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Air (Page 3)

Latest in Air

C-17 Globemaster III cargo jets are starting to fly to the Caribbean with personnel and supplies for the Venezuelan earthquake relief efforts.
C-17

C-17 Cargo Jets Flowing To Caribbean For Venezuela Earthquake Relief Effort

By Howard Altman, Ian Ellis-Jones

Posted on Jun 26, 2026

The U.S. military has now confirmed the acceptance of at least six F-35 Joint Strike Fighters for the U.S. Marine Corps without radars.
F-35

It’s Official: F-35s Are Now Being Delivered Without Radars (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 26, 2026

Official rendering of the GCAP demonstrator for the Tempest future fighter.
F-35A

Canada Throws A Curveball As It Signals Interest In Joining GCAP Sixth-Gen Fighter Program

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jun 26, 2026

The Pentagon and the U.S. Air Force have fully abandoned plans to cancel the E-7 Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft program. However, there is now a debate about how to fund the effort, at least for the coming year.
E-7

In An Ironic Turn Of Events, White House Wants To Raid Navy E-2 Account To Pay For USAF E-7s

By Joseph Trevithick, Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jun 25, 2026

A Boeing 777-F from Qatar Airways Cargo takes off from Barcelona airport in Barcelona, Spain, on January 11, 2024. (Photo by Joan Valls/Urbanandsport/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Air

Boeing 777 Pilot’s Take On Extremely Low Pass By Boeing Jet Captured In Viral Video

By Howard Altman

Posted on Jun 25, 2026

USAF Wants Air-To-Air Missile With A Whopping 1,000-Mile Range
U.S. Air Force

USAF Wants Air-To-Air Missile With A Whopping 1,000-Mile Range

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 25, 2026

Turkey's 5th generation warplane: KAAN
F-35A

Trump Set To Clear Critical F110 Turbofan Engine Sale For Turkey’s Kaan Fighter

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jun 25, 2026

The U.S. Navy continues to make use of MQ-1 Predators as test and training assets, eight years after the U.S. Air Force retired the iconic drones.
Q-1

Pocket Fleet Of Unseen MQ-1 Predators Still Flying In Specialized Role

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Jun 24, 2026

U.S. Air Force HC-130J Combat King II assigned to the 79th Rescue Squadron takes off behind a Boeing Defence Australia’s MQ-28 Ghost Bat, a production representative test aircraft, during Exercise Valiant Shield 2026 at Rota, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, June 21, 2026. U.S. forces are integrating Collaborative Combat Aircraft into Exercise VS26 to advance human-machine teaming.
MQ-28

MQ-28 Ghost Bat Drone Debuts In Large-Force Combat Exercise In The Pacific

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jun 24, 2026

NATO and Ukraine are looking to the private sector to develop methods of attacking Russian air bases.
Russian Air Force

NATO And Ukraine Turning To Private Sector To Help Crater Russian Airfields

By Howard Altman

Posted on Jun 23, 2026

The U.S. military has released new details about the massive Fightertown Recapitalization (FTR) program at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER), in Anchorage, southeastern Alaska.
U.S. Air Force

Air Force’s Fightertown Alaska Plan Takes Shape

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jun 23, 2026

F15E pilot saw drone swarm over Iran before being shot down.
Swarms

What Was The “Jellyfish-Like” Drone Swarm The Downed F-15E Pilot Reportedly Saw Over Iran?

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Jun 23, 2026

Aurora Flight Sciences is now putting the wings on the X-65 experimental drone, which is designed to maneuver with bursts of air rather than traditional control surfaces.
Unmanned

DARPA X-Plane Designed To Maneuver With Just Bursts Of Air Finally Gets Its Wings

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 23, 2026

JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MARYLAND - JUNE 22: A Boeing 747-8 jetliner practices touch and go landings on June 22, 2026 in Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. The plane, which was a gift from the government of Qatar, is designated as the new Air Force One and will replace the military-grade 747-2. The Air Force has been working to upgrade the jet so it is ready for presidential transport. (Photo by Andrew Leyden/Getty Images)
Air Force One

Inside The Making Of The New Air Force One

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Jun 22, 2026

Turkey’s Baykar and Leonardo of Italy say they have successfully completed the first live trials of their K-SWARM concept, demonstrating collaborative operations between crewed and uncrewed aircraft as part of an effort to develop next-generation autonomous air combat capabilities. The trials, involving Baykar’s Kizilelma uncrewed combat air vehicle (UCAV) and Leonardo’s M-346 light combat aircraft, are the latest to explore what is fast becoming a key element in the evolution of air combat.
Turkish Air Force

Turkey’s ‘Fighter Drone’ Teamed With M-346 Fighter-Trainer In Autonomy Trials

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jun 22, 2026

The very first P-8A Poseidon aircraft is now assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 30 (VX-30), the “Bloodhounds."
P-8

First P-8 Poseidon Ever Built Starts New Career Supporting Pacific Missile Tests

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 22, 2026

Engels shelters long-range aviation
Tu-160

Russia Is Building Huge Protective Shelters For Its Strategic Bombers

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jun 22, 2026

VC-25B bridge aircraft has been added to the presidential airlift fleet.
Air Force One

New Air Force VC-25B “Bridge” Jet Has Joined The Presidential Airlift Group (Updated)

By Howard Altman

Updated on Jun 19, 2026

L3Harris wants to demonstrate the ability of the RC-135V/W Rivet Joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft to team up with uncrewed platforms.
Loyal Wingman

RC-135 Rivet Joints Could Control Drones To Drastically Expand Collection Capabilities

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 19, 2026

New Stryker drone division for the pacific.
Unmanned

Army’s Newest Unit Aims To “Overwhelm” Adversary With Drones In Pacific Fight 

By Howard Altman

Posted on Jun 19, 2026

A U.S. Air Force Airman from the 355th Wing hoists into an HH-60W Jolly Green II during combat search and rescue training for Mosaic Lightning 26-2 in New Mexico, May 15, 2026. The exercise tested personnel recovery capabilities and strengthened interoperability between rescue forces operating in high-stress scenarios.
HH-60

Congress Questions Air Force’s Combat Rescue Readiness As HH-60W Helicopters Get Turned Into VIP Transports

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jun 18, 2026

There are growing signs that President Donald Trump's next trip on an Air Force One jet will be aboard the so-called VC-25B “Bridge” aircraft converted from an ex-Qatari VVIP Boeing 747-8i, not a VC-25A.
Air Force One

No, A VC-25A Air Force One Jet Isn’t Being Retired Just Yet

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Jun 18, 2026

General Atomics is giving the MQ-9 reaper airborne early radar capability, which could have a big impact on the market.
Q-9

MQ-9 Getting Airborne Early Warning Radar Is A Huge Deal

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Jun 18, 2026

The U.S. Air Force has awarded contracts for the production of General Atomics YFQ-42A Dark Merlin and Anduril YFQ-44A Fury drones., setting it up for a split fleet of operational CCAs.
Collaborative Combat Aircraft

USAF Orders Both General Atomics’ FQ-42 And Anduril’s FQ-44 Into Production

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 17, 2026

The Senate Armed Services Committee is "concerned" about the U.S. Air Force's current plan to retire its E–11A Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) aircraft in Fiscal Year 2028.
E-11

Senators Want Answers On USAF Plans To Cut E-11 BACN Combat Communications Jets

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 17, 2026

A plot to use drone to attack the UFC fight in Washington has been disclosed.
Unmanned

Alleged Plot On White House UFC Fight Puts Drone Threat In The Spotlight

By Howard Altman

Posted on Jun 16, 2026

B-52 Involved In Tragic Crash Was Heading Out On Radar Test Sortie
B-52

B-52 Involved In Tragic Crash Was Heading Out On Radar Test Sortie

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 16, 2026

New footage confirms the R6000 uncrewed tiltrotor has moved into a new and more demanding phase of flight testing.
Air Forces

China’s Big R6000 Tiltrotor Drone Has Entered Full Flight Testing

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jun 16, 2026

B-52 Bomber Crashes At Edwards Air Force Base In California (Updated)
B-52

B-52 Bomber Crashes At Edwards Air Force Base In California (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Jun 15, 2026

The U.S. military wants to see if it can enhance the capabilities of the 2,000-pound-class Joint Direct Attack Munition-Extended Range (JDAM-ER) precision-guided bomb as a bunker-busting munition.
Bunker Busters

Bunker Busters With Winged JDAM-ER Kits Could Allow For Near Horizontal Strikes On Fortified Targets

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 15, 2026

A-10 warthog has had its life extended but actually supporting it to its out of service date is a different reality.
A-10

A Disciplined Case For The A-10 The Air Force Won’t Make

By Paul "Gu$" Garcia

Posted on Jun 15, 2026

Russia's Defence Ministry said the Tu-22M3 crashed while making an approach to land in the Irkutsk Region during what it described as a routine training flight.
Tu-22

Russian Tu-22M3 Swing-Wing Bomber Seen Plunging Into The Ground

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jun 15, 2026

A-10C Thunderbolt II close-support jets with kill marking were seen at RAF Lakenheath.
A-10

A-10 Warthogs Arrive In England Festooned With Nose Art And Mission Markings From Epic Fury

By Howard Altman

Posted on Jun 13, 2026

Boeing has decided not to pursue a bid for the U.S. Navy's Undergraduate Jet Training System (UJTS) competition.
T-45

Boeing Drops Out Of Navy’s T-45 Jet Trainer Replacement Competition

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 12, 2026

A screencap from an Airbus video showing a notional future fighter working with remote-carrier-type drones.
Fighters

Germany And Spain Launch ‘Team Gen 6’ After Europe’s Next-Gen Fighter Effort Collapses

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jun 12, 2026

Members of Congress are again moving to block the U.S. Air Force from retiring all of its U-2S Dragon Lady spy planes. This time, legislators also want to compel the service to "fully restore" a quartet of the iconic aircraft through depot maintenance.
U-2

Four U-2S Spy Planes Would Be Restored In Bill That Would Save The Dragon Lady Fleet

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 12, 2026

Boeing’s 757 Flying Test Bed was recently spotted carrying a stealthy underwing infrared sensor pod under its fuselage.
F-22

F-22’s ‘Catfish’ 757 Testbed Spotted Carrying Raptor’s New Infrared Sensor Pod

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 11, 2026

Boeing “Encouraged” By C-17 Production Restart Discussions
C-17

Boeing “Encouraged” By C-17 Production Restart Discussions

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 11, 2026

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon taxis on the flightline at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The F-16 is carrying a Family of Affordable Mass Munition – Lugged weapon as part of a rapid test series performed by the 96th Test Wing and 53rd Wing.
F-16

Kongsberg Bets On High-Low Cruise Missile Mix With JSM And Rusty Dagger

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jun 11, 2026

Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat Block 3.
MQ-28

Boeing’s New Larger Ghost Bat Can Carry AIM-120 AMRAAMs Internally

By TWZ

Posted on Jun 10, 2026

There's an unusual twist here with the specific plane that NASA is now eyeing: it currently belongs to the U.S. Air Force and is part of a "classified military program." There is a strong possibility that the aircraft in question is a mysterious 737 that the service acquired in 2020, and that has been the subject of much speculation as to its purpose ever since.
U.S. Air Force

Is This Secretive Air Force 737 About To Become NASA’s Next ‘Vomit Comet’? (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 10, 2026

Cobra 600 drone with IRIS-T missile at ILA Berlin 2026.
Air

Germany’s Cobra 600 Is A Jet Powered Interceptor Drone That Slings An IRIS-T Missile

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jun 10, 2026

Trump says the apache that crashed into the sea of Oman was shot down.
AH-64

AH-64 Apache Shot Down By Iran, U.S. Will Retaliate: Trump (Updated)

By Howard Altman

Updated on Jun 9, 2026

An officer with the First Corps Azov offers unique insights into the unit's mid-range drone attack campaign against Russian logistics.
Unmanned

Inside Ukraine’s AI-Enabled Drone Campaign Targeting Russian Logistics Deep Behind The Lines

By Howard Altman

Posted on Jun 9, 2026

Representing the next evolution in Airbus’ UCCA roadmap towards a scalable family of uncrewed collaborative combat aircraft, the 1:1 model on display features a wingspan of 10 m and a length of 13 m. Optimised for multi-domain missions, the UCCA's capabilities include air-to-surface strikes using precision-guided munitions, air-to-air defence with long and medium-range anti-aircraft missiles, and electronic warfare for suppressing enemy air defences and offensive counter-air using non-kinetic jamming. Ravenstorm will be available in the early 2030s.
Collaborative Combat Aircraft

Ravenstorm At The Center Of Airbus’s New Combat Drone Portfolio

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jun 9, 2026

AH-64 went down into the gulf of Oman with drone boat recovering the crew.
AH-64

AH-64 Apache Crew Rescued By Drone Boat After Going Down Near Strait Of Hormuz (Updated)

By Howard Altman, Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Jun 9, 2026

The U.S. Air Force has confirmed that the so-called VC-25B Bridge aircraft is now wearing its new red, white, and blue livery and undergoing final preparations for its official delivery.
Air Force One

VC-25B Air Force One “Bridge” Aircraft Now Wears Trump’s Preferred Red, White, and Blue Paint Job

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Jun 9, 2026

Germany and France have failed to reconcile competing military requirements, bringing Europe’s flagship fighter jet program to an abrupt end.
French Air Force

Franco-German Future Fighter Effort Collapses Over Irreconcilable Differences

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jun 8, 2026

A U.S. Air Force KC-135 tanker appeared in the United Kingdom this weekend with a new large antenna on top of the rear of the fuselage.
KC-135

KC-135 Tanker Spotted With New Satellite Communications Antenna

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Jun 8, 2026

U-145 helicopter drone.
Helicopters

Airbus Unveils U145 Uncrewed Cargo Helicopter

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jun 8, 2026

The French Air and Space Force confirmed that its Rafales, currently deployed in neighboring Lithuania, were scrambled in response to the drone incursion. The drone was identified before one of the fighters shot it down over an uninhabited area.
Rafale

Video Captures Rafale Fighter’s Drone Kill Over Baltic

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jun 8, 2026

F-47 Patch
F-47

F-47’s Exotic Shape Was Hiding In Plain Sight On A Unit Patch

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Jun 7, 2026

A-10 weapons school pilot gives walk around tour of jet and the cockpit.
A-10

A-10 Cockpit And Walk-Around Tour With A Warthog Weapons Instructor

By Jamie Hunter

Posted on Jun 7, 2026

MH-5
H-53

Confessions Of A Navy MH-53E Sea Dragon Minehunter Pilot

By Howard Altman

Updated on Jun 5, 2026

A thermal image purportedly showing a previously unseen advanced aircraft design shows some interesting similarities to a "Christmas Tree" fighter design concept crafted decades ago by Darold Cummings, one of the top minds behind Northrop's YF-23 Black Widow.
F-47

Area 51 Mystery Aircraft Prompts Interest In “Christmas Tree” Stealth Fighter Concept

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Jun 5, 2026

Faced with mounting losses fighting Iran, the Air Force is bying unused Reapers from General Atomics.
Q-9

USAF Scrambling To Buy What Few MQ-9 Reapers It Can Find After Epic Fury Losses

By Howard Altman, Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 5, 2026

An A-10C Thunderbolt II assigned to the 74th Fighter Squadron flies with its new refueling probe at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, May 19, 2026. The A-10 successfully refueled from an HC-130J Combat King II assigned to the 71st Rescue Squadron, demonstrating the new system’s effectiveness.
A-10

Congress Throws A-10 Warthog Another Lifeline

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jun 5, 2026

Modularity is a key area of interest as the U.S. Air Force formulates its latest set of requirements for a successor to the MQ-9 Reaper, according to Gen. John Lamontagne, the service's Vice Chief of Staff.
Q-9

USAF Wants “MQ-9 Next” Reaper Replacement To Be Modular, Cheap

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 4, 2026

Mystery aircraft spotted over groom lake.
F-47

Is This A Glimpse Of The Aircraft That Gave Birth To The F-47?

By Thomas Newdick, Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Jun 4, 2026

PERSIAN GULF - APRIL 4 : A U.S. Marine Harrier jet lands on the flight deck of the U.S.S. Bon Homme Richard April 4, 2003 in the Persian Gulf. Harrier jets from the Bon Homme Richard continue to carry out bombing missions in support of the U.S.-led in Iraq. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Harrier

The Hidden History of America’s Harrier Jump Jets

By Michael Pryce

Posted on Jun 3, 2026

A Marine AV-8B Harrier takes off from amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa (LHA 1) just before sunset. Tarawa, along with embarked 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, is on a scheduled deployment to the Western Pacific in support of maritime security operations and the Global War on Terrorism.
Harrier

The USMC’s AV-8B Harrier Has Flown Off Into The Sunset

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jun 3, 2026

U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) has confirmed that it has no plans for a direct replacement for the U-28A Draco, which is primarily used for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR).
Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC)

Any Plans For Direct U-28 Draco Special Ops Surveillance Plane Replacement Abandoned

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 2, 2026

Newly emerged footage appears to show the French-supplied fighters executing a strike profile associated with Hammer precision-guided bombs.
Ukrainian Air Force

Are Ukrainian Mirage 2000s Now Flying Air-To-Ground Strike Missions?

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jun 2, 2026

The U.S. Air Force is already moving to lay the groundwork for the fielding of the replacement for its GBU-57/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bunker buster bomb.
U.S. Air Force

Next Generation Penetrator Bomb Slated To Replace MOP Has Been Designated GBU-76

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 2, 2026