Aviation News
The U.S. Air Force presence at Kadena Air Base, Japan will undergo a transformation. The current fleet of F-15C/D aircraft being rotated out will be permanently replaced with a smaller contingent of the latest Boeing F-15EX variant.
Continue reading “U.S. Air Force in Japan get major fighter upgrades”
This YouTube video dives into the fascinating story behind the red muffler, a symbol synonymous with South Korean Air Force pilots. While the image might conjure pilots soaring through the skies with a red scarf flowing behind them, the reality is a bit more nuanced.
Today marks the 42nd anniversary of the first flight of the F-16XL, a unique prototype fighter jet that never quite reached its full potential. Developed by General Dynamics as a variant of the iconic F-16 Fighting Falcon, the F-16XL boasted a distinctive “cranked-arrow” delta wing design promising increased range and improved ground attack capabilities.
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USAF, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Continue reading “42nd anniversary of the F-16XL’s first flight”
(H/T to Seapower magazine)
The U.S. Marine Corps’ MQ-9A Reaper drone fleet appears to be gaining a new edge in low-observability technology. During a recent event at the Brookings Institution, General Eric M. Smith, the 39th commandant of the Marine Corps, alluded to a classified pod system called T-SOAR that enhances the drone’s ability to evade enemy radar detection.
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (KTOS) successfully demonstrated a novel launch system for its Valkyrie unmanned aerial system (UAS). This new method, called the Kratos Trolley Launch System (KTLS), offers significant advantages in terms of affordability and operational flexibility.
Continue reading “Kratos unveils new takeoff method for Valkyrie”