# u.s. air force (blogs) — RSS Amplifier Recent posts from the 2 feeds in the RSS Amplifier directory that cover u.s. air force. Page: Feed: --- ## [Saab Unveils A3-001 Collaborative Combat Aircraft Concept](https://theaviationist.com/2026/08/22/saab-unveils-a3-001-cca/) _2026-08-22 · Parth Satam · The Aviationist_ Saab plans to fly the first A3-001 demonstrator within 18 months, with three prototypes planned as the design evolves. Swedish defense company Saab unveiled on Aug. 21, 2026 a full-scale model of its next-generation unmanned fighter aircraft, called the A3-001. The unveiling comes ahead of the Jubilee Air Show on Aug. 22 and 23 at \[…\] ## [China’s Y-15 Turboprop Tactical Cargo Aircraft Emerges in Clearest Images Yet](https://theaviationist.com/2026/08/22/chinas-y-15-clearest-images-yet/) _2026-08-22 · Parth Satam · The Aviationist_ New details emerged in the recent photos of the Shaanxi Y-15, initially known as Y-30, which is believed to be China’s future tactical transport aircraft. China’s new Y-15 four-engine turboprop transport aircraft, developed by the Shaanxi Aircraft Corporation (SAC), has appeared in its clearest images yet. The aircraft is the latest development in Shaanxi’s long-running \[…\] ## [U.S. Approves Air-to-Air APKWS Sale to Italy](https://theaviationist.com/2026/08/21/u-s-approves-air-to-air-apkws-sale-to-italy/) _2026-08-21 · Stefano D'Urso · The Aviationist_ The U.S. State Department approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Italy of the air-to-air variant of the APKWS-II, which would include over 5,000 guided rockets. The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced that the State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Italy of the air-to-air variant of the Advanced \[…\] ## [Swedish Gripen Launches Taurus KEPD 350 Cruise Missile for the First Time](https://theaviationist.com/2026/08/21/swedish-gripen-launch-taurus-missile/) _2026-08-21 · Stefano D'Urso · The Aviationist_ A Swedish Air Force JAS 39 Gripen C launched for the first time a Taurus KEPD 350 cruise missile over the Vidsel Test Range. The Swedish Air Force released a video on Aug. 21, 2026, announcing that a JAS 39 Gripen launched for the first time a Taurus KEPD 350 cruise missile. The live fire \[…\] ## [New White House Helipad Shown Off to Reporters Ahead of Completion](https://theaviationist.com/2026/08/21/new-white-house-helipad-shown-off/) _2026-08-21 · Kai Greet · The Aviationist_ President Trump toured the ornate, granite helipad under construction on the White House South Lawn with reporters, adding his signature to a piece of the stonework that could see use as soon as next month. Commissioned following the long, highly publicized drama of the new VH-92A Patriot helicopters being unable to land at the White \[…\] ## [F-15EXs Are Headed to Seymour Johnson AFB](https://theaviationist.com/2026/08/21/f-15exs-are-headed-to-seymour-johnson-afb/) _2026-08-21 · Stefano D'Urso · The Aviationist_ The Secretary of the U.S. Air Force confirmed that Seymour Johnson AFB is the planned recipient of the F-15EX Eagle II aircraft included in the proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget. The Secretary of the U.S. Air Force Troy Meink confirmed in a letter to Senator Ted Budd that Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, \[…\] ## [Japan Intercepts Chinese TB-001 ‘Twin-Tailed Scorpion’ Drone Over East China Sea](https://theaviationist.com/2026/08/20/japan-intercepts-chinese-tb-001/) _2026-08-20 · Parth Satam · The Aviationist_ The TB-001 was intercepted alongside a Y-9Z electronic warfare aircraft as Chinese and Russian aircraft continue to operate in Japan’s Air Defense Identification Zone. Japan has said China’s Tengden TB-001 “Twin-Tailed Scorpion” surveillance-strike drone has been probing its airspace, triggering scrambles by Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) fighter jets. The Tengden TB-001 is a large \[…\] ## [Marine One Near Miss Renews Questions About Washington Airspace Safety](https://www.aviationtoday.com/2026/08/20/marine-one-near-miss-renews-questions-about-washington-airspace-safety/) _2026-08-20 · John Persinos · Aviation Tech Today_ Global Aviation Round-Up from Aircraft Value Intelligence (AVN) Editor’s Note: To watch John’s video version of this article, click here. A recent close encounter involving Marine One and a commercial \[…\] The post Marine One Near Miss Renews Questions About Washington Airspace Safety appeared first on Aviation Tech Today . ## [Game On: Can Gamers Help Close America’s Air Traffic Control Gap?](https://www.aviationtoday.com/2026/08/20/game-on-can-gamers-help-close-americas-air-traffic-control-gap/) _2026-08-20 · John Persinos · Aviation Tech Today_ Global Aviation Round-Up from Aircraft Value Intelligence (AVN) Editor’s Note: To watch John’s video version of this article, click here. America’s air traffic controller shortage has become a numbers game, \[…\] The post Game On: Can Gamers Help Close America’s Air Traffic Control Gap? appeared first on Aviation Tech Today . ## [Army To Test And Evaluate Elroy Air’s Hybrid-Electric VTOL Under New Contract](https://www.aviationtoday.com/2026/08/20/army-to-test-and-evaluate-elroy-airs-hybrid-electric-vtol-under-new-contract/) _2026-08-20 · Calvin Biesecker · Aviation Tech Today_ The Army in August awarded a $46.1 million contract to Elroy Air to test and experiment with the company’s Chaparral autonomous hybrid-electric vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft for heavy \[…\] The post Army To Test And Evaluate Elroy Air’s Hybrid-Electric VTOL Under New Contract appeared first on Aviation Tech Today . ## [Browse ThreatCrush Modules (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/xAEGCm1obFMR) _2026-08-20 · **Sponsored**_ Install community-built security modules to extend real-time threat intelligence and monitoring ## [PDW Eyes Supplying Parts To Support U.S. Production Of One Million Drones Annually](https://www.aviationtoday.com/2026/08/20/pdw-eyes-supplying-parts-to-support-u-s-production-of-one-million-drones-annually/) _2026-08-20 · Calvin Biesecker · Aviation Tech Today_ Performance Drone Works (PDW), which last week received a conditional loan commitment from the Defense Department to supercharge its capacity and capabilities for making key drone components, expects to support domestic \[…\] The post PDW Eyes Supplying Parts To Support U.S. Production Of One Million Drones Annually appeared first on Aviation Tech Today . ## [E-2D Block II Passes Critical Design Review](https://www.aviationtoday.com/2026/08/19/e-2d-block-ii-passes-critical-design-review/) _2026-08-20 · Rich Abott · Aviation Tech Today_ The Navy and Northrop Grumman this week revealed the Block II upgrade to the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye passed a Critical Design Review (CDR) in May, setting the way for flight tests within \[…\] The post E-2D Block II Passes Critical Design Review appeared first on Aviation Tech Today . ## [Block II Upgrades for E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Clear Critical Design Review](https://theaviationist.com/2026/08/19/block-ii-upgrades-for-e-2d-cdr/) _2026-08-19 · Parth Satam · The Aviationist_ The Block II’s open architecture for the E-2D’s mission systems, computers and displays enhance cockpit functionality, support future upgrades and improve sensor fusion. The U.S. Navy’s E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft’s Block II upgrades have completed the Critical Design Review (CDR), Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Navy announced on Aug. \[…\] ## [JASDF F-15’s Landing Gear Collapses on Landing at Naha Airport](https://theaviationist.com/2026/08/18/jasdf-f-15s-landing-gear-collapses/) _2026-08-18 · Stefano D'Urso · The Aviationist_ The main landing gear of a JASDF F-15 collapsed during landing, causing the aircraft to slide on the runway and turn 180 degrees as it slowed down. An F-15 of the Japan Air Self Defense Force appears to have suffered a left main landing collapse while landing at Naha Airport on Aug. 18, 2026. The \[…\] ## [RTX Receives $22 Billion Contract to Accelerate Tomahawk Production](https://theaviationist.com/2026/08/18/rtx-contract-accelerate-tomahawk-production/) _2026-08-18 · Parth Satam · The Aviationist_ The award follows other investments in munitions production capacity aimed at reducing delivery times, strengthening supply chains and supporting U.S. and allied demand. Raytheon, an RTX business, has received a $22.9 billion, seven-year contract from the U.S. Navy to accelerate production of Tomahawk cruise missiles, the company and Department of War announced on Aug. 17, \[…\] ## [NASA’s New ‘Vomit Comet’ Has a Secretive Air Force Past](https://theaviationist.com/2026/08/17/nasas-new-vomit-comet-has-a-secretive-air-force-past/) _2026-08-17 · Stefano D'Urso · The Aviationist_ The Boeing 737-700, formerly operated as N712JM, spent years as a secretive U.S. Air Force flying testbed, and is now becoming NASA’s new reduced-gravity research aircraft with the registration N837NA. NASA has unveiled on Aug. 13, 2026, its newest reduced-gravity research aircraft, which will support the Artemis program to validate astronaut lunar suits and associated \[…\] ## [GE’s T901 Engine Clears Preliminary Flight Rating for UH-60 Black Hawk](https://theaviationist.com/2026/08/17/ge-t901-engine-preliminary-flight-rating/) _2026-08-17 · Parth Satam · The Aviationist_ The next-generation T901, developed as part of the ITEP program, cleared the Preliminary Flight Rating and will now proceed toward full airworthiness qualification testing. The T901 engine developed by GE Aerospace to replace the T700 engines powering the U.S. Army’s UH-60M Black Hawk and AH-64 Apache fleets has completed Preliminary Flight Rating (PFR) testing, the \[…\] ## [Kadena’s First F-15EX Breaks Cover](https://theaviationist.com/2026/08/17/kadenas-first-f-15ex-breaks-cover/) _2026-08-17 · Stefano D'Urso · The Aviationist_ The first F-15EX Eagle II destined to Kadena Air Base in Japan broke cover, flying with the “ZZ” tail flash and the markings of the 18th Wing. The first F-15EX Eagle II destined to Kadena Air Base, in Japan, has received the “ZZ” tail flash and the markings of the 18th Wing. The aircraft, 22-0022, \[…\] ## [Iconic Shuttleworth DH.88 Comet Racer Damaged After Landing Incident](https://theaviationist.com/2026/08/16/dh88-comet-damaged-after-landing-incident/) _2026-08-16 · Kai Greet · The Aviationist_ The only airworthy example of an original de Havilland DH.88 Comet nosed-over while landing following a display at Shuttleworth’s Flying Proms. The pilot was quickly extracted, and has since been discharged from hospital after medical checks. G-ACSS, named Grosvenor House, is a staple of the Shuttleworth Collection’s yearly program of flying displays at Old Warden, \[…\] ## [CENTCOM Launches Multinational Attack Drone Task Force ‘Falcon Strike’](https://theaviationist.com/2026/08/15/centcom-task-force-falcon-strike/) _2026-08-15 · Stefano D'Urso · The Aviationist_ Task Force Falcon Strike will bring together U.S. and regional forces operating one-way attack drones in the air, on the surface and underwater. The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) is taking the next step in its rapidly expanding use of One-Way Attack (OWA) drones. On Aug. 13, 2026, the command announced the creation of a new \[…\] ## [AI publishing with human taste (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/rDQZTXwEueaf) _2026-08-15 · **Sponsored**_ Convert AI research into blogs, podcasts, and newsletters with optional human review. ## [Chinese National Sentenced to Six Months After Unlawfully Photographing Whiteman AFB](https://theaviationist.com/2026/08/15/chinese-national-sentenced-photo-whiteman-afb/) _2026-08-15 · Parth Satam · The Aviationist_ Authorities said Wu’s repeated photography of Whiteman AFB’s infrastructure, including after a warning, distinguished the case from ordinary aircraft photography. Qilin Wu, the Chinese national who in January was charged with unlawfully photographing Whiteman AFB, Missouri, home to the U.S. Air Force’s B-2 Spirit bombers, was sentenced to six months in federal custody by U.S. \[…\] ## [U.S. Army Selects M1 for Flight School Next Program](https://theaviationist.com/2026/08/14/us-army-selects-m1-flight-school-next/) _2026-08-14 · Stefano D'Urso · The Aviationist_ The U.S. Army M1 Support Services to train new pilots as part of the Flight School Next program, with the Robinson R66 helicopter replacing the UH-72 Lakota. The U.S. Army announced on Aug. 13, 2026, the selection of M1 Support Services for the Flight School Next program which will take over the training of new \[…\] ## [Why Aircraft Lease Rates Refuse to Come Down](https://www.aviationtoday.com/2026/08/06/why-aircraft-lease-rates-refuse-to-come-down/) _2026-08-06 · John Persinos · Aviation Tech Today_ Global Aviation Round-Up from Aircraft Value Intelligence (AVN) Aircraft leasing used to be fairly predictable. Rising interest rates pushed up borrowing costs, lease rates climbed, and airlines paid more to \[…\] The post Why Aircraft Lease Rates Refuse to Come Down appeared first on Aviation Tech Today . ## [The Weather Revolution: How New Technology Is Changing the Way Aircraft Fly](https://www.aviationtoday.com/2026/08/06/the-weather-revolution-how-new-technology-is-changing-the-way-aircraft-fly/) _2026-08-06 · John Persinos · Aviation Tech Today_ Global Aviation Round-Up from Aircraft Value Intelligence (AVN) For all the advances aviation has made over the past century, one challenge has never gone away: weather. Storms, turbulence, icing, wind \[…\] The post The Weather Revolution: How New Technology Is Changing the Way Aircraft Fly appeared first on Aviation Tech Today . ## [USAF Looks For Answers To Remedy Supply Bottlenecks For F-15EX and F-16 Engines](https://www.aviationtoday.com/2026/08/06/usaf-looks-for-answers-to-remedy-supply-bottlenecks-for-f-15ex-and-f-16-engines/) _2026-08-06 · Frank Wolfe · Aviation Tech Today_ The U.S. Air Force is searching for answers on how to remedy supply chain bottlenecks in building engines for the service’s F-15EX fighter by Boeing and F-16 by Lockheed Martin. The Air \[…\] The post USAF Looks For Answers To Remedy Supply Bottlenecks For F-15EX and F-16 Engines appeared first on Aviation Tech Today . ## [DoD Makes Potential $820 Million Loan Commitment To Drone Company To Mass Produce Components](https://www.aviationtoday.com/2026/08/06/dod-makes-potential-820-million-loan-commitment-to-drone-company-to-mass-produce-components/) _2026-08-06 · Calvin Biesecker · Aviation Tech Today_ Flexing new authorities to dramatically increase its loan commitments, the Pentagon’s Office of Strategic Capital (OSC) has made a conditional loan commitment of up to $820 million to Performance Drone Works (PDW) \[…\] The post DoD Makes Potential $820 Million Loan Commitment To Drone Company To Mass Produce Components appeared first on Aviation Tech Today . ## [Boeing Edges Airbus at Farnborough as Ortberg’s Turnaround Gains Momentum](https://www.aviationtoday.com/2026/07/30/boeing-edges-airbus-at-farnborough-as-ortbergs-turnaround-gains-momentum/) _2026-07-30 · Rich Abott · Aviation Tech Today_ Global Aviation Round-Up from Aircraft Value Intelligence (AVN) The order books at the 2026 Farnborough International Airshow told an encouraging story for Boeing. When the four-day event wrapped up on \[…\] The post Boeing Edges Airbus at Farnborough as Ortberg’s Turnaround Gains Momentum appeared first on Aviation Tech Today .