Air Forces(Page 7)

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Russia has offer the best look to date a new conversion kit that transforms FAB-1500 M54s into stand-off glide bombs.

Russia’s New Supersized Glide Bomb: Our Best Look Yet

By Joseph Trevithick
Posted on Jan 12, 2024
Rare look at the upgraded cockpit in an Israeli F-15A.

F-15A ‘Baz’ Upgraded Cockpit Seen In Rare Israeli Air Force Photo (Updated)

By Thomas Newdick
Posted on Jan 11, 2024
B-1 crash at Ellsworth

B-1B Bomber’s Crash Landing Path Seen In Satellite Image

By Thomas Newdick
Posted on Jan 9, 2024
Metrea Aerospace became the first to use a private-owned tanker to refuel U.S. aircraft tactical jets when one of its KC-135s topped-up a pair of A-10 Warthog ground attack jets last year.

A-10 Warthogs Have Refueled From A Contractor’s KC-135 Tanker

By Joseph Trevithick
Posted on Jan 9, 2024
Beale AFB executes an elephant walk as the U-2's service approaches its end.

U-2 Dragon Lady Spy Planes Execute A Bittersweet Elephant Walk

By Tyler Rogoway
Posted on Jan 7, 2024
CT-114 student pilot story

Military Flight Instructor’s Most Important Lesson: Student Pilots Will Try To Kill You

By Dan McWilliams
Posted on Jan 5, 2024
We now have our first look at the B-1B bomber that crashed at Ellsworth Air Force Base on January 4, 2023.

Crashed B-1B Bomber Carcass Visible At South Dakota Base

By Joseph Trevithick
Posted on Jan 5, 2024
B-1B Ellsworth mishap

B-1B Bomber Crashes In South Dakota

By Tyler Rogoway
Posted on Jan 5, 2024
A Su-34 Fullback fighter-bomber apparently destroyed last night by a Ukrainian special forces team, as it sat on its airbase.

Su-34 Fullback Torched During Raid Deep In Russia

By Thomas Newdick
Posted on Jan 4, 2024
Turkey's flying wing takes first flight

Turkey’s ANKA-3 Flying Wing Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle Flies

By Thomas Newdick
Posted on Dec 28, 2023
The Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG has begun work on a new jet trainer, the MiG-UTS.

Russia’s ‘New’ Jet Trainer Design Is A 1990s Throwback

By Thomas Newdick
Posted on Dec 28, 2023
The Air Force is intersted in modified underwing pylons to help ensure its B-52H bombers can carry as many future hypersonic cruise missiles as possible.

B-52 Needs New Pylons To Carry Max Load Of Hypersonic Missiles

By Joseph Trevithick
Posted on Dec 28, 2023
Signs are growing of a shift in Russian aerial activity over Ukraine following a spate of claimed shootdowns.

Ukraine Situation Report: Are Air Losses Pushing A Shift In Russian Tactics?

By Joseph Trevithick
Posted on Dec 26, 2023
Explosion landing ship

Russian Warship Explodes In Massive Fireball After Cruise Missile Strike (Updated)

By Tyler Rogoway
Posted on Dec 26, 2023
Ukrainian forces claim to have shot down a trio of Russian Su-34 Fullback combat jets, another sign of evolving air defense tactics.

Ukraine Says It Shot Down Three Russian Su-34 Fullbacks

By Joseph Trevithick
Posted on Dec 22, 2023
Boeing says it has delivered the second pair of F-15EX Eagle II fighters to the U.S. Air Force after a year of delays.

Second Pair Of F-15EX Eagle II Fighters Just Delivered To USAF

By Joseph Trevithick
Posted on Dec 21, 2023
F-15EX To Be Based At Kadena Air Base In Japan: Report

F-15EX To Be Based At Kadena Air Base In Japan: Report

By Thomas Newdick
Posted on Dec 18, 2023
The U.S. can learn lessons from Israel operates its F-35I fleet.

Israel’s F-35I Combat Experience Is Providing Lessons For Future Pacific Fight

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway
Posted on Dec 13, 2023
A picture has emerged offering a rare glimpse of ongoing work to field new B61-12 nuclear bombs in Europe.

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)

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

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.

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.

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.

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)

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Aircraft Downed Inside Russia By Patriot System: Ukrainian Air Force

By Oliver Parken
Posted on Nov 28, 2023
B-21 raider T-shirt

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.

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.

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

By Howard Altman
Posted on Nov 21, 2023
Lockheed manned tailless fighter design

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Israeli AH-64 Apache Appears With Mysterious Hellfire Missile

By Thomas Newdick
Posted on Nov 6, 2023
F-15J intake maneuvering demonstration

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.

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.

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.

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

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."

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.

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

By Joseph Trevithick
Posted on Nov 1, 2023
B-1B Bone

B-1B Bombers Just Made Historic Visit To Turkey

By Thomas Newdick
Posted on Oct 31, 2023
AH-64 Israel pod

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.

“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.

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.

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

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

By Oliver Parken
Posted on Oct 26, 2023