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Air Data News • Ricardo Meier

US Marine Corps to retire legacy F/A-18 Hornets by 2030 as AV-8B Harrier II nears its final operational flights

The U.S. Marine Corps plans to decommission its legacy F/A-18 Hornet force by 2030, aligning the drawdown with a transition toward an all-F-35 posture. The service is also setting up for the AV-8B Harrier II’s final operational flight, underscoring the accelerating retirement timeline for legacy aviation platforms.

2026-05-26T01:00:46.538947-07:00

FlightGlobal

South Korea’s KAI Marine Attack Helicopter enters final development after completing weapons testing

2026-05-25T20:48:32.609583-07:00

The War Zone

USAF turbocharges ULTRA persistent-surveillance glider drones for Middle East deployment as MQ-9 losses mount

2026-05-25T10:43:56.940590-07:00

Air Data News

USAF pulls KC-135 Stratotanker from Davis-Monthan boneyard to replace crash-loss aircraft

2026-05-25T11:42:34.140453-07:00

News Timeline

Air Data News

US Marine Corps to retire legacy F/A-18 Hornets by 2030 as AV-8B Harrier II nears its final operational flights The U.S. Marine Corps plans to decommission its legacy F/A-18 Hornet force by 2030, aligning the drawdown with a transition toward an all-F-35 posture. The service is also setting up for the AV-8B Harrier II’s final operational flight, underscoring the accelerating retirement timeline for legacy aviation platforms.

2026-05-26T01:00:46.538947-07:00

US Marine Corps to retire legacy F/A-18 Hornets by 2030 as AV-8B Harrier II nears its final operational flights

FlightGlobal

South Korea’s KAI Marine Attack Helicopter enters final development after completing weapons testing South Korea’s arms procurement agency says Korea Aerospace Industries’ Marine Attack Helicopter has reached the final stage of development following completion of all weapons tests, including live-fire air-to-air missile trials. The programme follows an extensive test campaign as it moves toward readiness for marine force employment.

2026-05-25T20:48:32.609583-07:00

South Korea’s KAI Marine Attack Helicopter enters final development after completing weapons testing

Air Data News

USAF pulls KC-135 Stratotanker from Davis-Monthan boneyard to replace crash-loss aircraft The U.S. Air Force is removing a KC-135 Stratotanker from long-term storage at the Davis-Monthan aircraft boneyard to restore fleet readiness after a tanker was destroyed in an earlier crash, military officials confirmed. The move underscores the need for rapid tanker regeneration to maintain aerial-refueling capacity.

2026-05-25T11:42:34.140453-07:00

USAF pulls KC-135 Stratotanker from Davis-Monthan boneyard to replace crash-loss aircraft

The War Zone

USAF turbocharges ULTRA persistent-surveillance glider drones for Middle East deployment as MQ-9 losses mount The USAF is sending its turbocharged ULTRA surveillance glider-like unmanned aircraft to the Middle East, citing strong demand for persistent surveillance capabilities amid MQ-9 losses in combat against Iran. The deployment underscores continued reliance on long-endurance ISR when attrition pressures fixed UAS fleets.

2026-05-25T10:43:56.940590-07:00

USAF turbocharges ULTRA persistent-surveillance glider drones for Middle East deployment as MQ-9 losses mount

FlightGlobal

Poland receives first Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II jets (Huszars) under growing European fifth‑generation airpower footpri Poland has received its first three Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fighters this Friday, 22 May 2026. The aircraft, designated F-35PL “Huszars,” mark Poland’s first F-35 acquisitions outside the United States and a step-up in Europe’s fifth-generation fighter posture.

2026-05-25T01:12:20.923306-07:00

Poland receives first Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II jets (Huszars) under growing European fifth‑generation airpower footpri

FlightGlobal

Poland takes first delivery of 3 F-35A Husarz jets at Łask’s 32nd Tactical Air Base Poland has received its first three Lockheed Martin F-35A Husarz fighters—serials 3509 AZ-09, 3510 AZ-10 and 3511 AZ-11—arriving at 32.BLT Łask on 22 May following a delivery flight from Fort Worth. The milestone marks the country’s entry into fifth-generation combat aircraft service.

2026-05-25T01:12:20.923306-07:00

Poland takes first delivery of 3 F-35A Husarz jets at Łask’s 32nd Tactical Air Base

ch-aviation

Russia’s UZGA shifts 44-seat aircraft development to military use Russian airframer UZGA is moving development of a planned 44-seat aircraft platform toward military requirements. The shift signals a reorientation of program resources away from a commercial-minded configuration and toward defense-driven specification and end-use.

2026-05-24T23:42:58.871510-07:00

Russia’s UZGA shifts 44-seat aircraft development to military use

Air Data News

Embraer C-390 Millennium: ROKAF’s first aircraft pauses in Recife ahead of South Korea delivery An Embraer-built C-390 Millennium bound for the Republic of Korea Air Force made a scheduled stop at Recife-Guararapes International Airport on May 22, according to flight tracking and spotter reports. The aircraft is the first in the ROKAF’s C-390 delivery sequence, moving toward acceptance in South Korea.

2026-05-23T08:16:09.398497-07:00

Embraer C-390 Millennium: ROKAF’s first aircraft pauses in Recife ahead of South Korea delivery

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Military Aircraft Procurement News

US Marine Corps to retire legacy F/A-18 Hornets by 2030 as AV-8B Harrier II nears its final operational flights

South Korea’s KAI Marine Attack Helicopter enters final development after completing weapons testing

USAF turbocharges ULTRA persistent-surveillance glider drones for Middle East deployment as MQ-9 losses mount

USAF pulls KC-135 Stratotanker from Davis-Monthan boneyard to replace crash-loss aircraft

News Timeline