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Category: Air Force

A-10 makes final flight home to Hagerstown

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After 46 years of military service spanning combat missions in Afghanistan and Iraq, a veteran Fairchild A-10 Thunderbolt II “Warthog” will make its final flight this month, returning to the Maryland city where it was born.

USAF A-10 (4825533508)
Cory W. Watts from Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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China unveils nuclear-capable JL-1 air-launched ballistic missile at Victory Day Parade

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China publicly displayed its JingLei-1 (JL-1) nuclear-armed air-launched ballistic missile for the first time during the Victory Day parade in Beijing on September 3, marking a significant milestone in the development of the country’s nuclear triad capabilities. The parade commemorated the 80th anniversary of the Allied victory in World War II.


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Japan to deploy F-15s to Europe and the U.K.

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Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) F-15J fighters will deploy to Europe and the U.K., marking the first time Japanese military aircraft have been stationed on the continent as part of expanding defense cooperation with the United Kingdom.

A Japanese Air Self Defense Force F-15J Eagle departs after refueling from a U.S. Air Force KC-10 Extender assigned to the 9th Air Refueling Squadron, Travis Air Force Base, California, over the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex June 23, 2021. RED FLAG-Alaska 21-1 is a Pacific Air Forces-sponsored exercise designed to provide realistic training in a simulated combat environment. A series of commander-directed field training exercises provides joint offensive counter-air, interdiction, close air support, and large force employment training. The RF-A exercise provides unique opportunities to integrate various forces to include the Japanese Air Self-Defense and Republic of Korea Air Forces into joint and multilateral training. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Emily Farnsworth)

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Ice formation from contaminated hydraulic fluid led to F-35A flight control failure in Alaska

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Water contamination in hydraulic fluid caused ice formation that led to the Jan. 28 crash of an F-35A Lightning II at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, resulting in a $196.5 million total loss, according to an Air Force accident investigation board report released this week.

Two F-35A Lighting IIs assigned to the 354th Fighter Wing fly over Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, April 14, 2022
Senior Airman Jose Miguel T. Tamondong, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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Textron’s ATAC unit wins $7.82 million contract for F-16 chase services

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Airborne Tactical Advantage Company, a unit of Textron Inc., secured a task order worth up to $7.82 million to provide chase flight support services for F-16 aircraft under the Foreign Military Sales program, the company announced Aug. 18.

A pilot taxis down the flightline in an F-21 Kafir aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, Nov. 6. The Airborne Tactical Advantage Company is training with Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 for the next two weeks to support new and transition pilots in their certification for the F-35B. The pilot is with ATAC.

Photo by Cpl. Benjamin McDonald

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