First Dutch ‘Vipers’ arrive in Romania for Ukrainian F-16 pilot training
As preparations continue to be made for the training of Ukrainian Air Force air/ground crews on the Fighting Falcon, the Royal Netherlands Air Force delivered the first batch of its F-16AM/BM (MLU) fighters to the newly established European F-16 Training Centre (EFTC) at the Romanian Air Force’s 86th Air Base in Borcea, Romania, on November 7
Kadena Air Base welcomes first of several USAF MQ-9As
On October 13, Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, greeted the first of several USAF-operated MQ-9A Reaper unmanned combat air vehicles (UCAVs) that are scheduled to deploy to the base, which is also referred to as the ‘Keystone of the Pacific’
USAF’s new B-21 Raider stealth bomber soars into American skies
The USAF and Northrop Grumman marked a major key milestone in the development and testing of the B-21 Raider on November 10, when the new sixth-generation stealth bomber – which is intended to be the successor to both the B-1B Lancer and B-2A Spirit – graced American skies for the first time
Russia welcomes another modernised Il-76MD-90A airlifter
The United Aircraft Corporation – a subsidiary of Russia’s state-owned Rostec State Corporation – has delivered another deeply modernised Il-76MD-90A Candid heavy-lift strategic transport to the Russian Ministry of Defence
Ex-British Harrier jets head to be scrapped after 11 years in the Boneyard
Dino van Doorn witnesses the final departure of the UK’s Joint Force Harrier fleet from the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) at Davis-Monthan AFB in Arizona
US Air Force Lockheed Constellations: Over three decades of service
In the April 2014 issue of Aviation News, Bob Archer told the story of Lockheed Constellations in US Air Force service.
Argentina moves to buy Norwegian Orions and Danish ‘Vipers’
The Argentine Air Force and Navy are being prepared for a major recapitalisation with the acquisition of four P-3C/N Orion maritime patrol aircraft from Norway and up to 38 F-16AM/BM (MLU) Fighting Falcon multi-role fighters from Denmark, after the respective deals were green lit by the US government on October 11
Wake turbulence cited as cause of USAF F-35A crash at Hill AFB
Full details of the Accident Investigation Board report into the loss of USAF F-35A Lightning II (15-5197/HL) from the 388th FW's 421st FS 'Black Widows' at Hill AFB, Utah, on October 19, 2022, have now been published
ADEX 2023: Korean Air readies MALE UAV for production
The Aerospace Business Division of Korean Air showed its new MALE UAV – known variously as the MUAV and later the KUS-FS – at the Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition (ADEX) 2023 in South Korea from October 17-22
F-16Cs return to USAF’s ‘Blacksnakes’ after 13-year absence
The Indiana ANG’s 122nd Fighter Wing celebrated the arrival of the first F-16C Block 40 Fighting Falcons for the 163rd Fighter Squadron ‘Blacksnakes’ on October 23
Your source for all the latest Airforce and military aircraft news
As the latest fifth-generation platform, the Lockheed Martin F-35 is in use globally for international partner airforces, from the United States Airforce (USAF) to the RAF and the Australian airforce, the sixth-generation fighters are already on the drawing board.
Find out which airforces are looking at virtual cockpits, networked platforms and piloted aircraft working with drone wingmen for the stealth fighters of the 2030s and discover which airforces are planning to replace their existing fleets with the fighter planes of the future.
Military Aircraft Retirement and Technology Updates
International forces around the world are deploying military aircraft manufactured in France, Russia and America including aircraft from Saab, France’s Dassault Rafale, Russian Mig-29s and the Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon, which it will operate for years to come.
What will also be flying well into the next decade is the USAF’s Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor air superiority fighter. The next decade will also see the USAF’s newest stealth bomber, the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider enter service, while the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress strategic bomber will be in its seventh decade of operational service after refurbishments and restorations. This page is the only place you need to be to find out all the latest news on retirements and new deployments.
Be the first to find out which existing platforms such as France’s Dassault Mirage 2000 light weight jet and the Eurofighter Typhoon are facing the need for wholesale technology updates. The Eurofighter is being upgraded for an electronic warfare role in the 2020s and the USAF is improving some of its Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcons with F-35 fifth generation technology.
From restorations to retirement and procurement, international projects for new networked technologies including piloted and autonomous platforms and the contracts to manufacture them, all of this fast-moving defence aviation news and analysis can be found here.
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