DefenceTalkPentagon chief Chuck Hagel on Friday praised a decision by Japanese officials to allow the relocation of a US air base in Okinawa, calling it a “milestone” for relations with Tokyo. Hagel welcomed the approval of the long-delayed move of the US Marine Corps base, which he said would permit a redeployment of American forces […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-welcomes-deal-on-relocating-air-base-in-japan-49992/

DefenceTalkBefore the sun rises, the sound of an F-16 Fighting Falcon can be heard taking off, breaking the dull silence of the morning as they participate in a two week close-air support training exercise with various squadrons and units. Known as CAS, the training uses military aircraft in an attack against enemy ground forces that […]https://www.defencetalk.com/close-air-support-key-to-strategic-success-49959/

DefenceTalkLong disliked by the US Air Force, the A-10 Thunderbolt II ground-attack jet may finally be heading for the chopping block due to budget constraints. The “Warthog,” first designed as a tank buster to target Soviet armored vehicles in the middle of the Cold War in the early 1970s, is shunned by many aviators. Although […]https://www.defencetalk.com/end-looms-for-us-air-forces-a-10-ground-attack-jet-49929/

DefenceTalkThe U.S. Air Force participated in the first Israeli Blue Flag exercise at Uvda Air Force Base, Israel, Nov. 24-28. Blue Flag is the largest multinational aerial warfare training exercise hosted by the Israeli air force. The exercise included forces from the U.S., Israel, Italy, and Greece. Its objectives were to improve operational capabilities and […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-air-force-participates-in-first-ever-israeli-blue-flag-exercise-49817/

DefenceTalkBoeing will continue to increase the B-52 bomber’s effectiveness and versatility under a new U.S. Air Force contract that calls for the aircraft’s smart weapons capacity to expand by 50 percent. Under the $24.6 million agreement, Boeing will develop a modification to existing weapon launchers so the aircraft can carry smart weapons in the bomb […]https://www.defencetalk.com/new-boeing-b-52-upgrade-to-increase-smart-weapons-capacity-by-half-49600/

DefenceTalkThe F-35 Lightning II executed its first live-fire launch of a guided air-to-air missile over a military test range off the California coast on Oct. 30. The AIM-120 advanced medium range air-to-air missile (AMRAAM) was fired from an F-35A (AF-6) conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) variant fighter operating from the F-35 Integrated Test Facility at […]https://www.defencetalk.com/f-35a-conducts-first-live-fire-with-amraam-49554/

DefenceTalkThe 95th Fighter Squadron and Aircraft Maintenance Unit will once again call Tyndall home as officials announced the new F-22 Raptor squadron activated Oct. 11. “We are honored to have the 95th call Tyndall home again,” said Col. David E. Graff, 325th Fighter Wing Commander. “It symbolizes so much to both our local community and […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-air-force-stands-up-new-f-22-squadron-49399/

DefenceTalkA B-1B Lancer successfully struck a waterborne target with a live warhead for the first time Aug. 27. The 337th Test and Evaluation Squadron completed their first of three scheduled live-fire tests of a Long Range Anti-Ship Missile, or LRASM, on-board a B-1. The mission sought to evaluate the separation of the missile from the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/b-1-conducts-first-live-fire-test-of-anti-ship-missile-49243/

DefenceTalkThe US military’s bureaucratic watchdog on Monday accused companies building the F-35 fighter of shoddy management that could jeopardize the reliability, performance and cost of the aircraft. The Pentagon inspector general cited 363 problems in the design and manufacture of the costly Joint Strike Fighter, the hi-tech warplane that is supposed to serve as the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-f-35-jet-plagued-by-shoddy-quality-control-audit-49237/

DefenceTalkThe U.S. Air Force’s third Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) military communications satellite, designed and built by a Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] team, is ready to launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. Launch is set for Sept. 18 with a two-hour launch window opening at […]https://www.defencetalk.com/usaf-ready-to-launch-third-advanced-extremely-high-frequency-satellite-49096/