November 14, 2023 Military Aviation News

U.S. Air Force begins flight tests for T-7A Red Hawk digital trainer aircraft

11/14/2023

The aircraft - using the call sign APT-2 - is the first production representative jet off the assembly line and was piloted by a joint U.S. Air Force and Boeing aircrew. According to the Air Force announcement, the aircrew collaboration in the cockpit represents the structure of the T-7A Integrated Test Force, which will see Air Force and Boeing team members working shoulder-to-shoulder to rapidly test and certify the aircraft.

F-15EX not currently at risk of schedule breach, despite delivery delays: USAF

11/14/2023

The first batch of Boeing’s F-15EX Eagle II fighters is running late, but not late enough to trigger a schedule breach if current plans hold, according to an Air Force spokesperson. However, the service also confirmed that the first four lots of jets — about half the total expected buy — will not come with conformal fuel tanks, a decision that would reduce those fighters’ potential ranges and limit their ability to conduct ground attack missions.

Commercial tanker refuels US Air Force fighters for Singapore exercise

11/14/2023

The U.S. Air Force conducted its first aerial refueling of fighter aircraft by a commercial tanker on Nov. 6. The commercial refueling of F-16 Fighting Falcons from Osan Air Base in South Korea took place as part of the Commando Sling 23 joint exercise conducted in Singapore. The bilateral training event with the Republic of Singapore Air Force is sponsored by Pacific Air Forces and is intended to improve how the island nation operates with the United States.

Europe opens F-16 warplane training center for Ukrainian pilots

11/14/2023

The European training center to teach Ukrainian pilots how to operate F-16 combat planes was officially opened on Monday in Romania. "The center will be an international hub for the training of F-16 pilots and will facilitate increased interoperability among allies," the Romanian defense ministry said. It was inaugurated by Romanian Defense Minister Angel Tîlvar and his Dutch counterpart Kajsa Ollongren at an air base east of Bucharest.

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