News

FlightGlobal • Greg Waldron

General Atomics YFQ-42A collaborative combat aircraft crashes after takeoff in California; test flights paused

A General Atomics YFQ-42A collaborative combat aircraft suffered a mishap shortly after takeoff from the company's desert airfield in California on April 6 at approximately 1 p.m. Pacific. The single‑engined prototype crashed; no injuries were reported, and GA‑ASI has paused flights while investigators assess the aircraft and investigate the cause.

2026-04-06T18:22:02.663235-07:00

The Aviationist

New footage gives clearest public view yet of classified RQ-180 in Greece, raising questions on basing and mission

2026-04-06T08:15:52.812854-07:00

The Air Current

F/A-XX Development Delayed as Navy, White House and Congress Clash Over Strategy and Industrial Base

2026-04-06T12:57:56.098923-07:00

Air Data News

U.S. special forces rescue second F-15E airman after shootdown over Iran; two C-130s destroyed

2026-04-04T23:27:00.676918-07:00

News Timeline

FlightGlobal

General Atomics YFQ-42A collaborative combat aircraft crashes after takeoff in California; test flights paused A General Atomics YFQ-42A collaborative combat aircraft suffered a mishap shortly after takeoff from the company's desert airfield in California on April 6 at approximately 1 p.m. Pacific. The single‑engined prototype crashed; no injuries were reported, and GA‑ASI has paused flights while investigators assess the aircraft and investigate the cause.

2026-04-06T18:22:02.663235-07:00

General Atomics YFQ-42A collaborative combat aircraft crashes after takeoff in California; test flights paused

The Air Current

F/A-XX Development Delayed as Navy, White House and Congress Clash Over Strategy and Industrial Base Development of the Navy's F/A-XX carrier fighter has slipped as Congress, the White House and Navy disagree over the jet's strategic value and the health of the domestic industrial base. The dispute is delaying program milestones and complicating acquisition decisions for future carrier air wings.

2026-04-06T12:57:56.098923-07:00

F/A-XX Development Delayed as Navy, White House and Congress Clash Over Strategy and Industrial Base

The Aviationist

New footage gives clearest public view yet of classified RQ-180 in Greece, raising questions on basing and mission New videos shot in Greece offer the clearest public images yet of the classified Northrop Grumman RQ-180 flying‑wing stealth reconnaissance drone, showing it landing at a Greek air base. The sightings renew questions about US clandestine ISR basing in Europe and the platform’s likely missions in the Middle East.

2026-04-06T08:15:52.812854-07:00

New footage gives clearest public view yet of classified RQ-180 in Greece, raising questions on basing and mission

AeroTime

France to ramp drone production 400% and boost guided-weapons output, POLITICO reports France plans to increase drone production by 400%, guided-bomb output by 240%, and Aster and MICA missile production by 30%, POLITICO reports. The measures aim to rapidly replenish munitions stocks and expand offensive and air‑defence capacity amid ongoing European security pressures.

2026-04-05T23:06:37.437930-07:00

France to ramp drone production 400% and boost guided-weapons output, POLITICO reports

FlightGlobal

RMAF conducts first test flight of TAI Anka‑S MALE UAV The Royal Malaysian Air Force flew its first Turkish Aerospace Industries Anka‑S medium‑altitude, long‑endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle on 3 April — a three‑hour maiden sortie from Labuan air base. Malaysia says the system will bolster long‑endurance intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance ahead of service entry.

2026-04-05T22:01:11.491000-07:00

RMAF conducts first test flight of TAI Anka‑S MALE UAV

FlightGlobal

Boeing revives AH-6i light-attack gunship, modernizing a 35‑year‑old Little Bird lineage Boeing has revived the AH-6i light-attack gunship, modernizing a 35‑year‑old concept derived from Hughes' Defender/OH‑6 Cayuse. The move targets a compact, lower-end gunship role beneath the AH‑1 class, echoing the Defender's historic export appeal to customers such as Iraq, Israel, South Korea and the Philippines.

2026-04-05T01:27:20.105891-07:00

Boeing revives AH-6i light-attack gunship, modernizing a 35‑year‑old Little Bird lineage

Air Data News

❗️

U.S. special forces rescue second F-15E airman after shootdown over Iran; two C-130s destroyed U.S. special operations forces conducted a deep-penetration rescue inside Iran to recover the second crewmember of an F-15E shot down on April 3. The rescued weapons systems officer was wounded but expected to recover; two C-130s were destroyed on the ground during the complex operation.

2026-04-04T23:27:00.676918-07:00

U.S. special forces rescue second F-15E airman after shootdown over Iran; two C-130s destroyed

FlightGlobal

USAF pulls KC-135 from boneyard for possible reactivation after tanker losses in Iran campaign The U.S. Air Force has transferred a retired KC-135 Stratotanker out of long-term storage, a move that signals possible reactivation after several tanker losses tied to the ongoing U.S.–Israeli air campaign against Iran. Open-source flight tracking shows the aircraft leaving the boneyard, suggesting expedited sustainment steps.

2026-04-03T12:15:34.553320-07:00

USAF pulls KC-135 from boneyard for possible reactivation after tanker losses in Iran campaign

Menu

Military Aircraft Procurement News

General Atomics YFQ-42A collaborative combat aircraft crashes after takeoff in California; test flights paused

New footage gives clearest public view yet of classified RQ-180 in Greece, raising questions on basing and mission

F/A-XX Development Delayed as Navy, White House and Congress Clash Over Strategy and Industrial Base

U.S. special forces rescue second F-15E airman after shootdown over Iran; two C-130s destroyed

News Timeline