The Pic of the Day: F-22s on the flight line

Eight U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, sit on the flight line at Yokota Air Base, Japan after being evacuated from Kadena Air Base, Japan due to Typhoon Maria. The F-22 are deployed under U.S. PACOM’s theater security package (TSP) program, which has been in operation since 2004.   U.S. Air […]

Who would win: American stealth aircraft or Russia’s advanced air defense systems?

When it comes to the general public, stealth technology is among the most widely acknowledged but least understood facets of the American defense apparatus, and as such, there’s also a great deal of confusion regarding the defensive weapon systems designed to engage them. Russia’s S-300 and S-400 air defense platforms, for instance, are often touted […]

The Pic of the Day: B-2 Spirit with escorts over the UK

A U.S.  Air ForceB-2 Spirit and two F-15 Eagles fly past a crowd during the 2018 Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) at RAF Fairford, United Kingdom, July 14, 2018. This year’s RIAT celebrated the 100th anniversary of the RAF and highlighted the United States’ ever-strong alliance with the UK.   U.S. Air Force photo by […]

Watch: New footage shows Russia’s advanced SU-57 fighter in a flat spin

Russia’s state-owned television network Zvezda TV released never before seen footage of the nation’s fifth-generation fighter, the Su-57 on Tuesday night. One of the two pieces of footage shows four of the rare jets flying in formation, before one of the fighters executes a maneuver commonly referred to as a “flat spin.” The second piece […]

The Pic of the Day: Czech Air Force JAS-39 Gripens

Czech Air Force JAS-39 Gripen pilots from Čáslav Air Base, Czech Republic, perform air-to-air drills on June 25, 2018, during Sky Avenger 2018.   U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Mindy Bloem  

The Pic of the Day: Japanese F-15s escorting American bombers

Two U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress bombers and two Koku Jieitai (Japan Air Self-Defense Force) F-15 fighters execute a routine bilateral training mission in the vicinity of Japan, July 26, 2018. This mission was flown in support of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s Continuous Bomber Presence (CBP) operations, which are a key component to improving combined and […]

Congress to decide whether Turkey gets F-35s

Last week, the Pentagon shared a classified report with Congress regarding the benefits and negatives of removing Turkey from the F-35 Joint-Strike Fighter production and acquisition program. Now, it’s time for American lawmakers to decide what happens. Turkey is scheduled to receive the initial bunch of F-35s in the summer of 2019. Opponents of the […]

The Pic of the Day: Watching the Navy’s Blue Angels

Engineman 2nd Class Jamie Vetter, assigned to Navy Operational Support Center (NOSC) Fargo, watches the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, practice demonstration during Fargo Navy Week. The Navy Office of Community Outreach uses the Navy Week program to bring Navy Sailors, equipment and displays to approximately 14 American cities each year for […]

New technology makes the F-22 deadlier, and the F-35 a bit less special

The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, the world’s first ever fifth-generation fighter, is still widely considered to be not only a superior dogfighter to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter but likely, the most capable air superiority fighter on the planet. Its unique combination of stealth characteristics, speed, and maneuverability set it apart from acrobatic fourth-generation fighters […]

The Pic of the Day: An F-35 flyby aboard the USS Essex

An F-35B Lightning II, attached to the “Avengers” of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211, flies over Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) during a regularly scheduled deployment of Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 13th Expeditionary Unit (MEU). The Essex ARG/MEU team is a strong, flexible, responsive, and consistent force capable of […]