The Pic of the Day: Giants in the mist

The Pic of the Day: Giants in the mist

An Airman walks past multiple C-17 Globemaster IIIs at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., Feb. 21, 2019. Exercise Patriot Sands was a joint-service exercise coordinated by the Air Force Reserve, designed to integrate first responders from federal, state, local agencies and the military by providing quick response training in the event of a regional emergency or […]

The Pic of the Day: American Bone flying with a Qatari Mirage 2000

The Pic of the Day: American Bone flying with a Qatari Mirage 2000

A U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer bomber and a Qatari Mirage 2000 fly in formation, Feb. 19, 2019. The aircraft participated with regional partners to test objective-based command and control actions during Joint Air Defense Exercise 19-01.   U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Clayton Cupit

The Skyborg Program: The Air Force’s new plan to give fighter pilots drone sidekicks

The Skyborg Program: The Air Force’s new plan to give fighter pilots drone sidekicks

The Australian government and Boeing recently unveiled their plans for a “Loyal Wingman” drone system that would provide multiple support drones for fighters, bombers, and even unarmed aircraft during combat operations. Now, the U.S. Air Force has begun touting a new endeavor, dubbed “Skyborg,” that could take the Loyal Wingman concept to the next level. […]

Political leaders propose the adoption of a shared European Union aircraft carrier

Political leaders propose the adoption of a shared European Union aircraft carrier

In an unanticipated development, Germany has proposed that the European Union (EU) adopt a shared EU aircraft carrier. Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, the successor of Angela Merkel in the leadership of the governing Christian Democratic Union and the next chancellor of Germany, said that, concerning European defense, “The next step could be to start on the symbolic […]

Russia’s weird flying AK-47 drone is as useless as it is interesting

Russia’s weird flying AK-47 drone is as useless as it is interesting

Defense journalist Steven Trimble caught the attention of aviation nerds and gun aficionados alike with the discovery of a patent for what appears to be a simple AK-47 drone filed by Russian arms manufacturer Almaz-Antey last year. Trimble took to Twitter with his discovery, pointing out that the rifle in the image does look quite […]

The Pic of the Day: F-35 carries a ‘third day of war’ loadout

The Pic of the Day: F-35 carries a ‘third day of war’ loadout

PHILIPPINE SEA (Feb. 3, 2019) An F-35B Lightning II attached to the F-35B detachment of the “Flying Tigers” of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 262 (Reinforced) prepares for takeoff during flight operations aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1). Wasp, flagship of Wasp Amphibious Ready Group, with embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), […]

The B-1B Lancer may be slated for retirement, but it’s still got a lot of fight left in it

The B-1B Lancer may be slated for retirement, but it’s still got a lot of fight left in it

As America’s secretive new stealth bomber, the B-21 Raider, continues development, it’s clear that the days of America’s legacy bomber platforms, the B-2 Spirit and the B-1B Lancer, are numbered. With the B-21 expected to enter into service in the mid-2020s, America’s current heavy payload stealth bombers and heavy payload supersonic bombers will begin their […]

The Pic of the Day: Blue Angel on a low pass

The Pic of the Day: Blue Angel on a low pass

EL CENTRO, Calif. (Feb. 2, 2019) Opposing solo pilot Lt. Cmdr. Andre Webb, assigned to the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, performs a low transition take off during a practice demonstration. The Blue Angels are conducting winter training at Naval Air Facility El Centro, California, in preparation for the 2019 show season. […]

Unlike the F-15, America will likely never see new F-22s

Unlike the F-15, America will likely never see new F-22s

Unlike the F-35, the F-22 has been operational for years, and has already been used in a number of intercepts of foreign aircraft over international waters.  It also trumps the F-35 in performance tests like maximum speed, rate of climb, and maneuverability, delivering figures that largely match or exceed that of the global competition. Like […]

The Pic of the Day: F-35s over Florida

The Pic of the Day: F-35s over Florida

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (Feb. 1, 2019) Three F-35C Lightning II, attached to Commander, Joint Strike Fighter Wing, the “Argonauts” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147, the “Rough Raiders “Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 125 and the “Grim Reapers” Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 101 complete a flight overhead Eglin Air Force Base in Fort Walton […]