Experts say pursuing a Minuteman III life-extension until 2050 would cost significantly less than its replacement. The Pentagon’s continuation of the LGM-35A Sentinel ICBM (Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile) program, after it triggered the Nunn-McCurdy breach, marks [...]
The post Comparing The Options Of Maintaining Minuteman III And Developing The $140 Billion Sentinel ICBM appeared first on The Aviationist.
In two years, the U.S. will begin episodic deployments of the long-range fires capabilities of its MDTF in Germany. By 2026, the U.S. Army will deploy its new, long-range surface-to-surface missiles to Germany as per a [...]
The post U.S. To Deploy Precision Strike, Hypersonic Missiles, SM-6 And Tomahawks In Germany By 2026 appeared first on The Aviationist.
After reforming in December 2023, 809 Naval Air Squadron has now flown its first ever independent sortie as the UK’s newest F-35B unit. Joining 617 Squadron of the Royal Air Force, 809 Naval Air Squadron [...]
The post Royal Navy’s 809 Naval Air Squadron Completes First F-35 Flight appeared first on The Aviationist.
The need for the Extended Range Attack Munitions (ERAMs) arises from the advantages Western standoff weapons have provided to Ukraine. However, these benefits could not be fully realized due to the limited availability of such [...]
The post US Developing Cheap, Mass-Producible ERAMs for Ukraine: Here’s Why appeared first on The Aviationist.
The event was among the largest demonstrations using a mass sUAS attack scenario. Taking a cue from the war in Ukraine and Chinese drone development capability, and the proliferation of commercial sUAS (Small Unmanned Aerial [...]
The post U.S. Army Tests Counter UAS Systems To Tackle Drone Swarm Threats appeared first on The Aviationist.
After nine eventful months which saw extensive operations in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Mediterranean Sea, the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) finally arrived back in the United States [...]
The post USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Returns to the United States After Momentous Nine Month Deployment appeared first on The Aviationist.
Launched from high-altitudes by the H-6K, the missile would have a significantly improved range, with powerful kinematic performance in its terminal phase. Nearly two and a half months after a PLAAF (People’s Liberation Army Air [...]
The post China’s H-6K Bomber Spotted Carrying Four Carrier-Killer Ballistic Missiles For The First Time appeared first on The Aviationist.
French Air Force sells its last KC-135s to Metrea, which becomes the largest commercial air refueling company. On July 11, 2024, it was announced that the French Air Force had sold the last of their [...]
The post France Sells Last KC-135s to U.S. Commercial Refueling Company Metrea appeared first on The Aviationist.
The milestone comes with the delivery of the first two operational aircraft to the Oregon Air National Guard. The new F-15EX Eagle II has finally reached the Initial Operational Capability (IOC) with the U.S. Air [...]
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Vapor purge testing provides critical information on how long it takes an aircraft operating in areas at risk of chemical attacks to purge hazardous chemical vapor and replace it with toxicologically safe, breathable air. The [...]
The post U.S. Air Force Tests Vapor Purge Times For The B-52 In The Event Of A Chemical Attack appeared first on The Aviationist.
Under Peace Caesar program, the Italian Air Force operated a fleet of F-16A Block 15 ADF (Air Defense Fighter) jets upgraded with the “Falcon Up” and “Falcon 2020” modifications. Here’s their story. On Jan. 20, [...]
The post Italian Vipers: The Story Of The F-16 Fighting Falcon In Italian Air Force Service appeared first on The Aviationist.
A total of 26 MH-139 helicopters are now on order, although it’s not known if the service will complete the 74-helicopter fleet or stop at 36 helicopters as mentioned in the FY25 budget documents. The [...]
The post Amid Uncertainty, U.S. Air Force Orders Additional MH-139 Grey Wolf Helicopters appeared first on The Aviationist.
Aviation spotter and photographer Michał Rokita reached a yet undisclosed spotting point near Tonopah Test Range from where he shot the local-based F-117s and also a mysterious aircraft. Last year we published an article with [...]
The post Spotter Climbs Hill To Shoot F-117s And Get Unprecedented View Of Secretive Tonopah Airport appeared first on The Aviationist.
We get a closer look a the Northrop Grumman Manta Ray UUV prototype during in-water testing off the coast of Southern California. As we have already reported here, on April 8, 2024, Northrop Grumman Corporation [...]
The post DARPA Releases First Images Of Manta Ray Underwater Drone During In-Water Testing appeared first on The Aviationist.
Ukraine is preparing a set of measures to protect the F-16 fighters when they arrive at Ukrainian airfields, including underground bunkers and dispersal. During a national TV broadcast, Ilia Yevlash, Ukrainian Air Force spokeperson, outlined [...]
The post Ukraine Considering Underground Bunkers To Protect F-16s When They Are Delivered appeared first on The Aviationist.
Developing Story: Local News Updating Reports of “Jet Crash”. Reports that an “F-16” has crashed in the White Sands area near Holloman AFB in New Mexico have surfaced in local news media. A report by [...]
The post F-16 Crashes In White Sands Area Near Holloman AFB, New Mexico – Reports appeared first on The Aviationist.
Republic of Korea Air Force Phantoms made their last public appearance at the 2024 Suwon Space Challenge event. On April 27, 2024, the Republic of Korea Air Force’s (ROKAF) F-4E made their last public appearance. [...]
The post Pharewell Phantom: ROKAF F-4E’s Last Public Appearance Before Retirement appeared first on The Aviationist.
With the acquisition of their first anti-radiation weapon, both countries are improving their capability to perform Suppression/Destruction of Enemy Air Defense missions. The U.S. State Department has approved the possible Foreign Military Sale to the [...]
The post Netherlands And Poland Will Get The AGM-88G AARGM-ER appeared first on The Aviationist.
The low-visibility checkerboard (the Polish equivalent of a roundel) will replace the traditional white-red one on the Polish Air Force F-35 jets. According to a news piece published by Interia.pl on Apr. 28, 2024, Polish [...]
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The MXU-1072/A 5th generation travel pod is carried inside the F-35A Lightning II’s weapons bays. A travel pod is usually an external fuel tank or canister, that has been adapted with an external door and [...]
The post New Advanced Travel Pod Designed For the F-35A Delivered To Eielson AFB appeared first on The Aviationist.