Israel continues to pound Iranian targets within Syria

On Sunday, five Iran-backed fighters were killed in an airstrike in eastern Syria near the border with Iraq the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a U.K.-based war monitor reported. The head of SOHR, Rami Abdul Rahman said that the airstrike targeted three military vehicles belonging to Iran-backed paramilitary fighters near the Iraqi border town […]

The Pic of the Day: Should that make it into the next safety brief?

An assortment of F-35 Lightning II’s and F-16’s fly in formation May 1 during a national COVID-19 Total Force flyover at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. The flyover included an aerial review over Luke Air Force Base followed by a morale flyover over Phoenix-Metro to demonstrate local military continued readiness during the national COVID-19 response, […]

American F-35s overfly Special Operations bases in Syria

In the past few days, the United States did a bit of saber-rattling by flying its newest stealth fighter, the F-35, over its Special Operations bases in Syria. This is the American version of daring the bully in the schoolyard to test him one more time. It was probably no coincidence that the F-35 flew […]

The Pic of the Day: Secretary of the Navy makes an exit

An F-35B Lightning II assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 265 (Reinforced) takes off from the flight deck of amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6). America, flagship of the America Expeditionary Strike Group, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit team, is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations […]

As Syria situation deteriorates, Turkey has the nerve to ask for US missiles

The situation in northwest Syria has reached dangerous levels with the Syrian, Russian, and Turkish armies on a collision course. The United Nations is warning that the deteriorating situation could result in a “bloodbath” unless the sides can agree to a ceasefire. Airstrikes by the Russians, in support of the Syrian government of Bashar Assad, […]

Hamas attacks Israel, Israeli Air Force responds, ceasefire breaks

The ceasefire between Hamas and Israel didn’t last long. Hamas members launched rockets into southern Israel on Saturday. Israel responded late Saturday night with airstrikes from fighter jets and helicopters in the city of Deir al-Balah and the southern city of Khan Younis. The IDF said that it targeted the terror group’s military capabilities. “The […]

Russia just lost a 5th-gen fighter jet in a crash

In the first reported total loss of one of Russia’s exceedingly rare fifth-generation Sukhoi Su-57 “stealth” fighters, one of the jets crashed approximately 68 miles from the Komsomolsk-on-Amur aircraft plant in Russia, where it was likely built. The pilot ejected from the aircraft safely and was recovered soon after the incident by Russian military MI-8 […]

Lawmakers rip apart the Navy’s new fighter budget

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter can do a lot of things, but one thing it can’t do is double its combat range: That’s the challenge Navy aviation is facing as it shifts its sights away from ground support operations in uncontested airspace and toward near-peer level conflicts against technologically advanced opponents like China. Thanks to […]

Turkey is now helping make Russian air defenses better at tracking US fighter jets

While Turkey’s decision to purchase Russia’s advanced S-400 air defense system may have cost them access to America’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, it’s are already moving ahead with testing the Russian weapon system against U.S. made F-16s. Some American officials have already voiced concerns over the possibility that Russia will gain access to target acquisition […]

What does it actually mean when we say ‘fifth-generation’ fighter?

When it comes to fighter jets, the modern world is currently amid a transition. The combat-proven fighters we’ve grown to know and love over the years are reaching the ends of their operational lifespans, and while update programs are underway for many of them, technological strides made in the years since these platforms first took […]

The Air Force’s ‘arsenal plane’ concept will pair F-35s with missile-laden bombers

For all the strengths boasted by America’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighters and F-22 Raptors, these stealthy fifth generation platforms still suffer from one significant drawback during combat operations: their relatively low magazine capacity. In order to maintain their stealthy profile, these fighters have to carry their ordnance internally, limiting the firepower they can bring into […]

The Air Force wants to connect its secret space plane to the F-35

The Air Force’s X-37B is a Boeing-built unmanned spacecraft that bears a striking resemblance to the old Space Shuttle (despite being significantly smaller). Although the program itself is shrouded in secrecy, its long-term orbital missions often make the headlines, thanks in no small part to the decidedly un-secret sonic booms the platform creates over Florida […]