Blue Angels Remove Maj. Scott Laux Ahead of Homecoming Airshow
Laux, No. 6 opposing solo pilot during the 2026 season, was removed for failing to meet the standards expected of squadron members, said the Navy. It appears the PAO, Capt.…
Mystery Flight From Rome to Tehran Puts Aircraft Tracking Deception in the Spotlight
An unidentified business jet flying from Italy to Iran under an apparently fictitious identity offers a glimpse into the techniques used to conceal sensitive aircraft movements from public flight trackers.…
T-38C Lost Both Horizontal Stabilizers Before Crashing in Alabama, Investigation Finds
A U.S. Air Force Accident Investigation Board determined that maintenance errors allowed a horizontal stabilizer actuator pin to become loose, triggering aerodynamic flutter that tore both stabilizers from the T-38C…
HMS Queen Elizabeth Hosts Tekever AR5 and Nyan Strike Drones During New Trials
Operating in the North Atlantic, the Royal Navy aircraft carrier launched Nyan one-way attack drones from its deck, while a Tekever AR5 ISR and logistics UAV proved its ability to…
F-35B Releases Meteor BVRAAM for the First Time
The Oct. 7 trial saw the release of an inert Meteor test asset from an F-35B's internal weapons bay, demonstrating safe separation and providing data for further release tests ahead…
Shield AI Reveals First Full-Scale Prototype X-BAT VTOL Fighter Drone
Around half the size of an F-35, and powered by an afterburning GE F110 engine with thrust vectoring capabilities, the X-BAT is billed as the world's first autonomous VTOL strike…
Japan Intercepts Chinese WZ-7 High-Altitude Drones Flying Through Miyako Strait
Chinese state media recently featured the WZ-7 alongside other PLA reconnaissance drones, describing the platforms as providing reconnaissance and targeting support to the PLA Army, Navy and Rocket Force. Japan…
From Drones to Bomb Hoaxes: Is Europe’s Civil Aviation Facing a New Form of Hybrid Warfare?
A wave of false bomb threats has triggered flight diversions, emergency procedures and fighter jet scrambles across Europe, raising questions about a possible new tactic aimed at disrupting civilian aviation.…
NASA Announces X-70 Fractal, its Latest Experimental Aircraft
NASA has announced its newest experimental aircraft, the X-70 Fractal, described as a high-performance, highly adaptable crewed research platform with rapidly reconfigurable flight-control technology. NASA has announced on Nov. 4,…
RIAT Permanently Relocates to MOD Boscombe Down From 2027
The Royal International Air Tattoo will leave RAF Fairford after decades at the Gloucestershire airbase, moving to MOD Boscombe Down in Wiltshire as part of an effort to secure the…
First HH-60W Jolly Green II Arrives at Joint Base Andrews
The arrival of the first HH-60W marks the start of the transition from the UH-1N in support of the National Capital Region’s contingency-response mission, with the 5th Helicopter Squadron leading…
SNC Withdraws From UJTS Competition, Leaving Textron As Sole Bidder
SNC decided to not bid for the U.S. Navy’s UJTS program, leaving the Textron/Leonardo team with the M-346N as the only competitor for the replacement of the T-45 Goshawk. A…
GA-ASI Opens Remote Split Operation Facility to Remotely Fly MQ-9s for AFRICOM
GA-ASI announced the opening of a new Remote Split Operation facility in North Dakota to remotely fly missions for AFRICOM under an existing Contractor-Owned, Contractor Operated (COCO) lease of its…
Greece Signs for up to Six Embraer KC-390 Millennium Multi-Role Transports
The Hellenic Air Force has placed a firm order for three KC-390 Millennium aircraft from Brazilian manufacturer Embraer, to be delivered from 2027, with options for three more also included…
Radomes: Why Their Colors Often Didn’t Match The Aircraft
Often coated in black in earlier years, aircraft radomes frequently differed in color from the rest of the aircraft, creating visible contrasts between panels and sections. The concepts of RADAR…
Rafale M Conducts Trials Aboard Indian Navy’s INS Vikrant Aircraft Carrier
India selected in 2023 and ordered in 2025 the Rafale M as an interim carrier-based fighter capability while the indigenous Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF) is developed. A Dassault…
U.S. Army’s HADES Prototype Completes First Flight
The U.S. Army announced that the HADES Prototype 1 made its first flight on Sept. 11, marking a major milestone in the transition from the turboprop ISR fleet to the…
Ethiopia Receives First Russian Su-35 Fighters in Moscow
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali shared images of two of the 12 Ethiopian Su-35s at Zhukovsky airport near Moscow, delivered on the sidelines of the third Russia-Africa summit. Ethiopia received…
China Claims GJ-21 Naval UCAV has Flown from Type 076 Sichuan LHD
The PLA Navy says the GJ-21 has completed its first takeoff and landing aboard the Type 076 amphibious assault ship, which is fitted with an electromagnetic catapult and arresting system.…
Is Italy About to Join the A400M Club?
A document titled "Airbus A400M for Italy" was spotted during recent UK-Italy talks about RAF-ItAF cooperation, adding substance to reports that Rome is considering the European cargo aircraft. Years after…
First M-346 For Frecce Tricolori Takes Flight
Days after its rollout, the first M-346 trainer jet destined to the Frecce Tricolori aerobatic team took off for its maiden flight. The first M-346 trainer jet destined to the…
Developing: Italian CH-47F Chinook Crashes in Bosnia
An Italian Army CH-47F Chinook assigned to the EUFOR Althea mission crashed near Brčko, Bosnia and Herzegovina, leaving four people dead and 11 injured. A CH-47F Chinook helicopter of the…
NASA’s X-59 QueSST Heads to Kennedy Space Center
On the anniversary of its first flight, NASA’s X-59 QueSST has started its first journey east from California, headed to the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. On Oct. 28,…
GA-ASI and Saab Test AEW Payload on MQ-9B
GA-ASI and Saab are testing the LoyalEye radar installed in the MQ-9B’s new Airborne Early Warning pods, which first flew in May 2026. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) and Saab…
British and Norwegian F-35s Escort B-52 Taking Part in Exercise Global Thunder
A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress taking part in STRATCOM's annual Exercise Global Thunder staged a transatlantic global power mission, culminating in a link up with British and Norwegian forces…
Plans for $1 Billion F-47 Campus at Nellis AFB Move Forward
The U.S. Department of Defense has issued further solicitation to industry ahead of bids being tendered for the construction of support facilities for the Boeing F-47 at Nellis Air Force…
DIA Releases Clearest Image of China’s Reusable Spaceplane with Service Module Attached
The DIA report reviews the three missions flown between 2020 and 2023, highlighting reported rendezvous and proximity operations during the second and third flights, before China launched the spacecraft again…
Europe’s HYDEF Hypersonic Interceptor Program Completes First Stage
The program’s first stage is complete, with all critical technologies reaching at least TRL 3 and a technology demonstrator targeted for 2030. The European Hypersonic Defence Interceptor (EU HYDEF) took…
MQ-8C Fire Scout Unmanned Helicopters Get Second Life With U.S. Army
The U.S. Navy has transferred to the Army four MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopters it was retiring, in a move expected to save more than $70 million in procurement costs.…
Boeing Moves Second MQ-25A Stingray Airframe to Illinois for Final Assembly
The airframe is being trucked from Boeing’s St. Louis facility to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport in Mascoutah, Illinois, for final assembly ahead of ground testing. Boeing Defense and Space released…
U.S. Air Force Moves AGM-183A ARRW Hypersonic Missile Into Production
The $694 million contract marks a major reversal for the Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon, which the Air Force nearly cancelled in 2023. The U.S. Air Force has announced on Oct.…
Castelion to Begin Blackbeard Hypersonic Missile Integration on USAF F-16s
As part of its work with the Air Force Research Laboratory, Castelion will now expand the Blackbeard integration effort to the F-16, adding a U.S. Air Force fighter to a…
Canada Receives Its First Two CF-35A Fighters at Luke Air Force Base
The first two Canadian CF-35s arrived at Luke Air Force Base, where they will be used for training in support of the initial phase of the RCAF’s transition from the…
German Giant: How the Me 323 Gigant Pioneered Large Transports
Large and lumbering, the Messerschmitt Me 323 Gigant featured a cavernous cargo hold and large clamshell doors at the nose, allowing heavy equipment and bulky loads to be transported by…
France’s Archange SIGINT Aircraft Arrives at Évreux Air Base Ahead of Operational Evaluation
The first Archange arrived at Évreux in early October, where France’s Military Air Expertise Center is participating in trials ahead of the aircraft’s planned entry into service. France’s Archange (Archangel)…
USAF Needs ‘1,509 Combat-Ready Jets’ by 2035, According to Service Report to Congress
A service report sent to Congress proposes a combat capable force of 1,509 fighters by 2035, which is more than the USAF has available today, posing serious questions about funding…
Global PHP Security Scare Highlights Why Stealth Matters in Cyberspace
Critical cybersecurity vulnerabilities recently made headlines, prompting warnings from U.S. and international security agencies. The incident highlights a defensive principle familiar to military aviation: reducing an adversary's ability to detect…
Pentagon, Lockheed Martin Reach 10-Year Framework Agreement for 850 F-35s
Subject to Congressional approval, the framework gives long-term certainty to the industry, helping stabilize production and supply chain while supporting improvements in aircraft availability rates. The U.S. Department of War…
British Typhoons Escort French Rafales in First Joint Nuclear Strike Drill
For the first time, Royal Air Force jets have flown alongside the French Air Force during an airborne nuclear strike exercise as part of a new, deeper cooperation between France…
TRV-150 Drone Uses Three-Pod APKWS Launcher in Counter-UAS Test
The test demonstrated sequential engagement of multiple aerial targets without landing to reload, as BAE Systems looks to extend the capability to maritime operations. A modified version of Malloy Aeronautics’…
Three Maritime Strike Groups Spearhead NATO’s Neptune Strike 26-4
ITS Cavour, TCG Anadolu, and HMS Prince of Wales are leading the fourth and final element of NATO's Neptune Strike enhanced vigilance activity for 2026, featuring more than 20 warships…
U.S. Air Force Uses Virtual Reality to Improve B-52 Air Refueling Training
The U.S. Air Force is using virtual reality to help B-52 student pilots master aerial refueling before their first live flight, reducing the time, sorties and costs needed to reach…
U.S. Air Force Tests Cargo Pod for Future Rocket-Based Logistics
The test evaluated cargo equipment aboard SpaceX’s Starfall capsule as the U.S. Air Force continues researching commercial rocket-based logistics to enable rapid deliveries anywhere on the globe. The U.S. Air…
First M-346 For Frecce Tricolori Breaks Cover
The first M-346 trainer jet destined to the Frecce Tricolori aerobatic team was spotted at Leonardo’s facilities in Venegono after receiving its livery. The first M-346 trainer jet destined to…
L3Harris Receives $876 Million Award to Advance NGJ-LB Pod to the Next EMD Phase
L3Harris received an $876 million contract modification to advance the U.S. Navy’s Next-Generation Jammer - Low Band system to the next Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase. L3Harris Technologies has received…
Unusual Sight Over Slovakia: C-5 Galaxy Flying With Port Main Landing Gear Extended
We were sent images taken of C-5 Galaxy 86-0011 flying over Slovakia with an odd distinction - the aircraft's port side main landing gear bogey was deployed, despite being at…
First KC-10 Leaves the Boneyard For New Life With Omega Air Refueling
The first of a number of retired U.S. Air Force KC-10A Extenders understood to have been acquired by contractor Omega Aerial Refueling Services left Davis-Monthan AFB on Oct. 20 for…
French Mirage 2000D Crashes During Night Training Mission
A French Mirage 2000D assigned to the Escadron de Chasse 2/3 “Champagne” crashed during a night training mission, with two fatalities confirmed. A French Air and Space Force Mirage 2000D…
Royal Air Force Deploys Typhoon Fighters to Saudi Arabia to Defend Against Houthi Attacks
The United Kingdom is sending an undisclosed number of Typhoon FGR4 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia to assist them in shooting down Houthi missiles and drones. The RAF will deploy…
Pentagon, BAE Systems Sign Agreement to Increase APKWS Production
The Pentagon signed a framework agreement with BAE Systems to procure up to 25,000 APKWS kits annually for up to seven years, with provisions to increase production capacity to 35,000…
MQ-25A Stingray Remotely Controlled from USS Ronald Reagan
The test validated hardware and software in the carrier-based MD-5C Ground Control Station, marking another step toward integrating unmanned aerial refueling into carrier operations. The article was updated with new…
Romanian F-16s Shoot Down Russian Drones Inside Romanian Airspace
Romanian authorities have released images of F-16s engaging and destroying suspected jet-powered Geran-4 drones inside Romania's territorial airspace over the Black Sea. The incident occurred on Saturday Oct. 17, with…
France Eyes Jet-Powered AASM Hammer 250 XLR to Restore SEAD Capability
French Air and Space Force Chief of Staff Gen. Jérôme Bellanger told lawmakers the planned Hammer 250 XLR has the potential to help restore the service’s kinetic SEAD/DEAD capability. Reports…
A Tu-144 ‘Russian Concorde’ is Being Restored for Display Ahead of Expected MAKS Return
Videos posted by a Russian volunteer show the ongoing repair work on one of the two Tu-144s at Zhukovsky airport in Moscow, and which was often used as a static…
Starfighters Space Will Test Starlaunch 1 Suborbital Development Vehicle on an F-104 in December
Starfighters Space is preparing to conduct in December a captive-carry test flight of its new Starlaunch 1 suborbital development vehicle on one of the company’s F-104 Starfighter aircraft. Starfighters Space…
F-22 Controls Collaborative Combat Aircraft In Flight For The First Time
An F-22A Raptor controlled for the first time a YFQ-44A Collaborative Combat Aircraft during an airborne tactical-control demonstration in early October. The U.S. Air Force has announced that the pilot…
U.S. Navy Receives First C-130J-30 for TACAMO Program
The U.S. Navy has received the first C-130J-30 Super Hercules which will be converted into the E-130J Phoenix II, equipped with the Take Charge and Move Out (TACAMO) mission system.…
U.S. Air Force Tests Mk21A Reentry Vehicle for Sentinel ICBM
The Mk21A reentry vehicle, designed to be carried atop the LGM-35A Sentinel, continues to be tested as the Air Force steadily pushes the new ICBM’s development ahead of a Critical…
Houthi Militants Score Apparent Hit Against Saudi Typhoon
Houthi-affiliated media has released infrared footage of a surface to air missile attack on a Royal Saudi Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon, showing the missile's warhead detonating and causing damage to…
Royal Navy’s HMS Dauntless Spotted Carrying Possible New Counter-Drone System
Type 45 destroyer HMS Dauntless (D33) has been seen sporting new containers near the ship's port and starboard Phalanx mounts, speculated to house vertically launched drone interceptors. While no official…
Stratolaunch’s Boeing 747 Spotted With Previously Unseen Rocket Under Its Wings
Stratolaunch’s Boeing 747-400 carrier aircraft was recently spotted in Mojave carrying a previously unseen rocket under its left wing, while accompanied by a Cessna Citation acting as chase aircraft. The…
F-35C Lands for the First Time on a Ford-Class Aircraft Carrier
An F-35C Lightning II made an arrested landing on the PCU John F. Kennedy (CVN 79), marking the first time an F-35C has landed on a Ford-class aircraft carrier. The…
U.S. Air Force and Northrop Grumman Break Ground on New B-21 Raider Final Assembly Line
The new final assembly line will support a planned 25% increase in annual B-21 production capacity as the U.S. Air Force prepares receive the first operational Raiders in 2027. The…
Airbus and Kratos Fly Valkyrie Drone in Europe for the First Time
The first flight in Europe of the U740 Valkyrie, which combines the airframe of Kratos’ XQ-58 drone with Airbus’ MARS mission system, paves the way toward the goal of a…
B-52 Stratofortress Set to Integrate the AGM-158C LRASM
A recent U.S. Navy contracting notice outlines plans to negotiate with Lockheed Martin to integrate the AGM-158C Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) on the B-52 Stratofortress. The U.S. Navy is planning…
X-BAT Accelerating Toward First Flight with New Funding
New U.S. Navy funding and company investment bring the announced X-BAT investment to $400 million as Shield AI prepares the VTOL aircraft for flight testing later this year. Shield AI’s…
Edgewing Opens New Engineering Hub in Italy
The new facility in Turin will bring together engineers from Italy, Japan and the UK, contributing to the development of the new GCAP combat aircraft. Edgewing has opened a new…
Royal Top Gun: Thai Queen Flies First Solo JAS 39C Gripen Flight
Thailand’s Queen Suthida has flown solo in a Gripen fighter for the first time, making her the country’s first female Gripen pilot. Revealed on Oct. 8, 2026, by the Royal…
U.S. Exploring Transfer of Surplus KC-10 Tankers to Undisclosed North African Partner
A contract notice, first reported on by Aviation Week, was released seeking industry interest for the reactivation and in-service support of up to four KC-10 Extender aircraft for a foreign…
BAE Systems’ New IFF System Moves Toward F-16 Integration
BAE Systems’ AN/APX-127(V)1 IFF system has completed AIMS certification, clearing the way for F-16 integration and platform-level testing. BAE Systems announced it has completed the Allied Identification Mark System (AIMS,…
UK Opposition Party Proposes £10 Billion “Britannia Shield” Air and Missile Defence Plan
The UK’s Conservative Party has proposed a £10 billion air defence programme that aims to enhance the country’s integrated air and missile defence (IAMD) infrastructure for the modern age. Announced…
Rare Imagery Shows F-117A ‘The Overachiever’ Loaded Into a C-5M for Smithsonian Trip
The historic F-117 was partially disassembled and loaded aboard the giant airlifter for its cross-country delivery to the Smithsonian’s Udvar-Hazy Center. On Oct. 6, 2026, a C-5M Super Galaxy, using…
First Brazilian-Built Gripen E Makes Maiden Flight
The first of 15 Gripen Es to be built at Embraer’s facility in São Paulo, the aircraft is also the first Gripen produced outside Sweden. The first JAS 39 Gripen…
Morocco’s First F-16 Block 72 Has Flown
The aircraft, a two-seat F-16D, is not only the first of Morocco’s new Vipers to fly, but also the first new-build F-16 Block 72 to take to the air. The…
Spain Selects Airbus A321 for New SIGINT Platform
Spain is set to regain a dedicated airborne SIGINT capability with three A321-based aircraft under the Santiago II programme. In the latest publication of the Revista de Aeronáutica y Astronáutica…
L-39 Skyfox Advances C-UAS Role with Thales 70 mm Laser-Guided Rocket
Aero Vodochody has announced an MoU with Thales to continue testing a 70 mm rocket capability for the L-39 Skyfox Drone Hunter configuration. The Czech Republic’s L-39 Skyfox advanced jet…
Marine F-35C Also Sports Three Submarine Kill Markings After Operation Epic Fury
An exclusive image obtained by The Aviationist reveals an extraordinary array of target markings on a VMFA-314 F-35C, apparently representing an oil tanker, three submarines, a surface combatant, a Shahed-type…
Northrop Grumman and SandboxAQ Explain How Lumberjack Is Preparing for GPS-Denied Operations
The Lumberjack UAS flew with SandboxAQ’s AQNav magnetic navigation system during a GPS-denied flight test this summer, demonstrating alternative resilient PNT navigation for autonomous operations. Northrop Grumman and SandboxAQ have…
Kunsan’s F-16 Squadrons Return as USAF Resets Fighter Squadrons in Korea
The U.S. Air Force initiated the Fighter Squadron Reset to return F-16s to Kunsan Air Base after the Super Squadron experiment at Osan, with the 35th Fighter Squadron transitioning from…
Germany ‘Exploring’ GCAP Entry with UK, Reports Say
While discussions between London and Berlin are in the early stages, internal German government assessments reportedly favor a collaboration with Sweden and Spain over joining GCAP. Germany has begun exploratory…
Taiwan Receives First Two New-Build F-16C Block 70 Fighters After Years of Delays
The first two of 66 new-build F-16C Block 70 fighters ordered by Taiwan from the United States have arrived at Chihhang Air Base, marking the beginning of deliveries under a…
Kentucky Air National Guard C-130s Perform Rare SAR Exercise with Royal Navy Merlin
Four C-130J Hercules aircraft, 60 personnel, and 62,000 lbs of equipment from the 165th Airlift Squadron deployed to Glasgow Prestwick Airport in August for a series of training exercises with…
Naval Research Laboratory’s VXS-1 Retires its Last NP-3C Orion
The VXS-1 “Warlocks” sent its NP-3C Orion, a dedicated research variant of the P-3C, to the ‘boneyard’ after three decades of service, retiring the last active-duty P-3 on the U.S.…
Northrop Grumman’s YFQ-48 Flies for the First Time
Northrop Grumman announced the first flight of the YFQ-48 Talon Blue, the company’s internally-funded Collaborative Combat Aircraft. Few months after the taxi tests, Northrop Grumman has now announced that its…
Sub Buster: F/A-18F Super Hornet Returns from Operation Epic Fury With Submarine Kill Marking
As VFA-41 returned to NAS Lemoore on Oct. 1, one of their jets carried a unique decoration indicating its involvement in the destruction of an unidentified Iranian submarine during the…
U.S. Air Force Looks To Finally Add Missile Warning System To F-15EX Eagle II
The U.S. Air Force is seeking an operational missile warning system for the F-15EX Eagle II, which was designed with the needed provisions but initially entered service without the capability.…
MH-139A Grey Wolf Enters Full-Rate Production
With 27 MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopters delivered so far, the latest award brings the total number of aircraft under contract to 42. Boeing Defense has been awarded a contract for…
Italian F-35B Seen Carrying 25mm Gun Pod for the First Time
An Italian Air Force F-35B was spotted carrying the GPU-9/A 25mm gun pod, providing the first known visual confirmation of the pod being used by an F-35 operator outside the…
RAAF F/A-18F Super Hornet Spotted with AIM-260 During Gray Flag Test Event
A RAAF Super Hornet was spotted with an inert AIM-260 missile during the Gray Flag 2026 test event, few weeks after Australia announced the procurement of the new weapon. A…
AFRL Certifies Anduril’s Barracuda-M as Open Systems Architecture Compliant
A four-day independent trial by the AFRL’s Munition Open Architecture Test and Evaluation Laboratory assessed 14 weapons-systems domains to verify the compliance of Barracuda-M. Anduril’s Barracuda-M family of autonomous jet-powered…
Ukraine F-16 Update: Jets From Belgium, Maintenance Concerns And Block 70/72 fighters
Belgium is set to deliver its first three F-16AM/BM fighters to Ukraine following a several-year delay, as Kyiv also discusses with Lockheed Martin about adopting the latest variant of the…
Flydubai Boeing 737 Diverts to Saudi Arabia After Violent Cockpit Incident
A Flydubai Boeing 737 MAX 8 flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv diverted to Saudi Arabia after the two pilots reportedly became involved in a violent confrontation inside the cockpit.…
U.S. Air Force Contracts Boeing for 22 More F-15EX Fighters
The new award is a step towards the Air Force’s planned fleet of 267 F-15EXs, replacing the aging F-15C/D Eagle and also beginning the recapitalization of the F-15E Strike Eagle…
Former USS Klakring Sunk by U.S. and UK Forces During Exercise Atlantic Thunder
SM-6, Sea Venom, and Naval Strike Missile munitions were paired alongside a Mark 48 ADCAP torpedo to send the decommissioned Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate to the bottom of the…
Boeing Awarded Contract to Build U.S. Navy’s F/A-XX Fighter
Boeing has won the U.S. Navy’s F/A-XX competition for the sixth-generation carrier-based fighter, with a contract valued at more than $20B for the full-scale development phase. After months of wait,…
Phantom Flogger: How An Unarmed and Unmanned MiG-23 Crossed Into NATO Airspace
In the waning days of the Cold War, a Soviet MiG-23M flew pilotless across Warsaw Pact and NATO airspace, eventually crashing into a house in Belgium and killing one person.…
U.S. Navy Advances New W93 Nuclear Warhead for Trident Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missiles
The W93 warhead and Mk7 reentry body assembly are part of the Trident II D5 Life Extension (D5LE2) which will modernize the sea-based leg of the nuclear triad. The U.S.…
[Updated] Two Naval Aviators Eject Following Mishap on USS Eisenhower
The U.S. Navy said that two Naval Aviators ejected from their EA-18G Growler following an arresting gear failure aboard the USS Eisenhower aircraft carrier and were promptly recovered by search…
Is An SR-71 Blackbird Returning to Flight 27 Years Later?
NASA quietly removed the SR-71 #844 from static display at the Armstrong Flight Research Center, where it sat since the type’s last flight in 1999, just as NASA Administrator Jared…
Marine MV-22B Osprey Conducts First Sonobuoy Lot Acceptance Test
The test validated the MV-22B’s as an alternative platform to the P-3C Orion for the Navy’s Sonobuoy Quality Assurance Program, while laying the groundwork for expanded tactical employment of the…
[Updated] ‘Major Incident’ Near RAF Fairford After Arrests Made Under Explosives Act
After U.S. forces at RAF Fairford rapidly stepped up security precautions yesterday, police have now confirmed that arrests have been made and residents evacuated in the adjacent village of Whelford…
4th FW F-15Es Return From Iran Air War With Mortal Kombat-Themed Nose Art And Drone Kill Markings
Ten Seymour Johnson F-15Es returning from the Middle East stopped at RAF Mildenhall, revealing new Mortal Kombat-themed nose art and a combined 45 Shahed drone kill markings. The “flow” of…
Canada Advances Negotiations with Saab for GlobalEye
While not a formal purchase contract, the term sheet agreement establishes the framework for negotiation after Canada identified Saab as the preferred supplier for its future AEW&C system. Canada and…
New Video Offers Clearest Look Yet At Blackbeard Hypersonic Missile On F/A-18F Super Hornet
For the first time, newly released imagery shows Castelion’s Blackbeard low-cost hypersonic weapon carried by a U.S. Navy Super Hornet during a test flight. Newly released imagery provides the clearest…
Australian Army to Retire its Tiger Attack Helicopters
The 1st Aviation Regiment will hold a sundown ceremony on Sept. 30 in Darwin, marking 20 years of Tiger service and the regiment’s transition to the AH-64E Apache attack helicopter. …
Royal Air Force Secretly Jamming Adversary Satellites Over Past Year
The Royal Air Force has been jamming satellites from adversary nations in order to defend British national interests, including its nuclear deterrent. This was revealed by the BBC on Sept.…
Turned Compressor Vanes Led to Loss of Thrust in Thunderbird F-16 Crash
Investigators found that turned compressor vanes triggered a chain of engine damage that ultimately left the F-16 without sufficient thrust to remain airborne. On Dec. 3, 2025, an F-16CM of…
Bomb Markings On Thai F-16s Shed New Light On Cambodia Combat Operations
Mission markings appearing on Royal Thai Air Force F-16s offer new clues about the weapons and aircraft employed during the 2025 fighting with Cambodia, which also saw the Gripen’s combat…
Final A-10C Thunderbolt II Leaves Nellis AFB
A month after the final training sortie with the 66th Weapons Squadron, the last A-10C Thunderbolt II assigned to Nellis AFB has left the base. The last A-10 Thunderbolt II…
Why An F-35 Canopy Ending Up In China Is Still A Big Deal
An F-35 canopy won't give away the secrets of the entire aircraft, but its radar-absorbent coating and construction could still provide valuable intelligence about the 5th generation jet's Low Observable…
French Rafales Return to Japan for PEGASE 2026
Four Rafale F4s, supported by three A330 MRTTs and two A400Ms, stopped over at Hyakuri Air Base during the latest edition of the PEGASE long-range airpower projection mission. The Armée…
Canada’s First F-35 Conducts Maiden Flight
The Royal Canadian Air Force’s first F-35A Lightning II flew for the first time, marking a milestone in Canada’s controversial fighter acquisition program to replace the CF-188 Hornet fleet. The…
Royal Air Force Hawk Crash Near RAF Valley, Two Parachutes Seen
A Royal Air Force Hawk T2 has crashed near RAF Valley in North Wales. Two parachutes could be seen descending to the ground as the stricken jet fell out of…
Hawker Hunter Formerly Known As ‘Miss Demeanour’ Crashes off California
Hawker Hunter N345AX, operated by red air contractor ATAC but formerly a UK airshow star as G-PSST, went down a few miles off the California coast on Sep. 22. The…
Dassault Tests Rafale with New AI Technologies for Crew Support
The flight tests support Dassault Aviation’s efforts to integrate AI into the Rafale cockpit as France advances development of the F5 standard. The Rafale fighter has been flight-tested with two…
Lockheed Martin Demonstrates Legion IRST Networking with Pod-to-Pod Data Link
The new capability allows two F-16s equipped with Legion sensor pods to share tracking data, improving track accuracy and enabling near-instantaneous passive ranging against multiple airborne targets. Lockheed Martin has…
First Production KF-21 Boramae Delivered to ROKAF
South Korea’s indigenous fighter program enters a new phase as the first serial production KF-21 joins the ROKAF. The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) received its first serial production…
NASA Chief Teases Mysterious Aircraft as Agency Plans New X-Planes
An unidentified aircraft resembling the SR-71 Blackbird appeared in Jared Isaacman’s All-In Summit presentation. Asked whether it was an SR-71, the NASA administrator cryptically replied: "You sure that's a Blackbird?". …
F-35 Spare Parts Diverted to Hong Kong, Prompting U.S. and Australian Investigations
F-35 fighter jet spare parts were reportedly diverted to Hong Kong from Australia, sparking inquiries on Capitol Hill and in the Australian Department of Defence over China’s possible access to…
U.S. Air Force F-16 Goes Down at Spangdahlem Air Base
A 52nd Fighter Wing (FW) pilot ejected and is receiving medical attention after an F-16 Fighting Falcon crashed at Spangdahlem Air Base, the second U.S. F-16 incident in a week. …
RAAF Declares Initial Operational Capability for MQ-4C Triton and MC-55A Peregrine
Australia's long-range ISR and airborne electronic warfare capabilities reached a major milestone as the MQ-4C Triton and the MC-55A Peregrine achieved IOC. The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has declared…
USAF Maintainers Restore Vital F-22, B-2 AMAD Testing Capability
After the only test stand capable of validating Aircraft Mounted Accessory Drives failed, maintainers overcame supply-chain challenges, fixed technical problems and cleared a major aircraft maintenance backlog. The 530th Commodities…
FQ-42 Vengeance CCA Flies Alongside F-35 Lightning II and F-15E Strike Eagle
One of the FQ-42 Collaborative Combat Aircraft deployed at Creech AFB has flown alongside an F-35A and F-15E in preparation for collaborative control operations with manned aircraft. General Atomics Aeronautical…
Davis-Monthan AFB Inactivates its Last A-10C Thunderbolt II Units
The 355th Operations Group, 357th Fighter Squadron, 357th Fighter Generation Squadron, and 355th Training Squadron were inactivated during a ceremony, marking the end of A-10 operations at Davis-Monthan. The U.S.…
Denmark Deploys F-35s to Greenland for the First Time
Two Royal Danish Air Force F-35A Lightning IIs landed at Kangerlussuaq Airport alongside U.S. F-16s and Canadian CF-18s as part of NATO’s Arctic Sentry initiative. For the first time, Royal…
F-22 Raptor Spotted Again With Stealth Pods and Unusually Colored Underside
New photos provide another look at an F-22A Raptor carrying the external sensor pods, while also revealing distinctive light-colored panels on the aircraft's underside. Newly emerged photos provide another look…
A-10 Thunderbolt II Flies Final Weapons School Training Sortie at Nellis AFB
The A-10C completed its final training sortie with the 66th Weapons Squadron at Nellis AFB, marking the end of the aircraft's operations with the U.S. Air Force Weapons School. The…
Treetop Thunderchiefs: How the F-105 Became a Low-Level Threat in Vietnam
Fast and agile at low altitudes, the F-105 gained new respect for the amount of punishment it could dish out as well as absorb. Designed as a Cold War fighter-bomber…
Finland’s F-35s Touch Down on Home Soil for the First Time
The first two F-35A Lightning IIs of the Finnish Air Force, which has signed on for 64 aircraft, arrived at the Lapland Air Wing. The Finnish Air Force’s (Ilmavoimat) first…
New Image of China’s J-XDS Stealth Jet Reveal Interesting Features
While the J-XDS was recently seen with a painted radome, an exhibition poster also appears to depict a laser-related system associated with China’s other next-generation aircraft, the J-36. New unofficial…
Finland Joins France’s Expanding Forward Deterrence Initiative
Finland has joined France’s Forward Deterrence initiative, a framework intended to deepen European cooperation on nuclear deterrence and strategic signalling. Announced on Sept. 14, 2026, in a joint Finnish and…
Italian Eurofighter Typhoon Struck In Houthi Attack On Saudi Air Base
The Italian MOD has just announced that an Italian Air Force Eurofighter was hit overnight at Al Taif Air Base in Saudi Arabia. An Italian Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon, deployed…
German Navy Eyes Joint Strike Missile for P-8A Poseidon
The integration would restore Germany’s naval aviation long-range anti-ship strike capability, lost when its Tornado aircraft were transferred to the Luftwaffe over 20 years ago. The German Navy is considering…
Lockheed Martin and Pentagon Agree Framework to Ramp Up AIM-260 JATM Production
The agreement lays the foundations for a future multi-year procurement of the secretive AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM), allowing Lockheed Martin and its suppliers to begin investing in an…
F-16 Crashes in Northern Michigan, Pilot in Stable Condition After Ejecting
An F-16 Fighting Falcon crashed near a residential area in Grand Traverse County, Michigan, with radio traffic indicating a possible bird strike. News reports indicate the pilot, from the Texas…
U.S. Approves F-35 Foreign Military Sale to Saudi Arabia
The U.S. Department of State has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Saudi Arabia of 48 F-35A Lightning II fighters, with an estimated cost of $24.3 billion. The U.S.…
Mojave STOL Drone Conducts First Battlefield Short-Field Operations in South Korea
The demonstration at a live-fire training range showcased the Mojave’s ability to operate from austere, short-field locations in simulated battlefield conditions. The Mojave Short Take-Off Landing (STOL) Unmanned Aerial System…
U.S. Air Force Considering Once Again Buying New F-16s
The U.S. Air Force is considering the acquisition of newly built F-16s, possibly an upgraded F-16G variant, to address the aging of the fleet.The U.S. Air Force is once again…
Lockheed Martin Introduces AGM-158 FLEX Modular Airframe for JASSM Family
The new AGM-158 FLEX architecture is designed to accommodate different sensor packages, airframe lengths and launch configurations while leveraging the existing JASSM/LRASM industrial base. Lockheed Martin has unveiled a new…
BAE Systems Launches Shadow EW Family of Compact Electronic Warfare Systems
The new low-cost, software-defined Shadow EW systems are designed to bring electronic warfare capabilities to small drones, munitions and other airborne platforms. BAE Systems has unveiled a new family of…
Mountain Home Strike Eagles Rotate Home from Middle East Sporting New Nose Art
After deploying in March 2026, twelve 'MO' F-15E Strike Eagles touched down at RAF Lakenheath on Sep. 16 as they head back to the U.S., notably featuring an inventive collection…
F135 Engine Core Upgrade Completes Risk Reduction Design Review
The review validates the maturity of the F135 Engine Core Upgrade, designed to support the additional power generation and thermal management needs of the future Block 4 upgrades. Engine maker…
U.S. Air Force Expanding C-40 VIP Fleet with Boeing 737 MAX
Aviation Week reports on a statement by an Air Mobility Command (AMC) spokesperson confirming the USAF's intent to procure the Boeing 737's MAX variant for the first time, becoming one of…
Rafael is Integrating SPICE 1000 on the Israeli F-35I Adir
Rafael and Lockheed Martin are integrating the Israeli SPICE 1000 stand-off weapon on the F-35, potentially opening the door for the munition to be offered to other Lightning II operators.…
Anduril’s YFQ-44A Fury Expands Its Weapons Options With Air-to-Ground Munitions
Anduril fit checked its YFQ-44A Fury CCA with various air-to-ground munitions, and conducted the first formation flights of the autonomous fighter drone alongside F-35s. Anduril’s YFQ-44A Fury is expanding its…
AGM-190 Havoc Spear Small Cruise Missile Undergoes New Trials
The AFSOC said the latest combat evaluation took place this spring within U.S. Africa Command’s area of responsibility, with the missile employed from an AFSOC platform in a “test configuration.”…
First Sentinel ICBM Fully Assembled for Planned 2027 Test Launch
An LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) has been vertically stacked at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, as preparations continue ahead of the missile's anticipated first test launch next year. …
JASDF RQ-4B Crashes in the Sea of Japan
One of Japan’s three RQ-4B Global Hawks crashed in the Sea of Japan off the coast of Tottori Prefecture. One of the Japan Air Self Defense Force’s (JASDF) three RQ-4B…
Boeing Awarded LRIP Contract for MQ-25 Stingray
The U.S. Navy has awarded Boeing a contract for the Lot 1 of the Low-Rate Initial Production of the MQ-25 Stingray unmanned tanker, which includes three aircraft. The U.S. Navy…
Lockheed Martin Expands Vectis Production With Four Additional Aircraft
Skunk Works is moving ahead with four additional Vectis vehicles as the company accelerates development of its Group 5 collaborative combat aircraft toward a planned first flight in 2027. Lockheed…
New DUDE 44 Rescue Footage Reveals More About Aircraft Used in Iran Operation
Newly declassified footage aired by '60 Minutes' offers a closer look at the complex rescue of the F-15E crew shot down over Iran, including the previously reported C-295W and a…
F-117 Nighthawk to Go On Display at Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
From October, visitors to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Washington Dulles Airport will be treated to the sight of a Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk,…
U.S. Air Force Names CCAs as FQ-42 “Vengeance” and FQ-44 “Fury”
Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink announced the popular names for the FQ-42 and FQ-44 Collaborative Combat Aircraft, which will be known as “Vengeance” and “Fury,” respectively. Secretary of…
New Details About DUDE 44 Shootdown Emerge in First Interview of WSO
For the first time, the Weapon Systems Officer of the F-15E Strike Eagle shot down in Iran appeared in public and shared his story. For the first time since the…
Australia Achieves Initial Operational Capability With LRASM and JASSM-ER Missiles
New official visuals show RAAF F/A-18F Super Hornets releasing AGM-158B JASSM-ERs and a P-8A Poseidon striking a target ship with an AGM-158C LRASM during live-fire tests in 2025 and 2026.…
Security Alert at RAF Fairford After Civilian Jet Mistakenly Lands at U.S. Bomber Base
An odd incident unfolded on Sep. 12, 2026 when Cessna 560XLS+ D-CJMK operated by VistaJet landed at the U.S.-operated RAF Fairford instead of Cotswold Airport (Kemble), just 11 miles to…
Turkey’s Akinci UCAV Fires UAV-300 Air-Launched Ballistic Missile for the First Time
The UAV-300 had also been carried by the Akinci during a recent UAV-122 firing test, foreshadowing its first live launch. Turkey’s Baykar Akinci Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) achieved a…
Lockheed Martin’s Latest Teaser Hints at Vectis Update
A shadowy aircraft in Lockheed Martin’s latest teaser appears consistent with published Vectis designs, hinting at a possible update on the Skunk Works Collaborative Combat Aircraft. Lockheed Martin is teasing…
Last AV-8B Harrier Built for USMC Retired as Museum Display
A Harrier from the VMA-223 “Bulldogs,” the last built for the USMC, was demilitarized and transported to the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola. Another event marked the bittersweet retirement…
“Nobody Else Was Flying”: An F-16 Pilot Recalls the Morning of 9/11
Michigan ANG pilot Tom Froling was airborne on a routine training mission when America came under attack. Hours later, his squadron was loading live missiles and ammunition for combat air…
Netherlands Chooses Saab GlobalEye for its First National AEW&C Capability
The Swedish and Dutch defense ministers signed a Letter of Intent for the GlobalEye AEW&C aircraft, with a formal contract yet to be signed. The Netherlands will acquire a Saab…
Iranian Missile Strike Damages U.S. Aircraft at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base
An A-10 Thunderbolt II reportedly lost a wing while around eight F-15s suffered lighter damage during an Iranian missile attack on the U.S. base in Jordan. Multiple U.S. military aircraft…
Oregon ANG’s F-15EXs Drop Live Bombs For The First Time
The Oregon ANG’s 142nd Wing deployed to Nellis AFB for three weeks in support of the U.S. Air Force’s Weapons Instructor Course (WIC), dropping live bombs from operational F-15EXs for…
Italy Orders Two More MQ-9A Block 5 Drones
The Italian Air Force has ordered two additional MQ-9A Block 5 Remotely Piloted Aircraft, which will be delivered by the end of 2027 together with new Ground Control Stations. General…
Germany’s First F-35 Has Flown
The German Air Force’s first F-35A Lightning II conducted its maiden flight from Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth facilities, ahead of the official rollout later this month. Germany’s F-35 Lightning II…
Russia Unveils Stealthy Munitions for the Su-57 at El Alamein Airshow
The new munitions blur the line between low-cost attack drones and cruise missiles, with some apparently derived from the S-71 family. At the El Alamein Airshow in Egypt, which kicked…
USAF Fighter Fleet Is Below Congressional Minimum
A new Congressional Research Service report highlights the growing gap between the U.S. Air Force's current fighter inventory, its legally mandated force structure, and the much larger planned fleet. The…
RNZAF NH90 Becomes First of Type to Clock 3,000 Flight Hours
The Royal New Zealand Air Force has achieved impressive availability rates with its NH90 fleet, and one of its helicopters has now become the first NH90 in the world to…
Aevum’s Sleek Space Launch Drone Turns Heads at Long Beach Airport
After years of little activity, the Ravn X rolled out of a hangar at Long Beach Airport for its very first autonomous taxi tests and caught the attention of local…
RAF Air Command Officially Renamed to Air & Space Command
From Sep. 1, the Royal Air Force's headquarters is now to be known as Air & Space Command, reflecting the still increasing importance of the space domain to national security…
First to Mach 2: A Look at the Douglas D-558 Skyrocket
Using both turbojet and rocket propulsion, the Douglas D-558 Skystreak and Skyrocket research aircraft set a series of speed and altitude milestones in the years after World War II, culminating…
Greek F-4 Phantom Crashes During Airshow Near Athens
An F-4AUP Phantom of the Hellenic Air Force crashed during a flying display part of Athens Flying Week. There are no signs of the pilots ejecting. On Sept. 5, 2026,…
Historic Bristol Freighter Restoration Achieves Major Milestone
Now back on its own wheels ready for the next phase of restoration, the Bristol Type 170 Freighter, built in Britain but now the only surviving example in the whole…
Eight VT ANG F-35A Jets Arrive at RAF Lakenheath on Their Way Back from Middle East Deployment
The first eight of a dozen Vermont Air National Guard F-35As are returning home from their combat deployment in the CENTCOM area of operations. Split into two flights, the first…
L3Harris Builds First Podded Viper Shield for the F-16
The company says the first pod was assembled using production systems, as Viper Shield orders grow to 233 units across eight allied nations. According to a statement released on Sept.…
USAF MH-139 Grey Wolf Reaches Initial Operational Capability
The IOC for the Grey Wolf comes as the U.S. prepares to transition to the Sentinel ICBM from the legacy Minuteman III, where the helicopter’s improved performance and mission systems…
The Sun Sets on Compass Call: The EC-130H Flies for the Final Time
The U.S. Air Force’s EC-130H has conducted its last ever flight, marking the end to an illustrious career spanning more than four decades. On September 2, 2026, EC-130H reg. 73-1590…
UK Minister Confirms Development of RAF Boom Refueling Capability
In a response to an MP's written question, Defence minister Luke Pollard said that the RAF's existing aerial refueling force will be complemented by the development of a boom refueling…
USS Abraham Lincoln Arrives in Thailand for First Full Port Stop Since November 2025
The carrier’s first full port stop of the deployment comes after 286 days at sea and nearly seven months of combat operations, with the ship visibly showing the effects of…
Russia Behind Drone Attack on Ukrainian An-124 at Leipzig Airport, German Government Claims
Explosive-laden drones, including one which hit, but failed to detonate, a Ukrainian Antonov transport aircraft at Leipzig Airport in early August have been publicly identified by German officials as part…
Japan’s Massive US-2 Amphibian Teams Up With USAF CV-22B During Rescue Flag 26-1
Held on Aug 26, Rescue Flag 26-1 brought together forces from the USAF, USMC, JMSDF, and JASDF for a comprehensive simulated casualty exercise. A USAF CV-22B Osprey joined a JMSDF…
H-60M Black Hawk Executes Rocket-Launch Of Anduril’s Altius-700 During Latest U.S. Army A-LE Test
During the recent Project Convergence Capstone 6, an H-60M Black Hawk crew employed an Altius-700 Air-Launched Effect to autonomously find the target, pass data across the formation, and strike. As…
Chinese YY-20A Tanker Refuels Egyptian Rafale During Eagles of Civilization 2026 Air Exercises
After refueling Egyptian MiG-29s during EoC 2025, the PLA Air Force’s YY-20A has now been photographed refueling an EAF Rafale during this year’s Eagles of Civilization exercise. A Chinese YY-20A…
Vance AFB Hosts T-1A Jayhawk Sunset Ceremony, 3rd FTS Inactivated
The final Jayhawk has departed Vance for Davis-Monthan, closing more than three decades of T-1A operations and bringing an end to the 3rd Flying Training Squadron's latest chapter. Monday, Aug.…
First Production-Representative Hürjet Jet Trainer Makes Maiden Flight
The first Hürjet jet trainer destined to the Turkish Air Force, part of a first batch of 12 aircraft, flew for the first time on Aug. 30, 2026. The first…
Japan Reportedly Planning Air to Air Variant of ASM-3 Anti-Ship Missile
A new budget document released by the Japanese Ministry of Defense includes a reference to the ASM-3 as both an anti-ship and an anti-air missile, hinting at an additional role…
Uzbekistan Unveils its Chinese J-10CE Fighters
Weeks after the first photographs emerged, Uzbek J-10CE fighters have now been officially shown on national television. Uzbekistan’s acquisition of the Chinese J-10CE fighter jets was finally confirmed on Aug.…
South Korea Launches Next Generation Fighter Program
The South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has sought detailed industry proposals for a sixth generation jet. South Korea set the ball rolling for its future next-generation jet, with…
Gripen F Flies for the First Time
The Gripen F, the twin-seater variant of the Gripen E, conducted its first flight from Saab’s airfield in Linköping. Saab has announced the successful first flight of the Gripen F,…
Sweden to Begin Phasing Out NH90 TTH Helicopters by 2027 – Reports
The reported phase out follows years of availability and maintainability problems with Sweden’s NH90 fleet and a decision to expand its UH-60M Black Hawk fleet. Less than a decade after…
Chinese J-16s Train Against Egyptian Rafales During Eagles of Civilization 2026
The exercise marks the first deployment of Chinese J-16 fighters to Africa and sees them training against Egyptian Rafales and MiG-29M2s. Building on the 2025 edition of the Egyptian-Chinese Eagles…
160th SOAR MH-60 Black Hawk Crashes in Colorado, Crew Safe
An MH-60 Black Hawk of the U.S. Army’s 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment crashed in a wooded area in Colorado, and the crew was able to escape without injuries. A…
CIA Director Rides Unmarked USAF C-17 to Moscow
A U.S. Air Force C-17 was noted making an unusual journey into Russian airspace on Aug. 25, 2026 shortly before U.S. media outlets broke the story that CIA Director John…
Ukraine Receives Storm Shadow Production License from UK in Exchange for Avenger AI Data
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham cleared MBDA to release classified technical data to Ukraine on UK components used in the Storm Shadow in exchange for access to Avengers AI Labs.…
Photo-Recon in Pink: The Story of the Colorful PRU Spitfires
In an obscure and perhaps less glorious role, Britain’s well-known World War 2 fighter excelled at important photo-reconnaissance missions while donning some unusual paint schemes. Sometime in 1939, a Royal…
Fifty Years of the MB-339, the Iconic Italian Jet Trainer
The MB-339, one of the most recognizable symbols of Italian aviation, celebrated the 50th anniversary of the first flight. The Italian-made MB-339 jet trainer turned 50 on Aug. 12, 2026.…
Cobra 600 Air Defense Drone Completes First Flight
Unveiled at the recent ILA Berlin air show, the Cobra 600 is a jet-powered uncrewed aircraft developed by Polaris to carry and launch a Diehl Defense IRIS-T air-to-air missile. The…
Argentina Abandons Efforts to Return Super Étendard Fighters to Service
The decision comes as Argentina restructures its Naval Aviation fleet, retires legacy aircraft and introduces new capabilities. After nearly forty years of service, including combat operations during the 1982 Falklands…
Norway Approved for 21 UH-60M Black Hawks After Reversing Plans for HH-60W
The U.S. has approved a possible foreign military sale (FMS) of up to 21 UH-60M Black Hawks to Norway plus spares and associated equipment for $2.3 billion. Just months after…
U.S. Navy Reveals AIM-424 “Malice” Long-Range Air-to-Air Missile
The U.S. Navy has publicly revealed a previously little-known next-generation air-to-air missile: the AIM-424 LRAAM (Long-Range Air-to-Air Missile), officially named “Malice.” The new missile was announced at the Tailhook Symposium…
Saab Unveils A3-001 Collaborative Combat Aircraft Concept
Saab plans to fly the first A3-001 demonstrator within 18 months, with three prototypes planned as the design evolves. Swedish defense company Saab unveiled on Aug. 21, 2026 a full-scale…
China’s Y-15 Turboprop Tactical Cargo Aircraft Emerges in Clearest Images Yet
New details emerged in the recent photos of the Shaanxi Y-15, initially known as Y-30, which is believed to be China’s future tactical transport aircraft. China’s new Y-15 four-engine turboprop…
U.S. Approves Air-to-Air APKWS Sale to Italy
The U.S. State Department approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Italy of the air-to-air variant of the APKWS-II, which would include over 5,000 guided rockets. The U.S. Defense Security…
Swedish Gripen Launches Taurus KEPD 350 Cruise Missile for the First Time
A Swedish Air Force JAS 39 Gripen C launched for the first time a Taurus KEPD 350 cruise missile over the Vidsel Test Range. The Swedish Air Force released a…
New White House Helipad Shown Off to Reporters Ahead of Completion
President Trump toured the ornate, granite helipad under construction on the White House South Lawn with reporters, adding his signature to a piece of the stonework that could see use…
F-15EXs Are Headed to Seymour Johnson AFB
The Secretary of the U.S. Air Force confirmed that Seymour Johnson AFB is the planned recipient of the F-15EX Eagle II aircraft included in the proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget.…
Japan Intercepts Chinese TB-001 ‘Twin-Tailed Scorpion’ Drone Over East China Sea
The TB-001 was intercepted alongside a Y-9Z electronic warfare aircraft as Chinese and Russian aircraft continue to operate in Japan’s Air Defense Identification Zone. Japan has said China’s Tengden TB-001…
Block II Upgrades for E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Clear Critical Design Review
The Block II’s open architecture for the E-2D’s mission systems, computers and displays enhance cockpit functionality, support future upgrades and improve sensor fusion. The U.S. Navy’s E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Airborne…
JASDF F-15’s Landing Gear Collapses on Landing at Naha Airport
The main landing gear of a JASDF F-15 collapsed during landing, causing the aircraft to slide on the runway and turn 180 degrees as it slowed down. An F-15 of…
RTX Receives $22 Billion Contract to Accelerate Tomahawk Production
The award follows other investments in munitions production capacity aimed at reducing delivery times, strengthening supply chains and supporting U.S. and allied demand. Raytheon, an RTX business, has received a…
NASA’s New ‘Vomit Comet’ Has a Secretive Air Force Past
The Boeing 737-700, formerly operated as N712JM, spent years as a secretive U.S. Air Force flying testbed, and is now becoming NASA’s new reduced-gravity research aircraft with the registration N837NA.…
GE’s T901 Engine Clears Preliminary Flight Rating for UH-60 Black Hawk
The next-generation T901, developed as part of the ITEP program, cleared the Preliminary Flight Rating and will now proceed toward full airworthiness qualification testing. The T901 engine developed by GE…
Kadena’s First F-15EX Breaks Cover
The first F-15EX Eagle II destined to Kadena Air Base in Japan broke cover, flying with the “ZZ” tail flash and the markings of the 18th Wing. The first F-15EX…
Iconic Shuttleworth DH.88 Comet Racer Damaged After Landing Incident
The only airworthy example of an original de Havilland DH.88 Comet nosed-over while landing following a display at Shuttleworth's Flying Proms. The pilot was quickly extracted, and has since been…
CENTCOM Launches Multinational Attack Drone Task Force ‘Falcon Strike’
Task Force Falcon Strike will bring together U.S. and regional forces operating one-way attack drones in the air, on the surface and underwater. The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) is taking…
Chinese National Sentenced to Six Months After Unlawfully Photographing Whiteman AFB
Authorities said Wu's repeated photography of Whiteman AFB's infrastructure, including after a warning, distinguished the case from ordinary aircraft photography. Qilin Wu, the Chinese national who in January was charged…
U.S. Army Selects M1 for Flight School Next Program
The U.S. Army M1 Support Services to train new pilots as part of the Flight School Next program, with the Robinson R66 helicopter replacing the UH-72 Lakota. The U.S. Army…
Italian Typhoon Shoots Down Drone Over Latvia
An Italian F-2000 Typhoon assigned to the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission shot down an unidentified drone which entered Latvia’s airspace. An F-2000A Typhoon (as the single seater Typhoons are…
U.S. Army AH-64E Apache Crashes in Texas, Both Crew Members Killed
A U.S. Army AH-64E Apache crashed in Salado, Texas, leaving no survivors and sparking a 100 acres grass fire. A U.S. Army AH-64E attack helicopter crashed at about 1:30 pm…
The Future USS John F. Kennedy Begins Acceptance Trials Ahead of Delivery
The John F. Kennedy, the second Gerald R. Ford class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, left Newport News on Aug. 12 to commence acceptance trials before its handover to the U.S. Navy. …
Mi-24 Hind Plays ‘Adversary’ in U.S. Marine Corps Exercise
Since 2020, two Mi-24D Hind helicopter gunships have provided invaluable threat replication to the U.S. Marine Corps, Army and Air Force. The participation of a Russian-made Mi-24D Hind attack helicopter…
BRRRRT Act’s Text Reveals New Details About Plan to Save the A-10s
New details in the BRRRRT Act’s full text reveal plans to keep selected Warthogs recoverable, examine potential foreign transfers and test emerging autonomous systems. Weeks after it was first introduced…
Ukrainian MiG-29 Crashes After Air to Air Missile Misfire
A Ukrainian Air Force pilot was forced to eject from a MiG-29 after an air to air missile malfunction caused the aircraft to catch fire in midair. While flying a…
Trump Secretly Took C-32A Home from NATO Summit in an Elaborate Decoy Operation
After President Trump boarded the legacy VC-25A - instead of the VC-25B Bridge - for his flight home from Ankara he was secretly transferred inside a catering truck to a…
NASA WB-57 Heads to Iceland to Observe Solar Eclipse
A NASA WB-57F Canberra arrived in Iceland, from where it will depart on Aug. 12 to fly in the path of the solar eclipse. A NASA WB-57F Canberra arrived at…
Damaged USAF C-17 Flies Again After First-of-its-Kind Repair
A C-17 of the 445th Airlift Wing extensively damaged in March 2025 was repaired by using new technologies of the Rapid Sustainment Office, after no vendors were able to provide…
UK Releases RFI for New Jet Trainer and Red Arrows Aircraft
A request for information (RFI) has been released to gather industry responses ahead of the replacement of the Hawk T1 and Hawk T2 in Royal Air Force service. With the…
Engineering the Future Force: Exclusive Interview with the Secretary of the U.S. Air Force
In an exclusive interview at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026, the Secretary of the Air Force discusses modernization, readiness, pilot training, artificial intelligence, Space Force growth, recruiting, and the future of…
Iran Shows Off Wreckage of U.S. Aircraft Lost During Operation Epic Fury
Iranian state media has released images of a display of aircraft wreckage from the U.S.-Iran war, including remnants of DUDE 44, an F-15E Strike Eagle which can now be confirmed…
GBU-75 JDAM Long Range Cleared for Production
The U.S. Air Force awarded Boeing a procurement contract for GBU-75 JDAM Long Range kits, clearing the initial production for the U.S. Navy. Boeing has announced that it has been…
China Shows H-6 Bomber Carrying Nuclear-Capable JL-1 ALBM
China released images of the H-6 bomber carrying the JL-1 air-launched ballistic missile as part of promotional features marking the 99th anniversary of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). China released…
Virginia Class Submarines with New Payload Module to Receive SSGN Designation
Beginning with the USS Arizona, 19 new boats in the U.S. Navy's Virginia class of nuclear powered attack submarines will officially be referred to as SSGNs to reflect the boost…
USMC VMFA-115 Sets Stage for Reactivation with First F-35C Flight
After being disbanded in November 2023 following the last flight with legacy F/A-18C/D Hornets, VMFA-115 is preparing for the reactivation later this year as an F-35C squadron. The U.S. Marine…
Exclusive: The USAF T-1A Jayhawk Poses For Its Final Air-to-Air Photo Shoot
Ahead of the type’s planned retirement from Vance AFB, T-1A 93-0654 took to the skies over Oklahoma for one last aerial photography mission with The Aviationist contributor Greg “Cactus” Davis.…
X-62 VISTA Conducts AI-Controlled Intercepts with IRST Pod
AI agents, using data from a Legion Infrared Search and Track pod, controlled the X-62 VISTA and executed 27 autonomous intercepts of airborne targets throughout eight flights. The U.S. Air…
A-10 Flies Armed Airborne Escort in Exercise with a Ballistic Missile Submarine
The Ohio class ballistic missile submarine USS Nebraska (SSBN 739) received an airborne escort while surfaced in the Pacific Ocean, exercising with a U.S. Air Force A-10C Thunderbolt II. As…
Bent Wing Beauty: How the F4U Corsair got its Distinctive Look
Despite the ability to create a more streamlined and aerodynamic design with inline engines, the U.S. Navy stayed with the radial engine design, asking Pratt & Whitney to develop the…
KC-135 Damaged In Fatal Mid Air Collision Transits Home with Donor Tail
The surviving KC-135R Stratotanker from the incident over Iraq in March which saw another Stratotanker lost with six fatalities has been repaired with a replacement vertical stabilizer taken from another…
France Receives First NH90 Special Operations Helicopter
Airbus delivered to the French military the first NH90 Caïman Standard 2, a specifically modified variant of the helicopter for special operations. France received its first NH90 Standard 2 helicopter,…
Second Prototype of Turkey’s Kaan Begins Taxi Trials
The Kaan’s second prototype is undergoing taxi testing, with Turkish officials indicating that the aircraft may begin flight testing before the end of 2026. One of the two new prototypes…
U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Crashes at MCAS Miramar
The U.S. Marine Corps has confirmed an 'aircraft mishap' occurred at MCAS Miramar on Jul. 31 after footage appeared on social media showing an F-35B Lightning II off the runway…
Japanese Warship Launches First Ever Tomahawk Missile
JS Chōkai, a Kōngo class destroyer, is the first Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ship to be equipped with the BGM-109 Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM). Though an extensive operator of…
First UK Built Britten-Norman Islander in Nearly 60 Years Rolls Off Production Line
After decades of using overseas production lines in Romania, Britten-Norman has resumed manufacturing of the STOL stalwart Islander aircraft at its historic UK home of Bembridge on the Isle of…
Italy Quietly Deployed Eurofighters, SAMP/T And Counter-Drone Systems To Defend Gulf Allies
Eurofighters, an E-550A CAEW, radars and counter-drone systems are officially confirmed, while reports indicate that SAMP/T and Skynex batteries are also part of a force of at least 700 personnel.…
Kizilelma UCAV Drops Munitions from Internal Bays for the First Time
After initially testing weapon release from underwing pylons, the Kizilelma UCAV now progressed to the employment of munitions from the internal weapon bays. Turkey’s Baykar Kizilelma fighter-drone used its internal…
Sikorsky Details Armed Black Hawk and U-Hawk Plans, Including Optional Piloting and Export Interest
Sikorsky details plans to bring optional piloting into production, expand the Black Hawk’s payload and range, and offer armed configurations to both existing and new-build aircraft. During the recent Farnborough…
Singapore in “Exploratory” Talks on Possible GCAP Involvement
The Republic of Singapore has expressed its first interest in joining a 6th Generation fighter programme only a week after Canada joined GCAP as an observer. As reported by Janes…
A-10 Thunderbolt II Takes Final Flight at Davis-Monthan AFB
The U.S. Air Force’s 355th Wing conducted the final flight with the A-10C Thunderbolt II at Davis-Monthan AFB, as the service ends A-10 operations at the installation. The A-10C Thunderbolt…
U.S. Marine Corps Receives its Last MV-22 Osprey
The USMC received the last of its 359 MV-22B tilt-rotor aircraft, which will remain the mainstay of the Marine Air Ground Task Force (MAGTF) aerial logistics until 2055. The U.S.…
The Aviationist’s Highlights from Farnborough International Airshow 2026
As Farnborough International Airshow has come to a close, The Aviationist brings you some of the highlights, from the unveiling of BAE System’s Brontanax to the USAF F-35A that interrupted…
Japan Begins Captive-Carry Flight Tests Of Air-Launched Type 25 Anti-Ship Missile
Photographs from Gifu Air Base show F-2B prototype 63-8101 carrying the new Air-Launched Type 25 anti-ship missile during the programme's first publicly observed captive-carry flight tests. Japan has taken another…
C-2 Greyhound Flies for the Last Time
The U.S. Navy’s C-2A Greyhound conducted its last ever flight, landing at Naval Air Station Pensacola to be inducted into the National Naval Aviation Museum. Following the final flight operations…
FQ-42A and FQ-44A CCAs Are in Serial Production
A month after contracts were awarded, GA-ASI and Anduril announced that their CCAs are already in production. The U.S. Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program took a major leap…
U.S. Air Force Conducts ACE Exercise with CCAs at Creech AFB
The CCA Experimental Operations Unit tested the uncrewed aircraft in Agile Combat Employment scenarios in a realistic operational environment at Creech AFB. The U.S. Air Force is continuing testing with…
End of an Era: JASDF Dismantles C-1 Prototype 002
The JASDF dismantled the C-1 transport aircraft’s second prototype and last flying airframe, still adorned in a commemorative Phoenix livery, at Iruma Air Base. The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF)…
Airbus A400M Debuts Firefighting Mission as Wildfires Blaze Through France and Spain
France has deployed the newly-developed firefighting kit aboard the A400M to support the assets suppressing the fires in the country’s southwest. The Airbus A400M conducted its first firefighting operation when…
Leonardo’s Future Plans and Prospects for Merlin and Wildcat
Just weeks after the shock news that the Wildcat AH1 would be withdrawn from service, Leonardo spoke at Farnborough International Airshow about its belief in the future of both the…
IAI Unveils Ellyon Electronic Warfare and ISTAR Aircraft
The new Ellyon multi-mission platform integrates multiple payloads for Electronic Warfare, SIGINT and ISTAR roles. Israel’s state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has unveiled a new airborne platform offering combined Electronic…
Lockheed Martin’s Ethos for Seamless, Cross-Platform Autonomy in Future Battlespaces
The Aviationist sat down with representatives from Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works and Sikorsky divisions to discuss and understand the firm's ambitions for the future of autonomous military capabilities. Lockheed Martin…
14 Year Old Boy Linked to Hoax Phone Call Causing QRA Intercept of Qatari Airliner
Greater Manchester Police are investigating a hoax bomb threat made against a Qatar Airways Boeing 777, which led to an emergency response by Royal Air Force Quick Reaction Alert (QRA)…
Russia Shows Su-34s Carrying Four Jet-Capable UMPK Glide Bombs
The new UMPK kit, strapped on to a FAB-500T bomb, has an elongated body with improved aerodynamics and space for a small turbojet motor. Russia’s Su-34 Fullback fighter-bombers are now…
Leonardo Proteus Development Contract Extended
Leonardo confirmed at Farnborough International Airshow that funding for the Proteus uncrewed helicopter demonstrator had been renewed to carry over through to mid 2027. Speaking to the press during a…
Italian Air Force Backs Jet Ab Initio Training as Essential for Next-Generation Fighter Pilots
The service says its M-345 offers capabilities turboprops cannot match and has already employed the trainer to emulate cruise missiles in an aggressor role during a NATO exercise. Having recently…
‘BRRRRT Act’ Introduced in U.S. Congress to Keep the A-10 Warthog in Service
A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers has introduced legislation aimed at halting the retirement of the A-10 Thunderbolt II until a fully certified replacement is operational. Rep. Abe Hamadeh (R-Ariz.)…
Sikorsky Completes Initial Flight Testing of Nomad 100 UAS
Sikorsky has completed the initial ground and flight testing of the Nomad 100 rotor blown wing VTOL drone as part of DARPA’s EVADE program. Sikorsky has completed initial ground and…
Claims Swirl Around Possible Su-57 Crash near Moscow
A military aircraft crashed in Moscow’s suburbs, with unconfirmed reports identifying it as an Su-57 Felon. A military aircraft crashed near Moscow, in Russia, on Jul. 23, 2026. Russian press…
Ukrainian F-16 Shot Down Russian Fighter for the First Time
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine told U.S. lawmakers that a Ukrainian F-16 shot down a Russian fighter in early July. A Ukrainian Air Force (UkrAF)…
First Polish F-35 Built at Cameri’s FACO has Flown
The first Polish F-35 to be built at Cameri’s Final Assembly Check Out facility in Italy has conducted its first functional test flight. The first Polish Air Force F-35A Husarz (as…
GA-ASI and MBDA Partner to Integrate SPEAR on MQ-9B and Gambit 6
GA-ASI and MBDA announced a cooperations which will allow the integration of the SPEAR munitions on the MQ-9B and Gambit 6 uncrewed platforms. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) and MBDA…
BAE Systems Unveils Brontanax, UK’s First Collaborative Combat Aircraft
BAE Systems has already built a prototype for the Brontanax CCA, which is set to fly alongside a Typhoon by the end of 2027. BAE Systems has unveiled during the…
New RAF H-47ER Chinooks Revealed Sporting 160th SOAR Style Black Paint Scheme
Images released by Boeing of the Royal Air Force’s next batch of Chinook helicopters confirm long-standing reports of their similarity to the U.S. MH-47G variant. The new-build Chinooks will supplant…
Embraer and Anduril Team Up for Palletized Launch of Barracuda-500M from C-390 Millenium
Embraer and Anduril signed a Memorandum of Understanding to integrate the Barracuda-500M on the C-390, adding the capability to conduct palletized launches of kinetic effects. Embraer announced on Jul. 21,…
Leonardo Secures Indonesian M-346F Deal, Advances AW149 Talks and Eyes Ukrainian Drone Cooperation
Leonardo will provide Indonesia with 12 M-346F Block 20 light fighter aircraft and negotiate a contract for AW149 helicopter, while looking at a potential cooperation with the Ukrainian drone industry.…
Canada Officially Joins GCAP as Observer
Italy, Japan and the UK welcomed Canada’s participation as an Observer in the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), marking the first expansion of the trilateral initiative. After reports in the last…
Boeing Announces Leonardo as New MQ-28 Ghost Bat Partner
Boeing has delivered a briefing update on its MQ-28 Ghost Bat collaborative combat aircraft (CCA), currently on display at Farnborough International Airshow, confirming the addition of Leonardo as an official…
Trump Says VC-25B Bridge Aircraft will be “Maxed Out” With New Upgrades
The U.S. President said to reporters that the new VC-25B Bridge aircraft will soon undergo additional modifications to introduce new capabilities. U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the VC-25B Bridge…
F-16’s AVEN Thrust Vectoring Nozzle Integrated with X-BAT’s F110-GE-129 Engine
In a critical milestone towards the first flight later this year, Shield AI and GE Aerospace integrated the X-BAT with the AVEN thrust vectoring system which was tested in the…
Raytheon UK Unveils Red Kite, a New Sovereign Precision Weapon Designed to Boost RAF Stockpiles
Raytheon UK has introduced the new Red Kite munition, described as the company’s first sovereign precision weapon fully designed and digitally engineered in the United Kingdom. Raytheon UK has unveiled,…
Protector RG1 Completes UK Weapons Qualification Testing
GA-ASI announced that qualification testing for the MQ-9B, to carry the Paveway IV guided bomb and Brimstone 3 missile was completed on Jun. 18, 2026, though notably Paveway IV has…
GA-ASI Completes Preliminary Technical Review for Joint Strike Missile on MQ-9B
GA-ASI and Kongsberg took another step towards the integration of the Joint Strike Missile on the MQ-9B family of Remotely Piloted Aircraft, which would give it a standoff strike capability.…
Leonardo and Baykar Share Details of K-SWARM Test with M-346F and Kizilelma UCAV
Following the recent tests, Leonardo and Baykar shared more details about the Crewed/UnCrewed Teaming (CUC-T) that saw the M-346F light fighter aircraft take control of the Kizilema UCAV. In a…
BAE Systems’ FalconWorks and Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works Unveil Blizzard Modular, Multi-Mission UAS
The secretive FalconWorks and Skunk Works are working together to develop the new Blizzard modular, multi-mission uncrewed air system, offering multiple launch options and payloads. BAE Systems and Lockheed Martin…
Anduril Reveals Thunder Autonomous Tiltrotor Concept
Anduril began their 2026 showing at Farnborough International Airshow strong with the unveiling of Thunder, an autonomous tiltrotor designed for modular payloads. The impressive looking aircraft, represented at the airshow…
French Rafales and German Eurofighters Conduct First Joint ‘Forward Deterrence’ Drill
France and Germany conducted their first joint air activity as part of the forward deterrence initiative, a day before announcing new programs as part of an increased defense cooperation. Two…
Two U.S. Service Members Killed, One Missing in Iranian Attack on Jordanian Base
Iran conducted a retaliatory attack with ballistic missiles and drones against Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, with two U.S. service members killed and one more still missing. In a…
Japan’s XEC-2 Stand-Off Jammer Aircraft Begins Operational Flight Testing
The new XEC-2 SOJ, which first flew in March 2026, has now started operational flight testing with the JASDF’s Air Development and Test Wing (ADTW) at Gifu Air Base. The…
Blackbird Beginnings: The A-12 Oxcart Story
The well-known SR-71 owes its roots to a more obscure predecessor, the A-12 developed by the famous Lockheed ‘Skunk Works’ as a successor for the U-2. When Francis Gary Powers…
Germany’s First Tranche 4 Eurofighter Makes Maiden Flight
Airbus announced the maiden flight of the first Eurofighter acquired by the German Air Force under Project Quadriga, which will procure 38 Tranche 4 jets to replace the oldest aircraft…
DARPA and USAF Fly F-16 with VENOM Autonomy Modification
The DARPA and U.S. Air Force are conducting human-on-the-loop in-air testing of AI-capable F-16s modified with the VENOM Autonomy Kit as part of DARPA’s Artificial Intelligence Reinforcements program. Two years…
RAF ‘Looking At’ Requirement for Boom-Equipped Tankers
A Royal Air Force official at the Global Air and Space Chiefs' Conference 2026 has confirmed that the planned GCAP fighter will be designed for boom refueling, meaning it will…
First Customer Lined Up for Proposed Next Generation Catalina Flying Boat
A plan for a modernised, turboprop-powered version of the iconic Catalina is one step closer to becoming realised with a Hong Kong operator signing a letter of intent covering the…
South Korean F-15K Slam Eagle Will Get EPAWSS Electronic Warfare System
BAE Systems received a contract to deliver the AN/ALQ-250 EPAWSS to upgrade the Republic of Korea Air Force’s F-15K Slam Eagle fighter jets. BAE System announced that it has received…
YFQ-44A CCA Fires AIM-120 AMRAAM for the First Time
The U.S. Air Force started live-fire testing with the YFQ-44A Collaborative Combat Aircraft, firing an AIM-120 AMRAAM missile over the Mojave Desert. The U.S. Air Force has announced the beginning…
U.S. Air Force Confirms Two-Pilot Crew For B-21 Raider
The U.S. Air Force confirmed that the B-21 will be flown by two pilots, launching a transition program for Weapons System Officers and Combat Systems Officers who will be chosen…
Ukraine to Receive 16 Rafales and License for SCALP and Aster-30 Production
Ukraine will procure 16 Rafales and receive the license to manufacture SCALP and Aster-30 missiles, whilst two SAMP/T batteries will be immediately delivered. Ukraine will receive four Rafale aircraft as…
Langley F-22s Return Home from Operation Epic Fury Deployment
Deployed to Israel since February, F-22 Raptors from the 1st Fighter Wing at Langley AFB transited towards home with an unusual stopover at RAF Fairford over the weekend. Twelve 1st…
France Clears Rafale to Use 68 mm Rockets Against Drones
France has cleared the Rafale for the use of 68 mm laser guided rockets in the Counter-UAS role, following trials launched in February 2026. France has approved the use of…
U.S. Employs Armed Surface Drones In Combat For The First Time During Strikes On Iranian Naval Base
The attack on Bandar Abbas marked the first confirmed combat use of U.S. unmanned surface vessels (USVs), with three Saronic Corsair drone boats striking a submarine and ship maintenance facility.…
U.S. Navy’s MQ-25A Stingray Unmanned Tanker Completes Second Test Flight
The MQ-25 Stingray resumed testing with its second flight, in anticipation of the expansion of the flight envelope and validation of the autonomous flight control code ahead of carrier operations.…
Italy Leads NATO’s First Fully Multi-Domain Task Force X for the Integration of Autonomous Systems
In one of NATO’s most ambitious experimentation campaigns, Task Force X – Central Mediterranean tested the integration of uncrewed capabilities across the five operational domains. From Jun. 22 to Jul.…
