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 Rafale is a multirole 4th generation (or 4.5+ in the latest version) fighter capable of supersonic flight and developed by the French firm Dassault Aviation. The Rafale, whose name…
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 stealth fighter. Designed as an air superiority fighter it has evolved into a multirole platform, capable of performing both air-to-air and…
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…
China’s Liaoning and Shandong Aircraft Carriers Conduct their First Dual-Carrier Exercises in the South China Sea
The dual carrier exercise, which involved for the first time the new CATOBAR variant of the J-15, was part of the PLA Navy’s annual training plan and aimed at improving…
LITENING Targeting Pod Completes Initial Flight Testing on U.S. Navy Super Hornet
The successful completion of the initial flight testing is a further step towards deploying the LITENING pod to the fleet. The LITENING targeting pod has successfully completed its initial flight…
Brazil Evaluating the M-346FA as a Key Player in the Modernization of its Defense
Leonardo is preparing to make a strong entry into the Latin American market by presenting the M-346 as a valid solution to replace Brazil's outdated AMX and A-4 aircraft, with…
Japanese V-22 Osprey Suffers Partial Damage During Take-Off; No Injuries but Tokyo Grounds Tilt-Rotors
The V-22 was taking part in a MEDEVAC/CASEVAC scenario as part of exercise Keen Sword. It lost balance and swung from side to side when it attempted to take off…
First F-35A Lightning II for Finland in Production
The first F-35 Lightning II for the Finnish Air Force, JF-501, is now in production, with roll out expected in 2025. Finland selected the F-35 in 2021 to replace the…
F-35 Joint Program Office Hosts First-Ever International Crash Recovery Training
The U.S. Air Force’s F-35 Joint Program Office recently hosted the first-ever global Crash Damaged or Disabled Aircraft Recovery (CDDAR) Team Chief Course at Volk Field. From Sept. 8-14, 2024,…
U.S. Air Force Considers ‘Expanded’ Role for B-21 Raider Amid NGAD Review
As part of the review of its future air superiority concept, the U.S. Air Force is evaluating a larger role for the B-21 Raider. The size of the fleet on…
F-16 from 85th Squadron Completes First Flight with Integrated Viper Electronic Warfare Suite
Set to replace the legacy Viper's EW systems, the new IVEWS flew for the first time in an F-16 last month. Last month, an F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 85th…
Department of Defense Audit Exposes Boeing’s Overpricing of C-17 Spare Parts
Boeing charged the Air Force excessive prices for some C-17 spare parts, DoD Inspector General report highlights. In an interesting new report, the Department of Defense’s Office of Inspector General…
Rockwell B-1 Lancer
The Rockwell B-1 is a supersonic variable-sweep wing heavy bomber serving in the fleet of the United States Air Force along with its subsonic stablemates, the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber…
Video of Mysterious Drone Allegedly Flying Over Lebanon Sparks Speculation on Secret Israeli RA-01 Stealth UAV
A closer look at the clip of a drone claimed to be Israel’s secretive stealth RA-01 drone. A low-resolution video, likely recorded from a considerable distance with a smartphone, was…
Israel to Operationalize Iron Beam Laser-Based Directed Energy Weapon Within a Year
Israeli officials describe the Iron Beam system as being designed to work in tandem with existing air defense platforms such as Iron Dome, Arrow, and David's Sling. Israel’s Defense Ministry…
Fleet Readiness Center East Delivers Final AV-8B Harrier to Fleet
Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) recently marked a significant chapter's end by completing its last AV-8B Harrier maintenance overhaul. As the U.S. Marine Corps proceeds with its plan to retire…
South Korea Reconsidering Additional U.S. AH-64E Apaches Due to Concerns Over Battlefield Vulnerability, High Cost
South Korean officials questioned the wisdom of spending 70% of the Army’s annual budget on the Apaches considering how Russian attack helicopters were rapidly shot down by MANPADS during the…
Poor Quality Control and Outdated Equipment at Steel Company Behind Failed Gears on Ill-Fated CV-22 Osprey
The CV-22B Osprey crashed following a catastrophic failure in the left-hand Prop Rotor Gear Box, triggered by a crack in one of the high-speed pinion gears manufactured from a special…
UK Ministry of Defence Announces £100M Redevelopment Project at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose
A new hangar and air engineering training school will be constructed at the base, home of the Royal Navy’s Merlin HM2 helicopters, alongside refurbishment of existing facilities. In the first…
Israel Strikes Iran: Complete Debriefing
Everything You Need to Know About Last Night's Israeli Attack on Iran. Israel launched direct strikes against Iran during the night between Friday, Oct. 25, and Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024,…
First Bulgarian F-16 Block 70 Performs Maiden Flight
Bulgaria will be the second European country to receive the newly built F-16 Block 70, with 16 fighters to be delivered as replacement for the MiG-29 fleet. Lockheed Martin announced…
Lockheed Martin Developing New Collaborative Combat Aircraft Technology for F-35s
Despite missing out on the USAF’s first CCA contract, Lockheed Martin is continuing to invest in the technology, aiming to outfit F-35s with the capability to control multiple CCAs simultaneously…
‘Puff the Magic Dragon’: The ‘Spooky’ Story of the AC-47 Gunship
Unleashing horrifying firepower and raining death and destruction on to the communist forces in Vietnam from the dark skies above, the AC-47 fixed-wing gunship was the first of its kind.…
Germany’s PEGASUS SIGINT Aircraft Performs Maiden Flight
The PEGASUS aircraft, based on the Bombardier Global 6000, is the first of three that will be later integrated with the Hensoldt Kalætron Integral SIGINT sensor suite for the German…
Secretive Phoenix Ghost Loitering Munitions Sent to Ukraine Since 2022 Revealed at AUSA Symposium
AEVEX produces two one-way attack drones, described as Group 3 UAS, as part of the Phoenix Ghost family. While the Dominator was already present on the company's website, the Disruptor…
‘Dear Minister Of Defense, Please Pay Our Bonuses’: Russian Bomb Used For An Unprecedented Protest
In an unprecedented protest, Russian military personnel have found a unique way to voice their frustrations over unpaid bonuses: inscription on a glide bomb. As is occasionally seen also in…
RAF Rivet Joint Completes Historic Surveillance Mission Along NATO’s border from Mediterranean to Barents Sea
A Royal Air Force RC-135W Rivet Joint has become the first allied aircraft to complete a full transit along NATO's eastern border, from the southernmost point of Greece to the…
China’s Z-10 Attack Helicopters Seen Operating from a Civilian Semi-Submersible Vessel
In a maritime role in the SCS, the Z-10 would have to travel hundreds of kilometers over the sea, imposing severe time, refueling and logistical constraints to the operational capabilities.…
EP-3E Spy Plane Involved in 2001 Collision with Chinese J-8 Joins Pima Air and Space Museum
The EP-3E, severely damaged, performed an unauthorized landing at Lingshui airfield triggering a diplomatic standoff between the U.S. and China. Although the U.S. Navy has postponed the retirement of its…
German P-8s to Routinely Forward Deploy to the UK as Part of ‘Landmark’ Trinity House Agreement
UK Defence Secretary John Healey and German Defence Minister Boris Pistorious signed a wide-reaching defence agreement at Trinity House, London, marking increased cooperation on military research and German aircraft operating…
VFA-86, Navy’s Third F-35C Squadron, Earns Full Safe-For-Flight Certification
The Sidewinders of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 86 recently achieved the crucial certification. VFA-86, the third squadron of the U.S. Navy to be equipped with the F-35C Lightning II aircraft,…
Massive MH-53E Sea Dragon Helicopter Delivered To The Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum
HM-12 flew the MH-53E Sea Dragon 160633 "Dragon 437" to Titusville’s Warbird Museum. Its the first of its kind to be displayed in a museum. On Oct. 16, 2024, Helicopter…
B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber Completes Programmed Depot Maintenance 91 Days Ahead of Schedule
The potentially game-changing achievement is a result of new processes and practices adopted by the AFLCMC’s Bombers Directorate to improve the efficiency of the B-2 PDM and ‘get the work…
U.S. Navy Super Hornets Refuel Four Italian F-35Bs and Four Harriers Over The Gulf Of Aden
The refuelings took place over the Gulf of Aden as the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group (CSG) conducted a Multi-Large Deck Event (MLDE) with the Italian Navy’s ITS Cavour…
New Laser-Based Countermeasure for RAF Defeats Multiple Missiles at Once in Live-Fire Test
During a live-fire test, the new RAF self-protection system, based on the Thales Elix-IR threat warning system and the Leonardo Miysis DIRCM, shot down 100% of the heat-seeking missiles launched…
U.S. Navy Designates E-130J as E-6B TACAMO Successor
The new E-130J TACAMO aircraft will be based on the C-130J-30 airframe with a number of modifications intended to host the mission equipment. The U.S. Navy’s Airborne Strategic Command, Control…
Lockheed Martin Executive Remotely Controls UH-60 Black Hawk from 300 Miles Away During Demo at AUSA Symposium
The flight simulated ‘contested logistics operations’ where a ground crew hooked up a sling load to the helicopter remotely controlled through the MATRIX system. Tactical flights ferrying supplies from logistics…
U.S. Navy Identifies The Two Aviators Killed In The EA-18G Crash In Washington State
Lt. Cmdr. Lyndsay “Miley” Evans and Lt. Serena “Dug” Wileman of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 130 were aboard the Growler that crashed near Mount Rainier. As already reported, an EA-18G…
Russian FPV Drone Blows Up Magura-like Kamikaze USV for Target Practice in the Black Sea – Video
The FPV drone flown from the patrol vessel makes it ‘harder for operators to pilot’ the UAV while the USVs ‘change course and speed.’ FPV drone operators thus “require practical…
F-35B Lands on Japan’s JS Kaga for the First Time as JMSDF Prepares to Operate STOVL Jet
The JS Kaga’s flight deck was modified to operate the F-35B and be used as a ‘Lightning Carrier’. The tests off the southern coast of California also pave the way…
Greece Declines NATO Baltic Air Policing Mission, Wraps Up First ‘Ramstein Flag’ Exercise
Greece has reportedly declined a NATO request to deploy F-16s for air policing in the Baltic region due to its existing obligations in the Balkans and recent international exercises. The…
Ground Mishap Involving F-16 and Weapons Loader Results in $30 Million Damage
A U.S. Air Force F-16C was struck by an out-of-control MJ-1 jammer, causing a fuel leak. Sparks emitted from the jammer ignited a fire that engulfed both the jammer and…
Unique Photos and Footage Capture an F-22 Raptor Aborting Takeoff After a Tire Burst at Kadena
Rare F-22 tire blowout incident caught on camera. Images taken by X user @ma6400 outside Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, show a quite rare incident involving a U.S. Air…
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s House Attacked by Drone
Three drones crossed the border from Lebanon to Israel, with two intercepted and one hitting a house in Caesarea while Netanyahu was not at the location. It’s not clear if…
Packing a Deadly Bite, the P-61 Black Widow was a Nocturnal Nemesis to Axis Aircraft
Northrop’s night fighter was large, heavily armed, and fast for its size; the United States first night fighter designed from the ground up could find enemy aircraft in the dark…
Photos Of Italian Eurofighters Taken By Russian Pilots In The Baltics Spark Sensationalist Reactions
The Fighterbomber Telegram channel, known for its ties to the Russian Air Force, shared routine images of Italian Air Force Eurofighter Typhoons flying over the Baltic Sea. These relatively ordinary…
First Wedgetail AEW1 Receives Royal Air Force Paint Scheme
The Royal Air Force's first E-7A Wedgetail, designated Wedgetail AEW1, has now been painted in full military colors, although the fin flash appears to have been applied backward. Less than…
Two Highly Modified L-29 Jets Deploy to Edwards AFB To Support United States Air Force Test Pilot School’s Activities
Despite being nearly 60 years old, the two L-29 jets were critical to advancing the student curriculum and gathering vital data for ongoing research in machine learning and autonomy. The…
Lockheed Martin to Upgrade U.S. Army’s Apache Helicopters with New Electronic Warfare Capability
Intel’s Altera developed the MCP-2 that can be customized to different functions. The Gen 3 RFI systems will be powered by this ‘state-of-the-art microelectronics and modern software capabilities,’ offering ‘improved…
Nebraska Air National Guard Honors WWII P-38 Pilot with Special Heritage KC-135 Stratotanker
The KC-135 heritage jet will remain in service with its WWII-inspired paint scheme until 2025. The Nebraska Air National Guard’s 155th Air Refueling Wing (ARW) unveiled a historic KC-135R Stratotanker…
Royal Navy Releases Stunning Photos of HMS Prince of Wales and F-35Bs As Exercise Strike Warrior 24 Kicks Off
As Exercise Strike Warrior 24 begins, the Royal Navy has released a series of excellent images showcasing HMS Prince of Wales and its air wing’s preparations for the occasion. Taking…
Conti Federal Contracted to Build Fuel Cell Hangar for the B-21 Raider at Ellsworth AFB worth $31 Million
In addition to the Fuel Cell Hangar, the company is presently constructing four other facilities in support of the B-21 Raider at Ellsworth AFB. These include a Radio Frequency Hangar,…
Search Still Underway For Missing Crew Members After U.S. Navy EA-18G Crashes Near Mt. Rainier
The EA-18G Growler belonging to VAQ-130 crashed on October 15, 2024 during a training flight. An EA-18G Growler Electronic Attack aircraft belonging to the Electronic Attack Squadron 130 (VAQ-130) “Zappers” carrying two…
Breaking: B-2 Stealth Bombers Take Part in Strikes Against Houthi Rebels in Yemen For The First Time
First operational use of the B-2 Spirit bomber in Yemen. On Oct. 17, 2024, U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit stealth bombers were deployed for the first time in airstrikes against…
U.S. Navy T-45 Goshawk Jets Start Receiving Glossy Gray Paint
The new glossy gray finish will replace the traditional orange-and-white livery of the U.S. Navy T-45 trainer aircraft. The U.S. Navy’s Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA) has recently initiated…
China’s Carrier-Killing KD-21 Ballistic Missile Shown as Part of CH-Series UCAV’s Munitions
The KD-21 is a serious strategic weapon that has been appearing underneath the H-6K bombers. Chinese commanders would not mind if a UCAV can fire a strategic weapon at half…
First F-35 For The 301st Fighter Wing Sporting the ‘TX’ Tail Code Has Flown
The jet with the TX tail code will soon join the fleet of the "Spads" as part of the first stand-alone F-35 Air Force Reserve Wing. The F-35A Lightning II…
Northrop Grumman Releases New Details And Video Of Its Jackal Loitering Munition
Northrop Grumman is developing the Jackal, a turbojet-powered next gen missile designed for precision strikes. This versatile weapon features modular capabilities, allowing it to carry both lethal and non-lethal payloads.…
Leonardo Unveils BriteStorm: An Advanced Digital Warfare Payload for UAVs And Launched Effects
BriteStorm is an advanced digital electronic warfare payload designed by Leonardo to be deployed on UAVs and launched effects, providing high-powered jamming and deception techniques to suppress and neutralize modern…
Taiwan’s F-16s Capture Footage of PLAN J-15 as China Holds Joint Sword-2024B Exercise With Liaoning Aircraft Carrier
The thermal mode video from the RoCAF F-16V’s Sniper ATP shows a Flanker-type aircraft with highly swept canards, confirming that the Chinese jet is a J-15, a derivative of the…
Royal Navy Wildcat Test-fires Sea Venom Anti-Ship Missile
A Wildcat HMA2 has successfully test fired a single Sea Venom missile as the Royal Navy marches on to the weapon systems Full Operational Capability (FOC) in 2026. Originally slated…
DARPA Awards Sikorsky $6M Contract to Equip U.S. Army Black Hawk with Advanced Autonomy
Sikorsky to add add cutting-edge MATRIX technology to the UH-60M Black Hawk, pushing the limits of Autonomous Military Aviation. Sikorsky, has secured a $6 million contract from DARPA (Defense Advanced…
Ukraine’s Su-27 Shown with GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs for the First Time
A video showcasing the work of the Ukrainian logistics forces shows the GBU-39s being loaded on a Su-27. Moreover, the video shows for the first time the AIM-9Xs delivered to…
U.S. Marine Corps’ VMFA-533 Receives First F-35B Lightning II Block 4 at MCAS Beaufort
The delivery makes VMFA-533 the Marine Corps’ second operational F-35B Lightning II unit on the East Coast. TR-3 supported Block 4 F-35s offer better electronic warfare and target recognition capabilities.…
ROKAF Shows Rare Taurus KEPD ALCM Live Fire in Double Purpose Strike-Cruise Missile Defense Exercise
The exercise shows the Republic of Korea Air Force F-15K Slam Eagle employing the Taurus KEPD to hit a target 400 km away, while F-35s, KF-16s and an E-737 were…
Taiwan’s Chien Hsiang Loitering Munition ‘Soars’ to Mass Production, as Taipei Reconsiders Advanced Defense Fighter, Prioritizes Asymmetric Warfare – Reports
Taiwan could not develop the engine and electronics for the ADF, while foreign defense firms were unwilling to participate as primary contractors. Meanwhile, the military is showing signs of shifting…
U.S. Navy Postpones Retirement Of The EP-3E Spyplane Amid Ongoing Operational Commitments
The last EP-3Es may not be retired until March 2025, meanwhile, the planned homecoming ceremony for VQ-1 crews has been delayed due to Navy Operations. A homecoming ceremony planned for…
F-15E Returns To Active Service After Spending More Than Four Years Grounded
The F-15E Strike Eagle remained grounded for four years due to a landing gear issue. After spending more than four years grounded due to a landing gear malfunction, F-15E Strike…
A Close-Up Look at the F-35’s Highway Operations during the Baana 24 Exercise
A newly released cockpit video gives a first-person view of the U.S. F-35s as they operated from a highway strip during the Baana24 exercise in Finland last month. A new…
Israel Repeatedly Fired on UNIFIL HQ in Southern Lebanon, Injuring Peacekeepers
Italy's Defence Minister condemns Israeli attack on UNIFIL bases as "Intolerable" and "Not an Accident". Italy issued a formal protest to Israel on Thursday after attacks targeted the headquarters of…
U.S. Space Force Will Use Aerobraking to Change X-37B Orbit
The innovative use of aerobraking will allow the X-37B to efficiently and safely dispose of the service module, using minimal fuel thanks to decades of experience of the scientific community…
France Announces Development of Rafale F5 With New UCAV And Nuclear Missile
The new UCAV that will complement the Rafale F5 will benefit from the achievements of the nEUROn program. The development comes at a time of changes in air warfare and…
Leidos’ ‘Black Arrow’ Small Cruise Missile Ready for Flight Tests
Leidos is readying for a new test campaign which will evaluate its ‘Black Arrow’ small cruise missile during guided test flights from the back of an AC-130J gunship. Defense contractor…
Grand Forks AFB Conducts the First Hot Pit Refuel of a B-1B Lancer in 30 Years as Relocation Looms
The hot pit refuel drill demonstrated the B-1B Lancer is capable of operating from other air bases for strike missions in the backdrop of Ellsworth’s fleet possibly temporarily relocating to…
U.S. Air Force Contracts Lockheed Martin for AGM-158B JASSM and AGM-158C LRASM Missiles worth $3.5 Billion
The JASSM contract will supply missiles to the Air Force, Navy and Allies comprising Japan, the Netherlands, Finland and Poland. Another contract worth $358 million is meant for the LRASM…
Royal Navy Wildcat Pilot Awarded After Landing Helicopter Safely With Major Engine Fault During MEDEVAC Flight
Pilot Lt Dan Burnett has received a commendation from the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society for his actions in safely recovering a Wildcat AH1 helicopter to its ship after it developed a…
New Renderings Unveiled for Aurora’s X-Plane Concept Featuring Fan-in-Wing Technology
Aurora Flight Sciences’ Fan-in-Wing technology development progresses: flight testing of the final design is targeted for 2027. Aurora Flight Sciences, a subsidiary of Boeing, has just unveiled new renderings showcasing…
Royal Navy’s Fast Jets Are Back On A Carrier After 15 Years
The F-35Bs of 809 Naval Air Squadron have joined HMS Prince of Wales in the North Sea for a month of training as they prepare for the first deployment next…
Photographer Captures Cool Shot Of B-21 Raider Stealth Bomber During Test Flight
The Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider was chased by an F-16 from Edwards Air Force Base during its test flight when it was caught on camera. Following its first flight from…
U.S. Approves EA-37B Compass Call Foreign Military Sale to Italy
The State Department approved the FMS to Italy of an unspecified number of EA-37B aircraft, two years after the MoD first mentioned the intention of acquiring the Electronic Attack system.…
Historic U.S. Military Aircraft Join Hurricane Helene Relief Operations
C-47 Skytrains “Placid Lassie” and “Chalk 40” and a pair of UH-1 Hueys are among the many unique aviation assets helping to deliver supplies and aid in the wake of…
First Air-to-Air Images Of The B-52H In Distinctive ‘Test Orange’ Paint Scheme Released
The U.S. Air Force has released more photographs and details about the pretty unique the B-52H in orange paint scheme. The U.S. Air Force has just released the first aerial…
The Soviet Union’s First Jet Bomber: The Ilyushin Il-28 ‘Beagle’
Making a flyover appearance at the 1950 Soviet May Day parade, the Il-28 went on to become one of the most prolific, reliable, and adaptable bombers in the arsenals of…
C-130 Test Pilot Achieves a Whopping 10,000 Flight Hours
10,000 flight hours in the C-130: the most hours ever recorded by a pilot in the Hercules. On Sept. 24, 2024, Gary Hogg, a seasoned test pilot logged his 10,000th flight…
JASDF Fighter Squadron Revives its Retired F-4 Phantoms’ Colored Tail Markings on its F-35A
The 302nd Squadron chose a local species of eagle as its mascot, native to the mountains around its home base in Misawa, called Ojirowashi (white-tailed sea eagle). Japan has a…
Rare Russian-Made, U.S.-Operated Mi-17 Helicopter Spotted in South Carolina
A number of Mi-17 helicopters are believed to be operated by the U.S. Army’s secretive Aviation Technology Office, which also provides aviation support to special operations forces during covert missions.…
Insane Videos Show The Moment A Russian S-70 UCAV Is Shot Down by Russian Fighter Jet Over Ukraine
Clips show what is believed to be a Russian Su-57 shooting down wingman S-70 UCAV; claims swirl around loss of control. Videos have started appearing online on Oct. 5, 2024,…
China’s Liaoning Carrier Clocks 630 Aircraft Sorties, Appears in New Locations in Western Pacific – Japan MoD
Japan’s Joint Staff marked spots in the Pacific waters east of the Philippines as ‘newly announced locations’ for the Chinese navy. The PLA Navy’s Liaoning CSG (Carrier Strike Group), operating…
Falcon Leap 2024: Strengthening NATO’s Aerial Mobility and Multinational Cooperation
The largest multinational airdrop training exercise in Europe. Hosted by the Royal Netherlands Air Force, Falcon Leap, an annual multinational exercise was held between Sept. 9 - 21, 2024, and…
Spanish EF-18 Hornet Crashes Killing Pilot
Experienced Spanish Air Force pilot dies in EF-18 Hornet crash near Teruel. An F-18 Hornet of the Spanish Air Force crashed near Peralejos in the province of Teruel, in eastern…
The U.S. Air Force Has Released The First Official Images Of The B-52 In Orange Paint Scheme
The B-52 sporting the amazing throwback paint scheme has returned at Barksdale Air Force Base. As reported in details a few days ago, a U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress bomber…
Germany’s Renaissance Fighter: The Heinkel He 51
Kept under a veil of civilian airlines, glider clubs, and civil aviation clubs, the Luftwaffe emerged as a military force while the rest of Europe slept, and the He 51…
U.S. Air Force Airman Develops 3D-Printed Insert to Solve Perennial 20 mm Ammunition Jams While Loading
The 3D-printed insert allows to address a design issue of the machinery used to handle 20 mm munitions for the M61 Vulcan Gatling gun, demonstrating the increasing use of additive…
U.S. Navy Tests Sonobuoy Deployment from CH-53E Super Stallion Helicopter
Reminiscent of early-World War I bomber tactics, the Navy has tested hand-deploying sonobuoys from the CH-53E heavy-lift helicopter. Announced on Sept. 27, 2024, the United States Navy said it had…
Ellsworth’s B-1B Lancers Practice Long-Range Strikes with JASSMs in Full-Scale Readiness Exercise Raider Reach
Raider Reach evaluated Ellsworth’s capability to generate and execute long-range strikes around the globe with the B-1B through realistic combat and emergency scenarios simulated during the first full-scale readiness exercise…
Taiwan Receives First Batch of U.S. Harpoon Block II Anti-Ship Missiles
Taiwan has announced a new Coastal Defense Command, scheduled to operationalize by 2026 and to employ shore-fired anti-ship Harpoons Block II and Taiwan’s own Hsiung Feng-series of anti-ship missiles. Reports…
[Live Updating] Iran Has Launched A Massive Ballistic Missile Attack On Israel
Hours after the first reports about an imminent attack, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has launched hundreds of ballistic missiles against targets across Israel. On Oct. 1, 2024, Iran launched…
U.S. Air Force A-10C, F-16C and F-15E Deploying to the Middle East as Iran Launches Ballistic Missiles Attack on Israel
Three more U.S. Air Force squadrons are being deployed to the CENTCOM AOR as Iran threatened and launched a massive attack on Israel with ballistic missiles. The U.S. Department of…
A U.S. B-52H Bomber Has Received An Incredible Throwback Color Scheme
The B-52H 61-0028 has the forward fuselage, wings near the wingtips, engine nacelles, and vertical stabilizer painted in dayglo orange, contrasting the typical dark gray paint of the Stratofortress. A…
Production Prototype of Turkey’s Kizilelma UCAV Makes Maiden Flight With New Engine and Sensors
The third prototype of Kizilelma is also the production prototype, which shows a number of changes, including an afterburning engine, structural differences and aerodynamic improvements for higher performance. The production…
Video Released of Russian Su-35’s Unprofessional and Unsafe Maneuver During F-16 Intercept off Alaska
The Su-35S was escorting a Russian Tu-95 off Alaska when it performed an unsafe maneuver directed at the U.S. F-16. On September 23, 2024, the North American Aerospace Defense Command…
U.S. F-16 In Aggressor Paint Scheme Intercepts Russian Navy Il-38 In The Alaska ADIZ
As happened in May 2024, F-16 in Russian-inspired camouflage color scheme recently intercepted Russian aircraft off Alaska. Earlier this month, Russian Navy Il-38 and Il-38N "Dolphin" (NATO codename "May") Anti-Submarine…
Robot Dogs, UGVs and Apaches Downing Drones with Hellfires at the US-Saudi Counter-UAS Exercise
The Red Sands Counter-UAS drills took place in a region with heavy UAS activity and with an Ally that combated asymmetric drone attacks by the Houthis much before the wars…
F-15I Jets Dropped Bunker-Buster Bombs in Targeted Strike on Hezbollah’s Nasrallah
F-15I, GBU-31 Bunker-Buster Bombs, and Nasrallah: Israel's High-Stakes Airstrike. In a landmark operation, nicknamed "New Order", the Israeli Air Force employed its F-15I Ra’am jets equipped with GPS-aided GBU-31(V)3/B JDAM…
U.S. Air Force’s MH-139A Grey Wolf Participates in First Training Exercise at Maxwell AFB
The MH-139A Grey Wolf, meant to replace the U.S. Air Force’s Vietnam-era UH-1N Hueys, is now gradually being fielded and integrated into the nuclear defense mission, after the delivery of…
RAF Eurofighter Typhoon Flies with Leonardo’s ECRS Mk.2 Radar For The First Time
The first flight of the new ECRS Mk.2 AESA radar on the Typhoon marks a milestone in the ongoing development of the aircraft to keep it relevant in the next…
Final Flight: The Dutch F-16’s Farewell Flight At Volkel Air Base
Focus on the final flight of the Dutch F-16 over the Netherlands. As already reported here, on Sept. 27, 2024, the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) bid farewell to its…
Check Out These Photos From Cobra Warrior 24-2 – Including a Revelation About a Canadian Hornet
Cobra Warrior 24-2 is a large multinational exercise taking place in the UK between Sept. 16 and Oct. 4 2024, directed by the Air and Space Warfare Centre at RAF…
Specialized C-130J Will Be Next-Generation Hurricane Hunter Aircraft
NOAA Awards Lockheed Martin Contract for Next-Generation C-130J Hurricane Hunter Aircraft On Sept. 27, 2024, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced a major step forward in its hurricane…
Embedded GPS/INS Failure and Pilot Disorientation Led to 2023 F-16C Mishap In South Korea
A detailed look at the accident and lessons learned from the December 2023 U.S. F-16 crash near Kunsan AB. On Dec. 11, 2023, at around 08:42 local time, a pilot…
Ford’s Trimotor ‘Tin Goose’: The Story of the 4-AT and 5-AT
Henry Ford claimed the all-metal, three-engine airliner was “the safest airliner around”, and it was rugged, simple, and reliable. Over one hundred airlines from all over the world flew Ford’s…
End of an Era: Bidding Farewell to the F-16 in the RNLAF After 45 Years of Service
With the F-16 retirement, all the operational duties are being transferred to the F-35, making the RNLAF the second air force with a 5th gen-only fighter fleet after it has…
U.S. Air Force Retires Final KC-10A Extender in Ceremony at Travis AFB, California
The final KC-10A flies to the boneyard after a 44-year career while the USAF and lawmakers continue to debate the replacement tanker. On Sept. 26, 2024, the U.S. Air Force…
HMS Prince of Wales Planned to Sail This Weekend for Exercise Strike Warrior with 809 Naval Air Squadron F-35Bs
Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales is due to depart HMNB Portsmouth this weekend for Exercise Strike Warrior, hosting F-35Bs from 809 Naval Air Squadron and 617 Squadron.…
JGSDF V-22 Osprey Lands on Helicopter Carrier JS Izumo as Tilt-Rotor Appears to Resume Regular Flights
In early September, the 107th Squadron conducted takeoff and landing training with the V-22 on the JMSDF destroyer Izumo, while the sister ship JS Kaga will soon start trials with…
First Image of Unidentified Object Shot Down By F-22 Over Canada In 2023 Emerges
Here's the mysterious object shot down by U.S. Air Force F-22 over Yukon, Canada, last year. In a significant development, CTVNews.ca recently obtained a photograph of the unidentified object that…
NATO Concludes Three-Week Deployment of E-3A Sentry AWACS to Norway’s Rygge Air Base
For three weeks, NATO E-3A aircraft ‘flew surveillance and monitoring missions in an airspace north of Iceland as part of wider NATO joint vigilance operations’. Italian and French Airborne Early…
First Images of F-35 Carrying AGM-158C Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile Released
The U.S. Navy has started the testing of the LRASM anti-ship weapon on the F-35C, with the first captive carry test flights in early September to evaluate the integration of…
Aurora Flight Sciences Shows Liberty Lifter Concept Of Operations
The video shows how Liberty Lifter can combine heavy-lift transport at the scale of a ship with the speed of an aircraft for fast logistics missions in a sea environment.…
Let’s Talk About the U.S. Marines Reopening WW2 Airfields To Prepare For Future Scenarios
After the first one in the Pacific few months ago, the USMC renovated and reopened another WW2 airfield in North Carolina which will serve as a multipurpose outlying landing field.…
Greek F-35s Possibly Built Both in the U.S. and Italy, First Deliveries in 2028
Lockheed Martin says work is on schedule to deliver the first F-35s to Greece in 2028, with the first eight aircraft expected to be built in the United States and…
Ukraine in Talks with Allies for Gripens and Typhoons – Ukrainian Defense Minister
Motivating the talks for Gripens and Typhoons, Defense Minister Rustem Umyerov said Russia currently uses up to 300 aircraft and the same number of helicopters in the war against Ukraine,…
U.S. and British Army’s AH-64E Apache Helicopters Fly Together for the First Time in Exercise Saber Junction
An interesting strike mission involved U.S. AH-64E Apaches teaming up with British AW159 Wildcat helicopters, which acted as forward reconnaissance units, relaying intelligence and designating targets for Hellfire missiles. British…
Distinctive MH-47G Chinooks from U.S. Army 160th SOAR ‘Night Stalkers’ Exercise in the UK
Two MH-47G Chinooks from the U.S. Army’s elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment have made a rare deployment to the United Kingdom to take part in joint training with British…
The Avia S-199: Israel’s Unlikely Deliverer
The newly formed State of Israel made use of the only thing available, it wasn’t the best and they didn’t have a lot of them, but in one of history’s…
Let’s Talk About the U.S. Air Force’s ‘Operation Polar Vortex’ With B-52s Over Alaska
Operation Polar Vortex demonstrated the ability to rapidly deploy forces to the Arctic in defense of the homelands, validating operational capabilities from strategic locations in the region and expanding multi-domain…
Japan Pushing Domestically-Developed Electronic Warfare Aircraft based on the Kawasaki P-1 MPA
The Japan MoD said that aircraft like the EP-3, the EW variant of the P-3C Orion, itself being replaced by the P-1 where it uses both the U.S.-origin planes, do…
193rd Special Operations Wing Says Farewell to The Unique EC-130J Commando Solo III Fleet
The last two airplanes, tail numbers 96-8153 and 99-1933, were previous EC-130Js and converted to “slick” C-130Js. The 193rd SOW becomes the Air National Guard’s first MC-130J unit while the…
Tales From The A-6 Intruder Cockpit: AGM-84 Harpoon vs Libyan Patrol Craft
Operation Prairie Fire: The First Use of Harpoon Missiles In Combat by U.S. Navy A-6 Intruders Operation Prairie Fire, launched in March 1986, was a response by the U.S. Navy…
Royal Air Force E-7 Wedgetail Completes First Post-Conversion Test Flight
The first of three Boeing E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning aircraft ordered by the Royal Air Force completed its first test flight on Sept. 20, 2024 following conversion at Birmingham…
Hawgsmoke 2024: A Tribute to the A-10 Warthog’s Legacy
Hawgsmoke 2024 Marks the End of an Era and Celebrates a Lasting Legacy Under the sweltering heat of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona, 13 fighter squadrons gathered for what…
E-6 ‘Doomsday Plane’ Plays Key Role in Simulated Minuteman III Launch Test, Validating ICBM Readiness
E-6 Mercury Enhances Strategic Command and Control in Simulated ICBM Launch. Airmen and Sailors from several military units, including the 625th Strategic Operations Squadron (STOS), the 576th Flight Test Squadron…
MQ-4C Triton Flies for Five Hours Deep Within the Arctic Circle, Proving Navigation Capability
The ‘test flight’ validated the drone’s critical intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting capabilities in the High North’s harsh, austere and frigid environment. Northrop Grumman’s MQ-4C Triton High-Altitude Long-Endurance (HALE) surveillance…
Leonardo AW249 Next-Gen Attack Helicopter Takes Part In “Stella Alpina 2024” Operational Exercise
Exercise “Stella Alpina 2024” saw specialized components of the Italian Army training with new systems and technologies, including a pre-production model of the new AW249 attack helicopter and electronic warfare…
U.S. Marine Corps’ VMFA-251 Receives First F-35C Lightning II
VMFA-251 is the first East Coast operational unit to receive the F-35C, whose arrival at MCAS Cherry Point marks the beginning of the 2nd MAW’s transition from the F/A-18 Hornet…
AFSOC CV-22 Prepare to Deploy Abroad, USMC MV-22 Suffers Engine Fire at Fairchild AFB
The CV-22 deployment would be the first since the 2023 fatal crash and the subsequent limited operations. The MV-22 fire happened on the ground at Fairchild AFB and was quickly…
U.S. Air Force Releases First B-21 Raider Video
The video shows the B-21 Raider stealth bomber taking off and landing at Edwards Air Force Base, where it is undergoing an extensive flight test campaign. The U.S. Air Force…
AFRL Showcases Common Chassis Concept for Low-Cost Attritable Drones
The Low Cost Attritable Aircraft Platform Sharing program exploits the biology’s “genus” and “species” concept, which will allow the use of a common base system to build large numbers of…
Italy to Acquire Additional F-35s and M-346s as Part of New Defense Planning
The Italian MoD is still continuing the heavy modernization efforts of the recent years, with the announcement of the acquisition of 25 F-35s and 20 M-346s in addition to the…
Anduril And General Atomics Showcase Collaborative Combat Aircraft Mockups
Full-scale models of the first increment’s CCA designs by Anduril and General Atomics are among the exhibits of this year’s Air, Space & Cyber Conference. The Air Force Association’s (AFA)…
The NGAD Fighter Could Be Redesigned to Cost Less Than the F-35
The comments by Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall highlight a possible change of route from the 200 NGAD fighters expected to cost hundreds of millions. The Next-Generation Air Dominance 6th…
VMFA-232 Integrates AGM-158A JASSM on F/A-18 in Validation Trials
The JASSM validation and verification process on the F/A-18 allowed Marines to generate feedback which will inform the development of checklists to be used by both the Marine Corps and…
Sweden’s Flying Dragon: The Saab J 35 Draken
One of the most aesthetically pleasing and most recognizable aircraft to the Cold War era, the Saab Draken was the double-delta dragon nobody dared attempt to slay, defending the Scandinavian…
Boeing Unveils MQ-25’s Land-Based Variant
Boeing is working on a larger, land-based variant of the MQ-25 Stingray unmanned tanker, which could be able to carry 40% more fuel and refuel drones in contested airspace. Boeing…
Let’s Talk About the Recent B-52 ‘Double-Transatlantic’ Training Mission to Poland
The latest round-trip mission was an extension of BTF 24-4 in Europe, which has been a major focus of U.S. strategic operations in the region. On Sept. 11-12, 2024, two…
Celebrating 60 Years of the XB-70 Valkyrie Mach 3 Super Bomber
The experimental legacy of the iconic XB-70 Valkyrie, which made its first flight on Sept. 21, 1964. An article published on the U.S. Air Force website commemorates the 60th anniversary…
Ukraine Pushes for AH-1Z Viper Attack Helicopters Rejected by Slovakia
Vadym Ivchenko, a member of Ukraine’s parliamentary Committee on National Security said Ukraine needs the AH-1Z helicopters in the provinces of Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and for the operation in the Kursk…
A Parasitic Goblin: The Story of the XF-85
Looking more like a flying egg than a jet fighter, the XF-85 was an unusual aircraft concept with an unconventional method of protecting U.S. heavy bombers at the outset of…
The Incredible Armada of Aircraft Behind 1969’s Battle of Britain Film
On Sept. 15, 1969, cinema audiences were treated to a dramatic portrayal of the famed Battle of Britain of 1940. Made long before CGI was possible, the production of the…
US Approves Possible Sale of Nine KC-46A Pegasus Tankers for Japan
The latest deal would take the number of KC-46As in Japan’s inventory to 15 aircraft, expanding the country's reach and presence in the Western Pacific area. The US State Department…
U.S. State Department Approves $7.2B Sale Of F-35 Jets To Romania
The Foreign Military Sale’s approval comes after Romania announced the plan to acquire 32 F-35s to replace the F-16 fleet in the 2030s. The U.S. State Department has approved the…
Wooden Avengers, Target Kites, and Draftees: How America’s First New Deal Community Took the Fight to the Axis
Situated in the quiet hills of West Virginia, the small town of Arthurdale has a big story to tell. When one thinks of naval aviation, the landlocked, mountainous state of…
DARPA Awards BAE Systems $4 Million for Autonomous Beyond Visual Range Air Combat Program
Autonomy solutions for BVR combat will initially be developed and demonstrated on F-16 testbeds and then transferred to an unmanned combat aerial vehicle. DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) has…
Whiteman and Dyess AFB Picked as Second and Third Bases to Host the B-21 Raider Bomber
Whiteman Air Force Base is currently home to the B-2 Spirit, while Dyess Air Force Base hosts the B-1B Lancer. Both bases are slated to host the B-21 in the…
First C-390 Millennium Delivered To The Hungarian Air Force
According to the Hungarian Ministry of Defence, the C-390 Millennium will introduce a new dimension to the operational capabilities of the Hungarian Defence Forces. On Sept. 5, 2024, at 10:01…
Portugal Transfers its Inoperable Ka-32 Firefighting Helicopters to Ukraine
After two years, Ukraine will finally receive the six Ka-32A11BC helicopters previously used by Portugal, although reports do not specify if the helicopters will fly again or will be cannibalized…
Anduril Unveils Barracuda Family of Autonomous Air Vehicles
The three weapons of the Barracuda family are optimized for affordable, hyper-scale production, says Anduril, and appears to match the details of the Enterprise Test Vehicles program. Anduril industries has…
RTX Awarded $1.19B AMRAAM Contract – The Largest AMRAAM Award To-Date
Raytheon Lands $1.19B Contract for AMRAAM Production Lot 38, Expanding Global Reach and Capabilities. Raytheon is making the news these days: after receiving a $1B contract to upgrade the F-22…
New M-346 Jet For The Frecce Tricolori Display Team Breaks Cover
After more than 40 years, the Frecce Tricolori will replace their aging MB-339s with the M-346 Advanced Jet Trainer, reverting the decision to equip the team with the M-345 High…
New AIM-120D AMRAAM Variant Will Be ‘Complementary’ to the Secretive AIM-260 JATM – Raytheon Exec
Raytheon’s John Norman told journalists that the AMRAAM’s range is approaching that threshold capability that the Air Force would like to have with JATM when it’s fielded operationally. Raytheon’s under-development…
China’s J-20A Prototype Captured in First Clear Image with WS-15 Engine
The J-20 initially flew with the Russian Saturn AL-31 turbofan engine, which was later replaced by the domestically developed WS-10C while waiting for the final WS-15 engine specifically developed for…
VX-9 F/A-18F Spotted With Heavy Air-to-Air Load of AIM-174s and AIM-120s
The U.S. Navy is continuing to test the new AIM-174B missile, derived from the SM-6, aboard the Super Hornet, with a VX-9 jet carrying four AIM-174s, three AIM-120s and two…
2nd Bomb Wing Activates New Bomber Generation Squadrons at Barksdale AFB
The 20th and 96th Bomber Generation Squadrons were established to boost operational efficiency and flexibility. On Aug. 22, 2024, the 2nd Bomb Wing established two new Bomber Generation Squadrons (BGSs),…
Arrival of AC-130J Ghostrider Gunship Marks a New Chapter for Kirtland Air Force Base
The arrival of the AC-130J Ghostrider at Kirtland Air Force Base signifies a major advancement for the U.S. Air Force’s special operations training and capabilities. On Sept. 5, 2024, the…
Ukraine Reveals New Guided Glide Bomb on the Su-24 Fencer
Given the need for a large number of air-launched land-strike munitions and the limited supply of Western bombs like the GBU-39 SDB or AASM Hammer, Ukrainian defense industry may have…
Angels With Rotors (Part 2): U.S. MEDEVAC Helicopter Operations From Vietnam to Present Day
“When I have Your Wounded”: the evolution of U.S. MEDEVAC chopper operations. The chopper hovered over the area the wounded soldier was located, it was reported as a secure area…
Pilot Physical Monitoring During Bamboo Eagle 24-3: Enhancing Human Performance in Extended Missions
F-15EX/E aircrews were actively involved in a comprehensive physiological testing program designed to evaluate their performance during extended missions. The tests aimed to collect detailed data on how prolonged sorties…
Netherlands Announces More F-35 Fighters, NH90 Helicopters in New $2.7B Defense Plan
The size of each of the three F-35 squadrons will swell and enhance readiness and ‘airstrike power.’ The Netherlands has announced plans to acquire additional F-35A Lightning II among other…
U.S, Europe Are Helping Ukraine Develop Substitute for S-300 Air Defense System and R-27 Missile
Since the beginning of the war, NATO and Ukraine have made significant strides in fusing Soviet-era platforms with Western missiles. This suggested it was only a matter of time that…
RTX Fined $200M for Leak of F-22, F-35, B-2, E-3 And Other Aircraft’s Data to Russia, Iran, China
The technical leaks happened with Russia and Iran, while commercial dealings in aerospace components took place with China. The U.S. Department of State has declared a $200 million settlement with…
Highest-time A-10 Pilot Retires After 37 Years Of Service And 7,500 Hours In The Warthog
With an unmatched 7,500 flight hours logged in the "Warthog," Lt. Col. John “Karl” Marks set a record that is unlikely ever to be surpassed, as the A-10 nears its…
First Ever Sling Load Training with the HH-60W Jolly Green II at Moody Air Force Base
Moody AFB leverages HH-60W Jolly Green II's sling load capabilities for Agile Combat Employment. On Aug. 29, 2024, the 347th Operations Support Squadron at Moody Air Force Base in Georgia…
Turkey’s ANKA III UCAV Flies with Munition for the First Time
The ANKA III was ‘airborne’ with a Teber-82 guided munition mounted on its left wing. TAI (Turkish Aerospace Industries/Türk Havacılık Uzay Sanayii/TUSAS) announced on Sep. 1, 2024, that its ANKA…
Infrared Search And Track Pod Integrated Onto Top Aces’ F-16 Advanced Aggressor Fighter
The integration of the IRST pods will make the training experience of USAF 5th generation fighters even more realistic. Top Aces Corp. is among the companies contracted under the Combat…
One Crew Member Lost as Royal Navy Merlin HC4 Ditches in the English Channel
The Royal Navy has confirmed the loss of one crew member following an incident off the coast of Dorset, UK, where a Merlin HC4 helicopter, operating from aircraft carrier HMS…
Northrop Grumman Releases First Air-to-Air Footage Of Model 437 Vanguard
A new video shows the Scaled Composites Model 437 Vanguard during its recent first flight. On August 29, 2024, Scaled Composites' new Model 437 aircraft, named Vanguard and registered as…
MC-130J Crews Earn Award for Supporting Longest US Army Helicopter Mission Relying on Aerial Refueling
MC-130J Commando II Crews Honored for Historic Aerial Refueling Mission During Contingency Operation. Two MC-130J Commando II crews from the 9th Special Operations Squadron at Cannon Air Force Base, New…
U.S. F-35A Jets Land On A Highway Strip In Finland For The First Time
U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II fighter jets take part in Finnish Baana24 exercise underway in Finland. On Sept. 4, 2024, two F-35A jets belonging to the 495th Fighter Squadron…
Angels with Rotors: The Early use of US Medical Evacuation Helicopters
The use of helicopters at the end of World War Two for medical evacuations (MEDEVAC) proved the machine’s usefulness in getting into tight spots in isolated and rugged terrain, increasing…
Footage of Australian F-35’s Low-Level Maneuver Draws Media Attention and Scrutiny
Video of RAAF F-35 rolling inverted over Kosciuszko National Park sparks media hype, but similar tactical maneuvers are standard training for fast jet pilots worldwide. An incident involving a Royal…
Austria Considering Joint M-346 Acquisition With Italy
Austria plans to acquire new trainers to replace the Saab 105 retired in 2020, and the military is in talks with Italy to explore the possibility of a joint purchase…
Human Errors Behind Two CV-22B Osprey Mishaps In One Week Last Year
The incidents took place on Aug. 17 and Aug. 22, 2023 at Inyokern, California, and the Melrose Air Force Range, New Mexico, respectively. Fortunately, the did not result in any…
New Sikorsky UH-60 Armed Black Hawk Video Released
Offering some attack capability to the utility helicopter, the Armed Black Hawk is basically a kit that can be strapped on existing operational or fresh production units. The latest video…
Unqualified F-35 Pilot At the Controls During Utah National Guard Apache Crash, Investigation Reveals
An F-35 pilot with only 35 minutes of experience in an Apache simulator was flying the Utah National Guard Apache that crashed earlier this year. On Feb. 12, 2024, a…
Northrop Grumman Demonstrates Multimode Sensor for Radar, Electronic Warfare and Communications
Northrop Grumman says EMRIS leverages technologies developed for other programs, combining them with an open architecture and technology from DARPA’s Arrays on Commercial Timescales program. Northrop Grumman has announced the…
First Photos of Italian MQ-9 Block 5 Predator B Emerge
The Italian Air Force released the first photos of the new MQ-9A Block 5 delivered last year, shortly after the announcement of a possible Foreign Military Sale to double the…
U.S. Air Force Awards RTX $1 Billion Contract to Upgrade F-22 Sensors
The contract follows the recent news about the tests of new advanced sensors on the F-22 Raptor, which the U.S. Air Force is planning to field quickly as part of…
UK’s New Medium Helicopter Program Left With One Bid as Airbus and Sikorsky Withdraw
As the deadline to submit bids for the United Kingdom’s New Medium Helicopter program passes, Leonardo has been left as the sole remaining bidder as Airbus and Sikorsky confirm they…
US Admiral Recounts USS Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group’s Nine-Month Deployment Fighting the Houthis
The ships and aircraft of the USS Eisenhower’s Carrier Strike Group had an eventful deployment with lots of lessons learned that are now being used to inform the U.S. Navy…
Skunk Works’ X-56A Poised To Become World’s First Digitally-Certified Aircraft
Some aspects of the X-56A drone's design, such as the landing gear systems and cameras, will be modified to demonstrate that a digital model can be reliably certified for flight…
Sierra Nevada Corporation Selected For U.S. Army’s HADES Program
SNC will integrate deep sensing technologies on the Bombardier Global 6500 business jet, converting it to perform ISR missions as the U.S. Army is looking to replace turboprop ISR fleet…
