The F-35 achieves another success: UK to double F-35B fleet

In other good news for the F-35 program, the Royal Navy has announced its intentions to double its F-35B fleet. Complying with the Royal Navy’s request, the British government agreed to purchase an additional 17 F-35B aircraft. The additional jets are expected to enter the Royal Navy’s arsenal between 2020 and 2022. The current fleet of the […]

US Navy fighter goes down in Philippine Sea

An F/A-18 Super Hornet assigned to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan went down on Monday morning while conducting routine operations over the Philippine Sea. Both pilots were successfully rescued and suffered only minor injuries. According to a U.S. Navy statement, the Super Hornet was conducting routine operations when it suffered a serious mechanical […]

Russia’s sole aircraft carrier may never sail again

Russia’s only aircraft carrier, the long-troubled Admiral Kuznetsov, last saw action in 2016 in support of Pro-Assad forces in Syria. That deployment proved embarrassing for the Russian military, with its support mission marred by losing two aircraft as they attempted to land on the ship’s flight deck. When it’s rotation was over, the Admiral skulked […]

China’s new hypersonic missile puts US destroyers in its sights

Hypersonic missile technology has quickly become the basis for an arms race between China, Russia, and the United States. Although the U.S. is now moving buckets of money into this new field, both the Chinese and Russians have maintained a steady lead in the competition thanks to an earlier start. Now, with the U.S. programs […]

US carrier strike group joins Japanese and Canadian vessels for massive Pacific war games

Over the past few weeks, the United States military has been participating in the NATO training operation, Trident Juncture. With 50,000 troops from 30 different nations involved, Trident Juncture is meant to demonstrate a high level of interoperability and cooperation among NATO allies and other friendly nations in the Arctic, where Russia’s military has enjoyed […]

SOFREP Pic of the Day: Carrier duty comes with a pretty good view

Aircraft, shooting stars and planets are visible from the flight deck of the Navy’s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan as it transits the Luzon Strait, July 1, 2016. The Reagan is supporting security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Ryan McFarlane Take a tour of the […]