The Aviationist Blog

A U.S. Air Force WC-130J Weatherbird from the 53rd WRS, as well as NOAA aircraft, have had to abandon planned missions early due to the strength of Hurricane Melissa. Weather reconnaissance aircraft have been operating at an extraordinarily high tempo in recent days to gather data on Hurricane Melissa as it threatens to devastate communities […]

After some scrubbed attempts, NASA’s X-59 QueSST flew for the first time from Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale on Oct. 28, 2025. In a landmark milestone for aeronautical research, NASA’s experimental X-59 QueSST (Quiet SuperSonic Technology) conducted its maiden flight today. The aircraft, designed and built by Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works at the Air […]

Several images showing what appears to be the second prototype of the J-36 heavy fighter have started circulating online. Several images showing what appears to be the second prototype of the J-36 heavy fighter have started circulating online. The second airframe seems to retain the core configuration of its predecessor, such as the extensive control […]

Oct. 28, 2025 marks the tenth anniversary of the last time an Avro Vulcan took to the skies. Following eight years of renewed airworthiness, XH558 landed on Oct. 28, 2015 after one final display. In circumstances that remain hotly discussed even a decade later, it was announced by the Vulcan to the Sky Trust (VTST) […]

A deep dive into Turkey’s purchase of RAF’s retired C-130Js and the future of its airlift fleet. In recent years, Turkey has been steadily strengthening its air and defense capabilities. One of the latest signs of this ambition is the confirmed purchase of twelve C-130J-30 Super Hercules tactical transport aircraft formerly operated by the Royal […]

The agreement was signed as the UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, visited Ankara and met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan while touring Turkish aerospace facilities. An official release by the UK Government says the deal will guarantee the retention of as many as 20,000 British jobs and sustain the Typhoon production line at […]

The existence of the 9M730 Burevestnik was first made official in early 2018 as a part of six new strategic weapons, including hypersonic and ballistic missiles and a nuclear-capable torpedo. The Russian Chief of General Staff, General Valery Gerasimov, revealed on Oct. 26, 2025, that his country’s Strategic Rocket Forces tested the 9M730 Burevestnik (Russian […]

The U.S. Pacific Fleet has confirmed the safe rescue of all personnel after an MH-60R Sea Hawk and an F/A-18F Super Hornet from USS Nimitz both crashed into the South China Sea just 30 minutes apart. Five personnel, three on board an MH-60R Sea Hawk, and two in the F/A-18F Super Hornet, were recovered safely […]

The ceremony, held in Trieste, coincided with the 71st anniversary of the city’s return to Italy and marks the ship’s transition toward full operational service. The Italian Navy’s newest amphibious assault ship, LHD (Landing Helicopter Dock) Trieste, received its battle flag during a ceremony held onboard at Molo Bersaglieri, in Trieste, northeastern Italy, on Oct. […]

The Sichuan is the only amphibious assault Landing Helicopter Dock in the world to feature an Electromagnetic Launch System. The catapult aboard China’s massive Type 076 LHD (Landing Helicopter Dock) amphibious assault ship, the “Sichuan,” has been tested for the first time,images that appeared on Oct. 22, 2025 seem to suggest. The photos show the […]

Coordinating with Bell, the Army made extensive efforts on supply chain, production and training to mitigate risks should it go into low-rate production concurrently with prototype testing. The U.S. Army shed more light on its plans to advance the induction of the first MV-75 FLRAA (Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft) beginning in 2027, and is thus […]

The new Eurofighters, set to be delivered between 2031 and 2034, will replace part of the German Air Force’s Tornados. Germany has signed on Oct. 15, 2025, the contract for the acquisition of 20 new Eurofighters (Germany does not use the name Typhoon) as part of the Tranche 5. The order comes a week after […]

GA-ASI and Hanwha Aerospace signed a deal to co-produce the Gray Eagle STOL, following the recent cooperation on joint testing in South Korea. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) and South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace have signed an agreement on Oct. 14, 2025, to jointly develop and produce the Gray Eagle Short Takeoff and Landing (GE […]

Boeing and Leonardo will pursue together the U.S. Army’s Flight School Next contractor-owned, contractor-operated (COCO) contract. Boeing and Leonardo announced a new partnership to jointly pursue the U.S. Army’s Flight School Next contract, a major program that will define the future of the Army’s rotary-wing pilot training. The collaboration, announced on Oct. 13, 2025, during […]

Boeing introduced its new Collaborative Transformational Rotorcraft, a modular tiltrotor drone designed to team with Army helicopters. Boeing has unveiled a new large-scale unmanned aircraft concept, dubbed the Collaborative Transformational Rotorcraft (CxR). The new concept was presented during the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) 2025 Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 13, 2025. […]

The Belgian Air Force has officially welcomed its first F-35A Lightning II to Florennes Air Base, joining the growing European “wall of F-35s.” Belgium’s first F-35A Lightning II to be permanently stationed in the country landed today at Florennes Air Base, Belgium, marking a major milestone in the nation’s transition to the 5th generation fighter. […]

The S-70UAS U-Hawk is a modified UH-60L that removes the cockpit entirely to create an uncrewed, mission-flexible platform designed for logistics, support, and future air-ground teaming missions. After years of experimentation with the MATRIX autonomy suite and the optionally piloted Black Hawk, Sikorsky has now taken the next step toward a fully autonomous utility helicopter: […]

An A-10C was spotted with two Shahed-type UAS shapes painted on the nose while returning to its home base. An A-10C Thunderbolt II of the U.S. Air Force was spotted with two interesting kill markings while returning home from its latest deployment in the U.S. CENTCOM (Central Command) AOR (Area of Responsibility). In fact, the […]

The two British aircraft flew a 12-hour mission along the border with Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. In a rare mission, a Royal Air Force (RAF) RC-135W Rivet Joint electronic surveillance aircraft flew a 12-hour-long mission on Oct. 9, 2025, patrolling the entire border along NATO’s eastern flank and the Black Sea. An RAF P-8A Poseidon […]

The joint U.S., British and Norwegian mission saw the A400M transporting a JLTV, simulating a NMESIS system, and infantry in the High North. The Royal Air Force (RAF) revealed on Oct. 9, 2025 a first-of-its-kind operation conducted in cooperation with the U.S. and Norway in late September. As part of the operation, an RAF A400M […]