Military Aviation

Autonomous flight pioneer Merlin has signed a deal with the Air Force that could eventually lead to its aircraft being refueled by autonomously flown KC-135 tankers. Merlin announced that the deal involves a stepped process of gradually integrating its technology into the 60-year-old airframes in a “multi-year” program. The first step is adding capabilities that […]

The B-21 Raider is already in “low rate production” even though flight testing has just begun. The stealth nuclear strike bomber had its first flight two months ago and the prototype is undergoing testing at Edwards Air Force Base as operational aircraft are being assembled at Northrop Grumman’s plant at nearby Palmdale. “This past fall, […]

Hampton, Virginia-based Advanced Aircraft Company (AAC) announced today (Jan. 17) it has received a $1.25 million U.S. Air Force contract to further develop its Hybrid Advanced Multirotor Unmanned Aircraft System (HAMR). The contract falls under the USAF AFWERX (shorthand for “Air Force works”) program. AAC’s HAMR program addresses the USAF Agile Combat Employment (ACE) concept, […]

The military-modified Boeing 737 carrying U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinkin experienced what officials described as a critical oxygen leak, just before its scheduled departure for Washington from the global summit in Davos, Switzerland. Blinken and his party were forced to take another aircraft home from Zurich. A State Department spokesperson told reporters the aircraft […]

A 22-year-old Air Force officer who may become an Air Force pilot has become the first active duty member to win the Miss America pageant. 2nd Lt. Madison Marsh, Miss Colorado, earned the national title Sunday in Orlando and drew heavily on her private pilot training and four years at the Air Force Academy in […]

The Ukrainian air force says it shot down two high-value Russian aircraft earlier this week and now controls the airspace over the southeastern area of the country. On X, the military said it had taken out an A-50 long-range detection and control aircraft worth $330 million and an Il-22 aerial control center worth about $250 […]

The U.S. Air Force “paused” all flights of its fleet of B-1B Lancer bombers at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota until at least Jan. 19 as the investigation continues into the landing accident on Jan. 5. All four crew members ejected safely. According to a report in the Air Force Times, B-1Bs operating […]

Under the auspices of the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), four companies are now designing prototypes of an experimental vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) military aircraft. As reported today (Dec. 28) in Defense News, the contestants’ final design, prototyping, building and demonstration of the vehicles is expected by early 2027 as part of […]

The U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff four-star Gen. David Allvin has seven words of advice for today’s airmen: “Don’t take your foot off the gas.” As reported in Air Force Times, Allvin explained that he believes current Air Force personnel stand at a tipping point in history—a contrast between how wars were fought in […]

The Eurasian Times is reporting that China has developed “shape shifting” technology that allows its cruise missiles to switch between being stealthy and appearing to radar as the size of an airliner. The publication says Chinese researchers have created an inexpensive retractable umbrella-like device that radically changes the radar signature of the missiles at will. […]