DefenceTalkThe F-35A Lightning II can carry thousands of pounds of bombs, but its ability to gather and share information is just as deadly. Pilots from the 388th and 419th Fighter Wings brought this fifth-generation technology to Red Flag 17-1 air combat exercise here. The F-35 is designed to share what it sees with legacy aircraft, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/interoperability-is-key-to-f-35a-combat-success-69079/

DefenceTalkRed Flag 17-1 is living up to its reputation as a grueling and rigorous test of fighter pilot skills, according to Hill Air Force Base F-35A pilots participating in the premier air-to-air combat exercise at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., from Jan. 23 to Feb. 10. The three-week exercise has friendly ‘Blue Force’ taking on […]https://www.defencetalk.com/red-flag-proves-intense-for-f-35a-pilots-69076/

DefenceTalkFour of the Navy’s newest F-35C Lightning II joint strike fighter aircraft arrived at Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore, Jan. 25. The jets’ arrivals mark the first time the new strike-fighter variant has been deployed to a West-coast based squadron, the recently reactivated “Rough Raiders” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 125. “It was my first […]https://www.defencetalk.com/first-pacific-based-f-35c-fighters-arrive-at-nas-lemoore-68933/

DefenceTalkThe pair of “Adir” (F-35I) stealth fighters took off for their first night flight in the IAF this evening, only a month after landing in Israel. “We are performing a night flight very quickly in comparison to other aircraft that were integrated in the IAF”, said Lt. Col. Yotam, Commander of the “Golden Eagle” Squadron […]https://www.defencetalk.com/israeli-air-force-flies-first-f-35-night-sortie-68832/

DefenceTalkChina’s newest warplane, the J-20 stealth fighter, will make its first public flight at the Zhuhai Air Show, its manufacturer announced on Monday, as Beijing flexes its long-range military muscles. The J-20, “which military enthusiasts at home and abroad have watched closely”, will make its first public flight demonstration, said Tan Ruisong, the president of […]https://www.defencetalk.com/with-new-j-20-warplane-china-all-set-to-flex-its-long-range-military-muscle-68529/

DefenceTalkChina’s newest warplane, the J-20 stealth fighter, will make its first public flight at the Zhuhai Air Show, its manufacturer announced Monday, as Beijing flexes its long-range military muscles. The J-20, “which military enthusiasts at home and abroad have watched closely”, will make its first public flight demonstration, said Tan Ruisong, the president of China’s […]https://www.defencetalk.com/chinese-stealth-fighter-to-shed-cloak-of-secrecy-68517/

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 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is the most advanced aircraft in the Pentagon’s arsenal, but Russia’s powerful over-the-horizon Podsolnukh (Sunflower) radar is capable of detecting and tracking the stealth fifth-generation plane or any other fighter jet that was designed to avoid detection, Svobodnaya Pressa reported. The Podsolnukh short-range over-the-horizon surface-wave radar is developed by […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russian-made-sunflower-radar-is-capable-of-detecting-f-35-jets-67766/

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/

DefenceTalkMIHAIL KOGALNICEANU AIR BASE, Romania: Two F-22 Raptors and one KC-135 Stratotanker arrived at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romania, today. The F-22s and approximately 20 supporting Airmen are from the 95th Fighter Squadron, Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. “Today, I would like to highlight this deployment as a demonstration of our promise to support Romania […]https://www.defencetalk.com/usaf-f-22-raptors-arrive-in-romania-67331/