fencer”: here’s Russia’s version of the controversial shootdown
Here's the Russian version of the Su-24 shootdown. On Nov. 24, a Su-24M Fencer bomber was shot down by a TuAF F-16 near the Turkey-Syria border. The Turkish Air Force…
Here’s the alleged Audio of the Turkish Air Force warning the Russian Su-24 before downing it
Hear a Turkish Air Force radar station warning an unknown aircraft about to enter the Turkish airspace. On Nov. 24, a Russian Air Force Su-24M belonging to the contingent deployed…
Updated: Turkey has just shot down a Russian Sukhoi Su-24 near the border with Syria
Images coming from Syria show a Su-24 Fencer in flames. And it's Russian. On Nov. 24, 2015, the Turkish Air Force shot down what appears to be a Sukhoi Su-24…
All the theories about the crash of Metrojet Flight 7K9268 into the Sinai Peninsula
What we know and what we don't know about the crash of Metrojet A321 in Egypt. On Oct. 31, at around 04.13 UTC, Metrojet flight 7K9268, an A321 flying from…
Russian Su-30SM, Su-24 violate Turkish airspace. Flanker locks on TuAF F-16 for +5 minutes
It looks like a Sukhoi Su-30SM deployed to Syria has had a close encounter with Turkish Air Force F-16s past the Syria-Turkey border. Russian planes deployed to Syria violated the…
Latest imagery shows 28 Russian aircraft (12 Su-24s, 12 Su-25s and 4 Su-30s) on the ground at airbase in Syria
Imagery taken on Sept. 21 shows 28 aircraft on the ground at Latakia airbase. A satellite image has finally unveiled the whole Russian Air Force contingent made of 28 combat…
Online flight tracking provides interesting details about Russian air bridge to Syria
Once again, Flightradar24.com provides an insight into military operations. This time, the Russian air bridge to Syria. Some days ago we explained how everyone (including low-tech terrorists "armed" with a…
Mystery surrounds video showing Alitalia flight escorted by two German Eurofighters
A quite unusual sight for the passengers of an Alitalia Airbus 320 from Amsterdam escorted by two German Eurofighters for about 20 minutes. A video of two German Eurofighter Typhoon…
Video of China’s Stealthy J-31 aircraft’s (quite smoky) flight display practice at Zhuhai airshow
The Shenyang J-31 "Falcon Eagle" to debut at Zhuhai airshow, China's biggest commercial and defense air show, near Hong Kong. The first prototype of Shenyang J-31 Falcon Eagle, China’s second…
War in the Web 2.0 era: how Air Forces deal (or don’t) with Internet-based flight tracking tools
During Libya air war, you could track Canadian tankers circling over the Mediterranean Sea while they refueled allied planes heading to bomb Gaddafi. Three years later, nothing has changed. Flightradar24…
[Photo] Ukrainian Antonov An-124 cargo visits NAF El Centro, California
An An-124 recently visited at Naval Air Facility (NAF) El Centro to load British Chinooks for their return to the UK. On Aug. 14, an Antonov 124 of the “Antonov…
With U.S. airstrikes in progress airspace over Iraq has been closed to civilian flights
One of the busiest commercial routes went over Iraq. Until it was closed because of the U.S. air strikes against ISIS positions. Even if the situation in Iraq was already…
US, European airlines cancel all flights to Israel after rocket lands near Tel Aviv airport
Tel Aviv airport is almost isolated following the decision of several U.S. and European airlines to cancel all flights to Israel amid concern for the continuing rocket attacks. Malaysia Airlines…
Russian Radars back to Cuba
Putin is about to reactivate a Russian radar reconnaissance center in Cuba. The radar station is to use the existing infrastructure located just 100 miles off the coast of Florida…
NASA shows off Hi-Tech aircraft involved in Alternative Fuel Effects on Contrails and Cruise Emissions flight experiment
NASA displayed an impressive array of hi-tech aircraft used in its Alternative Fuel Effects on Contrails and Cruise Emissions (ACCESS II) flight experiment during a media day for reporters from…
The crazy story of the Nigerian Air Force C-130H Hercules’s flight to Cambridge in 2011
The Nigerian C-130H-30 that had arrived at Cambridge in August 2011, was eventually air tested. Here is its weird story. On Apr. 16, Nigerian Air Force C-130H-30, registration NAF918, conducted…
First AgustaWestland HH-101A “Caesar” for the Italian Air Force makes first flight
The first AW101 for the Italian Air Force, designated the HH-101A “CAESAR”, made its maiden flight at AgustaWestland’s Yeovil facility in the UK The new helicopter, in an interesting black…
Can you believe neither Malaysian nor Thai radars saw the Malaysia Airlines MH370 crashing?
Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 might have flown for some time (from 2 to 5 hours, depending on the reports and sources) before disappearing. Provided this is true, why did nobody…
Third Prototype of China’s Stealth Jet Makes Maiden Flight and Shows Improvements
Chengdu J-20 Stealth Fighter Jet "2011" has eventually made its maiden flight. A composite image shows how different third prototype is from the the first one. The third prototype of…
Cessna’s Scorpion low cost tactical jet makes first flight
Textron has announced that Cessna Aircraft Scorpion Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR)/Strike aircraft has conducted its maiden flight on Dec 12. The aircraft took off from McConnell Air Force Base in…
Russia deploys radar able to track military jets across whole of eastern Europe
A radar that is able to track targets at ranges of over 3,000 km has been activated within the Russian air defense system on Dec. 2, 2013. The Kolkino radar…
Video shows U.S. Navy’s new gigantic drone on its first flight
On May 22, 2013, the Triton high-altitude unmanned aircraft successfully completed its first flight from Northrop Grumman's Palmdale manufacturing plant, California. The unmanned aerial vehicle took off at 07:10AM and…
Take a seat next to the B-52 heavy bomber’s Radar Navigator
The following video brings you on board a U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress during a mission from Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. http://youtu.be/J9YcoYfqNh4 Anything related to the most iconic U.S.…
[Updated] Airbus A330 Multi-role Tanker Transport loses refueling boom in flight. Again.
According to Flight Global an Airbus A330 Multi-role Tanker Transport (MRTT) which is destined for the UAE has lost its refueling boom whilst in flight at around 7.20pm local time on…
[Animation] The Queen's Diamond Jubilee flypast over London as seen from a radar-like computer display
Click on the image to start animation The following animation showing the Queen's Diamond Jubilee flypast over Buckingham palace was recorded on PlanePlotter by John Locker. In this animation we…
Russian Tu-214R intelligence gathering plane exposed! First photo of the new spyplane during test flight lands on the Web.
Evgeny Volkov is the name of the photographer who took the first picture of a flying Russian Tu-214R known to date. The image Evgeny has uploaded to the Russianplanes.net portal,…
China's Light Attack Helicopter Z-19: a silent (rather than radar evading) chopper
The new Z-19 does not have a cool name, but it does have some very interesting features. The use of the word 'Stealth' is probably a little too strong a…
Airspace violations – Episode 8 – Iran Air Flight 655 shot down by USS Vincennes
Previous episodes: Archive The following episode took place about 24 years ago. However, it occurred in the Strait of Hormuz, saw the direct involvement of U.S. warships operating in the…
Would modern transponders have made the hijacked planes visible to radars on 9-11?
As everybody know by now, on Sept. 11 2001, the first thing terrorists did as soon as they reached the cockpit of the four hijacked planes was turning the transponder…
Operation Unified Protector (was Odyssey Dawn) explained (Day 24)
Previous debriefings: Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9 Day 10 Day 11 Day 12 Day 13 Day 14…
A400M test flight
An interesting flight could be monitored on Feb. 28, 2011, thanks to Flightradar24: a test flight of the Airbus A-400M F-WWMT (which uses the Mode S and it is "seen"…
Airspace violations – Episode 7 – Korean Air Lines Flight 007
Tragedy on the way home. On Sept. 1, 1983, a civilian B-747 flying with registration HL7442 as Korean Air Lines Flight 007 (KAL 007, KE 007) was shot down by…
Flight checks at Pratica di Mare
On Sept. 30, Giovanni Maduli went to Pratica di Mare to spot some of the aircraft operating on the largest Italian airbase. He then sent me the following pictures. Interestingly…
Radio Comms, Tracks And All The Details About The Interception Of The ‘Ghost Jet’ Last Week
The "Ghost Private Plane" flew across Europe escorted by fighter jets who unsuccessfully tried to establish a radio contact, before tragically crashing in the Baltic Sea. A clip provides all…
The Space Shuttle Enterprise flying over New York City
On Apr. 27, Space Shuttle Enteprise, atop a NASA B747 SCA (Shuttle Carrier Aircraft) N905NA, from Washington Dulles airport, using radio callsign “Bovic 15 Heavy”, flew over New York City…
U.S. Navy Set to Procure Up To 6,000 Active Expendable Decoys for F-35s and F/A-18s
NAVAIR is planning to acquire Active Expendable Decoys with a 2"x1"x8" form factor from Leonardo UK, hinting at the system being the BriteCloud 218 countermeasure. The U.S. Naval Air Systems…
Raptors Unleashed: A Look Back At The F-22’s Initial Combat Operations Against ISIS
Looking back at its first combat operations against ISIS, the F-22 proved it could do much more than dominate the skies, delivering precision strikes and sharing critical data with allied…
B-2 Spirit Receives New Communications and Survivability Upgrades
Novel capabilities ensure B-2 crews can ‘aviate, navigate, communicate, strike their targets, and get home safely’ with a bomber which ‘remains ready, effective, and survivable.’ The U.S. Air Force Life-Cycle…
Leonardo and Bombardier Eye Maritime Variant of Global 6500 as Italy Weighs Fixed-Wing ASW Options
The MoU signed at Paris Air Show 2025 paves the way for a potential multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft, as Italy looks beyond the P-72A and assesses contenders like the Kawasaki…
Stunning Air-to-Air Shots Capture NATO Baltic Air Policing Jets During Exceptionally Busy Deployment
British Typhoons and Swedish Gripens are deployed to Malbork, Poland, as part of enhanced air policing measures. 15 Russian aircraft were intercepted by the Typhoons across only six days.Photographers Rich…
A Brief History of Nuclear Weapons in the Royal Air Force
Following the announcement that the Royal Air Force is regaining nuclear weapons, we explore the service’s history using nukes, explaining why they were originally abandoned in 1998. For 43 years,…
UK Police Helicopter Reports Near Miss with U.S. F-15 from RAF Lakenheath
A U.S. F-15 and a UK police helicopter investigating drone activity came within 1,900 feet of vertical separation during a nighttime encounter. No risk of collision was identified. A National…
MQ-28A Ghost Bat Tested at Operational RAAF Base
The Collaborative Combat Aircraft operated for the first time outside of the Woomera Training Area during Exercise Carlsbad in April 2025 at RAAF Tindal, which hosts F-35A and MQ-4C units.…
British F-35s Will Carry Nuclear Weapons, But Where Are Their Conventional Weapons?
The now planned purchase of F-35As, which will join the NATO nuclear mission, has led headlines, but the UK’s F-35Bs still lack any standoff strike weapons. As UK carrier strike…
Pratt & Whitney XA103 Engine Promotional Video Shows Canard-Equipped NGAD Rendering
Although reminiscent of the official F-47 renderings, the model in RTX's video is actually based on a notional design by artist Rodrigo Avella. A new promotional video released by RTX,…
Baykar, Leonardo Advance Memorandum of Understanding with New 50:50 Joint Venture
LBA Systems, to be based in Italy, will be dedicated to the design, development, and production of unmanned aerial systems. Announced at the Paris Air Show, Italian based aerospace giant…
Operation Midnight Hammer: U.S. Air Force Releases Images of Long-Range B-2 Raid
Official images show B-2 Spirit stealth bombers being prepared, departing, and returning to Whiteman AFB as part of the U.S. operation against Iranian nuclear sites. Operation Midnight Hammer involved over…
Eurofighter Charts Aggressive Production Growth and Mid-Life Upgrade
Eurofighter is shifting to a mid-life upgrade strategy and plans to double Typhoon production to meet global demand amid delays in sixth-gen fighter programs. As Europe’s sixth-generation fighter programs struggle…
Iran Launches Counterattack Against U.S. Bases Across the Middle East
Air raid sirens and air defense missiles have been seen and heard across the Middle East as Iran responds to the U.S. airstrike against its nuclear facilities. Airspace over Qatar…
Operation Midnight Hammer: How U.S. B-2 Bombers Struck Iran Undetected
More than 125 aircraft, including 7 B-2 stealth bombers, snuck into Iran while other B-2s were sent to Guam as decoys. Details continue to emerge after the United States struck…
First Test Fire of the MICA NG Air-to-Air Missile
France conducted the first live fire test of the MICA Next Generation, the evolution of the MICA air-to-air missile in service with the French Air and Space Force. The French…
AI-Powered MQ-20 Avenger Achieves First Simulated Air-to-Air Kill
The second test of the MQ-20 Avenger with Shield AI’s autonomy software saw the UCAV conducting more complex missions with both live and virtual aircraft. A “first-of-its-kind” test of a…
New Stealth UCAS Set to Fly Alongside Rafale F5 Debuts at Paris Airshow
France is gearing up to deploy a stealthy UCAS (Uncrewed Combat Air System) alongside the Rafale F5 by around 2033, following its program announcement in October 2024. Stealthy UCAV for…
RAAF MQ-28A Ghost Bat Teams Up with E-7A Wedgetail AEW&C Aircraft
A single operator aboard the E-7 took control of two MQ-28s, having them fly ahead to protect the crewed asset. In a major milestone, two MQ-28A Ghost Bat unmanned aircraft…
The Last Cat: The F-14 Tomcat and its Fleet Air Defense Role
The final member of the Grumman cat family, the F-14 Tomcat, with its signature variable-geometry wings and twin-engine design, became an iconic symbol of the Cold War. Creating the Cat…
General Atomics and Saab Join Forces for MQ-9B Airborne Early Warning Capability
Pairing Saab’s AEW sensors with the long-range, high-endurance MQ-9B allows persistent surveillance at low cost even from aircraft carriers. General Atomics-Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) and Sweden’s Saab have announced a…
Breaking: Footage Shows Israeli Air Force Destroying Iranian F-14 Tomcat Jets
The Israeli Air Force has just released footage showing the destruction of two F-14 Tomcats (likely non-operational) on the ground. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have released footage showing precision…
[Updated] Sudden Deployment of Dozens of U.S. Air Force Tankers Raises Questions
Around 30 KC-135 and KC-46 tankers departed the U.S. headed to Europe, but their final destination is unknown. In the night between June 15 and 16, 2025, multiple U.S. Air…
AFGSC Commander Talks B-21 Raider, B-52J, ICBMs and AI in Nuclear Command In Recent Interview
In a wide-ranging conversation, Gen. Bussiere, head of Air Force Global Strike Command, shared key updates on U.S. bomber modernization, strategic deterrence, and the future of nuclear command and control.…
UK on Alert as Royal Air Force Bolsters Presence in the Middle East Amidst Israel-Iran War
The RAF is deploying further Typhoon FGR4 and Voyager aircraft to the Middle East as the war between Israel and Iran escalates. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer made the…
Dramatic Images Show Iranian Ballistic Missiles Raining on Israel as Fighting Continues
In a subsequent wave of air strikes, Israel claims it achieved air superiority in Iran and eliminated all air defenses, while Iran continues launching ballistic missiles. At the end of…
USAF Procurement of E-7 Wedgetail at Risk of Cancellation
Comments made by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth during House and Senate Appropriations Committee hearings have cast severe doubts on the future of the U.S. Air Force's E-7 Wedgetails. On…
Everything We Know About Operation Rising Lion: Israel’s Attack on Iran
Following days of heightened tension, Israel launched a large attack against Iran in the early hours of Jun. 13, 2025, targeting leadership, nuclear research, and military sites both in Tehran…
U.S. Air Force Might Bring Back AGM-183 ARRW in New Budget Proposal
Gen. Allvin hinted that the service might resume working on the AGM-183 ARRW hypersonic weapon, after previously stating that it would not be procured. After previously stating that it would…
A Look at the Dozen SR-71 Blackbird Losses
The SR-71 is perhaps the most iconic Cold War spy aircraft, famous for many record-setting flights. Seemingly impervious to loss by enemy defenses, a dozen Blackbirds were lost to accidents.…
USAF Tests 500 lb QUICKSINK Bomb in B-2 Stealth Bomber’s Maritime Strike Test
The B-2 Spirit would be able to employ up to 80 500 lb QUICKSTRIKE weapons, holding at risk multiple targets in a maritime environment. The U.S Air Force and the…
UK Strategic Defence Review: Key Points from an Initial Reading
The 144-page SDR falls short of detailing a comprehensive future order of battle, but does offer 62 recommendations which ministers say will be accepted in full. The long awaited Strategic…
Kecskemét Welcomes First Batch of Hungarian L-39 “Skyfox” Trainers
The Hungarian Air Force received the first three L-39 Skyfox aircraft out of a total order of 12 signed in 2022, of which four will be in a reconnaissance configuration.…
China’s KJ-3000 AEW&C Aircraft Captured in Clearest Image Yet
The KJ-3000 is based on the Y-20 strategic airlifter, and its development is consistent with the Chinese doctrine to have a varied fleet of airborne radars. Within five months of…
China’s J-XDS’ Underside and Weapons Bays Seen in Clearest Image Yet
The outlines of what could be internal weapons stores and other electronic accessories are clearly seen in the latest picture of the J-XDS. The clearest and sharpest image yet of…
Fantastic Phantom: the Records set by the McDonnell Douglas F-4
Looking more like a killer than a speedster, the large twin-engine jet built to sweep skies clear of enemy MiGs and deliver large payloads of bombs would also record many…
USAF Showcases Airpower with Dissimilar Bomber-Fighter ‘Freedom Formation’
A seven-ship dissimilar formation with B-2A, B-1B, B-52H, F-22A, F-15C, F-16C and A-10C showcased the Air Force's capabilities at the Air and Sea Show in Miami Beach. In a ceremonial…
Minuteman III ICBM Test Fired as U.S. Military Upholds Nuclear Modernization Before Lawmakers
U.S. Air Force and Navy leaders reiterated the importance of the nuclear triad and the need to maintain an effective deterrent before adversaries. U.S. military leaders testified the importance of…
Mass U.S. Airstrike Against ISIS in Somalia Launched from USS Harry S. Truman in February
As the Truman CSG returns home, a huge airstrike against ISIS targets in Somalia was revealed, involving at least 16 F/A-18s and 125,000 lb of munitions. Before the commencement of…
MQ-9B Protector Variant Under Consideration for Royal Navy Airborne Early Warning Mission
The UK’s Ministry of Defence is currently examining a variant of the MQ-9B SkyGuardian to replace the Merlin HM2 Airborne Surveillance and Control aircraft. In a written parliamentary question submitted…
Royal Air Force Reinforces RAF Akrotiri Ahead of HMS Prince of Wales Red Sea Transit
As the Prince of Wales CSG prepares to depart the Mediterranean and head through the Red Sea, the RAF has deployed additional forces to RAF Akrotiri on Cyprus. On May…
Austria and Italy Finalize G2G Agreement for M-346FA Procurement
The Government-to-Government agreement includes 12 M-346FA for the Austrian Air Force, plus 12 more on option. Austria and Italy have finalized the Government-to-Government agreement for the sale of the M-346FA…
A Look Back at the AGM-69A Short-Range Attack Missile
Originally designed by Boeing to neutralize SAM threats and improve the survivability of SAC’s manned bomber force, the mission of the AGM-69 expanded to include selected strategic targets. Nothing but…
First KF-21 Production Model is in Final Assembly
The first production KF-21 is scheduled to be delivered to the ROKAF in 2026, following a contract of a first batch of 20 aircraft in 2024. Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI)…
Russia Equips Yak-52 with Shotgun to Shoot Down Ukrainian Drones
The aircraft is intended to intercept Ukraine’s large and diverse array of long-range unmanned systems that are used to strike deep into Russia. The first images of Russia’s Soviet-era Yak-52…
General Atomics YFQ-42A Collaborative Combat Aircraft Officially Revealed
For the first time, we now have an image of General Atomics' YFQ-42A in the flesh. Alongside Anduril's YFQ-44A, they will be the U.S. Air Force’s first uncrewed fighters. General…
Stalwart Edwards F-16, Conformal Fuel Tank Demonstrator and Diverterless Supersonic Inlet Testbed, Retired from Service
The third F-16C ever built, 83-1120, flew from Edwards AFB to AMARG on May 7, 2025, ending an illustrious 41-year career. Joining its former Edwards F-16 force compatriots, 83-1118 and…
GA-ASI Tests Gray Eagle STOL in C-UAS Role and MQ-9B’s STOL Kit
While Gray Eagle STOL demonstrated anti-drone capability with AGM-114 Hellfire and APKWS II, the STOL kit for the MQ-9B would enable organic anti-submarine warfare and fleet defense. General Atomics-Aeronautical Systems,…
Restored 83-Year-Old WW2 A6M3 Zero Fighter Flies Again
The A6M3 Model 32 Zero was resurrected by combining the damaged remains of two aircraft found at Taroa island in the Marshall Islands in early 1990. A Second World War…
RAF Flies FPV Quadcopter Drone from CH-47 Chinook in ‘Hornet’s Nest’ Trial
The RAF said that FPV drones have proven their ‘effectiveness in recent conflicts’, reflecting the service’s vision of a future land war in Europe. In an exercise marking the increasing…
USAF’s EA-37B Compass Call Flies First Mission Training Sortie
The 43rd Electronic Combat Squadron flew the first mission training sortie for the EA-37B on May 2, 2025, says the service, referring to the Compass Call mission. An EA-37B Compass…
E-7A Wedgetail Order Under Threat in New Department of Defense Budget
Internal disagreements at the Pentagon over future direction of the AEW role could lead to the E-7 Wedgetail becoming a victim of the 2026 budget, sources tell Aviation Week. Elements…
Houthi Air Defenses Nearly Hit U.S. F-35s and F-16s
U.S. officials speaking to The New York Times said Houthi rebels ‘nearly struck’ U.S. F-16s and an F-35 within the first 30 days of Operation Rough Rider. A month into…
Meteor BVRAAM Operational on Italian Typhoons
The Italian Air Force deployed its F-2000 Typhoons equipped with Meteor missiles to Romania for the NATO Enhanced Air Policing. The Italian Air Force has released the first photos of…
‘Indian Rafale Shot Down by Pakistan’ French Intelligence Source Tells CNN
After images of MICA air-to-air missiles and M88 engines, an image now clearly shows the vertical tail of a Rafale EH. After much speculation about fighter jet losses, an image…
RAF Flypast Over London Commemorates 80th Anniversary of VE Day
23 aircraft took part in a flypast over Buckingham Palace on May 5, concluding a procession of over 1,300 personnel commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of WW2 in…
Hill AFB’s F-35As Receive Improved Canopies to Reduce Need for Field Repairs
While wear, tear and environmental impacts on the cockpit’s canopy glass don't affect airworthiness, it impacts the aircraft’s low observable and stealth features. U.S. Air Force F-35As of the 388th…
UK Reveals StormShroud Electronic Warfare Drone
Fitted with Leonardo’s BriteStorm EW suite, StormShroud drones are based on the Tekever AR3 platform and officially entered Royal Air Force service on May 2, 2025. The announcement was made…
The Flying Wings of Jack Northrop that Led to the B-2 Spirit – Part Two
Research and data obtained during the testing of these and other experimental aircraft would lead to today’s B-2 Spirit bomber and beyond. Project MX-140 and the N-9 American concerns that…
RAF Typhoons Joined U.S. Forces in Joint Attack on Houthi Drone Factory
As the U.S. continues its combat operations, the UK Ministry of Defence announced on Apr. 30, 2025 that RAF Typhoons conducted new airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen. These airstrikes…
KC-46 Pegasus Cleared to Refuel E-7A Wedgetail in Trilateral Agreement with US, Australia and UK
The three nations certified the KC-46 to refuel the RAAF E-7, and USAF and RAF also benefit from this as they prepare to field their own Wedgetails. The U.S., British…
U.S. Navy Releases Previously Unseen Photos of Mirror-like Coating on F-35Cs
The photos show two VX-9 F-35Cs with the mirror-like coating during testing at Naval Base Ventura County Point Mugu in 2022. The U.S. Navy has released photos of two F-35Cs…
U.S. Army Black Hawk Lands at the Wrong School
A Black Hawk helicopter due to make a community relations visit to Standley Lake High School arrived slightly later than planned after the crew accidentally landed at the wrong school.…
USAF’s First E-7 Wedgetail Takes Shape as Service Struggles to Keep E-3 Sentry Flying
The E-3 Sentry is afflicted by acute parts and maintenance issues as the Boeing 707 aircraft it is based on ceased production 30 years ago. Nearly three months after the…
First Joint Strike Missiles for Norway’s F-35s are Ready
The JSM is the only weapon in its class that can be carried internally by the F-35. The Norwegian Armed Forces will celebrate on Apr. 28, 2025, the completion of…
F-22 Raptors Flying with B757 Test Bed Suggest New Upgrades and Sensors are Coming Up Fast
The Boeing 757 FTB is the F-22’s highly modified and instrumented aircraft that tests avionics and systems, saving costs and development timelines. Amid reports of the F-22 Raptor being slated…
In Detail: Prime Minister Keir Starmer Visits HMS Prince of Wales
Exclusively pieced together timeline of the visit by the UK Prime Minister and Defence Secretary to HMS Prince of Wales as the nation’s flagship begins its CSG 25 deployment. On…
Everything You Need to Know About the Air Defenses Protecting World Leaders at the Pope’s Funeral
As Rome prepares to host Pope Francis’ funeral, Italy activated an extensive security plan to ensure the safety of all participants. On Apr. 26, 2025, Rome will be under tight…
HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group Sails for CSG 25 Deployment
The highly awaited Carrier Strike Group 25 deployment started on Apr. 22, taking HMS Prince of Wales, its F-35B-focused air wing and an escort force to the Indo-Pacific. Many years…
U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler Carries Rare Four AGM-88E AARGM Loadout Against Houthis
The Growler was seen launching from the USS Truman aircraft carrier with a heavy payload of four AGM-88E AARGM missiles and without the ALQ-99 TJS. In a rare configuration, reflecting…
Production Contract Awarded for BAE Systems Advanced Survivability Pod
Destined for the P-8 Poseidon, the contract will see three low-rate initial production units constructed at a cost of $40.7 million. The contract, under the direction of Naval Air Systems…
Dassault Still Hopes the Falcon 10X Will Carry France’s Next AEW&C System
As France leans towards Saab’s GlobalEye, based on Bombardier's Global 6000, Dassault Aviation chief Éric Trappier manifested "displeasure" for the Falcon 10X's exclusion. Since last year, it has been reported…
U.S. Air Force Considers Upgrades for E-7 Wedgetail
Even before delivery, new technologies are being investigated for possible integration on the USAF’s future E-7 Wedgetail fleet - including a replacement for the aircraft’s distinctive radar. Following the procurement…
UK and France Conduct Joint Surveillance Mission Over the Black Sea
The joint surveillance operation follows a joint British-French declaration vowing to continue supporting Ukraine and deter Russia. The United Kingdom and France were part of an unusual mission over the…
New Side Image of China’s Next Gen J-XDS Stealth Jet Surfaces, Confirms Canopy Design
New photo from recent flight offers clearest view yet of the stealth aircraft’s profile, providing fresh insights into its cockpit configuration. New photos that surfaced online on Apr. 16, 2025,…
First Two Gulfstream G650ERs Delivered to Italian Air Force
The new G650ER aircraft will take over the urgent medical transport missions currently assigned to the Dassault Falcon 50 and Falcon 900. The Italian Air Force has received the first…
Dutch F-35 Executes First Live Classified Data Share With C2 System Outside the U.S.
The Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) achieved a first-of-its-kind milestone during the Ramstein Flag Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) exercise. In what is considered “a significant step forward in multi-domain integration,” the…
Leidos Black Arrow Successfully Tested from AC-130J Ghostrider Gunship
The Black Arrow Small Cruise Missile flew for an extended period, meeting all test objectives, with further test and evaluation activities scheduled throughout 2025. Leidos recently disclosed that, in November…
General Atomics Working on Airborne Laser Pod for MQ-9B
The compact High-Energy Laser pod for MQ-9B is designed with Fleet Defense and Counter-UAS roles in mind. General Atomics has unveiled the development of an airborne laser pod to equip…
UK Ministry of Defence Investigating Future Carrier Based Airborne Early Warning Capabilities
The UK MoD issued a request for information for a new airborne surveillance system capable of operating from Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers. With the Royal Navy’s present airborne early…
Royal Navy Concludes Banshee Jet 80+ Operations with Wildcat Live Fire Exercise
The Qinetiq Banshee Jet 80+ target drone has bowed out of Royal Navy service shortly after a live fire exercise where several were shot down by a Wildcat helicopter. The…
China’s Shenyang Stealth Fighter Seen from the Closest Angle Yet in a New Video
Another day, another Chinese next generation combat aircraft spotted during a test flight. Just one day after the mysterious J-36 jet was filmed overflying the traffic on a Chinese urban…
UK’s Red Arrows Join Italy’s Frecce Tricolori In Historic Rome Flyover
The British and Italian display teams conducted a joint flyover over Rome in honour of King Charles III and Queen Camilla's state visit to Italy. On Apr. 8, 2025, the…
New Video Of China’s J-36 Next Generation Stealth Fighter Emerges
The mysterious J-36 fighter can be seen flying low over an urban highway in China on final approach for landing. On April 7, 2025, a new video surfaced online showcasing…
Drones to Deliver Cargo During Royal Navy Carrier Strike Group 25 Deployment
700X NAS will deploy with nine Malloy T-150 UAVs on the CSG 25 deployment to the Indo-Pacific, providing ship-to-ship transfers of supplies between the task group. This long-term operational trial…
Leonardo Unveils New M-346 Cockpit with Large Area Display
The M-346 Block 20 will introduce an advanced Human-Machine Interface to replicate the operational environment of next-gen combat aircraft. During the recent Military Flight Training Conference 2025, which took place…
New Images Give Clearest Look at Shenyang’s New Fighter
Reportedly designated J-50, the mysterious aircraft is a stealthy tailless twin engine design with a lambda wing. New photos emerged online are now providing the clearest look so far at…
Colombia Choses Saab JAS 39 Gripen as its Newest Frontline Fighter Jet
Colombia signed a letter of intent for the acquisition of the Gripen E, launching the negotiations which would make the country the type’s second South American operator. After nearly two…
U.S. Approves Sale of F-16 Block 70/72 to the Philippines
Few days after U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited the Philippines, Washington cleared the sale of 20 F-16s to the country. The U.S. State Department has approved the Foreign Military…
U.S. Navy’s Next Trainer Jet Won’t Need to Land on Carriers
The U.S. Navy released a new Request for Information for the T-45’s replacement, which will only be required to conduct Field Carrier Landing Practice (FCLP) to wave off. On Mar.…
A Lone Two-Seater: The Story of the YA-10B Warthog
Designed for all-weather, night attacks, the two-seat YA-10B was meant to counter Soviet Cold War armor tactics, but only one was built. Project A-X The Vietnam War had demonstrated to…
India Will Lease Tankers to Overcome Il-78MKI Midas Serviceability Issues
Tankers will be leased from the French Air Force and private company Metrea while the Indian Air Force finalizes plans for a long-term solution. India’s fleet of Ilyushin Il-78MKI tankers,…
Towed Target Damages House After Falling From Draken Falcon 20 During Emergency Landing
A Falcon 20 declared an emergency with a stuck target winch cable, which later detached and fell onto a house during landing. The Falcon, registration G-FRAD, was flying under the…
Signal Group Chat Leaks: U.S. Secretary of Defense Lays Out Sensitive Details of Planned Airstrikes
Aircraft and weapon types, launch times, and the estimated strike windows were all included in the latest screenshots released by Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic, who was inadvertently added to…
First MC-55A Peregrine Expected for Delivery to Australia in 2025
A representative of L3Harris told reporters at Avalon Australian International Airshow that, following delays, the first of the Royal Australian Air Force’s new MC-55A Peregrine ISR jets will be delivered…
B-2 Spirit Stealth Bombers Begin Unannounced Deployment to Diego Garcia
Aviation enthusiasts have monitored at least two flights of multiple B-2 Spirit bombers transiting from Whiteman AFB to the strategic Indian Ocean outpost at Diego Garcia. Using open source information…
Video Reveals GBU-53/B StormBreaker ‘SDB II’ Deployed In Action Against Houthis
CENTCOM footage shows F/A-18 Super Hornets launching from the USS Harry S. Truman carrying a variety of weapons, including the GBU-53/B StormBreaker and AGM-154 JSOW glide bombs and the AGM-84…
Turkey Fires SOM-J Cruise Missile from F-16 For the First Time
SOM-J was originally developed to fit inside the F-35’s internal bays. Meant for both land and sea targets, it will also be integrated on the KAAN fifth generation stealth fighter…
KC-135 Stratotanker Could Fly Past 100 Years in Service
The U.S. Air Force Air Mobility Command has suggested their KC-135 Stratotanker fleet may serve beyond 2050 with a life extension and upgrade program. Almost 70 years after the type’s…
EU Defense White Paper: €150b Loan Proposed to Fuel Defense Spending, Close Capability Gaps
A new white paper, commissioned by the European Union, identifies capability gaps and limitations across its member states and offers ways forward for European and global security. “Europe faces an…
France to Expand Nuclear Deterrent Amidst Europe’s Uncertain Future
President Emmanuel Macron has announced the reopening of Luxeuil Air Base, which will host 40 newly built Rafale F5 fighter jets equipped with nuclear-tipped hypersonic missiles. Announced on the Mar.…
Two Ukrainian Firms Among the Four Selected for Project Artemis’ One-Way Attack Drones
Aerovironment, Dragoon and two Ukrainian firms have been selected for Project Artemis, meant to rapidly develop, prototype and field scalable UAVs that can bring a low-cost mass in a high-end…
U.S. Air Force Seeks Single Type to Replace C-32 and C-40 VIP Transports
The Air Force is yet to decide which aircraft type will form the core of its future executive transport fleet, but still hopes to procure the C-40D, a 737 MAX…
General Atomics Tested Gray Eagle ER UAS Using Proliferated Low Earth Orbit Satellites
GA-ASI says that Gray Eagle is the only U.S. Army UAS capable of leveraging Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations for secure, adaptable and resilient inflight…
USAF Testing Angry Kitten EW Pod on C-130 as F-16 Integration Progresses
The F-16 has completed the test phase for the integration of the AN/ALQ-167 Angry Kitten electronic warfare pod, as the USAF considers the platform for other aircraft types like the…
AGM-183 ARRW Receives Aviation Week Laureate Award
The now concluded AGM-183 ARRW program received an Aviation Week Laureate award for achieving the first end-to-end tests of a hypersonic glide vehicle with a high lift-to-drag design. The Lockheed…
USMC Receives First SkyTower II Pod for ‘Digital Quarterback’ MQ-9 Reapers
The STII is an airborne network extension pod that enhances cross-domain communication capabilities and links communications between disparate forces. Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 24 (UX 24) is integrating the…
The JMSDF Retires the U-36A After 37 Years of Service
The U-36A, one of the JMSDF’s most secretive assets, conducted its last flight at Iwakuni Air Base and retired quietly on Mar. 10, 2025, after 37 years of service. The…
USMC F/A-18s, F-35s and KC-130J Fly Together for Project Legacy Off San Diego
The Project Legacy flight was a ‘unique opportunity for all aircraft platforms across Marine Air Group 11 (MAG-11) to fly as one team, practice tight formations, and take part in…
The F-35 ‘Kill Switch’: Separating Myth from Reality
With heightened tensions between Europe and the United States over NATO and Ukraine, the myth of an F-35 "kill switch", which would supposedly allow the Pentagon to disable foreign-operated F-35s,…
USAF B-52 Stratofortress Flies with Israeli F-35Is and F-15s in Joint Training Over Middle East
The B-52, currently deployed to the UK for BTF 25-2, practiced operational coordination and communication with Israeli F-35Is and F-15Is to deter regional threats. A U.S Air Force B-52H Stratofortress…
Dutch F-35As Shoot Down Target Drones with AIM-9X Sidewinders Over Baltic Sea
During an exercise with the Estonian Air Force, two RLAF F-35s employed AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles to shoot down a number of target drones over the Baltic Sea. In an…
Philippine Air Force FA-50 Crashes During Night Operations Against Insurgents
The FA-50 went missing during night anti-insurgency operations with other aircraft in the south of the country, with special forces locating the wreckage and the deceased pilots two days later.…
MQ-20 Avenger Flies Autonomously with Hivemind AI at Orange Flag
General Atomics MQ-20 Avenger unmanned combat aerial vehicle autonomously flown with Shield AI’s Hivemind software at Orange Flag exercise. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) and tech company Shield AI have…
B-52 Spotted Over Texas Apparently Carrying Hypersonic Missile During Test
The B-52, sporting the orange throwback paint scheme, has been spotted flying over Texas with two loads under the wing hardpoints, one of which clearly looks like an AGM-183 ARRW…
King Charles Visits HMS Prince of Wales Ahead of Carrier Strike Group Deployment
King Charles III flew to the aircraft carrier on board a Royal Navy Merlin HM2 direct from his Sandringham Estate, where he recently hosted President Zelenskyy of Ukraine. The King’s…
Exclusive Images Reveal Patched-Up F-22 Raptor After Landing Mishap
We got a rare look at the F-22A Raptor which was repaired after being involved in a landing mishap a few years ago. On Feb. 21, 2025, an F-22A Raptor…
General Atomics Enhances MQ-9B SeaGuardian’s Submarine Hunting Capability with New Air-Dropped Sensors
The Sonobuoy Dispensing System test has enhanced the MQ-9B SeaGuardian’s status as the only RPA that can carry, release and monitor sonobuoys, whose data is then used by aircraft and…
Sikorsky Envisions X2 Technology as the Helicopter Equivalent of the F-35
Sikorsky shared its concept vision for a future X2 aircraft, interestingly envisioning it as an F-35 Lightning II parallel in the low-altitude domain. After the cancellation of the Future Attack…
Estonian Independence Day Marked With B-52, F-35, and F/A-18 Flypast
The Baltic nation of Estonia celebrated its national Independence Day on Feb. 24, 2025, joined by forces from a number of NATO allies who help reinforce the nation against Russian…
Israeli Fighters Conduct Flyover Over Funeral of Hezbollah’s Leader Hassan Nasrallah
In an extremely unconventional show of force, the Israeli Air Force conducted a fighter flyover over Hassan Nasrallah’s funeral. The dramatic show-of-force operation involved four Israeli Air Force fighter jets:…
USAF’s TOC-L Tactical Comms System Shines as F-35Cs and F-22 Raptors Roar During Exercise Sentry Aloha
Sentry Aloha 25-1 saw for the first time a team of Battle Management Operators relaying data aboard a KC-135 and rapidly deployable Tactical Operations Center-Lite advanced airspace tactical control system.…
NORAD Releases Photos of U.S. F-35s Intercepting Russian Tu-95s and Armed Su-35s Off Alaska
The Russian "package," which included armed Su-35 Flanker-E fighters, was intercepted on two consecutive days in international airspace west of Alaska. On Feb. 18, 2025 the North American Aerospace Defense…
California Air National Guard’s 129th Rescue Wing Begins Transition to the HH-60W
The 129th RQW, located at Moffett ANG Base, Mountain View, has now received the first two new HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopters to replace its current HH-60G Pave Hawks, with…
JSDF Orders 17 CH-47 Block IIs as Part of Helicopter Fleet Modernization
The Japan Self-Defense Forces have placed an order for 17 CH-47JA Block II Chinooks (Extended Range) transport helicopters, becoming the fourth nation to acquire the new Block II variant. On…
Newly Emerged Photos Show F-35C’s Mirror-Like Coating with Damaged Tiles After Intensive Testing
The photos, dating back to November 2022, show the second “chrome” F-35C with its peculiar mirror-like coating degraded over time during testing, before the aircraft was returned to its original…
U.S. Army Deploys ATHENA-R ISR Jet to South Korea
The ATHENA-R will be part of a key four-month operational assessment to assess the readiness of the aircraft and possible fixes, as well as supporting the United States’ long-standing commitment…
Baykar Signs Deal with Indonesia for TB3, Akinci Drones and Production Facility
Baykar struck a deal with Indonesia to provide 60 Bayraktar TB3 and nine Akinci UCAVs, in addition to a joint venture with Republikorp to build a drone factory in Indonesia.…
Trump Offers India the F-35A Lightning II as it Faces the Su-57 Felon at Aero India 2025
In a surprise announcement, U.S. President Donald Trump offered India the opportunity to acquire the F-35 Lightning II. The offer coincided with the jet's first encounter with the Russian Su-57…
Airbus Contracted to Build ‘Oberon’ ISR Satellite Pair for UK Ministry of Defence
A £127 million contract will see Airbus design and construct two synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites in the UK ready for launch in 2027. Using high resolution synthetic aperture radar…
China’s J-20 Stealth Fighter Spotted Flying In ‘Beast Mode’
A newly surfaced image shows the Chinese J-20 stealth fighter carrying eight external air-to-air missiles, a configuration commonly referred to as "beast mode". Let’s explain it once again: “Beast Mode”…
‘Tornado 2 Tempest’ Aircraft Recycling Project Begins
Parts from former Royal Air Force Tornado GR4 aircraft have been ground down and converted into 3D printable material for use in the United Kingdom’s sixth generation Tempest manned fighter…
The “Black Bunny” Aircraft of the U.S. Navy’s VX-4
Painted in distinctive black schemes with a Playboy Bunny adorning the tail, mimicking an aircraft of the prominent enterprise, these aircraft were flown by the United States Navy for evaluation…
F-35 Completes First Dual External GBU-54 Laser JDAM Drop
An F-35C of VX-9 assigned to the United Operational Test Team at Edwards AFB performed the first dual drop of externally mounted GBU-54 LJDAM bombs, engaging a remote controlled High-Speed…
U.S. Navy Declares Initial Operational Capability for IRST Pods on F/A-18 Super Hornets
The IRST Block II enhances ‘situational awareness by supplementing air-to-air detection and track capabilities, and autonomously or in combination with other sensors, supports the guidance of beyond visual range missiles.’…
Breaking: First Mirage 2000s Delivered to Ukraine
Less than a year after the transfer was announced, the French Defense Minister announced the delivery of the first Mirage 2000 aircraft to Ukraine, flown by Ukrainian pilots. The French…
