DefenceTalkThe largest fleet of F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighters grew to 25 aircraft as the F-35 Integrated Training Center here welcomed two new Air Force F-35A variants of the multi-role fighter to the Emerald Coast, June 5. The expansion gives the 58th Fighter Squadron the ability to fly an expanded schedule and more readily […]https://www.defencetalk.com/fleet-grows-training-increases-for-f-35-48089/

DefenceTalkTraining flights of the Su-35S take place these days at the Zhukovsky airfield at the M. M. Gromov Flight Research Institute in preparation for participation in the le Bourget-2013 International Air Show. The Honored test pilot of the Russian Federation, the Hero of Russia Sergey Bogdan works on two sets of aerobatics – for normal […]https://www.defencetalk.com/su-35s-gets-ready-for-the-paris-air-show-in-france-48055/

DefenceTalkWith a career that spans across three decades and a warfighting reputation that rivals nearly every aircraft in the Air Force’s arsenal, the B-1 Bomber has established itself as one of the United States’ most crucial assets to maintaining air and ground superiority. This achievement was built on the backs of hundreds, if not thousands, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/after-3-decades-maintainers-keep-b-1-on-top-48032/

DefenceTalkThe Air Force announced today it expects to declare F-35A Lightning II initial operation capability in December 2016. The announcement was included in a joint report detailing service-specific IOC requirements and dates for each of the F-35 variants that was delivered to Congress today. “The Air Force has spent the last six months looking at […]https://www.defencetalk.com/air-force-establishes-f-35-ioc-target-47997/

DefenceTalkAir Force officials announced May 29 they are consolidating depot maintenance for the F-22 Raptor at the Ogden Air Logistics Complex at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The depot maintenance work is currently split between the Ogden ALC and the Lockheed facility in Palmdale, Calif. “Palmdale has made a storied contribution to aviation and while […]https://www.defencetalk.com/air-force-to-consolidate-f-22-depot-maintenance-at-hill-afb-47981/

DefenceTalkIn 2006, the C-5 Galaxy underwent a “super” upgrade to further strengthen the airframe’s worldwide airlift capabilities. Test teams here and at Dover Air Force Base, Del., are showing why the recent software upgrade to the largest aircraft in the Air Force inventory — now known as the C-5M Super Galaxy — is no small […]https://www.defencetalk.com/c-5m-undergoes-super-upgrade-at-edwards-afb-47728/

DefenceTalkThe Air Force took another step forward with its newest fighter jet when an advanced F-35 Lightning II landed at the service’s lead training base, home to the largest fleet of F-35s worldwide. The new stealth fighter kicks off a major training effort at the F-35 schoolhouse on an aircraft with unmatched capabilities. The F-35 […]https://www.defencetalk.com/f-35-fighter-takes-another-step-forward-47726/

DefenceTalkThe final flight of the X-51A Waverider test program has accomplished a breakthrough in the development of flight reaching Mach 5.1 over the Pacific Ocean May 1. “It was a full mission success,” said Charlie Brink, the X-51A program manager for the Air Force Research Laboratory Aerospace Systems Directorate. The cruiser traveled more than 230 […]https://www.defencetalk.com/x-51a-waverider-achieves-breakthrough-in-final-flight-47678/

DefenceTalkThe United States’ existing long-range bomber fleet of B-52s, B-1s, and B-2s are at a critical point in their operational life span. With the average age of each airframe being 50, 28, and 20 years old, respectively, military analysts are beginning to question just how long these aircraft can physically last and continue to be […]https://www.defencetalk.com/u-s-air-force-bomber-sustainment-and-modernization-47650/

DefenceTalkKnown as “The Mighty War Wagon” of the Air Force, the KC-135 Stratotanker has proven to be the core aerial refueling capability for the Air Force for more than 50 years. With the help of the 418th Flight Test Squadron at Edwards, along with a multitude of testers, the KC-135 Block 45 test team recently […]https://www.defencetalk.com/edwards-completes-tests-to-extend-kc-135-47610/