The Aviationist Blog

Red Flag 21-3 saw the participation of all services from the U.S. Armed Forces to train next generation joint warfighting against more modern, stronger and dangerous threats, including Aggressor F-35s. Blue air participants of Red [...]

The post Aggressor F-35s Joined The Fight During First Next Generation Red Flag Exercise appeared first on The Aviationist.

A prototype of the Su-75 Checkmate is going to be assembled for static tests. Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Plant (KnAAPO or KnAAZ; Russian: Комсомольский-на-Амуре авиационный завод) will build a prototype of the Checkmate fighter, destined for static [...]

The post Russia To Build Prototype Of Its New ‘Checkmate’ Light Tactical Fighter for Static Tests appeared first on The Aviationist.

The NF-16D VISTA aircraft is currently being upgraded to remove some limitations and better support autonomy testing for the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Skyborg program. The NF-16D VISTA (Variable In-flight Simulator Aircraft), operated by the [...]

The post NF-16D VISTA (Variable In-flight Simulator Aircraft) Changes Name To X-62A Ahead Of Skyborg Testing appeared first on The Aviationist.

The live fire event is the first in a series of development test events that will ensure AARGM-ER can meet required objectives as it is about to enter Low Rate Initial Production. The U.S. Navy [...]

The post U.S. Navy Launched An AGM-88G Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile – Extended Range For The First Time appeared first on The Aviationist.

The ARRW missile’s rocket motor failed to ignite after it was released by the B-52 over Point Mugu Sea Range. The U.S. Air Force conducted its second AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) booster flight [...]

The post First Flight Test Of Hypersonic AGM-183A ARRW (Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon) Fails, Again. appeared first on The Aviationist.

Some 150 soldiers and two C-130s of the Israel Defence Forces visited Slovenia to commemorate Hannah Szenes and the Israeli paratroopers that fought in WW2. An Israeli delegation landed in Cerklje ob Krki AB, Slovenia, [...]

The post Israeli Paratroopers Perform Multiple Jumps Over Slovenia To Commemorate WWII Hero Hannah Szenes appeared first on The Aviationist.

With this new contract the Tempest programme will now progress to the next phase that will shape the final design and capabilities of the 6th gen aircraft. The British Ministry of Defence awarded BAE Systems [...]

The post United Kingdom Signs Contract To Formally Start Tempest’s Concept And Assessment Phase appeared first on The Aviationist.

The 20-day-long campaign allowed to validate the French Mirage 2000’s Mid-Life Upgrade and the new podded cannon in realistic conditions. The Armée de l’Air et de l’Espace (French Air and Space Force) recently completed a [...]

The post French Air Force Completes Upgraded Mirage 2000D Test Campaign In Djibouti appeared first on The Aviationist.

The historic event follows the recent delivery of the third F-35B to the Italian Navy and the Ready for Operations test campaign in the USA earlier this year. An Italian F-35B Lightning II, belonging to [...]

The post Italian F-35B Lands For The First Time On Italy’s ITS Cavour Aircraft Carrier appeared first on The Aviationist.

The Il-22PP Special Mission Aircraft were intercepted over the Baltic Sea for the very first time. Some pretty interesting close encounters between NATO fighters supporting BAP (Baltic Air Policing) mission and Russian aircraft flying in [...]

The post NATO Fighters Intercepted Two Rare Russian Il-22PP ‘Mute’ EW Aircraft Over The Baltics For The Very First Time appeared first on The Aviationist.

The new UH-60V helicopters are the result of an upgrade program for the UH-60A/L, aimed to increase commonality and interoperability with the newer UH-60M. The Pennsylvania National Guard’s Eastern Army National Guard Aviation Training Site [...]

The post First UH-60V Black Hawk Helicopters Delivered To The U.S. National Guard appeared first on The Aviationist.

The RAAF C-27J Spartan will enhance the role of the Defence helicopters thanks to its higher range and flexibility. The Australian Department of Defence announced that the role of the RAAF (Royal Australian Air Force) [...]

The post The RAAF Redefines The Role Of The C-27J Spartan For Humanitarian Disaster Relief appeared first on The Aviationist.

F-100, T-33 and P-51 Rides Featured In “Largest Ever” Warbird Flight Fundraiser organized by Selfridge Museum. The Selfridge Military Air Museum in Mt. Clemens, Michigan, has announced a unique and, according to museum staff, “unprecedented” [...]

The post Selfridge Museum Auctions Warbird Rides to Fund New Aviation Education Center appeared first on The Aviationist.

The HC-130J is the only dedicated fixed-wing Personnel Recovery aircraft of the U.S. Air Force, which supports long-range rescue missions thanks to its extended endurance. Following the walkaround tours of the HH-60G Pave Hawk and [...]

The post Let’s Explore The HC-130J Combat King II With This Amazing Walkaround Tour appeared first on The Aviationist.

Anatolian Eagle 2021, organized by the Turkish Air Force, saw the participation of Azerbaijan, Pakistan and Qatar Emiri Air Force combat aircraft that attracted aviation spotters from many foreign countries. Anatolian Eagle (AE) does not [...]

The post Azerbaijan, Pakistan And Qatar Emiri Air Force Combat Aircraft Stole The Scene At Anatolian Eagle 2021 in Turkey appeared first on The Aviationist.

For the first time, the Polish F-16 will patrol the ‘High North’ in support of NATO’s Icelandic Air Policing. According to Polska-Zbrojna, the Polish Air Force is readying its Łask-based F-16s to deploy to Iceland, [...]

The post Polish Air Force F-16s About to Deploy To Iceland For the First Time appeared first on The Aviationist.

Vice-President’s Aircraft And Motorcade Are Smaller And More Mobil Than President’s. Keen-eyed aviation photographers got a rare, up-close look at Air Force 2 during its visit to Detroit’s Wayne County Metropolitan Airport (DTW) in Romulus, [...]

The post A Quick Look at the Boeing C-32A Flying as Air Force 2 Into Detroit And The Vice-Presidential Motorcade appeared first on The Aviationist.

Slovenian Army to test  various Pipistrel basic trainers to select the one that will replace its Zlin 143 and 242 aircraft. On June 29, 2021, the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Slovenia, Matej [...]

The post Slovenian Army To Become The First Military Operator of An All-Electric Trainer appeared first on The Aviationist.

Following the tour of the HH-60G Pave Hawk, we now have the chance to see its successor, the HH-60W, up close and learn some more details about it. About two weeks ago we commented the [...]

The post Enjoy This Walkaround Tour Of The New HH-60W Jolly Green II Combat Rescue Helicopter appeared first on The Aviationist.

Our contributor Edwin Schimmel went to Leeuwarden Air Base, the Netherlands, to observe the activity related to the WIC (Weapons Instructor Course) 2021 currently underway. Last week we reported about a mishap that occurred to [...]

The post F-35s, F-16s Take Part In WIC 2021 at Leeuwarden Air Base appeared first on The Aviationist.