LEAD-IN FIGHTER TRAINERS (LIFT)
A few key
types dominate the world market for advanced jet training aircraft.
Jamie Hunter and Jon Lake assess how these have been adapted to fill
wider roles and emerging technologies
KAI T-50 GOLDEN EAGLE
Jon
Lake examines the Korea Aerospace Industries T-50 and KAI’s experience
in license-producing the KF-16, which was the starting point for the
Golden Eagle
BAE SYSTEMS HAWK
With 998 aircraft sold, the Hawk
has an impressive track record. But is it yesterday’s trainer or a
world-leader? Jamie Hunter presents the case
ALENIA AERMACCHI M-346 MASTER
Giovanni
Colla visits the Alenia Aermacchi plant in Venegono to analyze the
status of the M-346, a program now making rapid progress
FEATURES
FIGHTER FOCUS: SAAB JAS 39E GRIPEN
The
editor goes to Linköping to see Saab’s progress with its latest
incarnation of its popular JAS 39 Gripen fighter. Jamie Hunter
LEMOORE STRIKE WING
Located
in mid-California’s flat farming country, Naval Air Station Lemoore is
home to an incredible 16 famous squadrons that form the backbone of
Strike Fighter Wing Pacific. Jamie Hunter and Richard Collens travel to
‘Hornet Country’
INDUSTRY REPORT: DEFENDING POSEIDON
Brad
Elward looks at the latest report on the P-8 Poseidon from the Director,
Operational Test and Evaluation, and the testing that followed,
offering some insights into the status of the program today and what can
be expected during the rest of 2014
SPECIAL REPORT: LIGHTNING STRIKES AT LUKE
With
the arrival of its first F-35A, Luke AFB is one step closer to becoming
the world’s largest Joint Strike Fighter base, but it still has a long
way to go as Rens van Rijn and Dennis Vink find out
GERMANY’S SPECIAL MISSIONS TRANSALLS
Stefan
Petersen flies with a newly commissioned Luftwaffe squadron that
supports German special forces with the dependable C-160D Transall
SPECIAL REPORT: DIRT STRIP HERCS
Nevatim
is home to the C-130 Hercules of the Israeli Air Force’s transport
wing. This critical component of the Israel Defense Forces is regularly
tested from dirt airstrips, as Ofer Zidon discovers
FEAR THE REAPER
Over
the past year, General Atomics has made an aggressive effort to
maintain its industry-leading advantage in drone technology and invested
in a more advanced derivative of its successful Predator B (MQ-9
Reaper), known as the Predator C Avenger. Rick Lavere reports
EXERCISE REPORT: COMBAT TRAINING AT TWENTYNINE PALMS
James
Deboer heads into the desert to find Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat
Center, also known as Twentynine Palms, home to a new breed of exercise
that tests Marines to the max
CUTTING EDGE
Combat Aircraft’s monthly column reporting
from the front line of aerospace technology,
by David Axe
NEWS
HEADLINE NEWS
CA
examines images taken over Texas that could be of a secret aircraft
type, plus South Korea firms up on F-35, and Qatar goes on a spending
spree
US NEWS
A-10 retirement options evaluated, Navy pushes for more Growlers, and all the latest unit and deployments news
WORLD NEWS
China to end J-11B production, Oman takes new F-16s and Canada delays F-35 purchase
EUROPE NEWS
Euro-tanking — exercise takes a combined approach, reprieve for Polish ‘Fitters’ and Sweden eyes more Gripens
