Air Forces(Page 9)

Latest in Air Forces

Cold War-era Ladoga APV pictured by a FPV drone
News & Features

Ultra-Rare Russian Armored VIP Escape Vehicle Spotted In Ukraine

By Oliver Parken

Posted on Mar 28, 2024

Danish Air Force F-16 takes off in Monte Real Air Force Base during Real Thaw 2018 exercise on February 06, 2018 in Monte Real, Portugal. Real Thaw 2018 (RT18) is a Portuguese Air Force led live-fly exercise to evaluate and certify their operational capability being conducted at Monte Real Air Force from January 29 to February 09. The tenth edition of RT18 features 35 aircraft and 1500 personnel from the Portuguese Air Force, Army and Navy and military forces from Denmark, France, Netherlands, Spain, the United States of America and NATO.
Air

F-16 Looks Like The Endgame To Argentina’s Epic Fighter Saga

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Mar 27, 2024

Greek F-16s
Air

Greece Plans To Sell F-16s, Mirages To Rationalize Its Fighter Inventory

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Mar 26, 2024

Japan Wants T-7 Red Hawk As Its Next Trainer: Report
Air

Japan Wants T-7 Red Hawk As Its Next Trainer: Report

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Mar 26, 2024

U.S. Air Force TU-2s Dragon Lady 1078 flies to U.S. Air Force Plant 42, Palmdale, California, where it will undergo normal Program Depot-level Maintenance (PDM) and be painted black, after almost three years of maintenance at Beale Air Force Base, California, Feb. 29, 2024. Aircraft 1078 was involved in an accident in 2021 that left it unable to move to Plant 42, and after passing low flight and high flight tests, was able to fly to Palmdale where Air Force Life Cycle Management Center Detachment 4 will oversee Lockheed Martin’s PDM of aircraft 1078. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Alexis Pentzer
Air

TU-2S Dragon Lady Resurrected For The Twilight Of The Spy Plane’s Service

By Oliver Parken

Posted on Mar 25, 2024

Supersonic testbed XB-1 on its first flight, March 22, 2024
Air

Boom’s XB-1 Supersonic Test Jet Takes To The Skies

By Oliver Parken

Posted on Mar 23, 2024

F-22 with stealthy wing tanks and pods.
Air

F-22 Spotted With New Stealth Wing Tanks, Infrared Sensor Pods

By Tyler Rogoway, Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Mar 22, 2024

The F-35 Joint Program Office says the internal gun on the A variant of the Joint Strike Fighter is now effective after years of accuracy and other problems.
Air

F-35A’s Beleaguered 25mm Cannon Is Finally “Effective”

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Mar 22, 2024

A U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II sits on the flightline at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., March 3, 2023. The A-10 is assigned to the A-10C Thunderbolt II Demonstration Team, which is one of four single-ship demonstration teams within Air Combat Command, who travel across the United States, as well as internationally, to highlight the combat capabilities of the A-10 and the U.S. Air Force.
Air

A-10 Demo Team Announces Its Final Year As The Warthog’s End Draws Near

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Mar 21, 2024

Satellite image of the air base at Mihail Kogălniceanu, pictured on December 18, 2023
News & Features

Romanian Airfield’s Transformation Into A Giant NATO Base Is Underway

By Oliver Parken

Posted on Mar 20, 2024

The Air Force has conducted an unprecedented test launch of a live AGM-183A ARRW hypersonic missile in the Western Pacific, sending signals to China and elsewhere in the region amid uncertainty about this particular program's future.
Air

Unprecedented U.S. Hypersonic Weapons Test From Guam Has Occurred

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Mar 19, 2024

KF-21 Refueling for the first time from a tanker
Air

South Korea’s KF-21 Next Generation Fighter Begins Tanker Trials

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Mar 19, 2024

The US Air Force no longer plans to flight test a laser directed energy weapon on an AC-130J Ghostrider gunship.
Air

AC-130 Gunship’s Laser Weapon Cancelled, 105mm Howitzer May Be Removed

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Mar 19, 2024

The US Air Force has confirmed a spate of drone incursions occurred at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia in December 2023.
Air

Mysterious Drones Swarmed Langley AFB For Weeks

By Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Mar 15, 2024

Mig-29s are now flying with French hammer guided bombs in Ukraine.
Air

Ukraine’s MiG-29s Are Now Carrying French ‘Hammer’ Rocket-Assisted Bombs

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Mar 15, 2024

13. A DARIN I Jaguar gets airborne with three 1000-lb parachute retarded bombs and drop tanks still retaining the old two-tone green and grey paint scheme.
Air

Behold The Explosive Spectacle Of India’s Unrivaled Airpower Demonstration

By Angad Singh

Posted on Mar 15, 2024

The Air Force wants to cut its purchases of MH-139A helicopters in half, calling into question what will happen to many units equipped with the UH-1Ns they were supposed to replace.
Air

Air Force Wants To Slash MH-139 Grey Wolf Helicopter Purchases In Half

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Mar 14, 2024

A prototype J-35 stealth flghter in flight
Air

New Images Of China’s J-35 Naval Stealth Fighter, Could Depict Third Example

By Oliver Parken

Posted on Mar 14, 2024

F-35Bs are armed on a flight line
Air

F-35 Cleared For Full-Rate Production 17 Years After Its First Flight

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Mar 13, 2024

The Air Force says it will bring its Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon program later this year, but the service has refused to rule out future work on this or another similar hypersonic weapon design.
Air

Signs ARRW Hypersonic Missile Follow-On May Be In The Works

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Mar 13, 2024

Russian SDB-like glide bomb appears in Ukraine.
Air

Russian Small Diameter Bomb-Like Glide Weapon Appears In Ukraine

By Tyler Rogoway, Thomas Newdick

Posted on Mar 12, 2024

The proposed Fiscal Year 2025 budgets for the US Air Force and US Navy contain significant developments for their respective sixth-generation combat jet programs.
Air

USAF Seeks NGAD Fighter Boost, Navy F/A-XX Investment Slows In New Budget

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Mar 12, 2024

The Air Force's proposed Fiscal Year 2025 budget includes a cut to the total planned size of the F-15EX fleet from 104 to 98 jets.
Air

F-15EX Fleet To Be Cut Down To 98 Jets In New Air Force Budget

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Mar 11, 2024

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

F-35A Is Officially Certified For Nuclear Strike

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Mar 9, 2024

An intriguing video has been doing the rounds on social media recently, showing the wind-tunnel testing of a French future fighter concept, a tailless jet fitted with prominent leading-edge vortex controllers, or LEVCONs.
Air

Su-57 Felon Feature Appears On French Future Tailless Fighter Concept

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Mar 8, 2024

The grounding of all US military V-22 Ospreys following a crash in November 2023 has been lifted.
Air

V-22 Osprey Finally Cleared To Fly After Three Month Grounding

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Mar 8, 2024

Declassified documents shine new light on an incident off the coast of Florida in January 2023 where an Air Force pilot says they saw something that looked like an "Apollo spacecraft."
Air

Air Force Pilot’s Bizarre Encounter With Capsule-Like Craft Off Florida Declassified

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Mar 7, 2024

F-16 Block 70 about to head on its delivery flight to Bahrain.
Air

First Block 70 F-16s Are Out For Delivery (Updated)

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Mar 7, 2024

CF-5 refuels from a 707 tanker.
Air

F-5 Pilot’s Double Engine Flameout While Refueling Over The Atlantic

By Dan McWilliams

Posted on Mar 5, 2024

There are growing signs that an unprecedented AGM-183A hypersonic missile test staged from Guam is imminent.
Air

Unprecedented U.S. Hypersonic Weapon Test In West Pacific Appears Imminent

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Mar 4, 2024

A-50 Mainstay
Air

Russia Building More Dated A-50 Radar Planes Is Desperate But May Be Necessary

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Mar 1, 2024

The Air Force has very publicly shown pictures of a live AGM-183A hypersonic missile under the wing of a B-52H bomber on Guam despite previously announcing plans to end program.
Air

B-52 Armed With Hypersonic Missile Makes Appearance In Guam

By Joseph Trevithick, Thomas Newdick

Posted on Mar 1, 2024

As part of the announcement of the first flight its new XQ-67A drone, the Air Force has shared new information about its Off-Board Sensing Station program and revealed the existence of a companion Off-Board Weapon Station concept.
Air

The XQ-67A Has A Secretive, Higher-Performance, Deadly Cousin

By Tyler Rogoway, Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Mar 1, 2024

General Atomics' XQ-67A drone, built for the Air Force's Off-Board Sensing Station (OBSS) program, has made its first flight.
Air

XQ-67A Off-Board Sensing Station Drone Has Flown (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 29, 2024

An air-to-air right side view of a 494th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 48th Tactical Fighter Wing F-111F aircraft releasing its load of Mark 82 high-drag bombs over the Bardenas Reales range. The 494th TFS has been deployed to Zaragoza Air Base for training.
Air

The F-111 Was Faster Than You Think

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Feb 29, 2024

Damage sustained by inclement weather at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base tornado damage
Air

Tornado Ravages Air Force Museum Restoration Hangar At Wright Patterson AFB

By Oliver Parken, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Feb 29, 2024

Singapore Adds F-35As To Expand Its Stealth Fighter Fleet
Air

Singapore Adds F-35As To Expand Its Stealth Fighter Fleet

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Feb 28, 2024

A B-52 bomber made an emergency landing at Minot Air Force Base on January 23, 2024, due to an engine fire. The fire was subsequently put out an the crew of the aircraft was unharmed in the mishap.
Air

B-52 Stratofortress Damaged After Engine Fire

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 27, 2024

F-15EX Afterburner
Air

Just How Fast Is The F-15EX Really?

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Feb 26, 2024

The Beriev A-50U 'Mainstay' airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft based on the Ilyushin Il-76 transport aircraft belonging to Russian Air Force in the air. 'U' designation stands for extended range and advanced digital radio systems. This aircraft was named after Sergey Atayants - Beriev's chief designer.
Air

Another One Of Russia’s Prized A-50 Radar Planes Shot Down, Ukraine Claims

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Feb 23, 2024

New details about the U.S. Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft drone program, as well as recent discussions about its progress and future, all point to its potential to reshape how the service does business and fights.
Air

Everything New We Just Learned About The Collaborative Combat Aircraft Program

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 23, 2024

CF-18 Cold War
Air

Hornet Pilot’s Cold War Mission Left Him In The “Buffer Zone” Between East And West

By Dan McWilliams

Posted on Feb 22, 2024

TF-X FIRST FLIGHT
Air

Turkey’s Kaan Next-Generation Fighter Has Flown

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Feb 21, 2024

Captain Maxim Kuzminov, Pilot Of A Russian Military Mi-8 Helicopter In Kyiv
News & Features

Russia’s Spy Chief Says Recently Gunned-Down Pilot Defector Was A “Moral Corpse”

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Feb 20, 2024

Northrop Grumman says it has successfully conducted a shroud fly-off test as part of the development of the new LGM-35 intercontinental ballistic missile for the U.S. Air Force.
Nuclear

New Sentinel ICBM’s Nose Shroud Separation Test A Flying Success

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 20, 2024

Su-35 shot down Ukraine
News & Features

Ukraine Situation Report: Kyiv Claims Six Russian Jets Downed In Three Days

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Feb 19, 2024

New Air Wing concept USAF
News & Features

This Is How The Air Force’s New Wing Structure Will Actually Work

By Hope Hodge Seck

Posted on Feb 18, 2024

The Air Force says a funding issue may cause a significant delay in its secretive Mayhem hypersonic strike-recon aircraft program and that the overall "operational pull" behind the effort is uncertain.
Air

Future Of Mayhem Hypersonic Strike-Recon Aircraft Program Murky

By Howard Altman, Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 17, 2024

Kh-69 standoff missile, Russia.
Air

Russia Now Using Kh-69 Cruise Missiles In Ukraine: Reports

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Feb 16, 2024

The US Air Force will test new autonomous capabilities for its KC-135s intended, at least initially, to help reduce operator workload. The service is also still planning to conduct a test of the KC-135 as an aerial launching platform for drones.
Air

Tests Planned For KC-135s That Can Fly Themselves, Act As Drone Motherships

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 16, 2024

LITENING LA Targeting pod Northrop Grumman
News & Features

We Talk New Features On The LITENING Large Aperture Targeting Pod

By Tyler Rogoway, Jamie Hunter

Posted on Feb 16, 2024

CV-22s taxi for takeoff
Air

Grounded V-22 Osprey “1980s Technology,” Still Critical Capability Says AFSOC Commander

By Hope Hodge Seck

Posted on Feb 15, 2024

The latest on AFRL's mutant from AFA's Warfare Symposium show floor.
News & Features

We Talk MUTANT, The Bending Missile, With The Air Force Research Lab

By Jamie Hunter, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Feb 14, 2024

The US Air Force says it plans to invite foreign allies and partners to join the next increment of its Collaborative Combat Aircraft drone program and has offered details about what that cooperation might look like. The service is also looking bring US Special Operations Command into an existing tri-service agreement with the Navy and Marine Corps.
Air

Plans For Allies To Join Collaborative Combat Aircraft Program Laid Out By Air Force

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 14, 2024

F-15EX flying
Air

“I Would Love To Have More F-15EXs,” Air Guard Boss Says

By Tyler Rogoway, Howard Altman

Posted on Feb 14, 2024

Boeing Ghost Bat F-15
Air

USAF Set To Down-Select Collaborative Combat Aircraft Competitors

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 13, 2024

Elephant walk with USAF aircraft
Air

Air Force’s Big Restructuring Includes New Commands, New Deployment Plans

By Howard Altman

Posted on Feb 13, 2024

Ukraine is employing a network of thousands of acoustic sensors to help spot and track incoming Russian drones, according to the Air Force's top office in Europe.
Air

Ukraine Using Thousands Of Networked Microphones To Track Russian Drones

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 13, 2024

The Missile Defense Agency has released rare video footage showing the entire launch sequence of a mock medium-range ballistic missile from a C-17 cargo plane during a recent test.
Air

C-17 Launching Mock Ballistic Missile Seen Like Never Before

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 9, 2024

Low-Cost Infrared Search And Track System For Aircraft Unveiled By Anduril
Air

Low-Cost Infrared Search And Track System For Aircraft Unveiled By Anduril

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 8, 2024

Hacked documents claim Russia paid far more than previously known for Iranian Shahed-136 drones.
News & Features

What Does A Shahed-136 Really Cost?

By Howard Altman

Posted on Feb 8, 2024

The US government has approved the potential sale of aerostat-based surveillance systems to Poland.
Air

Poland’s Plan To Deploy Early Warning Radar Aerostats Moves Forward

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Feb 8, 2024

The US Navy and Air Force have both recently laid out requirements for new compact cruise missiles, including an anti-ship type that could be carried internally on certain F-35 variants.
Air

Mini Anti-Ship Cruise Missile That Fits Inside An F-35 Is On The Navy’s Wish List

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 7, 2024

General Atomics has unveiled the XQ-67A drone, which it built as part of the US Air Force's secretive Off-Board Sensing Station (OBSS) program.
Air

General Atomics’ XQ-67A Off-Board Sensing Station Drone Breaks Cover

By Jamie Hunter, Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Feb 7, 2024