The Aviationist Blog

On July 15, 2024, the M-346 advanced jet trainer celebrated 20 years since its first flight, and is now being further upgraded to start the next chapter of its operational life. Jul. 15, 2024, marked [...]

The post Leonardo M-346: Two Decades of Cutting-Edge Training Excellence appeared first on The Aviationist.

Four F-35Bs of 617 Squadron have deployed to Iceland to begin a NATO Air Policing deployment, the first ever deployment of its type for the F-35 in British service. The NATO Icelandic Air Policing mission [...]

The post British F-35Bs Deploy on Air Policing Mission for the First Time appeared first on The Aviationist.

Similarly to other weapons, the 250 kg AASM munition is carried by a custom made pylon under the MiG-29’s innermost wing attachment point. After images and videos earlier this year showed the French-made AASM Hammer [...]

The post First Close-Up Image of the French AASM Hammer Bomb on a Ukrainian MiG-29 appeared first on The Aviationist.

A video shows an FPV drone attacking a Mi-28 helicopter during a low altitude flight, apparently hitting its tail rotor, however the fate of the helicopter is unclear. Demonstrating the high flexibility of the usage [...]

The post Ukrainian Drone Attacks Russian Mi-28 Attack Helicopter Mid-Air appeared first on The Aviationist.

Both Ukrainian and Russian armies are using their expendable UAVs not only to strike targets on the ground, but also to strike each others’ drones in flight, in what could be defined as a low-cost [...]

The post Drone-on-Drone War Ensues As Ukrainian UAV With Wooden Stick Tries Disabling Russian ZALA Drone appeared first on The Aviationist.

Twelve U.S. Air Force F-22A Raptor stealth fighters landed at RAF Lakenheath, UK, on their way to the Middle East, where they are deploying in preparation for a potential Iranian attack on Israel. Twelve F-22A [...]

The post Alaskan F-22 Raptors Are Deploying To The Middle East Amid Growing Tensions appeared first on The Aviationist.

The U.S. Air Force’s Accident Investigation Report says that the CV-22 crash could have been prevented had the crew decided to land earlier and at a closer airfield. The Nov. 29, 2023 crash of the [...]

The post Gearbox Failure, Pilot Decision to Keep Flying Blamed for Japan CV-22 Crash, Says Air Force Probe appeared first on The Aviationist.

The 36th Fighter Squadron will be part of a year-long test to optimize combat capability and training effectiveness with a larger number of F-16 aircraft assigned to the “Super Squadron”. The U.S. Seventh Air Force, [...]

The post Osan and Kunsan Air Bases Join Forces To Create “Super Squadron” With 31 F-16s appeared first on The Aviationist.

Video footage emerged online shows a Russian pilot filming himself after ejecting from his stricken combat jet, visible in the distance spiraling out of control and in flames. A video recently emerged online, taken by [...]

The post Russian Pilot Films Aftermath Of Ejection From His Damaged Flanker Fighter Jet appeared first on The Aviationist.

AFSOC’s MC-130J, AC-130J, and C-146A try their hands at operating in austere, contested environments, such as a highway used as an improvised runway. On August 4, 2024, the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command’s 1st [...]

The post U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command Carries Out Highway Operations Exercise in Arkansas appeared first on The Aviationist.

U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command’s Light Attack becomes a reality, with the start of the training for the Sky Warden in both active duty and ANG units. On July 29, 2024, the 137th Special [...]

The post Oklahoma Air National Guard Receives First AT-802U, Begins Training for OA-1K Sky Warden appeared first on The Aviationist.

The Load Adaptable Modular Pylon, installed under the B-1B bomber’s fuselage, is designed to carry a variety of weapons with fewer constraints compared to older systems. The U.S. Air Force’s 412th Test Wing recently tested [...]

The post U.S. Air Force Demonstrates New Modular Weapons Pylon On The B-1B Bomber appeared first on The Aviationist.

Additive manufacturing makes the Mako a scalable, cost-effective hypersonic weapon that allows for salvo fires, unlike weapons such as the Russian Kh-47M2 Kinzhal or the US’s AGM-183 ARRW. The hallmarks of Lockheed Martin’s Mako hypersonic [...]

The post Lockheed’s Mako Missile Is A Mass-Producible, Salvo Fire-Capable Hypersonic Menace appeared first on The Aviationist.

Looking like a holdover from the First World War, this flimsy, antiquated, and slow biplane was all Great Britain had to throw against the mighty German Battleship in one of the greatest sea chases of [...]

The post The Fairey Swordfish: an Unsung Hero of the Hunt for the Battleship Bismarck appeared first on The Aviationist.

Spain has been seeking a new generation jet trainer, of the same category of the Hurjet, to replace the 19 Northrop SF-5M aircraft, with plans to induct the new jets by 2028. The prototype of [...]

The post Turkish Hurjet Prototype Arrives In Spain For Evaluation To Replace SF-5M Jet Trainers appeared first on The Aviationist.

92nd and 141st Air Refueling Wings were put to test during a no-notice Nuclear Operational Readiness Inspection whose goal was to assess the readiness of the air refueling wings to support U.S. Stratcom-assigned strategic bomber. [...]

The post KC-135 Tankers Take Part In ‘No Notice’ Nuclear Operational Readiness Drills appeared first on The Aviationist.

The Stella study revolves around Sweden’s pioneering ACE and dispersed operations doctrine Sweden is studying the feasibility of launching a small satellite from a Saab Gripen multirole fighter jet, the Swedish Air Force revealed last [...]

The post Swedish Air Force Exploring JAS 39 Gripen for Satellite Launches and Enhanced Agile Combat Employment appeared first on The Aviationist.

Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 311 has become the newest F-35 squadron in the U.S Marine Corps to declare initial operating capability (IOC). VMFA-311, which is assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft [...]

The post Second USMC F-35C Squadron Declares Initial Operating Capability appeared first on The Aviationist.

Sources familiar with the matter reported that a small number of aircraft has been delivered, with a U.S. official providing further confirmation. After a long wait, it appears that Ukraine has just received the first [...]

The post Breaking: Ukraine Receives First Batch Of F-16 Fighter Jets appeared first on The Aviationist.

The B-52 bomber crews treated the deployment to Alaska as an extension of the Agile Warbird, an ACE (Agile Combat Employment) Minot AFB conducts routinely. Two B-52 Stratofortresses from Minot Air Force Base, in North [...]

The post Two B-52 Stratofortress Bombers Take Part In Arctic Defender 24 In Alaska appeared first on The Aviationist.