DefenceTalkMitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) successfully completed the maiden flight of the “X-2,” an advanced technology demonstrator jet. The aircraft took off from Nagoya Airport and went through a series of trials to confirm basic maneuvers including climbing, descent and circling operations. It then landed at the Japan Air Self-Defense Force’s Gifu Air Base. After […]https://www.defencetalk.com/japans-x-2-makes-maiden-flight-67316/

DefenceTalkFour U.S. F-22 stealth fighters flew over South Korea’s airspace on Wednesday in an apparent show of force toward the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) recent nuclear test and rocket launch. The nuclear-capable U.S. fighter jets flew low over Osan Air Base near Seoul at about noon time, according to local media reports. The […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-f-22-stealth-fighters-fly-over-south-korea-in-show-of-force-toward-dprk-66760/

DefenceTalkJapan on Thursday unveiled its first stealth fighter jet, officials said, with the maiden test flight planned for next month. The defence ministry’s acquisition agency showed off the domestically developed, radar-dodging X-2 fighter at a regional airport near the central city of Komaki. Its first flight is scheduled in mid-February before delivery to the defence […]https://www.defencetalk.com/japan-unveils-first-stealth-fighter-jet-66622/

DefenceTalkThe F-35A Lightning II completed the first three airborne gunfire bursts from its internal Gun Airborne Unit (GAU)-22/A 25mm Gatling gun system during a California test flight, Oct. 30. This milestone was the first in a series of test flights to functionally evaluate the in-flight operation of the F-35A Conventional Take Off and Landing (CTOL) […]https://www.defencetalk.com/f-35a-lightning-ii-completes-first-successful-aerial-gun-test-65750/

DefenceTalkLockheed Martin introduced Advanced EOTS, an evolutionary electro-optical targeting system, which is available for the F-35’s Block 4 development. Designed to replace EOTS, the F-35’s current electro-optical targeting system, Advanced EOTS incorporates a wide range of enhancements and upgrades, including short-wave infrared, high-definition television, an infrared marker and improved image detector resolution. These enhancements increase […]https://www.defencetalk.com/lockheed-offers-advanced-electro-optical-targeting-system-f-35-65362/

DefenceTalkCAMERI AIR BASE, Italy: Italy’s first F-35A Lightning II, known as AL-1 and assembled at the Cameri Final Assembly and Check Out (FACO) facility, flew for the first time today marking the program’s first-ever F-35 flight outside the United States. Lockheed Martin F-35 test pilot Bill “Gigs” Gigliotti, lifted off the runway at 1:05 p.m. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/maiden-flight-for-the-first-f-35-made-in-italy-65292/

DefenceTalkTwo US F-22 Raptor stealth fighters landed in Poland on Monday, as regional tensions run high over Russia and the conflict in Ukraine. The arrival of the two planes was aired on TVP Info public television channel. They flew in from their German base of Spangdahlem into the Lask air base in central Poland. Poland […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-f-22-fighter-jets-poland-ukraine-conflict-65230/

DefenceTalkAt the heart of the Air Force’s plans to retire the A-10 is the question of whether the F-35 can take over the close air support mission. So far, there has been significant doubt that the F-35 will be able to provide the same or better close air support to troops in the meantime. Congress […]https://www.defencetalk.com/pentagon-will-test-f-35-against-a-10-65137/

DefenceTalkThe United States soon will deploy F-22 Raptors in Europe, sending the stealth fighter jets to reassure NATO partners concerned about Russia’s actions in Ukraine, a Pentagon official said. Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James did not offer specifics about where or when the single-seat jets would be deployed, citing operational security reasons. James also […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-to-deploy-f-22-raptor-fighter-jets-in-europe-65131/

DefenceTalkNELLIS AIR FORCE BASE: F-35A Lightning IIs from the 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron played the U.S. Army’s primary close air support platform during the latest iteration of the Green Flag exercise, GF 15-08, as the Air Force’s program works toward its goal of declaring initial operational capability by the end of this year. The […]https://www.defencetalk.com/31st-tes-f-35s-take-on-green-flag-15-08-64714/