All articles by Ryan Finnerty
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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 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.
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NewsPentagon deploys first one-way attack squadron using Shahed-136 derivative
US Central Command has activated its first one-way attack squadron, operating strike drones reverse-engineered from Iran’s Shahed-136 kamikaze aircraft – marking a major shift toward low-cost offensive drone capabilities.
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NewsDamaged B-2 stealth bomber returns to frontline duty after four-year repair from landing gear collapse
B-2 tail number 89-0129 has been restored to flight status after extensive repairs to damage caused by a landing gear collapse in 2021, boosting the USAF’s limited stealth bomber capability.
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NewsNorthrop Grumman reveals Talon autonomous fighter design
Northrop Grumman has unveiled its Talon concept for an uncrewed fighter aircraft seemingly based on the Scaled Composites Model 437 low-cost jet.
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NewsUS Air Force takes delivery of 100th KC-46A tanker
The milestone delivery comes as the Air Mobility Command is increasingly relying on KC-46As to support frontline military operations across the globe.
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NewsThunderbirds F-16 crashes during California training flight
A Lockheed Martin F-16 from the US Air Force Thunderbirds demonstration team has crashed during a training flight in California, with the pilot ejecting safely and remaining in stable condition.
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NewsElectra launches defence unit targeting military applications for EL9 ‘ultra-short’ concept
US aircraft developer Electra has established a dedicated defence business unit to pursue military applications for its EL9 ultra-short take-off and landing concept, appointing former Boeing executive Donn Yates as general manager.
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NewsUS Army launches aerial reconnaissance training with Edge Autonomy VXE30 Stalker
US Army soldiers will begin operating Edge Autonomy’s VXE30 Stalker this month as the service fields the vertical take-off uncrewed system in support of aerial reconnaissance instruction courses.
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NewsBrazil test fires Meteor beyond-visual-range missiles from Gripen E
Brazil has achieved a significant milestone in its Gripen E programme by test firing MBDA’s Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile from an F-39E fighter, marking a crucial step in expanding the capabilities of the country’s growing fleet.
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AnalysisHow the Ukraine war has (and has not) changed the helicopter’s role in combat
Significant Russian helicopter losses in the early months of the Russia-Ukraine war have led many to proclaim the end of rotary-wing aviation in combat, but a former US Army general and Bell executive argues it was just bad tactics and poor planning.
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NewsBoeing lands $4.6bn Apache attack helicopter order for Poland, Kuwait and Egypt
Boeing has secured a $4.6 billion international order for AH-64E Apache attack helicopters that includes 96 aircraft for Poland and an unspecified number for Kuwait and Egypt.
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NewsUS Air Force inks $2.4bn contract with Boeing for KC-46A Lot 12
Boeing has secured a $2.4 billion US Air Force contract for 15 KC-46A Pegasus aerial refuellers under production Lot 12, with deliveries expected to be complete by mid-2029.
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NewsDARPA launches X-plane competition for new uncrewed cargo drone
The Pentagon’s technology incubator has launched a competition seeking novel designs for uncrewed cargo aircraft capable of carrying payloads more than four times their own weight, with applications spanning military logistics to civil package delivery.
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NewsBoeing secures $271m order for MH-47G special operations Chinooks
Boeing’s vertical lift division has secured an $271 million contract from the US Special Operations Command for MH-47G special operations rotorcraft, likely covering around 18 aircraft based on previous pricing.