In a strategic move to bolster U.S. presence and deter further aggression in the U.S. Central Command region, the New Jersey Air National Guard’s 119th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron has arrived with an additional squadron of F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft. This deployment comes as part of a broader effort by the Department of Defense to enhance the capability of U.S. forces to defend themselves in the face of escalating tensions in the Middle East.
U.S. Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcon fighter jets arrive at an undisclosed location within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Oct. 24, 2023. At the direction of the U.S. Department of Defense, 9th Air Force (Air Forces Central) expedited the movement of these aircraft, along with multiple fighter, aerial refueling, and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance platforms. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Amy Rangel)
In a landmark achievement for the F-35 Lightning II program, the final Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) event was successfully completed on September 21st. This pivotal phase of testing took place in the Joint Simulation Environment (JSE), marking a significant milestone in the development of the world’s most advanced fifth-generation fighter aircraft.
JOTT, F-35 Five Ship behind tanker, 1 F-35C, 2 F-35B, & 2 F-35A, Edwards AFB, Ca., 20 September 2019
It was a crisp October morning when the mighty HMS Prince of Wales, Britain’s largest and most advanced aircraft carrier, sliced through the waters of the Western Atlantic. Aboard the massive warship, anticipation buzzed through the crew and the test team. The goal: to execute the very first Shipborne Rolling Vertical Landing (SRVL) with the formidable F-35B Lightning II fighter jet.
A controller watches from his position in flying control (FLYCO) one of the build-up flights for the first F-35B Lightning II fighter aircraft shipborne rolling vertical landing (SRVL) aboard HMS Prince of Wales (R09) aircraft carrier in the Western Atlantic Oct. 17, 2023. An F-35 test pilot performed the first roll-on landing of an F-35B fighter jet aboard Britain’s biggest warship Oct. 19, 2023. Marine Maj. Paul Gucwa piloted the short takeoff vertical landing (STOVL) variant of the 5th generation strike aircraft for the first SRVL as part of developmental test phase 3 (DT-3) flight trials during the ship’s deployment to the Western Atlantic for WESTLANT 2023. “It was a wonderful experience to see our training and preparation lead to a predictable and comfortable outcome.” Gucwa said. “Expanding on the initial work the team executed during DT-1 and DT-2 is the next step in providing these types of increased capabilities to the warfighter, which is what flight test is all about” he said. F-35B pilots usually approach the carrier from the port side to a position adjacent to a landing spot. They then transition, or fly sideways, to the landing spot and land vertically. More than looking and sounding different, the landing technique could lead to tactics where a pilot returns to the ship with heavier loads, for example more fuel or weapons. (Photo by Mike Jackson)
In a demonstration of cooperation and skill-building, the Taiwanese and French Air Forces recently conducted their annual exchange at the Chiashan Air Force Base in Hualien. The event, which took place on Oct. 14, involved mixed teams of pilots from both nations, Central News Agency reported.
On Oct. 11, the AH-64E Apache achieved another milestone with the successful flight of the latest Version 6.5, marking a significant leap in the modernization of the world’s premier attack helicopter. This new configuration, known as the V6.5, is a critical step toward streamlining training and maintenance processes, all while enhancing the Apache’s operational capabilities.
