Boeing suffers over $2bn loss in producing the USAF's next 'Air Force One’
Cost overruns on its project to provide the USAF with two new Presidential transports have caused Boeing to declare an additional $482m loss on the programme, bringing the firm’s total loss on the project to $2.4bn
Sweden open to sending Gripens to Ukraine after joining NATO
On October 6, Swedish Defence Minister Pål Jonson announced that a transfer of JAS 39C/D Gripen multi-role fighters to Ukraine could be on the cards, although “domestic security reasons” mean that any such transfer “would be conditional on Sweden first becoming a member of NATO,” and thus covered by NATO’s collective defence commitments
North Weald’s ‘MiG-17’ to fly again?
The former Polish Air Force machine is bound for European skies…
ADEX 2023: KAI’s KF-21 Boramae makes public debut in South Korea
Korea Aerospace Industries and South Korea’s Defense Acquisition and Procurement Agency publicly showcased the developmental KF-21 Boramae multi-role fighter at the Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition (ADEX) 2023, which was held from October 17-22
Russia welcomes additional Su-35S Flanker-E fighters
Russia’s state-owned Rostec State Corporation revealed on October 24 that a new batch of Su-35S Flanker-E fighters has been handed over to the Russian Ministry of Defence ahead of their upcoming transfer to the Russian Aerospace Forces
Why is Germany sending helicopter aircrew to the UK for training?
The German Armed Forces is sending trainee aircrew to RAF Shawbury for helicopter training
Portugal’s first C-390 enters operational service
After an initial entry into service ceremony was held at Embraer’s facility in Gavião Peixoto, Brazil, on October 16; the first C-390 Millennium for the Portuguese Air Force arrived at Beja Air Base, Portugal, at approximately 1630hrs (local time) on October 19
USAF humanitarian role inspires award-winning exhibit
Dayton, Ohio’s National Museum of the USAF has received the 2023 Air Force Heritage Award for its exhibit, A Force for Good: Department of the Air Force Humanitarian Missions
VIDEO: What it was like to be the RAF’s last Tornado pilot
Flt Lt Nathan Shawyer was the last ever RAF pilot to be taught to fly the Tornado. He spoke to Key Aero’s Dino Carrara about his time on the legendary jet, including what it was like to be on the final conversion course, then going straight on operations over Iraq and Syria and being part of the retirement celebrations for the aircraft.
Revealing insights from the days of the Tri-National Tornado Training Establishment (TTTE) at RAF Cottesmore
The three partner nations on the Tornado programme established a joint training unit at RAF Cottesmore that lasted almost 20 years. A former station commander and an instructor described its inner workings to Dino Carrara in 2015
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.
Related Airforce Topics
Want to find out more about other types of military aircraft? We have dedicated pages for the latest Military Aircraft Shows, Military Fighter Aircraft and all the latest cutting-edge Military Aircraft Technology.
Subscribe to Key.Aero
Become a part of our aviation community and subscribe to Key.Aero now. You can get all the aviation information you'll ever need, whenever you want, with access to all the latest aviation updates, news, events and more.