GORILLA FORCE
Lockheed Martin’s Joint Strike Fighter program has had
its share of trials and tribulations, but genuine progress is now being
made. The US Air Force’s 58th Fighter Squadron ‘Gorillas’ is at the
forefront of service introduction of the F-35A Lightning II, as Robert
F. Dorr reports, with exclusive photographs by James Haseltine
SPECIAL REPORT: F-35 ON TEST
The
annual report from the DoD’s Director of Operational Test and
Evaluation always provides an interesting insight into the world of key
US military programs. Jamie Hunter evaluates the F-35 feedback
R ENEWING BRAZIL’S NAVAL WINGS
Cees-Jan
van der Ende travels to Brazil and discovers how naval air power has
been subject to government-enforced cutbacks. With rich pickings of
Skyhawk IIs, Sea Kings and Super Pumas, the skies around Naval Air
Station São Pedro da Aldeia are buzzing with activity again
AIR POWER REVIEW: CHARRÚA FIGHTERS
Brigada
Aérea No 2 of the tiny Uruguayan Air Force concentrates all of the air
arm’s combat units at its base in the center of the country. Santiago
Rivas flew with the unit
VAMPIRE TESTERS
Dick Wels visits the
‘Vampires’ of VX-9 at NAWS China Lake, California, to meet the US Navy
squadron responsible for the execution of operational test and
evaluation
SPECIAL REPORT: TARANIS BREAKS COVER
BAE Systems
and the UK Ministry of Defence have together developed an advanced
concept demonstrator that may lead to the next-generation of combat
aircraft post-2030. Jamie Hunter reports
FACT FILE: FIRE SCOUT
A
unique unmanned aerial vehicle, the US Navy’s vertical take-off and
landing Fire Scout is designed to serve aboard aircapable ships. Tom
Kaminski details how these UAVs will soon form a key component of the
Littoral Combat Ships
INDUSTRY REPORT: C-17: THE FINAL COUNTDOWN
The
Boeing C-17 experienced a somewhat checkered history in its early
years, before emerging as the US Air Force’s go-to intratheater
transport. With production now set to end in 2015, Jon Lake looks at the
status of the Globemaster III
SWING-WING SURVIVOR
Bartosz
Bera and Maciej Wolanski celebrate 30 years of Polish Air Force duty by
the Su-22 ‘Fitter’, a type that may now be facing imminent retirement
EXERCISE REPORT: ‘RED FLAG’ IS BACK!
Following
the unprecedented cancellation of two of last year’s events due to
sequestration, exercise ‘Red Flag’ is back with a vengeance this year.
Jamie Hunter attends the first of this year’s scheduled three-week
exercises at Nellis AFB
GLOR Y DAYS: ROVING SANDS ’97
Warren
E. Thompson recalls a one-of-a-kind event, ‘Roving Sands ’97’ — at the
time, the largest joint tactical air operations exercise staged anywhere
in the world
CUTTING EDGE
Combat Aircraft’s monthly column reporting from the front line of aerospace technology, by David Axe
AIR POWER REVIEW: THE SEA DRAGON RISES
During
the last decade the People’s Liberation Army Naval Air Force has
developed further towards becoming a truly capable air arm than at any
time since its foundation. Andreas Rupprecht details a service that no
longer hides behind the ‘real’ Air Force. via Chinese Internet
News
HEADLINE NEWS
United Arab Emirates to buy more ‘Vipers’, Iraq to acquire Apaches, and UK unveils Taranis testing
US NEWS
F-35 production rates slowed, AC-130J gunship rolled out, CH-53K starts dynamic testing
UK NEWS
‘Dambusters’ end Tornado GR4 operations, F-35 order imminent and Voyagers grounded
WORLD NEWS
Kuwaiti C-17 delivered, all the latest Chinese news and Saudi Eagles head to ‘Red Flag’
EUROPE NEWS
Plans for new Russian display team, French E-3Fs upgraded and Belarus ‘Flankers’ are coming back
