The Aviationist

The Aviationist

  1. Airbus MQ-72C Helicopter Drone Makes First Autonomous Test Flight with Hivemind AI

    Shield AI Airbus MQ-72C testAirbus partnered with Shield AI to integrate the latter’s Hivemind autonomous flight software for the U.S. Marine Corps’ Aerial Logistics Connector (ALC) program. Shield AI and Airbus U.S. Space and Defense announced on Aug. 19, 2025 the flight of the MQ-72C Lakota unmanned rotary-wing platform with the Hivemind autonomous flight software, in support of the […]

  2. SNC’s Freedom Trainer Enters U.S. Navy Competition to Replace T-45

    SNC Freedom trainerSierra Nevada Corporation unveils its clean-sheet Freedom Trainer for the Navy’s UJTS, emphasizing carrier training, cost efficiency, and digital design. Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) has formally entered the U.S. Navy’s Undergraduate Jet Training System (UJTS) competition with its newly unveiled Freedom Trainer, a clean-sheet, purpose-built aircraft designed to replace the aging Boeing T-45 Goshawk. Revealed […]

  3. New Zealand Selects MH-60R and A321XLR in Major Fleet Recapitalization

    RNZAF Orders MH-60R and A321XLRThe Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk is New Zealand’s preferred option to replace its ageing SH-2G(I) Seasprite helicopters, while Airbus A321XLRs will replace the RNZAF’s two Boeing 757s. A joint announcement by New Zealand’s Minister of Defence, Judith Collins, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Winston Peters, on Aug. 21, 2025 heralded the beginning of a NZ$2.7 billion […]

  4. Japanese Defense Minister Visits Turkey as Tokyo Looks to Expand Drone Fleet

    Japan looking at Turkish dronesJapan’s defense minister Gen Nakatani visited Turkey to enhance defense ties and, while there, also visited the facilities of Turkish Aerospace Industries, Istanbul Naval Shipyard and Baykar. Japan and Turkey have set the stage for future defense commercial ties as Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani met his Turkish counterpart and toured Turkish military industrial facilities […]

  5. China’s Compound Helicopter Emerges for the First Time

    China’s Compound HelicopterThe images, reportedly captured in April, show a compound helicopter with coaxial main rotors and pusher propeller, which bears similarity to Sikorsky’s X2 Technology. Few days after photos emerged of China’s first crewed tiltrotor aircraft, the first images of a Chinese compound helicopter were published online. Although these first emerged on X on Aug. 21, […]