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The Aviationist • Stefano D'Urso

U.S. Navy MQ-4C Triton Declares In-Flight Emergency, Drops Off Tracking Over Persian Gulf

An MQ-4C Triton on a routine maritime patrol over the Persian Gulf declared an in-flight emergency after its transponder reported a loss of communications, then rapidly descended from about 52,000 ft and vanished from public tracking. The incident involves a high‑altitude Navy ISR unmanned aircraft operating in sensitive regional airspace.

2026-04-09T05:07:28.650856-07:00

FlightGlobal

USAF awards $29.7M to Beehive to advance disposable Frenzy 8/6 turbojets for swarm-class drones

2026-04-09T14:01:12.762414-07:00

The War Zone

Inside the USAF’s ‘Ghost’ Tanker Unit — Aboard the KC-135R Testbed

2026-04-09T10:38:52.069307-07:00

Flying Magazine

Portugal selects Tecnam P‑Mentor for basic pilot training; orders seven trainers with simulators and support

2026-04-09T09:07:17.007579-07:00

News Timeline

FlightGlobal

USAF awards $29.7M to Beehive to advance disposable Frenzy 8/6 turbojets for swarm-class drones The U.S. Air Force has awarded Beehive Industries a $29.7 million contract to complete development and support flight testing of its low-cost, “disposable” Frenzy jet engine family—centering on the 200-lb-thrust Frenzy 8, plus prototype fabrication of the 100-lb-thrust Frenzy 6.

2026-04-09T14:01:12.762414-07:00

USAF awards $29.7M to Beehive to advance disposable Frenzy 8/6 turbojets for swarm-class drones

The War Zone

Inside the USAF’s ‘Ghost’ Tanker Unit — Aboard the KC-135R Testbed We flew aboard a unique KC-135R that serves as the centerpiece of the U.S. Air Force’s aerial-refuelling test force. The elite 'ghost' tanker unit conducts in-flight testing of refuelling hardware, procedures and tactics to validate capability and support operational interoperability.

2026-04-09T10:38:52.069307-07:00

Inside the USAF’s ‘Ghost’ Tanker Unit — Aboard the KC-135R Testbed

Flying Magazine

Portugal selects Tecnam P‑Mentor for basic pilot training; orders seven trainers with simulators and support Portugal's Air Force has chosen the Tecnam P‑Mentor to rebuild its basic pilot‑training capability, contracting seven P‑Mentor aircraft together with synthetic training systems and maintenance support under a World Aviation‑led deal awarded by the Ministry of Defence. Delivery and timeline details were not disclosed.

2026-04-09T09:07:17.007579-07:00

Portugal selects Tecnam P‑Mentor for basic pilot training; orders seven trainers with simulators and support

The Aviationist

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U.S. Navy MQ-4C Triton Declares In-Flight Emergency, Drops Off Tracking Over Persian Gulf An MQ-4C Triton on a routine maritime patrol over the Persian Gulf declared an in-flight emergency after its transponder reported a loss of communications, then rapidly descended from about 52,000 ft and vanished from public tracking. The incident involves a high‑altitude Navy ISR unmanned aircraft operating in sensitive regional airspace.

2026-04-09T05:07:28.650856-07:00

U.S. Navy MQ-4C Triton Declares In-Flight Emergency, Drops Off Tracking Over Persian Gulf

AeroTime

Knight Aerospace clears CDR for Royal Netherlands Air Force C-390 medevac kit, greenlights production Knight Aerospace has completed the Critical Design Review (CDR) for the Royal Netherlands Air Force’s C-390 aeromedical evacuation system, clearing the programme to move into production. The milestone validates the kit’s design and allows manufacturing and aircraft integration planning to begin.

2026-04-09T03:46:25.891133-07:00

Knight Aerospace clears CDR for Royal Netherlands Air Force C-390 medevac kit, greenlights production

FlightGlobal

South Korea rolls out first production MUAV — 'Korean Reaper' set for 2027 service entry South Korea has rolled out the first production-standard Medium-Altitude Reconnaissance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (MUAV) at Korean Air's Busan Tech Center. The long‑endurance, MQ-9–style system — fully autonomous from takeoff to landing — is due to enter ROK service in 2027 to bolster North Korea monitoring.

2026-04-08T21:11:41.458893-07:00

South Korea rolls out first production MUAV — 'Korean Reaper' set for 2027 service entry

Air Data News

Textron displays Beechcraft M‑346N simulator at Sea‑Air‑Space as part of U.S. Navy UJTS bid Textron Aviation Defense is exhibiting a Beechcraft M‑346N simulator at the Sea‑Air‑Space expo (April 20–22, National Harbor, MD) as part of its proposal for the U.S. Navy Graduate Jet Training System competition; the simulator incorporates features from Leonardo’s M‑346 family.

2026-04-08T13:58:28.701727-07:00

Textron displays Beechcraft M‑346N simulator at Sea‑Air‑Space as part of U.S. Navy UJTS bid

FlightGlobal

USAF adds probe-and-drogue refuelling to A-10 with new probe refuelling adapter The US Air Force has certified the A-10 Thunderbolt II for probe‑and‑drogue aerial refuelling after building a Probe Refuelling Adapter to meet an urgent combatant‑command requirement. The modification lets A‑10Cs take fuel from HC‑130/C‑130 drogue tankers, expanding interoperability while KC‑46 integration remains pending.

2026-04-08T12:11:08.061992-07:00

USAF adds probe-and-drogue refuelling to A-10 with new probe refuelling adapter

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Military Aircraft Procurement News

U.S. Navy MQ-4C Triton Declares In-Flight Emergency, Drops Off Tracking Over Persian Gulf

USAF awards $29.7M to Beehive to advance disposable Frenzy 8/6 turbojets for swarm-class drones

Inside the USAF’s ‘Ghost’ Tanker Unit — Aboard the KC-135R Testbed

Portugal selects Tecnam P‑Mentor for basic pilot training; orders seven trainers with simulators and support

News Timeline