Aviation News
The U.S. Navy is grappling with a hidden enemy that could be as dangerous as any adversary on the battlefield: brain injuries, according to a report by The New York Times. The paper’s investigation focuses on the elite fighter pilots trained at TOPGUN, where the constant exposure to high-G forces may be taking a devastating toll on their brains.
Continue reading “Are elite U.S. Navy pilots suffering brain injuries?”
On Nov. 28, a shadow emerged from the depths of the South China Sea, not far from the shores of the Philippines. It was the Russian Kilo-class submarine RS Ufa, an underwater vessel nicknamed the “Black Hole” by the US Navy for its stealth capabilities, surfacing within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) around 80 nautical miles west of Cape Calavite in Occidental Mindoro. The Philippine Navy, alerted to the submarine’s presence by their own intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, quickly scrambled the warship BRP Jose Rizal (FF150) and four aircraft to monitor the situation.
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) has taken a decisive step into the future of maritime defence, selecting General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.’s (GA-ASI) SeaGuardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) systems for its Long Endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle program. The selection, announced in December 2024, follows over 1.5 years of rigorous testing and evaluation by the JMSDF. The service began its trial operation project with the SeaGuardian in April 2023, putting the system through its paces to assess its suitability for Japan’s challenging maritime environment. This move mirrors a similar decision by the Japan Coast Guard (JCG). On Aug. 15, the JCG signed a contract for the purchase of two SeaGuardian RPAs from GA-ASI, with delivery expected in 2025. This follows the JCG’s ongoing Company-Owned, Contractor-Operated agreement with GA-ASI, which began in April 2022 and has seen SeaGuardians actively supporting a range of JCG missions.
Continue reading “JMSDF Selects SeaGuardian for Maritime Surveillance”
South Korean authorities investigating three Chinese students accused of illegally filming the American nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the USS Theodore Roosevelt, while it was docked in Busan on Jun. 25 have found out that one of the accused have previously been recognised as a model member of the Chinese Communist Party. The incident has raised serious concerns as investigators believe the students may have been acting under the direction of Chinese intelligence.
Continue reading “Communist Party member among Chinese students accused of spying on U.S. carrier in Busan”
The U.S. Navy has qualified its final two MH-53E Sea Dragon pilots. Lieutenants Keven Humphreys and Jack Griffin are now fully fledged, bringing to a close a remarkable 42-year chapter in the history of this mighty helicopter.
Photos: U.S. Navy
Continue reading “The last Sea Dragon riders”