Ryan Finnerty
Ryan Finnerty is the Americas defence reporter for FlightGlobal.com and Flight International magazine, covering military aviation and the defence industry. He is a former United States Army officer and previously reported for America’s National Public Radio system in New York and Hawaii covering energy, economics and military affairs.
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- In depth
With deliveries underway, US pilots begin transitioning to F-15EX
With Boeing having delivered the first operational example of its latest F-15EX multi-role fighter, US Air Force pilots who previously flew the F-15C are beginning the process of transitioning to the new jet.
- News
SpaceX wins contract to build vehicle for returning International Space Station to Earth
Orbital launch pioneer SpaceX is being contracted by the American space agency NASA to develop a so-called “US Deorbit Vehicle” that can safely return the International Space Station to Earth via controlled re-entry.
- News
Denmark to repatriate F-35s stationed in USA as delivery halt drags on
Denmark’s first six F-35A fighters had been stationed at the USA’s Luke AFB, where they were being used to train new pilots and maintenance crews from the Royal Danish Air Force.
- In depth
Boeing bets big on next-generation fighter manufacturing facility
The US airframer has begun construction of a $1.8 billion advanced combat aircraft assembly facility in St. Louis, at a time when support for sixth-generation fighter programmes appears to be waning at the Pentagon.
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New leadership at Sikorsky amid Lockheed leadership shuffle
The pioneer of rotorcraft manufacturing has a new chief, with parent company Lockheed Martin reshuffling several senior executives.
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B-52 modernisations delayed until 2033
Upgrades to the iconic US Air Force heavy bomber, which include new engines and an improved radar, are meant to keep the Vietnam-era jet flying into the 2050s.
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NATO defence spending surges ahead of Ukraine summit
A record 23 NATO member states are now spending at least the equivalent of 2% of gross domestic product on defence, as the alliance prepares to approve a new industrial strategy.
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Lockheed delivers 2,700th C-130
The handover of the milestone aircraft, a KC-130J refueller variant operated by the US Marine Corps, comes as airframer Lockheed Martin reports “robust demand” for the venerable tactical transport.
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First flight of Air Force One replacement delayed to 2026
The issue-plagued Boeing programme to deliver two new presidential jets to the US Air Force is absorbing fresh production delays that will push the type’s first flight into 2026.
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Pratt & Whitney picks Patria as partner on engines for Finnish F-35s
The state-owned Finnish defence firm will assemble Pratt & Whitney F135 turbofans at a new production facility near the city of Nokia, starting in 2025.
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Pentagon supports French vow to supply Ukraine with Mirage 2000 fighters
Although previous objections had been expressed to Sweden providing Gripen fighters, Washington is expressing support for a similar move by France to transfer some of its older Dassault jets.
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First F-16s expected to reach Ukraine this summer
At a meeting of top NATO defence officials in Brussels, the alliance reaffirmed its commitment to provide Ukraine with Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter jets, with the first examples arriving as early as this summer.
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Merlin Labs exploring aircrew reduction technologies for SOCOM
The Boston-based autonomy start-up secured a $105 million contract from US Special Operations Command to design, integrate and test new technologies aimed at reducing the number of crew needed on MC-130J flights.
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Osprey fleet will not return to unrestricted operations until mid-2025
In remarks to congressional lawmakers, the head of airworthiness authority for the Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey revealed that unaddressed safety issues will prevent the tiltrotor from returning to unrestricted flight status for at least another year.
- News
Norway secures approval for purchase of 300 AMRAAMs
The $1.94 billion order for the AIM-120C-8 version of Raytheon’s Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile will modernise Norway’s existing stock of older model munitions.
- News
Malawi’s vice-president, nine others confirmed dead in Dornier 228 crash
The deaths of all aboard the Malawian army turboprop were confirmed by the president of the southeast African country on 11 June, after the flight encountered bad weather and failed to report as scheduled.
- News
BAE to produce electronic countermeasure pods for US Navy P-8s
The $95 million contract will see the US Navy’s Boeing P-8 maritime patrol jets equipped with a BAE electronic warfare pod intended to expand the non-stealth aircraft’s operating range in contested environments.
- News
First operational Boeing F-15EX arrives with USAF for frontline service
The latest variant of the venerable fourth-generation air superiority fighter will begin operational service in the state of Oregon with the US Air National Guard, which is responsible for homeland defence and air-interdiction missions.
- News
China using private companies and ‘lucrative contracts’ to recruit Western military pilots
Intelligence agencies from the so-called “Five Eyes” alliance of the USA, Canada, the UK, Australia and New Zealand say China continues to recruit current and former Western military pilots to train its own forces, using privately-owned shell companies offering “lucrative contracts and the opportunity to fly exotic aircraft”.
- In depth
Ride along for an aerial tour of Normandy on the 80th anniversary of D-Day
FlightGlobal accompanied the US Air Force’s 86th Air Wing for a C-130J transport flight on 6 June 2024 as part of the ceremonies marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy, France.