Rheinmetall Supplies Ammunition for USAF F-35s: Working to Expand to RAAF

02/26/2019
In 2017, Rheinmetall announced that they had won a contract to supply ammunition for the USAF's F-35s. In a March 6, 2017 press release, the company announced the contract. Rheinmetall has just booked an order from the US Air Force to supply ammunition for the F-35 stealth multirole fighter. The…

An Update on the Future Combat Air Systems Program: February 2019

02/25/2019
By Pierre Tran Paris Negotiations are being held with electronics company Thales and European missile maker MBDA on joining Airbus and Dassault in a joint concept study for the Future Combat Air System, said a source who declined to be identified. The industrial partners aim to decide who does what,…

The Munich Security Conference 2019: An Overview

02/24/2019
This year's Munich Security Conference 2019 did a good job of reflecting the conventional wisdom in Europe about the Trump Administration, and allowing geopolitical adversaries of the United States a good world stage. And Chancellor Merkel provided a "feel good" speech to rally Europeans nostalgic for a world before Donald…

USN Discusses Way Ahead with Naval Aviation

02/22/2019
In a recent story by Megan Eckstein published by USNI News on February 20, 2019, the author reports on a panel held at the recent Navy exposition in Washington DC. For the aviation community, the pace of inserting more lethality into the fighter force is already predetermined: the F/A-18 Hornets are…

F-35 at Red Flag 19-1: The Role of Maintainers

02/22/2019
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev After more than two weeks launching F-35A sorties at Red Flag 19-1 here, maintainers with the 388th Fighter Wing are impressed with the jet and the young airmen who help maintain it.  The 4th Fighter Squadron and 4th Aircraft maintenance unit brought 12 jets and…

From the Osprey to the CH-53K: Progress in Building a Maintainable Aircraft

02/21/2019
By Robbin Laird Recently, I visited New River to talk with the team doing the Log Demo in support of the CH-53K. A decade ago I visited the Osprey maintainers standing up the Osprey at New River as well. I have republished a number of those interviews from a decade…

Exercice “Marathon Monfreid” in Djibouti

02/20/2019
By Lieutenant Lise Moricet (French Air Force) TUESDAY 8 JANUARY 2019- DJIBOUTI Three Rafale from the Saint-Dizier based fighter squadron 1/4  “Gascogne,” as well as one C-135 from Istres Air Base 125 participated in a long range projection exercise, called “Marathon-Monfreid.” Eight hours of in-flight time and four air-to-air refuelings were…