The Aviationist Blog

The Gambit 6 UCAV will add air-to-ground capabilities to international Collaborative Combat Aircraft programs. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) has unveiled the latest iteration of the Gambit Series of Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles (UCAV), named Gambit 6, at the ongoing International Fighter Conference in Rome, Italy. The new UCAV joins five other variants based upon […]

GA-ASI has flown a second YFQ-42A Collaborative Combat Aircraft, following the type’s first flight in August. Two months after the type’s first flight on Aug. 27, 2025, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems revealed on Nov. 3 that it has flown a second YFQ-42A Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). The company released photos of the second aircraft together […]

As deliveries continue, the JASDF has now started training operations with the F-35B Lightning II at Nyutabaru Air Base. The JASDF (Japan Air-Self Defense Force) officially began its training operations with the F-35B Lightning II at Nyutabaru Air Base on Nov. 4, 2025, marking a significant milestone in Tokyo’s move towards a more modern Self-Defense […]

Australia will be the first global P-8A operator to receive Increment 3 Block 2 modifications, few months after the U.S. Navy started testing the upgraded jet. Boeing has announced the induction of the first Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) P-8 Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) at its facilities to implement the Increment 3 Block 2 […]

Indonesia has ordered two A400Ms, which will potentially receive a fire-fighting kit, and the government is planning to soon begin negotiations to buy four more aircraft. The Indonesian Air Force (TNI Angkatan Udara) received on Nov. 3, 2025, the first of two Airbus A400M transport aircraft at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base, Jakarta. The second aircraft […]

Flying at altitudes and speeds unheard of for contemporary jet aircraft, the Blackbird family required a fuel with unique properties to perform in the extremes the aircraft would be subject to. The Mach 3+ speeds of the Lockheed A-12, M-21, YF-12A, and SR-71 would heat fuel up to 350 degrees, and, lacking insulated fuel tanks, […]

Originally struggling to achieve success in the China Burma India Theater, the Boeing B-29 Superfortress made its mark once tactics were changed and incendiaries were used. Originally operating out of the China Burma India Theater with disappointing results, costly losses, and constant supply issues, the Boeing B-29 Superfortress was struggling to achieve success in its […]

Believed to be a naval variant of the GJ-11, the GJ-21 is expected to operate from the Type 006 Sichuan LHD after mockups of the drone were spotted on test-sites representing the ship. China’s GJ-21 UCAV was captured while flying overhead in what is considered to be its first clear image in flight. Believed to […]

The UK’s Metropolitan Police Service is deploying UAS to London in a new trial hoping to provide police officers with a new intelligence gathering capability. The United Kingdom’s Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has unveiled their Drone as First Responder (DFR) program, which aims to deploy a UAS to arrive at the scene of an incident […]

The mission was supported by the Royal Danish Air Force, underscoring Denmark’s contribution in the security of the Arctic, and Greenland’s role in the defense of North America. In the second such deployment this year, U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning IIs, a KC-135 Stratotanker and F-16 Fighting Falcons deployed to Greenland’s Pituffik Space Base. This […]

Finnish Air Force personnel are currently undergoing training at Eglin AFB, while extensive infrastructure upgrades and renovation works are underway at home to support the F-35s. Exactly one year after the Finnish Air Force’s first F-35A Lightning II entered production at Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth facility in Texas, airframe JF-501 moved out of the final […]

The CH-47F Block II has improved efficiency, payload and fuel capacity, critical for the Army’s heavy tactical lift missions. Boeing announced on Oct. 21, 2025 two contracts from the U.S. Army, worth $461 million, for nine CH-47F Block II Chinook helicopters. Covering Lots 4 and 5, these contracts take the number of the Block II […]

Italy has launched the parliamentary process to approve the acquisition of a new batch of AW249s, which will complete the fleet of 48 attack helicopters. Italian Parliament’s documents show that Italy has launched the approval process for the acquisition of another batch of the new AW249 Fenice attack helicopter for the Italian Army. This batch […]

The Yak-130M sports a host of upgrades, including an advanced AESA radar, avionics, radio communications and targeting suites. One year after Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) presented the upgraded Yak-130M trainer and light fighter aircraft concept, the company unveiled its second manufactured prototype. The aircraft ‘002’ sported a light and dark-grey pixelated livery with UAC […]

A Chinese research paper on an ejectable cockpit for high-supersonic flight has drawn attention after a mysterious blended-wing test object appeared at the Gaobeidian radar range. Experts have linked a Chinese scientific academic paper about a crew escape module for a “high supersonic aircraft” to an unidentified flying dart-type aircraft that appeared at China’s RCS […]

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 […]