All Fixed-wing articles
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InterviewTransformed Leonardo is primed for major growth, CEO Cingolani says
Leonardo chief executive Roberto Cingolani is launching new five-year industrial plan targetting new business in both the manned and unmanned segments.
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NewsUS Air Force KC-135 tanker crashes in Iraq killing all aboard
A US Air Force Boeing KC-135 tanker has crashed in western Iraq during Operation Epic Fury, with US Central Command confirming the incident was not caused by hostile action or friendly fire.
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NewsB-1B bombers spotted at RAF Fairford being loaded with 900kg guided bombs
Video appears to show Boeing B-1B supersonic bombers being loaded with GBU-31 GPS-guided bombs and long-range cruise missiles at the Gloucestershire base, which is hosting a number of US bombers involved in the ongoing air campaign against Iran.
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NewsLeonardo to demonstrate M-346 commanding two Baykar uncrewed fighters by mid-year
Leonardo will conduct the first demonstration flight later this year pairing its M-346 platform with a pair of representative collaborative combat aircraft.
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NewsB-21 prototype logs close-proximity flight with KC-135 as part of aerial refuelling tests
The US Air Force has confirmed that its next-generation B-21 Raider stealth bomber has conducted close-proximity flight tests with a KC-135 tanker, marking a significant milestone in the aircraft’s development programme ahead of planned operational deployment in 2027.
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NewsPratt & Whitney wins follow-on AGM-190A engine contract
Pratt & Whitney has secured a follow-on contract to supply TJ150 turbojets for Leidos’s AGM-190A air-launched cruise missile, designed for deployment from AC-130J gunships.
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NewsAustralia deploys E-7A to Middle East amid Iranian attacks
Australia has deployed a Boeing E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft to the Middle East to provide early detection of Iranian drones and missiles. Canberra will also supply Raytheon AIM-120 air-to-air missiles, whilst emphasising it is not participating in offensive operations against Iran.
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NewsBell’s X-76 'stop/fold' tiltrotor demonstrator advances toward 2028 first flight
Bell’s developmental SPRINT-X aircraft has been designated X-76 after completing its critical design review, clearing the way for construction of a demonstrator that DARPA expects to fly in early 2028.
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In depthCritical shortage or endless supply? Munitions availability in the Iran war
US defence officials have declared stockpiles of precision munitions sufficient for sustained operations against Iran, contradicting years of warnings from military officers and industry executives about the imbalance between production capacity and battlefield demand.
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NewsExtra Mirage 2000-5 fighters to boost Ukrainian air force’s defences
Ukraine expects to take delivery of additional Dassault Aviation Mirage 2000-5 fighters from France, following the arrival of its first donated examples early last year.
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NewsUS strike sets Iranian drone carrier Shahid Bagheri ablaze
The US Central Command has released surveillance footage showing Iranian drone carrier IRIS Shahid Bagheri engulfed in flames following a weapons strike, marking the second attack on the vessel since Operation Epic Fury began on 2 March.
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NewsAurora completes fuselage for X-65 ‘active flow control’ demonstrator
Boeing subsidiary Aurora Flight Sciences has completed fuselage fabrication for the X-65, an experimental aircraft that replaces conventional control surfaces with embedded air-jet effectors using active flow control technology, with first flight planned for 2027.
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NewsUK to dispatch extra Typhoons to Qatar as Iran conflict rages
Another four of the UK Royal Air Force’s (RAF’s) Eurofighter Typhoons are to be flown to the Middle East, as the US and Israeli air campaign against Iran continues to impact security across the wider region.
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NewsEmbraer to add counter-UAS AI to Super Tucano
Embraer has partnered with US firm Valkyrie Aero to integrate artificial intelligence into the A-29 Super Tucano, enhancing the light attack turboprop’s counter-drone capabilities through the Gunslinger AI suite.
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NewsUS air campaign shifts to gravity bombs as Pentagon officials downplay munition concerns
The Pentagon says it will transition from expensive long-range missiles to GPS-guided gravity bombs as its air campaign against Iran intensifies, though senior officials insist munitions stockpiles remain strong despite heavy use of precision weapons.
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NewsIsraeli F-35I downs Iranian Yak-130 in clash over Tehran
Israel has recorded its first air-to-air success with the Lockheed Martin F-35I Adir, with one of its stealth fighters having destroyed an Iranian aircraft over Tehran on 4 March.
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NewsDassault targets Indian contract for blockbuster Rafale order by year-end
Dassault Aviation is hopeful that a new order from India for 114 Rafale combat aircraft can be wrapped up this year, as it looks to further extend the backlog of the fourth-generation jet.
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NewsHermeus flies first supersonic-capable Quarterhorse Mk 2.1 aircraft
US start-up Hermeus has flown its first supersonic-capable aircraft, the Quarterhorse Mk 2.1, marking a significant step toward achieving Mach 5 hypersonic flight. The unmanned vehicle completed its maiden sortie in New Mexico less than one year after its subsonic predecessor first flew.
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NewsBAE launches Silver Link conformal antenna solution for ‘air dominance’ platforms
BAE Systems has launched its Silver Link range of conformal antennas, which it says is suitable for a range of applications, inlcuding future “air dominance programmes”.
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NewsDassault chief Trappier attacks ‘aggressive’ Airbus as FCAS war of words heats up
Dassault Aviation’s pugnacious chief executive Eric Trappier has raised the temperature in his ongoing war of words with Airbus, repeatedly insisting its supposed partner was jeopardising the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme as it “does not want to work with us”.