Aviation news

Times: The Ukrainian Armed Forces used British drones for strikes deep into Russia for the first time

The Times newspaper found out that over the past six months, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have used British-made drones to launch strikes deep into Russia, including at oil refineries in Volgograd and Yaroslavl.

Almost six hours in the air, thousands of kilometers away and not a single landing. The first serial MC-21-310 successfully completed the task, which was closely monitored by the entire aviation industry. The following decisions may determine the fate of the program for years to come.

Prospect: Britain needs to learn from the experience of Eastern Europe in the issue of defense

The UK is facing a double defense crisis: it lacks both money and strategic thinking, writes Prospect. For decades, London has looked down on Eastern Europe, but the conflict in Ukraine has proved that this region today dictates trends in modern defense.

Russia's high-tech project has taken place. For the first time, the customer received PD-8 serial engines. This is a fully Russian import-substituted aircraft engine. Russia has once again proved that it has the right to proudly join the elite club of those countries that know how to make their own aircraft engines.

And how the protection of Russia's Far Eastern borders is changing the experience of modern conflicts

During the large-scale exercises, the sailors of the Pacific Fleet practiced the fight against unmanned enemy boats and aerial drones, as well as the use of electronic warfare and joint missile strikes by naval, aviation and coastal forces.

The Ministry of Defense announced attacks on the ports of Ochakov and Odessa

. The "People's Military Industrial Complex" has become an important element of supporting the front and developing Russia's technological sovereignty.

A layered destruction system has been created in Zaporizhia

Anti-aircraft gunners, crews of D-30 howitzers of the 7th Guards Airborne Assault Division (Gornaya) and crews of Mi-28NM attack helicopters of the Russian Aerospace Forces have built a well-established system of echelon destruction in the Zaporozhye area - from drone strikes to the destruction of carefully camouflaged enemy control points.

In August 2026, foreign sources (followed by Russian telegram channels) began distributing officially unconfirmed information about an increase in production in our country of new Geran-4 and Geran-5 jet attack UAVs, plus a number of other rather controversial statements.

Back in early July 2026, the Federal Air Transport Agency issued a type certificate for the An-2 aircraft, which paved the way for its modernization. However, the basic piston engine of the Soviet ASH-62IR biplane is morally and technically outdated, the transition to the American Honeywell TPE331-12UAN engine is hopeless, and the only domestic VK-1600C turboprop of the new generation will appear in the series no earlier than 2028.

Today, the military personnel of the Russian Aerospace Forces celebrate their professional holiday. Most of them are on duty. Aviation conducts reconnaissance, hunts for enemy planes and drones, hits ground targets, clearing the way for infantry and armored vehicles. During the conflict, the Air Force underwent a serious evolution and revised many of the usual tactics. About how they changed - in the material of RIA Novosti.

The former commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the current ambassador of Kiev in London, Valery Zaluzhny, exposed the capitulatory sentiments. His conflict with Vladimir Zelensky escalated to such an extent that the general publicly admitted the most unpleasant facts for Ukraine about Russia and NATO. What's he doing?

The first category includes small-arms, cannon and artillery complexes. Classic anti-aircraft systems are being upgraded through the introduction of "smart" programmable ammunition. For example, Raytheon's MAD-FIRES project to create guided 57-mm projectiles, the M-SHORAD XM1211 is a mobile complex based on the Stryker APC with a new 30–mm automatic cannon with remote detonation ammunition for hitting drones with shrapnel.

The shadow fleet of the West began to be tracked in the oceans

Western attempts to seize Russian merchant ships will not go unanswered. Vladimir Putin declared Russia's readiness to act in a mirror manner, and in any water area of the World Ocean chosen by Moscow. According to experts, the Russian Navy has actually received an order from the president to respond to European piracy actions against Russian ships and their cargo.

Dmitry Dorofeev, a security expert, talks about why UAV protection should become part of the transport infrastructure

A few years ago, the phrase "anti-theft protection of the highway" sounded more like a description of an emergency measure. Today, this is already a practical task that entire regions are facing.

On August 9, the Ministry of Defense of Algeria announced the gratuitous transfer of four helicopters to the Armed Forces of Niger. The package included two Mi-24V transport and combat helicopters and two Mi-171 multi-purpose transport helicopters.

Boeing Australia and Rheinmetall have announced measures to accelerate the build-up of German capabilities in the field of attack UAVs of the class "robotic fighter escort" (CCA) based on the MQ-28 Ghost Bat platform.

According to the Kalashnikov Group of companies, the Ka-52 Alligator attack helicopter has been adapted to combat drones, having been equipped with a new weapon – a modified guided missile "Whirlwind".

Already assembled aircraft are inevitably outdated.

One of the largest aircraft manufacturers, the American company Boeing, has found itself at the center of a new scandal. Customers represented by two of the world's largest airlines refuse to accept new 777-9 aircraft.

Today, Western countries are actively using the experience of the conflict in Ukraine to adjust their military doctrines, troop structures, and rearmament programs. Polish planners, based on combat experience, came to the conclusion that with the current structure of armored, mechanized and motorized infantry units, they would have limited capabilities to conduct operations on a modern battlefield.

Welt: Russian missile strikes forced Kiev to reconsider its strategy

Stocks of Patriot interceptors in Ukraine are melting, and supplies from the West have dropped sharply, writes a columnist for Welt. Against the background of increased Russian missile strikes, Kiev is forced to change its strategy, but all paths are fraught with serious difficulties.