The Aviationist

Full Photo of New Chinese Ekranoplan Breaks Cover A new ekranoplan, or ground-effect vehicle, design emerging from China was first noted earlier this week. Now a new image offers our first look at the whole airframe. Story: https://lnkd.in/deS5U2_G

U.S. Navy Set to Procure Up To 6,000 Active Expendable Decoys for F-35s and F/A-18s NAVAIR is planning to acquire Active Expendable Decoys with a 2"x1"x8" form factor from Leonardo UK, hinting at the system being the BriteCloud 218 countermeasure. Story: https://lnkd.in/ddi4fyEm

U.S. Air Force F-16C and F-15E Control Multiple XQ-58 Drones in Groundbreaking Test Pilots aboard an F-16C Fighting Falcon and an F-15E Strike Eagle each controlled two XQ-58A Valkyrie unmanned aircraft in an air combat training scenario. Story: https://lnkd.in/dUNhGNZQ

T-7A Red Hawk Undergoes Second Round of Extreme Weather Trials at Eglin AFB The goal of the test was to ensure the T-7A Red Hawk is fully capable and ready to perform its mission in representative climates. Story: https://lnkd.in/dMf4FuVG

What It Takes to Keep a 70-Year-Old B-52 Flying: Exclusive Look Inside the Accelerated Inspection at Edwards AFB Inside the rapid B-52 X-Ray inspection that saved 17 days and boosted confidence in the 70-year-old bomber. Story: https://lnkd.in/dn8fNFUd

Boeing Contracted to Deliver More Torpedo Glide Kits for U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidons A $61m contract awarded to Boeing exercises an option for additional production of High Altitude Anti-Submarine Warfare Weapon Capability kits for Mark 54 torpedoes. Story: https://lnkd.in/d6fjSepc

End of an Era: Italy’s 154th Squadron Transitions from Tornado to F-35A On July 3, 2025, the “Red Devils” officially transitioned from the Tornado to the F-35A, becoming the second unit within the 6th Wing to operate the 5th gen. aircraft. Story: https://lnkd.in/dTt9X8kT

Raptors Unleashed: A Look Back At The F-22’s Initial Combat Ops Against ISIS Looking back at its first combat operations against ISIS, the F-22 proved it could do much more than dominate the skies, delivering precision strikes and sharing critical data across the battlespace. Story: https://lnkd.in/d4mEueuj Darrick Leiker

USAF Tests SpaceX’s Starshield on C-130J Super Hercules The service is looking for an alternate rapid tactical communications and data-linking capability to better equip the mobility fleet for logistics in high-end, contested environments. Story: https://lnkd.in/drcGZb3N

RAF Will Open Competition to Replace Hawk T1 and T2 Jets Defence minister Maria Eagle confirmed to Parliament that a competition will be opened to replace the venerable British-designed training jet, also used by the Red Arrows display team. Story: https://lnkd.in/dDkAAvzP