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Military Aviation News

Lightning IIs arrive at Kadena to maintain advanced fighter presence

03/29/2023

F-35A Lightning IIs from the 355th Fighter Squadron, Eielson Air Force Base, arrived at Kadena Air Base, Japan, March 28, 2023, to ensure continuous fighter presence through the phased return of Kadena’s fleet of F-15C/D Eagles to the United States. While deployed to the Keystone of the Pacific, the Lightning IIs will work in conjunction with other fighter units at Kadena Air Base to ensure continued steady-state fighter capabilities in the region.

Netherlands open to supplying combat jets to Ukraine, says PM

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said Monday that his country remains open to sending fighter jets to Ukraine. “In the Netherlands, we don't see any taboos, we don't rule anything out, and we consult intensively with our partners. But at the moment, no decisions have been made to train pilots for combat aircraft with us. Nothing has been decided here yet,” Rutte said at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in the Dutch port city of Rotterdam.

Kendall: Air Force ‘More Committed’ to HACM After Latest Unsuccessful ARRW Test

While the Air Force released scant details about the latest test of its AGM-183 Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon late last week, Secretary Frank Kendall told a Congressional panel it was “not a success”—and given ARRW’s checkered test history overall, Kendall indicated the service may shift focus to its other hypersonic program, the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile.

UK F-35 fleet will receive logistical support

The US Department of Defence has awarded Lockheed Martin with a $210m modified contract on 27 March to provide wide-ranging logistical support for the F-35B Lightning II fleet in the UK Royal Air Force (RAF).

Part-Time Wingmen: CCAs Won’t Always Be ‘Tethered’ to Crewed Platforms

Collaborative Combat Aircraft will be able to carry out missions without direction from crewed aircraft and may not always fly as their “wingmen,” in order to maximize employment flexibility, Air Force leaders developing and testing the new platforms said March 27.

Ukraine crews conduct 'scary' missions in aged Soviet helicopters

Anatoliy points to the few reinforced panels inside one of Ukraine's Mi-8 helicopters where he spends five-week shifts firing rockets at Russian positions. "This is a joke, not armour," says the 39-year-old gunner, who has taken part in some 300 combat missions since last spring. As President Volodymyr Zelensky pushes Western allies for modern weapons, pilots in eastern Ukraine admit their ancient Soviet-made helicopters are outplayed technologically by Russia.

USS Nimitz carrier to arrive in S. Korea in apparent warning to N. Korea

An imposing U.S. aircraft carrier is set to arrive in the southeastern port city of Busan on Tuesday, officials here said, in yet another show of America's military might against growing North Korean threats. The nuclear-powered USS Nimitz carrier is slated to dock at ROK Fleet Command in the city, 325 kilometers south of Seoul, after its strike group trained with the South Korean Navy in the international waters south of the southern island of Jeju the previous day.

Poland won’t send all its MiG-29 jets to Ukraine, says Polish deputy FM

“No, I don’t think we’ll give all MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine,” he said. Jablonski noted the transfer of combat aircraft to Ukraine would take place gradually. “First of all, for these deliveries to be effective,” the official said. “At the same time, we must bolster Poland’s security.”

How Self-Flying F-16s Will Enable Future Fighter Drones

The Air Force is rigging F-16s to fly autonomously, but that’s not the main point of automating one of the service’s most numerous fighter jets, the commander of the Air Force Test Center said Monday. Instead, the Venom project aims to refine an AI engine to fly a wide variety of today’s and tomorrow’s aircraft.

F/A-XX Future Navy Fighter’s Big Funding Points To Prototypes

Ukraine's army aircraft inflicting significant losses on Russians – Ground Forces commander

Ukraine War: Russia Ramps Up Production Of Tu-160M ‘White Swan’ Nuclear Bombers That Can Now Carry ‘Modern Weapons’

USAF Aerospace Engineer explains how Serbs Were Able to Shoot Down An F-117 Stealth Fighter during Operation Allied Force

Myanmar’s military jet fuel supplies hit by latest US sanctions

Putin says Russia will station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus

US Deploys F-15 Fighters To Launch Retaliatory Strike In Syria After Iranian Drone Hits US Military Base

China’s J-20 Fighters ‘Fail’ To Break Through Air Defense Bubble; Gets Caught In The Web In Late-Night Simulation Drills

Furthering agility and lethality: McChord C-17s refuel, re-arm F-35s

US Air Force wants money to speed E-7 purchases in FY24 wish list

Congress’ Research Arm Weighs In On Transferring Fighters To Ukraine