Air & Space Forces Magazine’s Post

The United States Department of Defense has announced a “modernization plan” with the goal of deterring Chinese aggression in the region and strengthening forces in Japan. Misawa Air Base, home of the USAF’s 35th Fighter Wing’s 13th and 14th Fighter Squadrons, currently operates a suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD) mission with the F-16 Fighting Falcon. The Wing is expected to continue to fly their SEAD mission with the F-35A. The Department of Defense aims to replace 36 F-16C/Ds with 48 F-35As. The decision comes at a time of increased tensions between China and several nations around the Pacific. The two bases are very significant to the United States’ commitment to “a free and open Indo-Pacific” as Kadena is near Taiwan and China and Misawa is near Russia on the opposite end of Japan. Remarkably, the announcement marks the first commitment of the new F-15EX Eagle II, the most advanced Eagle variant ever produced, to a base outside the United States. https://lnkd.in/dhCz8Ugd

𝗘𝗫𝗖𝗟𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗩𝗘: The Ramstein exercise provided pilots with a chance to hone their basic fighter maneuver skills as they merged in the sky. #AirForce #USAF #Airman #SpaceForce #Guardian

#USA #USAF #F16C #F16D #F35A #F15C #F15D #F15EX "On July 3, 2024, the United States Department of Defense announced a “modernization plan” with the goal of deterring Chinese aggression in the region and strengthening forces in Japan. Misawa Air Base, home of the USAF’s 35th Fighter Wing’s 13th and 14th Fighter Squadrons, currently operates a suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD) mission with the F-16 Fighting Falcon. The Wing is expected to continue to fly their SEAD mission with the F-35A. The Department of Defense aims to replace 36 F-16C/Ds with 48 F-35As. Kadena Air Base, home of the 18th Wing’s 44th and 67th Fighter Squadrons, most recently flew in an air superiority role with the F-15C/D Eagle. Both squadrons were scheduled to retire their F-15s beginning in 2022 with no replacement named until now. The base is set to replace 48 Eagles with 36 F-15EX Eagle II jets. The original plan was to completely replace the F-15C/D fleet with the F-22A Raptor, the U.S. Air Force’s first 5th generation fighter aircraft. The service intended to purchase 750 Raptors to replace both the F-15 Eagle and the F-16 Fighting Falcon. However, this number was reduced to 187 production aircraft, which is fewer than the approximately 230 F-15C/D aircraft still in service. As a result, the operational life of the Eagle had to be extended, even though it was initially slated for retirement in 2019. The press release also makes mention of a decision for the U.S. Marine Corps to “modify the number of F-35B aircraft to support the… modernization implementation” at MCAS Iwakuni, though no specifics are named. MCAS Iwakuni is currently home to both VMFA-121 and VMFA-242, equipped with the F-35B Lightning II, as well as VMGR-152, flying the KC-130J Super Hercules. The decision comes at a time of increased tensions between China and several nations around the Pacific. The two bases are very significant to the United States’ commitment to “a free and open Indo-Pacific” as Kadena is near Taiwan and China and Misawa is near Russia on the opposite end of Japan. The DoD press release did not note a specific timeframe for the aircraft transitions other than noting it will be ongoing for “the next several years”. In the meantime, the U.S. Air Force will continue rotations of both 4th and 5th generation fighters to Kadena. Remarkably, the announcement marks the first commitment of the new  F-15EX Eagle II, the most advanced Eagle variant ever produced, to a base outside the United States. Other current and future F-15EX bases planned are Portland ANGB, Oregon; Eglin AFB, Florida; NAS JRB New Orleans, Louisiana; and Fresno ANGB, California. With these bases already planned for the new fighters, Kadena may be waiting a little while for theirs. ..."

Confidence to Friends, Fear to Enemies Turkey’s national fighter jet, named KAAN (formerly known as TF-X), is a stealth, twin-engine, all-weather air superiority fighter currently under development by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) in collaboration with BAE Systems. The KAAN is designed to replace the F-16 Fighting Falcons in the Turkish Air Force’s fleet. It is a part of the National Combat Aircraft (Milli Muharip Uçak, MMU) project, representing Turkey’s ambition to strengthen its defense capabilities with indigenous military technology. The KAAN fighter jet is a fifth-generation aircraft, highlighting advancements in stealth technology, air-to-air combat, air-to-ground strikes, and electronic warfare capabilities, aiming to operate effectively in various weather conditions. #fighter #5thgenerationfighters #TurkishAirForce #TAI

F-16 Fighting Falcon. The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a multirole jet fighter aircraft originally developed for the United States Air Force (USAF). Designed as an air superiority day fighter, it evolved into a successful all-weather multirole aircraft. Over 4,500 aircraft have been built since production was approved in 1976.Although no longer being purchased by the U.S. Air Force, improved versions are still being built for export customers. The F-16's official name is "Fighting Falcon", but "Viper" is commonly used by its pilots, due to a perceived resemblance to a viper snake as well as the Battlestar Galactica Colonial Viper starfighter. Prints available at: https://lnkd.in/e2WHFkCZ #F16 #FightingFalcon #Viper #USAF #Fighter #Jet #AviationArt #Aviation #Combat

U.S. Air Force Rockwell B-1B Lancer supersonic strategic heavy bombers assigned to the 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota launched from their deployed location at Luleå-Kallax Air Base, Sweden, to train alongside Swedish air force aircraft Feb. 26. The mission, dubbed Vanguard Adler, was conducted as part of Bomber Task Force 24-2 and designed to integrate the U.S. bombers with Swedish JAS 39 Gripen fighters and joint terminal attack controllers operating in the Arctic and Baltic regions. The exercise included surface attack, air interdiction and close air support scenarios, all aimed at building partnerships and increasing readiness. The capability to generate sorties from locations like Luleå is a key focus area for U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa. Through Vanguard Adler, BTF 24-2 sought to exercise the ability to quickly integrate forces and equipment at Allied and partner locations. #military #defense #defence #militaryleak https://lnkd.in/gMusBDm2

24+ aircraft fighter squadrons have long been the right answer. Based on how we man and train and sustain and deploy/employ, less than 24 has always been a problem. Not sure what this means for the fleet size at Kunsan, but this is good for Osan. As for Secretary Kendall’s comments about the increasingly unsustainable nature of the A-10 and its unsurvivability, I’ll just say that 1) when you pull manpower, leadership, and funding and it still has a mission capable rate higher than anything else, you’re not being honest; and 2) as for survivability, there is this 6th Gen idea called tactics that is really amazing. If only we can procure enough of them. #usaf #capacity #tactics.

From August 31 to September 6, 2024, Allied Nations Germany and the United States joined Finland’s annual road base exercise Baana to conduct historic landings on highways. The Norvatie highway strip in Rovaniemi and the Hosio highway strip in Ranua, Finland, became the landing strip during exercise Baana 24, a Finnish-led annual exercise taking place outside main operating bases to increase expeditionary capability and dispersed operations drills. Main participants in Baana 24 were the Finnish Air Force’s F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets, Hawk jet trainers, as well as transport and liaison aircraft. Germany participated with Eurofighter jets and the United States with the F-35A enhancing both Allies’ Agile Combat Employment or ACE tactics, techniques and procedures. Germany deployed a limited support element with their Eurofighters to Finland and conducted operations from a normal highway for the first time. For two United States F-35A jets belonging to the 48th Fighter Wing stationed at Lakenheath, United Kingdom, it was also the first time to practice highway landings in Europe. After initial checks, the 435th Contingency Response Support Squadron stepped in and conducted the first hot pit refueling of a U.S. Air Force F-35A on a highway in Europe. The presence of RAF Lakenheath F-35As training alongside Finnish Allies demonstrates that U.S. forces are fully prepared and postured to work seamlessly with NATO Allies and partners in the region to enhance the Alliance’s security. #military #defense #defence #militaryleak https://lnkd.in/gqq3FTUW

#TechTuesday 𝗖-𝟭𝟳 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗺𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗜𝗜𝗜... C-17 is a heavy-lift, strategic transport capable of direct tactical delivery of all classes of military cargo. It is the U.S. military’s core airlift asset, capable of operating on small, austere airfields (3,500 ft by 90 ft) previously limited to C-130s. It is the only aircraft able to directly deliver or airdrop outsize cargo into a tactical environment and it is the first military transport to feature full digital, fly-by-wire control. MORE: https://bit.ly/494OqKo #AirForce #USAF #Airman #SpaceForce #Guardian

Interesting  "As the details of the drills came to light, military specialists were astounded to learn that a 25-year-old fighter outclassed the comparatively younger Chinese J-11 aircraft, particularly in the beyond-visual-range (BVR) encounters.During the week-long exercise, the Chinese jets underperformed, prompting many analysts to question China’s aerial capabilities. According to reports, the J-11s were equipped with infrared-guided short-range missiles called PL-8s, while the Thai Gripen was equipped with an internal gun and AIM-9 infrared-guided missiles for close-quarters combat." https://lnkd.in/dGGUZNDy