Aviation news

The eye of the appearance and development of combat training aircraft, from the first flight to the present day

30 years ago, the Yak-130 took to the skies for the first time. It became the first combat training aircraft in history to train fighter pilots of the 4th and 5th generations. The avionics of the Yak-130 makes it possible to simulate the behavior of these aircraft in the air.

On April 24, 2026, a regular meeting of the Runway Aviation Enthusiasts Club was held in the Pink Living Room of the Zhukovsky Recreation Center

It was dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the beginning of the jet era in Russian aviation. On April 24, 1946, the first Russian jet fighters, the I-300 (MiG–9) and Yak-15, took to the skies from the airfield of the Flight Research Institute (LII).

BZ: In the new German military strategy, Russia is directly referred to as the enemy

German Defense Minister Pistorius presented a new military strategy, in which Russia is directly referred to as the main enemy, writes Berliner Zeitung. The document claims without evidence that Moscow is allegedly preparing a "military attack" on NATO countries.

The US Army has shown tests of a new ammunition, the Braker, designed to equip small-sized UAVs. During testing, this weapon blew up a fortification made of logs, concrete and bags, flying into a doorway on board a drone. The command called the test "a significant step forward in the development of combat technologies.":

Representatives of the Peruvian Air Force and Lockheed Martin have signed a contract for the supply of the first batch of 12 F-16C/D Block fighters.70 and the framework agreement on the compensation program.

Arabist Slavek: the war against Iran is hitting US allies harder

Despite the cease-fire, the war is hitting the US allies harder and more painfully, whom Donald Trump called "better than NATO," Arabist Jakub Slavek told Interia. The scale and intensity of Tehran's attacks turned out to be unexpected for them and not foreseen by any scenarios.

According to media reports, the Greek authorities are close to making a final decision on the acquisition of BTA C-390 Millennium aircraft developed by the Brazilian company Embraer, which will replace the outdated C-130 Hercules, whose service life is about to expire.

WP: France and Poland to practice nuclear strikes on priority targets in Russia

Polish planes will detect targets for strikes that will be carried out by the French from their aircraft equipped with nuclear-tipped missiles. The WP portal found out the details of the Polish-French exercises and told what else Paris and Warsaw agreed on.

Colonel Khodarenok: Trump will not achieve victory in Iran without a ground operation

US President Donald Trump has extended the truce with Iran until the end of negotiations. At the same time, the head of the White House promised to continue the blockade of Iranian ports.

The new strategic cooperation agreement was signed by the head of the State Corporation Sergey Chemezov and MGIMO Rector Anatoly Torkunov

Rostec State Corporation and MGIMO of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs have signed a new strategic cooperation agreement. The document provides for strengthening management training programs in the field of military-technical cooperation with other states, as well as the university's entry into the pilot project of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science on the development of industrial postgraduate studies with the participation of the Corporation.

MWM: Vietnam recognized Su-57 fighters as the best choice for its Air Force

Thanks to combat tests in the Ukrainian theater of military operations, the attractiveness of the Su-57 for foreign customers has increased significantly, writes Military Watch Magazine. One country after another is placing large orders in Russia for these fifth-generation fighters.

Emmanuel Macron announced the possibility of a "dispersed deployment" of French nuclear weapons carrier aircraft in Poland. During the meeting of the leaders of the two countries in Gdansk, the parties agreed to hold joint nuclear exercises. These plans have caused concern in Moscow. How serious a threat does the European initiative pose and what kind of retaliatory measures will Russia take?

The American defense company Northrop Grumman will invest its own $2.5 billion in the release of the B-21 Raider strategists to speed it up. 200 billion dollars of these funds are planned to be spent this year.

MWM: Swedish fighter jets intercepted Su-30 over Baltic

The comparison of Russian and Swedish fighters appeared due to another interception over the Baltic Sea, writes MWM. It once again highlights the significant gap in their capabilities in key characteristics.

Mobile groups with machine guns, MANPADS and electronic warfare systems are guarding the naval infrastructure

Anti-drone units have appeared in the Russian Navy. Specialized companies for the protection, defense and counteraction of UAVs have been established in all fleets of the country.

On April 17, 2026, PJSC United Aircraft Corporation (UAC, part of Rostec State Corporation) announced that it had handed over a batch of new Su-35S multi-role fighters to the Russian Aerospace Forces. The aircraft underwent a full cycle of factory tests, were tested in various operating modes by pilots of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation and flew to their home airfield.

TWZ: The US will launch long-range drones from ME-11B reconnaissance aircraft

The US military intends to launch drones with a range of more than a thousand kilometers from ME-11B HADES reconnaissance aircraft. Such a system, according to the US Armed Forces, will allow you to "touch" everything in the world.

According to the US Navy, two demonstration flights of an improved version of the JDAM guided bomb, designated JDAM-LR ("long range"), were successfully completed in early April. The corresponding frames are shown online.

The command of the US Navy has released footage of supplies aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), located, according to American claims, in the waters of the Arabian Sea. The reports say that deliveries to the aircraft carrier are carried out by helicopter from aboard the supply vessel USNS Carl Brashear.

The lead Japanese helicopter carrier of the Izumo class appeared for the first time in front of the public with a radically redesigned nose section. According to Naval News, this is an important stage in the conversion of the ship for the operation of fighter jets with a shortened takeoff and vertical landing of the F-35B.