February 20, 2021 Military Aviation News

Nine Chinese military aircraft enter Taiwan’s ADIZ on day of Cabinet reshuffle

02/20/2021

A total of nine Chinese military aircraft entered Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ) on the day the country reshuffled its top military, intelligence and China policy officials, reports said Friday (Feb. 19). The government changes included the announcement in the early evening of new heads for the Ministry of National Defense, the Mainland Affairs Council and the top intelligence agency, the National Security Bureau (NSB).

Top Aces Brings 1st Israeli F-16s Back to the US

02/20/2021

Top Aces Corp., the first company to operate the F-16 commercially, imported its first four of 29 jets from Israel late last month, President Russ Quinn told Air Force Magazine. The jets were broken down and flown via cargo jet to the company’s F-16 Center of Excellence in Mesa, Ariz. After nearly six years of locking down the deal and working with the State Department, Quinn said Top Aces has received approval to bring all 29 aircraft to the U.S.

The Eurofighter Typhoon Just Went Full 'Beast-Mode'

02/20/2021

The image shows what may be yet another upgrade to the fighter jet, as it is shows a “Beast Mode” configuration with fourteen Meteor Beyond Visual Range weapons and two Infrared Imaging System Tail-Thrust Vector Controlled short-range air-to-air missiles, along with an external fuel tank for extended missions.

F-16s from ‘Triple Nickel’ and 510th train with first European air unit to acquire F-35s

02/20/2021

F-16 Fighting Falcons from the “Triple Nickel” and 510th fighter squadrons participated in a training exercise this week with the first air unit in Europe to acquire F-35 Lightning II jets. The U.S. jets and personnel, assigned to the 31st Fighter Wing at Aviano Air Base in Italy, participated in the exercise alongside Italian air force partners taking place on Feb. 16 and Feb. 17, according to an Air Force media release.

Afghan air force won’t be combat effective 'within months' if advisers leave, IG report says

02/20/2021

The Afghan air force, a key factor in the government’s ability to keep Taliban insurgents at bay, won’t be able to fly effective combat missions within months if the few remaining allied advisers leave, a new report said. Almost 94% of NATO’s Train Advise Assist Command-Air personnel, tasked with helping build Afghanistan’s air force, have already left the country over the last nine months, a report to Congress by the Lead Inspector General for Operation Freedom’s Sentinel said.

U.S. Air Force looks to radically overhaul its fighter plans

02/20/2021

The U.S. Air Force (USAF) is progressively overturning its long-held ambition to operate a fighter fleet comprised solely of fifth-generation stealth aircraft. The commander-in-chief has announced that he is launching a new study of the Air Force’s tactical fighter fleets that could result in expanded plans to blend “legacy” fourth- and fifth-generation fighters to meet a range of mission sets.

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