The long-awaited F-16 fighter jets pledged to the Ukrainian Air Force won’t last a month in combat once they’re received, according to Russia’s top defense minister.

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu made the claim during a conference call Wednesday, saying that the country’s air defense systems shot down 37 Ukrainian aircraft in the past month—almost double the number of F-16s pledged to Ukraine, Russian news agency Tass reported. 

“That is, given this kind of activity from our air defense systems, [the F-16 jets] will last about 20 days,” Shoigu said.

Getting the F-16 fighter into Ukrainian skies remains a priority for the country’s military, as well as nations that have pledged support. Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway are donating F-16s to Ukraine, which has long sought access to the aircraft following Russia’s invasion in 2022. 

“Ukrainian pilots are now training with the Arizona Air National Guard on F-16s. This is an essential part of building Ukraine’s air defense,” Bridget Brink, U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, said in a social media post October 26. “The United States is proud to work [with] European partners to support Ukraine against Russia’s brutal aggression.”

The Netherlands’ first donated fighter will arrive at a Romanian training center by mid-November, outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte told Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy on Monday, according to a Reuters report.

“The first ones will be shipped to the training center in Romania within the next two weeks, so that day we will get ready for further training,” Rutte said.

• READ MORE: Ukrainian Pilots’ F-16 Training Underway in Arizona

Said the Ukrainian Air Force on Thursday, along with showing images of the F-16 posted on X, formerly known as Twitter: “We continue to do our work and wait…Soon in Ukraine.”

We continue to do our work and wait…
Soon in Ukraine #F16

Video Credits: Haci Production pic.twitter.com/fUMyRwuNf7

— Ukrainian Air Force (@KpsZSU) November 2, 2023

F-16 Training Timeline

The U.S. Department of Defense estimates that it will take five to nine months to fully train Ukrainian fighter pilots to fly the F-16, Air Force Brigadier General Pat Ryder, Pentagon press secretary, said Thursday.

“That’s an assessment that essentially is tailored to the current situation, based on our conversations with the Air National Guard,” Ryder said. “And again very much predicated on the skill level of the individual pilots that are going through that training.”

That assessment was made after the pilots, selected by the Ukrainian military, arrived in the U.S., Ryder said. 

• READ MORE: U.S. to Lead Coalition to Train Ukraine F-16 Pilots

“Part of that initial discussion is evaluating their skill level, where they stand in terms of English language skills, pilot skills—and so it would be tailored to the individual pilot,” said Ryder, adding that there could possibly be some variance where one pilot may finish training sooner than another.  

The post Russia Will Down F-16s Pledged to Ukraine, Defense Minister Vows appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

After months of blockade, the U.S. Senate on Thursday confirmed Air Force General David Allvin as chief of staff, the service’s highest-ranking uniformed officer. 

Allvin’s confirmation joined that of Navy Admiral Lisa Franchetti as chief of naval operations and Lieutenant General Christopher Mahoney as assistant commandant of the Marine Corps. These top military leadership roles had remained unfilled for months after Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) attempted to block military nominations and promotions in an attempt to protest the Department of Defense’s abortion travel policy.

Allvin, who has been an Air Force officer for 37 years, previously served as vice chief of staff. He is a command pilot with more than 4,600 flight hours in more than 30 aircraft, including 800 test flights and 100 hours in combat, according to the service.

“On behalf of the Department of the Air Force, we welcome General Allvin as the 23rd chief of staff of the Air Force,” Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said in a statement. “He has guided many of our most important initiatives to improve the Air Force, including recruiting and operations.” 

While the confirmations are a step forward, hundreds more remain logjammed, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Thursday.

“But we still have more than 370 superbly qualified leaders who have seen their nominations unnecessarily stalled,” Austin said. “As we face a variety of urgent challenges, the most powerful fighting force in history must be at full strength. This unprecedented delay in confirming our military’s top leaders has hurt our military’s readiness and unnecessarily weighed down our military families who already give up so much to support those who serve.”

The post Senate Confirms Air Force’s Highest-Ranking Officer appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The French Navy successfully tested a maritime drone from a multimission frigate, confirming its ability to operate automatically from a warship in rough seas, according to the country’s military officials.

The VSR-700 uncrewed aerial system (UAS) was developed as a demonstrator for the naval aerial drone system (SDAM) by Airbus Helicopters and Paris-based navy development firm Naval Group. The maritime trial was executed October 2-9 while on board the multimission frigate (FREMM) Provence as it operated in the Mediterranean, the General Directorate of Armaments (DGA) said.

The UAS is an autonomous platform designed to operate with naval vessels and derived from the Guimbal Cabri G2 light helicopter. The FREMM had been adapted to operate the SDAM by Naval Group in order to demonstrate the UAS’ surveillance performance from an operational warship.

The Mediterranean trial was the latest in a testing campaign that began in March 2022, when the UAS underwent more than 130 landings on a civilian boat during difficult sea conditions. During the October trial, more than 25 engineers and technicians tested the UAS in a series of progressive scenarios, from taking off and landing to a flight that represented a tactical employment scenario integrated with the FREMM crew, the DGA said.

“The flights made it possible to validate the implementation of the drone in scenarios of increasing complexity and to demonstrate its ability to take off and land automatically in conditions representative of its operational use,” the DGA said in a statement.

The event marked a major step for the reinforcement of the French Navy’s future capabilities, said Pierre-Eric Pommellet, CEO of Naval Group.

“We have passed a significant milestone in terms of the complexity of the integration of an UAS on board a heavily armed vessel, both physically and operationally,” Pommellet said. 

Airbus Helicopters expects to offer an initial operational capability by 2026, said company CEO Bruno Even.

“We are proud to see that the SDAM and the VSR700 are maturing,” Even said in a statement. “Working alongside Naval Group and other local partners, we are building a robust and sovereign solution.”

The post Airbus-Naval Group UAS Tested at Sea with French Navy appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Norway is set to buy six MH-60R Seahawk helicopters for maritime missions, Lockheed Martin has announced.

The contract award, placed through the U.S. Navy and announced October 26, marks the second Seahawk order in the past month. The company said it has orders or is in the process of manufacturing 64 MH-60R helicopters for India, Greece, South Korea, Australia, and Spain, in addition to Norway.

• READ MORE: Spanish Navy Signs Deal for 8 MH-60R Seahawk Helicopters

The multimission aircraft, designed and built by Lockheed Martin subsidiary Sikorsky, will be deployed for search and rescue, as well as coastal and offshore patrols.

“This platform has a long and proven track record of reliability and flexibility in operational environments similar to those faced by the [Royal] Norwegian Air Force and [Norwegian] Coast Guard,” said Brigadier General Jarle Nergård, head of the air systems division of the Norwegian Defense Materiel Agency. “This is why we believe the MH-60R is the solution that best meets Norway’s current requirements and why we are very pleased to see this contract moving forward.”

The six helicopters purchased in the $364.3 million sale will be delivered from 2025 to 2027, Janes reported. The Seahawks will replace Norway’s 14 NH90 helicopters and be based at Bardufoss Air Station.

Last month, Spain’s navy announced a purchase of eight MH-60Rs as part of its ongoing fleet modernization. 

The post Norway to Buy 6 MH-60R Helicopters appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The Pentagon wants to know more about current and former military and government workers’ experiences with unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP), the government’s term for UFOs.

The DOD announced Tuesday it had launched a new phase in collecting authorized reports of UAPs on the agency’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) website.

“This phase of the secure reporting mechanism is for current or former U.S. government employees, service members, or contractors with direct knowledge of alleged U.S. government programs or activities related to UAP dating back to 1945 to contact AARO to voluntarily submit a report,” the DOD said.

• READ MORE: Nearly 300 UAP Reports in Less Than a Year, DOD Tells Congress

The reports will be compiled as part of AARO’s historical record report, which is due to Congress by June.

“This reporting mechanism that is on the website is for people who think they have firsthand knowledge of clandestine programs that the government has been hiding,” AARO Director Sean Kirkpatrick told reporters at the Pentagon Tuesday.

There are rules for what can be reported initially through the website. Information submitted should not be classified or considered unclassified but not publicly releasable, and should only be submitted by personnel with direct knowledge of U.S. government programs and activities related to UAPs going back to 1945. After a report is submitted, AARO staff may then arrange an informational interview for more details, which will be kept personal and confidential. 

• READ MORE: What on Earth (or Beyond) Is Going on in U.S. Skies?

“By law, AARO can receive all UAP-related information, including any classified national security information involving military intelligence or intelligence related activities at all levels of classification, regardless of any restrictive access controls, special access programs, or compartmented access programs,” Kirkpatrick said.

The updated reporting portal does not replace procedures put in place earlier this year for service members to report UAP sightings, he added.

“Neither does this mechanism change the FAA reporting guidance for current observations from civilian pilots,” he said. “And we encourage civilian pilots to properly report UAP sightings to air traffic control.”

Members of the general public with UFO stories to share, however, should steer clear of the site—at least for now.

“We understand that members of the public are also interested in reporting UAP sightings to AARO,” Kirkpatrick said. “We are exploring methods for how the public can do so in the forthcoming third phase of the secure reporting mechanism, but I don’t have anything to announce about that.” 

The post DOD Seeking UFO Reports from Current, Former Personnel appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Russia’s use of loitering kamikaze drones to attack priority targets in Ukraine has created “a step change” in its attack capability, according to British military intelligence.

“Russia’s Lancet small one-way-attack uncrewed aerial systems (OWA UAVs) have highly likely been one of the most effective new capabilities Russia has fielded in Ukraine over the last 12 months,” the U.K. Ministry of Defense said Wednesday in a message on X, formerly known as Twitter. “It is designed to be piloted over enemy territory, waiting until a target is identified, before diving towards it and detonating.”

• READ MORE: In Israel and Gaza, Drones Change the Calculus of War

Russian sources claim its military began using a new version of the Lancet UAVs as of October 21 and that it is testing them for mass synchronized swarm strikes, according to an assessment released Saturday by the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank.

The UAVs are manufactured by Russian ZALA Aero Group, which also produces small, unarmed Orlan 10 UAVs often used with Lancets for target reconnaissance. 

“Russia deploys Lancets to attack priority targets, and they have become increasingly prominent in the key counter-battery fight, striking enemy artillery,” the U.K. Ministry of Defense said. “Traditionally, Russia has used small UAVs mainly for reconnaissance. With its attack capability, Lancet has been a step change in how Russia uses this category of weapons.”

• READ MORE: Deadly Siege Marks Hamas’ Effective Use of Combat Drone Swarm 

The development comes as Ukrainian defense officials say they are ready to step up the country’s drone production. 

Speaking at the NATO-Industry Forum in Stockholm last week, Oleksandr Kamyshin, the Ukrainian minister of strategic industries who oversees the country’s defense industry, said the country is preparing to produce thousands of UAVS every month. 

• READ MORE: Ukraine Readies to Produce ‘Dozens of Thousands’ of Drones Per Month

During the past 21 months of war with Russia, Ukraine has deployed a wide variety of the aircraft, including suicide or kamikaze drones, such as U.S.-made Switchblade loitering munitions; large combat UAVs such as Turkey’s Bayraktar TB2; insect-sized surveillance drones such as Norway’s Black Hornet; and hobbyist or first-person-view drones from China’s DJI.

The post UK Ministry of Defense: Kamikaze Drones Give Russia ‘Step Change’ in Ukraine Attack Capability appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Two surviving members of the American Volunteer Group (AVG)—better known as the “Flying Tigers”—were honored in Beijing at an event attended by China Vice President Han Zheng.  

In December 1941, the group of all-volunteer U.S. mercenary fighter pilots launched a seven-month campaign that blocked Japanese expansion into China. By July 1942, the Flying Tigers reportedly had shot down or destroyed 297 enemy aircraft. 

• READ MORE: 80 Years Later, the Legacy of the Flying Tigers Endures

China recognized the contribution Monday, honoring former Flying Tigers Mel McMullen, who is in his late 90s, and Harry Moyer, who turned 103 Monday, The Associated Press reported. The two traveled to China as part of a delegation of veterans and their families.

“The Chinese people always remember the heroic deeds of the Flying Tigers, and we will never forget our old friends,” Zheng told the South China Morning Post.

• READ MORE: Photo Gallery: The Flying Tigers

During the event at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, McMullen recalled how Chinese farmers saved the lives of American pilots shot down by moving them to safety at night, despite the risk of reprisal from Japan.

“I think that’s something we should all understand,” McMullen said. “People are the same. Their governments may be different, but the people actually always have one desire, and that is to live and to raise their families in peace, and in the customs of their predecessors. And I needed to say that, and I’m sorry I took so much time.”

• READ MORE: Chinese Fighter Intercepts B-52 Over South China Sea

The Flying Tigers’ support of China represented “a brilliant chapter in the joint fight against aggression, in which China and the U.S. fought side by side,” He Wei, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, China’s national legislature, told the China Daily. “It is an important source of inspiration and guidance for the mutual trust between the two countries and for building a stable and healthy China-U.S. relationship.” 

The event comes as the U.S. and China attempt to restore contact after several years of broken relations. 

• READ MORE: DOD Reports Rise in China’s Intercepts of U.S. Aircraft

“We’re at a difficult moment in the U.S.-China relationship,” said Nicholas Burns, U.S. ambassador to China. “We are in many ways rivals, strategically. … But the two peoples of the countries have always been together.”

The post China Honors 2 ‘Flying Tigers’ Veterans appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

U.S., Republic of Korea (ROK), and Australian air forces have launched a massive combined annual flight training event based in South Korea this week.

This year’s exercise, dubbed “Vigilant Defense 24,” involves more than 25 types of fighter, cargo, tanker, and reconnaissance aircraft as part of regularly scheduled training focused on joint interoperability among the Alliance, U.S. Air Force, and ROK Air Force. It is set to run through Friday.

More than 130 military aircraft are participating in the exercise meant to simulate 24-hour combat operations, Reuters reported. 

“We will maintain the best combat readiness to immediately respond to and strongly punish any provocation by the enemy through an intense training simulating an actual situation,” South Korea’s military said in a statement.

While the training exercise comes as North Korea and Russia are expanding their cooperation, it “is not intended to be threatening or provocative toward any other country,” according to the U.S. Air Force.

“Regularly scheduled, combined flying training events, like Vigilant Defense 24, are designed to enhance combined and joint training and are entirely defensive in nature, not related to any current real-world threats or situations,” the Air Force said in a statement.

The Air Force’s 8th Fighter Wing, based at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, has deployed its 14 squadrons, 2,600 personnel, and 40 F-16 Fighting Falcons to fly sorties across the Korean Peninsula during the exercise.

“While the training we do year-round keeps us sharp, opportunities like this to integrate our operations with international partners are truly invaluable to refining the necessary tactics, techniques, and procedures that ensure the combined force can operate as one cohesive unit should we ever be called upon,” said Colonel Michael McCarthy, the fighter wing’s operations group commander.

Controlling Traffic

Among the exercise’s objectives is air traffic control’s acceptance of follow-on forces and coordination of increased flight operations at Kunsan AFB during a contingency operation.

“I think it is important for airmen to step away from exercises like this with the ability to remain flexible in situations that take you outside of your comfort zone,” said Air Force Technical Sergeant Paul Gary, 8th Operations Support Squadron ATC senior watch supervisor. “You may have to adapt and follow someone else’s lead in a dynamic situation, and doing so could be the difference in saving or losing lives while coordinating aircraft.”

ATC has to be proficient in coordinating all airframes, Gary said.

“We’re always prepared for whatever may come our way, including an increase in air traffic operations during a contingency operation, because for us it would be nothing more than practicing how we play,” he said.

The post U.S., South Korea, Australian Air Forces Launch Joint Training Exercise appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The Department of Defense wants a new B61 nuclear gravity bomb that’s deliverable by modern aircraft in order to keep pace with an evolving security threat, according to Pentagon officials.

The new variant, which would be designated as B61-13, would replace some of the  nuclear stockpile, such as the B61-7, with a more accurate bomb against “certain harder and large-area military targets,” the DOD said Friday. 

The B61-13 variant would have a yield similar to the older B61-7 variant, which is higher than  the more recent B61-12 variant, the DOD said.

The DOD also wants the new bomb variant to be compatible with more modern aircraft, such as the B-21 Raider. In 2020, the F-15E became the first fighter jet certified to carry the most recent warhead redesign, the B61-12.

• READ MORE: Air Force Confirms B-21 Taxi Tests Underway

“[This] announcement is reflective of a changing security environment and growing threats from potential adversaries,” said John Plumb, assistant secretary of defense for space policy, in a statement. “The United States has a responsibility to continue to assess and field the capabilities we need to credibly deter and, if necessary, respond to strategic attacks and assure our allies.” 

Following Congressional authorization and appropriation, the new variant would be produced by the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration. 

The post DOD Sets Eyes on New Nuclear Gravity Bomb appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The pilot of a People’s Republic of China Shenyang J-11 fighter jet conducted an unsafe intercept of a U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress on Tuesday, flying within 10 feet of the bomber, according to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM).

During the nighttime intercept, the B-52 was conducting routine and lawful operations over the South China Sea in international airspace.

• READ MORE: DOD: China’s Military Catching Up with Western Air Forces

“… The PRC pilot flew in an unsafe and unprofessional manner [and] demonstrated poor airmanship by closing with uncontrolled excessive speed, flying below, in front of, and within 10 feet of the B-52, putting both aircraft in danger of collision,” INDOPACOM said in a statement Thursday. “We are concerned this pilot was unaware of how close he came to causing a collision.”

• READ MORE: DOD Reports Rise in China’s Intercepts of U.S. Aircraft

The incident occurred just days after U.S. defense officials detailed China’s pattern of  “unsafe, unprofessional” behaviors that seek to influence lawful international operations by the U.S. and other nations in a 212-page China military power report to Congress. 

In 2022, there was also an uptick in the country’s dangerous or coercive actions in the region, according to the Department of Defense.

“For example, between the fall of 2021 and fall of 2023, the United States documented over 180 instances of PLA [People’s Liberation Army] coercive and risky air intercepts against U.S. aircraft in the region,” the report said. “Over the same period, the PLA also conducted around 100 instances of coercive and risky operational behavior in the air domain against U.S. allies and partners.”

Pentagon officials also released a collection of declassified images and videos of 15 recent cases in what they said underscored the disturbing trend. 

#USINDOPACOM Statement on #PRC Unprofessional Intercept: "A People’s Republic of China J-11 pilot executed an unsafe intercept of a U.S. Air Force B-52 aircraft which was lawfully conducting routine operations over the South China Sea…"

Read morehttps://t.co/UnCmnneAr7 pic.twitter.com/6k79Koah3V

— U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (@INDOPACOM) October 26, 2023

The post Chinese Fighter Intercepts Air Force B-52 Over South China Sea appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Beta Technologies said its Alia electric aircraft landed Thursday at Duke Field, a subsidiary of Eglin Air Force Base, to begin a months-long deployment period with the U.S. Air Force. The aircraft, which made a series of flights down the East Coast to reach the base in Florida, is to be used for a series of experiments.

The Alia’s arrival at Duke marks the company’s first delivery of an aircraft to a contracted partner and the Air Force’s receipt of its first manned Beta aircraft. Beta recently worked with the Air Force to arrange the installation and commissioning of one of the company’s chargers at Duke Field earlier this month.

• READ MORE: Beta Technologies Opens Electric-Aircraft Assembly Plant in Vermont

Beta said the aircraft and its main flight testing team will stay at Duke for several months to work with the 413th Squadron to conduct hands-on experimentation and training with the Alia and its related technology. As part of the program, the Air Force will test and validate potential uses for the aircraft, including critical resupply, cargo delivery, and personnel transport.

During the trip from its home field in Plattsburgh, New York (KPBG), the Beta crew flew the Alia more than 1,500 nm across 12 states using a special market research certificate issued by the FAA. The company said it used the series of flights to test the aircraft in many challenging scenarios, such as flying through Boston’s Class B airspace and the Flight Restricted Zone around Washington, D.C. Beta also met with local airport and municipal officials during its many stops along the route and marked the installation of a charging station at Marshfield Municipal Airport (KHGH) in Massachusetts with a ribbon-cutting ceremony earlier this month.

• READ MORE: Beta Technologies, Shoreline Aviation Partner with Massachusetts Agencies to Promote Electric Aviation

The company also held a groundbreaking event for the first electric aircraft charger in North Carolina at Raleigh Executive Jetport (KTTA), a project conducted in partnership with the North Carolina Department of Transportation and AFWERX, an Air Force program that fosters innovation within its ranks.

“For the past several years, AFWERX has provided critical input and support to the Beta programs. Deploying Alia for experimentation and training at Duke Field is the natural next step in our partnership,” said Kyle Clark, Beta’s founder and CEO. “We look forward to working hand-in-hand with the U.S. Air Force over the next few months as we work together to assess how the economic, sustainability, and energy independence benefits of electric aviation can serve our military.”

To supplement its collaboration, Beta provided a mobile simulator for training Air Force pilots in preparation for operations in the full-size Alia aircraft.

“The Department of the Air Force is constantly searching for the next generation of technology to make our warfighters safer and more efficient,” said Colonel Elliott Leigh, AFWERX director and chief commercialization officer for the Department of the Air Force. “As agile innovators, we believe that partnering with American businesses is the key to this goal for delivering disruptive air capabilities.”

Beta said its Alia eCTOL and eVTOL aircraft continue to progress toward FAA certification. The company said it anticipates the eCTOL model will enter service in 2025 followed by the eVTOL in 2026.

The post Beta Technologies’ Alia Electric Aircraft, Crew Arrive at Eglin AFB for Testing Program appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Ukrainian fighter pilots began F-16 flight training this week at Morris Air National Guard Base, Arizona.

“The 162nd Wing, Arizona Air National Guard [ANG], located in Tucson, began training a small number of Ukrainian pilots this week in F-16 fundamentals,” a spokesperson for the unit told FLYING. “The training curriculum consists of both academic and flight training, which will align with the foundational knowledge and skills of each pilot and is expected to last several months.” 

Called the “face of the USAF to the world,” the ANG Wing has trained pilots from 25 countries to fly the F-16.

The Ukrainian Air Force said recently that its fighter pilots were already familiarizing themselves with flying the jets by using desktop virtual reality flight simulators.

• READ MORE: U.S. to Lead Coalition to Train Ukraine F-16 Pilots

“Our goal is to have complete F-16 flight simulators, trainer aircrafts, and flight crew training centers in Ukraine, but everything starts small,” the Ukrainian Air Force said in late September in a statement accompanying a video of training. “While our brothers master the F-16s abroad, the Ukrainian Air Force fighter pilots continue to protect the Ukrainian sky and destroy the occupiers on the ground. In their free time, the pilots get to know the cockpit of the F-16 in virtual reality and perform joint missions over the territory of Ukraine in sections, flights, and squadrons while being in different regions of Ukraine.”

Earlier this month, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said while attending a NATO defense ministers’ summit in Brussels that the U.S. will lead a new coalition to develop Ukraine’s air force by training F-16 fighter pilots. Denmark and the Netherlands will also join the effort. The two countries, along with Norway, have pledged to donate F-16s to Ukraine, which has long sought access to the aircraft following Russia’s invasion in 2022.

• READ MORE: U.S. Air Force Deploys F-16s to Poland

While we wait for the first F-16s, the MiG-29 continues to defend Ukrainian skies pic.twitter.com/acs1218yS3

— Ukrainian Air Force (@KpsZSU) October 25, 2023

The post Ukrainian Pilots’ F-16 Training Underway in Arizona appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

An Air Force flight squadron of four F-16 fighter jets and more than 100 personnel have deployed to Keflavik Air Base, Iceland, to conduct NATO policing.

“For the next [few] weeks, they will conduct regular air policing in Iceland on behalf of NATO,” the Government of Iceland said. “The mission is carried out in cooperation with NATO Control and Command Centre in Uedem in Germany and the Command and Reporting Centre at Keflavik Air Base.”

The deployment will conduct routine flight training and exercises, and last about three to four weeks, according to NATO. Airmen will also conduct aerial training with Icelandic Coast Guard personnel.

The fighters are assigned to the 480th Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Wing based at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, and represent the first Air Force fighter deployment to Iceland in two years.

“The last time the 52nd came to Iceland was in the summer of 2019, and we are happy to be back to support our allies and partners in the High North with this critical air surveillance mission,” said U.S. Air Force Major Clifford Peterson, 480th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron detachment commander leading the F-16s at Keflavik during the NATO mission.

Iceland first began hosting NATO air policing in 2008.

• READ MORE: NATO Ramps Up Maritime Air Patrols in Baltic Sea

Despite being a smaller nation, Iceland contributes meaningfully to the NATO alliance by hosting strategic NATO and allied assets and increasing the alliance’s situational awareness in the North Atlantic, Admiral Rob Bauer, chair of the NATO Military Committee, said while attending the Arctic Circle Assembly in Iceland earlier this week.

“The increased competition and militarization in the Arctic region, especially by Russia and China, is concerning,” Bauer told the assembly. “The melting ice in the Arctic is creating new sea routes that would facilitate the movement of large vessels and shorten navigation times. We cannot be naive and ignore the potentially nefarious intentions of some actors in the region. We must remain vigilant and prepare for the unexpected.”

The post US Air Force F-16s Deploy to Iceland for NATO Policing Mission appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The U.S. Air Force’s top-secret B-21 Raider stealth bomber is undergoing taxi tests.

The development, first reported by The War Zone, was validated Wednesday by the Air Force.

“I can confirm the B-21 is conducting ground taxi activities,” an Air Force spokesperson told FLYING. “Rigorous testing is a critical step in the B-21 flight test program. Extensive testing evaluates systems, components, and functionalities. This testing allows us to mitigate risks, optimize design, and enhance operational effectiveness. I don’t have any other details on testing at this time.”

• READ MORE: Northrop Grumman Pulls the Cover Off B-21 Raider

The stealth bomber, which was unveiled to the public in December, had been projected to make its first flight by the end of 2023. Designed to carry out long-range conventional and nuclear missions, it is scheduled to hit full operational status in the mid-2020s.

In September, Northrop Grumman confirmed it had commenced engine testing, which it said was a significant milestone for the bomber’s ground test program.

“While the B-21 first flight will be a data-driven event closely monitored by Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Air Force, key programmatic decisions and strategies are placing the program in a positive position moving forward,” the Falls Church, Virginia-headquartered company said.

The post Air Force Confirms B-21 Taxi Tests Underway appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Additional Air Force F-16s and aerial refuelers landed in the Middle East on Wednesday as the U.S. continues to bolster forces in the region.

“It is our aim to avoid any regional expansion of Israel’s conflict with Hamas,” Pentagon spokesperson Brigadier General Pat Ryder said. “But we stand ready and prepare to protect our partners and our interests and will act to do so. [The U.S. will also] take all necessary measures to defend our troops and our interest overseas.”

• READ MORE: DOD: ‘Significant Threat’ of Escalation Amid Israel-Hamas War

F-16s assigned to the New Jersey Air National Guard’s 119th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron arrived in the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility (AOR) on Wednesday, the 9th Air Force (Air Forces Central) confirmed. 

The F-16 squadron joins two additional F-16 squadrons, two A-10 Thunderbolt II squadrons, and one F-15E Strike Eagle squadron, in addition to strategic airlift, aerial refueling, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms (ISR), according to the command.

CENTCOM also confirmed Wednesday morning that KC-135 Stratotankers from an aerial refueling squadron based at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, had also arrived at an undisclosed location within its AOR. The CENTCOM AOR spans more than 4 million square miles, stretching from Egypt to Kazakhstan.

“The arrival of these airmen strengthens our ability to support our allied, coalition, and regional partners as we work together to enhance regional stability and security,” said Lieutenant General Alexus Grynkewich, 9th Air Force and Combined Forces Air Component Command commander.

Over the weekend, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin directed troops be placed on prepare-to-deploy orders, redirected the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, and ordered the deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Battery antiballistic missile defense system, as well as additional Patriot battalions.

• READ MORE: U.S. Military Banks on Deterrence

According to the Defense Department, U.S. and coalition forces were attacked at least 10 separate times in Iraq and three separate times in Syria by a mix of one-way attack drones and rockets from October 17-24.

“What we are seeing is the prospect for more significant escalation against U.S. forces and personnel across the region in the very near-term coming from Iranian proxy forces and ultimately from Iran,” Ryder said. “So by virtue of our announcement over the weekend, we are preparing for this escalation, both in terms of defending our forces and responding decisively.”

The post F-16s, KC-135 Aerial Refuelers Arrive at CENTCOM appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Select U.S. Army reservists and students from three aviation maintenance schools have a new path to maintenance technician jobs at United Airlines.

The airline is partnering with the U.S. Army Reserve Aviation Command, as well as the National Aviation Academy, Aviation Institute of Maintenance, and Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, to train up to 300 students per year through a new Calibrate Technician Pathway Program. As part of its military recruitment partnership with the aviation command, the airline also plans to host career fairs and provide guidance to reservists about airframe and powerplant certification programs, which the airline said would also support hiring goals for technicians of ground service equipment and facilities.

• READ MORE: United Zeroing In On Military Pilots as Air Force Tempts Them to Stay

United, which expects to take delivery of 800 new aircraft by 2032, has its eye on maintenance,  hiring more than 3,200 technicians in the past 18 months.

“Investments in new aircraft and facilities require that we also increase our pipeline of maintenance technicians that will ensure our expansive fleet, facilities, and equipment are safely and efficiently maintained,” Simone Drakes, managing director of Calibrate at United, said in a statement. “Launching this new program alongside highly regarded institutions whose high-quality training and aviation education will help us to reach our United Next and maintenance technician hiring goals.”

The Calibrate Technician Pathway Program is separate from the airline’s apprenticeship program, which pays students while they receive on-the-job training and obtain certifications. Under the pathway program, applicants must be fully certified. After completing all necessary certifications, Army reservists and students will be invited to apply and interview at United’s Tech Ops Recruiting Center in Houston. 

• READ MORE: Air Force Pilot-Training Numbers Come Up Short of Aspirations

“Participants will have priority screening consideration and benefit from United’s large ecosystem, including access to mentorship opportunities with seasoned maintenance technicians and its 42 domestic technical operations stations,” United said.

Once accepted into the program, students must maintain a high grade-point average and attendance record to stay in consideration for hiring after graduation.

The post United Targets Army Reservists, Students for Maintenance Job Training appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

U.S. defense officials are repositioning a carrier strike group and readying troops for possible deployment amid what Pentagon officials maintain is a rising threat against U.S. forces in the region.

Over the weekend, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin directed a number of troops be placed on prepare-to-deploy orders, redirected the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, and ordered the deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Battery antiballistic missile defense system, as well as additional Patriot battalions.

The enhancement of the U.S. force’s posture in the Middle East comes as Israel prepares for a  ground invasion of the Gaza Strip and as American troops in Iraq and Syria have increasingly been attacked by drones and rockets.

• READ MORE: U.S. Military Banks on Deterrence

On Monday, U.S. military officials said two one-way attack drones were destroyed near U.S. and Coalition forces in southwest Syria before they hit their targets. No injuries were reported.

Iran and its allies are responsible, seeking to escalate the Israeli-Hamas war by targeting U.S. forces based in the region, a senior military official said Monday. 

“I can tell you generally that we know there is a significant threat of escalation throughout the region and that would include toward U.S. forces,” the official said.

A senior defense official, also speaking on background to reporters, agreed. “I think it’s fair to say when you see this uptick in activity and attacks by many of these groups, there’s Iranian fingerprints all over it,” the official said.

Ramping Up Forces 

In the days following Hamas’ deadly surprise October 7 attack on Israel, the U.S. has dispatched two carrier strike groups as well as Air Force F-15s, F-16s, and A-10s rapidly sent to the region to augment existing fighter squadrons. 

• READ MORE: More U.S. Fighters Deploy as Part of Carrier Battle Group Heading to Mediterranean 

The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group arrived in the eastern Mediterranean on October 11. On Saturday, Austin redirected the second—the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group—to the Central Command (CENTCOM) areas of responsibility (AOR).

“It will further increase our force posture and strengthen our capabilities and ability to respond to a range of contingencies,” Austin said.

U.S. fighters are also routing throughout the region, the senior military official confirmed Monday afternoon. “There’s been a relatively significant increase in the number of land-based fighter and A-10 aircraft in the CENTCOM AOR, so that has already occurred,” he said.

The CENTCOM AOR spans more than 4 million square miles, stretching from Egypt to Kazakhstan.

“Our carrier strike groups give us the ability to launch operations independently, anywhere in the world and immediately upon arrival,” the senior defense official said. “When we send them somewhere, we are deliberately sending an incredibly strong signal to our adversaries but also to our allies and partners about the depth of our support and the ability of the U.S. military to expeditiously, dynamically respond to contingencies anywhere in the world.” 

Preparing for a Ground War

On Tuesday, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Israel Defense Forces soldiers that the country’s next phase of the war, largely believed to include a ground invasion, would soon occur.

“We are facing the next stage [of the operation]; it is on its way. You know it. You are part of it. You are part of the spearhead,” said Netanyahu, according to a Times of Israel report. “Yesterday [Monday], during our attacks in Gaza, we dealt the enemy the hardest blow he has suffered in a single day.”

Israel’s ongoing airstrike campaign in Gaza killed 704 and represented the deadliest 24-hour period yet in the conflict, the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Ramallah said Tuesday. According to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, 5,791 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since October 7, Reuters reported.

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) recently flew ground commanders on sorties over Gaza in attack helicopters to familiarize them ahead of a ground incursion, according to reports. IDF brigade and battalion commanders made the flights to familiarize themselves with the Gaza Strip,  a region many have never been inside, the Times of Israel reported.

The post DOD Notes ‘Significant Threat’ of Escalation Amid Israel-Hamas War appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Fighter pilots from the U.S., Republic of Korea, and Japan conducted a trilateral escort of a nuclear-capable American B-52H Stratofortress heavy bomber in airspace northwest of Kyushu, Japan, on Sunday—a first for the air forces.

The drill—the first joint aerial exercise of its kind—occurred as a response to nuclear threats by North Korea and followed an August meeting of the countries’ leaders at Camp David, Maryland. Following that meeting, President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and ROK President Yoon Suk Yoel pledged to hold “annual, named, multidomain trilateral exercises,” Air and Space Forces reported.

• READ MORE: DOD: China’s Military Catching Up with Western Air Forces 

Flanking the U.S. Air Force bomber were three U.S. F-16s from the 80th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Wing based at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea; four F-2s from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force’s (JASDF) 8th Air Wing based at Tsuiki Air Field; and two F-15Ks from the Republic of Korea Air Force’s (ROKAF) 11th Wing.

“This aerial exercise builds on the continued interoperability of our collective forces and demonstrates the strength of the trilateral relationship with our Japan and Republic of Korea allies,” the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said in a statement. “Our international cooperation is reflective of our shared values and resolve against those who challenge regional stability. We remain committed to peace and prosperity in the region to uphold a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

• READ MORE: DOD Reports Rise in China’s Intercepts of U.S. Aircraft

In a statement, the JASDF said the exercise enhanced its pilots tactical skills and facilitated formation and navigation training while also strengthening cooperation with the U.S. Air Force and the ROKAF.

About 80,000 U.S. troops are based in Japan and South Korea, according to The Associated Press.

The post U.S., Japan, South Korea Conduct Trilateral B-52 Escort Exercise appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The first Protector RG Mk1 remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) has arrived at Royal Air Force Station Waddington and is being prepared for ground and air testing, the service announced.

The long-endurance uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV), manufactured by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. and based on GA-ASI’s MQ-9B UAV variant, can be flown anywhere in the world while operated from RAF Waddington in England.

“In addition to accepting the operational roles currently undertaken by Reaper, which has provided exceptional service on operations around the clock for over 15 years, Protector will be certified to stringent NATO safety and certification standards, allowing it to operate in the U.K. and European civilian airspace,” the RAF said in a statement.

• READ MORE: Royal Air Force Receives First Protector RG Mk1 Combat Drone

Trials will include ground testing of satellite links and taxi procedures, as well as takeoff and landing procedures, RAF said.

Earlier this month, the RAF took delivery of the first of 16 ordered Protectors and said receiving the remaining combat drones will come in phases. It is expected to be in service in 2024.

“The [intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance] capability team will be working with 56 Squadron, our test and evaluation experts, [which] will put the aircraft through its paces to ensure it is ready for operational service next year, whilst the newly reformed 31 Squadron will focus on preparing to operate the aircraft in service,” said Air Commodore Alex Hicks, who is the senior officer responsible for the Protector program. “This is an important milestone for the program, Air Force, and wider defense, and I am delighted to see Protector at RAF Waddington.”

The Protector boasts a wingspan of nearly 80 feet, a maximum takeoff weight of 12,500 pounds, and is capable of carrying 500 pounds of Paveway IV laser-guided bombs and Brimstone 3 missiles.

The post Royal Air Force Prepares Protector RG Mk1 UAV for Testing appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

This year I celebrated my 20th trip to EAA AirVenture. The annual event is marked by a group photo shoot by Women in Aviation. For many years, the members of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs), wearing their distinctive blue pants and white blouses, were always in the front row in a place of honor.

This year, there were none. This was not a surprise, as many of these women, part of what Tom Brokaw dubbed “The Greatest Generation,” are too frail to travel. Before they head West, the Veterans History Project wants to capture their stories.

About VHP

The Veterans History Project (VHP) was established in 2000 by Congressional legislation as a means to tell the stories of veterans. The tales are recorded and archived as part of the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. VHP is reaching out to the remaining WASPs and their families and friends, asking that they share their experiences. 

The WASPs served in noncombat flying roles from August 1943 until they were disbanded in December 1944. They endured the same training the men did and flew the same aircraft, including test flights, target towing, and ferrying airplanes around the country. Yet they were not considered soldiers. When the group was disbanded, members were told to “go home and keep their mouths shut,” which they did, not even telling their families how they had served. They weren’t even recognized as veterans until November 1977 when President Jimmy Carter signed a bill recognizing them for their honorable deeds. In 2009, President Barack Obama awarded the WASPs the Congressional Gold Medal. 

Kerry Ward, a liaison specialist with VHP who oversees the collection of the stories— thousands of hours of oral histories, letters, photographs, and diaries from veterans and their families.

“It can be a journey of discovery,” said Ward.

In addition to audio- and video-recorded oral history interviews, VHP accepts unpublished memoirs and collections of original photographs, letters, diaries/journals, 2D artwork, and other historical documents from those who served in the U.S. armed services. VHP can also help people find out more about a family member or friend who served.

• READ MORE: WASP to Commemorate 80th Anniversary

“The place to start [is the] loc.gov/vets archival side as well as the participatory side of the project,” said Ward, noting that since 2000, VHP has collected more than 117,000 stories from veterans and Gold Star families, including experiences from World War I to current conflicts.

Many veterans didn’t want to talk about the war after they came home, so their children never knew about their  experiences until after the parent had died and the children were going through belongings and found evidence of their service.

It’s particularly poignant when they find out their mother served. I have seen this firsthand. I was working at King County/Boeing Field (KCIA) in Seattle when a woman came to me with a blue cap and a pair of tarnished silver wings with a diamond in the center. She found them as she was going through a trunk that belonged to her recently deceased mother. I recognized them immediately—her mother had been a WASP, and her family never knew.

The WASPs were not the only women to serve. Ward noted that VHP is also seeking stories about the women known as “Code Girls.” These women were among some 10,000 who served as cryptographers and cryptanalysts or code makers and code breakers during World War II. They were recruited from within various branches of the military and worked in secrecy to break German and Japanese codes. 

“They were recruited if they were good at puzzles,” said Ward. “The work they did was so secret, they had to tell everyone they were secretaries.”

Sometimes the veterans are a little hesitant to share their stories around family members. “For them we have a set of draft questions and they start with those,” Ward said.

For more information, visit https://www.loc.gov/vets.

The post Veterans History Project Collecting WASPs’ Heroic Stories appeared first on FLYING Magazine.