The Aviationist

The Aviationist

  1. BAE Systems and Turkish Aerospace Announce Partnership to Develop Unmanned Aerial Systems

    TAI BAE PartnershipThe Memorandum of Understanding envisages both companies combining their complementary capabilities in development of unmanned systems and exploring new market opportunities. Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI or TUSAŞ – Türk Havacılık ve Uzay Sanayi A.Ş.) and U.K. arms major BAE Systems signed on Nov. 6, 2025 an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) to jointly develop unmanned aerial […]

  2. China Commissions the Fujian, Bringing CATOBAR Capability to PLAN Fleet

    China Commissions the FujianChina commissioned its third aircraft carrier, the Type 003 Fujian (CV-18), during a ceremony on Nov. 5, 2025, marking a major milestone in the PLAN’s carrier aviation development. China officially announced the commissioning of the Type 003 Fujian aircraft carrier on Nov. 7, 2025. The event, which took place on Nov. 5, was attended by […]

  3. Shield AI Chooses F110-GE-129 Turbofan Engine for X-BAT VTOL Unmanned Fighter

    X-BAT F110-GE-129The F110-GE-129 afterburning turbofan will be equipped with the Axisymmetric Vectoring Exhaust Nozzle to provide thrust vectoring during VTOL operations and flight. Shield AI announced on Nov. 5, 2025 it has selected GE Aerospace’s F110-GE-129 engine as the powerplant for its X-BAT AI (Artificial  Intelligence)-powered VTOL (Vertical Take-Off Landing) fighter. Additionally, Shield AI says the […]

  4. Protector RG1s Have Flown First Confirmed Missions Over Middle East

    RAF Protector RG1 First MissionsAfter initial sorties over the sea south of RAF Akrotiri, flight tracking data now confirms that the RAF’s MQ-9B Protector RG1s have begun missions over the Middle East, presumably on Operation Shader. PR010, an MQ-9B Protector RG1, was tracked departing RAF Akrotiri and flying over Israel and Jordan towards the usual Operation Shader operating areas […]

  5. HMS Prince of Wales Hosts 24 UK F-35Bs for First Time

    HMS Prince of Wales F-35BAdditional F-35Bs have joined the carrier as it sails through the Mediterranean on the tail end of the CSG 25 deployment, satisfying a major requirement for the declaration of full operating capability. HMS Prince of Wales is now sailing with the largest air wing hosted on a British carrier in decades, exceeding even the U.S. […]