The Aviationist

1. Chinese Missile Might Have Been Used to Shoot Down F-15E in Iran – U.S. Officials

   U.S. officials said to NBC News that a Chinese shoulder-fired MANPADS missile was possibly the weapon used to shoot down the U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle over Iran. U.S. officials are investigating the possibility that the F-15E Strike Eagle shot down over Iran could have been struck by a Chinese-made shoulder-fired Man-Portable Air Defense System (MANPADS), […]

2. New Photos Offer Clearest View Yet Of Temporary Repairs On Another KC-135 Damaged During Iran War

   The battle-damaged Alaskan ANG KC-135R departed RAF Mildenhall on its way home from Operation Epic Fury, showing the massive temporary repairs performed to make the aircraft airworthy for the return flight. On May 30, 2026, the KC-135R 63-8028, belonging to the 168th Wing of the Alaska Air National Guard, departed RAF Mildenhall, UK, for Bangor […]

3. MQ-9B SeaGuardian Shows Off Four Sonobuoy Pods for Anti-Submarine Warfare

   The MQ-9B, in the midst of the adaptation to the ASW role, was shown with four Sonobuoy Dispensing System pods, after being previously photographed with only two pods. An MQ-9B Sea Guardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) has been shown with four Sonobuoy Dispensing System (SDS) pods on May 27, 2026, amid the aircraft’s conversion for […]

4. Rare Russian Tu-142MR Submarine Communications Aircraft Reportedly Destroyed In Ukrainian Drone Strike

   An overnight attack on Russia’s Taganrog airfield reportedly destroyed two Tu-142s including a rare “MR” radio relay variant used to communicate with ballistic missile submarines. Ukraine launched coordinated drone strikes on Russian energy infrastructure and military installations across multiple regions overnight. Along with a tanker, fuel tank and administrative building in the port area, the […]

5. Multiyear Contracts Proposed for F-15EX and F-35 in Draft 2027 NDAA

   Lawmakers are introducing provisions to authorize multiyear contracts to buy the F-15EX Eagle II and the F-35 Lightning II, allowing cost savings and shorter delivery timelines. The draft 2027 National Defense Authorization (NDAA) released by the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) aims to enable the U.S. armed forces to award multi-year contracts for the F-15EX […]