DefenceTalkBoeing successfully completed the first flight of the F-15QA fighter, the most advanced version of the jet ever manufactured. Developed for the Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF), the jet demonstrated its next-generation capabilities during its 90-minute mission. The flight took off and landed from Lambert International Airport in St. Louis. “We are very proud of […]https://www.defencetalk.com/boeings-f-15-qatar-advanced-fighter-jet-completes-1st-flight-75171/

DefenceTalkThe State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Republic of Korea to upgrade its F-16 Block 32 aircraft with Mode 5 Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) and Link 16 Tactical Datalink (TDL) and related equipment for an estimated cost of $194 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered […]https://www.defencetalk.com/korea-to-buy-f-16-identification-friend-or-foe-iff-link-16-upgrades-75025/

DefenceTalkYesterday, (Sunday), the “Enduring Lightning” exercise in southern Israel – joint training between Israeli “Adir” (F-35I) aircraft from the IAF’s 140 squadron (“Golden Eagle”), alongside F-35 aircraft operated by the USAF’s (United States Air Force) 34th Fighter Squadron, has come to an end. The IAF’s 122 squadron (“Nahshon”), which operates the “Nahshon” (Gulfstream G-500) Control […]https://www.defencetalk.com/israeli-us-air-force-f-35s-in-first-joint-training-in-israel-75015/

DefenceTalkAs the F-35 program limps toward the end of its much-delayed operational testing period and subsequent full-rate production decision, unanswered questions about its combat effectiveness and suitability for service within the fleet remain. The Pentagon weapons testing office’s 2019 annual report, released earlier this year, paints a picture of an incompletely designed and vulnerable aircraft […]https://www.defencetalk.com/uncorrected-design-flaws-cyber-vulnerabilities-and-unreliability-plague-the-f-35-program-74969/

DefenceTalkISLAMABAD: A Pakistani F-16 fighter jet crashed in Islamabad on Wednesday (Mar 11) in an apparent accident during a rehearsal for an upcoming military parade in the capital, officials said. There was no immediate word on the fate of the pilot or co-pilot, or details on the area the plane crashed. Footage on social media […]https://www.defencetalk.com/fighter-jet-crashes-in-pakistan-capital-during-parade-rehearsal-74779/

DefenceTalkTwo Russian military reconnaissance aircraft were intercepted and escorted for hours near Alaska by US and Canadian air force fighter jets, the North American Aerospace Defense Command said. The two Tu-142 maritime reconnaissance aircraft on Monday entered the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone, sparking the deployment of several NORAD aircraft including fighter jets, the command […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-canadian-jets-intercept-russian-reconnaissance-aircraft-74768/

DefenceTalkARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE: Store separation testing on a one-fifteenth scale model of an F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter in the Arnold Engineering Development Complex 4-foot Transonic Wind Tunnel, or 4T, at Arnold Air Force Base, was completed weeks ahead of a scheduled facility maintenance outage, saving the test customer more than $1 million. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/f-35a-lightning-ii-store-separation-test-completed-ahead-of-schedule-74631/

DefenceTalkLockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) and the F-35 Joint Program Office delivered the 500th F-35. In February, the F-35 enterprise surpassed 250,000 flight hours. The 500th production aircraft is a U.S. Air Force F-35A, to be delivered to the Burlington Air National Guard Base in Vermont. The 500 hundred F-35s include 354 F-35A conventional takeoff and […]https://www.defencetalk.com/lockheed-martin-delivers-500th-f-35-fighter-jet-surpasses-250k-flight-hours-74584/

DefenceTalkBeirut: A Turkish fighter jet Tuesday downed a Syrian regime warplane in the northwestern Idlib province and the pilot was killed, a monitoring group said. It was the third such downing in three days amid escalating fighting between Turkish forces and Syria’s Russian- and Iranian-backed regime. A missile fired by Syrian regime forces on the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/syrian-pilot-killed-as-turkey-downs-warplane-monitor-74580/

DefenceTalkMOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho: This is the story of F-15E Strike Eagle tail number 87-173, where it comes from and how innovation keeps it ready to bring the fight to the enemy. Many jets become legends for their heroic feats in battle, but they are unable to tell their stories as they experienced […]https://www.defencetalk.com/jet-87-173-innovation-keeps-air-force-legend-in-the-fight-74511/