The Aviationist Blog

Bern reviews fighter jet plans after U.S. cost hike, legal dispute over “fixed price,” and public protests against steep import tariffs. Switzerland’s long-planned acquisition of the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II is facing a potential downsizing after months of fruitless negotiations with Washington over unexpected cost increases. While Bern insists it remains committed to introducing […]

A video surfaced online shows the immediate aftermath of the ejection, which followed the landing from incentive flight. An unusual incident at Barnes Air National Guard Base in Westfield, Massachusetts, saw the backseat passenger of an F-15D Eagle ejecting from the aircraft while on the ground. The aircraft, assigned to the Massachusetts Air National Guard’s […]

The Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum showed in a video of a U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B+ Harrier II was demilitarized and moved to its new home. The Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum in Colorado received a U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B+ Harrier II STOVL (Short Take-Off Vertical Landing) aircraft earlier […]

As part of the contract, Poland will upgrade its entire fleet of 48 F-16C/D Block 52+ jets to the F-16V Block 72 standard. The Polish Defense Minister Wladysław Kosiniak-Kamysz has signed a deal worth $3.8 billion for the Mid Life Upgrade of the Polish Air Force’s F-16 fleet. As part of the deal, all 48 […]

NAVAIR announced the first flight of the unmanned aircraft with new electronic support and enhanced cross-domain comms. In a post on social media, the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) announced the first flight of an MQ-9A Reaper, assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (UX) 24, equipped with the SkyTower II and RDESS/SOAR pods. The […]

An Osprey teamed up with two U.S. Navy MH-60R Sea Hawks to deploy sonobuoys in the Philippine Sea, operating from the USS America. A U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey has been employed in support of Anti-Submarine Warfare drills in the Indo-Pacific. In fact, on Aug. 8, 2025, an MV-22 teamed up with two U.S. Navy […]

A new image has granted our first opportunity to see a fully painted Indonesian Rafale as crews finalize their training on the new jet. The aircraft, marked T-0301, is seen with Indonesian national markings and a striking two-tone gray camouflage scheme. On the tail, the jet carries the insignia of Indonesia’s 6th Air Wing. 12th […]

The oldest B-17G still in service with the 91st Bomb Group and the next to last B-17 lost to hostile action by the group met a horrifying fate in the skies over Germany on April 8, 1945, just 30 days before Germany surrendered on May 7. Captured in the black and white photographic images from […]

The bombers will fly Ally-led missions to practice high-threat air operations and refine skills in the find, fix, track and target process. Three U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers arrived in Norway on Aug. 9, 2025, to begin Ally-led training operations as part of the latest Bomber Task Force Europe  25-4B. The aircraft, assigned to […]

First iteration of the Jolly Vihar exercise series featuring the HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopter for the 56th Rescue Squadron. The U.S. Air Force rescue community has settled into a useful rhythm in western Hungary. What began as a first visit in 2022 has become an annual stop for the 56th Rescue Squadron that now […]

A recent mission of Top Aces’ F-16 N871TA provided another opportunity to see the jet’s striking Felon-inspired livery. As already reported in detail in our previous story that you can read here, a Top Aces’ former Israeli Air Force F-16A Netz aircraft was spotted flying for the first time with a new adversary paint scheme […]

Exercise Talon Shield, part of the broader Talisman Sabre, saw Offutt AFB’s RC-135 Rivet Joint taking part in the exercise in Australia for the first time. Two developments last week marked the increasing military cooperation between the United States and Australia in the airborne electromagnetic spectrum. Offutt AFB, Nebraska, announced wrapping up Exercise Talon Shield, […]

A British F-35B Lightning from HMS Prince of Wales has diverted into Kagoshima Airport, Japan, with an apparent technical issue. The aircraft landed safely and was moved to an adjoining taxiway. NHK News confirmed via Kagoshima Airport Office that the Royal Air Force fighter aircraft landed at the airport at around 11:30am local time on […]

The VIP-configured B747-8, which will be converted into Air Force One, was photographed departing Alliance Fort Worth en route to Waco. On Aug. 8, the Boeing 747-8 N7478D, donated by Qatar to U.S. President Donald Trump, was photographed at Alliance Fort Worth, Texas, departing southbound to Waco, Texas, most probably for the first round of […]

Take a look at the F/A-18D in special color scheme to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Marine Corps. On Aug. 7, 2025, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 112 rolled out a special F/A-18D Hornet that turns a front-line jet into a flying storyboard of Marine Corps history. The Hornet, informally referred to by the […]

By forward basing Mission Planning Cells at Nellis AFB, the 9th Bomb Squadron flew complex strike missions at the Nevada Test and Firing Range from Dyess AFB. At its first participation in Red Flag in three years, B-1B Lancer bombers of the 9th Bomb Squadron (9th BS) “Bats” from Dyess AFB, Texas, flew daily round-trip […]

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Northrop Grumman released on its website the first official concept art of the F/A-XX, providing a glimpse into its vision of 6th gen naval air power. Northrop Grumman has published on its website an official concept art of the F/A-XX, the next generation fighter jet that would equip the future U.S. Navy carrier air wings. […]

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The first three F-35B Lightning IIs have finally been delivered to the Japan Air Self Defense Force. The Japan Air Self Defense Force Article (JASDF) announced the arrival of its first three F-35B Lightning II STOVL (Short Take Off Vertical Landing) jets at Nyutabaru Air Base on Aug. 7, 2025. The Japanese Ministry of Defense […]

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United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Centaur orbital launch vehicle will undertake its first National Security Space Launch (NSSL) mission next week, the rocket type’s third launch overall. The two stage vehicle is scheduled to launch from Space Launch Complex 41 (SLC-41) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Aug. 12, 2025 carrying the NTS-3 (Navigation Technology […]

The post ULA Vulcan Centaur Rocket to Launch First Military Payload on August 12th appeared first on The Aviationist.

The E-9A supports air-to-air weapon systems evaluation at Tyndall AFB providing range clearance, telemetry support and data relay. The U.S. Air Force’s E-9A Widget firing range safety and surveillance aircraft completed its first strip and paint job in over a decade during a series of scheduled upgrades and maintenance, announced on Jul. 31, 2025 the […]

The post USAF E-9A Widget Range Support Aircraft Receives First Full Repaint in a Decade appeared first on The Aviationist.