The Aviationist

U.S. Air Force Establishes Permanent MQ-9 Reaper Unit in South Korea

The 431st Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron was activated for the first time since WW2 at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, to operate MQ-9A Reaper ...
The Aviationist

Revival of WW2-Era Tinian Airfield Picks Up with ‘Rehabilitation’ Work

The significant airfield repair and upgrade work might support frontline fighters in the future, as the U.S. develops distributed basing to counter China ...
The Aviationist

VX-31 Bids Farewell to the AV-8B Harrier II

The Dust Devils of VX-31 concluded the AV-8B Harrier’s service with a sundown flight at China Lake. The Dust Devils of the U.S. Navy’s Air Test and ...
The Aviationist

Army Reserve Aviation Command Completes Flying Operations, Slashed as Part of Army Reprioritization

Each Army Reserve Aviation Command unit’s ‘final mission’ put as many aircraft in the air as possible in California, Kansas, ...
The Aviationist

F-117s Spotted While Refueling from KC-46

The U.S. Air Force planned in 2024 to certify the F-117A Nighthawk to be able to refuel from the KC-46A Pegasus, the service’s newest tanker. Two F-117 ...
The Aviationist

Italian Air Force T-260B Trainer Crashes, Killing Two Pilots

The T-260B basic trainer, assigned to the 70th Wing, crashed in a national park southeast of Rome. A T-260B basic trainer of the Italian Air Force crashed ...
The Aviationist

China’s J-20 Flying in ‘Beast Mode’ Again with Eight Air-to-Air Missiles

With the dual racks allowing it to carry eight air-to-air missiles externally, the J-20 would be able to be armed with 14 ...
The Aviationist

Second Prototype of Turkey’s Kaan Fighter is Now In Production

The new Kaan prototype has been spotted during assembly a year after the maiden flight of the first example, and is set to ...
The Aviationist

South Korea Choses L3Harris for ROKAF’s Next Airborne Radar

South Korea initiated the AEW&C II program in 2020 to supplement its fleet of four E-737s that had been experiencing low mission availability rates.
The Aviationist

JPO and Lockheed Martin Finalize F-35 Contract for Lots 18 and 19

Lockheed Martin will build up to 296 F-35s as part of Lots 18 and 19, with first deliveries in 2026. Lockheed Martin and the F-35 Joint Program Office ...
The Aviationist

U.S. Navy E-2D Refuels from French Rafale, A400M and A330 MRTT

The completion of aerial refueling testing with French tankers is another step towards the introduction of the E-2D Advanced ...
The Aviationist

The Apache Turns 50: A Look at the Iconic Attack Helicopter

Sept. 30, 2025 marks 50 years since the first YAH-64A prototype took to the skies for the first time. Let's look at how the Apache has maintained its ...