Afterburner - The Aviation Magazine

12 November 2026

MILITARY AVIATION

Saab unveils AI agents for future fighters, tested aboard Gripen E

Swedish defence company Saab has unveiled a family of internally developed artificial intelligence (AI) agents for future fighter systems. Announced on 3 November 2026, the technology has already been flight-tested aboard the Gripen E, demonstrating the company’s ability to develop, [...]
PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Mil Mi-2 Scout

Mil Mi-2 Scout / Ми-2 «Скаут» (c/n 5410741108), an upgraded variant of the iconic Mi-2, exhibited at the static display during the International Aviation and Space Salon MAKS-2019, Zhukovsky, August 2019. The Mil Mi-2 (NATO reporting name: “Hoplite”), designed by [...]
MILITARY AVIATION

World’s first unmanned AEW aircraft successfully completes advanced flight tests

In early June 2026, we reported on the maiden flight of the world’s first unmanned Airborne Early Warning (AEW) aircraft, which took place on 19 May 2026. Developed jointly by Sweden’s Saab and US-based General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), [...]
AVIATION HISTORY

6 November 1923 – first flight of the Blériot-SPAD S.61

On 6 November 1923, the Blériot-SPAD S.61, a French biplane fighter aircraft, performed its maiden flight. In 1923, the French aviation company Blériot Aéronautique developed a new biplane fighter, intended to replace the obsolete Nieuport-Delage NiD.29. Designed in response to [...]
MILITARY AVIATION

Falcon 8X ARCHANGE makes first landing at Évreux Air Base

On 7 October 2026, the Falcon 8X ARCHANGE (Archangel) made its first landing at Évreux Air Base (BA 105) in France. Developed to strengthen the intelligence-gathering capabilities of Armée de l’Air et de l’Espace (the French Air and Space Force), [...]

Macron’s vision for European space autonomy — how close is it to reality?

FEATURED

7 October 2026

At this year’s International Space Summit in Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron presented an ambitious vision for Europe’s future in space. As we reported in one of our previous articles, within two years, he wants [...]

Europe sets out new ambitions for human spaceflight and lunar exploration

FEATURED

23 September 2026

On 9 and 10 September 2026, the International Space Summit took place in Paris, bringing together world leaders, government ministers, representatives of the space industry and astronauts to discuss the future of global space activities. [...]

DREAMERS AND DOERS