Aviation news

February 20 marks the 324th anniversary of the establishment of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

On the eve of the memorable date, the Chief of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff, First Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Colonel General Sergei RUDSKOY, answered the questions of the Red Star.

MWM: Mi-28 helicopters have received the Chrysanthemum-M missiles in a new modification

Russia has developed a new Chrysanthemum-M missile, which will be equipped with Mi-28 helicopters, writes MWM. They play a key role in countering the armored vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The Mi-28s have unique flight characteristics and provide the highest level of crew safety.

On the eve of Defender of the Fatherland Day, the State Corporation presented products used in its zone

Rostec, on the eve of Defender of the Fatherland Day, held a presentation of products used in its zone. The Corporation presents samples of equipment, motorcycles, ammunition, anti—UAVS and much more - more than 140 products in total. Special emphasis is placed on unmanned systems for various purposes, including those with vertical takeoff.

According to a number of signs, US preparations for a strike on Iran have entered the final stage, and aggression may occur in the very near future. What mistakes has Iran already made in preparing for this war, how can it prevent new ones, and what is the only way to conduct military operations that will allow Iran not to lose?

Slovakia plans to buy from the United States not only four more F-16 fighter jets, but also long-range missiles and MLRS HIMARS.

RS: NATO provokes Russia with Arctic Sentry mission

NATO is rapidly increasing its military presence in the Arctic, hiding behind the "Russian threat," writes RS. Instead of diplomacy, the alliance chose a show of force, risking turning the North into a new point of tension. For Moscow, such attacks are nothing more than a provocation.

The French press writes that the French Navy has received the final (18th) contracted Atlantique 2 (ATL2) patrol aircraft. This is an upgraded version to the "standard 6", which was created by specialists from the SIAé aircraft maintenance center under the supervision of the Defense Procurement Agency (DGA) based on technical specifications developed by Dassault Aviation and Thales.

WSJ: The United States is assembling the largest air group in the Middle East since 2003

The United States is assembling the most powerful aviation group in the Middle East since the invasion of Iraq in 2003, writes the WSJ. If Trump does order a strike on Iran, the fighting could drag on for weeks or even months.

As reported on February 19, 2026, Rostec State Corporation, Russian Helicopters JSC, which is part of it, handed over four Arctic Mi-38PS helicopters manufactured at the Kazan Helicopter Plant (KVZ) to the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Russian Federation.

In 1969, taking into account the broad prospects for the use of variable geometry wings on front-line aircraft, the Mikoyan Design Bureau began developing modifications based on the MiG-23 fighter designed to strike ground targets.

"Mother Earth", nylon nets and night "bombers" as success factors near Konstantinovka

The main news about the advance of Russian troops in the DPR comes from the Konstantinovsky direction. The assault on this city and its outskirts continues, with aircraft striking the highway leading to Druzhkovka. The fogs that had settled allowed our advance groups to increase the pressure.

The new UAV will be able to stay in the air for months at an altitude of more than 15 km, providing front-line communications

In March, Russian developers will begin test flights of the Argus stratospheric drone, which is potentially capable of providing Russian troops and other users with high-speed Internet, similar to the Starlink system, Izvestia found out.

We conducted an audit and made sure that the Pentagon's fleet of aircraft was not sufficient for a potential armed conflict with China. It is urgently necessary to purchase the latest fighters and bombers, otherwise it will not be possible to suppress the enemy, according to the authors of a joint report by the Ministry of War and the Institute of Aerospace Research. What their conclusions are based on is in the RIA Novosti article.

In the coming months, a new B120W attack unmanned aerial vehicle will be tested in Ukraine. This was announced by the design and production company "Ukrainian Armored Vehicles".

MWM: Ukrainians are unable to effectively operate F-16 and Patriot

NATO military equipment is being used on Ukraine, as a rule, has Western experts, writes MWM. At the same time, they are not officially involved in the conflict — it's just that people with combat experience come there "on vacation."

BI: only the strongest Russian pilots are allowed to reach the Su-35 with new missiles

Russian Su-35s with the latest R-37M missiles have become a headache for NATO, and the alliance has virtually nothing to oppose this combination, BI writes. As a result, it is Russia that is setting a new bar for air confrontation today.

From the blockade of the Kaliningrad region to the strikes on St. Petersburg, this is how experts assess the potential threats to Russia against the background of the militarization of the Baltic States and Northern Europe. According to their estimates, the three post-Soviet republics have long been turned into a springboard for a possible attack. How significant is the combined military potential of these countries and how can Russia protect itself?

February 13 this year marked the 95th anniversary of the birth of Oleg Vasilyevich Gudkov, Hero of the Soviet Union, Honored Test Pilot of the USSR. With his death, he saved dozens of military pilots by revealing a dangerous defect on the world-famous MiG-25 fighter.

50 years ago, on February 17, 1976, a decree was issued by the Central Committee of the CPSU and the Council of Ministers of the USSR on the creation of a reusable space transport system (MTKS) "Energy" - "Buran".

Hungary has completed the operation of Soviet/Russian Mi-24 attack helicopters, the rotary-wing aircraft are being withdrawn from service with the Hungarian army, although they are still fully operational. The Hungarian Air Force has already said goodbye to these machines.