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…
Two Dozen F-22 Raptors Take Part In ‘Elephant Walk’ At Langley AFB
The Elephant Walk featured 24 F-22s and six T-38s of the 1st Fighter Wing. Aircraft belonging to the 1st Fighter Wing took part in a surge exercise at Langley Air…
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”…
USAF Puts MH-139A Grey Wolf Through Nuclear Missile Base Guarding Drills in Initial Operational Tests
The rigorous testing and evaluation process saw the MH-139A helicopters responding to a simulated threat with a full tactical response force loadout and onboard weapons. The U.S. Air Force’s MH-139A…
‘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…
U.S. Approves Massive $7 Billion Arms Sale to Israel
Israel got the go-ahead to buy, among the others, over 2,100 GBU-39 SDBs and 3,000 AGM-114 Hellfire missiles. The U.S. State Department has given the green light for two massive…
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…
First German Navy P-8A Poseidon Unveiled
The first German P-8A Poseidon has received the complete German Navy livery and is expected to be delivered by August 2025, starting the replacement of the older P-3C Orion Maritime…
First MEWSIC Next Generation Electronic Warfare System for Royal Navy Ships Delivered
The Maritime Electronic Warfare System Integrated Capability (MEWSIC) will be integrated onto Type 26 and Type 31 frigates, Type 45 destroyers, and the two Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers. Maritime…
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.’…
Iran’s Infamous F-313 ‘Stealth Jet’ Makes a Comeback As a Naval Drone
The questionable F-313 Qaher, presented in 2013 as "Iran's first stealth jet", reappears in drone form. On Feb. 1, 2013, Iran unveiled its so-called indigenous fighter jet, the Qaher 313. The…
Airbus Commences A321 Maritime Patrol ‘Flying Frigate’ Study for French Navy
After many years of special mission A320 proposals, a contract has been signed between Airbus and the French Defense Procurement Agency to assess an A321 based MPA to replace the…
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…
Thunder in the Heavens: A Brief History of the Aircraft of the USAF Thunderbirds
Entertaining crowds since 1953, the United States Air Force Thunderbirds are one of the world’s best known aerial demonstrations teams, dazzling spectators in their familiar red, white, and blue aircraft.…
Philippines FA-50s and U.S. B-1B Lancers Fly in Joint Air Patrol over West Philippine Sea
U.S. and Philippines aircraft have been involved in a series of bilateral exercises, which this time saw FA-50 light fighters and B-1B bombers flying over the disputed Scarborough Shoal/Bajo de…
JASDF Reveals Stunning Kawasaki C-1 Commemorative Livery as the Type Nears Retirement
The JASDF, historically famous for the stunning liveries of its aircraft, has revealed a brand-new paintjob for the Kawasaki C-1 as it gets closer to retirement, scheduled for the end…
U.S. Air Force Expands Work on Sixth-Generation Fighter Engines
The USAF increased the funding for the development of advanced engines earmarked for sixth-generation fighters, with new contracts awarded to both General Electric Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney as part…
Viper Shield EW Suite Flies on F-16 for the First Time
The first flight of the new AN/ALQ-254(V)1 Viper All-Digital Shield Electronic Warfare suite was performed on an F-16C Block 70 of the Royal Bahraini Air Force at Edwards Air Force…
Lockheed Martin Delivers Bulgaria its First F-16 Block 70
The first two F-16 Block 70s now officially delivered are expected to arrive in Bulgaria between late March to early April 2025. The delivery of the first batch will be…
‘Franken-Lightning’ Built From Two Damaged F-35s Returns to Operational Fleet
After a lengthy restoration started with a feasibility study in 2020, the F-35 AF-5269 was sent to Lockheed Martin for final certifications before returning operational with the 4th Fighter Squadron…
U.S. F-16 Fighters Shot Down Drones with Laser-Guided Rockets in Combat
The U.S. Air Force confirmed that F-16 fightes used Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System 70mm guided rockets in the air-to-air role in combat to shoot down Houthi drones. The U.S.…
Ukraine Is Now Using New 1,000 lb JDAM-ER Bombs
Ukraine employed since 2023 the 500 lb JDAM-ER, whose existence was well documented, while the new 1,000 lb bomb might have been specifically produced for the Ukrainian Air Force.Two years…
Moroccan AH-64E Apache Guardians’ Delivery is Reportedly Imminent
Three AH-64Es in the Royal Moroccan Air Force’s livery were spotted flying in the United States as Morocco prepares for the delivery of the type, which would be the country’s…
U.S. Approves Standard Missile-6 Sale for Japan’s Aegis Destroyers
While Japan is in the process of massively up-gunning itself with other U.S. weapons, the SM-6 represents a specific strategic capability against ballistic missile threats. The U.S. State Department has…
XQ-67 Will Get New Capabilities with Demon Ape Program
With Demon Ape, General Atomics’ XQ-67A drone will leverage its modular architecture to provide testing for the U.S. Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft program. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has been…
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…
Northrop Grumman Receives Second B-21 Raider LRIP Contract
Details about the new B-21 Low-Rate Initial Production contract have not been released, however Northrop Grumman said it had preliminary talks with the U.S. Air Force regarding a possible increase…
Sikorsky Conducts First Ground Test of GE’s T901 Engines on UH-60 Black Hawk
The GE T901 engine was developed as part of the Improved Turbine Engine Program to replace the T700 engines used by U.S. Army’s UH-60s and the AH-64s, and was also…
Leonardo’s C-27J Firefighter, A Multi-Mission Aircraft Which Can Complement Canadairs
Equipped with the MAFFS II system, Leonardo’s C-27J Spartan NG emerges as a versatile multi-mission platform which can deliver precision water/fire retardant drops while complementing the trusted Canadair CL-415. In…
U.S. Air Force Deploys F-16 Jets to Greenland In Arctic Readiness Exercise
NORAD sent two F-16s from Alaska to Greenland to reinforce posture in the Arctic. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said President Donald Trump's interest in buying Greenland is "not…
Retired Israeli Patriot Missile Stocks Transferred to Ukraine
Around 90 MIM-104E PAC-2 Patriot missiles are included in a U.S.-facilitated transfer approved in September 2024, according to media reports published on Jan. 28, 2025. Axios reporter Barak Ravid revealed…
Everything We Know about the Airliner and Black Hawk who Collided On Approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
Multiple fatalities have been reported after a horrific incident involving American Airlines flight 5342 and a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter over Washington D.C., with first responders still at…
Royal Air Force Reconnaissance Aircraft Deploy for Baltic Surveillance Mission
The RAF is providing RC-135 Rivet Joint and P-8 Poseidon MRA1 aircraft from the Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) Force to assist NATO operation Baltic Sentry. On Jan.…
U.S. Navy Will Fly MQ-25 Stingray in 2025, Integrate it on Aircraft Carriers in 2026
Vice Adm. Daniel Cheever, commander of Naval Air Forces, is confident the Navy will fly its MQ-25s this year and integrate them aboard aircraft carriers as part of manned-unmanned teaming…
Video Shows F-35A Crashing In Alaska
The F-35A crashed at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. The pilot successfully ejected. On Jan. 28, 2025, a U.S. Air Force F-35A crashed within the fence line of Eielson Air…
Boom’s XB-1 Demonstrator Achieves Supersonic Flight
Less than a year from the maiden flight, the first civil supersonic jet made by a private company aims to demonstrate technologies to pave the way for the return of…
U.S. Air Force’s A-10 Warthogs Participate in Last “Buddy Squadron” Exercise with ROKAF Before Retiring
Buddy Squadron is a traditional joint training event of U.S. and South Korean air forces, which dates back to the 1990s. The 25-4 iteration of the exercise is the last…
Boeing Receives 737 Fuselage for U.S. Air Force’s E-7A Wedgetail AEW&C Prototype
The company has now started the assembly of the first Boeing 737 airframe which will later receive the mission equipment to become the Rapid Prototype for the U.S. Air Force’s…
Australia’s Future MC-55A Peregrine Aircraft are Now Sporting RAAF Markings During New Tests
The MC-55A Peregrine is part of Australia’s effort to strengthen ISR and EW capabilities with airborne electronic attack and SIGINT capabilities integrated on a Gulfstream G550 airframe. The RAAF’s (Royal…
RSAF F-16D+ Seen with Python-5 Missile for the First Time
After years of rumors about Singapore’s F-16 being equipped with the Israel-made missile, a RSAF F-16D+ was seen for the first time armed with Rafael’s Python-5 AAMs. A F-16D+ attached…
Finnish F/A-18 Hornets Arrive at Keflavik for First Icelandic Air Policing Deployment
Four Hornets touched down in Iceland on Jan. 24, 2025 for a three week detachment. It is the first time Finland has contributed to the Icelandic Air Policing mission since…
First Public Glimpse Of The ‘Franken-Lightning’ Built From Two Damaged F-35s
They combined the cockpit from an F-35, which experienced an engine failure on the runway, with the aft fuselage from another F-35, which suffered a nose gear failure. On Jan.…
Final Production MC-130J Delivered to Kirtland AFB
The 58th Special Operations Wing is now home to both the first and the final MC-130Js. On Jan. 14, 2025, the United States Air Force Special Operations Command’s 58th Special…
The Wings of Angels: A Brief History the Aircraft of the Blue Angels
The United States Navy Blue Angels Aerobatic Flight Demonstration Team has been thrilling audiences since 1946, pushing the fighter aircraft they fly to the limits of machine and man. In…
Windracers Reveal Next Generation ULTRA MK2 Logistics UAV
The British company’s existing ULTRA aircraft has been tested by a number of government and private services, alongside performing frontline ISR operations for Ukraine. Windracers have made a growing name…
Video Shows First Flight of South Korean Marine Attack Helicopter
Korea Aerospace Industries’ (KAI) new Marine Attack Helicopter, a derivative of the Super Puma inspired MUH-1 Marineon, performed its maiden flight in December 2024. Thanks to a video posted on…
Ellsworth’s B-1B Lancers Complete Relocation to Grand Forks AFB
Ellsworth will continue to support AFGSC tasking out of Grand Forks AFB during the roughly 10-month relocation to allow for runway construction, following which the bombers and Airmen will return…
Philippines to Double its FA-50 and A-29B Super Tucanos Fleets
The Philippines currently operates 12 FA-50PHs and six A-29B Super Tucanos, which will be doubled with the new acquisitions amid continuing tensions in the West Philippines Sea. The Philippines is…
U.S. Air Force C-17s Might Soon Fly with Drag-Reducing Microvanes, Saving $14 Million in Fuel Costs Annually
Six aircraft have been modified for a six-month evaluation before the microvanes, small 3D-printed devices similar to thin blades, are installed across the USAF’s C-17 fleet. Small, simple and 3D-printed…
VH-3D and Joint Base Andrews Once Again Play Key Roles in U.S. Presidential Inauguration
Joint Base Andrews and the VH-3D Sea King: behind-the-scenes of American history. As everybody knows by now, the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 47th president of the United States…
RAF Typhoon Lands Without Canopy After Suspected Bird Strike
The pilot of a Royal Air Force Typhoon has landed safely after an unusual incident saw the jet’s canopy jettisoned over the North Sea before an emergency landing at RAF…
Airbus Delivers First Two New H225M Caracal Helicopters to French Air Force
The two H225Ms are the first of eight helicopters ordered in 2021 and will replace Pumas currently in service with French detachments in French Guiana, Djibouti and New Caledonia. Airbus…
USAF Begins First Bomber Task Force Mission of 2025 with B-1B Lancers in Guam
The BTF 25-1 deployment is in support of Pacific Air Forces’ training efforts with Allies, partners and joint forces as part of the strategic deterrence missions to “reinforce the rules-based…
Lockheed Martin Will Integrate Next-Generation Infrared Defensive Sensors on F-22 Raptor
The F-22 will receive an embedded set of TacIRST sensors as part of the Infrared Defensive System to enhance aircraft survivability and lethality. Lockheed Martin announced on Jan. 22, 2025,…
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.…
U.S. Navy MH-60R Seahawk Helicopter Shoots Down Houthi Drone for the First Time
The U.S. Navy’s premier anti-submarine (ASW) and anti-surface (ASuW) helicopter, the MH-60R Seahawk, has shot down its first drone, marking a new milestone for the service. During an address on…
Turkey’s Bayraktar TB3 UCAV Conducts First Test with MAM-T Laser Guided Bombs
This was the first flight test of munitions on the TB3, which so far flew unarmed, and saw inert MAM-T guided weapons guided on target by the UCAV's ASELFLIR-500 electro-optical…
Saab to Provide Secure Communications for MQ-28 Ghost Bat
The production of the first MQ-28 Block 2 aircraft progresses ahead of the first flight later this year, while testing of the Block 1 continues both in Australia, at the…
Targeting Pod Falls From RAF Typhoon Into Yorkshire Field
An apparent Litening targeting pod and its pylon became detached from an RAF Eurofighter Typhoon during a training sortie over East Yorkshire in Northern England. The pod and its pylon…
AGM-114 Hellfire Missiles Fielded Onboard U.S. Navy Littoral Combat Ships for C-UAS Defense
The U.S. Navy rapidly added new C-UAS (Counter-Unmanned Aerial System) capabilities to the Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ships in the form of Longbow Hellfire missiles. The U.S. Navy has introduced a…
Lockheed Martin and Royal Norwegian Air Force Certify F-35 Fleet for Sustainable Fuel Use
The milestone “signal(s) progress toward reducing emissions while maintaining mission readiness,” according to Lockheed Martin. On Jan. 14, 2025, the Royal Norwegian Air Force conducted a test flight of an…
Dutch AH-64 Apaches, NH90s, CH-47 Chinooks and AS532 Cougars to Receive New Secure Communications Suites
The Dutch MoD said that, presently, various helicopter platforms cannot exchange important information with other aircraft or ground units, constraining mission planning and exposing crews to undesirable situations with not…
French Navy Atlantique 2s Make Rare Visit to Indonesia as Charles de Gaulle CSG Participates in Host of Indo-Pacific Exercises
The two Atlantique 2s will take part in the La Perouse 2025 exercise in the Indonesian archipelago together with the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier and its Carrier Strike Group,…
General Atomics Unveils Drone Launch Systems for Naval Vessels
The new Electric Launch System for Unmanned Aircraft allows UAS operations on a variety of vessels, including aircraft carriers, destroyers and expeditionary sea bases. General Atomics has unveiled a new…
UK Ministry of Defence Faces Questions Over Future of Red Arrows Hawk T1s
In the latest of a series of questions about the ageing Hawk T1 fleet, Minister of State Maria Eagle confirmed the aerobatic team’s aircraft are expected to remain in service…
French Atlantique 2 Maritime Patrol Aircraft Locked by Russian S-400, Says Minister of Armed Forces
The incident happened this week during a night flight over the Baltic Sea while the aircraft was patrolling international waters as part of NATO’s new “Baltic Sentry” mission. A French…
Thailand to Evaluate Gripen in Highway Operations as MoD Backs Decision to Purchase Gripen E/F
The RTAF is set to evaluate the service’s Saab Gripens’ ability to operate from makeshift runways and highways in February. This announcement comes days after the Government backed the service’s…
First Operational EPAWSS-Equipped F-15E Strike Eagles Delivered to RAF Lakenheath
Two USAF F-15E Strike Eagles returned to the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath, UK, after upgrades in the USA, which included the Eagle Passive/Active Warning and Survivability System self-protection…
The Promising Beginning and Sudden End of the BAC TSR.2
First flying in September 1964, the TSR.2 was designed as a tactical strike and reconnaissance aircraft capable of speeds up to Mach 2, and was one of the most technologically…
U.S. Approves Japan’s Purchase of More AGM-158 JASSMs in $39 Million Deal
After the acquisition of 50 AGM-158B JASSM-ER missiles last year, Japan has now been granted the approval for 16 additional AGM-158s, reinforcing the JASDF’s long-range stand-off strike capabilities of the…
Denmark Repatriates Three More F-35s as it Plans to Reinforce Greenland
Denmark plans to replace the F-16MLUs with F-35s to meet its needs for national QRA and NATO’s Air Policing missions, but is also looking to support F-35 operations from Kangerlussuaq…
Shenyang J-16
The Shenyang J-16 Qianlong (Chinese for hidden dragon) is a Chinese all-weather 4+/4,5 generation supersonic twin-seat, twin-engine, multirole fighter based on the Russian Su-27 fighter and built by Shenyang Aircraft…
U.S. Navy’s Names Next Two Aircraft Carriers After Bill Clinton and George W. Bush
The White House announced that the Navy chose to name the fifth and sixth Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers as USS William J. Clinton (CVN-82) and USS George W. Bush…
USAF T-7A Red Hawk Production Phase Pushed Back to 2026
An adjusted process for the U.S. Air Force’s acquisition of the Boeing T-7A Red Hawk trainer has been announced, with the decision on commencing production delayed by one year. A…
Delivering GCAP by 2035 Is Not Easy as it Needs to Break the Mold and Avoid Mistakes, Says UK Report
The UK’s House of Commons committee's GCAP report admits that 2035 is an ambitious target date and, even if progress has been positive, the program needs to avoid mistakes and…
ANG A-10s Stuck for Two Months at NAS Sigonella Waiting for Repairs
Six A-10C jets of the U.S. Air National Guard have been stuck in Italy since November 2024, waiting for spare parts before the transoceanic flight that will take them back…
First Two Canadian MQ-9B SkyGuardian RPAS are in Production
Canada acquired 11 MQ-9Bs and six ground control stations, with the first deliveries expected by 2028. While the aircraft will be based at 14 Wing Greenwood and 19 Wing Comox,…
New UK National Drone Hub Facility to be Constructed at Predannack Airfield
An expansion of unmanned operations is underway at the Royal Navy airfield, which could soon be used by General Atomics MQ-9 and Leonardo AW09 (Proteus) type aircraft. Located in the…
Turkey’s ANKA III UCAV Drops TOLUN Guided Bomb from Internal Bays for the First Time
The internal launch, the first ever by a Turkish aircraft, demonstrated the ANKA III’s ‘ability to perform stealth strikes by maintaining a low Radar Cross Section (RCS) until the strike…
French Army Tests FPV Drone Controlled from Gazelle Light Attack Helicopter
The goal of the experimentation with FPV drones is to ‘accelerate cooperation between nano drones and Army Light Aviation aircraft,’ developing the employment doctrine for the Air-Launched Devices concept. The…
Finnish Air Force to Participate in Icelandic Air Policing for the First Time
The Finnish Air Force will secure NATO skies by deploying four F/A-18 Hornets to Keflavik Air Base for the next rotation of the Icelandic Air Policing mission in February 2025.…
Delivery of the First F-35Bs to Japan Delayed
The planned delivery of the first six F-35B Lightning II fighters for Japan in FY2024 has now been pushed back to sometime during FY2025, Japan’s Defense Minister announced. The delivery…
‘The Chinese Military is the Largest and Most Modern It’s Ever Been,’ Edwards AFB Commander Warns
By 2027, in areas west of the international dateline where U.S. assets are deployed, China will outnumber U.S. forces about 12 to 1 in modern fighter jets (including 5 to…
A Rare Look Inside Israel’s Secretive KC-707 Re’em Tanker
Footage from inside an Israeli Air Force KC-707 Re’em tanker aircraft was recently published on the official IDF Instagram page, providing a rare tour of the aircraft. The IDF (Israeli…
Kratos Signs $1.5 Billion Deal for DoD Low-Cost Hypersonic Testbed
American Defense firm Kratos has signed a $1.5 billion contract, its largest ever, with the Department of Defense for a low-cost hypersonic testbed and related services, including subscale, full-scale and…
MAFFS-Equipped C-130s Join the Fight Against Raging Los Angeles Fires
The Modular Aerial Fire Fighting Systems program was instituted in 1971 as a collaboration between the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Defense. The MAFFS system can be installed…
Some of the Old, Some of the New: Boeing’s P-26 “Peashooter”
The first all-metal low-wing monoplane pursuit aircraft of the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) was a pioneering but also transitional aircraft, and, along with serving stateside, saw service in…
F-15E and F-15EX Set to Be Armed with AGM-158C LRASM
NAVAIR is working to integrate the AGM-158C-1 LRASM (Long Range Anti-Ship Missile) on the U.S. Air Force’s F-15E Strike Eagles and F-15EX Eagle IIs, providing them with yet another tool…
U.S. Completes Upgrade of B61-12 Nuclear Weapons and Prepares Production of B61-13 Warheads
The U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration has announced the completion of the upgrade program of the new B61-12 nuclear weapons, and the impending start of manufacturing for the B61-13 variant.…
Further Detail Emerges On Leonardo’s Proteus Rotary Wing UAS Demonstrator
Scheduled to fly in mid 2025, Leonardo has unveiled an updated design of its Proteus rotary wing uncrewed aerial system demonstrator for the UK Ministry of Defence. Proteus is the…
U.S. Navy Officially Adopts ‘Murder Hornet’ Moniker for F/A-18E/F Equipped with Nine Air-to-Air Missiles
Super Hornets, which have been armed with five AIM-120s and four AIM-9Xs since April 2024, were recently referred to as "Murder Hornets" in a year-in-review factsheet published by the U.S.…
Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band Achieves Initial Operational Capability
The achievement of the IOC follows the first combat deployment of NGJ-MB with VAQ-133’s EA-18Gs embarked aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) has disclosed on…
F-15’s Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System Moves to Full Rate Production
The AN/ALQ-250 EPAWSS achieved the Initial Operational Capability in early 2024 and is currently being fielded on the new F-15EX Eagle II and retrofitted on the F-15E Strike Eagle. The…
Saudi Arabia Reportedly Eyeing Purchase of 100 TAI Kaan Fighters from Turkey
According to unconfirmed Turkish reports, Saudi Arabia has discussed a possible purchase of over 100 advanced Kaan fighters, as the Middle Eastern country seeks to bolster its military capabilities. Turkish…
U.S. E-11A ‘Flying Gateway’ Takes Part In Counter-Drone And Integrated Missile Defense Exercise In Middle East
U.S. Air Force E-11A aircraft equipped with the BACN (Battlefield Airborne Communications Node) payload took part in a C-UAS and IAMD exercise in the Arabian Peninsula. Airmen from the 378th…
U.S. Air Force Tests “Pathfinder” Subscale Model of Blended-Wing Body Jet
JetZero is working on the subscale BWB aircraft demonstrator, named “Pathfinder,” while Northrop Grumman’s Scaled Composites division is fabricating the full-size airplane and has already produced test articles of components.…
Turkey’s New Hürkuş-II Primary Flight Trainer Takes to the Skies
The Hürkuş-II will replace the TAF’s current Hürkuş-B trainers, with the first 15 aircraft expected to be delivered this year and the remaining 40 being handed over by 2027. The…
Philippines Air Force Retires OV-10 Bronco and AH-1S Cobra After Long Service in Counter-Insurgency Operations
While the Cobras served in the PAF for a short period of just five years, the Broncos were used in the Philippines for over three decades. The Philippine Air Force’s…
Israel Reveals Daring Raid on Iranian Missile Factory Deep Inside Syria
On Sept. 8, 2024, months before the final collapse of the Assad regime, elite Israeli Air Force units assaulted an Iranian facility in Syrian territory, over 124 miles from Israel,…
U.S. Approves Massive Foreign Military Sale of 1,200 AIM-120D-3 and AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM Missiles to Japan
The State Department has approved the possible FMS, worth a staggering $3.64 billion, which will provide the Japan Air Self Defense Force with up to 1,200 AMRAAMs to be used…
Ukrainian Pilots Reportedly Completed Training on Mirage 2000-5F
Ukraine is expected to receive a first batch of three Mirage 2000-5F fighters in the first quarter of 2025, with France also providing six-month training courses for both pilots and…
Royal New Zealand Air Force Wants 737s or A321s to Replace Aging Boeing 757s
The Royal New Zealand Air Force has begun a tender process for the replacement of its two Boeing 757 aircraft, naming Boeing 737 MAX 8s or Airbus A321s as their…
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…
Boeing’s B-47 Stratojet Goes Cold War Spying: The story of the RB-47
Originally designed as a medium bomber, the B-47 also had a lesser known and more secretive role in the Cold War, serving in a reconnaissance role as the RB-47 to…
Top Aces Continues to Support Royal Canadian Air Force’s Training with Upgraded A-4 Skyhawks
The Skyhawks supporting the RCAF have been upgraded by Top Aces to the A-4 Advanced Aggressor Fighter configuration, which includes advanced capabilities and an arctic splinter camo to replicate near-peer…
Ukrainian Su-25 Seen Armed with AASM Hammer Bombs in Video for the First Time
The Ukrainian Su-25s started using the French-made AASM Hammer guided bombs in June 2024, as the stocks of Soviet-made unguided munitions were depleted and Western ones started dwindling. A new…
China Launches ‘40,000 Ton’ Catapult-Equipped Amphibious Assault Ship Sichuan in a Bid to Rival the U.S.
The Chinese naval build up continues with the launch of Sichuan amphibious assault ship, the lead ship of the Type 076 class, displacing 40,000 tons and equipped with an electromagnetic…
Ukrainian Surface Drone Equipped with R-73 Air-to-Air Missiles Shot Down Russian Mi-8 Helicopter
Ukraine’s Military Intelligence equipped a Magura V5 Unmanned Surface Vessel with R-73 air-to-air missiles and says it scored a kill against a Russian Mi-8 helicopter, with another helicopter damaged. On…
Exclusive: Interviews With Senior Leaders from MCAS Iwakuni, Home of the Indo-Pacific’s Largest Concentration of Combat Airpower
We recently visited Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, in Japan, to witness an ordinary day of operations at the base. It became immediately evident that MCAS Iwakuni is anything but…
Irish Air Corps Orders Four Airbus H145M Helicopters
A €91.7 million contract to replace Ireland’s existing EC135 fleet was awarded to Airbus Helicopters, with deliveries to commence in 2027. Ireland’s EC135s have been in service since 2003, with…
U.S. Air Force Flies Final Active Duty HH-60G Mission at Aviano Air Base as First HH-60W Arrives
The only USAF base in Europe and Africa with CSAR helicopters, Aviano is the last active duty base to transition from the legacy HH-60G Pave Hawk to the recently delivered…
Lockheed Martin Awarded ‘Undefinitized’ Contract for 145 F-35s Worth $11 Billion
The contract comes after Lockheed Martin said in October that it was internally funding the F-35 production line while negotiations for Lots 18 and 19, which had been ongoing since…
Let’s Examine the Pilots’ Accounts Emerged After the Friendly Fire Incident Involving the F/A-18 Over the Red Sea
Unconfirmed accounts from two pilots, including the one shot down, described how the F/A-18F was engaged while recovering on the USS Truman and another missile was launched at a second…
The North American F-82 Twin Mustang: A Forgotten Fighter of the Forgotten War
Originally intended for long-range heavy bomber escort missions over Japan during World War Two, the F-82 arrived in service too late but did see action in the next war in…
First Visuals of China’s WZ-9 Divine Eagle AEW Drone Surface Online
The unusual design integrates radar arrays in its booms, as well as satellite communication, which would allow the PLA to create a networked mesh of manned and unmanned AEW assets,…
Austria Announces Acquisition of M-346FA
The Austrian MoD is currently negotiating the procurement contract with the Italian government, with the 12 aircraft being eyed for both training and air defense roles. Austria has decided to…
Eurofighter Partners Sign LTE Contract to Keep Typhoon Effective into the 2060s
The Eurofighter program hit a new milestone on its journey to develop a mid-life upgrade for the Typhoon, as the participant nations signed the contract for part one of the…
Maryland ANG’s 175th Wing to Receive D.C. ANG’s F-16s in Funding Deal Involving the Washington Commanders
Initially slated to lose their A-10s for a cyber mission, the Maryland ANG may now be shifting course. The A-10C Thunderbolt II, the Francis Scott Key Bridge, and the Washington…
U.S. Air Force Review Seemingly Backs Manned NGAD Sixth-Generation Fighter – Reports
The review examined whether it would be financially and technically feasible to continue the NGAD program as originally planned, with multiple alternatives such as disaggregated capabilities distributed across multiple assets.…
Baykar Bid Wins Competition to Acquire Italian Manufacturer Piaggio
Turkish manufacturer Baykar, which has risen to fame for its military UAVs, is set to purchase Piaggio Aerospace, which has been under administration since 2018, for an undisclosed sum. Piaggio…
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…
U.S. Air Force Reopens Next-Generation Ejection Seat Program for the F-16
The change of the single source contract awarded to Collins Aerospace for its ACES 5 seat could potentially open the NGES competition to other companies like Martin-Baker, which would pitch…
Second New Chinese Stealth Jet Emerges in the Same Day
After the new supposed regional bomber developed by Chengdu was sighted during its first flight, another design developed by Shenyang has now emerged. Few hours after the first images of…
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…
Possible First Flight of China’s Sixth-Generation Aircraft
CAC’s new aircraft has broken cover, with a twin-seat J-20S flying as its chase aircraft, although observers are still debating whether this is the rumored sixth-generation fighter aircraft or the…
Additional Su-34 Fullbacks, Su-57 Felons Delivered to Russian Air Force as Year Draws to a Close
UAC has delivered six batches of Su-34s and three of Su-57 during 2024, with a total of at least 12 Fullbacks and five Felons. While the Su-34s are the upgraded…
Panavia Tornado
The Panavia Tornado is a multinational European supersonic twin-engined multirole combat aircraft, manufactured by Panavia Aircraft GmbH. Designed with a distinctive swing-wing (variable-sweep wing) configuration, the Panavia Tornado first flew…
V-22 Osprey Returns to Flight with New Restrictions After Latest Grounding
The V-22s have been grounded for two weeks following a recent incident, however they are now returning to fly again after the inspection of the Proprotor Gearboxes. The U.S. Air…
Japan Selects T-6 Texan II as New Basic Trainer for the JASDF
The T-6 Texan II, reportedly in a customized T-6JP variant, will be used by the JASDF as its new primary trainer to replace the license-built T-34 derivatives employed so far.…
RNLAF F-35As Escort WW2 Veteran Douglas DC-3 Before New Life at Aviodrome Museum
The aircraft, which flew sightseeing tours for tourists with DDA Classic Airlines and was previously part of the D-Day paradrop and Operation Market Garden, was saved from retirement by the…
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…
35 Years Later, Retired AC-130H Spectre Crews Recount the Action from 1989’s ‘Operation Just Cause’ in Panama
The crew provided Close Air Support and precision fire power to the U.S. land forces on the ground in Panama. The attack also involved a series of precision strikes by…
BAE Systems Tests Unique ‘Tilt Body’ STRIX VTOL UAS in Australia
STRIX draws on proven technologies used in the MQ-28A Ghost Bat loyal wingman, another all-Australian system developed for the RAAF, and moved from concept to full-scale flight in under two…
U.S. A-10s Integrate with Philippine A-29B Super Tucanos in Dynamic Force Employment, CAS Exercise
The exercise enhanced the integration and improved Tactics Techniques and Procedures between the Philippine Air Force and the U.S. Air Force, practicing high-intensity and hub-and-spoke operations as part of the…
U.S. and Japanese Air Forces Hold Bilateral Exercise Over Sea of Japan with B-52, F-15Js, F-35As and F-22s
The bilateral exercise, which included formation flight and Defensive Counter Air training, was held following “intensified activities concerning Japan’s national security,” possibly referring to the recent Russian and Chinese bomber…
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.…
[Updated] U.S. Super Hornet Shot Down in Friendly Fire Over Red Sea
Aircrew members ejected safely and were rescued after a U.S. Navy F/A-18F from the USS Truman was shot down in a friendly fire incident. On Dec. 22, 2024, an F/A-18F…
U.S. Air Force F-22A Raptors Return From Rapid Deployment to the Middle East
The "Dicemen" of the 90th FS (Fighter Squadron) have returned to JBER (Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson) from a Rapid Deployment to the Middle East. Airmen from the 3rd Wing and 477th…
USMC CH-53E Burns at Camp Pendleton After Conducting Emergency Landing
A CH-53E Super Stallion, assigned to the Wolfpacks of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 466, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, conducted an emergency landing at Camp Pendleton, San…
Spain Signs Memorandum of Understanding with Turkey to Procure Hurjet
Few months after the evaluation in Spain, the Turkish Hurjet trainer has been selected to replace the Spanish Air Force’s aging fleet of SF-5M jet trainers. During an official ceremony…
U.S. Air Force Releases Photos Of WC-135 ‘Nuke Sniffer’ Deployment to Middle East
The WC-135R Constant Phoenix was deployed to the Middle East for atmospheric testing, and, in a rare move, the U.S. Air Force publicly acknowledged the mission. Photos released by U.S.…
Lockheed Martin Has Delivered The 100th F-35C
Lockheed Martin announced the recent delivery of the 100th F-35C Lightning II fifth-generation fighter jet, marking a new milestone for the program after the delivery of the 1000th F-35 earlier…
Spain Orders 25 Additional Eurofighter Jets
The order will bring the Spanish Air Force Eurofighter fleet to 115 aircraft. The Spanish government has finalized a deal with the NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency (NETMA), based…
Nicknames, Nose Art, and Bomb Markings of the Final 492nd FS F-15Es Returning from the Middle East
Let's have a look at the markings sported by the final six F-15E Strike Eagles of the 492nd Fighter Squadron, which have just returned from their deployment to the Middle…
RAF Typhoons Visit Turkey’s Mürted Air Base as Ankara Pushes to Acquire the Fighters
The RAF Typhoons, which were returning from the Advanced Tactical Leadership Course in the UAE, made a stop in Turkey for a ‘detailed inspection’ in the presence of top Turkish…
The Last U.S. Air Force F-15C Prepares to Leave Kadena
Two years after the first Eagles returned to the United States, the last F-15C is now ready to leave Kadena Air Base in Japan, where the type was stationed since…
Northrop Grumman Selected to Develop TACAMO System for the E-130J
The U.S. Navy announced it awarded the contract to Northrop Grumman to conduct mission-systems integration for the E-130J that will replace the E-6B in the TACAMO mission. Northrop Grumman has…
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…
Ukrainian Commander Claims to Have Operational Laser Anti-Aircraft Weapon
Named Tryzub after the golden trident used as a national symbol of Ukraine, Colonel Vadym Sukharevskyi states that the new weapon has a range of over two kilometers. Colonel Vadym…
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…
492nd FS F-15E Strike Eagles Return From Middle East With New Nose Arts And Bomb Markings
The first six of a dozen U.S. Air Force F-15Es have returned to their homebase at RAF Lakenheath, once again sporting unique nicknames and some interesting markings. On Dec. 17,…
NATO Fighters Intercept Two Russian Tu-22M3 ‘Backfires’ Carrying Long-Range Supersonic Cruise Missiles
Finnish, Swedish, and Dutch fighter aircraft were scrambled on Tuesday Dec. 17, 2024 to identify and monitor Russian aircraft over the Baltic Sea, which turned out to be carrying inert…
Boeing Awarded Contract To Support the F-15 Japan Super Interceptor Program
The $451 million contract will support the upgrade of 68 JASDF F-15Js as part of the Japan Super Interceptor program, introducing some capabilities currently being fielded on the U.S. Air…
Argentina Receives First Ex-Danish F-16B, Flown Disassembled in KC-130H
Argentina and Denmark sealed a $300 million contract in April for 24 second-hand F-16 jets. The Fuerza Aérea Argentina has been without a supersonic fighter since 2015, following the retirement…
VAQ-133 EA-18Gs Become First In The Navy To Tactically Employ the Next Generation Jammer
The VAQ-133 “Wizards” have completed the first ALQ-249 Next Generation Jammer Deployment. On Dec. 14, 2024, Electronic Attack Squadron 133 (VAQ-133), assigned to Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW) 9, returned…
BAE Systems Awarded Contract for Eurofighter’s Striker II Helmet Mounted Display
The Eurofighter Consortium has awarded BAE Systems a contract worth £133 million to further develop its Striker II Helmet Mounted Display (HMD). BAE Systems announced on Dec. 11, 2024, that…
Final Boeing T-7A Red Hawk Engineering Manufacturing Development Jet Flies for the First Time
The fifth and final EMD aircraft will now join the test fleet assigned to the T-7 Integrated Test Force and continue to validate the Red Hawk’s capabilities ahead of the…
UK, Italy and Japan Reach Landmark Agreement for GCAP Program
BAE Systems, Leonardo and JAIEC reached an agreement to form a new company under a business joint venture for the GCAP, building on the trilateral cooperation started in 2022. The…
The ‘Flying Flapjack’ that Never Flew: The Story of the Vought XF5U
Conceived as revolutionary and advanced naval fighter, its design fueled by the rapid advancement in aviation technology at the time, the Vought XF5U project promised a highly efficient and tough…
VMFA-314 F-35Cs Return From Combat With Some Interesting Bomb Markings
The bomb markings on the F-35Cs seem to suggest the “Black Knights” of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314 carried out their strikes on Houthi using the JSOW glide bombs…
New F130 Engine For Upgraded B-52J Completes Critical Design Review
Rolls-Royce has announced that its new F130 engine has successfully passed the Critical Design Review (CDR) phase, progressing toward production. Rolls-Royce has successfully completed F130 engine Critical Design Review (CDR),…
Russian Forces Leave Bases in Syria Eyeing Expansion in Libya
Following the quick downfall of Syria’s Assad regime, Moscow, which had a fairly large military presence in Syria, has been reevaluating the strategy in the Middle East. According to a…
U.S. Army and U.S. Navy Hypersonic Missile Tested in Second Live-Fire; First with Transporter-Erector Launcher
The U.S. Army and U.S. Navy are jointly pursuing the weapon, which includes the C-HGB (Common-Hypersonic Glide Body). The C-HGB consists of the weapon’s warhead, guidance system, cabling, and thermal…
Final Trafalgar Class Submarine HMS Triumph Returns Home for Decommissioning
HMS Triumph (S93) sailed into HMNB Devonport flying a decommissioning pennant on the afternoon of Dec. 12, 2024, marking an end to its 33 years of service in the Royal…
Interesting Photos of a Canadian CC-177 Globemaster III Transporting Great War Fighters in 2017
100 years after the Battle of Vimy Ridge, a Canadian CC-177 transported seven World War One fighters to France. April, 1917. The Great War is in full swing and the…
Kratos’ Thanatos UCAV Has Flown for the First Time
A year after it was first unveiled, Kratos announced it flew the highly secretive Thanatos UCAV (Uncrewed Combat Air Vehicle) for the first time in the last few months. Kratos…
New VMFA-251 Thunderbolts F-35C CAG-Bird Breaks Cover
Take a look at the specially painted aircraft of VMFA-251, the first East Coast operational unit of the U.S. Marine Corps to receive the F-35C. On Sept. 17, 2024, the…
Standard Missile-3 Intercepts Target in First Live Ballistic Missile Defense Test from Guam
The Ballistic Missile Defense, the first ever from Guam, saw the first use of the AN/TPY-6 radar and the tilting Vertical Launching System. The Missile Defense Agency has been preparing…
U.S. Air Force E-4B Doomsday Planes Replacement Program Progresses
The first B-747-8i to be converted into an E-4C was relocated to Wichita last month for the next phase of work. As we have already reported, 0n Apr. 26, 2024,…
Leonardo’s Miysis DIRCM and MAIR Threat Warning System Selected for a Government VIP Aircraft
Miysis and MAIR will equip an Airbus A330 selected by an undisclosed government operator to be used as VIP aircraft. Leonardo has announced that its defensive systems have been chosen…
First Image of Iran’s Yak-130 with R-73 Air-to-Air Missile Emerges
The Yak-130 is now not only the most modern trainer, but the most current jet in the IRIAF inventory. Reports and observers say it could help in training Iranian pilots…
Japan Unveils First Images of Upgraded Type-12 Anti-Ship Missile During Tests
The new Type-12 SSM has ‘improved capability’ to be launched from both ground launchers and ships, and offers a stand-off defense capability to prevent and eliminate invading forces at an…
Mildenhall’s 352nd Special Operations Wing Takes Delivery of C-146A Wolfhound
On Dec. 4, 2024, C-146A Wolfhound 10-3077 arrived at RAF Mildenhall to begin a new permanently deployed presence in the European theatre. It will join MC-130J Commando II and CV-22B…
First E-2D Advanced Hawkeye for France Now Under Construction
Northrop Grumman started the production of the first of three E-2D Advanced Hawkeye AEW aircraft destined to the French Marine Nationale. Northrop Grumman has announced the start of production of…
Chinese Fujian Aircraft Carrier Returns from Fifth Sea Trials
China’s new Type 003 supercarrier returned last week from its fifth sea trial, which might have also included flight activity as shown by tire marks on the deck and patches…
Russian Su-57 Spotted With Flat 2D Thrust Vectoring Nozzle
The new stealthy nozzle has been installed on the left engine of the T-50-2 prototype, the same used to test the new AL-51F engine. A Russian Su-57 fighter has been…
Dutch F-35As Intercept Russian Aircraft During First Baltic Air Policing Mission in Estonia
The RNLAF’s F-35As, deployed to Estonia after the renovation works at Ämari Airbase, have completed their first QRA missions in support of NATO Baltic Air Policing, intercepting a Russian An-72,…
Recap: Israel Strikes Syria Amid Uncertainty Following the Fall of Assad’s Regime
The IDF struck key installations in Syria, following the fall of the Assad regime, to prevent advanced weapons from falling into the hands of those hostile to Israel. Following the…
Tyndall AFB F-35 Pilots Train with New CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear) Gear
"Prepping for the worst, hoping for the best": CBRN gear is essential in ensuring the protection and readiness of the personnel operating the aircraft against any threats that adversaries may…
Russia Will Send Su-27 and MiG-29 Fighters to North Korea, According to U.S. Navy Admiral
While North Korean soldiers join Russia’s war against Ukraine, an apparent reciprocal deal to supply the reclusive regime with more fighter aircraft has been revealed by the U.S. INDOPACOM Commander.…
GCAP Testbed Boeing 757 ‘Excalibur’ Completes First Modification Phase
After recent flights showing off new fuselage-mounted sensor housings, Leonardo has announced that the first modification and flight testing phase for the GCAP testbed aircraft, named Excalibur, is now complete.…
Pentagon Pauses Once Again V-22 Osprey Flight Operations
The U.S. Air Force and Navy adhered to the operational pause called by NAVAIR after a precautionary landing in November caused by an engine failure. Flight operations of the V-22…
U.S. Air Force Postpones NGAD Final Decisions to Next Administration
The review was initially expected to conclude by the end of 2024, however the Air Force has now opted to defer the final decision to the new administration, and thus…
First Belgian Air Force F-35A Lightning II Arrives at Luke Air Force Base
Initially expected to be delivered in 2023, Belgium’s first F-35A is now at Luke AFB, marking the start of the training and the beginning of a new era for the…
U.S. Air Force Strikes Dozens of ISIS Camps in Syria After Fall of Damascus
The wave of strikes against 75 targets by B-52s, F-15Es and A-10Cs is meant to prevent the terrorist group from exploiting the current situation in Syria. After Syrian rebels quickly…
U.S. Air Force Might Need To Reassess Bomber Force Size
While the service is gearing up to introduce the new B-21 and retire the B-1B and B-2A, the demand for the bombers is increasing with the mutated geopolitical situation. In…
KC-135 Crews Awarded Distinguished Flying Cross for Supporting F-15Es During Iranian Attack on Israel
The KC-135 Stratotankers of the 134th Air Refueling Wing supported the F-15E Strike Eagles that helped defend Israel last April. On Dec. 7, 2024, at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard…
Italian Navy Commissions New Landing Helicopter Dock Trieste
Trieste is the largest combat vessel delivered to the Italian Navy since World War II. On Dec. 7, 2024, the Italian Navy commissioned its new Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) Trieste,…
Check Out These Stunning Images of the Recently Restored Iconic Presidential CH-46F Sea Knight
The CH-46F has been restored and flown to its new home at the National US Armed Forces Museum (NUSAFM).On Dec. 3, 2024, the freshly repainted CH-46F, now registered as N7682F,…
The IA-58 Pucará: The Forgotten Flying Fortress of Argentina
Designed and built as a counter-insurgency aircraft, the IA-58 Pucará, being rugged and dependable and able to fly from short rudimentary airstrips, found itself on the front lines of the…
Raytheon Awarded NGJ-MB Pod Production Contract
Raytheon has won a $590M contract for the production of Next-Generation Jammer - Mid Band pods to equip U.S. Navy’s and Royal Australian Air Force’s EA-18G Growler fleets. Raytheon, a…
‘FLRAA Will Dramatically Increase The Reach Of Army Air Assault’ U.S. Army Says
The U.S. Army believes the new FLRAA aircraft is going to be a game-changer for modern warfare: "Twice as Far, Twice as Fast". Two years ago, on Dec. 5, 2022,…
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…
United Kingdom Becomes Northrop Grumman’s CIRCM First Export Customer
The Common Infrared Countermeasures (CIRCM) system will be installed on the 14 new extended-range Chinooks which will replace the Royal Air Force’s 14 oldest Chinooks. Northrop Grumman has been awarded…
Bell Releases First Image of X-Plane Model Used in Wind Tunnel Testing for DARPA SPRINT Program
The wind tunnel testing was carried out to validate the company's Stop/Fold Jet Transition capability. Bell has completed wind tunnel testing of its X-plane model at the National Institute for…
Canada and Switzerland Suspend F/A-18 Demo Teams
The CF-18 Hornet Demonstration Team and the F/A-18 Swiss Hornet Solo Display will not fly for the 2025 airshow season to focus resources on modernization and training. The Royal Canadian…
Royal Norwegian Air Force Releases Rare IR Images of B-52 Flying Over the Norwegian Sea
The U.S. B-52s took part in a tri-national live fire exercise with British and Norwegian forces in Norway focused on multidomain find, fix, track, and target tactics. The Royal Norwegian…
Greece Will Not Buy Additional Dassault Rafales
In a wide-ranging interview, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsosakis said the current fleet of 24 Rafales is ‘sufficient’ for now, reversing earlier plans to acquire up to 12 more newly…
Twelve Former RAF C-130J Hercules Reportedly Acquired by Turkey
Following earlier rumors, Turkey has reportedly purchased twelve C-130J Hercules transport aircraft which have been in storage since their retirement from Royal Air Force service.The C-130J Hercules was retired from…
The U.S. Air Force Temporarily Moves 17 B-1B Bombers to Grand Forks AFB in North Dakota
Seventeen aircraft and 800 people will relocate to Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota, while Ellsworth Air Force Base, in South Dakota, is readied for the arrival of…
Russian Warship Reportedly Fired ‘Signal Ammunition’ at German Military Helicopter Over Baltic
Limited details are presently available regarding the incident, which was apparently revealed by the German Foreign Minister at a NATO Meeting in Brussels. Speaking on the fringes of the NATO…
Misawa F-16s to be Replaced by F-35A Jets Starting in 2026
F-16C Wild Weasels of the 35th Fighter Wing, based at Misawa Air Base in Aomori Prefecture, will be replaced by F-35As as part of the U.S. Air Force's modernizations efforts…
80 Years Ago: A Record-Breaking PBY Catalina Rescue Operation
When the USS Cooper (DD-695) was hit by Japanese torpedoes in the Battle of Leyte, a famed PBY “Black Cat” was up to the task. December 3, 1944 - the…
Videos Surface of U.S. A-10s Flying Over Deir Al Zor Amid Syrian Army Clashes with SDF Forces
Clips featuring U.S. Air Force A-10 Warthogs are circulating online, allegedly confirming their rumored involvement in Syria. The situation in Syria is quite dynamic. As you already know by now,…
HMS Prince of Wales Assumes Role as UK Flagship During Liverpool Port Visit
Aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales has assumed the title of Royal Navy flagship during a visit to Liverpool, where the ship will open to the public.The 65,000 tons warship,…
U.S. Air Force Performs First Drop Test of SiAW Missile
The inert SiAW missile was released from an F-16C over the Gulf of Mexico in early November, well before its delivery was announced. The U.S. Air Force has just announced…
Surge of Russian Special Mission Aircraft Leave Moscow After Ukraine Is Allowed to Use Long-Range Weapons Against Russia
An unusual mass departure of VIP and special mission aircraft was spotted from Moscow in the immediate aftermath of Ukraine receiving permission to use ATACMS and Storm Shadow in Russia.…
Exclusive: First Polish Air Force F-35A Husarz Makes Maiden Flight
First flight of the Polish F-35A at NAS JRB Fort Worth in Texas. The Polish F-35A “Husarz” AZ-02 c/n 3502, successfully completed its first test flight from Lockheed Martin Facility at…
From Hornets to F-35: Finnish Air Force Commander Charts Finland’s Defense Evolution
The Commander of the Finnish Air Force, provides some interesting insights into the progress of the F-35 program and outlines the goals for its upcoming integration. In an article recently…
Thales TALIOS Targeting Pod Receives AI Upgrade
Armée de l'Air et de l’Espace Rafales will begin to be equipped with AI-enhanced TALIOS targeting pods starting in 2026. Thales is working to integrate AI (Artificial Intelligence) into the…
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…
Su-27LL-PS: The Experimental Thrust Vectoring Platform of the Su-27
As an experimental Su-27 variant, the Su-27LL-PS tested advanced 2D thrust vectoring for enhanced maneuverability, providing critical insights into supermaneuverable flight dynamics, material innovation and jet nozzle engineering.The Su-27LL-PS was…
Brazil to Upgrade A-29 Super Tucanos to Network with Saab Gripen Over Data Link
The networking with the Gripen gives the Super Tucano accurate airborne threat movements thanks to the Swedish jet’s advanced radar. The Brazilian Air Force uses its Super Tucanos to combat…
Dutch F-35s and French Rafales Deploy on NATO Baltic Air Policing Mission
The Royal Netherlands Air Force have deployed four F-35A Lightning IIs to Estonia, while French Rafales will augment Italian Typhoons in Lithuania. Joining the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission from…
Turkey Drops Imported Modernization Kits for F-16s Over ‘Cheaper’ Domestic Program
Turkey will drop the plan to purchase 79 modernization kits for its F-16s and pursue a national upgrade program with Turkish Aerospace Industries. This would be done under the ambitious…
Additional U.S. Bases in the UK Now Protected by Restricted Airspace as Counter-Drone Operation Continues
Normally closed for Thanksgiving, U.S. bases in the UK have continued to monitor possible drone intrusions, while RAF Menwith Hill and RAF Fylingdales have been protected by new airspace restrictions.…
U.S. Army, Lockheed Martin Fire two Precision Strike Missiles in Salvo Shot Following Production Contract
Two PrSMs were launched in a mid-range flight against a set target proving the system’s continued accuracy and readiness. Meant to eventually replace the MGM-140 ATACMS, PrSM is the Army’s…
The AD-5N ‘Skyraider’ and Its Little-Known Nuclear Role in the Cold War
In late 1958, during heightened tensions in the Taiwan Strait, Skyraider pilots were prepped for nuclear strike missions. They spent tense hours at night, seated in their aircraft and ready…
China and Russia Hold New Joint Air Patrol Over the Sea of Japan
This is the ninth joint strategic air patrol performed by China and Russia since the cooperation agreement established by the two countries in 2019, and possibly the first with China's…
The United States Navy’s Pioneering Carrier Plane: The Douglas TBD-1 Devastator
Highly advanced at the time of production, the Douglas TBD-1 incorporated many new innovations but was outclassed and nearly obsolete by the time it saw combat. Developing the Devastator Originating…
Second Prototype of Turkey’s Hürjet Flies in New Colors for the First Time
The second prototype showcases significant design modifications, likely tailored to enhance its light attack capabilities. These changes suggest the aircraft is being refined to compete globally within its class and…
Dassault Rafale
The Dassault Rafale is a multirole 4th generation (or 4.5+ in the latest version) fighter jet capable of supersonic flight, developed and manufactured by the French aerospace company Dassault Aviation.…
China’s Mysterious Aircraft Carrier Sets Sail
A mysterious flat-top ship was recently spotted departing from the Guangzhou shipyard, after being quickly built. The purpose of the vessel is still not clear. On Nov. 26 2024, a…
First Clear Image of a Chinese J-20 Stealth Fighter Launching a PL-10 Air-to-Air Missile Emerges
The side internal weapons bays are designed to house the PL-10 short-range air-to-air missile. Additionally, the J-20's bay mechanics and internal design showcase a fascinating integration of engineering precision and…
Unauthorised Drones Continue to Plague U.S. Air Force Bases in the UK
A comprehensive look at how the situation, which an anonymous U.S. official said appears to be coordinated and not the work of hobbyists, has unfolded so far. Since Nov. 20,…
French Rafale Refuels A400M Cargo in Unconventional Buddy Refueling
The A400M acted as a surrogate for the E-2D Hawkeye, which the French Navy is acquiring, during the tests of the new NARANG air-to-air refueling pod for the Rafale M.…
Suspicious Drone Spotted Near HMS Queen Elizabeth Aircraft Carrier During Port Call In Germany
HMS Queen Elizabeth was in Hamburg, Germany, when a drone visit raised suspicions about the China co-owned Tollerort container terminal. The Royal Navy’s HMS Queen Elizabeth arrived in Hamburg, Germany,…
USAF Test Pilot School T-38C in Retro Livery Makes Rare Visit To The Sidewinder Low Level Route
A T-38C of the USAF TPS in overall white paint scheme was spotted on the famous low level route in the U.S. West Coast recently. A couple of weeks ago,…
Bombardier Delivers First Global 6500 for U.S. Army’s HADES Program
The Global 6500 business jet will integrate deep sensing technologies to perform ISR missions as the U.S. Army is looking to replace its legacy turboprop ISR fleet with the new…
Turkey Resubmits Offer to Purchase F-35 Jets
Defense Minister Yaşar Güler stated that the U.S. may finally be willing to deliver the F-35 jets to Turkey. Turkish Minister of National Defense, Yaşar Güler, shared some noteworthy updates…
China Protests Latest U.S. Navy P-8 Mission Over Taiwan Strait
Beijing dispatched naval, air forces to shadow a U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon flying west of Taiwan. China’s military announced on Nov. 26, 2024, that it had sent naval ships and…
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…
Clayton International Acquires Entire Italian Air Force HH-3F Helicopter Fleet
The U.S. company procured 26 HH-3F Pelican helicopters retired by the Italian Air Force 10 years ago. Clayton International, a leading player in helicopter maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO), specialized…
USS Boxer and 15th MEU Return From Action-Packed Deployment
From typhoon relief to joint drills: USS Boxer wraps up global mission. The crew of the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4), along with Marines from the 15th…
RAF Typhoons and Voyager Tanker Join U.S. Air Force’s B-52H Stratofortress Over Arabian Peninsula in BTF Mission
The flight consisted of two B-52Hs, two RAF Typhoon FGR4s and one Voyager aerial refueling aircraft. The bombers are involved in their first deployment in the Middle East since 2019,…
USMC KC-130J Completes Circumnavigation of the Globe During Two-Week Mission
The primary mission of this KC-130J assigned to VMGR-352 was to deliver equipment and Marines to Camp Lemonnier in support of CJTF-HOA. The mission also upheld the KC-130J Super Hercules’s…
Romania Signs Letter Of Acceptance to Acquire 32 F-35 Jets
Romania becomes the 20th nation to join the F-35 program. On Nov. 21, 2024, Romania became a part of the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II program by signing a LoA…
U.S. Approves Foreign Military Sale for South Korean F-15K Upgrade
The State Department has approved the possible sale of components that will allow South Korea to upgrade its F-15K Slam Eagle fleet to a configuration similar to the F-15EX Eagle…
Battle Manager-Pilot Commands AI-controlled Aircraft In Real Time During Skunk Works Test
Using a touchscreen pilot interface, a human "battle manager" in the cockpit of a flying aircraft gave real-time commands to AI-controlled aircraft. Skunk Works, Lockheed Martin's secretive advanced projects division,…
The Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet: Hitler’s Hot Rod Rocket Plane
Dangerous to Allied bombers as well as the ground crews that maintained it and the pilots that flew it, the tiny Me 163 had an amazing climb rate and top…
Russia Launches ‘New’ Ballistic Missile At Ukraine – Reports
Ukraine claims that Russia has used an ICBM to strike Dnipro; other Western sources say it was a "new" ballistic missile. Russia launched what some reports claim was an intercontinental…
New Engine Covers Help the Air Force Protect B-52s from Ice, Saving Time and Millions
The new engine pod covers, worth 1.2 million USD, will assist in preventing damage to the B-52 engines. Pilots and maintainers at Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) now have…
Turkey’s TB3 UCAV Takes Off, Lands ‘Autonomously’ On TCG Anadolu Amphibious Assault Ship
The TB3’s second prototype conducted its first flight from the ship, which is expected to serve as a dedicated drone carrier, following land-based ski-jump testing. Manufacturer Baykar stated that the…
UK Announces Retirement of Watchkeeper UAV, 14 Chinooks, 17 Pumas and 3 Royal Navy Ships
Defence Secretary John Healey announced in Parliament that several ‘outdated’ capabilities will be withdrawn from service to address a defence budget ‘black hole’ The entire British Army Watchkeeper UAV fleet…
F-15D Eagle Spotted with Unusual Infrared Measurement Pod
The pod appears to be previously unseen but closely resembles the Airborne Turret Infrared Measurement System III (ATIMS III), which is used to perform airborne IR signature measurements. A U.S.…
McDonnell Douglas (Boeing) F-15E Strike Eagle
The McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F-15E Strike Eagle is a supersonic all-weather multirole twin-seat strike fighter derived from a supersonic twin-engined air superiority fighter, the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle. The…
Royal Air Force Typhoon Test-fires latest SPEAR 3 Cruise Missile in Sweden
A Typhoon operated jointly by BAE Systems and the RAF’s 41 Test and Evaluation squadron has successfully demonstrated the future of the Royal Air Force’s and Royal Navy’s F-35B weapons…
F-16 Cockpit Collapsible ACE Ladder Wins Air Force Innovation Competition
F-16 pilot developed a cockpit stowable collapsible ladder to aid Agile Combat Employment operations. At a time when the U.S. Air Force is heavily pressing forward with ACE (Agile Combat…
Northrop Grumman Delivers First SiAW Test Missile to the U.S. Air Force
The delivery of the first test missile to the Air Force marks the beginning of flight testing to verify the safe interaction with the aircraft through captive carry and separation…
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…
Italian Typhoons Deployed for NATO BAP Mission Perform First Air-to-Ground Activity
The Italian Air Force Eurofighter Typhoons flew a training mission at a Lithuanian range with the Litening V LDP (Laser Designation Pod) and the GBU-48 Enhanced Paveway II bomb. For…
As General Atomics, Anduril Wingmen Drones Clear USAF Critical Design Review, Let’s Look at how Modern Wars are Informing the CCA Program
Air Force Materiel Command’s Col. Timothy M. Helfrich broke down what might constitute the Increment 1 and Increment 2 of the CCAs, describing how the service is changing the procurement…
First E-130J TACAMO Airframe in Production
The first C-130J-30 Hercules earmarked for conversion into an E-130J TACAMO aircraft for the U.S. Navy is in production. Fresh on the heels of the announcement that the U.S. Navy’s…
U.S. Navy to Develop F/A-XX Next-Generation Fighter Independently of Air Force NGAD
The Navy’s decision could shield the F/A-XX program from the impacts of the Air Force’s NGAD review, especially as the source selection process is ongoing, with a winner expected next…
Triple Decker Threat: The Fokker Dr.1 Story
Diminutive and nimble, the Fokker Dr.1 was Germany’s answer to the British Sopwith Triplane during the Great War over the skies of Europe, and was a favored mount of one…
Drunk British Soldiers Caught Engaging in Sexual Acts Inside Apache Helicopter Cockpit
A newly released report has revealed a 2016 incident where two soldiers were discovered naked from the waist down inside the cockpit of a parked Apache helicopter. During an exercise…
F-15E Crews Recall Mission to Repel Iranian Attack on Israel
The 494th Fighter Squadron pilots were recognized for downing several Iranian drones during the attack on Israel in April this year. In the night between April 13 and 14, 2024,…
Airbus Plans Eurofighter Manned-Unmanned Teaming Testbed
The STAR demonstrator will be used to test MUM-T capabilities with the Eurofighter Typhoon, thanks to technologies developed for the Long Term Evolution integrated in a pod. Airbus is preparing…
For the First Time, a General Atomics Gray Eagle STOL UAV Took Off from a South Korean Amphibious Assault Ship
The Gray Eagle STOL was transported onto the Dokdo disassembled a week earlier and, after a week of testing, performed the type’s first flight from ship to land. The drone…
U.S. Air Force Introduces KC-46 Tanker Demo Team
The 56th Air Refueling Squadron conducted the first KC-46 air display at an air show in Texas, recently. The 56th ARS from Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, made history on…
U.S. Navy’s Fleet Readiness Center East Inducts First CMV-22B Osprey for Planned Maintenance
With the start of the first Planned Maintenance Interval 1 service to the CMV-22B aircraft, the depot now services all three variants of the V-22 platform, which also include the…
U.S. Air Force to Withdraw A-10C From Korea Starting in January 2025
The service says it will transition away from the A-10C in Korea to focus on advancing fourth-generation fighter jet upgrades and enhancing fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft integration. The U.S. Air…
U.S. KC-135 Refuels RMAF Sukhoi Su-30 Fighters In Historic First
This marks the first publicly acknowledged instance of a U.S. Air Force KC-135 tanker refueling a Russian-made Su-30MKM aircraft. A KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 141st Air Refueling Wing, Washington…
Airbus Reveals A321 MPA as French Navy Prepares to Replace its Atlantique 2
Based on the A321XLR civilian airliner, the A321MPA features conformal radar arrays, MAD, ESM and a large weapons bay as part of its ASW modifications. Dassault Aviation also pitched a…
One Sailor Missing as Japanese Minesweeper Catches Fire and Capsizes
A Sugashima-class mine clearance vessel, the JS Ukushima, experienced a fire in the engine room on the morning of Nov. 10 off Oshima island, near the Fukuoka Prefecture, while it…
China Officially Unveils The J-20S, The World’s First Two-Seat Stealth Fighter
After it first broke cover in 2021, the J-20S two-seat stealth fighter jet’s existence has now been officially confirmed and a scale model has also been put on display at…
F-35C Makes its Combat Debut In Latest U.S. Air Strikes On Houthis in Yemen
Baptism of fire for the F-35C during U.S. operations targeting Houthi threats in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden region. F-35C deployed aboard USS Abraham Lincoln in the 5th…
Russian Ships Shadowed Through English Channel by Royal Navy and Royal Air Force Patrols
Frigate Admiral Golovko, tanker Vyazma, and intelligence ship Yantar were traced heading westwards through the Channel by frigate HMS Iron Duke, Merlin HM2 helicopters and RAF P-8 Poseidons. After departing…
Exclusive: Interview With An HC-130J Instructor Pilot of the 34th Weapons Squadron
Everything you've always wanted to ask an HC-130J Combat King II pilot but never had the courage to: conversation with an Instructor Pilot at Nellis Air Force Base. As you…
The B-21’s Price Is Decreasing With Over $5 Billion Saved for the First Five Lots
The insanely costly B-21 Raider program is apparently becoming less expensive, with the projected cost for the first five production lots dropping from $19.1 billion to $13.1 billion, a 28%…
Sweden Selects Embraer C-390 as C-130H Replacement
The Swedish Defense Minister signed a letter of intents to begin the acquisition process for the C-390, after previously exploring the acquisition of second-hand C-130Js. Sweden has announced that it…
The 301st Fighter Wing Receives Its First F-35A with ‘TX’ Tail Code
The first F-35 sporting the ‘TX’ has been officially taken on charge by the "Spads" at NAS JRB Fort Worth in Texas. Nearly a month after the F-35A Lightning II…
A-10C Demonstration Team Flies Final Show
Today marks the final A-10 Demo Team performance, after 1800 shows across 10 countries over the course of more than 40 years. Nov. 10, 2024, marked a sad day in…
Colombia Reportedly Considering Saab Gripen to Replace its Kfirs as Swedish Jet Debuts in Multinational Drill in Brazil
Colombia has been attempting to replace its old Kfirs and held talks with both Saab for the Gripen and Dassault for the Rafale in late 2022. Saab is also seeking…
Skunk Works Reveal New Stealthy Tanker Concept With Twin Flying Booms
The notional concept comes as the U.S. Air Force prepares for an analysis of alternatives for the Next Generation Aerial Refueling System (NGAS). Lockheed Martin’s secretive Skunk Works division has…
U.S. Air Force Establishes First KC-46A Pegasus Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron
The deployment of the 305th EARS represents the beginning of an enduring presence of the KC-46A Pegasus in the CENTCOM AOR, after a first short deployment in 2022.The U.S. Air…
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…
Live Model of China’s CH-7 Flying Wing Stealth UCAV Revealed
The new flying wing CH-7 UCAV has a blended wing-body airframe with a high level of stealth and long-range capability, reportedly focused on continuous reconnaissance and monitoring in highly dangerous…
MiG-29, MiG-21, and Two F-22s Carry Out Memorial Flyover For Col. (Ret.) Gail Peck At Nellis AFB
An unusual formation flew over Nellis AFB to honor retired U.S. Air Force Col. Gail Peck, "Bandit 1", who passed away recently. On Oct. 10, 2024, retired Col. Gaillard R.…
A Breakdown of the PLA Navy’s Catapult-Launched J-15T Unveiled ahead of Zhuhai Air Show
A CATOBAR capable J-15 fighter can operate from both the STOBAR-configured Liaoning and Shandong aircraft carriers with their ski-jumps as well as the EMALS-equipped Fujian, offering greater operational flexibility. China…
Royal Navy Proves Martlet Air-to-Air Capability in New Live-Fire Exercise
A Royal Navy Wildcat of 815 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) has successfully and independently shot down a Banshee target drone using the Martlet missile in the air-to-air role. Taking place…
Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor
The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor is a supersonic, twin-engine fifth-generation fighter equipped with advanced stealth technology and supercruise capability. Initially designed as an air superiority fighter, it has evolved into…
After 60 Years, EP-3E Aries II Spy Plane Carries Out Final Mission In 5th Fleet Area Of Operations
The last EP-3E Aries II of VQ-1 "World Watchers" has completed its final operational mission and returned home. On Oct. 29, 2024, after nearly sixty years of service, the EP-3E…
NASA’s X-59 Quiet Supersonic Aircraft Fires Up Engine For The First Time Ahead Of First Flight
X-59’s engine started for testing for the first time. NASA’s Quesst (“Quiet SuperSonic Technology”) mission recently achieved a key milestone as it began testing the engine that will power the…
U.S. Approves $4.92 Billion Sale of E-7 AEW&C Aircraft to South Korea
U.S. State Department greenlights sale of four E-7 Wedgetail aircraft to strengthen South Korea’s air defense. The U.S. State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to South Korea,…
VX-9 ‘Vampires’ F/A-18F Super Hornet Brandishes Heavy Air-to-Air Loadout During Gray Flag 2024
The heavy loadout, featuring four AIM-174s, three AIM-120s and two AIM-9s, first spotted on "Vandy 1" at the beginning of September, was not a one-off test. In September, we reported…
VAW-123 Retires Its Last E-2C Hawkeye to the ‘Boneyard’
Airborne Command and Control Squadron 123 "Screwtops" have retired the E-2C to continue transition to the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye. VAW-123 sent two of its four remaining E-2C Hawkeye AEW&C (Airborne…
China’s J-35A Stealth Fighter to be Officially Unveiled at Zhuhai Air Show
With its arrival at Zhuhai airport, the PLAAF has officially unveiled the J-35A, the land-based variant of the J-35. China has been actively marketing for export the aircraft, once known…
Prototypes of Su-57 Make Debut at Chinese Airshow, Offering Unprecedented Access to the ‘Felon’
The two Su-57s drew public attention in Zhuhai, though the reaction and commentary about the Russian jet were not particularly enthusiastic regarding its manufacturing quality. The Russian Su-57 (NATO reporting…
FRCSW Completes Final Maintenance On Its Last Legacy Hornet
FRCSW managed to push the Legacy F/A-18’s service hours well beyond its original 6,000-flight-hour expectation, with some even exceeding 9,000 hours. Fleet Readiness Center Southwest (FRCSW), at NAS North Island,…
USV and UUV Maritime Drones Tested at AUKUS’s Autonomous Warrior 24 in Australia
AUKUS countries are advancing their undersea warfare capabilities by expanding the ability to launch and recover uncrewed underwater systems from torpedo tubes on British and US submarines, increasing the range…
U.S. Air Force Chief Weighs In on Drone Employment in Ukraine, Middle East and Western Pacific
General David Allvin advised against directly replicating the drones used in Ukraine for immediate deployment in the maritime theater of Far East Asia. He stated that 150 CCAs would be…
Everything You Need To Know About Last Year’s Bizarre ‘Unmanned’ F-35 Crash
The 2023 crash of the F-35B, which continued flying for 64 miles after the pilot ejected, was attributed to pilot error. The investigation revealed that the pilot followed an appropriate…
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…
USMC F-35Bs, Venoms, Vipers, and Stinger Missiles Defend Beach from Amphibious Attack in Joint Exercise
U.S. Marines of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) joined the Philippine 3rd Marine Brigade and other allies in a live-fire coastal defence exercise at Apurawan Beach on Oct. 22,…
U.S. Air Force Announces Strategic Bomber Deployment to Europe
A U.S. Air Force press release has confirmed the next Bomber Task Force deployment to Europe will begin in the coming days, most likely to RAF Fairford, UK. Bomber Task…
SNC Receives Second Boeing 747-8 for SAOC Conversion as Aircraft Gets E-4C Designation
The second Boeing 747-8 arrived in Dayton after a 12-hour flight from Seoul and will be converted to a ‘Doomsday’ aircraft at SNC’s Aviation Innovation and Technology Center. Sierra Nevada…
20 Years Ago Today: The Final Operational Flight of the Iconic F-104 Starfighter
The final chapter in the operational career of the legendary F-104 unfolded at Grazzanise Air Base on Oct. 31, 2004. Of the 15 nations that operated one of the 2,580…
