The Aviationist Blog

12 F-15E Strike Eagles from the 494th Fighter Squadron, based at RAF Lakenheath under the 48th Fighter Wing, have been dispatched to the Middle East. After U.S. President Donald Trump pledged that “help is on its way” to protesters in Iran, facing a violent crackdown from state authorities, a number of what appear to be […]

Czech Republic President Petr Pavel proposed sending four L-159 to Ukraine, but Prime Minister Andrej Babiš later announced that the plan had been rejected. Opposing camps within Czech politics have blocked the transfer of light combat jets to Ukraine. President Petr Pavel, a former General and head of NATO’s Military Committee, proposed on Jan. 16, […]

Poland formalized the integration of the AIM-9X Sidewinder on the FA-50PL, enhancing air policing capabilities as deliveries of the light fighter shift to 2027-2029. Poland has taken another step toward enhancing the combat capabilities of its FA-50 light combat aircraft fleet, signing an agreement with the U.S. to support the integration of the AIM-9X Sidewinder […]

The Italian Air Force has officially activated its New Helicopter School at Viterbo airport, relocating the 72° Stormo and creating a joint national rotary-wing training hub. The Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare) has officially established a new national helicopter training hub at Viterbo Air Base, part of the reorganization of the rotary-wing flight training system. […]

Baykar acquired Piaggio Aerospace last year and will now invest heavily in the latter’s flagship P.180 Avanti to regain the market share of the popular aircraft. The Italian Piaggio Aerospace, following the acquisition by Turkish drone major Baykar, is poised for a massive reinvention in market presence under the new name Baykar Piaggio Aerospace. Better […]

The F-16 Fighting Falcon has been an important part of the Royal Danish Air Force since 1980, and will now pass the torch to the F-35A Lightning II. The Royal Danish Air Force’s (RDAF) F-16 Fighting Falcon flew for the last time on Jan. 18, 2026, at Skrydstrup Air Force Station, concluding a 46-year service. […]

Developed by Hughes through the F-111 program, the AWG-9, mated with the AIM-54 Phoenix, made the Grumman F-14 Tomcat the most deadly fleet defense weapon of its time. Produced by Hughes Aircraft Company and originally conceived through the F-111 program, the Air Weapons Group Nine (AWG-9) avionic system found a home in the Grumman F-14 […]

Two MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopters conducted their first operational Minuteman III ICBM convoy security mission to and from a launch facility over 100 miles away from Malmstrom AFB. The U.S. Air Force has announced that the MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopter is now being employed operationally by the Air Force Global Strike Command for nuclear security […]

A nighttime thermal image captured during flight activity involving a B-2 Spirit shows a sharply triangular aircraft that resembles an unexplained platform photographed over Wichita in 2014. Anders Otteson, the man behind the popular Uncanny Expeditions YouTube channel (that we have featured before here at The Aviationist), spotted something particularly intriguing during his latest trip […]

Two F-15Ds of the Oregon Air National Guard have been transferred to NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center, where they will join the ones already operated by the agency. NASA has announced on Jan. 15, 2026, that two recently retired U.S. Air Force F-15D Eagle aircraft have found a new home to continue flying. In fact, […]

Poland has decided to transfer its remaining MiG-29s to Ukraine, with talks underway for the delivery of the first batch, in exchange for know-how on drone technology. The Polish government confirmed it plans to transfer the Polish Air Force’s MiG-29 Fulcrums to Ukraine, following talks between the two countries. The development, announced by Deputy Defense […]

In interviews to Defence 24, Deputy General Commander Maj. Gen. Ireneusz Nowak pointed to the need for a new AEW&C platform, given the limited remaining lifespan of the Saab 340s. The Polish Air Force (PolAF) would like to replace its Saab 340 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft, bought second-hand a few years ago, […]

The Russian Navy operates just a handful of multirole jet-powered amphibious flying boats. One was intercepted by the Italian Air Force F-2000s over the Baltic Sea. On Jan. 16, 2026, at 11.30LT, two Eurofighter Typhoon jets of the Italian Air Force, deployed to Amari, Estonia, to support NATO enhanced Air Policing mission, were scrambled to […]

European NATO Allies dispatched troops to reinforce Greenland, following the increased rhetoric by U.S. President Trump towards annexation. In the face of United States President Donald J. Trump’s rhetoric towards the annexation of Greenland, forceful or otherwise, European NATO nations have dispatched troops to Greenland to reinforce Denmark’s position, whilst a bi-partisan group of members […]

The UK’s first full-size autonomous helicopter, produced by Leonardo, has taken flight for the first time from the National Drone Hub facility at Predannack Airfield. The Proteus, developed by Leonardo from the civilian AW09 helicopter, performed two short test flights following a test routine that included fully autonomous operation, independent of any human input. This […]

The U.S. Army’s MV-75 tiltrotor is advancing rapidly toward the delivery to operational units, now expected well before the original plans. The U.S. Army’s next-generation tiltrotor assault aircraft, the Bell MV-75, is rapidly transitioning from concept and prototype into an accelerated fielding path. We previously reported here at The Aviationist in October 2025 on the […]

Lockheed Martin, parent of Sikorsky, marked the milestone with a ceremony as the aircraft, also known as the ‘Romeo’, was handed over to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 41 (HSM-41). Twenty years after entering initial service with the U.S. Navy, the MH-60R ‘Romeo’ – the latest and current generation of the Seahawk family – has surpassed […]

Six pre-owned B-767s will be converted by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) into aerial refuellers, as the IAF’s older Russian Il-78MKIs experience availability issues. The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has granted an Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for acquiring six Boeing B-767 airliners to be converted into aerial refuellers by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), reports on […]

Germany has announced the acquisition of eight MQ-9B SeaGuardians through the NATO Support and Procurement Agency, with deliveries to start in 2028. The German government has announced that it will acquire eight MQ-9B SeaGuardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA), together with four Certifiable Ground Control Stations. The procurement will be made by the Federal Office of […]

The MK54 MOD 2 is an advancement over the MK54 MOD 0 and MOD 1, with a more advanced and lethal warhead, and enhanced target tracking and classification system. Northrop Grumman announced on Jan. 12, 2026, that it has received a $233 million U.S. Navy contract to manufacture and deliver the new MK54 MOD 2 […]