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The evaluation gave real-world operational context for the MV-75’s design, bridging the gap between engineering and battlefield application ahead of the Critical Design Review. The U.S. Army’s Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) program conducted the third Special User Evaluation (SUE) at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. While the service announced this on May 28, 2025, the evaluation […]

The post MV-75 FLRAA Conducts Special User Evaluation at Redstone Arsenal appeared first on The Aviationist.

We took a closer look at the Russian Pantsir, Buk, Tor, Tunguska, and S-300 replicas positioned in a high-tech range used for realistic training in contested environments. The Poligono Interforze di Salto di Quirra (PISQ) is one of Italy’s most important military test and training facilities, and one of the most advanced in Europe. Headquartered […]

The post Take A Look At The Rare Full-Scale Replicas of Russian SAM Systems In The PISQ Range In Italy appeared first on The Aviationist.

Turkey is evaluating a replacement for its aging KC-135R Stratotanker fleet, with the KC-46 Pegasus and the A330 MRTT being the two candidates. Turkey has narrowed the candidates for the Türk Hava Kuvvetleri’s (Turkish Air Force) next aerial refueling aircraft to the Airbus A330 MRTT (Multi-Role Tanker Transport) and the Boeing KC-46A Pegasus, Breaking Defense […]

The post Turkey Set to Choose Between KC-46A and A330 MRTT for Future Tanker Fleet appeared first on The Aviationist.

After an eventful deployment to Europe and the Red Sea, the Nimitz class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) berthed at Naval Station Norfolk on Jun. 1, 2025. Upon beginning its deployment, it was already expected that the USS Harry S. Truman would likely come to face hostile fire and launch live combat […]

The post USS Harry S. Truman Returns Home: Deployment Recap appeared first on The Aviationist.

During the massive June 1 attack, Ukrainian First Person View drones also hit two A-50U Mainstay Airborne Early Warning aircraft. Few days after the daring long-range attack against Russian air bases, Ukraine has now released new videos from the attack on Jun. 1, 2025. One of these, part of a 5 minute compilation, shows First […]

The post Ukrainian FPV Drone Strike Hits Russia’s Rare and Vital A-50U, New Footage Shows appeared first on The Aviationist.

Saab has confirmed the Royal Thai Air Force’s choice of the Gripen E/F to replace the force’s F-16s, and the formal procurement process can now begin. The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) announced its preference in August 2024 to acquire Saab’s next generation Gripen, beating out a Lockheed Martin proposal offering Block 70/72 F-16 Fighting […]

The post Thailand Confirms Gripen E/F Selection As Future Fighter appeared first on The Aviationist.

U.S. Navy’s Iconic Enterprise Nuclear Carrier Set for Dismantling in Alabama, Freeing Shipyard Space and Cutting Costs by $1 Billion The U.S. Navy has officially signed off on a historic contract that will see the dismantling and disposal of its first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier conducted entirely by the private sector. The $536.7 million deal, awarded […]

The post Navy Awards $536M Contract for First-Ever Commercial Dismantling of Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier appeared first on The Aviationist.

The 144-page SDR falls short of detailing a comprehensive future order of battle, but does offer 62 recommendations which ministers say will be accepted in full. The long awaited Strategic Defence Review (SDR) has been published by the UK Government. The 144-page SDR falls short of detailing a comprehensive future order of battle, but does […]

The post UK Strategic Defence Review: Key Points from an Initial Reading appeared first on The Aviationist.

After one and a half years of preparation, Ukrainian personnel hiding deep inside Russia conducted an unprecedented attack with 117 drones which destroyed multiple bombers. The Security Service of Ukraine conducted an unprecedented attack with First Person View (FPV) drones against air bases deep inside Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy defined this the “most long-range […]

The post Ukraine Executes ‘Longest Range Operation’ Striking Russian Air Bases with FPV Drones appeared first on The Aviationist.

Press reports ahead of UK’s Strategic Defence Review say plans for the RAF could include the procurement of F-35A Lightning II fighters with a mention of delivering nuclear payloads. Since the withdrawal of the last WE.177 nuclear bomb in 1998, the United Kingdom’s nuclear deterrent has been provided exclusively by submarine launched ballistic missiles (SLBM). […]

The post Nuclear Strike Mission Could Return to the RAF After 27-Year Gap appeared first on The Aviationist.

The drone’s use is likely to provoke Ukrainian air defenses and present a dilemma between protecting targets in Odessa and preserving their surface-to-air missile stocks. The escalating war in the Black Sea between Russia and Ukraine saw another innovation on the morning of May 29, 2025, when Ukraine’s General Intelligence Directorate (GUR) said it shot […]

The post Russian Jet Target Drone-Turned-Cruise Missile Shot Down Over Black Sea appeared first on The Aviationist.

The Hungarian Air Force received the first three L-39 Skyfox aircraft out of a total order of 12 signed in 2022, of which four will be in a reconnaissance configuration. On May 30, 2025, the Hungarian Air Force received the first three L-39 Skyfox aircraft out of a total order of 12 signed in 2022. […]

The post Kecskemét Welcomes First Batch of Hungarian L-39 “Skyfox” Trainers appeared first on The Aviationist.

Lt. Col. Alvarez, a B-1B weapons systems officer and commander of the 345th Bomb Squadron, joins a short list of aircrew who have amassed 5,000-plus flying hours in the B-1B. Lt. Col. Eric Alvarez, a weapons systems officer (WSO) and commander of the 345th Bomb Squadron which flies the B-1B Lancer bomber from Texas’ Dyess […]

The post B-1B Lancer WSO Logs 5,000 Hours on Strategic Bomber appeared first on The Aviationist.

A few days after the first images emerged of Strike Eagles carrying four or six LAU-131 pods for drone-hunting missions, U.S. CENTCOM has released a photograph showing the same loadout on an operationally deployed F-15E. The new anti-UAV loadout made of six LAU-131A rocket launchers that we observed on F-15Es involved in tests at Eglin […]

The post CENTCOM Releases Photo of F-15E with Counter-UAV Loadout in the Middle East appeared first on The Aviationist.

Photographer Julian Elnasser spotted the two aircraft over Death Valley earlier this year. The secretive RAT55 NT-43A is thought to be almost exclusively used to test the airborne radar signatures of stealth aircraft. While this is not the first time the two aircraft types have been spotted or reported operating alongside each other, with much […]

The post Rare Sighting: Elusive RAT55 737 Radar Test Aircraft Captured in Flight Alongside B-2 Spirit appeared first on The Aviationist.

With the main European and American airshow seasons rapidly approaching, take a look here for tips on how to hone the art of aviation photography. Modern camera technology has made aviation photography more accessible than ever. Gone are the days when you’d have to ration which aircraft you took pictures of as you’d only brought […]

The post Aviation Photography 101: A Beginner’s Guide to Shooting Aircraft appeared first on The Aviationist.

With the first Warthog sent to the Boneyard, Idaho ANG enters a new chapter while honoring three decades of A-10 Thunderbolt II heritage. The 124th Fighter Wing of the Idaho Air National Guard has officially started divesting its A-10C Thunderbolt II aircraft, with the first jet departing Gowen Field, Idaho, on May 27, 2025. The […]

The post First A-10 Departs Idaho as 124th Fighter Wing Begins Warthog Divestment appeared first on The Aviationist.

The KJ-3000 is based on the Y-20 strategic airlifter, and its development is consistent with the Chinese doctrine to have a varied fleet of airborne radars. Within five months of the first grainy visuals of China’s newest and largest Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft, the KJ-3000, performing its maiden flight on Dec. 27, […]

The post China’s KJ-3000 AEW&C Aircraft Captured in Clearest Image Yet appeared first on The Aviationist.

The outlines of what could be internal weapons stores and other electronic accessories are clearly seen in the latest picture of the J-XDS. The clearest and sharpest image yet of China’s J-XDS next generation aircraft, developed by the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC), emerged on May 28, 2025, showing its underside in great detail. Another image, […]

The post China’s J-XDS’ Underside and Weapons Bays Seen in Clearest Image Yet appeared first on The Aviationist.

The groundbreaking test saw Norwegian soldiers take control of two GBU-53 glide bombs released by two F-15Es and direct them towards the target. The Norwegian Armed Forces disclosed a recent military cooperation test with the U.S. Air Force, which involved two F-15E Strike Eagles, based at RAF Lakenheath, dropping GBU-53 glide bombs. The test, conducted […]

The post Norway Takes Control of U.S. Network-Enabled GBU-53s Launched by F-15Es During Test appeared first on The Aviationist.