Transports

Explore Transports

Latest in Transports

Aurora Flight Sciences has released new renderings of an uncrewed fan-in-wing vertical take-off-and-landing capable demonstrator aircraft it is currently working on, as well as of a revised vision for a scaled-up stealthy cargo aircraft based on the same technology.

New Vision For Lift Fan Aircraft Family Grows From Special Operations X-Plane Program

By Joseph Trevithick
Oct 8 8:56 PM EDT
The U.S. Air Force's top special operations officer says AC-130J Ghostriders will continue being armed with 105mm howitzers for the foreseeable future despite the gunships evolving to as focus shifts to preparing for high-end fights.

AC-130J Ghostrider Gunships Will Keep Their 105mm Howitzers, For Now

By Joseph Trevithick
Sep 19 1:35 PM EDT
The U.S. Air Force is pushing ahead with experimentation that could lead to the transformation of KC-135 tankers into optionally crewed aircraft, as well as the development of other autonomous aerial refueling capabilities. U.S. military interest in autonomous airlifters, an area where China has been notably surging forward in the past few years, is also growing.

Work Toward KC-135 Tankers That Fly Themselves, Uncrewed Cargo Aircraft Pressing Ahead

By Joseph Trevithick
Sep 18 2:34 PM EDT
The Piasecki Aircraft Corporation's Aerial Reconfigurable Embedded System Demonstration Vehicle (ARES-DV), a vertical takeoff and landing capable tilt-rotor drone designed to carry interchangeable payload modules, has left the ground for the first time.

Tilt-Ducted Fan ARES Drone Designed To Carry Modular Payloads Has Finally Lifted Off

By Joseph Trevithick
Sep 10 9:00 AM EDT
AC-130

The Future Of The AC-130 Gunship: Evolve Or Die

By Tyler Rogoway
Aug 31 7:05 PM EDT
A Cessna Model 208B Grand Caravan converted into a cargo drone was among the participants in a recently concluded U.S. Air Force-led large force air combat exercise focused on preparing for a potential future conflict with China.

Cessna Caravan Turned Into Cargo Drone Tested At China-Focused Airpower Exercise

By Joseph Trevithick
Aug 16 2:07 PM EDT
Chinese drone maker Tengden says it has conducted the first flight of a new cargo drone with a multi-metric-ton cargo capacity.

Chinese Cargo Drone Capable Of Carrying Two Tons Has Flown

By Joseph Trevithick
Aug 12 2:45 PM EDT
The US Air Force says an AC-130J Ghostrider gunship has operated from a highway for the first time as part of the service's larger push to reduce its dependence on traditional runways. This is also comes amid questions about the future of the gunships in future high-end fights.

AC-130J Ghostrider Gunship Has Operated From A Highway For The First Time

By Joseph Trevithick
Aug 5 1:51 PM EDT
An US Air Force AC-130J Ghostrider gunship recently used its 30mm and 105mm to help sink a decommissioned amphibious warship during an exercise, which comes amid a larger discussion about the relevance of these aircraft in future higher-end operations.

AC-130J Ghostrider Hammers Amphibious Warship During Rare Appearance At Sinking Exercise

By Joseph Trevithick
Aug 1 12:35 PM EDT
In a rare and impressive gathering, every airframe in the U.S. Coast Guard fleet converged at one location on 14 June 2024.

Every Coast Guard Aircraft Type Pictured Together In Rare ‘Family Photo’

By Oliver Parken
Jul 15 7:19 PM EDT
The US Air Force's Air Mobility Command has outlined a critical need to give its fleets new counter-drone defenses they can use wherever they go.

Built-In Counter-Drone Defenses Sought For Air Force Transports, Tankers

By Eric Tegler, Joseph Trevithick
Jun 29 3:55 PM EDT
Soviet-era An-22 landing

Russia’s An-22, The Biggest Turboprop Plane Ever Flown, Heads For Retirement

By Thomas Newdick
Jun 6 2:40 PM EDT
Exercise TARTAN SPIRIT has tested, trained and integrated critical capabilities to ensure they are ready for any operational missions. From scenario driven training to Tactical Landing Zones, this Exercise takes personnel from RAF Brize Norton, the RAF’s largest station and home to the UK’s Air Mobility Force, Prestwick Airport is the Deployable Operating Base and West Freugh the Forward Operating base. II Squadron RAF Regiment deployed alongside the Air Mobility Force to further strengthen their tactics, training and techniques alongside various aircraft. These skills are essential for ensuring RAF aircraft can operate safely across the globe. By training together we continue to provide integrated and scaleable Air Force Protection capability whilst preparing all RAF personnel for the rigours of operations, providing them with critical skills to survive, operate and maintain their operational edge.

Confessions Of A C-130 Hercules Pilot

By Thomas Newdick
May 23 3:15 PM EDT
We now have our first look at a mini-cruise missile U.S. Special Operations Command is developing that could arm AC-130J gunships and other aircraft.

Our First Look At The Tiny Cruise Missile That Aims To Arm AC-130 Gunships

By Joseph Trevithick
May 8 9:16 PM EDT
US Special Operations Command says it has 'hit pause' on plans to convert an MC-130J special operations tanker/transport in a floatplane.

C-130 Floatplane Program Put ‘On Pause’ By Special Operations Command

By Joseph Trevithick
May 7 8:42 PM EDT
The future of the Harvest Hawk armament kits for Marine Corps KC-130J tanker/transport aircraft are increasingly uncertain as focus shifts to planning for future high-end conflicts.

Marine KC-130Js May Lose Their Missile-Firing Harvest Hawk Kits

By Joseph Trevithick
May 1 7:50 PM EDT