DefenceTalkAfter eight days “at war” the F-35A Lightning II is proving to be an invaluable asset during Red Flag 17-01, the Air Force’s premier air combat exercise held at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. The F-35A is a fifth-generation, multi-role stealth fighter designed to gather, fuse, and distribute more information than any other fighter in […]https://www.defencetalk.com/f-35a-proving-its-worth-at-red-flag-combat-exercise-68992/

DefenceTalkPilots from the 74th Fighter Squadron prepared for future deployments while participating in Green Flag-West 17-03 from Jan. 13-27 at Nellis Air Force Base. GFW is an air-land integration exercise that gives Air Force pilots a chance to conduct realistic close air support in a joint training environment designed to mirror the current conditions present […]https://www.defencetalk.com/a-10-pilots-army-brigade-combat-teams-train-at-green-flag-68974/

DefenceTalkThe US Air Force on Tuesday declared an initial squadron of F-35A stealth fighters as ready for combat, a major milestone for the futuristic aircraft dogged by delays and cost overruns. The squadron of about 12 planes is based at Hill Air Force Base in Utah and the planes’ combat rating — known as initial […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-air-force-declares-f-35a-fighter-jet-combat-ready-67946/

DefenceTalkThe first off-station deployment exercise for the F-35A Lightning II confirmed that the Air Force’s newest fighter jet is on track to reach initial operational capability later this year. A declaration of IOC means the F-35A will be combat ready. Seven F-35A aircraft and 181 personnel from Hill’s active duty 388th Fighter Wing and Reserve […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-air-force-says-f-35a-nearly-combat-ready-67741/

DefenceTalkF-35 Lightning II pilots from Hill Air Force Base began flying routine four-ship combat training missions at the Utah Test and Training Range in the west desert May 2. Active-duty and Reserve pilots from the 388th and 419th Fighter Wings used the jet’s intricate computer network to evade a series of simulated threats. They worked […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-air-force-f-35s-form-up-for-combat-training-67443/

DefenceTalkThe US Army said Friday it will commission 22 women as infantry and armor officers under historic new rules allowing females to serve in ground combat roles. Defense Secretary Ash Carter in December announced a sweeping directive to open all military occupations to women this year, including front-line combat roles. The 22 women have almost […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-army-approves-first-female-officers-for-ground-combat-67263/

DefenceTalkNELLIS AIR FORCE BASE: Combat air force squadrons from across the world joined Tyndall Air Force Base’s Checkertails at Nellis AFB, Nevada, this week for the joint-training, full-spectrum, readiness exercise, Red Flag 16-1. The 325th Fighter Wing takes point as it leads Red Flag for the first time from Jan. 25 to Feb. 12. More […]https://www.defencetalk.com/high-end-advanced-combat-training-launches-during-red-flag-16-1-66600/

DefenceTalkWashington: US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter will announce Thursday that he is ordering the military to open all combat positions to women, a US official said. Speaking on condition of anonymity ahead of Carter’s press briefing at the Pentagon, the official said, “Yes, he will announce” the move. The official said the changes would be […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-military-to-open-all-combat-positions-to-women-65968/

DefenceTalkUnmanned aircraft is one of the fastest growing sectors in civilian and military aviation. From close air support, to surveillance, to climate data gathering, unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, are now a staple within Army aviation units. This growing demand is rapidly requiring units to train more personnel to operate drones. Training is especially paramount […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-army-combat-aviation-soldiers-master-control-of-drones-during-test-flights-64222/

DefenceTalkWhat kinds of rations might the military be using to feed its warfighters 15 years from now? Seeking to provide a window into the future of combat feeding, the Consumer Research Team, or CRT, working on behalf of the Combat Feeding Directorate of the Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center, developed an online questionnaire […]https://www.defencetalk.com/research-team-shapes-future-of-combat-rations-62193/