How the world’s first stealth combat aircraft went on to change forever the way the U.S. fought wars. As night fell over Baghdad on January 16, 1991, a small army of maintainers and pilots gathered around what had been one of America’s best kept secrets. A single combat mission in Panama two years prior had…

The A-10 Thunderbolt, also known as the Warthog, has made quite a name for itself since it was put into use by the United States Airforce. Here’s What You Need to Remember: Despite its cult following, many defense leaders are looking to replace the aging A-10 with the highly-advanced F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter jet. This…

Saab’s latest aircraft, the JAS 39 Gripen is one of the most capable multirole fighter aircraft in the world. When automotive enthusiasts hear the name Saab, they probably always think about the famous car manufacturer. The manufacturer that we now miss greatly, but that also produced some utterly amazing cars. Think of the 9-3 Viggen perhaps,…

A TRUE nightmare scenario for any plane passenger is mid-flight engine failure. Once you’re up in the air, you’re coming down one way or another, but a mechanical fault is not an ideal deciding factor. Some planes can fly for as long as five hours with only one engineCredit: EPA However, planes are designed with such problems in mind,…

The F-35 is a worthy successor to its forebears and is single-handedly making the United States’ power projection much more potent. The F-35 Lightning II fifth-generation stealth multirole fighter jet is hands down one of the most capable planes ever built. Developing all new technology is always a lengthy and costly endeavor, and the F-35 has taken…

The decision would have had ripple effects across the Air Force and the Department of Defense, with a not inconsequential impact on the Vietnam War. Since 1955, the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress has flown at the front lines of America’s national defense. Initially intended to deliver strategic nuclear weapons against the Soviet Union, the B-52 has…

Highly agile and heavily armed, the combat-proven Apache helicopter is the backbone of the US Army’s all-weather ground-support capability. With its unmatched performance, advanced sensors, and connectivity, the AH-64E Apache is the world’s most advanced multi-role combat helicopter. It serves as the backbone of the United States Army’s attack helicopter fleet and a growing number of…

Here’s What You Need To Remember: The attack helicopter’s ability to ferret out and battlefield targets and hammer them with precision missiles remains highly valued. Therefore, the Army plans to keep flying Apaches into the 2040s, by which time a new generation of “Future Vertical Lift” choppers may eventually assume their mantle. Early in the morning…

Here’s What You Need to Remember: In addition to the U.S. military, the F-35 has been adopted by many allied partners, and the aircraft serves as the backbone of allied airpower for thirteen nations and counting. It has played a critical role in joint domain operations, where the fighter has brought unprecedented situational awareness, information sharing…

Is it America’s most capable fighter, or America’s most expensive headache? Why not both? Refueling under cover of darkness, a massive formation of U.S. Air Force, Royal Air Force, and Australian Air Force aircraft prepared for combat. Fourth-generation fighters hailing from all three nations—including F-16 Fighting Falcons, F-15 Eagles, and Eurofighter Typhoons—coordinated with E-8 Joint STARS command-and-control…