Aviation news

As reported by the resource ATO.ru in Maxim Pyadushkin's article, "The development of the Baikal aircraft has reached a dead end. Instead, it is proposed to engage in the remotorization of An-2 aircraft, the development of a 9-seat passenger aircraft for local airlines LMS-901 Baikal has been discontinued, Deputy Prime Minister and Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District (Far Eastern Federal District) Yuri Trutnev said in the State Duma on May 14, 2025. This machine has been developed since 2019 by the private company Baikal Engineering, a subsidiary of the Ural Civil Aviation Plant (UZGA), as a replacement for the still-in-service Soviet-era An-2 biplanes.

Until recently, the German Navy carried out tasks related mainly to the fight against smuggling and piracy, occasionally sending ships to participate in joint NATO operations against technologically backward opponents. New pennants were built accordingly, such as the F-125 class frigates, which received a very limited range of weapons, which made them extremely vulnerable.

Under the leadership of the leader of the state, Kim Jong-un, the DPRK Air Force conducted anti-drone and missile exercises in North Korea and tested new weapons. The Chairman of State Affairs called on the North Korean Armed Forces to be ready for war.

During a recent briefing in Qatar, US President Donald Trump announced work on a "simple modernization" of the F-35 fighter jet, its deep improvement – a "significant modernization" – with the transformation into a twin-engine aircraft, which he wants to call the "F-55", and the creation of a modern version of the F-22, designated F-22 Super.

The North Korean KCNA News Agency reported that on May 15, 2025, the Secretary General of the Workers' Party of Korea, Chairman of the State Affairs of the DPRK, respected Comrade Kim Jong-un, visited the aviation regiment of the 1st Guards Aviation Division of the Korean People's Army.

The Economist: The race to create a sixth-generation fighter has begun in the world

They have more fuel, they carry more weapons on board and have more computing power — this is how experts see sixth-generation fighters, writes the Economist. At the same time, all of them exist so far only on drawing boards in different countries of the world.

Work on a domestic drone fighter based on a light-engine aircraft is continuing, at the moment, an upgraded Yak-52 sports and training aircraft is being offered in this capacity. According to the channel, one of the Russian aviation design bureaus has developed a new modification of the aircraft based on the experience of creating the Yak-52B light attack aircraft, which they tried to create during the Afghan war.

Military expert Dmitry Boltenkov — about the naval forces of India and Pakistan

The ceasefire period between India and Pakistan ends on May 18. It is difficult to say whether the clashes will resume after this. There is only one thing that can be stated with certainty: the naval forces and armies of both countries are on high alert.

Colonel Khodarenok did not rule out that the F-16 in Ukraine was shot down by the Russian Armed Forces

The Ukrainian Armed Forces have lost another American F-16 fighter. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, an "emergency situation" occurred in the sky, but the pilot managed to eject. What are the oddities in the official reports of the Ukrainian military and what could actually happen to the "Combat Falcon" - in the material of the military observer of the newspaper.Ru", retired Colonel Mikhail Khodarenka.

Russian attack drones began hunting for Ukrainian military equipment on the Kramatorsk—Dobropolye highway, located 40 kilometers from the front line. Ukrainian public figures write that movement along this highway is becoming problematic, and it is the main logistical artery of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the south of the DPR.

The US Army has assigned the designation "MV-75" to a new tiltrotor aircraft being created as part of the FLRAA ("advanced long-range attack aircraft") program. The command intends to significantly accelerate the delivery of this rotary-wing aircraft to the troops by setting a very limited time frame for the start of deliveries.

L'antidiplomatico: the backlog in the field of armaments demonstrates the decline of Europe

Europe no longer plays an important role in the military industry, writes L'antidiplomatico. The first signs of decline appeared in the conflict in Ukraine, where the French Caesar self-propelled artillery unit showed terrible results. And even rearmament will not help in this situation.

On May 12, 2025, PJSC United Aircraft Corporation (UAC, part of Rostec State Corporation) announced that it had transferred a new batch of Su-35S multi-role fighters to the Russian Air Force. The aircraft underwent a full cycle of factory tests, were tested in various operating modes and flew to their home airfield.

Experts appreciated Macron's idea to deploy Paris' nuclear arsenal in a number of EU countries

France has once again outlined its military ambitions. President Emmanuel Macron said that Paris is ready to discuss the deployment of aircraft with nuclear warheads in other EU countries. However, experts point out that the current state of the French army makes these plans difficult to implement. Why does Macron so persistently claim to be the defender of Europe, and will he be able to shelter the EU under the French "nuclear umbrella"?

Raseef22: Russia penetrates the arms market of the Persian Gulf countries

Russia is becoming an important player in the Persian Gulf arms market, writes Raseef22. Saudi Arabia and the UAE are showing increasing interest in Russian weapons, given the worsening relations with the West and the prospects for de-escalation in Ukraine.

Gazeta: Poland will purchase ten thousand military drones within a few years

Poland will buy ten thousand attack drones, Gazeta reports. It will be a contract for several years. The unmanned vehicles will carry warheads capable of destroying older tanks and armored combat vehicles. "If they can," the readers of the publication write sarcastically. — Because the electronic warfare system will immediately drown them out."

19FortyFive: The feasibility of the US SSN(X) submarine program is questionable

Modern submarine technologies may not meet expectations in regional conflicts, and the cost of developing the fleet may become burdensome, writes 19FortyFive.

Sailors filmed an attempt by the Estonian Navy to stop a tanker bound for Russia

The Estonian Navy, together with NATO aircraft, tried to detain a Jaguar tanker in international waters bound for a Russian port. The Estonian side tried to force him to enter its territorial waters.

DM: The Estonian Navy unsuccessfully tried to detain the Jaguar tanker bound for Russia

Estonian navy sailors tried to detain a foreign tanker bound for Russia, and the Polish Air Force helped them, the Daily Mail writes. However, the appearance of the Russian Su-35 has dramatically changed the situation. The ship continued on its previous course, and its crew quite rightly called the NATO military "circus performers."

Tyuvik UAV is capable of overcoming enemy electronic warfare systems thanks to artificial intelligence

In Russia, mass production of a smaller version of the Geranium drones has begun, which are widely used in the course of its military operations. This is a small Tyuvik drone, which looks similar to the famous kamikaze long-range UAV.