Author: FlyMarshall Newsroom

The U.S. Navy is pursuing a new class of smaller, more agile combatant ships that the service says will become a “critical component of the Navy’s fleet of the future.” The first hull of the future FF(X) class, which will be based on the U.S. Coast Guard’s Legend-class National Security Cutter design, is expected to hit the water in 2028 as a more nimble companion to the Navy’s larger warships, Navy Secretary John Phelan said in a Dec. 19 video announcement. “To deliver at speed and scale, I’ve directed the acquisition of a new frigate class based on [the design…

In the commercial aviation industry, when a new aircraft is introduced to the market, that often means a new engine is being introduced. It is common for new aircraft to be centered around new engines rather than a completely new aircraft design. This has led to more significant innovation in engine design than in aircraft design in recent years. Two aircraft that flaunt new engines today are the Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A320neo. A common misconception is that the two aircraft use the same engine. It is not a wholly unjustified misconception, for reasons that will be shown in…

VE Air Mobility, the advanced air mobility subsidiary of Embraer, announced on December 19, 2025, that its eVTOL aircraft prototype had completed its maiden flight   This first flight, which kicks off EVE’s flight test program, took place at Embraer’s test facility in Gavião Peixoto, in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, and went according to expectations.  “We exercised our control laws, verified the integration of the eight lifters and assessed energy management, the aircraft’s dynamic response and noise footprint. The prototype behaved as predicted by our models.” Luiz Valentini, Chief Technology Officer at EVE, declared after the test.  The Brazilian eVTOL developer plans to manufacture six conforming prototypes for use in its flight test campaign, which will be closely monitored by ANAC, Brazil’s Civil…

Air India is making significant changes to its San Francisco network. It has confirmed that its ultra-long-haul services from Bengaluru will not return, having been suspended earlier this year. Meanwhile, Mumbai flights will end. Both routes suffer from the consequences of the continued inability to overfly Russian and Pakistani airspace. The Star Alliance member will now only have one route to San Francisco. However, because of the cuts, its frequency from Delhi to the California airport will rise from daily to ten times a week. It is doubling down on its primary hub. Air India Won’t Be Bringing Back Bengaluru…

MBDA, a European missile manufacturer specializing in air-to-air, air-to-surface, and air defense systems, has secured a new contract linked to Germany’s next-generation Taurus Neo air-launched cruise missile, as Berlin moves to rebuild and expand its long-range strike capabilities.  On December 18, 2025, Taurus Systems, a joint venture between MBDA and Sweden’s Saab, signed an agreement with Germany’s Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw). According to MBDA, the contract is intended to prepare the serial production of the Taurus Neo missile, with large-scale manufacturing planned at a production site in Germany.  Preparing the move from sustainment to serial…

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has declared final operational capability on a major upgrade program for its entire fleet of 12 C-130J Hercules aircraft. The fleet, operated by No. 37 Squadron at RAAF Base Richmond in New South Wales, has been brought up to the latest Block 8.1 configuration under Project AIR 5440.  According to the RAAF, the upgrades encompass critical improvements to aircraft systems, safety-critical software and hardware, enhancing overall capability, reliability and mission readiness. Beyond the core systems upgrade, the aircraft received substantial enhancements to their communications and navigation suites. The new capabilities include datalink systems, integrated…

Belarus’ authoritarian president said Thursday that Russia had deployed its latest nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile system to the country, a move that comes as talks to end the war in Ukraine have entered a crucial phase.President Alexander Lukashenko said the Oreshnik, an intermediate range ballistic missile system, arrived in the country on Wednesday and is entering combat duty. He didn’t say how many missiles have been deployed or give any other details.Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that the Oreshnik will enter combat duty this month but didn’t give any other details. Putin made the statement at a meeting with top…

If you are considering becoming a pilot, are nearly finished with your training, or are looking at the career move to a different sector of the industry, naturally, pay is among the first considerations when choosing an air carrier to fly for. Individual pay varies greatly, not only by airline and individual experience but also by a myriad of other factors. The average gross salary in the United Kingdom falls around €90,253 (£78,146), but experienced captains earn significantly more, and second officers start well below that number. The highest pay can go up to €216,000, and the lowest entry-level wage…

Air cargo bookings during peak season aren’t new. You are not imagining it, December really is busy. The good news is that you’re nearly done. We crunched millions of holiday season air cargo bookings over the past few years and found that while the worst of it is November and the Christmas lead-up, the oddest part is between Christmas and New Years. Let’s take a look at the data and how forwarders can prepare. The Peak Season Booking Data Compared to October, November typically has about 3% more bookings per day. The same is true for quotes generated in our…

Leonardo, Italy’s state-controlled aerospace and defense group, has been selected to develop and deliver the first four next-generation radars for Italy’s long-range ballistic missile defense, the company announced on December 18, 2025. The contract was awarded by TELEDIFE, the Directorate of Telecommunications, IT and Advanced Technologies of the Italian Ministry of Defence, and covers the development and delivery of two Ground Based Radars (GBR) and two Mobile Long Range Radars (MLRR).  According to Leonardo, the systems are designed to detect, track and identify ballistic threats at ranges of up to 3,000 kilometers (1,864 miles). The radars will form part of Italy’s future long-range air and missile defense…