DefenceTalkThe Air Force Research Laboratory’s 711th Human Performance Wing and the 28th Test and Evaluation Squadron executed an in-flight vapor purge test in a F-15E Strike Eagle, Aug. 16-19, 2022. This test is part of a larger Department of Defense effort to evaluate cockpit environmental conditions after a chemical weapon attack. This F-15E test is […]https://www.defencetalk.com/air-force-executes-first-in-flight-next-gen-aircrew-protection-test-in-f-15e-strike-eagle-79306/

DefenceTalkNorthrop Grumman and the U.S. Air Force are continuing enhancements to the B-2 Spirit Stealth bomber fleet providing new capability, including its first long-range stealth missile. The B-2 successfully released a Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile – Extended Range (JASSM-ER) during a flight test in December. The JASSM-ER further enhances the B-2’s ability to hit any […]https://www.defencetalk.com/northrop-grumman-continues-b-2-spirit-modernization-program-79269/

DefenceTalkJOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska: Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson’s 525th Fighter Squadron (FS) recently won the 2021 Raytheon Trophy, which is awarded to the best air-to-air fighter squadron in the United States Air Force, taking the lead in advancing the baseline air-to-air threat to a peer level adversary. “[The 525th FS] flawlessly executed this mission with multiple […]https://www.defencetalk.com/525th-fighter-squadron-awarded-2021-raytheon-trophy-79280/

DefenceTalkThe Air Force Research Laboratory Strategic Development Planning and Experimentation office has invested $15 million upgrading a decades-old workhorse to make it relevant for 21st century warfighter challenges. AFRL’s Autonomous Aircraft Experimentation team is using a highly modified Air Force Test Pilot School NF-16, an aircraft recently designated the X-62, to accelerate the development of […]https://www.defencetalk.com/modified-x-62-helps-accelerate-tactical-autonomy-development-79236/

DefenceTalkThirteen German military aircraft were on their way to Australia on Tuesday as Germany looks to strengthen its presence in the Indo-Pacific region amid growing tensions with China. The six Eurofighters and seven military transport aircraft were due to land in Singapore on Tuesday before travelling on to Australia under the mission dubbed Rapid Pacific […]https://www.defencetalk.com/german-fighter-jets-to-make-debut-in-indo-pacific-79200/

DefenceTalkThe Philippines has scrapped an order for 16 Russian military helicopters, an official confirmed Wednesday, following reports former president Rodrigo Duterte decided to cancel it due to US sanctions on Moscow. Manila — a longtime Washington ally — agreed in November to pay 12.7 billion pesos ($228 million) for the Mi-17 helicopters, as it seeks […]https://www.defencetalk.com/philippines-cancels-russia-helicopter-deal-over-us-sanctions-79196/

DefenceTalkTwo pilots have been killed in India after a Soviet-era fighter jet crashed during a training sortie, the air force said, heightening safety concerns after a string of incidents involving the aircraft. The MiG-21 came down on Thursday night in the desert of western Rajasthan state near the city of Barmer, the defence ministry said. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/two-pilots-killed-as-soviet-era-fighter-jet-crashes-in-india-79150/

DefenceTalkAirbus said Tuesday it had successfully tested its A400M military transporter as a water bomber as heatwaves cause an increasing number of wildfires during the summer in Europe. “Airbus has successfully tested a removable firefighting demonstrator kit on the A400M new generation airlifter during a flight test campaign in Spain,” the European plane maker said […]https://www.defencetalk.com/airbus-tests-a400m-military-plane-as-water-bomber-79127/

DefenceTalkBritain’s future combat fighter jet project Tempest soared this week past a key barrier at Farnborough Airshow 2022, but Europe’s rival FCAS concept is stuck in limbo. Defence spending has been a hot topic at this year’s Farnborough, as nations bolster their armed forces following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Tempest was launched to great fanfare […]https://www.defencetalk.com/uks-tempest-fighter-project-soars-as-european-rival-remains-in-limbo-79114/

DefenceTalkGlobal aviation’s Farnborough airshow opens Monday amid a sweltering heatwave, with the sector aided by a modest recovery in air traffic and with Ukraine boosting defence budgets. Tens of thousands of visitors will flock to the five-day show, held southwest of London, as weather forecasters warn of scorching record temperatures in England. “It’s going to […]https://www.defencetalk.com/farnborough-airshow-opens-amid-heatwave-79097/