Naval Aviation

Latest in Naval Aviation

Leonardo's AW609 tiltrotor has completed a series of shipboard trials aboard the Italian carrier ITS Cavour, a major milestone in the aircraft's development.

AW609 Tiltrotor Has Flown From Italy’s Aircraft Carrier Cavour AW609 Tiltrotor Has Flown From Italy’s Aircraft Carrier Cavour

By Joseph Trevithick

Jun 26 1:29 PM EDT

A pair of apparent mockups of the Chinese GJ-11 Sharp Sword uncrewed combat air vehicle (UCAV) have emerged at a site just over a mile from where the country is building the first of its new monster Type 076 amphibious assault ships.

Mockups Of China’s Sharp Sword Stealth Drone Appear Near New Supersized Amphibious Warship Mockups Of China’s Sharp Sword Stealth Drone Appear Near New Supersized Amphibious Warship

By Joseph Trevithick

Jun 14 4:52 PM EDT

CH-53K King Stallion arrives in Yuma to join VMX-1.

CH-53K King Stallion Has Arrived At MCAS Yuma To Join VMX-1 Testers CH-53K King Stallion Has Arrived At MCAS Yuma To Join VMX-1 Testers

By James Deboer

Jun 7 6:19 PM EDT

A USN EA-18G took out an Mi-24 with an AARGM.

EA-18G Growler Killed A Houthi Mi-24 Hind With An AGM-88E Anti-Radiation Missile EA-18G Growler Killed A Houthi Mi-24 Hind With An AGM-88E Anti-Radiation Missile

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Jun 6 3:53 PM EDT

The US Navy's P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol planes are one step closer to getting new self-protection pods with towed decoys and other electronic warfare capabilities.

Towed Decoy Pods Will Protect P-8 Poseidons From Radar-Guided Threats Towed Decoy Pods Will Protect P-8 Poseidons From Radar-Guided Threats

By Joseph Trevithick

Jun 5 8:41 PM EDT

Photos have emerged showing a U.S. Navy F/A-18E/F Super Hornet carrying what appears to be an air-launched version of the RIM-174 SM-6 missile, a weapon that can counter aerial threats at long ranges, as well as ground and surface targets.

Super Hornet Armed With SM-6 Missile Spotted Over California Super Hornet Armed With SM-6 Missile Spotted Over California

By Thomas Newdick

Jun 4 2:08 PM EDT

A Navy Growler electronic attack jet now sports a Hind helicopter "kill mark"

Navy EA-18G Growler Sports Puzzling Mi-24 Hind Kill Mark Overseas Navy EA-18G Growler Sports Puzzling Mi-24 Hind Kill Mark Overseas

By Howard Altman, Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway

May 15 9:24 PM EDT

Congress says the Navy's CMV-22B Ospreys can only fly 30 minutes from a divert airfield, limiting their ability to provide carrier onboard delivery services.

Navy CMV-22B Ospreys Only Allowed To Fly 30 Minutes From A Divert Airfield: Congress Navy CMV-22B Ospreys Only Allowed To Fly 30 Minutes From A Divert Airfield: Congress

By Howard Altman

May 14 3:19 PM EDT

The history and legacy of the Navy's F-16N

Live Fast, Die Young: The Story Of The Navy’s F-16N Live Fast, Die Young: The Story Of The Navy’s F-16N

By Tyler Rogoway

May 14 11:57 AM EDT

Super hornets now carrying nine air-to-air missiles

Super Hornets Now Flying With Nine Air-To-Air Missiles To Counter Houthi Drones Super Hornets Now Flying With Nine Air-To-Air Missiles To Counter Houthi Drones

By Thomas Newdick

May 7 7:56 PM EDT

161013-N-OI810-093 WATERS SURROUNDING THE KOREAN PENINSULA (Oct. 13, 2016) Petty Officer 1st Class (AW/SW) John Diwa, from Dededo, Guam, installs inboard and outboard bearings on a main tire mount of an F/A-18F Super Hornet, assigned to the "Diamondbacks" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 102, in the hangar bay of the Navy's only forward-deployed aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), during Exercise Invincible Spirit. Invincible Spirit is a bilateral exercise conducted with the Republic of Korea Navy in the waters near the Korean Peninsula, consisting of routine carrier strike group (CSG) operations in support of maritime counter-special operating forces and integrated maritime operations. USS Ronald Reagan is on patrol with CSG 5 supporting security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class (SW/AW) Nathan Burke/Released)

Navy Pays $100K To Replace Each F/A-18 Tire, 3D Printed Repairs Cuts Cost To $300 Navy Pays $100K To Replace Each F/A-18 Tire, 3D Printed Repairs Cuts Cost To $300

By Eric Tegler

May 7 4:06 PM EDT

The Marine Corps is now flight testing a new secretive stand-off missile for its AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters.

Secretive Long Range Attack Missile For Marine AH-1s Is Now Being Flight Tested Secretive Long Range Attack Missile For Marine AH-1s Is Now Being Flight Tested

By Joseph Trevithick

May 2 8:58 PM EDT

The future of the Harvest Hawk armament kits for Marine Corps KC-130J tanker/transport aircraft are increasingly uncertain as focus shifts to planning for future high-end conflicts.

Marine KC-130Js May Lose Their Missile-Firing Harvest Hawk Kits Marine KC-130Js May Lose Their Missile-Firing Harvest Hawk Kits

By Joseph Trevithick

May 1 7:50 PM EDT

How The Marines Plan To Fly The MV-22 Osprey Into The 2060s How The Marines Plan To Fly The MV-22 Osprey Into The 2060s

By Thomas Newdick

Apr 30 7:27 PM EDT

The Kaman Corporation has announced the first flight of its KARGO UAV, a rotary-wing drone intended for autonomous, expeditionary resupply. The design is aimed for the U.S. Marine Corps, for which Kaman previously developed the K-MAX unmanned helicopter. The KARGO UAV is now competing in the Marines’ Medium Autonomous Resupply Vehicle — Expeditionary Logistics (MARV-EL) program, with a winner due to be selected this summer.

Kaman’s Kargo Logistics Drone For The Marines Now In Flight Test Kaman’s Kargo Logistics Drone For The Marines Now In Flight Test

By Thomas Newdick

Apr 30 2:27 PM EDT

China’s latest aircraft carrier, the Fujian, appears poised to leave port to begin its first at-sea trials. The development comes soon after five aircraft mockups appeared on the deck of the flattop, as you can read about here. Once the Fujian goes to sea, it will mark a hugely important step in the development of China’s naval aviation, with the carrier being the first of its kind to be fully locally designed and also its first to launch aircraft via catapults rather than by a ‘ski jump’ takeoff ramp.

China’s New Aircraft Carrier Pulls Away From Its Pier Ahead Of Sea Trials China’s New Aircraft Carrier Pulls Away From Its Pier Ahead Of Sea Trials

By Thomas Newdick

Apr 29 12:44 PM EDT