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Latest Aviation stories, analysis, and updates from SOFREP.
We have all seen the Pentagon briefings and clips on the news featuring vehicles with armed ne’er-do-wells inside fleeing an area at a high rate of speed, only to be interrupted–permanently–by the sudden arrival of a precision-guided munition. Especially noteworthy are aerial attacks on structures, even specific parts of structures, targeted in such a fashion […]
There is a long string of barrier islands extending north to south (ish) approximately two hundred miles from the southeastern corner of Virginia and it covers most of the coastline of neighboring North Carolina. Known as the Outer Banks, they are the narrow islands separating the Atlantic Ocean from Currituck Sound, Albemarle Sound, and Pamlico […]
Here at FighterSweep, there is no denying we have some absolutely incredible opportunities. I’m not just talking about flying in fighters, producing world-class aviation imagery and video, or the knowledge, experience, and expertise of our contributors. Arguably, what delights us more than anything else is the chance to meet and spend time with fantastic people […]
If you spend any time at all with fighter pilots in the club or base or the squadron bar, there will be moments when your ears will be both assaulted and delighted by something reminiscent of Edgar Allen Poe’s 1845 poem, The Raven: “While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, as of […]
This week marks the anniversary of the first flight of the Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey when, on March 19, 1989, the prototype tiltrotor briefly bested gravity for the first time at Bell’s facility in Arlington, Texas.
Welcome to Warrior Wednesday, FighterSweep! It is our hope to make this an ongoing feature, one focused entirely on the amazing men and women who play instrumental roles in our national defense. For this week’s inaugural post, we’ve chosen our good friend Lieutenant Colonel Cameron “Glover” Dadgar. He is a senior pilot with more than 2,000 hours […]
Welcome back, FighterSweep Fans! This week we take you into the cockpit of the mighty Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle, courtesy of “Ditch” and “Stealth,” two instructors at the 334th Fighter Squadron, a Strike Eagle Formal Training Unit (FTU) part of the 4th Fighter Wing at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. The footage takes us through […]
We look at the prerequisite requirements for the USMC Weapons and Tactics Instructor course and careers paths of WTI instructors.
There are two types of people: those who love clean, shiny machines, and those who love grimy machines. Some like a sparkling new Ferrari, some a mud covered Jeep. When it comes to airplanes, most folks favor the clean. Less parasite drag, right? I fall in the grimy category, especially when it comes to airplanes. The dirtier […]
It’s March. The month, of two months out of the year, where the wives and girlfriends of fighter pilots smile through thinly-veiled disdain and start counting the days until April arrives. Of all things that could be causing such contempt – Red Flag, Green Flag, TDYs, Air Wing workups at Fallon, or CRIs – the one thing […]
Royal Saudi Air Force Eurofighter Typhoons have been employing the relatively new dual-mode Paveway IV precision-guided bomb in their air campaign against ISIS. Paveway IV’s were first used by the Royal Air Force against targets in Afghanistan during Operation Herrick. The precision strikes by the RSAF come approximately one year after the US State Department […]
In our last video, you saw the gut-wrenching reality of dogfighting in the defensive position from the cockpit of a Lockheed-Martin F-16CM Fighting Falcon. In this video, we illustrate what it’s like to conduct a low-level, visual flight rules (VFR) sortie along a Military Training Route, or MTR. MTRs are corridors through which military aircraft can […]
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.
