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Latest Aviation stories, analysis, and updates from SOFREP.
On December 30 the Air Force formally opened the bidding process for the T-X program to replace the T-38 Talon jet trainer. Announcing they were accepting bids is a major step in the $16 billion dollar program that is expected to be awarded in 2017. The new aircraft training system will prepare Air Force student pilots […]
Less than two weeks ago President-elect Trump tweeted that the F-35 program was over budget and that he was requesting a bid for a ‘comparable Super Hornet’. Today we have word that his incoming Secretary of Defense, Retired Marine Corps General James Mattis supports the program with a “clear commitment” to its continuation. Watch Raw Footage […]
On the Naval Aviation News website, the Navy lauded its use of a 100% bio-fuel JP-5 jet fuel replacement on a recent EA-18G “Green Growler” flight. After the flight, the test pilot proclaimed he could not tell any difference in how the aircraft performed compared to traditional JP-5 jet fuel. From takeoff to landing, you […]
On December 28, the US Air Force released a ‘request for proposals’ to develop a Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS) replacement. The current Joint STARS, based on an E-8C aircraft (modified Boeing 707) is an airborne battlefield management, command and control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platform. First flying in Operation Desert Storm in 1991 […]
A US Navy cruise video shows the life and times of personnel on the ship. This one from VFA-83 Rampagers gives you an inside look into the life of F-18 fleet pilots. Watching this video is like you are there in the cockpit and on the flight deck of the carrier! One of the best cruise […]
What better way to start 2017 than by watching the amazing F-22 Raptor in action? The F-22 is a marvel of American engineering. Help us answer these questions: Is this the greatest fighter jet ever made? Can the F-35 compete with an F-22 in a dogfight? Did the US make a mistake by stopping production […]
Marine Corps pilot Joe Foss had 26 aerial kills in World War II equaling the record Eddie Rickenbacker set in World War I. Like Rickenbacker, Foss was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor and earned the nickname “ace of aces.” As legend has it, 12 year old Joe, who was raised on a farm in […]
In a ceremony at Holloman AFB, New Mexico on December 21, over 500 people watched the final flight of an Air Force F-4 Phantom. Marking the end of over 50 years of service to the Air Force it was a bittersweet moment for pilot Lt. Col. Ronald King who flew the F-4 on its final flight. “This […]
On December 30, 1947 the MiG-15 fighter jet designed by Mikoyan-Gurevich for the Soviet Union (USSR) first flew. The swept wing MiG-15 was small, agile and fast making it a very formidable aircraft. The MiG-15 had a wingspan of only 33 feet, was 33 feet long and stood 12 feet tall. Comparably the United States […]
Take a look at the inside of an F-35 Lightning II flight simulator! Anyone who loves aviation and especially military aviation will want to take a look at this video of the F-35 simulator. Pretty amazing how realistic training can be in these simulator systems. In all of the simulators, F-35 software is used to […]
The hot topic in military aviation is the F-35 and how it compares to other jets like the F-16, F-22, A-10 and more. Can the F-35 beat an F-16 in a dogfight? Can it perform close air support missions like an A-10? Will a single engine jet work for the Navy flying off aircraft carriers […]
Textron Inc. announced the first flight of a production conforming Scorpion Jet on December 22. The company also recently completed successful initial weapons testing on the Scorpion which included launching rockets, firing AGM-114F Hellfire missiles and BAE Systems’ Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS). “The success of the first weapons capability exercise is a major milestone for […]
SIG Sauer is a world-class firearms manufacturer trusted by military, law enforcement, and responsible civilian shooters, delivering precision-engineered weapons, optics, and training systems while maintaining a strong commitment to veteran hiring, American manufacturing, and the professionals who rely on their gear when it matters most.
FightCamp is an at-home boxing and kickboxing training system built around real technique, structured programming, and measurable performance. Members train with fighters and professional coaches while using connected punch and kick trackers that record volume, speed, and power in every round. The result is training that builds conditioning, skill, discipline, and resilience — all from home, on your schedule.
Barrett is the world leader in long-range, large-caliber, precision rifle design and manufacturing. Barrett products are used by civilians, sport shooters, law enforcement agencies, the United States military, and more than 75 State Department-approved countries around the world.
Hywell is a premium gear brand specializing in heavy-duty Merino wool boot socks for blue-collar professionals and outdoorsmen. Backed by an ironclad 10-Year Warranty.
Praesidus builds rugged, American-assembled watches inspired by historic military timepieces. Designed for accuracy and tested for endurance, each watch is made for outdoor explorers, everyday adventurers, and anyone who needs reliability when it matters.
Essential Provisions Field Fuel® meals [ready-to-eat] & sports nutrition products have been developed with the cleanest, high-quality nutrient and energy-dense ingredients available. Research has shown that the whole food nutrients contained in our products have the ability to help.
Have you ever tried to wear a fleece hoodie in bad weather? We don’t recommend it. That’s why we founded BÆRSkin in 2019 – to create the world’s best outdoor gear that’s just as comfortable at home as it is durable outdoors. “Bad fitting, bulky, and boring” is how we felt about 1000’s of regular fleece hoodies we tested.
If you’re 21 or older and use nicotine or tobacco, charge ahead with Black Buffalo, America’s only credible smokeless tobacco alternative. Black Buffalo dips just like the real thing without the tobacco leaf or stem. Find Black Buffalo in Wawa, Circle K, Sheetz, Love’s, Pilot, Racetrac, and many more retail locations across the United States.
