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B-1s to touch down in Grand Forks for 10-month stay

Posted on December 3, 2024 by alert5

The U.S. Air Force is temporarily relocating 17 B-1B Lancer bombers and 800 airmen from Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, to Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota. This marks the return of the B-1 to Grand Forks after 30 years. The move is necessary to allow for runway construction at Ellsworth AFB in preparation for the arrival of the new B-21 Raider.

U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer assigned to the 28th Bomb Wing lands for a refueling at Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., September 29, 2024. The bomber arrived at Grand Forks AFB in preparation for the jet’s temporary relocation to the base to continue flying operations while the flightline at Ellsworth Air Force Base undergoes reconstruction. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Emma Funderburk)

Two RAAF P-8As deploy to Malaysia for Operation Gateway

Posted on December 2, 2024December 2, 2024 by alert5

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has once again sent two of its P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) Base Butterworth. This deployment is part of Operation Gateway, Australia’s longest-running defence operation. Flight tracking data from airplanes.live reveals that the two aircraft touched down in Malaysia on Nov. 23.

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U.S. Air Force to replace Misawa F-16s with F-35As

Posted on December 2, 2024December 2, 2024 by alert5

The U.S. Air Force will begin replacing Misawa Air Base’s 36 Lockheed Martin F-16s with 48 F-35As in the spring of 2026, according to the Japanese Ministry of Defense. The service plans to start phasing out the F-16s in the summer of 2025. The move comes as part of the Pentagon’s plan to modernise US airpower in the Indo-Pacific.

Four U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons, four Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters, four JASDF F-2s, one JASDF E-2D Hawkeye, one U.S. Navy C-12 Huron, and one U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon perform a wing capabilities demonstration in support of Keen Sword 25 at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Nov. 1, 2024. The U.S.-Japan alliance is built on shared interests, values and a commitment to freedom and human rights; the alliance is strong and focused on enhancing a security architecture of regional partnerships. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kohei Sugisawa)

Thales integrates AI into Talios pod

Posted on November 29, 2024 by alert5

The French Air Force is set to receive a major upgrade to their Rafale combat aircraft in 2026 with the introduction of an AI-equipped Talios targeting pod. The new pod, developed by Thales, will mark the first time a French combat aircraft will carry a system that makes “intensive use” of deep learning technology.

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Outgoing Finnish Air Force chief confident in F-35 program’s success

Posted on November 29, 2024November 29, 2024 by alert5

Maj. Gen. Juha-Pekka Keränen, outgoing Commander of the Finnish Air Force, recently offered insights into Finland’s progress toward transitioning to the F-35A. The first aircraft are due to arrive in Finland in late 2026, with full operational capability (FOC) scheduled for the end of 2030. Keränen is confident that the ambitious transition timeline, which sees the Boeing F/A-18C/D Hornet phased out completely by 2028, will be met. He was quoted as saying, “I see no major obstacles ahead of us – on a large scale we’re doing well and I’m pleased with the progress of the program.”

Photo: Finnish Air Force
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