Military Aviation

The Russian air force had one of its worst days of the war with Ukraine and lost four aircraft but it’s not clear who shot them down. An Su-35, Su-34 and two Mi-8 helicopters were destroyed within minutes of one another in the same general area of Russian territory bordering northeastern Ukraine. They were apparently […]

The U.S. Coast Guard announced today (May 11) it has suspended the search for the three occupants of a Learjet 36A that crashed into the Pacific Ocean yesterday off the coast of San Clemente Island. The as-yet-unidentified victims are presumed dead. The Learjet, N56PA, was operated by Phoenix Air on contract to the U.S. Navy. […]

One of the Air Force’s top commanders has been fired amid unspecified misconduct allegations. Maj. Gen. Phillip A. Stewart, commander of the 19th Air Force, was relieved “for loss of confidence in his ability to command” the unit according to Air and Space Forces. “The Air Force takes any misconduct allegation seriously and is committed […]

Saab and Embraer have officially opened a Gripen E production line at Embraer´s plant in Gavião Peixoto, Brazil. The site currently is the only final assembly line for the Saab Gripen E single-engine fighter outside of Sweden. Saab and Embraer have been collaborating on what the companies are calling “the largest ongoing technology transfer project […]

Army pilots are fighting mad after being told they will have to serve three years longer than they thought they’d signed up to stay in. According to CNN the Army says about 600 officers, many of them pilots and many of them West Point grads, are affected by an “error” in the administration of a […]

The commander of the Army has ceased all non-essential aviation operations after the second midair collision of Army helicopters within a month. Two Apaches collided near Fort Wainwright, Alaska, on Thursday, killing three soldiers and injuring one. It came after a collision between two Blackhawks on a night training mission near Fort Campbell, Kentucky, in […]

Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft developer Joby Aviation has received a $55 million extension on its contract with the U.S. Air Force. The extension is the company’s third, bringing the overall contract value to a maximum of $131 million. The recent agreement also includes provisions for the delivery and operation of up to […]

Bell officially introduced its 407M special mission aircraft at the 2023 Army Aviation Association of America Mission Solutions Summit. A variant of the Bell 407 civil utility helicopter, the 407M is designed for military operations such as light attack, special operations, anti-piracy and armed reconnaissance. Bell noted that it is also planning to offer special […]

Brazil-based Embraer has launched a new version of its A-29 Super Tucano single-engine military turboprop designed to meet NATO’s operational requirements. Called the A-29N, the aircraft is specifically aimed at “meeting the needs of nations in Europe.” According to Embraer, it will include NATO-required equipment and features including a new datalink and single-pilot operation as […]

Once one of the most prized and carefully guarded assets in the Air Force fleet, the first of 13 E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) is now in a parking spot in the desert and will soon be followed by 12 more. The 45-year-old aircraft literally flew west from its base at Tinker AFB […]