Block 4 is also expected to include integration of country-specific weapons requested by foreign F-35 operators.
Here s What You Need To Remember: The forthcoming ability of a frontline F-35s to penetrate hostile airspace with little warning, and potentially deliver a tactical nuclear weapon will surely become a factor in any adversary’s military calculations, for better or worse.
After years of expensive development, the first fully combat-capable Block IIIF F-35 stealth fighter are due to enter service in 2019. However, the Pentagon is already looking ahead to adding dozens of additional capabilities to a follow-up model called the Block 4 an upgrade so ambitious, its already budgeted to cost a whopping $16 billion.
U.S. Forces Conduct A New Multi-Domain Exercise With F-16s, KC-135s, P-8A And RQ-4B Over The Black Sea
U.S. Forces Conduct A New Multi-Domain Exercise With F-16s, KC-135s, P-8A And RQ-4B Over The Black Sea
A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft assigned to the 555th Fighter Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy, approaches a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft assigned to the 100th Air Refueling Wing, Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England, before receiving fuel during a mission over the Black Sea, Jan. 14, 2021. U.S. military operations in the Black Sea enhance regional stability, combined readiness and capability with our NATO allies and partners. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Emerson Nuñez)
Did China Copy a Reaper Drone and Arm It With an Anti-Ship Missile?
It looks like Beijing has continued its long policy of stealing, and then making changes to, American military systems.
China has launched and now flown a new large, anti-ship missile firing reconnaissance drone reportedly able to perform air-to-air precision strikes, stand-off ground attack and even anti-radiation attacks.
“The WJ-700 unmanned aircraft is characterized by its large payload and ability to launch large munitions from outside hostile anti-aircraft fire coverage zone,” the Chinese government-backed Global Times reports.
The new Chinese drone, perhaps not by accident, looks a lot like the U.S. Reaper drone which has itself been massively expanding its weapons envelope to incorporate new air-to-air weapons such as the AIM-9X and more precision-guided air-dropped bombs as well. The combat-tested Reaper has received new mission-extending added fuel tanks, a universal weapons interface with common te
The Obama Administration Is De-Militarizing the National Guard
The National Guard via military.com
In order to save $12 billion, all of the National Guard’s Apache helicopters are being transferred to the active duty Army, according to Defense One. It appears to be de-militarizing the National Guard.
The National Guard is fighting the move. In exchange for all 192 Apache attack helicopters presently used by nine states, the Guard and the Reserve components will receive 11l UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters. This eliminates 3 of 13 combat aviation brigades from the Army.
The main mission of the Apaches is to be the combat reserve of the Army.