The U.S. Navy has revealed for the first time its previously undisclosed attempt to acquire F-16 Fighting Falcons from Greece, as part of its ongoing efforts to modernize its adversary air capabilities. This revelation comes as the Navy Reserve welcomed its newest F-16 to the fleet on August 27, 2024, marking a crucial milestone in the Tactical Support Wing’s (TSW) long-term modernization strategy initiated in 2009.
Northrop Grumman’s AN/ALQ-257 Integrated Viper Electronic Warfare Suite (IVEWS) for the F-16 fighter jet has successfully completed testing at the U.S. Air Force’s Joint Preflight Integration of Munitions and Electronic Sensors (J-PRIMES) facility, paving the way for flight testing on Air Force F-16 aircraft.
The Luftwaffe has declared Initial Operating Capability (IOC) for the IRIS-T SLM ground-based air defense system, achieving a significant upgrade for German air defense capabilities. This achievement comes just one year after the German Bundestag’s Budget Committee approved the procurement of six fire units, marking a rapid transition from acquisition decision to operational readiness.
Crews from the U.S. Air Force’s 9th Special Operations Squadron (SOS) at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico, have been awarded the 2023 Brig. Gen. Ross G. Hoyt Award for their exceptional performance during a presidentially-directed contingency operation. The operation involved supporting the single-longest U.S. Army helicopter mission to rely entirely on aerial refueling, marking a significant milestone in U.S. military aviation history.
U.S. service members from the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), 6th Special Operations Squadron and 109th Airlift Wing watch a MH-47G Special Operations Aircraft assigned to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), refuel mid-air during Arctic Edge 24(AE24) over the Alaskan wilderness, March 2, 2024. During AE24, more than 400 joint and allied Special Operators trained in extreme cold conditions to sharpen SOF readiness across unique specialties like long range fires and movements, special reconnaissance, rapid resupply, personnel recovery, and medical care in the austere Arctic environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Drew Cyburt) Continue reading “Two MC-130J Commando II crews earn prestigious Hoyt Award for unprecedented aerial refueling mission”
In a positive turn of events for Ukraine’s air defense capabilities, Canada’s procurement of National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) is showing signs of advancement following earlier setbacks. The $406 million purchase, initially announced in January 2023, is now on track for delivery in early 2025, marking a significant step forward in bolstering Ukraine’s defensive arsenal.
