Aviation News
The dream of equipping the AC-130J Ghostrider gunship with a high-energy laser weapon system has come to an end. The U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) has officially shelved its Airborne High Energy Laser (AHEL) program due to “technical challenges” encountered during integration and ground testing.
U.S. Air Force, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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The Swiss Federal Office for Armaments (armasuisse) has begun delivery of 22 decommissioned F-5E/F Tiger II fighter jets to the United States. The first aircraft was picked up by the United States Marine Corps (USMC) on Mar. 18 from Emmen Air Force Station aboard a Lockheed KC-130J transport aircraft.
Photo: Armasuisse
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Eglin Air Force Base in Florida played a critical role in providing humanitarian aid during the 1999 Kosovo conflict. The challenge arose from the need to deliver Humanitarian Daily Rations (HDRs) to refugees scattered across the region. Traditional cargo aircraft were deemed unsuitable due to bad weather conditions and the threat of surface-to-air missiles.
Photo: USAF
Continue reading “How Eglin AFB created the M129 E3 “Cookie Bomb” in four days”
Over the past year, cracks have been identified in the canopy sill longerons (CSLs) of 90 F-16s across the entire U.S. Air Force inventory. These cracks can potentially ground aircraft and necessitate depot-level repairs, impacting operational readiness.
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The deployment to Sweden as part of Exercise Nordic Response 24 marked the first overseas exercise for Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 542 since achieving Initial Operational Capability (IOC) on Feb. 5. The historic landing of a U.S. F-35B on Swedish soil took place on March 13, 2024.
Continue reading “American F-35s landed in Sweden for the first time”