Mage Island FCLP facility construction faces three-year delay

The Japanese Defense Ministry has announced that the completion of a new field carrier landing practice (FCLP) facility on Mage Island in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan, will be delayed until March 2030, three years behind the initial schedule. The base, which began construction in January 2023, was originally slated for completion in 2027.


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Carrier swap creates rare training opportunity for CVW-5

A strategic hull swap between USS George Washington (CVN 73) and USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) has opened a unique window for Carrier Air Wing 5 (CVW-5) to complete its Air Wing Fallon (AWF) training with full participation. This rare occurrence, stemming from the transition in the U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed naval forces (FDNF) in the Indo-Pacific region, marks the first time in over nine years that the entire air wing has trained together at the Navy’s premier tactical aviation training facility.

A Naval Aviator enters the cockpit of an F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 102 during Air Wing Fallon training for Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 on Naval Air Station Fallon, Nev., Sept. 6, 2024. NAS Fallon hosts the NavyÕs premier integrated training facility, providing live, virtual and constructive training opportunities. For five weeks, CVW-5 mission-planned, rehearsed in a virtual environment, refined tactical plans and executed live-flight missions. (U.S. Navy photo by Gavin Graham)

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Boeing adapts carrier borne tanker for U.S. Air Force needs with MQ-25 land-based variant

Based on information reported by Aviation Week, Boeing has unveiled a new land-based variant of its MQ-25 autonomous tanker. The design, aimed at future U.S. Air Force refueling needs, expands on the U.S. Navy’s carrier-based Stingray model.


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RMAF and French Navy conduct joint air defense exercise

The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) recently engaged in a joint air defense drill with the French Navy from Sept. 4-7, showcasing the growing emphasis on defense diplomacy and operational synergy between the two nations. The exercise, which took place following the port visit of the French Navy’s frigate FS Bretagne to Kota Kinabalu, underscored the commitment of both countries to enhancing their maritime and aerial capabilities in the region.


Photo: RMAF
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