Alert 5

NASA unveils X-70 Fractal, a crewed testbed built for flight-control research

Posted on November 5, 2026 by alert5

The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on Nov. 4, unveiled the X-70 Fractal, a crewed experimental aircraft meant to speed up the development and testing of advanced aviation technologies. The agency announced the airplane at the UP.Summit at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said he expects the aircraft’s first flight under the NASA banner within the next two years.

Image: NASA
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Saab takes short-range air defense to sea with its CB90 CX combat boat

Posted on November 3, 2026 by alert5

Saab has introduced a larger, optionally crewed version of its Combat Boat 90 that includes a variant built for short-range air defence (SHORAD). The company says the aim is to address the spread of uncrewed air systems (UAS), a threat that now reaches ships and coastal areas as well as land forces.

Graphic: Saab
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GA-ASI releases video of Mojave STOL landing on tank trail in South Korea

Posted on October 13, 2026 by alert5

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has published a YouTube video showing its Mojave short takeoff and landing (STOL) aircraft touching down on a rough maneuver trail at a Republic of Korea (ROK) Army training range, then taking off again to continue its mission. The footage follows the company’s Sept. 16 press release on the demonstration, which it conducted with Hanwha Aerospace.

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Kawasaki shows concept for Japan’s next-generation trainer in investor report

Posted on October 7, 2026October 7, 2026 by alert5

Kawasaki Heavy Industries has shown a concept illustration of a next-generation jet trainer in its Group Vision 2030 progress report, released Oct. 6. The image offers a first look at how the company, which developed the T-4 now in service, may approach replacing it.

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Korean Air uses robot arm to cut M-UAV wing inspection from 30 days to two

Posted on October 5, 2026 by alert5

Korean Air’s Aerospace Division is using a robot-arm ultrasonic scanning system to inspect the wings of the M-UAV, South Korea’s medium-altitude unmanned aerial vehicle for reconnaissance, according to a South Korean defense news video report. The company says a wing inspection that took one inspector about 30 days by hand can now be done by one operator in about two days, which should raise aircraft availability for the Republic of Korea Air Force.

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