military

A collection of 368 posts

military

Analysis: Is Russia's Su-57 Stealth Fighter Program a 'Paper Tiger'?

Russia's Su-57 'Felon' is positioned as a fifth-generation stealth fighter intended to rival the American F-22 and F-35. However, the program continues to be plagued by significant production delays and persistent technical challenges, particularly with its next-generation engines. Western analysts frequently question the aircraft's

military

F-35's Automated Anti-Spin System Gives Pilots a Critical Combat Advantage

The F-35 Lightning II features an advanced Automated Departure Resistance System (ADRS) that prevents the aircraft from entering uncontrolled spins. This system is a core part of the jet's fly-by-wire controls, automatically intervening when the aircraft nears its aerodynamic limits during aggressive maneuvers. Unlike legacy aircraft, the F-35&

military

F-22 Raptor Shortfall: U.S. Air Force Faces the Chinese Threat It Was Designed to Defeat

The U.S. Air Force's decision to halt F-22 Raptor production at 195 units, far below the originally planned 750, is now a major strategic concern. This move, made during a different geopolitical era, included the destruction of the specialized tooling needed to build more of the advanced

military

Analysis: Assessing the Limited Strategic Utility of F-22 Raptors in the Philippines

The deployment of U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors to the Philippines is primarily a symbolic show of force with limited practical military utility. The stealth fighter's extremely high operational costs and intensive maintenance requirements make it difficult to sustain long-term operations from Philippine airbases. While designed for

military

Kratos to Integrate J85 Turbojet Engine into Firejet Unmanned Aerial System

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has announced the integration of the General Electric J85 turbojet engine into its Firejet unmanned aerial system (UAS). This represents a significant performance upgrade for the high-subsonic target drone. The J85 engine, famously used on aircraft like the F-5 fighter and T-38 trainer, will provide

military

U.S. Air Force Outlines $12 Billion, Five-Year Plan for 28,000 Low-Cost Cruise Missiles

The U.S. Air Force has revealed a new five-year spending plan allocating nearly $12 billion to acquire up to 28,000 low-cost cruise missiles. This initiative aims to build a massive arsenal of affordable, stand-off weapons to counter peer adversaries. The strategy focuses on overwhelming enemy air defenses through

military

Envisioning the Future of Air Combat: A 25-Year Forecast for Military Aviation

Military aviation is projected to undergo a fundamental transformation over the next 25 years, transitioning from traditional manned fighter jets to a networked 'system of systems'. This future concept involves a single pilot in a 6th-generation aircraft, like the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) platform, commanding multiple uncrewed

military

F-16 Fighting Falcon: The Engineering Choice Behind Omitting Thrust Vectoring

The F-16 Fighting Falcon is the world's most-produced fighter jet, renowned for its exceptional agility. Despite this, it lacks thrust vectoring nozzles, a technology used by aircraft like the F-22 Raptor to enhance maneuverability. This was a deliberate design choice rooted in the F-16's original purpose

military

Netherlands Becomes First International Partner to Buy U.S. Collaborative Combat Aircraft

The Netherlands has announced it will become the first international partner to purchase Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCAs) under the U.S. Air Force's development program. The Royal Netherlands Air Force plans to acquire at least two CCA systems, which are autonomous drones designed to fly alongside manned fighters

military

U.S. Air Force's Planned B-21 Raider Fleet Would Outnumber Entire Current Bomber Force

The U.S. Air Force is planning a significant expansion and modernization of its bomber capabilities with the acquisition of at least 145 B-21 Raider stealth bombers. This new fleet is projected to be larger than the Air Force's entire current bomber inventory combined, which includes the B-1,

military

Anduril Reveals 'Fury' Autonomous Jet for U.S. Air Force's CCA Wingman Program

Defense technology company Anduril has officially unveiled Fury, its autonomous, uncrewed jet fighter. The aircraft is a contender for the U.S. Air Force's highly competitive Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program. Designed as an AI-powered 'loyal wingman,' Fury is intended to fly alongside manned fighters, extending

military

95th Fighter Squadron Hones Combat Skills Against F-35 Adversaries in 'Ready Tiger' Exercise

The 95th Fighter Squadron and 95th Fighter Generation Squadron recently enhanced their combat readiness during exercise Ready Tiger 24-1 at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. For the first time, F-22 Raptor pilots trained against advanced fifth-generation adversary aircraft, specifically F-35A Lightning IIs. The exercise focused on Agile Combat Employment (ACE)

military

Pentagon Accepts Delivery of New Fighter Jets Without Functional Radar Systems

The Pentagon is reportedly receiving new fighter jets that lack their primary radar systems due to significant production and supply chain issues. These multi-million dollar aircraft are being delivered in an incomplete, non-combat-ready state. The absence of this critical sensor renders the jets ineffective for their intended missions until a

military

US Navy and Boeing Complete First Test Flight of MQ-25 Stingray Tanker Drone

The U.S. Navy has successfully conducted the first test flight of the Boeing-developed MQ-25 Stingray. This event marks a significant milestone for the unmanned aerial refueling drone program. The aircraft is designed to extend the combat range of carrier-based fighters, such as the F/A-18 Super Hornet and F-35C.

military

US Seeks to Expand Air Dominance with Next-Generation Fighter and Drone Programs

The United States is looking to enhance its aerial combat capabilities through the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program. This sixth-generation fighter is designed to eventually replace the F-22 Raptor, working in tandem with advanced F-35s. A core component of the strategy involves integrating the new fighter with Collaborative Combat

military

Ranking the Top 5: The Largest US Air Force Bases by Population

A new report details the largest United States Air Force bases as ranked by their total population. The list considers not just active-duty personnel but also civilian employees, dependents, and contractors, providing a comprehensive view of these communities. Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas holds the top spot, largely due

military

End of an Era: U.S. Air Force Prepares to Retire Iconic U-2 Spy Plane

The United States Air Force is proceeding with plans to retire its legendary U-2 'Dragon Lady' high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft. This decision marks the end of a remarkable service history for the iconic spy plane, which has operated since the Cold War. The retirement is primarily driven by the

military

Russia Deploys S-500 Prometheus System to Counter US Stealth Aircraft

Russia is advancing its air defense capabilities with the S-500 Prometheus system, explicitly designed to counter advanced stealth aircraft like the American F-22 and F-35. The system reportedly boasts a long-range engagement capability of up to 600 kilometers against aerial targets. It can also engage a variety of threats, including

military

Revealed: The 5 Largest US Military Airfields by Runway Length

A new report highlights the five largest US military airfields, ranked by the length of their longest runway. Edwards Air Force Base in California leads the list, utilizing a massive dry lakebed that provides unparalleled landing and testing space. The ranking also features other critical installations such as Vandenberg Space

military

Unconfirmed Report Alleges Iranian F-5 Fighter Bombed U.S. Military Base

A startling, unverified report claims an Iranian F-5 Tiger II fighter jet has conducted a bombing attack against a U.S. military base in the region. This alleged incident, if confirmed, would mark an unprecedented and direct military escalation between Iran and the United States. The claim specifically involves the

military

Combat Aircraft Journal: Latest News and Analysis on Global Military Aviation

Combat Aircraft Journal offers in-depth news and feature analysis on global military aviation. The publication focuses on modern fighter jets, bombers, and support aircraft from around the world. It provides regular updates on key programs like the F-35 Lightning II and the Eurofighter Typhoon. The content covers international air force

military

Northrop Grumman Awarded $1.7 Billion Contract for B-2 Spirit Bomber Sustainment

The U.S. Air Force has awarded Northrop Grumman a significant $1.7 billion contract to ensure the readiness of the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber fleet. This funding is allocated for the comprehensive sustainment of the 20-aircraft fleet, a critical component of the U.S. nuclear triad. The contract covers

military

China's KJ-3000: The Advanced AWACS Developed to Detect Stealth Aircraft

China is reportedly developing a new generation of airborne early warning and control (AWACS) aircraft, the KJ-3000. This platform is specifically designed to counter low-observable or stealth aircraft, such as the American F-22 and F-35. The KJ-3000 is expected to feature an advanced Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar system.

military

US Marine Corps to Disperse F-35B Squadrons Across Pacific Islands by 2026

The United States Marine Corps is shifting its strategy in the Pacific by implementing Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO). This plan involves scattering its advanced F-35B Lightning II fighter jets across numerous small, austere islands by 2026. The move is designed to create a more resilient and less predictable force

military

Air Force One's Emergency Capability: Why Mid-Air Refueling is Almost Never Used

The presidential aircraft, Air Force One, is equipped with the capability for mid-air refueling, a feature inherited from its military E-4B Nightwatch counterpart. This system is designed as a critical contingency for national emergencies, enabling the aircraft to stay airborne indefinitely if needed. However, this complex and inherently risky procedure