A U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet returned from a mission as part of Operation “Epic Fury” with an interesting marking that may indicate the aircraft’s involvement in an operation against an Iranian submarine. It may suggest that carrier-based strike aircraft were used to deliver the final strike after other U.S. sensors detected and tracked the […] The post A U.S. Navy F/A-18F May Have Struck an Iranian Submarine: What the Unusual Mark on the Aircraft Suggests appeared first on AERONAUT.media.

The Harrier attracted considerable interest from military personnel in several countries, particularly after its successful demonstration at the 1968 Farnborough Airshow. It was there that two U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) pilots – Tom Miller and Bud Baker – had the opportunity to make several familiarization flights in the aircraft. However, this was not the first […] The post The Birth of the ‘Harrier’, Part 8: For the US Marine Corps appeared first on AERONAUT.media.

The Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense has published details on the new modification of the Russian Geran-4 jet-powered UAVs on the War&Sanctions portal. The adversary began using the new version against Ukraine this autumn. According to the intelligence agency, the updated Geran-4 has received, among other things, a new “MOX” unit […] The post Ukraine’s Military Intelligence Reveals Details of the New Geran-4: Russian Drones Get Upgraded Navigation and Warhead appeared first on AERONAUT.media.

The developer of the STING interceptor, Wild Hornets, is launching its own non-governmental air defense system. An official authority has issued an order granting the Night Hornets anti-Shahed unit, which has extensive practical experience and dozens of neutralized targets to its credit, the corresponding status of a private air defense unit. From now on, the […] The post “Wild Hornets” Launch Their Own Private Air Defense: More Than 50 Shaheds Already Shot Down appeared first on AERONAUT.media.

Drones operated by the Security Service of Ukraine’s (SSU) Alpha Special Operations Center struck a Russian Su-35 multirole fighter and a Su-34 fighter-bomber stationed at the Khanskaya military airfield in the Republic of Adygea. The Security Service of Ukraine reported this on its Telegram channel. The airfield is located approximately 500 km from Ukraine. According […] The post Ukrainian Drones “Pay a Visit” to Airfield in Adygea: Fighter Jets and Ammunition Depot Hit appeared first on AERONAUT.media.

The Ukrainian Defense Forces carried out a strike on the territory of the Russian enterprise Kaluga Radiolamp Plant, located in Kaluga. The OSINT group Supernova+ reported this, citing reports from local residents. In videos released online, the characteristic sound of a jet engine can be heard before the explosion. This may indicate that cruise missiles […] The post Kamikaze Drones Strike Russian Electronics Plant Producing Components for Kh-101 and Iskander Missiles in Kaluga: Details of the Night Attack appeared first on AERONAUT.media.

Recently, NASA announced that the PRIMA (PRobe far-Infrared Mission for Astrophysics) mission will move into Phase B of development. This will allow the project to continue designing and developing technologies for the mission, although after this stage is completed, the project will still have to undergo a review for confirmation. If PRIMA receives confirmation, the […] The post NASA Prepares First Mission of Its Kind: PRIMA Telescope to Study the Evolution of the Universe appeared first on AERONAUT.media.

About two months ago, I wrote about the history of the Boeing-Saab T-7A trainer aircraft. Today, we will take a closer look at its characteristics. Without exaggeration, they make the introduction of the T-7A into the training system for future combat pilots a revolution in aviation training. Aerodynamics The Boeing-Saab T-7A became the first trainer […] The post Boeing-Saab T-7A Red Hawk: A Revolution in Jet Training appeared first on AERONAUT.media.

Ukraine has reached an agreement with Belgium to receive three F-16 fighter jets by the end of 2026. As Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said today, the aircraft will be transferred under an accelerated procedure. According to Zelenskyy, Ukraine has also received urgent deliveries of F-16 ammunition from Belgium and other partner countries, including Spain. Ukraine […] The post Ukraine to Receive Three F-16s from Belgium: Fighter Jets to Arrive by the End of 2026 appeared first on AERONAUT.media.

A military aircraft crashed in Russia’s Amur Region. Several videos showing the aftermath of the crash appeared on the Exilenova+ Telegram channel and were shared by local residents who witnessed the aircraft go down. The aircraft reportedly crashed near the settlement of Krasnoyarovo. Local media initially reported that it was a Tu-154 belonging to Russia’s […] The post Russian Tu-95 Bomber Crashes in Amur Region: Fatalities Reported appeared first on AERONAUT.media.

Southwest and United do not want to receive new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft with the latest version of the software. A navigation issue could leave pilots without some autopilot functions until the system is restored. Southwest Airlines and United Airlines have asked Boeing to deliver new 737 MAX aircraft with an earlier software version after […] The post Pilots Could Lose Part of Autopilot Functionality: Navigation Issue Found on Boeing 737 MAX appeared first on AERONAUT.media.

SpaceX’s largest and most powerful launch vehicle, Starship, reached orbit for the first time and deployed 26 Starlink V3 internet satellites. As part of Flight 14, the vehicle lifted off from the company’s Starbase facility in Texas today at approximately 12:46 p.m. UTC. The launch was historic, as it marked the first time Starship’s mission […] The post Historic Starship Launch: World’s Largest Rocket Reaches Orbit and Deploys 26 Satellites appeared first on AERONAUT.media.

The flow of F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets returning from deployments in the CENTCOM Area of Responsibility, where they were involved in Operation “Epic Fury” against Iran, is continuing. Initially, 12 F-15E Strike Eagles assigned to the 366th Fighter Wing landed at RAF Lakenheath, and more recently another ten F-15Es from Seymour Johnson Air Force […] The post F-15Es Return from Operations Against Iran: Fighters Spotted with… Mortal Kombat appeared first on AERONAUT.media.

Ukrainian defenders have carried out a large-scale humanitarian mission, using drones to deliver approximately 4 tons of food to the temporarily occupied city of Oleshky. The aid was dropped at 100 designated locations for approximately 2,000 local residents who are surviving in the city under the cynical and inhumane pressure of the occupying forces, deprived […] The post Without Food, Water or Power: Ukraine’s Armed Forces Deliver 4 Tons of Food to Occupied Oleshky by Drone appeared first on AERONAUT.media.

After the British government refused to fund further development of the R.1154 in October 1964, Royal Air Force Headquarters formulated new requirements, ASR.384 and specification SR.256D, calling for an aircraft to replace the Hunter fighter-bomber. Hawker developed a V/STOL aircraft variant that met these requirements relatively quickly. Read also: The Birth of the “Harrier,” Part […] The post The Birth of the ‘Harrier’, Part 7: The First Production Models appeared first on AERONAUT.media.

SpaceX has successfully conducted a wet dress rehearsal for the Starship launch, verifying the rocket’s readiness for its next test flight. If the planned mission proceeds as scheduled, it will mark an important milestone in the development of the spacecraft. “The launch rehearsal was completed ahead of Starship Flight 14,” SpaceX said on X. During […] The post Starship is preparing for its first orbital flight: SpaceX has completed a key rehearsal appeared first on AERONAUT.media.

China has demonstrated that its Shenlong spacecraft is capable of approaching satellites and potentially intercepting them in orbit. The main question now is whether this technology will become a real tool of space warfare rather than simply another demonstration of capabilities. Until recently, the main challenge of space exploration was a simple question: how do […] The post A silent race overhead: What the Shenlong manoeuvre really means appeared first on AERONAUT.media.

The head of NASA recently intrigued the public with hints about a new experimental X-plane, showing a silhouette that bears a striking resemblance to the famous SR-71 Blackbird. It has now emerged that a specific example of this aircraft has suddenly disappeared from its display site. Steve Trimble, defense editor at Aviation Week and a […] The post NASA’s Missing Aircraft: Is the Legendary Blackbird Set to Return to the Skies? appeared first on AERONAUT.media.

Google is exploring the possibility of placing large-scale AI computing in space and is preparing to take a major step in that direction. The company has announced that the first orbital test for the future Project Suncatcher will take place as early as next week as part of the joint SpaceX Transporter-18 mission. The satellite, […] The post Google’s AI Chips Are Headed to Orbit: SpaceX to Launch the First Project Suncatcher Satellite appeared first on AERONAUT.media.

Aerospace corporation Dassault Aviation recently conducted a series of flight tests of two of its latest proprietary AI algorithms aboard its Rafale multirole fighter. The first solution was developed by the company’s own specialists, while the second was created by engineers working in close cooperation with the Thales/cortAIx division. The introduction of these innovative capabilities […] The post Onboard AI Supporting Pilots: Dassault Aviation Successfully Tests Systems on the Rafale appeared first on AERONAUT.media.

Sources cited by the Spanish newspaper El Mundo claim that the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has warned of Russian plans to attack Spain, France, or Italy using drones launched from vessels at sea. El Mundo reports that the foreign ministries of European countries received a detailed report on the matter, which was prepared following […] The post CIA Warns Europe of Possible Russian Drone Attacks: Three Countries Could Be Targeted appeared first on AERONAUT.media.

One of the leading trends in the development of modern combat aviation is the implementation of the “Loyal Wingman” concept. The concept involves creating a UAV that is cheaper and significantly smaller than a “real” fighter, but capable of performing a variety of roles, including reconnaissance, weapons carriage, electronic warfare, communications relay, or even aerial […] The post Anduril Industries’ “Loyal Wingman”: Everything About the YFQ-44A Fury appeared first on AERONAUT.media.

SpaceX’s Starfall space capsule, designed in a disc-like shape, made its first flight aboard a Falcon 9 in June and has now secured two European contracts for commercial missions aboard Starship, scheduled for 2028 and 2029. Space Cargo Unlimited is preparing to fly a one-ton orbital factory, while Exolaunch will serve as the integrator, bringing […] The post SpaceX Prepares for a New Era of Orbital Manufacturing: Starfall Secures Two Commercial Missions appeared first on AERONAUT.media.

The U.S. Army has awarded a $10.64 million contract to Skyeton Inc. for the supply of equipment and services for Ukrainian Raybird reconnaissance UAVs. The locations where the work will be performed and the source of funding will be determined separately for each order, with completion currently estimated for December 15, 2026. The U.S. Army […] The post U.S. Army Buys Ukrainian Raybird Reconnaissance Drones in $10.64 Million Contract appeared first on AERONAUT.media.

The MQ-9A Reaper multi-role unmanned aircraft have been true workhorses of the U.S. Air Force in virtually every armed conflict in which it has participated. Performing both reconnaissance and strike missions, they have suffered significant losses. Combat experience, including in Yemen, has shown that the Reaper is not an especially difficult target to engage. On […] The post MQ-9 Reaper Replacement: Everything We Know About the Wildfire Program appeared first on AERONAUT.media.

General Atomics has set another milestone in aviation: the medium-altitude Mojave unmanned aerial vehicle has completed the first-ever short takeoff and landing on a simulated battlefield, before successfully returning to its mission. When discussing the modern evolution of unmanned aviation, people usually think of compact quadcopters or massive jet-powered aircraft designed for long endurance. At […] The post New Era of Unmanned Aviation: Mojave Performs Short Takeoff and Landing in Combat Conditions appeared first on AERONAUT.media.

During the night of September 17, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) conducted a special operation at the Rostov-Central military airfield in Rostov-on-Don. Long-range drones operated by the SBU’s Special Operations Center “Alpha” struck three Russian aircraft and three helicopters. The attack reportedly hit an An-12 military transport aircraft, two An-26 military transport aircraft, and three helicopters. […] The post Ukraine’s Security Service attacked a military airfield in Rostov-on-Don: drones struck three aircraft and three helicopters appeared first on AERONAUT.media.

SpaceX is ready to conduct the 14th test flight of its massive Starship launch vehicle, and this time the company plans to send the upper stage into Earth orbit for the first time. The test launch is scheduled for September 22, with a 75-minute launch window opening at 3:15 p.m. Kyiv time (8:15 a.m. EDT). […] The post Starship Set to Reach Orbit for the First Time: SpaceX Announces Date for Next Flight appeared first on AERONAUT.media.

The extremely precise first trajectory correction performed during the journey of NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, along with other fuel savings, is expected to more than double the mission’s potential operational lifetime. As Jamie Dunn, director of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, noted, thanks to flawless planning by the orbital dynamics […] The post NASA’s Roman Telescope Exceeds Expectations: First Course Correction Saves a Huge Amount of Fuel appeared first on AERONAUT.media.

Are the United States really planning to deploy weapons in orbit around Earth? What does the future hold? Let’s take a closer look. Satellites, anti-satellite systems, lasers, electronic warfare, and modern militaries’ dependence on orbital infrastructure. This is how the Pentagon sees the future of warfare. Space is no longer a neutral backdrop to wars on […] The post War Goes Beyond Earth: The U.S. Confirms the Existence of Space Weapons for the First Time appeared first on AERONAUT.media.

Recently, operators from the Department of Active Operations and the Department of Unmanned Systems of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine carried out a joint deep-strike operation with the Ukrainian Defence Forces, during which another oil refinery on Russian territory was struck. The refinery in question is ‘Slavyansk-ECO’, located in […] The post Successful Deep-Strike Operation: Defense Intelligence of Ukraine and Defense Forces Hit Another Russian Oil Refinery appeared first on AERONAUT.media.

The NBMR-3 requirements and the P.1154 project nearly put an end to the subsonic P.1127 – it clearly failed to meet NATO’s requirements. Military attention was focused entirely on the heavier supersonic V/STOL aircraft. But once again, MWDP (Mutual Weapons Development Program) chief Chapman came to the rescue. Read also: The Birth of the “Harrier,” […] The post The Birth of the “Harrier,” Part 6: The International “Kestrel” appeared first on AERONAUT.media.

The European Space Agency is determined to move ahead decisively and independently with its Venus mission after NASA officials effectively acknowledged that they would be unable to fulfill their commitments to provide the U.S.-built onboard radar instrument, according to the project’s lead scientist. The European spacecraft, known as Envision, will conduct detailed scans of Venus’s […] The post NASA Throws a Wrench in ESA’s Plans: Europeans Develop Their Own Radar for a Venus Mission appeared first on AERONAUT.media.

The Ukrainian Defense Forces struck the Volgogradpromproekt facility in the Russian city of Volgograd during the night of September 11. Ukraine used FP-5 Flamingo cruise missiles in the attack. This was reported by Fire Point on its Telegram channel. The Flamingo cruise missiles successfully reached their intended target. The Dnipro OSINT community reported on Telegram […] The post Ukrainian FP-5 Flamingo Missiles Strike Sanctioned Chemical Plant in Volgograd appeared first on AERONAUT.media.

Satellite imagery and new data reveal the aftermath of the recent strike on Novorossiysk. As a reminder, during the night of September 9, Ukraine’s Defense Forces – including the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), Unmanned Systems Forces, Ukrainian Navy, the GUR Defense Intelligence active operations department, and the State Border Guard Service – attacked a […] The post Ukrainian Drones Strike Kalibr Carriers: What New Images of the Novorossiysk Base Reveal appeared first on AERONAUT.media.

The growing threat posed by jet-powered drones – which, strictly speaking, are better described as cruise missiles, perhaps with the qualifier “light” – is driving the search for new air-defense solutions that are cheap enough to deal with mass attacks while remaining effective against targets significantly faster than conventional “Shaheds.” The latter have been effectively countered […] The post Potential “Drone Hunters”? Everything About the AC-235 and AC-295 “Mini-Gunships” appeared first on AERONAUT.media.

Specialists from Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence Directorate (DIU) conducted a cyberspace operation targeting the aggressor state of Russia, during which they obtained a large dataset containing information on the structure, existing and planned developments, management, and employees of the Moscow Institute of Heat Technology (MIT) corporation. The MIT corporation includes, among others, the Prozhектор Design Bureau, […] The post Ukrainian military intelligence hacked a corporation that develops missile designs and components: Data on 2,648 employees revealed appeared first on AERONAUT.media.

The United Kingdom has allocated £100 million ($135.1 million) for a new winter air defense package for Ukraine. According to a press release from the UK Ministry of Defence, the package includes Patriot missiles. As part of the joint PURL (Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List) initiative, the UK will provide air defense interceptor missiles, large-caliber artillery […] The post UK prepares a $135.1 million winter air defense package for Ukraine, including Patriot missiles and drones appeared first on AERONAUT.media.

At the MSPO international exhibition in Poland, the Ukrainian unmanned systems developer UKRSPECSYSTEMS unveiled an attack drone with an X-shaped wing for the first time. It is reported that the RAM-2X system has already proven itself to the military, but had previously remained classified due to security restrictions. To demonstrate the operation and effectiveness of […] The post UKRSPECSYSTEMS Unveils RAM-2X for the First Time: The Strike UAV Is Already in Service with Ukraine’s Defense Forces appeared first on AERONAUT.media.

On its second attempt, Isar Aerospace successfully placed satellites into orbit, marking the first achievement of its kind for Europe’s private space industry. The mission, dubbed Onward and Upward, lifted off from Isar Aerospace’s own launch pad at the Andøya Space complex in Norway at 22:12 CEST on September 5 (23:12 Kyiv time), deploying the […] The post Second Time’s the Charm: Isar Aerospace Becomes the First European Private Company to Reach Orbit appeared first on AERONAUT.media.

On September 12, 1961, a landmark event took place in the history of the R.1127: the second prototype (XP836) completed a flight through the full profile – vertical takeoff, transition to horizontal flight, transition to hover, and vertical landing. This confirmed in practice the viability of the VTOL concept with thrust-vector control incorporated into the R.1127’s design. […] The post The Birth of the “Harrier,” Part 5: Testing and Prospects appeared first on AERONAUT.media.

The spacecraft carrying European and Japanese scientific probes is completing its eight-year journey and will arrive at Mercury on September 3, where it faces a series of challenging maneuvers to study the scorching planet. The BepiColombo mission was launched from Earth in 2018 on a complex trajectory to investigate the smallest and least-studied planet in […] The post The Final Plunge into the Abyss: BepiColombo Reaches Mercury After Eight Years of a Perilous Journey appeared first on AERONAUT.media.

The first crewed flight has taken place for one of the most unconventional aircraft designs of the modern era. The Viceroy, developed by REGENT Craft, is a fully electric “seaglider” that combines a boat-like hull, wing-in-ground-effect technology, and hydrofoils in a single design. Aviation engineering occasionally produces remarkable solutions, but bringing three such concepts together […] The post Triple Hybrid in the Sky: Revolutionary Viceroy Electric Glider Takes Flight with Crew for the First Time appeared first on AERONAUT.media.

The entire batch of satellites that were supposed to become part of Russia’s version of Starlink failed to reach – or maintain – their planned low Earth orbit altitude roughly a month after launch. The 16 spacecraft of the “Rassvet-3” project, launched on July 19, were initially intended to orbit Earth at an altitude of around 800 km. However, […] The post “Rassvet” Is Not Coming: All 16 Russian Satellites for a Starlink Rival Failed to Reach Orbit appeared first on AERONAUT.media.

The Ukrainian side has called on the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to urge its member states to completely suspend air traffic over the territory of the Russian Federation. The appeal came a day after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that flying there was becoming absolutely unsafe. On Tuesday, senior Ukrainian officials announced plans to step […] The post Close the Skies Over Russia: Ukraine Calls on ICAO for an Immediate Total Air Blockade of Russia appeared first on AERONAUT.media.

On September 1 and during the night of September 2, 2026, Ukraine carried out strikes against a number of military targets belonging to the Russian aggressor. According to the official Facebook page of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the attack was successful, with Ukrainian Defense Forces units striking enemy ammunition and […] The post Ukraine Confirms New Russian Aircraft Losses: MiG-29 Fighter and Ka-27 Helicopter Destroyed appeared first on AERONAUT.media.

The most notable case is France, which has ordered relatively compact Swedish flying radars to replace its larger U.S.-built E-3F AEW&C aircraft. NATO appears likely to follow a similar path, with the alliance planning to acquire up to ten GlobalEye aircraft to replace its multinational fleet of E-3A aircraft. Canada also selected the GlobalEye in […] The post Japan’s ASM-3 Kai Supersonic Anti-Ship Missile Could Pose a Threat to Aircraft appeared first on AERONAUT.media.

In modern air warfare, “flying radars” play a crucial role. These are airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, known in Soviet and post-Soviet terminology as long-range airborne detection and control aircraft. Until the 1980s, such aircraft were essentially a “toy for the wealthy.” For example, the “full-size” E-3 Sentry flying radars were operated outside the […] The post Next-Generation Flying Radar: Everything You Need to Know About GlobalEye appeared first on AERONAUT.media.

The Chinese YY-20A multirole tanker and transport aircraft refueled an Egyptian Air Force Rafale fighter during the Eagles of Civilization 2026 air exercise. It is worth recalling that during the first stage of the exercise last year, the YY-20A had already refueled Egyptian MiG-29M/M2 fighters. In addition, Chinese J-16s conducted joint training with Egyptian Rafales […] The post A New Level of Compatibility: Chinese YY-20A Refuels an Egyptian Rafale for the First Time During an Exercise appeared first on AERONAUT.media.

Brian Rohloff has officially assumed the position of president and CEO of Textron Aviation, bringing with him 29 years of experience within the organization. Prior to this appointment, he led a large global customer support division and gained extensive experience in finance, manufacturing, sales, and parts distribution. This diverse range of professional roles has given […] The post The Brian Roloff Era: Textron Aviation Announces the Appointment of a New President and CEO appeared first on AERONAUT.media.