Korean Air’s Aerospace Division is using a robot-arm ultrasonic scanning system to inspect the wings of the M-UAV, South Korea’s medium-altitude unmanned aerial vehicle for reconnaissance, according to a South Korean defense news video report. The company says a wing inspection that took one inspector about 30 days by hand can now be done by one operator in about two days, which should raise aircraft availability for the Republic of Korea Air Force.
The U.S. Navy has confirmed that the prototype AN/ALQ-264 Beowulf, a new sensor for the Boeing EA-18G Growler, flew in 2025. The F/A-18 and EA-18G Program Office (PMA-265) disclosed the flight test on Sept. 1 while announcing that the Growler Block II Beowulf team had won a 2026 Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Commander’s Award for Technical Innovation.
A U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler assigned to the Electronic Attack Squadron 138 (VAQ-138) approaches a KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 909th Air Refueling Squadron to conduct aerial refueling over the Pacific Ocean, June 24, 2024. The EA-18G’s vast array of sensors and weapons provides the warfighter with a lethal and survivable weapon system to counter current and emerging threats. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Tylir Meyer) Continue reading “Growler’s ALQ-264 Beowulf flew in 2025, U.S. Navy says”
Australia’s air intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities took a significant step forward this week after three Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) platforms reached major milestones within the space of six months, the Department of Defence announced on Sept. 22. A Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon aircraft representing No. 11, No. 12, and No. 292 Squadrons (centre), an MQ-4C Triton from No. 9 Squadron (left), and an MC-55A Peregrine from No. 10 Squadron representing the Air “ISR Family” of jets in No. 92 Wing at RAAF Base Edinburgh, South Australia. This image has been digitally altered. *** Local Caption *** On Tuesday 22 September 2026, Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, the Honourable Richard Marles MP, accompanied by Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Stephen Chappell DSC, CSC, OAM, visited RAAF Base Edinburgh to announce a series of significant milestones for Australia’s Air Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (Air ISR) capabilities. The Acting Prime Minister announced the achievement of Initial Operational Capability (IOC) for the MQ-4C Triton and MC-55A Peregrine, the completion of major upgrades to the first two P-8A Poseidon aircraft in Australia’s fleet in the United States, and the forthcoming commencement of upgrades to the remaining fleet at the recently opened Deep Maintenance and Modification Facility at RAAF Base Edinburgh. These milestones represent a significant enhancement to the Royal Australian Air Force’s ability to deliver persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance effects across Australia’s primary area of military interest. RAAF Base Edinburgh is the Royal Australian Air Force’s principal Air ISR hub and home to No. 92 Wing, which operates the P-8A Poseidon, MQ-4C Triton and MC-55A Peregrine through Nos. 9, 10, 11, 12 and 292 Squadrons. Built through years of collaboration between Defence, industry and the United States, Australias integrated Air ISR fleet continues to grow. Continue reading “Australia completes Poseidon fleet, declares IOC for Triton and Peregrine”
The U.S. Air Force and Northrop Grumman have assembled an inert LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile in its operational, vertical orientation at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. The stacking concluded a four-month test campaign called Pathfinder and keeps the program on track for its first flight test in 2027, the Air Force and the company said Sept. 14.
The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) has brought a new runway into service at Changi East, with Runway 03/21 becoming operational from Sept. 17 1600UTC, (0000hrs, Sept. 18 local time), according to an AIP Supplement published by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS).
