Air-To-Air

Explore Air-To-Air

Latest in Air-To-Air

Poland has taken the next step in the modernization of its air force, with U.S. approval given for a major upgrade of its fleet of F-16 fighters. The program will bring the jets to the F-16V standard and also suggests new weapons may be introduced, too. The Viper Midlife Upgrade is announced as Poland awaits F-35 stealth fighters and considers buying F-15EX multirole fighters, while making significant investments in its armed forces across the board, to meet the threat from Russia.

Poland’s F-16s Cleared For Major Upgrades

By Thomas Newdick
Oct 24 12:56 PM EDT
A series of photos have emerged showing a U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet with a remarkable and hitherto unseen air-to-air load-out, including four of the very long-range AIM-174B air-to-air missiles.

F/A-18 Super Hornet Appears With Unprecedented Heavy Air-To-Air Missile Load

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway
Sep 11 2:43 PM EDT
The Army has laid out a requirement for an AIM-120 AMRAAM-like interceptor that is the same general size as an AIM-9X SIdewinder for its Enduring Shield air defense system.

Army Seeking AIM-9X-Sized Surface-To-Air Missile With AIM-120-Like Range

By Joseph Trevithick
Aug 1 8:52 PM EDT
Ukrainians F-16s will immediately be able to get more out of stocks Western munitions that have already been deliverd, as well as other benefits.

F-16s Will Let Ukraine Get More Out Of Western Munitions: USAF’s Top Officer In Europe

By Joseph Trevithick
Jul 30 2:44 PM EDT
A look at an AIM-174 air-launched version of the SM-6 missile with previously unseen markings under the wing of a Super Hornet aboard the USS Carl Vinson has emerged.

AIM-174 Missile Seen On Super Hornet About To Launch From A Carrier For First Time

By Tyler Rogoway, Joseph Trevithick
Jul 23 12:13 PM EDT
Italy has announced plans to equip the F-35B stealth fighters operated by its naval air arm with the Kongsberg Joint Strike Missile (JSM), among other weapons. Details of the armament for the Italian Navy’s short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) F-35Bs comes as the aircraft take part for the first time in the large-scale Pitch Black drills in Australia, aboard the aircraft carrier Cavour.

Italy’s Carrier-Capable F-35B Stealth Fighters To Get New Advanced Weapons

By Thomas Newdick
Jul 16 3:23 PM EDT
An EA-18G Growler scored the types first ever air-to-air kill during a recently concluded deployment.

EA-18G Growler Scored Its First Air-To-Air Kill

By Joseph Trevithick
Jul 16 12:07 PM EDT
A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle from Royal Air Force Lakenheath's 494th Fighter Squadron returns to formation after receiving fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker from the Fairchild Air Force Base's 92nd Aerial Refueling Squadron, over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, May 2, 2024. The U.S. Air Force is globally postured to protect and defend freedom of coalition allies and regional partners within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to maintain peace and stability across the region.

Flying The F-15E Strike Eagle In Air-To-Air Combat, From Dogfighting To Drone Hunting

By Thomas Newdick
Jul 1 1:19 PM EDT
AIM-120 being loaded into a NASAMS launcher

U.S. Diverting Missiles From Foreign Customers To Ukraine Could Have Repercussions Beyond Air Defense

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway
Jun 20 8:14 PM EDT
Tamir air-o-air variant

The Case For Arming Drone-Hunting Fighters With Iron Dome’s Tamir Missile

By Tyler Rogoway
May 30 3:37 PM EDT
Super hornets now carrying nine air-to-air missiles

Super Hornets Now Flying With Nine Air-To-Air Missiles To Counter Houthi Drones

By Thomas Newdick
May 7 7:56 PM EDT
In a most unusual development in the Black Sea ‘drone war,’ Ukraine appears to have begun arming uncrewed surface vessels (USVs), better known as drone boats, with heat-seeking air-to-air missiles. The adaptation seems to have been made to provide the USVs with protection against the Russian helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft that are increasingly being used to counter them, although many questions remain about how these newly added weapons are intended work.

Ukrainian Drone Boats Now Armed With Adapted Air-To-Air Missiles

By Thomas Newdick
May 6 1:34 PM EDT
Recently released pictures of a Bahraini Block 70 F-16D Viper undergoing testing in the United States show what one of these jets might look like one an actual combat mission.

Our First Look At An Armed-Up Block 70 F-16 Viper

By Joseph Trevithick
Apr 12 12:17 PM EDT
New AIM-9X configuration for the super hornet and growler.

F/A-18 Super Hornets Now Flying With Four AIM-9Xs From USS Eisenhower To Counter Drones

By Tyler Rogoway
Apr 10 8:07 PM EDT
The US Navy has cleared its EA-18G Growlers to carry AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles, and increased how many its F/A-18E/F Super Hornet can carry, decisions driven by Houthi drone things in and around the Red Sea.

Navy EA-18G Growlers Get AIM-9X, Super Hornets Can Now Carry More Sidewinders

By Joseph Trevithick
Apr 9 4:39 PM EDT
Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier Pilot Intercepted Seven Drones (Updated)

Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier Pilot Intercepted Seven Drones (Updated)

By Thomas Newdick
Feb 12 1:34 PM EST