Air-To-Air

Latest in Air-To-Air

Celebrations for the 80th anniversary of the Korean People’s Air Force (KPAF) provided an apparent first look at three new types of air-launched weapon, intended to arm the KPAF’s Su-25 Frogfoot ground-attack aircraft, and potentially others. The event also yielded a better look at the country’s ‘copycat’ drones, the Saetbyol-4 and Saetbyol-9 that are almost exact visual copies of the U.S.-made RQ-4 Global Hawk and MQ-9 Reaper, respectively.

Analyzing North Korea’s New Air-Launched Guided Weapons

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 2, 2025

Russia has fielded a new version of the Shahed-136 kamikaze drone armed with a single R-60 air-to-air missile.

Russian Shahed-136 Kamikaze Drones Now Armed With Air-To-Air Missiles

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 1, 2025

Turkish industry and media alike have heralded the recent live-fire test in which a Kizilelma uncrewed combat air vehicle (UCAV) used a Turkish-made air-to-air missile to destroy a target drone. Turkey claims the test marks the first occasion a UCAV has launched a radar-guided air-to-air missile. But, while undoubtedly impressive, there are unanswered questions about how the engagement actually played out, especially to what degree the UCAV was being controlled by crewed fighter jets.

Turkey’s Fighter-Like Kizilelma Drone Shot Down Aerial Target With Radar-Guided Missile

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 1, 2025

Israel's stocks of AIM-9M Sidewinder air-to-air missiles are now more effective against long-range kamikaze drones like Iran's Shahed-136, thanks to changes to their seekers, according to a new report.

AIM-9 Sidewinder

Israel Modified AIM-9M Sidewinder Missile Seekers To Better Target Drones: Report

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Nov 15, 2025

The U.S. Air Force has put out a new call for concepts for a future anti-air missile that costs no more than $500,000 and that could be built at a rate of at least 1,000 per year.

USAF’s New Low-Cost Anti-Air Missile Program Aims For $500K Target Price

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 10, 2025

The Association of the U.S. Army’s (AUSA) main annual symposium has seen some notable appearances by autonomous launchers, underscoring the service’s growing interest in this class of system. On show at the event were a new Family of Multi-Mission Autonomous Vehicles (FMAV) from Oshkosh Defense, as well as Raytheon’s DeepFires. Between them, these platforms can be armed with a wide variety of offensive and defensive weapons, also including Tomahawk cruise missiles and Patriot surface-to-air missiles.

AIM-9 Sidewinder

Autonomous Launchers Make Impact As Army Requirements Grow

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Oct 15, 2025

USAF eyes large flying wing arsenal ship.

Flying Wing Arsenal Plane Packed With Air-To-Air Missiles Eyed By USAF: Report

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Sep 29, 2025

Poland Investigating Whether Its F-16’s AIM-120 Missile Destroyed A Home

By Howard Altman

Updated on Sep 17, 2025

A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor has achieved what is, according to missile manufacturer Raytheon, the longest known AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) shot. Exactly how far away the fighter was from its target when it fired the radar-guided is unclear, but the milestone points both to the continued development of the AMRAAM’s capabilities as well as the growing focus, across the U.S. military, on extended-range air-to-air missiles to keep pace with developments in China and Russia.

F-22 Raptor Scores “Longest Known” AIM-120 AMRAAM Shot

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Sep 16, 2025

The turboprop-powered Zlin Z-137 Agro Turbo is seen swooping low over a Ukrainian cornfield, very much its traditional operating environment. In this case, however, it sports a single R-73 air-to-air missile under each wing. The agricultural plane also appears to have received a military-style dull gray overall paint scheme, with white identification stripes on the rear fuselage to reduce the risk of ‘friendly fire.’ Details of the date and location of the video are not immediately available.

Crop Duster Armed With Air-To-Air Missiles Appears In Ukraine

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Aug 8, 2025

Massive $3.5B AIM-120 order placed.

Biggest AIM-120 Missile Order Ever Just Signed By Pentagon

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Aug 3, 2025

AIM-120 being launched from NASAMS

Egypt Finally Cleared To Buy AIM-120 AMRAAMs

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Jul 25, 2025

Russia appears to be using a new type of air-to-air missile in its war in Ukraine. Evidence is mounting that the R-77M — a significantly upgraded version of the R-77 beyond-visual-range missile known to NATO as the AA-12 Adder — is not only operational but being employed in combat. The arrival of the new weapon presents another major challenge for the Ukrainian Air Force, as well as other potential adversaries.

Signs Russia’s Using New R-77M Air-To-Air Missile In Ukraine

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jul 25, 2025

A-10 firing rockets

A-10 Warthog Already Has The Capability To Use Laser-Guided Rockets To Shoot-Down Drones

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Jul 1, 2025

For the first time, at least publicly, the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force are seeking funds – nearly $670.5 million in total – to support procurement of AIM-260A Joint Advanced Tactical Missiles (JATM) for operational use in its latest annual budget request.

AIM-260 Air-To-Air Missile Funding To Start Production Sought In New Budget

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 27, 2025

Russia is introducing new nuclear-tipped air-to-air missiles as part of an overall expansion of its nuclear forces, according to an assessment from the Pentagon’s Defense Intelligence Agency, or DIA. While nuclear-armed air-to-air missiles were part of the Soviet Union’s armory during the Cold War, their current status within the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS), is little-known, which makes the disclosure from this U.S. intelligence agency all the more intriguing.

Russia Fielding New Nuclear-Armed Air-To-Air Missiles: U.S. Intel

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 21, 2025