@theaviationist.com
Unmatched, unconventional, independent coverage of military aviation, defense, tech & everything in the middle.
Edited by David Cenciotti (@cenciotti.theaviationist.com)
@theaviationist.comX-BAT Accelerating Toward First Flight with New Funding
New U.S. Navy funding and company investment bring the announced X-BAT investment to $400 million as Shield AI prepares the VTOL aircraft for flight testing later this year.
@theaviationist.comEdgewing Opens New Engineering Hub in Italy
The new facility in Turin will bring together engineers from Italy, Japan and the UK, contributing to the development of the new GCAP combat aircraft.
@theaviationist.comU.S. Exploring Transfer of Surplus KC-10 Tankers to Undisclosed North African Partner
A contract notice, was released seeking industry interest for the reactivation and in-service support of up to four KC-10s for an FMS transfer to a nation in North Africa
@theaviationist.comFirst Brazilian-Built Gripen E Makes Maiden Flight
The first of 15 Gripen Es to be built at Embraer’s facility in São Paulo, the aircraft is also the first Gripen produced outside Sweden.
@theaviationist.comBAE Systems’ New IFF System Moves Toward F-16 Integration
BAE Systems’ AN/APX-127(V)1 IFF system has completed AIMS certification, clearing the way for F-16 integration and platform-level testing.
@theaviationist.comUK Opposition Party Proposes £10 Billion “Britannia Shield” Air and Missile Defence Plan
The UK’s Conservative Party has proposed a £10 billion air defence programme that aims to enhance the country’s IAMD infrastructure for the modern age.
@theaviationist.comRare Imagery Shows F-117A ‘The Overachiever’ Loaded Into a C-5M for Smithsonian Trip
The historic F-117 was partially disassembled and loaded aboard the giant airlifter for its cross-country delivery to the Smithsonian’s Udvar-Hazy Center.
Story here: theaviationist.com/2026/10/09/f...
@theaviationist.comMorocco’s First F-16 Block 72 Has Flown
The aircraft, a two-seat F-16D, is not only the first of Morocco’s new Vipers to fly, but also the first new-build F-16 Block 72 to take to the air.
@theaviationist.comSpain Selects Airbus A321 for New SIGINT Platform
Spain is set to regain a dedicated airborne SIGINT capability with three A321-based aircraft under the Santiago II programme.
@theaviationist.comL-39 Skyfox Advances C-UAS Role with Thales 70 mm Laser-Guided Rocket
Aero Vodochody has announced an MoU with Thales to continue testing a 70 mm rocket capability for the L-39 Skyfox Drone Hunter configuration.
@theaviationist.comNorthrop Grumman and SandboxAQ Explain How Lumberjack Is Preparing for GPS-Denied Operations
The Lumberjack UAS flew with SandboxAQ’s AQNav magnetic navigation system during a GPS-denied flight test this summer.
@theaviationist.comKunsan’s F-16 Squadrons Return as USAF Resets Fighter Squadrons in Korea
USAF initiated the Fighter Squadron Reset to return F-16s to Kunsan after the Super Squadron experiment at Osan, with the 35th FS apparently transitioning from Block 40 to 50 aircraft
@theaviationist.comMarine F-35C Also Sports Three Submarine Kill Markings After Operation Epic Fury
An exclusive image obtained by The Aviationist reveals an array of target markings on a VMFA-314 F-35C, apparently representing an oil tanker, three submarines and many more.
@theaviationist.comNaval Research Laboratory’s VXS-1 Retires its Last NP-3C Orion
The VXS-1 “Warlocks” sent its NP-3C Orion, a dedicated research variant of the P-3C, to the ‘boneyard’ after three decades of service, retiring the last active-duty P-3 on the U.S. East Coast.
@theaviationist.comKentucky Air National Guard C-130s Perform Rare SAR Exercise with Royal Navy Merlin
Four C-130J Hercules aircraft, 60 personnel, and 62,000 lbs of equipment from the 165th Airlift Squadron deployed to Glasgow Prestwick Airport in August.
@theaviationist.comGermany ‘Exploring’ GCAP Entry with UK, Reports Say
While discussions between London and Berlin are in the early stages, internal German government assessments reportedly favor a collaboration with Sweden and Spain over joining GCAP.
@theaviationist.comTaiwan Receives First Two New-Build F-16C Block 70 Fighters After Years of Delays
The first two of 66 new-build F-16C Block 70 fighters ordered from the US have arrived at Chihhang AB, marking the beginning of deliveries under a long-delayed $8B program.
@theaviationist.comNorthrop Grumman’s YFQ-48 Flies for the First Time
Northrop Grumman announced the first flight of the YFQ-48 Talon Blue, the company’s internally-funded Collaborative Combat Aircraft.
@theaviationist.comSub Buster: F/A-18F Super Hornet Returns from Operation Epic Fury With Submarine Kill Marking
As VFA-41 returned to NAS Lemoore, one of their jets carried a unique decoration indicating its involvement in the destruction of an unidentified Iranian submarine
Story: theaviationist.com/2026/10/02/s...
@theaviationist.comU.S. Air Force Looks To Finally Add Missile Warning System To F-15EX Eagle II
The USAF is seeking an operational missile warning system for the F-15EX, which was designed with the needed provisions but initially entered service without the capability.
