That’s not how stealth works: China claims a new paint job just turned their J-16 into a ‘near stealth’ fighter

That’s not how stealth works: China claims a new paint job just turned their J-16 into a ‘near stealth’ fighter

Radar absorbant coating is an important element of any stealth aircraft’s ability to avoid detection. Air platforms that were purpose built with stealth in mind already offer a limited radar return thanks to meticulously developed designs and production practices that allow for extremely tight tolerances, ensuring the aircraft has as few hard angles prone to […]

The Pic of the Day: US Air Force F-15C over the East China Sea

The Pic of the Day: US Air Force F-15C over the East China Sea

An F-15C Eagle flies during routine training Dec. 11, 2018, out of Kadena Air Base, Japan. Both the 44th and 67th Fighter Squadrons at Kadena AB play a unique role in securing peace and stability in a free and open Indo-Pacific with their F-15C/D capabilities.   U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Matthew […]

Switzerland to decide on new fighter aircraft, competition begins

Switzerland to decide on new fighter aircraft, competition begins

The Swiss Air Force announced on Friday it has accepted five bids for a new fighter aircraft as part of Switzerland’s air power modernization effort named Air2030. European firms Airbus, Dassault, and Saab all placed bids, as did U.S. firms Boeing and Lockheed Martin. The Swiss Air Force currently operates both the Boeing McDonnell Douglas […]

Why Navy pilots hate The KC-135

Why Navy pilots hate The KC-135

Depending on who you ask, the response to uttering the words “Iron Maiden” bring about very different emotions. Ask any fan of rock music and chances are the reaction is the sign of the horns. Ask any Naval Aviator, however, and the response is almost certainly dread. The trouble starts seemingly as a result of […]

The Pic of the Day: Thunderbird demonstration team over California

The Pic of the Day: Thunderbird demonstration team over California

The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds perform a demonstration during the Mather Airshow at Mather Airport, Sacramento, California, Sept. 23, 2018. The U.S. Air Force Demonstration Squadron or “Thunderbirds” were created in 1953.   U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Lauren Parsons/Released

The Pic of the Day: US Air Force F-16s over Bahrain

The Pic of the Day: US Air Force F-16s over Bahrain

U.S. Air Force Maj. John Waters, F-16 Viper Demonstration Team (VDT) pilot and commander, navigates an F-16CM Fighting Falcon, “Viper,” during a demonstration at Sakhir Airbase, Kingdom of Bahrain, Nov. 14, 2018. Waters demonstrated the flying capabilities of the F-16 before an international crowd at the Bahrain International Air Show in support of U.S. Air […]

Watch: Russian Su-27 fighter intercepts US P-8A Poseidon over Baltic Sea days after US/Canada intercept of Russian bombers near Alaska

Watch: Russian Su-27 fighter intercepts US P-8A Poseidon over Baltic Sea days after US/Canada intercept of Russian bombers near Alaska

In a tit-for-tat intercept following American F-22s and Canadian CF-18s being scrambled to intercept and escort Russian nuclear capable bombers off the coast of North America over the weekend, a Russian Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker conducted an intercept of a U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea as it “approached the Russian maritime […]