All UK Royal Air Force articles
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NewsBAE Systems and partners ready RJ100 regional jet for Typhoon ECRS Mk2 flight tests
BAE Systems and partner Qinetiq are gearing up to begin transformation of an Avro RJ100 regional jet into a flight-test asset for trials of the ECRS Mk2 radar under development by Leonardo UK for Royal Air Force-operated Eurofighter Typhoons.
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NewsUK F-35B makes historic landing on Japanese carrier Kaga
A Royal Navy F-35B has made the first landing of a UK-operated stealth fighter on a Japanese vessel during a major trilateral carrier exercise in the Western Pacific.
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NewsUK flies Chinook self-protection update, trials FPV drone deployment
The UK has performed a first test flight of a Boeing CH-47 Chinook transport helicopter equipped with a new infrared suppression system installed to boost the platform’s survivability.
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In depthNMH win ‘critical’ for Yeovil but opportunities exist for AW159 and AW101, says Leonardo Helicopters UK chief
The new boss of Leonardo Helicopters UK has stressed the “criticality” for the business of winning the ongoing New Medium Helicopter (NMH) contest, but believes the airframer can grasp other opportunities – even including selling new AW101s to the Royal Navy.
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NewsRC-135 Rivet Joint platform remains best in the business, L3Harris official says
Decades after first entering service, the Boeing RC-135V/W Rivet Joint remains a critical electronic intelligence-gathering capability for the USA, the UK and their allies, L3Harris Technologies says.
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NewsRed Arrows make switch to SAF for aerobatic displays
The Royal Air Force’s Red Arrows are performing the team’s first aerobatic displays with their BAE Systems Hawk T1s using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) supplied by Power Electrics.
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NewsUK’s first Wedgetail makes public debut with RIAT appearance
The UK Royal Air Force’s (RAF’s) first Boeing E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft has made its public debut, appearing at the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) on 19 July.
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In depthUK military’s F-35B shortcomings laid bare by spending watchdog
The UK National Audit Office (NAO) has detailed the challenges faced by the Royal Air Force (RAF) and Royal Navy (RN) in fielding the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, while projecting that the nation’s through-life spend on the stealth fighter programme could potentially top £70 billion ($94 billion).
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NewsAirTanker to deliver A330 Voyager connectivity upgrade for RAF
AirTanker has been awarded a £170 million ($231 million) contract to modernise communication equipment aboard the Voyager tanker/transports it provides for use by the UK Royal Air Force (RAF).
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NewsRAF opens Protector training centre at Waddington base
The UK Royal Air Force has opened a new training centre for its General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Protector RG1 remotely piloted air system, with the facility also available for use by allied nations.
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NewsUK F-35A deliveries to support pilot training from late this decade
The UK expects to begin receiving a batch of 12 nuclear weapons-capable Lockheed Martin F-35As before 2030, while decisions around its broader future combat air capability are likely to be reached later this year.
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NewsUK will buy ‘at least a dozen’ F-35As to restore airborne nuclear deterrence role
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is to regain the ability to deploy nuclear weapons, with the UK government poised to order a batch of “at least a dozen” Lockheed Martin F-35As able to support NATO’s dual-capable aircraft mission.
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NewsRAF Voyagers damaged on the ground by pro-Palestine activists
In what the UK government is describing as an act of sabotage, two activists broke into RAF Brize Norton and damaged a pair of the Royal Air Force’s Airbus A330 Voyager multi-role tanker transports
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NewsGCAP partners name industry joint venture Edgewing
The industrial joint venture responsible for the design and development of a next-generation fighter through the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) is now officially up and running and has been named Edgewing.
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NewsAugmented reality coming to the cockpit as Red 6 moves toward operational fielding
US start-up Red 6 has matured its augmented reality flight training technology and is preparing to field the system for both fixed-wing jets and rotorcraft in Europe and North America.
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NewsBoeing seeks European partner for further development of MQ-28
The chief executive of Boeing’s defence unit thinks the time is ripe to bring the MQ-28 uncrewed jet Europe, as the continent’s plans for next-generation air power take shape.
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NewsUK approves long-lead funding for Typhoon’s AESA radar upgrade
A key radar upgrade being advanced for part of the UK Royal Air Force’s Eurofighter Typhoon fleet has passed its latest milestone, with funding provided to start production work on long-lead items for the ECRS Mk2 sensor.
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NewsNew defence review highlights UK’s ambition, but lacks procurement detail
The UK government has published its eagerly-awaited Strategic Defence Review (SDR), but provided only limited detail about many key future investment decisions.
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NewsUK making ‘significant progress’ on sixth-generation fighter demonstrator
Work is advancing on the UK’s BAE Systems-led sixth-generation fighter demonstrator, ahead of a first flight event anticipated before mid-2027.
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NewsRAF preparing to ramp up Protector flights, squadron boss reveals
The Royal Air Force (RAF) will be scaling up the use of its new remotely piloted air system capability over the coming months, with pilots from its 31 Sqn soon to secure the instrument ratings required for them to begin flying the type in UK airspace.