#Cruzex

[eyestothe-skies]

F-5EM Tiger II, General Dynamics F-16AM Fighting Falcon, A-4 Skyhawk, CRUZEX 2018

Source: Johnson Barros

#F-5E Tiger II #F-5 #F5 #my uploads #F-16 Fighting Falcon #F-16 #F16 #A-4 Skyhawk #A-4 #A4 #Brazilian Air Force #Fuerza Aérea de Chile #Brazilian Navy #força aérea brasileira #Marinha Brasileira #Cruzex

[usafphantom2]

Updated B-52 electronic warfare suite will be tested in flight in 2024

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 03/29/2024 - 10:36 in Military

Flying through the skies since the 1950s, the B-52 Stratofortress is a U.S. Air Force (USAF) workhorse and a lasting symbol of American military power. The eight-engine giant has unique capabilities unparalleled to any other American warplane - which is why, after more than 70 years of service, it continues to play a vital role in the defense and national security strategy of the U.S. And thanks to a collaboration between L3Harris and USAF, this iconic aircraft is prepared to remain ready for the mission against highly sophisticated emerging threats in the coming decades.

Under a 10-year contract worth $947 million granted in 2021, L3Harris is upgrading and improving the AN/ALQ-172 electronic war self-protection system (EW), which protects the B-52 and air crews from a wide range of electronic threats. Our current work is based on decades of experience in providing critical technology as a Manufacturer of Original Equipment of the AN/ALQ-172 systems for the B-52 fleet. And combined with other ongoing modernization efforts, these updates will increase the relevance and reliability of the B-52 by the 2050s.

L3 Harris AN/ALQ-172 systems.

"Our opponents continue to evolve, facing advanced and far-reaching threats that challenge our ability to operate in contested environments," says Robert "Trip" Raymond, USAF's Program Leader for EW Technology Development at L3Harris. "It is essential that we provide our B-52 crew with the necessary tools to keep the B-52 relevant, lethal and survivable as the backbone of the strategic bomber force of the United States."

The effort of modernization and support - ALQ-172 Maintenance and Reliability System (MARS) - intends to do exactly that, increasing the average time between failures due to its modular design, while further improving the performance, maintenance capacity and reliability of the system. Thanks to an integrated and improved radio frequency system, crews will be able to simultaneously combat multiple radar threats that interfere with aircraft operations. And by replacing analog systems with more economical software solutions, USAF will be able to reduce the size of B-52 crews from 5 to 4. This frees up resources for additional mission-critical activities.

Ultimately, the updates will further help USAF in its Global Attack Mission and strengthen the effectiveness of the B-52 in modern warfare, while making future upgrades cheaper and easier.

"We are implementing affordable solutions that not only reduce costs, but also provide crews with more advanced protection against the most sophisticated threats detected by radar," said Jimmy Mercado, Program Director at L3Harris. "All this results in a more modern, efficient and effective aircraft, ready to dominate the future struggle."

USAF plans to conduct a test flight with the new electronic warfare capabilities of the B-52 in 2024.

Tags: Military AviationBoeing B-52H StratofortressEW - ELECTRONIC WARL3HarrisUSAF - United States Air Force / U.S. Air Force

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Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, he has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Dayton Airshow and FIDAE. He has works published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. He uses Canon equipment during his photographic work in the world of aviation.

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#b 52 stratofortress #usaf #bomber

[usafphantom2]

Two more B-1B bombers are deployed in Spain

The two recent B-1B bombers arrived in Morón for the latest deployment of the bomber task force in Europe.

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 30/03/2024 - 15:30in Military

Two U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancers during the 24-2 Bomber Task Force at Morón Air Base, Spain. (Photo: Scott Rathbone / Flickr).

Two U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancers bombers landed this week at Morón Air Base, Spain, totaling four USAF bombers at the station and completing the arrival of the Bomber Task Force (BTF) 24-2 on Tuesday (03/26).

The bombers transited to Europe passing through the Barents Sea. Throughout the missions, the four U.S. aircraft operated in international airspace and in full compliance with international law.

"Our ability to maneuver through the Arctic and position advanced strategic bombers in Europe is critical to ensuring our Allies and partners our commitment to regional security and stability," said General James Hecker, commander of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe - Africa Air Forces and NATO Allied Air Command. “The global security environment requires a forward-looking approach and we will continue to face this challenge through strategic planning and innovative operations,” he added.

This mission shows the continuous and dynamic operations of the US in the European and Arctic regions, adapting to the evolving security environment alongside the Allies and partners.

The BTF 24-2 is a routine part of the Large-Scale Global Exercise 2024, a generic term that incorporates dozens of separate U.S. military exercises and activities, under multiple combatant commands, that allow the U.S. Joint Force to train with Allies and partners and improve shared understanding, trust and interoperability in security challenges around the world.

The bombers and support personnel will carry out a series of missions to train alongside the Allies and partners during the deployment. Through these missions, USAFE-AFAFRICA allows the dynamic use of forces in the European theater, providing strategic predictability and guarantee to the Allies and partners, while contributing to deterrence, introducing greater operational unpredictability for potential opponents.

Tags: Military AviationB-1B LancerbombersBTFEjército del Aire/Spanish Air ForceUSAF - United States Air Force / U.S. Air Force

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I

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[usafphantom2]

IMAGES: ROKAF performs last Elephant Walk with its F-4 Phantom

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 03/09/2024 - 18:21in Military

The Air Force of the Republic of Korea (RoKAF) conducted on March 8 an impressive "elephant walk" (Elephant Walk) involving 33 aircraft, including poacher fighters F-35A, KF-16, F-15K and the former F-4E that are scheduled for retirement in June.

The F-4E Phantoms, leading the formation equipped with AGM-142H 'Popeye' and AGM-65D 'Maverick' air-to-ground missiles, and MK-82 air-to-ground pump. A total of 25 newer fighters followed, including the F-15K, KF-16, F-16, FA-50, F-5 and F-35A. Among them, two F-35As flew low over the Elephant Walk formation and then landed and joined the formation.

This demonstration at Suwon Air Base coincided with the annual Freedom Shield exercise, reinforcing the deterrence against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats.

A RoKAF official said that "this is the first time that all types of fighters belonging to the South Korean Air Force have participated".

The term "elephant walk" dates back to World War II, when large fleets of Allied bombers gathered for missions containing up to 1,000 aircraft. It means a coordinated demonstration of power and military preparation.

The Chief of Staff of the Air Force, General Lee Young-su, emphasized the need of the South Korean Air Force to inspire confidence in the public and deter potential opponents. The "Elephant Walk" demonstrated RoKAF's readiness to respond decisively to any provocations.

"I give a warm applause to the Phantoms who protected the Republic of Korea for 55 years, and to the 'Ghost Men' who shared the ups and downs with the Phantoms," added Lee Young-soo.

The F-4 was first introduced in Korea in 1969. RoKAF explained that it was able to dominate the North Korean Air Force by introducing the F-4D, the new most powerful aircraft in the world at the time. Until the KF-16 entered service in 1994, the F-4 served as the main fighter representing the Air Force of the Republic of Korea, which even operated up to about 220 Phantoms, including the improved F-4E and the RF-4C reconnaissance aircraft.

Most Phantoms are retired and only about 10 F-4Es remain active. All of them will be retired in June of this year.

North Korea's recent calls for mobilization for combat highlight the ongoing tensions in the region, with Pyongyang often seeing negotiations for joint exercises between South Korea and the US as provocations.

Tags: Military AviationElephant WalkMcDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom IIROKAF - Republic of Korea Air Force/South Korean Air Force

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[usafphantom2]

How the Blue Angels convinced Tom Cruise to make the movie "Top Gun"

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 05/02/2024 - 00:03in Demonstration Squads, History, Military

It's hard to imagine a world without the Top Gun movie. Aviation lovers watch at least once a year, despite the banality of the 80s, because the flight scenes are as cool now as they were more than 30 years ago. The best talents were hired to ensure a successful production, but the star of the film needed to be convinced by the Blue Angels to finally decide to become Maverick.

In another fantastic interview with Ryan Notthaft on Blue Angel Phantoms on YouTube, the Blue Angel pilot who piloted Tom Cruise, Curt "Griz" Watson, talks about his experience.

When reading the script alone, Cruise didn't find it funny. He was a serious actor who was still standing out, and there was a lot of apprehension about how the audience would receive an aviation film. Because the truth is that no aviation movie was really a big box office success before Top Gun.

But the producers knew they had a winner. They considered Top Gun as "Star Wars on Earth", inspired by a story years earlier in California Magazine. But Cruise initially did not share his vision, nor did many producers before Paramount. They had no real characters or stories, just cool jets.

"When I first read it, I thought they had a very limited story and script," Cruise recalled in an old behind-the-scenes article about the production of the film, which you can watch at this link. "I thought so, I don't know about it."

In a final desperate attempt to convince Cruise to join, producer Jerry Bruckheimer called Navy Admiral Peter Garrow, asking Cruise of the Navy to convince him to make the film. Garrow, of course, called the Blues Angels with the orders.

Grizz exceeded Cruise's expectations very well on the team's No. 7 jet, an A-4 Skyhawk. With a bag full of vomit, Cruise was hooked and his love affair with aviation began. When he landed he walked to the nearest public phone, called Bruckheimer and said "I do this".

But he was not satisfied only with the flight on the A-4 of the Blue Angels. After all, Mav is an F-14 Tomcat pilot. So Cruise requested flight time on the F-14 as part of his character's development. What made perfect sense. Cruise even put this in his contract. The producers and the Navy happily accommodated him.

His first F-14 flight also hit him in the head. Your pilot, indicative of call Bozo, put him in a difficult situation. You can watch the interview above about some of these flights, or better yet, watch the video here where Cruise and Bozo talk about it.

He loved piloting the F-14 so much that he even told his pilots "let's film these scenes and then tear everything apart. I'll evaluate you about who is the best driver." Each pilot wanted to know how his other pilots fared and then competed to see who could kick Tom's ass harder.

Cruise has been in love with flying since then. He is now a talented pilot, certified for various types of aircraft. He also owns a World War II P-51 Mustang fighter.

Source: AvGeekery

Tags: Blue AngelsDouglas A-4 SkyhawkHISTORYTop GunUSN - United States Navy/U.S. Navy

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Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, he has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Dayton Airshow and FIDAE. He has works published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. He uses Canon equipment during his photographic work in the world of aviation.

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[usafphantom2]

B-1 bomber accident in the USA. Crew ejects safely

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 05/01/2024 - 08:56in Aeronautical, Military Accidents

A U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer bomber crashed on the night of January 4, while trying to land at Ellsworth Air Base, South Dakota.

All four crew members were able to safely eject from the aircraft and survived, Ellsworth Air Base said in a statement.

The incident occurred during bad weather and sub-zero temperatures, with dense fog limiting visibility, according to local weather reports. Radio traffic from local rescuers said there was an "active fire" after an "explosion".

“An Air Force Lancer B-1B designated for Ellsworth Air Base crashed at approximately 5:50 p.m. today while trying to land at the facility,” the base said. "At the time of the accident, he was on a training mission."

The news began to circulate on social networks and local news that some kind of incident was occurring at the base, with some reports claiming that a B-1B had fallen there. The base was later closed to air traffic. The weather at the base is currently bad, with dense freezing fog present.

The air base was closed for flight operations, according to a Notice to Aviators/Air Mission Notice (NOTAM) issued shortly after the incident.

Located in Black Hills, South Dakota, Ellsworth Air Base is close to Rapid City. It is one of only two B-1 bomber bases. The 28ª Bomber Wing, which is there, operates more than 20 B-1 aircraft, according to the base. USAF has 45 B-1 jets in its inventory

A typical B-1 crew consists of two pilots and two weapons system officers, all with ejectable seats.

The aircraft was initially designed to operate as a supersonic bomber with nuclear capacity and variable sweeping wings. But the fleet has been widely used in the last two decades in the Middle East, after being converted into a purely conventional bomber. The aircraft is known to have a low mission capacity rate.

Ellsworth is scheduled to receive the first operational B-21 Raider stealth bombers, which are scheduled to fully replace the B-1.

“A council of officers will investigate the accident,” Ellsworth's statement said.

Tags: Aeronautical AccidentsMilitary AviationB-1B LancerUSAF - United States Air Force / U.S. Air Force

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Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, he has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Dayton Airshow and FIDAE. He has works published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. He uses Canon equipment during his photographic work in the world of aviation.

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[usafphantom2]

IMAGES: Fly the new USAF stealth bomber, the B-21 Raider

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 11/10/2023 - 15:14in Military

Photo: Matt Hartman

USAF's new B-21 “Raider” flying wing bomber made its first flight on Friday, the next step in the launch of a new fleet of nuclear-capable long-range stealth bombers built by Northrop Grumman.

The B-21 left the Northrop facility at U.S. Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, at sunrise on Friday at 6:51 a.m., offering the first improvised view of the new bomber that was developed under strict security.

The aircraft went to Edwards Air Base, California, where it will continue with the flight test phase with USAF. The flight lasted about 90 minutes.

With the Cerberus callsign, the aircraft took off eastward with an F-16 companion plane after climbing about 500 feet. The landing gear was not collected, according to videos and photos that appeared on social networks.

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U.S. Air Force leaders did not disclose the first flight of the B-21, but about three dozen aviation enthusiasts and amateur photographers gathered around Plant 42 on Friday in the hope of seeing the bomber rise to the skies.

Photo: Mike Henry

The B-21, which carries the same "flying wing" format as its predecessor, the B-2, will be able to launch conventional and nuclear weapons around the world, using long-range and in-flight refueling capabilities.

The aircraft are projected to cost approximately $550 million each in 2010 dollars, or about $750 million in current inflation-adjusted dollars. However, the USAF kept other price information confidential, “which makes it difficult to validate the proposed cost,” the Congressional Research Service said in a 2021 report.

Photo: Mike Henry

The U.S. Air Force plans to buy at least 100 planes and start replacing the B-1 and B-2 bombers. The B-1 costs about US$ 60,000 per hour to operate and the B-2 costs about US$ 65,000 per hour, according to Pentagon data.

Ann Stefanek, USAF spokesperson, said: “The B-21 Raider is in flight tests. Flight tests are a critical step in the testing campaign managed by the Air Force Test Center and the 412ª Combined Test Wings B-21 Test Force."

Photo: Mike Henry

Six test aircraft are being produced now. They are being built on the same line, using the tools, processes and technicians that will build the production aircraft.

Northrop defeated a team composed of Boeing and Lockheed Martin when it won the 2015 contract to manufacture the bomber. Engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney, Collins Aerospace, GKN Aerospace, BAE Systems and Spirit Aerosystems are among more than 400 suppliers in 40 states.

The B-21 was publicly presented in December 2022, but the expectation around its first flight had been growing for years.

In 2019, an important Air Force general suggested that the bomber could fly as early as December 2021, but the Force subsequently postponed this date to mid-2022. In early 2022, the USAF postponed even more until 2023.

The B-21 program is in the engineering and manufacturing development phase and the first aircraft will be delivered to Ellsworth Air Force Base in North Dakota.

Northrop is calling the plane a sixth-generation aircraft due to its ability to connect to other aircraft and easily integrate future weapons into its systems architecture.

The B-21 also features surface material with low observation, more durable and stealthy, which should require less maintenance and reduce operating costs and downtime.

Tags: Military AviationNorthrop Grumman B-21 RaiderUSAF - United States Air Force / U.S. Air Force

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Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Dayton Airshow and FIDAE. He has work published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. Uses Canon equipment during his photographic work in the world of aviation.

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IMAGES: F-35B fighters in "beast mode" aboard HMS Prince of Wales

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 10/26/2023 - 11:00am in Military

On board the deck of the British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, on the east coast of the U.S., a fully loaded F-35B, to the fullest, is helping the Royal Navy's attack force develop Lightning capability.

The F-35 armed with the maximum capacity of weapons is known in aviation jargon as "bow mode": each pillar occupied by a weapon and the internal compartment of crowded bombs.

Fully charged, the F-35B can provide 22,000 pounds of destructive and defensive power: air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles and conventional and laser-guided bombs.

If you are trying to imagine a payload of 22,000 pounds... it is the equivalent of the heaviest bomb carried by a World War II Lancaster bomber (the Grand Slam or "earthquake" bomb).

And it is almost three times more than the last attack plane embarked on a UK aircraft carrier, the Harrier GR9, more than a decade ago.

In this case, the specially modified F-35B of the U.S. Navy Integrated Test Force was loaded with a combination of 500-pound Paveway IV laser-guided inert bombs and 1,000-pound inert Paveways in the weapons compartment.

To date, the F-35 have detaculated from the 350-foot mark on deck (approximately aligned with the end of the front island).

Depending on a number of factors (including weather, wind on deck, humidity), a fully charged Lightning may need a full run to the ski jump to take off... which means starting all the way back at the 850-foot mark... not far from the rear end of the cockpit.

It is the first time that a complete preparation has been tested on any of the aircraft carriers. And it is also the first bomb (although inert, practical models) to be launched by aircraft launched from HMS Prince of Wales.

The Captain of Flight Deck Pet Officer 1 John Etherington - who has experience in deck operations on American Nimitz-class aircraft carriers - was the sailor who gave the authorization to the pilots.

"It was impressive to launch the jet, all full of bombs, from the back of the cockpit," he said. “It's exciting to see us pushing the boundaries of UK naval aviation.”

In control of the F-35 in beast mode were the pilots of the U.S. Marine Corps, Major Paul Gucwa, and Lieutenant Colonel Mike Lippert.

This is the fourth time the latter has worked with the UK aircraft carrier force - three times helping HMS Queen Elizabeth develop its Lightning capability, now with the Prince of Wales.

“It is a pleasure to see the continuous progress in operational capacity – there has been undeniable growth and progress,” he said.

“Major Gucwa and I had great pleasure in continuing to expand the combat capability of Britain's largest warship. We were a small part of an immense multifunctional and integrated team that covered every corner of the ship, the mission control rooms of the F-35 ITF and our worldwide partnership with the F-35 Lightning II - all focused on increasing the interoperability and lethality of our frontline fighter."

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Then, the tests of the F-35 ship off the US will carry out continuous landings (instead of standard verticals), first without armaments, then with.

Tags: Military AviationHMS Prince of WalesLockheed Martin F-35B Lightning IIRN - Royal Navy/Royal Navy

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Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Dayton Airshow and FIDAE. He has work published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. Uses Canon equipment during his photographic work in the world of aviation.

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The AARGM-ER is launched from a U.S. Navy F/A-18 during a successful real fire test at the Point Mugu Sea Test Range, California. (Photo: U.S. Navy)

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U.S. Navy declares IOC for its new UAS reconnaissance MQ-4C Triton

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 09/15/2023 - 14:00 in Military, UAV - UAV

The U.S. Navy officially declared the initial operational capability (IOC) of Northrop Grumman Corporation's MQ-4C Triton multi-manned unmanned aircraft on September 14.

Since its Early Operational Capability (EOC) milestone in May 2020, the MQ-4C Triton has operated within the U.S. Navy Pacific Fleet, conducting maritime intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions in the area of responsibility of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command as the Navy's only unmanned, high-altitude, long-lived aircraft.

The MQ-4C Triton, manufactured for use by the U.S. Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), supports a wide range of missions. These include maritime patrol, signal intelligence, search and rescue operations, as well as communications relay tasks.

According to the producer, these aircraft offer persistent surveillance capabilities, assisting in predicting opposing actions and facilitating more effective joint military efforts and enterprises.

Operating at altitudes above 50,000 feet and boasting a 24-hour resistance, the Triton serves as a continuous communications retransmission center, ensuring connectivity between dispersed Navy units, while allowing commanders to operate with a shared operational overview.

“The Triton proved to be invaluable for the maritime patrol and reconnaissance mission in the Indo-Pacific. Now that the system has reached its initial operational capacity, commanders will be able to take full advantage of Triton's powerful set of sensors to detect and stop potential opponents around the world," said Rho Cauley Bruner, director of the Triton program at Northrop Grumman.

"The persistent global maritime awareness is fundamental to deter, or compete and win, our opponents. Triton ensures that we are making informed decisions and operating effectively anywhere in the world," added Captain Josh Guerre, manager of the U.S. Navy's persistent unmanned aircraft systems program.

Northrop Grumman provided the U.S. Navy with a total of five Triton aircraft equipped with multiple intelligence capabilities, with the most recent delivery occurring in June 2023.

Tags: Military AviationNorthrop Grumman MQ-4C TritonUASUSN - United States Navy/U.S. Navy

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Fernando Valduga

Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, he has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Daytona Airshow and FIDAE. He has work published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. Uses Canon equipment during his photographic work throughout the world of aviation.

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[usafphantom2]

IMAGES: USAF sends B-52 bombers to Indian Ocean base

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 03/26/2024 - 16:00 in Military, War Zones

U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortresses bombers were deployed on March 22 at the Diego Garcia Naval Support Center in the Indian Ocean.

The Bomber Task Force deployment offers the U.S. Air Force Global Attack Command a presence in the Indo-Pacific, with relatively easy access to the Middle East as well.

The B-52s fled to Diego Garcia from Barksdale Air Base, Louisiana, after a 30-hour direct flight. This is the first time that USAF announces a Bomber Task Force for Diego Garcia - a small island that is part of the British Indian Ocean Territory that serves as a fundamental base for the U.S. and UK military, which has hosted American troops since the 1970s. The B-1 landed there in 2021, and the last time a B-52 landed there was in 2020.

"This deployment aims to improve the readiness and training needed to respond to any potential crisis or challenge around the world, demonstrating the credibility of our forces to face a global security environment that is more diverse and uncertain than at any other time in recent history," the Pacific Air Forces Command (PACAF) said in a statement.

Although the island is in the area of responsibility of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, the U.S. Air Force used the island in the past as a base to send bombers to the U.S. Central Command's area of operations.

This latest deployment of PACAF bombers follows in the footsteps of the B-52 of Minot Air Base, North Dakota, deployed in Guam at the end of January and operating there until March 6.

Tags: Military AviationBoeing B-52H StratofortressBTFUSAF - United States Air Force / U.S. Air ForceWar Zones - Indo-Asia-Pacific

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Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, he has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Dayton Airshow and FIDAE. He has works published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. He uses Canon equipment during his photographic work in the world of aviation.

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[usafphantom2]

B-52 bombers arrive in the Pacific to provide strategic deterrence

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 02/05/2024 - 19:39in Military

A B-52H Stratofortress, assigned to the 23º Expeditionary Bomber Squadron, taxis on the flight line at Andersen Air Base, Guam, on January 30, 2024. (Photo: U.S. Air Force / Airman 1st Class Alyssa Bankston)

Four B-52 Stratofortress bombers designated for the 5ª Bomber Wing of Minot Air Base, North Dakota, landed at Andersen Air Base, Guam, in late January, as part of a Bomber Task Force (BTF) to support strategic deterrent missions aimed at strengthening international order rules based on the Indo-Pacific region.

While deployed in Guam, B-52 operations and support personnel are assigned to the 23º Expeditionary Bomber Squadron. The 23º EBS will integrate alongside the Allies and partners to demonstrate the U.S. commitment to security and stability throughout the region.

Designed to show the U.S. ability to deter, deny and dominate, BTF missions aim to influence and deter the aggression of opponents or competitors.

While in Guam, the bombers will also support the largest multilateral exercise of the Pacific Air Forces, the Cope North. The exercise, scheduled from February 5 to 23, will be co-led by the Australian Royal Air Force (RAAF) and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF).

Cope North 24 kicks off with ?? ?? integration#CopeNorth24 enhances US relationships & interoperability w/Allies & partners by providing the opportunity to exchange info & improve shared tactics to better integrate multilateral defense capabilities. #CN24pic.twitter.com/99T0YKsspb

— PACAF (@PACAF) February 4, 2024

Reacting to the arrival of the aircraft, Captain Zachary "Smash" Holmes, arms officer of the 23º EBS, said it was great "finally to have some iron on the ground".

"It's great to finally receive our crews, so we're ready to leave and participate in the mission, as well as prepare our maintenance staff to support where necessary," Holmes said. "We are ready to go."

A B-52H Stratofortress, assigned to the 23º Expeditionary Bomber Squadron, taxis on the flight line at Andersen Air Base, Guam, on January 30, 2024. (Photo: U.S. Air Force / Airman 1st Class Alyssa Bankston)

Air crews and support personnel are looking for every opportunity to train alongside our allies and partners to build interoperability and strengthen our collective capacity to support a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Tags: Military AviationBoeing B-52H StratofortressBTFUSAF - United States Air Force / U.S. Air Force

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Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, he has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Dayton Airshow and FIDAE. He has works published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. He uses Canon equipment during his photographic work in the world of aviation.

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[usafphantom2]

Northrop Grumman releases new photo of B-21 Raider, after receiving prestigious award from Aviation Week magazine

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 03/21/2024 - 22:28in Military

Northrop Grumman Corporation received the Aviation Week Grand Laureate Award in the defense category for its role as the main contractor in the delivery of the B-21 Raider to the United States Air Force. Aviation Week announced the Grand Laureate winners at its 66ª annual Laureate award in Washington, D.C.

"On behalf of the entire B-21 Raider national team, Northrop Grumman is honored to receive this prestigious award," said Tom Jones, corporate vice president and president of Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems. "The Grand Laureate represents the pioneering spirit, innovative technology and pioneering approach to contract management that gave life to the world's first sixth-generation aircraft."

In the fall of 2023, the U.S. Air Force confirmed that the first B-21 test vehicle had entered a flight test, followed by a low-rate initial production premium. The aircraft is currently undergoing a robust flight test campaign run by the B-21 Combined Test Force at Edwards Air Base in California. The program continues to meet all technical, schedule and accessibility requirements of the Department of Defense on its way to operational capacity.

Developed with the next generation of stealth technology, advanced network capabilities and open systems architecture, the B-21 Raider will serve as the backbone of the U.S. bomber fleet. Capable of carrying conventional and nuclear loads, the B-21 will be one of the most effective aircraft in the sky, with the ability to use a wide combination of isolated and direct attack ammunition.

“This bomber will be able to defend our country with new weapons that have not yet been invented,” said U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin when the B-21 was launched in the spring of 2023. "Even the most sophisticated anti-aircraft systems will have difficulty detecting the B-21." The Raider is also "multifunctional," says Austin. "He can do anything."

Details about the progress of the program were only made available in pieces from the beginning, because the myth of secrecy surrounds the project. Only a few scattered observers recorded the start of the first flight on November 10, 2023, which took the Raider prototype from its place of origin in Palmdale to Edwards Air Base for posterity. Since that day, things have been calm in relation to the B-21. The manufacturer and the U.S. Air Force remained silent about the status of the flight tests. All that is confirmed is that they are happening and that they are obviously on schedule.

Tags: Military AviationB-21 RaiderNorthrop GrummanUSAF - United States Air Force / U.S. Air Force

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Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, he has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Dayton Airshow and FIDAE. He has works published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. He uses Canon equipment during his photographic work in the world of aviation.

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[usafphantom2]

Canada selects Boeing's P-8A Poseidon as its new multi-mission aircraft

The partnership with Canadian industry will provide long-term economic prosperity to Canada 🇨🇦

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 11/30/2023 - 18:52 in Military

With the P-8, Canada guarantees the interchangeability of allies NORAD and FIVE EYES.

The government of Canada signed a letter of offer and acceptance of foreign military sales for up to 16 Boeing P-8A Poseidon aircraft, as part of the Canadian Multimission Aircraft Project (CMMA).

Canada joins eight defense partners, including all allies of FIVE EYES, the intelligence alliance that also includes the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, and becomes the fifth NATO nation to have selected the P-8 as its multi-mission aircraft. The first delivery is scheduled for 2026.

“The P-8 will strengthen Canada's defense capability and readiness, and we look forward to delivering that capability to the Royal Canadian Air Force,” said Heidi Grant, president of Business Development at Boeing Defense, Space & Security. “Together with our Canadian partners, we will deliver a strong package of industrial and technological benefits that will ensure continued prosperity for Canada's aerospace and defense industry.”

The P-8 is the only proven in-service and production solution that meets all CMMA requirements, including range, speed, strength and payload capacity. This decision will benefit hundreds of Canadian companies and bring decades of prosperity to Canada through the support of the platform provided by our Canadian industrial partners.

The acquisition of P-8 will generate benefits of almost 3,000 jobs and $358 million annually in economic output for Canada, according to a 2023 independent study by Ottawa-based Doyletech Corporation.

“This is a very important day for the Royal Canadian Air Force and Boeing,” said Charles 'Duff Sullivan, managing director of Boeing Canada. "The P-8 offers unparalleled capabilities and is the most affordable solution for acquisition and life cycle maintenance costs. There is no doubt that the P-8 will protect Canada's oceans and borders for future generations."

The partnership with Canadian industry will provide long-term economic prosperity to Canada.

The Poseidon Team is the cornerstone of Boeing's Canadian P-8 industrial partnership, composed of CAE, GE Aviation Canada, IMP Aerospace & Defense, KF Aerospace, Honeywell Aerospace Canada, Raytheon Canada and StandardAero. The team is based on the 81 existing Canadian suppliers for the P-8 platform and more than 550 Boeing suppliers in all provinces, contributing to the company's annual economic benefit of approximately CAD$ 4 billion for Canada, supporting more than 14,000 Canadian jobs.

With more than 160 aircraft delivered or in service and 560,000 collective flight hours, the P-8 has proven capabilities for anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and humanitarian assistance/disaster relief response.

Tags: Military AviationBoeingP-8A PoseidonRCAF - Royal Canadian Air Force/Canada Air Force

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Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Dayton Airshow and FIDAE. He has work published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. Uses Canon equipment during his photographic work in the world of aviation.

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[usafphantom2]

Fearing war with Iran, Israel asks the United States to approve the sale of 25 F-15EX fighters soon

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 04/02/2024 - 19:47 in Military

The consequences of the Israeli airstrike on the Iranian Embassy in Damascus, Syria, on April 1º 2024, may mean that Israel defied an open war with Iran. Although it is militarily superior in the Middle East, and always has the support of the United States, the many fronts that Jews have to face make Israel need to prepare for various scenarios. One scenario to face the war with Iran and other Middle Eastern countries is to request the accelerated delivery of the purchase of 25 F-15EX fighters.

President Joe Biden's administration is considering whether to authorize the huge $18 billion arms transfer package to Israel, which includes the acquisition of dozens of F-15EX fighters along with weapons, three sources familiar with the matter said.

The sale of 25 Boeing F-15EX jets to Israel has been under review since the United States received a formal order in January 2023, one of the sources said. Accelerating the delivery of the planes was one of the main requests of the Israeli Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, who visited Washington last week and held talks with those responsible ?? Americans, including National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.

Seeing the escalation that is taking place in the Middle East, a source said that the U.S. is now considering accelerating the sale of F-15EX fighters to Israel. The Israeli Air Force also said it intends to double the number of orders in question.

The official Request Letter (LOR) for the purchase of the F-15EX fighters was sent by the Israeli Government to the U.S. Government last week. LOR is the first stage of the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) process. Indonesia had already submitted a LOR for the F-15EX acquisition plan. After sending the LOR, only then will the Agency for Cooperation for the Security of Defense (DSCA) disclose the information of the offer along with the value of the sale.

The Israeli Air Force wants 25 new F-15EX and, in parallel, will also upgrade 25 of its F-15I variants to the same avionic configuration as the F-15EX, except for the fly-by-wire system. The Israeli Air Force currently operates 50 F-15 A/B/C/D variants and 25 F-15I variants.

F-15I

When Israel made the decision to buy more F-15 and F-35, it was based on the assumption that in future combat scenarios the targets would be protected by advanced air defense systems. This would require the first wave of F-35 to neutralize the enemy's air defense systems and then the role of the F-15 to carry out subsequent attacks on enemy territory.

Although Israel has asked to speed up the acquisition of the F-15EX and Washington is considering doing so, on the other hand, it is not easy for Boeing to accelerate the production of the F-15EX, unless this is done through a 'change' in the production queue of the F-15EX (Eagle II) commissioned by the U.S. Air Force (USAF).

Tags: Military AviationBoeingF-15EXIAF - Israeli Air Force/Israel Air Force

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[usafphantom2]

Aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford will return from mission in defense of Israel

The largest aircraft carrier in the United States returns from the Mediterranean Sea, where it has been parked for almost three months.

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 03/01/2024 - 08:27in Military, War Zones

The U.S. Navy has determined that its largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), will return home after a nearly three-month mission to defend Israel in the Middle East.

The USS Gerald Ford has been stationed at a close distance of Israel's attack in the Mediterranean Sea since October, in an effort to prevent the country's war against Hamas from turning into a regional conflict. However, the U.S. Navy states that the ship will begin its journey back home "in the next few days" and will be replaced by the USS Bataan - an amphibious assault ship named after a battle fought in the Philippines during World War II.

The USS Gerald R. Ford is one of the largest aircraft carriers in the world and the latest and most advanced aircraft carrier in the United States. He was already in the Mediterranean - involved in naval exercises with Italy - before receiving orders to provide support to Israel's Defense Forces after the October 7 terrorist attacks perpetrated by Hamas.

“Immediately after Hamas' brutal attack on Israel, the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group was ordered to go to the eastern Mediterranean to contribute to our regional deterrence and defense posture,” the U.S. Navy said in a statement.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin extended Ford's detachment three times in the hope that his presence would dissuade Iran and groups aligned with Iran, especially Hezbollah from Lebanon, from attacking Israel.

The ship, which carried about 5,000 sailors and more than 100 warplanes in eight squadrons, is now returning to its naval base in Virginia. However, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower will remain in the Red Sea to face the recent attacks on commercial ships perpetrated by Yemen's Houthi rebels.

“The DoD (Department of Defense) will continue to leverage its posture of collective force in the region to dissuade any state or non-state actor from escalating this crisis beyond Gaza,” the Navy said.

At the end of October, a U.S. Navy warship located in the northern Red Sea shot down three cruise missiles along with a batch of drones that were launched from Yemen and appeared to target Israel, the Pentagon said.

Tags: Military Aviationaircraft carrierUSN - United States Navy/U.S. NavyWar Zones - Middle East

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Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, he has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Dayton Airshow and FIDAE. He has works published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. He uses Canon equipment during his photographic work in the world of aviation.

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Without the CMV-22, the U.S. Navy needs 15 former C-2A to carry out missions aboard the aircraft carriers

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 02/20/2024 - 20:58in Military

The uncertainty of the return of the tiltrotor V-22 to full operation is leading the U.S. Navy to rethink its plans on how to refuel its aircraft carrier fleet in the short term, with more uncertainty in the long term, and the remaining C-2A Greyhounds become essential.

The service had initially planned to retire its remaining 15 C-2A Greyhound onboard delivery (COD) aircraft in the next two years and replace them with a total of 38 CMV-22B Ospreys, which DOT&E reported "not to be operationally adequate".

“For the luck of the Navy, the C-2 Greyhound is still available,” said Vice Admiral Air Boss Daniel Cheever at a panel at the WEST 2024 conference, co-organized by the U.S. Naval Institute and the AFCEA. "Limited operational impacts at this time, but there are still operational impacts. And when you look to the future, there are significant operational impacts."

As part of the Greyhounds' planned retirement, the U.S. Navy stopped training new C-2 pilots and began to reduce spare parts and logistical support for the 60-year project.

This transition, completed on the West Coast, is now paralyzed with the grounding of the V-22 in the U.S. Marines, Navy and Air Force after the fall of a USAF Special Operations MV-22 off the coast of Japan late last year.

The grounding of the Ospreys has already been out of operation for 75 days, with no indication of how long the grounding can continue.

CMV-22B Osprey.

The suspension of operation of the tiltrotors forced the U.S. Navy to exchange the V-22 aboard the West Coast aircraft carriers USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) and USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) for the C-2As of the East Coast Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 40, the "Rawhides".

"The VRC-40 is currently emerging to fulfill the mission [COD] for aircraft carriers deployed in the 5ª and 7ª U.S. Fleets," says a statement from the Naval Air Forces. "There was no change in the planned retirement of C-2A for 2026."

Although there is still no change in the plan for the C-2, there is little indication of any of the forces for how long the V-22 will be able to remain out of service. After the initial grounding of the fleet, there was very limited information about the underlying cause of the grounding, in addition to a "potential material failure".

For the Marines, the situation is more terrible, said Lieutenant Karsten Heckl during the panel. He said that the operations of the 31ª Marine Expeditionary Unit based in Japan, the 26º MEU deployed in the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and the 15º MEU that is preparing to be deployed aboard the Boxer ARG had "dramatic impacts".

Navy officers said that Marines are allowed to use Ospreys deployed aboard the Bataan ARG in specific emergency situations. A main mission of the 26º MEU, currently deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean, is the evacuation of non-combatants from Lebanon.

Last month, the Assistant Commander of the Marine Corps, General Chris Mahoney, said that the Force risks losing proficiency with the aircraft the longer it stays on the ground.

"At some point, if a pilot does not fly, if a maintainer does not turn a wrench, if an observer or crew chief is not exercising his profession, this will become a matter of competence and then there will be a matter of safety," he said.

Tags: Military AviationCMV-22B OspreyGrumman C-2 GreyhoundUSN - United States Navy/U.S. Navy

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Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, he has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Dayton Airshow and FIDAE. He has works published in specialized aviation magazines in Brazil and abroad. He uses Canon equipment during his photographic work in the world of aviation.

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