The Aviationist Blog

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 and also involves an unspecified Foreign Military Sales component, possibly to Australia. The U.S. Air Force Life-Cycle Management Center awarded Lockheed Martin two contracts on […]

The post U.S. Air Force Contracts Lockheed Martin for AGM-158B JASSM and AGM-158C LRASM Missiles worth $3.5 Billion appeared first on The Aviationist.

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 major engine fault while carrying three medical evacuation patients. In an incident which was previously unreported, the Royal Navy has revealed that in September 2023 […]

The post Royal Navy Wildcat Pilot Awarded After Landing Helicopter Safely With Major Engine Fault During MEDEVAC Flight appeared first on The Aviationist.

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 its new X-plane concept supporting airborne logistics and personnel recovery operations in areas where traditional runways are unavailable. The new aircraft leverages cutting-edge fan-in-wing (FIW) […]

The post New Renderings Unveiled for Aurora’s X-Plane Concept Featuring Fan-in-Wing Technology appeared first on The Aviationist.

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 year. The Royal Navy is finally back at sea with its own fast jets after 15 years since the last aboard the HMS Ark Royal. […]

The post Royal Navy’s Fast Jets Are Back On A Carrier After 15 Years appeared first on The Aviationist.

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 Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, on November 10, 2023, the secretive B-21 Raider stealth bomber has undergone extensive flight testing at Edwards Air Force […]

The post Photographer Captures Cool Shot Of B-21 Raider Stealth Bomber During Test Flight appeared first on The Aviationist.

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. The U.S. State Department has approved on Oct. 7, 2024, the Foreign Military Sale to Italy of the EA-37B and its Electronic Attack Mission System. […]

The post U.S. Approves EA-37B Compass Call Foreign Military Sale to Italy appeared first on The Aviationist.

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 Hurricane Helene. Hurricane Helene left a trail of devastation along the east coast of the United States. Stepping up to the plate are two World […]

The post Historic U.S. Military Aircraft Join Hurricane Helene Relief Operations appeared first on The Aviationist.

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 photographs of the B-52H 61-0028 “Wolfpack” sporting a retro dayglo orange paint scheme. Along with the images, the U.S. Air Force has also posted an […]

The post First Air-to-Air Images Of The B-52H In Distinctive ‘Test Orange’ Paint Scheme Released appeared first on The Aviationist.

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 the Soviet Union, the Warsaw Pact,  and client states. A New Bomber The result of a requirement to replace the Tupolev Tu-2 piston engine bomber, […]

The post The Soviet Union’s First Jet Bomber: The Ilyushin Il-28 ‘Beagle’ appeared first on The Aviationist.

Developed by Sichuan Tengden, the vehicle has a stated cargo capacity of 2,000 kg and is said to be the largest Chinese UAV built to date. The previous holder of the title was the Feihong [...]

The post China’s Largest Heavy Transport UAV Performs Maiden Flight appeared first on The Aviationist.

During the most recent iteration of Exercise Bamboo Eagle, the Nellis Aggressors squadrons played a crucial role in providing an exceptionally realistic training environment for participating aircrews. On Aug. 10, 2024, the U.S. Air Force [...]

The post Nellis Aggressors Lead Advanced Red Forces Operations in Exercise Bamboo Eagle 24-3 appeared first on The Aviationist.

The exercise director for Northern Lightning 2024 states this year’s exercise builds on last year’ success, providing exceptional training against DOD’s pacing threat: China. The annual two week long Northern Lightning exercise located at Volk [...]

The post Focus on Pacific Theater and Agile Combat Employment: Exclusive Interviews with F-35 Pilots of Northern Lightning 2024 appeared first on The Aviationist.

50 years ago, the Panavia Tornado took to the skies for the first time, inaugurating a long, action-packed and impressive career, including 42 years of service with the Italian Aeronautica Militare. On Aug. 14, 1974 [...]

The post Italian Tornados: the Panavia Tornado in Italian Air Force Service appeared first on The Aviationist.

The jets, from the Rafale Transformation Squadron, were returning from an aerial refueling training mission over Germany, when they collided for unknown causes. Two Dassault Rafales of the French Air and Space Force were involved [...]

The post Two French Dassault Rafales Collide Mid-Air, One Pilot Safe, Two Killed appeared first on The Aviationist.

Aug. 14, 2024, marks the 50th anniversary of the Panavia Tornado’s first flight, the largest European aeronautical cooperation program with over 950 aircraft built. The Panavia Tornado, the European variable sweep wing bomber, celebrates this [...]

The post The Panavia Tornado Turns 50 Today: the History of the Variable Sweep Wing Bomber appeared first on The Aviationist.

One of the only two surviving Martin JRM Mars flying boats was finally retired after 78 years of service, flying to its new home at the British Columbia Aviation Museum. “Hawaii Mars II”, one of [...]

The post 78 Years Old Martin JRM Mars Retires To Museum appeared first on The Aviationist.

The U.S. Secretary of State has approved the sale to Israel of 50 F-15EX, which will be named F-15IA, and the upgrade to a similar configuration of the 25 F-15I Ra’am currently in service. The [...]

The post US Approves Sale to Israel of F-15EX and F-15I Upgrade appeared first on The Aviationist.

While the feature was not fielded to operational units, the F-22 has also the capability to carry AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles externally. A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor has been recently spotted while flying in [...]

The post F-22 Raptor Spotted During Rare Flight With External AIM-120 Missiles appeared first on The Aviationist.

The first launch of the SM-6 is a ‘step-change’ in the lethality, air and missile defence, and long-range strike capabilities of Australia’s surface combatant fleet, as it undergoes a series of improvements to enhance deterrence [...]

The post Royal Australian Navy Fires SM-6 Missile from HMAS Sydney Destroyer for the First Time appeared first on The Aviationist.

PhanCon 2024 allowed enthusiasts to get up close and personal with Andravida’s F-4s, among the few Phantoms still operational in the world. After the successful editions in 2022 and 2023, Andravida Air Base hosted once [...]

The post Greece Hosts 2024 Edition Of The European Phantom Conference appeared first on The Aviationist.