Justin Bronk

U.S. Navy Awards BAE Systems APKWS Contract Worth Up To $1.7 Billion BAE Systems has received an initial order for 11,000 laser-guidance kits worth $322 million, with a maximum contract value of $1.7 billion, to equip the

U.S. Navy Awards BAE Systems APKWS Contract Worth Up To $1.7 Billion

BAE Systems has received an initial order for 11,000 laser-guidance kits worth $322 million, with a maximum contract value of $1.7 billion, to equip the U.S. military and partners.

Story: theaviationist.com/2025/12/11/u...

The nEUROn-derived UCAV + Rafale F5 standard is a sensible way for the Armee de l’Air to go in the mid-2030s from its current position. But the threat will continue to move too - that combination will have to face Russian IADS of the 2035 timeframe, not today’s sensors and weapon combinations… 🤷‍♂️

Well, Rafale is better optimised for carrying heavy mixed air to air, external fuel and air to surface loads over distance than Gripen. But downsides are twin engines, complex + more costly to maintain. And against Russian GBAD + fighters neither is really credible in a penetrating offensive role…

They’ll be purchased from the US. Although APKWS II itself is a BAE Systems product - I believe it’s made in the US.

Great to finally see APKWS II and Sniper pods on Ukrainian F-16s!

Offers a huge improvement in cost-per-engagement against Geran-2/3 and cruise missiles, greater ammunition availability and higher multiple engagement potential per sortie compared to AMRAAM and AIM-9 Sidewinder.

“Students are afraid to fail, and AI presents itself as a saviour. But what we learn from history is that progress requires failure. It requires reflection. Students are not just undermining their ability to learn, but to someday lead.” 🌻👇

I don’t agree on that… kamikazes were literally piloted missiles!

Remotely piloted, sure 🤷‍♂️

There is a big difference between heroic self-sacrifice by individual solders in the thick of combat to save comrades; and pre-planned suicide operations by barely trained pilots as an operational tactic.

Even the Nazis ultimately rejected the latter in the guise of the Fi 103R.

That would heavily depend on context - for example, whether the young man in question had be been heavily conditioned and pressured into seeing it as his sole duty, and refusal as a great strain on his honour, despite it being a transparently futile tactic in an obviously lost war?

How about just calling them small/loitering missiles or munitions? You don’t, I assume, call a cruise missile a ‘kamikaze missile’?

Amen. A drum I have been banging in futility for a decade too!

The use of the word ‘Kamikaze’ to describe what are essentially propeller powered missiles is also insensitive and inappropriate. Kamikaze pilots were brainwashed, usually very young human beings.

Polish PM says railway track blast was 'unprecedented act of sabotage' An explosion that damaged a Polish railway track on a route to Ukraine was an "unprecedented act of sabotage", Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Monday, and he vowed to catch those responsible for an incident he said could have ended in tragedy.

Polish PM Donald Tusk confirms sabotage on Warsaw-Lublin rail line: Explosion destroyed track near Mika village; more damage found closer to Lublin. Key route for Ukraine aid—possible Russian hybrid attack. No injuries, but investigations ongoing.

www.reuters.com/world/explos...

China’s GJ-21 Naval UCAV Captured in Clearest Image Yet Believed to be a naval variant of the GJ-11, the GJ-21 is expected to operate from the Type 006 Sichuan LHD after mockups of the drone were spotted on

China’s GJ-21 Naval UCAV Captured in Clearest Image Yet

Believed to be a naval variant of the GJ-11, the GJ-21 is expected to operate from the Type 006 Sichuan LHD after mockups of the drone were spotted on test-sites representing the ship.

Story: theaviationist.com/2025/11/01/c...

Second Prototype of China’s J-36 Uncovered with Notable Structural Changes Several images showing what appears to be the second prototype of the J-36 heavy fighter have started circulating online. Several images showing what

Second Prototype of China’s J-36 Uncovered with Notable Structural Changes

Several images showing what appears to be the second prototype of the J-36 heavy fighter have started circulating online.

Story: theaviationist.com/2025/10/28/s...

AI Is the Bubble to Burst Them All I talked to the scholars who literally wrote the book on tech bubbles—and applied their test.

There's been endless talk about an AI bubble, but less about exactly how, why, and how much it's a bubble. So I turned to the framework put forward by scholars Brent Goldfarb and David A. Kirsch, authors of "Bubbles and Crashes," for assessing tech bubbles.

Spoiler: On a scale of 1 to 8, AI is an 8

PM: Deliveries of #Gripen E to Ukraine could begin in just about 3 years time.

PM also said donation of C/D still a possibility, but again, now it's full focus on F-16 and Mirage.

President Zelenskyy in Sweden today: Ukraine plans to buy 100-150 JAS-39 Gripen E fighters. Certainly a positive sign for the post-war prospects of the Ukrainian Air Force. Great EW suite, modern AESA radar, Meteor missile compatible.

But, it doesn't help win the current war.

Indonesia to Become Next Customer for China’s J-10C Fighter Jet Indonesia is allocating a $9 billion budget for the J-10C, with officials saying the jets will arrive soon, although it is unclear if a contract has been

Indonesia to Become Next Customer for China’s J-10C Fighter Jet

Indonesia is allocating a $9 billion budget for the J-10C, with officials saying the jets will arrive soon, although it is unclear if a contract has been signed already.

Story: theaviationist.com/2025/10/17/i...

First Look Inside the Su-57 Felon’s Weapons Bay A photo appeared online provides for the first time a look inside the Su-57’s main weapon bays, which so far were only seen closed. We may have our first

First Look Inside the Su-57 Felon’s Weapons Bay

A photo appeared online provides for the first time a look inside the Su-57’s main weapon bays, which so far were only seen closed.

Story: theaviationist.com/2025/10/18/f...

I didn’t say they’re near irrelevant. I said they aren’t a replacement for traditional forms of firepower, only a complement. And that we shouldn’t bet on them instead of buying decent stocks of key munitions, and that we absolutely do need to be ready and able to shoot them down in large numbers.

You asked about the MQM-172. For the linked one in your new question - as I said: “Could also be used with ADM-160 etc as decoys/chaff to help get regular missiles through to air defence targets; as Russia does with Geran/Shahed to saturate GBAD and get more Kh-101 and Iskander rounds through.”

Sadly, the TBC timeline on this looks fairly long still; more of a traditional acquisition than a donation in any immediately relevant timescale for the ongoing fight. Those of you who responded saying so; you were right!

Agree that Meteor is certainly the big differentiator at this stage (and no word on whether it will be supplied or not)

Ministry of Defense announced the transfer of Swedish Gripen fighters to Ukraine | УНН УНН News of the World ✎ Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Ivan Havryliuk stated that Ukraine expects the supply of Swedish Gripen, French Mirage, and additional F-16s.

And there it is… Ukraine will receive JAS-39 Gripen! Better late than never, I guess. The fighter that was always by far the closest fit to the Ukrainian Air Force’s operational needs is at long last officially on its way (timeline TBC for obvious reasons).

unn.ua/en/amp/minis...

If I were Germany, I’d be looking to joint lead on UCAVs with Saab (alongside a Eurofighter EK with pods for true EA capabilities); interoperable with both GCAP and SCAF. If SCAF falls apart I honestly don’t see a credible path to what German industry wants: real co-development of a fighter… 🤷‍♂️

Well that’s a first (as far as I’m aware at least). A Ukrainian FPV successfully taking out a Russian Mi-8/17 helicopter. Looks opportunistic - FPV looking for targets on the road and reacts rapidly and with impressive pilot skill to seeing the helicopter rapidly approaching…

It could. But the costs are less of a concern than they were due to the plan to go to 3 then 3.5% of GDP. If we get even half way there by the early 2030s then the money is do-able. Issue is that IP and workshare are set so Germany joining would either be as as customer only, or blow 🇯🇵 timeframes.

Carefully choreographed footage and a clean deck, so still a significant gap with the USN in terms of deck ops proficiency of course, but the rate of improvement is rapid!

YouTube video by 西葛西造舰 003福建舰电磁弹射舰载机原声大片！J35第五代舰载机

Interesting footage of China’s new J-35 and upgraded J-15T fighters, plus KJ-600 AEW&C aircraft practicing arrested landings and catapult launches from the Type 003 aircraft carrier Fujian:

youtu.be/YlSwXhB_7EE?...

Poland says Russian drone incursions could not have been a mistake, contradicting Trump Poland flatly rejected a suggestion by President Donald Trump that drone incursions into its airspace could have been a mistake, describing them as "a deliberate Russian attack".

(Reuters) - Poland flatly rejected on Friday a suggestion by U.S. President Donald Trump that drone incursions into its airspace could have been a mistake, describing them as "a deliberate Russian attack".

@reuters.com
www.reuters.com/business/aer...