All articles by Ryan Finnerty
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NewsBoeing secures $2bn contract to continue work on B-52 re-engining
The US Air Force funding will cover integration and testing of the Rolls-Royce F130 powerplant on two B-52H aircraft, marking significant milestone in the effort to modernise the Cold War-era bomber for service into the 2060s.
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NewsRussia begins flight testing ‘Product 177’ engine upgrade for Su-57
Subsidiaries of Russian state-owned manufacturer Rostec have begun flight testing a new turbofan for the Sukhoi Su-57 fighter, which the conglomerate describes as a fifth-generation engine with increased thrust and improved fuel efficiency.
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NewsNorthrop’s Talon jet receives prototype designation as YFQ-48A
Defence manufacturer Northrop Grumman has secured official US Air Force recognition for its Talon uncrewed jet, receiving the YFQ-48A prototype designation under the Collaborative Combat Aircraft programme as the service expands its autonomous fighter development efforts.
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NewsUS Army developing Black Hawk overhaul plan to keep UH-60Ms flying beyond 2050
The US Army has issued a Request for Information seeking options for establishing a commercial production line to overhauling and upgrade its 2,300 UH-60M Black Hawks, aiming to keep the rotorcraft operational beyond 2050.
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NewsLockheed Martin to reveal aircraft choice for US Army helicopter trainer bid in January
Lockheed Martin says it will disclose which aircraft it proposes as replacement for the US Army’s UH-72A Lakota trainer in January, as the company gears up to compete for the Flight School Next tender.
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NewsUS Air Force to equip X-62 fighter with PhantomStrike radar for AI combat testing
The US Air Force will install Raytheon’s PhantomStrike active electronically scanned array radar on its X-62 VISTA test aircraft, advancing autonomous combat capabilities as the service develops artificial intelligence systems for future uncrewed fighters.
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NewsUS government admits fault in deadly mid-air collision between airliner and army helicopter
The US government has formally admitted liability for the January 2025 collision between a US Army Black Hawk helicopter and a PSA Airlines CRJ700 near Ronald Reagan Washington National airport that killed 67 people, citing multiple failures by military and civilian authorities.
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NewsNew four-engined Chinese tactical transport spotted in flight
A new four-engined military transport aircraft, believed to be the AVIC Y-30, has been photographed in flight over China, revealing design characteristics that appear partially influenced by the Airbus A400M.
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NewsRolls-Royce begins testing AE 1107F engine for US Army’s new MV-75 tiltrotor
The engine manufacturer has initiated testing of the new turboshaft in Indianapolis, with the new AE 1107F variant sharing 80% commonality with the existing AE 1107C that powers the V-22 Osprey.
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NewsLockheed unveils first F-35A stealth fighter bound for Finland
Lockheed Martin has displayed the first F-35A Lightning II destined for Finland at its Fort Worth facility, marking a milestone for the Nordic nation’s 64-aircraft programme to replace its Boeing F/A-18C/D Hornet fleet.
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AnalysisChina reveals first flight of stealthy CH-7 UAV for long-range targeting mission
The tailless uncrewed jet contains several features associated with low-observable aircraft and is believed to play a role in the development of kill chains for the Chinese military.
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In depthMaterial failure involved in more than half of serious Osprey safety incidents since 2021
A multi-year review conducted the US military’s airworthiness authority for the V-22 tiltrotor found that out of 12 Class A mishaps in recent years, seven featured material failure as a causal or contributing factor.
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NewsChina completes first flight of Jetank ‘swarm carrier’ drone
China’s state-owned AVIC has completed the first flight of its Jetank drone swarm carrier, designed to deploy dozens of smaller uncrewed aircraft from an internal hive module.
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In depthT-38C phase out begins as USAF flight school receives first T-7A trainer
The US Air Force’s Air Education and Training Command has received its first Boeing T-7A Red Hawk trainer jet, marking a significant milestone in the service’s efforts to modernise pilot training and replace its ageing fleet of Northrop T-38C Talon aircraft.
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NewsUS Air Force begins testing new radar for B-52 bomber
The US Air Force has begun evaluating a new active electronically scanned array radar system for its B-52H bomber fleet, with testing now underway at Edwards AFB following delivery of the first modified aircraft from Boeing’s San Antonio facility.
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NewsBeehive Industries planning flight trials for Frenzy turbojet in early 2026
US propulsion start-up Beehive Industries has completed high-altitude testing of its developmental Frenzy turbojet and plans to begin flight trials in the first quarter of 2026.
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NewsUS lawmakers approve 84% funding cut to US Navy’s F/A-XX sixth-generation fighter
Lawmakers in Washington are supporting a Trump Administration plan to provide only minimal funding to the US Navy’s F/A-XX sixth-generation fighter programme, instead favouring the US Air Force’s F-47.
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NewsUS Army awards $13m contract to AV for P550 drones
The US Army has awarded uncrewed aircraft manufacturer AV a $13 million contract to supply P550 drones for training soldiers on aerial reconnaissance tactics under its Long Range Reconnaissance programme.
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NewsCongress moves to protect E-7A Wedgetail programme from cancellation
Lawmakers in the US Congress are taking legislative action to prevent the Trump Administration from cancelling the US Air Force’s Boeing E-7A Wedgetail acquisition programme, overriding opposition from the White House, which favours space-based alternatives.
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NewsArgentina takes delivery of initial six F-16 fighters from Denmark
Argentina has received its first tranche of secondhand Lockheed Martin F-16 fighters from Denmark, marking the restoration of supersonic fighter capability for the Argentine air force after decades of restrictions following the 1982 Falklands War.