Alert 5

The end of an era: U.S. Marine Corps marks graduation of last Harrier pilots

Posted on April 2, 2024April 2, 2024 by alert5

The U.S. Marine Corps is nearing the end of an era as the AV-8B Harrier II transitions out of the Fleet Marine Force. Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 14’s AV-8B Harrier II Fleet Replacement Detachment (FRD) at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Cherry Point, North Carolina, recently saw the graduation of the final two pilots to receive the 7509 Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) qualification, a designation reserved specifically for pilots qualified to fly the AV-8B Harrier II.

U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Joshua Corbett, a native of New Jersey and a student naval aviator with the AV-8B Fleet Replacement Detachment (FRD), poses for a photo prior to a flight at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, March 27, 2024. Corbett is one of the two final Marines to receive the 7509 military occupational specialty, AV-8B Harrier II jet pilot, as the Marine Corps transitions from the AV-8B II Harrier jet legacy tactical aircraft to the F-35 Lightning II jet. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Daisha Ramirez)

U.S. Air Force flexes global reach with B-1B deployment to Spain

Posted on April 2, 2024 by alert5

The U.S. Air Force has deployed four B-1B Lancer strategic bombers from the 9th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron (EBS) to Morón Air Base, Spain, in support of Bomber Task Force (BTF) 24-2. This deployment marks the first time B-1Bs have participated in a BTF mission at Morón AB, a strategic location for U.S. forces in Europe.

Two B-1B Lancers with the 9th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, taxi on the taxiway at Morn Air Base, Spain, in support of Bomber Task Force Europe, March 26, 2024. The U.S. is dedicated to security commitments to Allies and partner nations across the globe and routinely operate worldwide and maintain the agility to respond to any challenges in the operational environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Zachary Wright)

White House tightens security on Air Force One Memorabilia

Posted on April 1, 2024 by alert5

The White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) has initiated a campaign to curb the practice of journalists taking souvenirs from Air Force One presidential aircraft. This directive comes after the White House press office noticed missing items following a recent presidential trip.

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Lakenheath F-15Es getting the APG-82(V)1 radar

Posted on March 29, 2024March 29, 2024 by alert5

Change is sweeping through the hangars of the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath, England. The reason? The wing’s fleet of F-15E Strike Eagles is undergoing a major upgrade, transitioning from the legacy APG-70 radar system to the advanced Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, the APG-82(V)1. As part of the transition, the Enhanced Aircraft Radar Test Station (EARTS) of the APG-70 is being phased out, marking the end of an era for the Wing’s radar maintenance procedures.

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Saab announces U.S. munitions facility

Posted on March 28, 2024March 27, 2024 by alert5

Saab, the Swedish defense and aerospace giant, has announced plans to construct a new manufacturing facility in the United States dedicated to munitions production. This move signifies a significant expansion of Saab’s presence within the U.S. defense industrial base.

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Damyon Knerr, a combat engineer with 3d Littoral Combat Team, 3d Marine Littoral Regiment, 3d Marine Division, sets security with an M3A1 Multi-purpose Anti-armor Anti-personnel Weapon System during exercise Bougainville II at Pacific Missile Range Facility, Barking Sands, Hawaii, Oct. 31, 2022. 3d MLR interdicted a notional adversary maritime surface platform to set conditions for joint force follow on actions. BVII is a field exercise that allows the MLR and its subordinate units to conduct expeditionary advanced base operations across the island of Oahu. BVII displays the MLR’s ability to rapidly establish and displace EABs while executing command and control in a dispersed environment. 3d MLR’s Bougainville II is integrated into the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center training rotation 23-01 that strengthens defense relationships, fosters multinational interoperability, increase readiness, and reinforces the unified regional land power network of the Joint Force. This rotation of JPRMC includes participants from all U.S joint services as well as active participants from Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Israel Chincio)

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