The Aviationist
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U.S. Navy Tests Turbojet-Powered JDAM Long Range
The U.S. Navy has demonstrated the new JDAM Long Range variant which, powered by a small turbojet engine, traveled approximately 200 nautical miles during two test events. The U.S. Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) and Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) announced the recent demonstration of the Joint Direct Attack Munition’s (JDAM) latest variant, […] -
U.S. Seizes Iranian-Flagged Cargo Ship Violating Blockade
The U.S. has seized the Iranian-flagged cargo ship M/V Touska which was violating the naval blockade, with the USS Spruance opening fire with its 5-inch MK45 gun and Marines boarding the vessel. The U.S. military has seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship, the M/V Touska, which was attempting to sail towards an Iranian port on Apr. […] -
SNC’s ATHENA-S ISR Jets Are Now Operational with the U.S. Army
Sierra Nevada Corporation announced that two Contractor-Owned Contractor-Operated ATHENA-S jets finished testing and are now operational in support of the U.S. Army’s Aerial-ISR mission. Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) has announced on Apr. 15, 2026, that both contractor and government testing of the Army Theater level High Altitude Expeditionary Next Airborne ISR-Signals Intelligence (ATHENA-S) jets has […] -
Rusty Dagger Extended Range Attack Munition Tested from F-16 at Eglin Test Range
The U.S. Air Force announced a test of the Family of Affordable Mass Munitions-Lugged, with photos showing the weapon was a Rusty Dagger low-cost cruise missile. The U.S. Air Force announced that it completed in March 2026 a series of integration trials of one of the Extended Range Attack Munition (ERAM) weapons, the Rusty Dagger […] -
CENTCOM Releases Images of Apaches Over Strait of Hormuz as Iran Reimposes Restrictions
U.S. CENTCOM released some interesting photos of the AH-64 gunships patrolling the Strait just as Iran moved to restrict traffic through the narrow waterway once again. Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) gunboats reportedly fired on a tanker transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, according to an advisory released by the UK Maritime Trade Operations […]