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Gen. Allvin hinted that the service might resume working on the AGM-183 ARRW hypersonic weapon, after previously stating that it would not be procured. After previously stating that it would not procure the weapon, the U.S. Air Force might have had a change of heart and decided to continue working to procure the AGM-183 Air-Launched […]

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The BALTOPS 25 exercise granted a rare sighting of a Soviet-designed helicopter landing on one of the U.S. Navy’s two Cold War era Blue Ridge class ships. Sailing in the Baltic Sea, the USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) offered its large aft helicopter deck as a facility for Polish military personnel operating the Soviet-designed Mil […]

The post Polish Mi-17 Conducts Deck Landing Qualifications on USS Mount Whitney During BALTOPS 25 appeared first on The Aviationist.

The SR-71 is perhaps the most iconic Cold War spy aircraft, famous for many record-setting flights. Seemingly impervious to loss by enemy defenses, a dozen Blackbirds were lost to accidents. Blackbird Beginnings On July 24, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson announced at a news conference the existence of a Mach-3 capable reconnaissance aircraft designated the […]

The post A Look at the Dozen SR-71 Blackbird Losses appeared first on The Aviationist.

The B-2 Spirit would be able to employ up to 80 500 lb QUICKSTRIKE weapons, holding at risk multiple targets in a maritime environment. The U.S Air Force and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) announced on Jun. 4, 2025, the test of a “new, more versatile variant of the QUICKSINK maritime weapon,” based on […]

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Footage shared online confirms that Russia has lost another Su-35S. According to some unverified claims, the Flanker was shot down by an F-16. Ukraine’s Air Force says it has shot down a Russian Sukhoi Su-35 Flanker-E fighter jet during a morning operation on June 7, 2025. According to a brief statement shared on the Air […]

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The new front photo clearly shows a side-by-side seating arrangement, as well as a large main weapons bay with two smaller ones on the sides. The Chinese J-36 has appeared in a new image, photographed on the flightline in a fully visible frontal aspect and revealing more about its design configuration. The aircraft, built by […]

The post Alleged New Image of China’s J-36 Stealth Jet Reveals Key Design Details appeared first on The Aviationist.

The Experimental Operations Unit will help accelerate the integration of Collaborative Combat Aircraft in service. The U.S. Air Force has announced the activation of an Experimental Operations Unit (EOU) at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, to accelerate the introduction of Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). The unit, which will be subordinated to Eglin AFB’s 53rd Wing, […]

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40 years ago, the first BONE arrived at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. June 2025 marks a major milestone for one of the U.S. Air Force’s most iconic bombers. As detailed in a public release posted by the service on June 6, 2025, the B-1B Lancer celebrates 40 years of operations from Dyess Air Force […]

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The Fleet Readiness Center Southwest reduced the required maintenance time by more than 24%, increasing readiness without sacrificing safety standards. In a “significant milestone,” the Fleet Readiness Center Southwest’s (FRCSW) Props team reduced the Planned Maintenance Interval (PMI) cycle for the CMV-22 Osprey tiltrotor “from 264 days to under 200 days – a reduction of […]

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The evaluation gave real-world operational context for the MV-75’s design, bridging the gap between engineering and battlefield application ahead of the Critical Design Review. The U.S. Army’s Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) program conducted the third Special User Evaluation (SUE) at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. While the service announced this on May 28, 2025, the evaluation […]

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We took a closer look at the Russian Pantsir, Buk, Tor, Tunguska, and S-300 replicas positioned in a high-tech range used for realistic training in contested environments. The Poligono Interforze di Salto di Quirra (PISQ) is one of Italy’s most important military test and training facilities, and one of the most advanced in Europe. Headquartered […]

The post Take A Look At The Rare Full-Scale Replicas of Russian SAM Systems In The PISQ Range In Italy appeared first on The Aviationist.

Turkey is evaluating a replacement for its aging KC-135R Stratotanker fleet, with the KC-46 Pegasus and the A330 MRTT being the two candidates. Turkey has narrowed the candidates for the Türk Hava Kuvvetleri’s (Turkish Air Force) next aerial refueling aircraft to the Airbus A330 MRTT (Multi-Role Tanker Transport) and the Boeing KC-46A Pegasus, Breaking Defense […]

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After an eventful deployment to Europe and the Red Sea, the Nimitz class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) berthed at Naval Station Norfolk on Jun. 1, 2025. Upon beginning its deployment, it was already expected that the USS Harry S. Truman would likely come to face hostile fire and launch live combat […]

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During the massive June 1 attack, Ukrainian First Person View drones also hit two A-50U Mainstay Airborne Early Warning aircraft. Few days after the daring long-range attack against Russian air bases, Ukraine has now released new videos from the attack on Jun. 1, 2025. One of these, part of a 5 minute compilation, shows First […]

The post Ukrainian FPV Drone Strike Hits Russia’s Rare and Vital A-50U, New Footage Shows appeared first on The Aviationist.

Saab has confirmed the Royal Thai Air Force’s choice of the Gripen E/F to replace the force’s F-16s, and the formal procurement process can now begin. The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) announced its preference in August 2024 to acquire Saab’s next generation Gripen, beating out a Lockheed Martin proposal offering Block 70/72 F-16 Fighting […]

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U.S. Navy’s Iconic Enterprise Nuclear Carrier Set for Dismantling in Alabama, Freeing Shipyard Space and Cutting Costs by $1 Billion The U.S. Navy has officially signed off on a historic contract that will see the dismantling and disposal of its first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier conducted entirely by the private sector. The $536.7 million deal, awarded […]

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The 144-page SDR falls short of detailing a comprehensive future order of battle, but does offer 62 recommendations which ministers say will be accepted in full. The long awaited Strategic Defence Review (SDR) has been published by the UK Government. The 144-page SDR falls short of detailing a comprehensive future order of battle, but does […]

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After one and a half years of preparation, Ukrainian personnel hiding deep inside Russia conducted an unprecedented attack with 117 drones which destroyed multiple bombers. The Security Service of Ukraine conducted an unprecedented attack with First Person View (FPV) drones against air bases deep inside Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy defined this the “most long-range […]

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Press reports ahead of UK’s Strategic Defence Review say plans for the RAF could include the procurement of F-35A Lightning II fighters with a mention of delivering nuclear payloads. Since the withdrawal of the last WE.177 nuclear bomb in 1998, the United Kingdom’s nuclear deterrent has been provided exclusively by submarine launched ballistic missiles (SLBM). […]

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The drone’s use is likely to provoke Ukrainian air defenses and present a dilemma between protecting targets in Odessa and preserving their surface-to-air missile stocks. The escalating war in the Black Sea between Russia and Ukraine saw another innovation on the morning of May 29, 2025, when Ukraine’s General Intelligence Directorate (GUR) said it shot […]

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