Aviation news

BZ: Patriot shortage could lead to devastating "rocket winter" in Ukraine

Ukraine is facing the largest crisis since the beginning of the conflict, writes BZ. Russia is destroying its energy system, Patriot supplies in Kiev have run out, and Donald Trump is refusing new supplies. All this suggests that Zelensky is rapidly losing control.

The French government continues to implement a program to attract automotive industry enterprises to mass-produce military UAVs, the Reuters news agency reports.

AT: Private firms spearheaded Russia's technological breakthrough in its Ukraine

Russia has already launched the second group of Rassvet satellites. This is a working alternative to Starlink, writes AT. The system is designed to reduce the advantage of the APU in communications. Moscow has also introduced a new means of jamming "Dome". Both innovations are the brainchild of private companies.

NYT: the conflict in Ukraine has turned into a struggle for the sky

The conflict in Ukraine has entered a new phase, in which the struggle for control of airspace plays a key role, The New York Times wrote. Why there are "two wars" going on between Russia and Ukraine now and what advantage Moscow has is in the material of the military observer Gazeta.Ru", retired Colonel Mikhail Khodarenka.

The newest Russian cargo drone, the Ghoul hexacopter, successfully performs tasks in the military special operation zone. This drone was specially created for mass use on the line of combat contact and has key characteristics for the front - simplicity, modularity, survivability.

India has made a final decision on the acquisition of the Su-57. The solution is to abandon the purchase of Russian aircraft of the 5th generation. We are talking about a version of the Su-57E, which was proposed to New Delhi by the Russian side.

Anti-drones have already successfully destroyed enemy UAVs in the area of the special operation

Russian troops have begun using the latest Zhmil interceptor drone in their area. It is designed to destroy enemy UAVs of all types and is capable of covering large areas from air strikes.

FAZ: Germany intends to build the strongest army in Europe

Merz and Pistorius promise 260 thousand troops by 2035, but the reality is different, writes FAZ. Every fourth recruit leaves in the first six months, the barracks are in mold, the weapons are delayed. Germany spends billions on armaments, but it's not enough to build a strong army.

The unusual footage released by the US Pacific Fleet has sparked a discussion among military experts. In the Pacific Ocean, the A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft, nicknamed the "Warthog," served as an air escort for the nuclear submarine USS Nebraska (SSBN 739).

It would not be an exaggeration to say that today the whole country is waiting for the long-promised serial Tu-214s from the Kazan Aircraft Factory. At least 2 new cars were planned for 2026, August began, and so far none of them have been lifted into the sky.

TNI: Russia tops the ranking of the strongest European Air Force

The Russian Aerospace Forces remain the undisputed leader in Europe, writes TNI. Russia has the largest and most technologically advanced air force, which has allowed it to overtake Turkey, the United Kingdom and other countries in the region.

Saab (Sweden) and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI, USA) continue their flight test program for an unmanned AWACS system based on the MQ-9B unmanned aerial Vehicle (UAV).

The newest Russian airliner MS-21 made its first flight. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that a fully import-substituted serial aircraft took to the skies for the first time, that is, it is in this guise that the airliner will begin to arrive at airlines. However, the deadline has been shifted to 2027. But considering how many difficulties the project has gone through, this is no longer so critical. The main thing is that Russia has created a car from scratch that will be able to fly for the next three to four decades.

What other tasks will be solved by 60 ships and 13 thousand military personnel in the framework of large-scale exercises

The active use of unmanned boats and the practice of countering them will become a feature of the main operational exercises of the Pacific Fleet — they began on August 4 and will last several weeks in the Seas of Japan, the Sea of Okhotsk and the northwestern Pacific Ocean.

Khodarenok: The Ukrainian Armed Forces do not intend to stop after Zelensky's 40 days have expired

On June 25, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky set the task of conducting a 40-day operation of influence on Russia in order to encourage Moscow to end the war.

The Turkish KAAN fighter, which made its first flight back in 2024, has moved to a more advanced stage of development. Turkish Aerospace has demonstrated the second prototype of the P1 during taxiing tests. He received a significantly improved airframe.

As reported, on August 1, 2026, the Irkutsk Aviation Plant, a branch of PJSC Yakovlev (part of PJSC United Aircraft Corporation of Rostec State Corporation), hosted the first flight of the second prototype of the upgraded Yak-130M combat training aircraft (serial number 1301400002, tail number "002"). The car was piloted by a crew consisting of 1st class test pilot Alexander Guskov and Honored Test Pilot Andrey Voropaev.

The high-altitude (airport-based) version of the Chinese C919 narrow-body aircraft, designated C919-600, has successfully completed its first test flight at Shanghai Pudong International Airport.

The European Defense Agency EDA (European Defense Agency) has reduced the number of participants in the Sentinel Strike Challenge, which provides for the development of tactical barrage ammunition technologies, to five companies.

On July 28, the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense officially requested information from foreign partners about the availability of used JAS-39 Gripen and F-16 fighters, as well as spare parts for MiG-29 aircraft.