By Garth Calitz The United States Air Force has officially commenced the operational preparation phase at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota to serve as the aircraft's first permanent operating base for the next-generation B-21 Raider stealth bomber. The development marks a significant step in one of the U.S. Air Force's largest modernisation programmes, as the service prepares to transition from the long-serving B-1B Lancer and B-2 Spirit to the sixth-generation B-21 R

Swedish aerospace and defence company Saab has signed a contract with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) for the acquisition of 16 Gripen E multirole fighter aircraft that will be provided to Ukraine as part of Sweden's long-term military assistance programme. The contract is valued at approximately $2.55 billion and will be recorded in Saab's order book during the third quarter of 2026. Deliveries to FMV are scheduled for 2029 and 2030. In addition to the airc

By Garth Calitz 30 June 2026 marks 58 years since one of the most ambitious aircraft ever built first took to the skies. On 30 June 1968, the Lockheed C-5A Galaxy made its maiden flight from Lockheed's production facility in Marietta, Georgia, introducing a military transport aircraft unlike anything the world had seen before. At the controls was Lockheed chief engineering test pilot Leo Sullivan, who guided the massive prototype through a successful 84-minute first flight. F

The United States Air Force has reached an important milestone in the operational introduction of its next-generation combat rescue helicopter with the deployment of the HH-60W Jolly Green II to East Africa. The aircraft arrived at Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti on 10 June as part of the deployment of the 56th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron (ERQS), marking the first operational overseas deployment of the unit since transitioning from the legacy HH-60G Pave Hawk. The deployment est

By Garth Calitz For as long as pilots and aviation enthusiasts have been gathering around coffee pots at airfields, there have been a few certainties. Someone will insist that taildraggers are superior, that Steel aircraft are better than tupperware and someone else will proudly assert that blended-wing aircraft are the future. The first argument has been raging since the invention of the nosewheel. The second has been going on since composite materials took to the air in the

Airbus Helicopters is advancing development of the Tiger Mk III, a major mid-life upgrade programme designed to ensure the Tiger attack helicopter remains capable of meeting the demands of future high-intensity combat operations. Developed through cooperation between France and Spain, the programme combines new avionics, sensors, communications systems and weapon capabilities with the proven performance of the existing Tiger platform. Launched in 2022 under the auspices of th

The Royal Air Force (RAF) has introduced a new low-cost counter-drone capability for its Typhoon fighter aircraft, providing an affordable and effective option for engaging unmanned aerial threats during ongoing operations in the Middle East. The capability centres on the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS), a laser-guided rocket system that converts standard unguided rockets into precision-guided munitions. Originally developed to provide a cost-effective strike op

At the 2026 ILA Berlin Air Show, Boeing announced the expansion of its German industry team supporting the MQ-28 Ghost Bat collaborative combat aircraft programme. The move strengthens Boeing’s efforts to tailor the Australian-developed autonomous aircraft to the requirements of the German Air Force (Luftwaffe). Joining the programme are German defence and technology companies Diehl Defence and Rohde & Schwarz, which will work alongside strategic partner Rheinmetall. Rheinmet

By Garth Calitz The Vietnam War remains one of the most studied air campaigns in military history. Fought between 1955 and 1975, the conflict saw the first large-scale use of helicopters in combat, intense jet-versus-jet dogfights, strategic bombing campaigns and the emergence of sophisticated air defence systems. More aircraft types were employed in Vietnam than in any conflict since the Second World War. From supersonic fighters and heavy bombers to rugged propeller-driven

Airbus Helicopters has unveiled the U145, an autonomous, uncrewed version of its widely used H145 twin-engine helicopter, marking a significant step forward in the evolution of rotary-wing aviation. Introduced at the ILA Berlin Air Show, the U145 combines the proven performance and payload capacity of the H145 with advanced autonomous flight technologies. Airbus plans to conduct the aircraft's maiden flight, initially with a safety pilot on board, before the end of 2026, with