Aircraft

News, explainers, and analysis about military aircraft.

Latest in Aircraft

Tech & Tactics

How a teenager with a Cessna managed to defeat the Soviet Union’s entire air defense system How a teenager with a Cessna managed to defeat the Soviet Union’s entire air defense system

By

/ Aug 5 2020

News

B-2 strike in Libya B-2 strike in Libya

By Task & Purpose

/ Aug 4 2020

News

This star-spangled Navy helicopter looks like it was plucked straight out of ‘Team America’ This star-spangled Navy helicopter looks like it was plucked straight out of ‘Team America’

/ Aug 3 2020

News

The Navy’s first Black female fighter pilot has officially earned her Wings of Gold The Navy’s first Black female fighter pilot has officially earned her Wings of Gold

By Haley Britzky

/ Aug 3 2020

News

Russian jet fighter buzzes two US spy planes over Black Sea Russian jet fighter buzzes two US spy planes over Black Sea

By

/ Jul 31 2020

News

Taliban fighters are reportedly using anti-tank missiles to down Afghan helicopters Taliban fighters are reportedly using anti-tank missiles to down Afghan helicopters

By Jared Keller

/ Jul 30 2020

Tech & Tactics

Lightning Strikes East China Sea Lightning Strikes East China Sea

By Task & Purpose

/ Jul 29 2020

News

Meet the Navy’s first Black female tactical jet pilot Meet the Navy’s first Black female tactical jet pilot

By Task & Purpose

/ Jul 29 2020

News

Skyborg Skyborg

By Task & Purpose

/ Jul 28 2020

Tech & Tactics

The US wants to make it easier to export armed drones to allies The US wants to make it easier to export armed drones to allies

By

/ Jul 25 2020

Culture

‘Top Gun: Maverick’ release date delayed again due to COVID-19 ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ release date delayed again due to COVID-19

/ Jul 24 2020

News

A US fighter jet buzzed an Iranian passenger plane over Syrian airspace A US fighter jet buzzed an Iranian passenger plane over Syrian airspace

By

/ Jul 24 2020

News

The A-10 Thunderbolt II in action The A-10 Thunderbolt II in action

By Task & Purpose

/ Jul 23 2020

News

B-2 returns from Libya operation B-2 returns from Libya operation

By Task & Purpose

/ Jul 15 2020

Culture

F-22 Photo Animation Loop F-22 Photo Animation Loop

By Task & Purpose

/ Jul 15 2020

News

F-16 crashes at Holloman Air Force Base as the surge in Air Force mishaps continues F-16 crashes at Holloman Air Force Base as the surge in Air Force mishaps continues

By Jeff Schogol

/ Jul 14 2020

News

Here’s your first look at the Air Force’s first F-15 in more than 15 years Here’s your first look at the Air Force’s first F-15 in more than 15 years

By Jared Keller

/ Jul 14 2020

Tech & Tactics

State Department signs off on $23 billion sale of F-35s to Japan State Department signs off on $23 billion sale of F-35s to Japan

By

/ Jul 9 2020

Culture

Sorry, Mav: There’s actually no such thing as a ‘TOPGUN trophy’ Sorry, Mav: There’s actually no such thing as a ‘TOPGUN trophy’

By

/ Jul 2 2020

News

F-16 pilot killed in crash remembered as a man who ‘loved a lot of things’ — his family, his country, flying F-16 pilot killed in crash remembered as a man who ‘loved a lot of things’ — his family, his country, flying

/ Jul 2 2020

News

F-16CM pilot killed in latest Air Force crash F-16CM pilot killed in latest Air Force crash

By Jeff Schogol

/ Jul 1 2020

News

The Army is adopting a ‘guaranteed hit’ smart fire control system to knock drones out of the sky The Army is adopting a ‘guaranteed hit’ smart fire control system to knock drones out of the sky

By Jared Keller

/ Jun 29 2020

News

US fighter jets intercept Russian aircraft in fifth Alaskan incursion this month US fighter jets intercept Russian aircraft in fifth Alaskan incursion this month

By Jared Keller

/ Jun 25 2020

News

The Navy’s new Osprey is officially here to drop you off at sea The Navy’s new Osprey is officially here to drop you off at sea

By Jared Keller

/ Jun 24 2020

Tech & Tactics

Are UFOs flown by aliens or Russian and Chinese pilots? Lawmakers wants to know Are UFOs flown by aliens or Russian and Chinese pilots? Lawmakers wants to know

By Jeff Schogol

/ Jun 24 2020

Tech & Tactics

The Pentagon spent $300 million on defective and missing F-35 parts over the last five years, and lawmakers are furious The Pentagon spent $300 million on defective and missing F-35 parts over the last five years, and lawmakers are furious

By

/ Jun 23 2020

News

Watch an F-15 take out an ISIS ‘summer camp’ in rural Iraq Watch an F-15 take out an ISIS ‘summer camp’ in rural Iraq

By Jared Keller

/ Jun 22 2020

News

The Air Force has averaged one aircraft mishap every week since the beginning of May The Air Force has averaged one aircraft mishap every week since the beginning of May

By Jared Keller

/ Jun 19 2020

News

Russian aircraft seen flying in Libya, raising fears of possible civilian casualties Russian aircraft seen flying in Libya, raising fears of possible civilian casualties

By Jeff Schogol

/ Jun 18 2020

News

USS Theodore Roosevelt aviators eject safely at sea USS Theodore Roosevelt aviators eject safely at sea

/ Jun 18 2020

News

US fighter jets intercept 2 Russian bomber formations in eighth Alaskan incursion this year US fighter jets intercept 2 Russian bomber formations in eighth Alaskan incursion this year

By Jared Keller

/ Jun 17 2020

Tech & Tactics

F-15C pilot killed in North Sea crash identified F-15C pilot killed in North Sea crash identified

By Jeff Schogol

/ Jun 16 2020

Tech & Tactics

Missing F-15 pilot has been found dead Missing F-15 pilot has been found dead

By Task & Purpose

/ Jun 15 2020

Tech & Tactics

F-15C pilot from RAF Lakenheath killed in crash F-15C pilot from RAF Lakenheath killed in crash

By Jeff Schogol

/ Jun 15 2020

News

The Air Force’s Viper demonstration team definitely goes hard in the paint The Air Force’s Viper demonstration team definitely goes hard in the paint

/ Jun 12 2020

Tech & Tactics

CENTCOM chief: US troops can’t keep up with the flood of cheap drones downrange CENTCOM chief: US troops can’t keep up with the flood of cheap drones downrange

By Jared Keller

/ Jun 12 2020

Tech & Tactics

Trump hopes to sidestep an arms pact to sell more drones to sketchy countries Trump hopes to sidestep an arms pact to sell more drones to sketchy countries

By

/ Jun 12 2020

Tech & Tactics

A pilot with the callsign ‘Banzai’ is the first woman to fly the F-35 in combat A pilot with the callsign ‘Banzai’ is the first woman to fly the F-35 in combat

By Paul Szoldra

/ Jun 11 2020

News

US fighter jets intercept 2 Russian bomber formations near Alaska US fighter jets intercept 2 Russian bomber formations near Alaska

By Jared Keller

/ Jun 10 2020

News

F-35 landing gear collapses on landing at Hill Air Force Base F-35 landing gear collapses on landing at Hill Air Force Base

By Jared Keller

/ Jun 8 2020

News

National Guard investigating whether low-flying helicopter was used to intimidate protesters National Guard investigating whether low-flying helicopter was used to intimidate protesters

By Jeff Schogol

/ Jun 3 2020

News

AFRICOM says Russia flew 14 MiG 29s and Su-24s to Libya AFRICOM says Russia flew 14 MiG 29s and Su-24s to Libya

By

/ May 27 2020

News

AFRICOM says Russia has deployed more fighter jets to Libya AFRICOM says Russia has deployed more fighter jets to Libya

By

/ May 26 2020

News

Watch the Navy fry a drone with a new shipboard laser weapon for the first time Watch the Navy fry a drone with a new shipboard laser weapon for the first time

By Jared Keller

/ May 22 2020

News

The creator of the ‘X-Files’ weighs in on the Pentagon’s latest UFO disclosures The creator of the ‘X-Files’ weighs in on the Pentagon’s latest UFO disclosures

By Jeff Schogol

/ May 18 2020

Tech & Tactics

AFSOC to finally mount a laser weapon on an AC-130 gunship AFSOC to finally mount a laser weapon on an AC-130 gunship

By Jared Keller

/ May 18 2020

News

Watch the Air Force Thunderbirds quickly recover from a high-speed hiccup over Los Angeles Watch the Air Force Thunderbirds quickly recover from a high-speed hiccup over Los Angeles

/ May 17 2020

News

U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Breakaway U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Breakaway

By Task & Purpose

/ May 17 2020

News

Pendleton Marines launch drone to track wildlife Pendleton Marines launch drone to track wildlife

By Task & Purpose

/ May 17 2020

News

Does anybody care about UFOs anymore? Does anybody care about UFOs anymore?

By Jeff Schogol

/ May 16 2020

News

F-22 Raptor crashes in Florida F-22 Raptor crashes in Florida

By Jeff Schogol

/ May 15 2020

Tech & Tactics

A drone appears to have gotten dangerously close to the Blue Angels during a flyover in Detroit A drone appears to have gotten dangerously close to the Blue Angels during a flyover in Detroit

By

/ May 14 2020

News

MQ-9 Reaper operations at Holloman Air Force Base MQ-9 Reaper operations at Holloman Air Force Base

By Task & Purpose

/ May 8 2020

Tech & Tactics

Mother’s Day message from Trump: I’ll be in meetings but F-35 is ‘best in the world’ Mother’s Day message from Trump: I’ll be in meetings but F-35 is ‘best in the world’

By Paul Szoldra

/ May 8 2020

Tech & Tactics

Armed F-15C skids off runway during emergency landing at Joint Base Andrews Armed F-15C skids off runway during emergency landing at Joint Base Andrews

By

/ May 5 2020

Tech & Tactics

The F-35 still can’t go supersonic without compromising its critical stealth tech, and the Pentagon is OK with that The F-35 still can’t go supersonic without compromising its critical stealth tech, and the Pentagon is OK with that

By Jared Keller

/ Apr 28 2020

News

Pentagon confirms videos of UFOs are real but says there’s nothing to see here Pentagon confirms videos of UFOs are real but says there’s nothing to see here

By Jeff Schogol

/ Apr 27 2020

News

Pentagon releases Navy videos showing “unidentified aerial phenomena,” formerly known as UFOs Pentagon releases Navy videos showing “unidentified aerial phenomena,” formerly known as UFOs

By Task & Purpose

/ Apr 27 2020

News

Thunderbirds, Blue Angels flyovers to begin next week and continue into May Thunderbirds, Blue Angels flyovers to begin next week and continue into May

/ Apr 24 2020

News

The military’s Blue Angels and Thunderbirds flyovers aren’t what America needs right now The military’s Blue Angels and Thunderbirds flyovers aren’t what America needs right now

By Jared Keller

/ Apr 23 2020

News

Blue Angels and Thunderbirds to fly over multiple cities to support health care workers battling COVID-19, Trump says Blue Angels and Thunderbirds to fly over multiple cities to support health care workers battling COVID-19, Trump says

/ Apr 23 2020

Culture

Val Kilmer says he ‘didn’t want the part’ in ‘Top Gun’ Val Kilmer says he ‘didn’t want the part’ in ‘Top Gun’

By

/ Apr 23 2020

News

Watch a Russian SU-35 buzz a Navy aircraft for the second time in just 4 days Watch a Russian SU-35 buzz a Navy aircraft for the second time in just 4 days

/ Apr 20 2020

News

F-15s launch airstrikes against ISIS in Iraq F-15s launch airstrikes against ISIS in Iraq

By Task & Purpose

/ Apr 17 2020