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Aviation News

Category: Navy

U.S. Navy will now take delivery of its last Super Hornet in 2027

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The U.S. Navy has awarded Boeing a $1.3 billion contract on Mar. 19 to deliver 17 advanced F/A-18E/F Block III Super Hornet fighter jets, bolstering its fleet of carrier-based combat aircraft. This agreement also includes a critical technical data package that will ensure the long-term operational readiness and maintenance of these jets. The agreement comes after previous negotiations for the Navy’s final batch of Super Hornets stalled in late 2023 due to rising aircraft costs.

150608-N-EH855-654 WATERS NEAR GUAM (June 8, 2015) Capt. William Koyama, commander, carrier air wing (CVW) 5, prepares to make an arrested landing on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) in an F/A-18E Super Hornet from the “Dambusters” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 195, after completing his 4000th flight hour. George Washington and its embarked air wing, CVW 5, are on patrol in the 7th Fleet area of responsibility supporting security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. George Washington will conduct a hull-swap with the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) later this year after serving seven years as the U.S. Navy’s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier in Yokosuka, Japan. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Bryan Mai/Released)

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Switzerland delivers first of 22 F-5 Tigers to United States

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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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Every U.S. Navy ship a carrier with AI drones?

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The colossal aircraft carrier, once an emblem of unchallenged maritime power, now faces an uncertain future. Vulnerable to sophisticated missile systems and burdened by exorbitant operational costs, its long-term viability sparks debate. A novel proposal by LCDR Jeff Zeberlein emerges, aiming to reshape the naval landscape: transforming every vessel, from the mighty destroyer down to the utilitarian fleet tanker, into a mini-carrier equipped with a squadron of AI-powered drones.

V-BAT is prepared for launch from USS Michael Monsoor during RIMPAC 2022
U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Megan Alexander, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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USN might adopt South Korea’s Bigung system to counter drone swarm attacks

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LIG Nex 1, a South Korean defense contractor, is ramping up efforts to secure a historic arms deal with the United States. The company aims to finalize an export contract for its Bigung 2.75-inch (70mm) infrared-guided anti-ship missile system.


Photo: U.S. Navy
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Super Hornets from CVW 11 make unscheduled stopover in Brunei

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In an unexpected turn of events, several United States Navy fighter jets recently made an unscheduled stopover at Brunei International Airport. The nature of their mission and their intended destination were not publicly disclosed. However, their unscheduled landing highlighted the dynamic nature of carrier strike group operations, which often require logistical support and flexibility in the vast Indo-Pacific region.

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