Air Forces(Page 11)

Latest in Air Forces

A picture has emerged offering a rare glimpse of ongoing work to field new B61-12 nuclear bombs in Europe.
Air

First Picture Of B61-12 Nuclear Bomb Trainer On An F-16 In Europe Surfaces

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 13, 2023

A Chinook Helicopter flies over a military camp, as part of a rehearsal for the flyby performance for Taiwan’s Double-Ten National Day Celebration, amid rising tensions between Beijing and Taipei and threats from China, in Taoyuan, Taiwan, 28 September 2021. The 18-meter wide and 12-meter long Taiwan flag, according to state media Central News Agency, will be carried by two CH-47 Chinook helicopters flag flying over the Presidential Office, in addition to a parade displaying the island’s missile systems which will showcase the armed forces' ability to resist threats from China. (Photo by Ceng Shou Yi/NurPhoto)
News & Features

Taiwanese Pilot Planned CH-47 Defection To China: Reports

By Oliver Parken

Posted on Dec 12, 2023

X-32 National Museum Of The United States Air Force
Air

X-32’s Makeover: Before And After

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Dec 11, 2023

A new draft of the annual U.S. defense policy bill for the 2024 Fiscal Year, which looks set to pass in Congress and become law, would require the Air Force and the Navy to provide new details about the expected costs and capabilities of their future Collaborative Combat Aircraft drones.
Air

Loyal Wingman Drone Cost, Capability Concerns Emerge In Defense Bill

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Dec 8, 2023

Originally, the ROCAF also expected to receive 144 F-16Vs, produced as conversions of its existing F-16A/B jets, but this number has since been reduced to 141 through attrition in its existing Viper fleet.
News & Features

Taiwan’s Final Upgraded F-16V Completes Test Flights

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 6, 2023

Claims are swirling that Ukrainian forces used a Patriot surface-to-air missile to bring down a Russian Su-24M combat jet over the Black Sea.
News & Features

Russian Su-24 Shot Down Over Black Sea Points To Tactical Shift

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 6, 2023

Boeing Exits Air Force’s ‘Doomsday Plane’ Competition (Updated)
Air

Boeing Exits Air Force’s ‘Doomsday Plane’ Competition (Updated)

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 5, 2023

Chinese Flanker photographed with PL-17 very long-range air-to-air missile
News & Features

Massive PL-17 Air-To-Air Missile Seen On Chinese J-16 Fighters

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Dec 2, 2023

The F-35 Joint Program Office is oversee a project to create a single operational "Franken-bird" from two seriously damaged F-35A Joint Strike Fighters.
Air

F-35 “Franken-Bird” Being Made From Two Badly Damaged Jets

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 1, 2023

The German Air Force is now formally on track to get 15 Typhoon EK electronic warfare jets.
News & Features

Electronic Warfare Typhoon EK Fighter To Join German Air Force

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 30, 2023

No, This Is Not A Secret UFO Crash Retrieval
Air

No, This Is Not A Secret UFO Crash Retrieval

By Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Nov 30, 2023

CCAs flying with notional NGAD manned aircraft.
Air

Signs Point To Less Range, Higher Performance For CCA Drones

By Tyler Rogoway, Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 28, 2023

The B61-12 nuclear bomb is now officially in the U.S. stockpile and approved for employment from the B-2A Spirit stealth bomber.
Air

B-2 Spirit Now Operational With New B61-12 Nuclear Bombs

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 28, 2023

Patriot missile shoot down Russian plane.
News & Features

Aircraft Downed Inside Russia By Patriot System: Ukrainian Air Force

By Oliver Parken

Posted on Nov 28, 2023

B-21 raider T-shirt
Air

Celebrate B-21 Raider’s First Flight With This Ghostly T-Shirt

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Nov 27, 2023

The US Air Force's future EC-37B electronic warfare jets are now EA-37Bs, which is meant to highlight their ability to not only find and attack various types of targets, but destroy them.
Air

New ‘Attack’ EA-37B Moniker For USAF Electronic Warfare Jets

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 21, 2023

AC-130J attacked a target in iraq after attacks on US bases there.
Air

AC-130 Ghostrider Gunship Strikes Iranian-Backed Militia In Iraq

By Howard Altman

Posted on Nov 21, 2023

Lockheed manned tailless fighter design
News & Features

Skunk Works Teases Tailless NGAD Fighter Design In New Ad

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Nov 20, 2023

The U.S. Air Force is exploring the possibility of augmenting, rather than replacing its C-32A Air Force Two jets.
Air

New Plan To Augment C-32A ‘Air Force Two’ Fleet, Not Replace It

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 20, 2023

Aurora Flight Sciences is developing a fan-in-wing blended wing body aircraft concept as part of a U.S. military program exploring ideas for a fast-flying vertical takeoff and landing cargo aircraft.
News & Features

VTOL Lift Fan Tactical Transport Design Emerges Under DARPA Program

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 16, 2023

A commercial KDC‐10 tanker aircraft refuels a U.S. Air Force F‐16 Fighting Falcon from the 51st Fighter Wing, enroute Commando Sling 23 at Paya Lebar Air Base, Singapore, November 6, 2023.
Air

Private Aerial Refueling Tankers Are Now Gassing Up USAF Fighters

By Oliver Parken

Posted on Nov 15, 2023

Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall has offered new details about his service's plans for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program.
Air

CCA Loyal Wingmen Drones To Cost Quarter To Third Of An F-35

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 14, 2023

B-21 first flight
Air

B-21 Raider’s First Flight: What We Learned

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Nov 10, 2023

F-35 drops B61-12 during a test at Edwards AFB
Air

Dutch F-35s Gain Nuclear Strike Mission “Initial Certification”

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Nov 10, 2023

The schedule for long-planned flight testing of an AC-130J Ghostrider gunship with a laser directed energy weapon has slipped again to 2024.
Air

AC-130 Laser Weapon Test Slip Raises Questions About Its Future

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 10, 2023

B-21 has flown for the first time
Air

B-21 Raider Has Flown For The First Time (Updated)

By Thomas Newdick, Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Nov 10, 2023

New pictures show A-10s that recently deployed to the Middle East with interesting ordnance loads.
Air

A-10s Brandish Intriguing Mix Of Weapons In Middle East

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 9, 2023

Five Dutch F-16s are on their way to Romania. Romanian and Ukrainian pilots are being trained there.
News & Features

Ukraine Situation Report: Dutch F-16s For Ukrainian Training Arrive In Romania

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Nov 7, 2023

The US Air Force is deciding whether or not to begin removing the famed 105mm howitzers from its AC-130J gunships, possibly starting in 2026.
Air

AC-130J Ghostriders Could Lose Their Big 105mm Guns

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 7, 2023

A F-5 Fighter takes off during an annual drill at an air base in Taitung City, southeast Taiwan on January 30, 2018. Taiwanese troops staged live-fire exercises January 30 to simulate fending off an attempted invasion, as the island's main threat China steps up pressure on President Tsai Ing-Wen.
News & Features

Taiwan Is Finally Saying Goodbye To Its F-5 Tiger II Fighters

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Nov 7, 2023

U-2 retirement moves forward with secretary of defense waiver sent to congress.
Air

U-2 Retirement Moves Forward With Defense Secretary Decision

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 7, 2023

A solo student plugged in to the tanker. Note how large the solid steel basket is, and how close it is to the delicate fighter
Air

F-5 Pilot’s Early Struggles Aerial Refueling The Underpowered Jet

By Dan McWilliams

Updated on Nov 6, 2023

An Israeli Air Force AH-64 Apache with unusual Hellfire missile marking attached.
Air

Israeli AH-64 Apache Appears With Mysterious Hellfire Missile

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Nov 6, 2023

F-15J intake maneuvering demonstration
Air

F-15’s Tilting Air Intakes Showcased In Awesome Video

By Oliver Parken

Posted on Nov 4, 2023

A new report claims that Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works has delivered a new secret intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft to the US Air Force.
Air

Secret Skunk Works Spy Drone Delivered To Air Force: Report

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Nov 3, 2023

Kratos has offered the first look at a rendering of its stealthy Thanatos drone design.
Air

Thanatos Advanced Stealth Drone Design Breaks Cover

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 3, 2023

It would take at least six months to integrate German Taurus cruise missiles onto Ukraine's Su-24 Fencers, but restarting the production line could take even longer and political issues remain a hurdle for the transfer.
News & Features

Adding Taurus Cruise Missiles To Ukraine’s Su-24s Would Take Six Months

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 2, 2023

Israel F-35 shoots down Houthi cruise missile
News & Features

Israel Scores F-35’s First Cruise Missile Kill

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Nov 2, 2023

A routine test of launch of a Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile was "terminated" after it experienced an "anomaly."
Nuclear

Minuteman III Ballistic Missile Ordered To Destroy Itself During Test Launch

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 2, 2023

A heavily redacted copy of the final report on a controversial flyoff between the A-10 Warthog and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter has finally been released.
Air

A-10 Vs F-35 Close Air Support Flyoff Report Finally Emerges

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 1, 2023

B-1B Bone
Air

B-1B Bombers Just Made Historic Visit To Turkey

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Oct 31, 2023

AH-64 Israel pod
News & Features

Why Some Israeli AH-64 Apaches Have A Big Belly Bulge

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Oct 31, 2023

A U.S. Air Force KC-135 tail number 58-0109 with the nickname “Phantom 109” assigned to the Iowa Air National Guard is in front of the main hangar in Sioux City, Iowa on October 16, 2021. Crew Chiefs recently added nose art to the aircraft depicting a phantom riding along on the aircraft boom.
Air

“The Phantom” Is The Air Force’s Haunted KC-135 Tanker… Almost

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Oct 31, 2023

The Pentagon has announced its new intention to pursue a higher-yield version of the B61-12 nuclear bomb.
Nuclear

Plans For More Destructive B61 Nuclear Bomb Unveiled

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Oct 27, 2023

The US has struck Iran-linked sites in Syria in retaliation for a spate of attacks aimed at U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria in recent weeks.
News & Features

U.S. Strikes Back At Iranian-Linked Bases In Syria (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Oct 27, 2023

An Su-27UB Flanker-C sits in the hangar of the Cold War Gallery, National Museum of the U.S. Air Force
Air

Su-27 Absolutely Dwarfs All Jets Around It At Its New Home

By Oliver Parken

Posted on Oct 26, 2023

A People’s Republic of China J-11 pilot executed an unsafe intercept of a U.S. Air Force B-52 aircraft, which was lawfully conducting routine operations over the South China Sea in international airspace.
News & Features

Chinese Flanker’s “Unsafe” Intercept Seen From B-52’s Sniper Pod

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Oct 26, 2023

Capt. Bob Peel, left, and Lt. Col. Tony Adamo, right, F-16 instructor pilots from the 162nd Fighter Wing, fly over the Grand Canyon while supporting Operation Noble Eagle’s air sovereignty alert mission.
News & Features

Ukraine Situation Report: Ukrainian Pilots Have Begun F-16 Training In U.S.

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Oct 25, 2023

The US Air Force has confirmed that its first pre-production B-21 Raider stealth bomber is undergoing taxi testing ahead of its first flight.
Air

B-21 Raider Has Begun Taxi Tests

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Oct 25, 2023

A US Air Force B-52 bomber was seen flying in East Asia recently sporting white-colored wing tips and we now know the reason why.
Air

Here’s Why Some B-52s Have White Wing Tips

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Oct 24, 2023

Lockheed Martin says it no longer plans to compete for a contract to replace a portion of the Air Force's KC-135 tanker fleet.
Air

Lockheed Bails On KC-135 Tanker Replacement Competition

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Oct 23, 2023

A B-52 is set to land in South Korea sometime this week.
Air

B-52 To Make Very Rare Landing In South Korea This Week

By Howard Altman

Posted on Oct 17, 2023

Countermeasures released by an F-22 Raptor
Air

This May Be The Best F-22 Raptor Demo Shot Ever

By Tyler Rogoway, Oliver Parken

Posted on Oct 10, 2023

MQ-20 Drone recovery
Air

MQ-20 Avenger Tests Recovery Line For Grabbing Smaller Drones Mid-Flight

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Oct 10, 2023

INDIAN AIR FORCE MiG-21
News & Features

It’s The Beginning Of The End For India’s MiG-21 Bison

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Oct 9, 2023

“Multiple” New Versions Of The XQ-58 Valkyrie In The Works
Air

“Multiple” New Versions Of The XQ-58 Valkyrie In The Works

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Oct 6, 2023

KC-10 departs PSAB
Air

KC-10 Extender Has Flown Its Last Combat Mission

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Oct 5, 2023

F-16 Syria Turkey
Air

U.S. F-16 Shoots Down Turkish Drone Over Syria (Updated)

By Howard Altman

Posted on Oct 5, 2023

Flight testing of the Air Force's future nuclear-tipped AGM-181A Long Range Stand Off cruise missile is well under way.
Air

Flight Testing Of Air Force’s New Nuclear-Armed Cruise Missile Well Underway

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Oct 3, 2023

F35 flare release
Air

Moment Flare Released From F-35 Captured In Remarkable Photo

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Oct 3, 2023

Future Air Combat Drone Performance Focus Areas Emerge
Air

Future Air Combat Drone Performance Focus Areas Emerge

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Oct 2, 2023

Tu-95 Engels Decoy
Air

Tu-95 Decoys Are Being Painted On Russian Air Base’s Apron

By Stetson Payne

Posted on Sep 30, 2023

The U.S. Air Force has provided the first real look at a future hypersonic air-breathing cruise missile, a type weapon it hopes to start fielding in 2027.
Air

Our First Glimpse Of The Air Force’s Hypersonic Cruise Missile

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 30, 2023

Su-35 shot down Ukraine
Air

Claims Swirl Around Possible Friendly Fire Shoot-Down Of Russian Su-35 Near Tokmak

By Howard Altman

Posted on Sep 30, 2023