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Vietnam could be newest operator of the F-16

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The Biden administration is currently engaged in groundbreaking discussions with Vietnam that could potentially lead to the largest arms transfer in history between these former Cold War adversaries. This historic agreement, if successfully concluded within the next year, has the potential to mark a significant milestone in the ever-evolving partnership between Washington and Hanoi. At the heart of these negotiations is the proposed sale of a fleet of advanced American F-16 fighter jets to Vietnam, a move that comes amid escalating tensions between the Southeast Asian nation and Beijing, particularly in the hotly disputed South China Sea.


Graphic: Lockheed Martin

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F-35B from VMFAT-501 crashes north of North Charleston

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An F-35B fighter assigned to U.S. Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 (VMFAT-501) has crashed north of North Charleston. The pilot of the aircraft ejected safely but the

U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Zachary Ybarra, F-35B Lightning II pilot, Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron (VMFAT) 501, Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 31, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), performs aerial maneuvers during an airshow demonstration practice at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina, Aug. 21, 2023. VMFAT-501 and VMFAT-502, MAG 11, 3rd MAW, are the two components that make up the USMC F-35B Lightning II Demo Team, that perform across the country to demonstrate the capabilities of the fifth generation fighter and interact with the public. Ybarra is a Rancho Cucamonga, California native. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Kyle Baskin)

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North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un explores Russia’s advanced fighter jet factory

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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s tour of Russia continued with a visit to an aviation factory specializing in the production of Russia’s cutting-edge fighter jets. The visit underscores Kim’s keen interest in advanced weaponry and marks another step in strengthening ties between North Korea and Russia, both of which are currently dealing with their own challenges concerning the Western world.

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MQ-4C Triton returns to Guam, strengthening maritime security

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The United States Navy’s MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft system (UAS) has touched down at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam for its second deployment in the Pacific theater. This deployment comes after Triton’s initial tour from January 2020 to October 2022, during which valuable lessons were learned and significant upgrades were made to this cutting-edge platform.


U.S. Navy Photo by CNAF Public Affairs
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