The Italian MOD has just announced that an Italian Air Force Eurofighter was hit overnight at Al Taif Air Base in Saudi Arabia. An Italian Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon, deployed to Al Taif Air Base, officially known as King Fahd Air Base, in Saudi Arabia, in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, was damaged in a […]
The Aviationist•David Cenciotti18 Sept
The integration would restore Germany’s naval aviation long-range anti-ship strike capability, lost when its Tornado aircraft were transferred to the Luftwaffe over 20 years ago. The German Navy is considering integrating the Norwegian Joint Strike Missile (JSM) onto its P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft, according to a Sep. 17, 2026 by Hartpunkt. […]
The Aviationist•Parth Satam18 Sept
The agreement lays the foundations for a future multi-year procurement of the secretive AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM), allowing Lockheed Martin and its suppliers to begin investing in an expanded production capacity. The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and Lockheed Martin signed the framework agreement intended to substantially increase production capacity for the AIM-260 […]
The Aviationist•Kai Greet18 Sept
An F-16 Fighting Falcon crashed near a residential area in Grand Traverse County, Michigan, with radio traffic indicating a possible bird strike. News reports indicate the pilot, from the Texas Air National Guard’s 149th Fighter Wing, ejected successfully. Residents of Blair Township, Grand Traverse County have been ordered to shelter in place by authorities after […]
The Aviationist•Kai Greet17 Sept
The U.S. Department of State has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Saudi Arabia of 48 F-35A Lightning II fighters, with an estimated cost of $24.3 billion. The U.S. State Department has approved the Foreign Military Sale (FMS) requested by Saudi Arabia for the acquisition of the F-35 Lightning II. Saudi Arabia could get […]
The Aviationist•Stefano D'Urso17 Sept
The demonstration at a live-fire training range showcased the Mojave’s ability to operate from austere, short-field locations in simulated battlefield conditions. The Mojave Short Take-Off Landing (STOL) Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) has conducted what GA-ASI describes as the first-ever flight operations from a simulated battlefield by a medium-altitude, long-endurance uncrewed aircraft, the company announced on […]
The Aviationist•Parth Satam17 Sept
The U.S. Air Force is considering the acquisition of newly built F-16s, possibly an upgraded F-16G variant, to address the aging of the fleet. The U.S. Air Force is once again considering the acquisition of newly built F-16 fighter aircraft, according to multiple sources who spoke with Air and Space Forces Magazine and Aviation Week, […]
The Aviationist•Stefano D'Urso17 Sept
The new AGM-158 FLEX architecture is designed to accommodate different sensor packages, airframe lengths and launch configurations while leveraging the existing JASSM/LRASM industrial base. Lockheed Martin has unveiled a new modular airframe concept for its AGM-158 family of cruise missiles, called AGM-158 FLEX. The concept introduces a new architecture intended to provide greater flexibility in […]
The Aviationist•Stefano D'Urso17 Sept
The new low-cost, software-defined Shadow EW systems are designed to bring electronic warfare capabilities to small drones, munitions and other airborne platforms. BAE Systems has unveiled a new family of compact electronic warfare systems called Shadow EW, designed to bring capabilities traditionally associated with much larger and more expensive platforms to small airborne systems. The […]
The Aviationist•Stefano D'Urso17 Sept
After deploying in March 2026, twelve ‘MO’ F-15E Strike Eagles touched down at RAF Lakenheath on Sep. 16 as they head back to the U.S., notably featuring an inventive collection of nose art. As we reported in February, F-15E Strike Eagles from Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, were among the reinforcements that were dispatched […]
The Aviationist•Kai Greet17 Sept
The review validates the maturity of the F135 Engine Core Upgrade, designed to support the additional power generation and thermal management needs of the future Block 4 upgrades. Engine maker Pratt & Whitney has completed the Risk Reduction Design Review (RRDR) for the Engine Core Upgrade (ECU) of the F-35’s F135 engine. The milestone validates […]
The Aviationist•Parth Satam16 Sept
Aviation Week reports on a statement by an Air Mobility Command (AMC) spokesperson confirming the USAF’s intent to procure the Boeing 737’s MAX variant for the first time, becoming the type’s first military operator. In 2026, budgetary approval was granted to the U.S. Air Force for a single-aircraft expansion to the service’s fleet of C-40 (Boeing […]
The Aviationist•Kai Greet16 Sept
Rafael and Lockheed Martin are integrating the Israeli SPICE 1000 stand-off weapon on the F-35, potentially opening the door for the munition to be offered to other Lightning II operators. Rafael Advanced Defense Systems has announced that it is integrating its SPICE 1000 air-to-surface munition on the F-35 Lightning II. The integration is being conducted […]
The Aviationist•Stefano D'Urso16 Sept
Anduril fit checked its YFQ-44A Fury CCA with various air-to-ground munitions, and conducted the first formation flights of the autonomous fighter drone alongside F-35s. Anduril’s YFQ-44A Fury is expanding its capabilities beyond the air-to-air mission that initially defined the U.S. Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program. New imagery released by the company shows the […]
The Aviationist•Stefano D'Urso16 Sept
The AFSOC said the latest combat evaluation took place this spring within U.S. Africa Command’s area of responsibility, with the missile employed from an AFSOC platform in a “test configuration.” The AGM-190A Havoc Spear small cruise missile underwent a new combat evaluation this spring, with the weapon employed from an AFSOC platform in a “test […]
The Aviationist•Parth Satam16 Sept
An LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) has been vertically stacked at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, as preparations continue ahead of the missile’s anticipated first test launch next year. The LGM-35A Sentinel, built by Northrop Grumman, is due to replace the U.S. Air Force’s venerable force of LGM-30 Minuteman III missiles which have stood […]
The Aviationist•Kai Greet15 Sept
One of Japan’s three RQ-4B Global Hawks crashed in the Sea of Japan off the coast of Tottori Prefecture. One of the Japan Air Self Defense Force’s (JASDF) three RQ-4B Global Hawks has crashed in the Sea of Japan on Sep. 15, 2026. The airframe in question, 23-6003, took off from Misawa Air Base at […]
The Aviationist•Rin Sakurai15 Sept
The U.S. Navy has awarded Boeing a contract for the Lot 1 of the Low-Rate Initial Production of the MQ-25 Stingray unmanned tanker, which includes three aircraft. The U.S. Navy has awarded Boeing the contract for the Lot 1 of the MQ-25A Stingray’s Low-Rate Initial Production. The Fixed Price Incentive contract, valued at $562 million, […]
The Aviationist•Stefano D'Urso15 Sept
Skunk Works is moving ahead with four additional Vectis vehicles as the company accelerates development of its Group 5 collaborative combat aircraft toward a planned first flight in 2027. Lockheed Martin is significantly expanding its Vectis Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, with the Skunk Works division now planning to build four additional vehicles beyond the […]
The Aviationist•Stefano D'Urso15 Sept
Newly declassified footage aired by ’60 Minutes’ offers a closer look at the complex rescue of the F-15E crew shot down over Iran, including the previously reported C-295W and a deliberately blurred Little Bird whose appearance raises new questions about what the Pentagon still wants to keep hidden. U.S. news and feature television show ’60 […]
The Aviationist•Tom Demerly14 Sept