The Aviationist Blog

Two bombers deployed from Ellsworth Air Force Base to Luleå-Kallax Air Base, where they will integrate with the Swedish Armed Forces, NATO Allies and other international partners. Two U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancers assigned to [...]

The post U.S. B-1B Bombers Arrive In Sweden For Bomber Task Force 24-2 appeared first on The Aviationist.

The Ukrainian Air Force has reportedly shot down another Russian A-50U over the Sea of Azov. On Feb. 23, 2024, “as a result of a joint operation of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry [...]

The post Ukraine Says It Has Shot Down Another Russian A-50U Mainstay appeared first on The Aviationist.

Vladimir Putin took a 30-minute ride in a modernized Tu-160M supersonic bomber as part of the crew yesterday. Russian President Vladimir Putin flew in a Tu-160M strategic bomber on Feb. 22, 2024. A 30-minute sortie [...]

The post Putin Flies Aboard Modernized Tu-160M Strategic Bomber appeared first on The Aviationist.

The AB-212 (HH-212) Twin Huey helicopter made its last flight today ending a 40-year career in the Italian Air Force. The last HH-212 (as the AB-212 is designated in accordance with the Italian MOD Mission [...]

The post The Italian Air Force Bids Farewell To The AB-212 Helicopter appeared first on The Aviationist.

The weapons will equip the Italian F-35 fleet, with the AIM-120C-8 possibly being a temporary solution until the Meteor BVRAAM is integrated on the 5th gen aircraft. After the U.S. Department of Defense published in [...]

The post US Approves GBU-53 And AIM-120C-8 Foreign Military Sale To Italy appeared first on The Aviationist.

Formerly known as TF-X, Kaan will replace the F-16 in the 2030s. In the early morning of Feb.21, 2024, a little less than a year from its rollout, the prototype of the TF Kaan National [...]

The post Turkish Kaan National Combat Aircraft Flies For The First Time appeared first on The Aviationist.

The last 15 C-2As are surging to meet the carrier onboard delivery mission after all Ospreys were grounded in December, with DOT&E meanwhile reporting that the CMV-22 is not operationally suitable. The U.S. Navy is [...]

The post U.S. Navy Surging Last C-2 Greyhound Squadron As CMV-22 Osprey Remains Grounded appeared first on The Aviationist.

The service decided to cancel the 2024 season and focus on the transition to the F-35. The Belgian Air Force unexpectedly announced on Feb. 19, 2024, that the F-16 Solo Display Team will not be [...]

The post Belgian Air Force Unexpectedly Cancels F-16 Solo Display Team appeared first on The Aviationist.

The new Alabama ANG’s F-35 flagship, with a red tail honoring the Tuskegee Airmen legacy, took part in a flyover at Dannelly Field, along with another F-35A, two F-16s and a P-51. The 187th Fighter [...]

The post First Alabama ANG F-35 Takes Part In Special Flyover With Red Tail P-51 And F-16Cs appeared first on The Aviationist.

Lessons learned from current conflicts show that a deep, fundamental shift in airpower is occurring worldwide and the Air Force needs to adapt, says its chief. During his State of the Air Force address at [...]

The post Drones And New Technologies Are Reinventing The U.S. Air Force And Future Airpower appeared first on The Aviationist.

The GCAP Development treaty confirmed that the HQ of the programme will be based in the UK, while the first CEO will come from Italy. Defence Ministers from Italy, Japan and UK met today in [...]

The post UK, Italy And Japan Sign GCAP Development Treaty appeared first on The Aviationist.

A B-2 Spirit diverted to the UK during a mission from Whiteman Air Force Base. On Dec. 13, 2023, B-2A Spirit 82-1066 “Spirit of America” landed at RAF Fairford, UK, where it diverted during a [...]

The post B-2 Spirit On Global Power Mission Diverts To RAF Fairford appeared first on The Aviationist.

A P-8A Poseidon of the secretive VPU-2 squadron has been modified with the addition, among all other things, of the MUOS UHF-band SATCOM dome. On Dec. 12, 2023, our reader Jeffrey Stoermer, spotted a pretty [...]

The post Another VPU-2’s ‘Mystery’ P-8A Poseidon Equipped With The MUOS UHF SATCOM Hump appeared first on The Aviationist.

One of the U.S. Air Force AC-130J Ghostrider aircraft involved in an exercise has been filmed as it fired at training targets through an IR sensor. The AC-130J Ghostrider, a 5th generation gunship that has [...]

The post Watch An AC-130J Ghostrider Firing Its Cannons Through IR Vision appeared first on The Aviationist.

The aircraft, the first of 34 on order, will be delivered next year and based at Luke Air Force Base for training. Lockheed Martin rolled out of its production facilities in Fort Worth, Texas, the [...]

The post First Belgian F-35A Rolls Out Of Factory At Fort Worth appeared first on The Aviationist.

The new RPA was delivered, along with a new Mobile Ground Control Station, as part of a Mid-Life Modernization of the Italian fleet of Predator RPAs. General Atomics just disclosed that on Nov.9, 2023, the [...]

The post First MQ-9A Block 5 Delivered To Italian Air Force appeared first on The Aviationist.

The F-16, belonging to the 8th Fighter Wing, crashed into the Yellow Sea off South Korea, during a routine training mission. On Dec. 11, 2023, at around 08.43AM LT, an F-16 Fighting Falcon jet, assigned [...]

The post U.S. F-16 Crashes Into The Yellow Sea Off South Korea. Pilot Ejected Safely. appeared first on The Aviationist.

The Fleet Air Arm unit will be jointly operated by the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, similarly to the other frontline unit, the 617 Dambusters Squadron. The Royal Navy’s 809 Naval Air Squadron has [...]

The post 809 Naval Air Squadron Returns As UK’s Second Frontline F-35B Squadron appeared first on The Aviationist.

F-16 Fighting Falcons of the RNLAF 312th Squadron took part in a readiness exercise at Volkel Air Base. On Dec. 8, 2023, the 312 Squadron of the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) held an impressive [...]

The post Last Dutch F-16 Squadron Carries Out Readiness Exercise at Volkel AB appeared first on The Aviationist.

At least one IRIAF (Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force) F-14 Tomcat flew alongside the Russian presidential aircraft and its Su-35S Flanker escort over Iran. On Dec. 6, 2023, Russia’s President Putin made a rare, [...]

The post Iranian F-14 Tomcat Escorted Putin’s Il-96 And Accompanying Flankers On Their Way To UAE appeared first on The Aviationist.