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The Aviationist
@theaviationist.com
5.7K followers 190 following 920 posts
Unmatched, unconventional, independent coverage of military aviation, defense, tech & everything in the middle. Edited by David Cenciotti (@cenciotti.theaviationist.com) https://theaviationist.com
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The Aviationist @theaviationist.com · 20h
Belgium’s First F-35A Lands at Florennes, Marking the Beginning of Local Operations

The Belgian Air Force has officially welcomed its first F-35A Lightning II to Florennes Air Base, joining the growing European “wall of F-35s.”

Story: theaviationist.com/2025/10/13/f...
Belgium’s First F-35A Lands at Florennes, Marking the Beginning of Local Operations
The Belgian Air Force has officially welcomed its first F-35A Lightning II to Florennes Air Base, joining the growing European “wall of F-35s.” Belgium’s
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The Aviationist @theaviationist.com · 1d
A-10 Returns from CENTCOM Deployment with UAS Kill Markings

An A-10C was spotted with two Shahed-type UAS shapes painted on the nose while returning to its home base.

Story: theaviationist.com/2025/10/13/a...
A-10 Returns from CENTCOM Deployment with UAS Kill Markings
An A-10C was spotted with two Shahed-type UAS shapes painted on the nose while returning to its home base. An A-10C Thunderbolt II of the U.S. Air Force
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The Aviationist @theaviationist.com · 1d
Sikorsky Unveils the S-70UAS U-Hawk, First Fully Autonomous Black Hawk Helicopter

The U-Hawk is a modified UH-60L that removes the cockpit entirely to create an uncrewed, mission-flexible platform.

Story: theaviationist.com/2025/10/13/u...
Sikorsky Unveils the S-70UAS U-Hawk, First Fully Autonomous Black Hawk Helicopter
The S-70UAS U-Hawk is a modified UH-60L that removes the cockpit entirely to create an uncrewed, mission-flexible platform designed for logistics,
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The Aviationist @theaviationist.com · 1d
RAF RC-135W and P-8A Fly 10,000 Mile Patrol Along the NATO’s Eastern Flank

The two British aircraft flew a 12-hour mission along the border with Russia, Belarus and Ukraine.

Story: theaviationist.com/2025/10/12/r...
RAF RC-135W and P-8A Fly 10,000 Mile Patrol Along the NATO’s Eastern Flank
The two British aircraft flew a 12-hour mission along the border with Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. In a rare mission, a Royal Air Force (RAF) RC-135W
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The Aviationist @theaviationist.com · 1d
RAF A400M Conducts Historic Landing on Remote Arctic Island in NATO Mission

The joint U.S., British and Norwegian mission saw the A400M transporting a JLTV, simulating a NMESIS system, and infantry in the High North.

Story: theaviationist.com/2025/10/12/r...
RAF A400M Conducts Historic Landing on Remote Arctic Island in NATO Mission
The joint U.S., British and Norwegian mission saw the A400M transporting a JLTV, simulating a NMESIS system, and infantry in the High North. The Royal Air
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The Aviationist @theaviationist.com · 1d
New Combined Air Operations Centre Opened by NATO in Norway

CAOC Bodø was officially opened on Oct. 10, 2025, joining CAOC Uedem, Germany, and CAOC Torrejón, Spain as NATO’s third active Combined Air Operations Centre.

Story: theaviationist.com/2025/10/11/n...
New Combined Air Operations Centre Opened by NATO in Norway
CAOC Bodø was officially opened on Oct. 10, 2025, joining CAOC Uedem, Germany, and CAOC Torrejón, Spain as NATO's third active Combined Air Operations
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The Aviationist @theaviationist.com · 1d
Kizilelma Conducts First Live Fire Trials

Kizilelma’s live-fire tests come within days of the carriage trials with the TOLUN and TEBER-82 munitions.

Story: theaviationist.com/2025/10/11/k...
Kizilelma Conducts First Live Fire Trials
Kizilelma’s live-fire tests come within days of the carriage trials with the TOLUN and TEBER-82 munitions. Baykar’s Kizilelma UCAV recorded another
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The Aviationist @theaviationist.com · 1d
Boeing Receives Third Contract for Eight More MH-139A Grey Wolf Helicopters

The MH-139A, slated to replace the older UH-1N Hueys in the nuclear security mission, recently conducted its first search and rescue mission.

Story: theaviationist.com/2025/10/10/m...
Boeing Receives Third Contract for Eight More MH-139A Grey Wolf Helicopters
The MH-139A, slated to replace the older UH-1N Hueys in the nuclear security mission, recently conducted its first search and rescue mission. Boeing
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The Aviationist @theaviationist.com · 2d
Royal Marine Snipers Disable Drug Smuggling Skiff from Wildcat Helicopter

Royal Marines took aim at the engine of a boat suspected of drug smuggling while flying in HMS Lancaster’s Wildcat helicopter over the Gulf of Oman. £35 million of drugs were seized.

Story: theaviationist.com/2025/10/12/r...
Royal Marine Snipers Disable Drug Smuggling Skiff from Wildcat Helicopter
Royal Marines took aim at the engine of a boat suspected of drug smuggling while flying in HMS Lancaster's Wildcat helicopter over the Gulf of Oman. £35
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The Aviationist @theaviationist.com · 3d
Anduril and Raytheon Test Highly Loaded Grain Solid Rocket Motor for Air-to-Air Missiles

Highly Loaded Grain (HLG) Solid Rocket Motors allow extended range and customized thrust profiles with the same propellant and the same size rocket motor.

Story: theaviationist.com/2025/10/09/a...
Anduril and Raytheon Test Highly Loaded Grain Solid Rocket Motor for Air-to-Air Missiles
Highly Loaded Grain (HLG) Solid Rocket Motors allow extended range and customized thrust profiles with the same propellant and the same size rocket motor.
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The Aviationist @theaviationist.com · 4d
No Smoke Trails, Just Silence: Exclusive EA-37B Pilot Interview

While the aerobatic acts thrilled the crowd at the recent Joint Base Andrews Air Show, an EA-37B Compass Call quietly revealed the power of modern electronic warfare.

Story: theaviationist.com/2025/10/09/e...
No Smoke Trails, Just Silence: Exclusive EA-37B Pilot Interview
While the aerobatic acts thrilled the crowd at the recent Joint Base Andrews Air Show, an EA-37B Compass Call on static display, quietly revealed the
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The Aviationist @theaviationist.com · 4d
Germany Approves Eurofighter Tranche 5 Deal

Germany has approved the procurement of 20 Eurofighters of the Tranche 5 for €3.75 billion, as well as well as the Eurofighter EK variant’s development.

Story: theaviationist.com/2025/10/08/g...
Germany Approves Eurofighter Tranche 5 Deal
Germany has approved the procurement of 20 Eurofighters of the Tranche 5 for €3.75 billion, as well as well as the Eurofighter EK variant’s development. A
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The Aviationist @theaviationist.com · 4d
Canada Will Get 16 Paid-For F-35s, Decision Pending on the Remaining Jets

Secretary of State for Defense Procurement said Canada has no plans to exit the contract for the 16 F-35s already in production, with a decision pending on the remaining 72 jets.

Story: theaviationist.com/2025/10/09/c...
Canada Will Get 16 Paid-For F-35s, Decision Pending on the Remaining Jets
Secretary of State for Defense Procurement Stephen Fuhr said Canada has no plans to exit the contract for the 16 F-35s already in production, with a
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The Aviationist @theaviationist.com · 5d
U.S. Navy’s F/A-XX Selection Might Happen Soon - Reports

After months of delay, Hegseth has reportedly greenlit the U.S. Navy’s F/A-XX program, with a selection expected as soon as this week.

Story: theaviationist.com/2025/10/08/u...
U.S. Navy’s F/A-XX Selection Might Happen Soon - Reports
After months of delay, Hegseth has reportedly greenlit the U.S. Navy’s F/A-XX program, with a selection expected as soon as this week. After months of
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The Aviationist @theaviationist.com · 6d
Sweden to Acquire Four Embraer C-390 Airlifters

The Swedish Flygvapnet will replace its C-130Hs with four C-390 Millennium airlifters bought through a joint procurement with Austria and the Netherlands.

Story: theaviationist.com/2025/10/06/s...
Sweden to Acquire Four Embraer C-390 Airlifters
The Swedish Flygvapnet will replace its C-130Hs with four C-390 Millennium airlifters bought through a joint procurement with Austria and the Netherlands.
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The Aviationist @theaviationist.com · 6d
Italian Delegation Visits Baykar for Kizilelma and Akinci Demos

The visit of Italy’s political executive and top military brass comes as Baykar and Leonardo advance their joint venture LBA Systems.

Story: theaviationist.com/2025/10/07/i...
Italian Delegation Visits Baykar for Kizilelma and Akinci Demos
The visit of Italy’s political executive and top military brass comes as Baykar and Leonardo advance their joint venture LBA Systems. A large Italian
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The Aviationist @theaviationist.com · 7d
Australia Receives First AH-64E Apache Helicopters

The first two of 29 AH-64Es have arrived at RAAF Base Townsville, where they will be assigned to the 1st Aviation Regiment.

Story: theaviationist.com/2025/10/06/a...
Australia Receives First AH-64E Apache Helicopters
The first two of 29 AH-64Es have arrived at RAAF Base Townsville, where they will be assigned to the 1st Aviation Regiment. The first two new AH-64E
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The Aviationist @theaviationist.com · 7d
Kizilelma UCAV Flies with TEBER-82 and TOLUN Munitions in Carriage Trials

The Kizilelma is slated to fly alongside the KAAN as its primary Collaborative Combat Aircraft, along with the ANKA-III.

Story: theaviationist.com/2025/10/05/k...
Kizilelma UCAV Flies with TEBER-82 and TOLUN Munitions in Carriage Trials
The Kizilelma is slated to fly alongside the KAAN as its primary Collaborative Combat Aircraft, along with the ANKA-III. Turkey’s Kizilelma UCAV,
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The Aviationist @theaviationist.com · 7d
General Electric Demonstrates Ramjet Engines for Hypersonic Missiles

The Solid Fuel Ramjet (SFRJ) and the Hypersonic Dual-Mode Ramjet (DMRJ) are seeing rapid success as the U.S. hikes spending and development of hypersonic weapons.

Story: theaviationist.com/2025/10/04/g...
General Electric Demonstrates Ramjet Engines for Hypersonic Missiles
The Solid Fuel Ramjet (SFRJ) and the Hypersonic Dual-Mode Ramjet (DMRJ) are seeing rapid success as the U.S. hikes spending and development of hypersonic
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The Aviationist @theaviationist.com · 9d
Royal Navy Re-Armed: Sea Venom Anti-Ship Missile Achieves IOC and Naval Strike Missile is Test Fired

The Royal Navy is becoming more lethal as September brings new developments in the deployment of two of its vital anti-ship missiles.

Story: theaviationist.com/2025/10/04/s...
Royal Navy Re-Armed: Sea Venom Anti-Ship Missile Achieves IOC and Naval Strike Missile is Test Fired
The Royal Navy is becoming more lethal as September brings new developments in the deployment of two of its vital anti-ship missiles. The Sea Venom light
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The Aviationist @theaviationist.com · 10d
Mysterious Object Spotted At Lockheed Martin’s Helendale Radar Cross Section Test Range

A YouTube video posted by the account Uncanny Expeditions appears to show a previously unseen object undergoing testing at Lockheed Martin’s Helendale RCS Test Range.

Story: theaviationist.com/2025/10/04/m...
Mysterious Object Spotted At Lockheed Martin’s Helendale Radar Cross Section Test Range
A YouTube video posted by the account Uncanny Expeditions appears to show a previously unseen object undergoing testing at Lockheed Martin’s Helendale
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The Aviationist @theaviationist.com · 10d
Inside Hawaii’s 535th Airlift Squadron: How C-17 Crews Stand Ready for the Pacific

In an exclusive interview, pilots of the 15th Wing share insights on rapid mobility, integration with F-22s, and the challenges of operating in the Indo-Pacific.

Story: theaviationist.com/2025/10/03/5...
Inside Hawaii’s 535th Airlift Squadron: How C-17 Crews Stand Ready for the Pacific
In an exclusive interview at Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam, Col. Luke Spathes and Lt. Col. Reinier Villanueva discuss rapid mobility, integration with
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The Aviationist @theaviationist.com · 10d
USMC F-35Bs Shown Armed with Live Weapons in Puerto Rico

Weeks after they arrived in Puerto Rico, the F-35s were shown flying with live AIM-120Ds, AIM-9Xs and GBU-54s.

Story: theaviationist.com/2025/10/03/u...
USMC F-35Bs Shown Armed with Live Weapons in Puerto Rico
Weeks after they arrived in Puerto Rico, the F-35s were shown flying with live AIM-120Ds, AIM-9Xs and GBU-54s. The U.S. is now showing in official images
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The Aviationist @theaviationist.com · 10d
B-29 Strategic Operations against Japan Part 1: The CBI Theater

The B-29 would initially struggle to prove its worth, victim of teething problems from its rapid development and production, along with supply issues once in theater.

Story: theaviationist.com/2025/10/03/b...
B-29 Strategic Operations against Japan Part 1: The CBI Theater
Suffering an arduous start in the CBI Theater, the B-29 would initially struggle to prove its worth, the victim of teething problems from its rapid
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The Aviationist @theaviationist.com · 10d
Royal Air Force Retires MQ-9A Reaper

The Royal Air Force has confirmed that its MQ-9A Reaper fleet has been withdrawn after 18 years in service, as the MQ-9B Protector RG1 readies for operational deployment.

Story: theaviationist.com/2025/10/03/r...
Royal Air Force Retires MQ-9A Reaper
The Royal Air Force has confirmed that its MQ-9A Reaper fleet has been withdrawn after 18 years in service, as the MQ-9B Protector RG1 readies for
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