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Myanmar is buying twenty MiG-29s from Russia. Myanmar bought its first twelve MiG-29s in 2001. This new sale will earn Russia some criticism, because Myanmar (formerly Burma) is a military dictatorship with a very bad international reputation. But Russia is desperate to keep the MiG-29 from fading away. To that end, Russia also ordered 24 MiG-29Ks for its sole aircraft carrier, to replace the Su-33s that currently serve on the ship. However, most of the current news about the Mig-29 has been bad. Malaysia, for example, admitted that it is getting rid of its MiG-29 fighters because the aircraft are...

The commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East made an observation that the Gulf Arab nations wished he hadn't. General David Petraeus noted that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Air Force, and it's 80 F-16E fighters could probably quickly destroy the entire Iranian Air Force. The Gulf Arabs would prefer the Iranians to believe their own propaganda, that the Iranian military is much more powerful than it actually is. The Iranian Air Force is mainly a mighty force only in terms of Iranian propaganda. The Gulf Arabs don't want the Iranians to make a strong effort to upgrade their...

During a Sept. 23 test, an AIM-9X fired from a U.S. Air Force F-16C fighter sank a rapidly moving target boat in the Gulf of Mexico. Raytheon thus demonstrated the capability to employ the AIM-9X Sidewinder advanced infrared-guided air-to-air missile to attack surface targets. "With a software upgrade, AIM-9X retains its air-to-air capabilities and gains an air-to-surface capability," said Harry Schulte, Raytheon Missile Systems vice president of Air Warfare Systems. "AIM-9X now has the potential to take on an additional mission at a very affordable cost." The test marks the third time an AIM-9X engaged moving surface targets. In April...

Israel has become a major exporter of military equipment to India. And that includes advice, as well as hardware. Recently, for example, Indian Air Force commanders have been asking Israeli advice on the Indian effort to select a supplier for over a hundred high end jet fighters. Israeli Air Force officials have recommended the U.S. F-16. In this case, the Israelis practice what they preach, currently having over 300 F-16s in service. Israeli firms also manufactures a lot of add-on gear for F-16s (and similar fighters). India has been leaning towards the Swedish Gripen, but the Israelis point out that...

The U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, "Thunderbirds," has announced its 2010 air show schedule. The team's 57th show season is scheduled to take them to more than 65 shows in 27 states and Canada. The 2010 schedule is as follows: March 20-21: Davis Monthan AFB, AZ 27-28: Maxwell AFB, AL April 10-11: Eglin AFB, FL 17-18: Lakeland, FL 24-25: Barksdale AFB, LA May 1 Dyess AFB, TX 2 Altus AFB, OK 8-9 Shaw AFB, SC 15-16 Columbus AFB, MS 22 Grand Forks AFB, ND 26: USAFA, CO 29-30 Janesville, WI June 5-6 Ocean City, MD 12-13 Quebec City, Canada...

Shaw Air Force Base Airmen supporting the Operation Noble Eagle alert mission provide quick-reaction support to protect U.S. airspace and significant events like presidential movements and space shuttle launches. "We have to be ready if the alarm goes off at 2:30 in the morning," said Master Sgt. William Martin, the alert NCO in charge. "I want everything to be ingrained in (the Airmen) so they can get the mission done." Recently, the alert Airmen were tested by Exercise Fertile Keynote. The exercise was conducted by officials from the 20th Fighter Wing plans and inspections to prepare for an upcoming inspection...

Israel to India: Buy F-16s, not Swedish Gripen fighter jets By YAAKOV LAPPIN Over the past year, Israel has advised India to purchase American F-16 fighter jets rather than Swedish-made Gripen warplanes. The F-16 has been in direct competition with the JAS 39 Gripen fighter aircraft and India has been mulling over which plane to purchase for the Indian Air Force (IAI). Israel defense officials advised their Indian counterparts to purchase the F16s, telling them that the US warplane performed better and was better priced.

Shaw Airmen supporting the alert mission, from maintainers to pilots, standby 'round the clock in case they are needed. The alert mission at Shaw is part of Operation Noble Eagle, which provides quick-reaction support to protect U.S. airspace and significant events like presidential movements and space shuttle launches. "We have to be ready if the alarm goes off at 2:30 in the morning," said Master Sgt. William Martin, alert NCO-in-charge. "I want everything to be ingrained in them (the Airmen) so they can get the mission done." Recently, the alert Airmen were tested by exercise Fertile Keynote. The exercise was...

Dubai 09: Lockheed adds probe to F-16 to attract India By Stephen Trimble Lockheed Martin is to add an all-new capability for the F-16 specifically to entice a massive order by the Indian air force. Lockheed has designed and demonstrated a probe refuelling system that extends from the right conformal fuel tank of the F-16IN, a proposed variant of the Block 60 tailored for India's 126-aircraft medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) requirement. The new probe-and-drogue refuelling capability was demonstrated to Indian pilots during flight trials performed in September in India, said Rick Groesch, Lockheed's regional vice-president for Middle East international...

US Vice-President Joe Biden is said to be seeing no way to sell the F-16 aircraft to Qatar in the short run. The following 403-word report sheds light on the subject and tells how Crown Prince Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani is reacting and how PM and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassem Al-Jabr Al-Thani is approaching the matter. It also tells whether this can play in favor of Rafale and how.

China has agreed to sell Pakistan at least 36 advanced fighter jets in a deal worth as much as $1.4bn, according to Pakistani and western officials. Beijing will supply two squadrons of the J-10 fighter jet in a preliminary agreement that could lead to more sales, said a Pakistani official. The official said Pakistan might buy “larger numbers” of the multi-role aircraft in the future, but dismissed reports that Islamabad had signed a deal to purchase as many as 150 of the fighter jets. Defence experts described the agreement with China as a landmark event in Pakistan’s defence relationship with...

The South Carolina Air National Guard's 169th Fighter Wing was named the overall winner of Falcon Air Meet 2009, a three-nation F-16 Fighting Falcon competition, held here through to November 3rd. The South Carolina team, which represented the U. S. Air Force's Central Command and the U.S., won three of the four main events as well as the Top Overall Maintenance Award and the Top Overall Competition Award. Other nations competing in the annual event were Jordan and Belgium. "I could not be prouder of what the South Carolina Air National Guard accomplished here at this year's Falcon Air Meet,"...

The death of an Air Force F-16 pilot is hitting close to home for many in Wichita Falls ... because Captain Nicholas Giglio spent several years as a student and then as an instructor pilot at Sheppard Air Force Base. He died Thursday when his F-16 collided mid-air with another F-16 off the coast of South Carolina. Katie Crosbie joins us now -- Katie, such a tragedy. It is, Doug. Captain Nick Giglio leaves behind a young family and a host of friends who spoke of his legacy. "My heart aches, but my faith is still strong." The words of...

For years, the F-16 Fighting Falcons at Sumter's Shaw Air Force Base have trained to search out and destroy enemy missile and anti-aircraft artillery sites. "That's the big war," as Lt. Col. Ken Ekman, a Shaw squadron commander, put it recently. Now, Ekman and his S.C.-based unit - the 79th Fighter Squadron - are here, fighting a small war where they may be called on to fly close-air support for a donkey train carrying election ballots to a mountain village. ***Instead of hunting down enemy missile sites, the pilots use the multi-million-dollar electronic gear aboard their planes to find bombs...

HILL AIR FORCE BASE — Engine failure is to blame for the Thursday afternoon incident that saw a F-16 pilot jettison bombs and fuel tanks over the west side of Hill Air Force Base, Air Force officials said Friday. Base emergency personnel will dispose of one unexploded bomb today by blowing it up in place. The other bomb exploded on impact with the ground. About 4 p.m. Thursday, a male F-16 pilot from Hill’s 388th Fighter Wing had engine problems approximately 20 seconds after takeoff, causing the pilot to drop two external fuel tanks and two 500 pound Mark 82...

Taiwan's air force said Friday it was planning to upgrade the island's U.S.-made and indigenous fighter jets to maintain the balance of air power across the Taiwan Strait. The upgrades are aimed at boosting the fighters' performance and avoid a "gap in Taiwan's war-fighting capabilities," the island's semi- official Central News Agency reported Friday. The upgrades would seek to address "the trend of the tipping of the military balance in the Taiwan Strait," the air force reportedly said, without elaborating. On Thursday Defense Minister Kao Hua-chu told lawmakers that the military was considering mothballing the some 60 French-made Mirage models...

HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah (AP) -- An official with the Davis County sheriff's office in northern Utah says there has been an explosion at Hill Air Force Base. Capt. Kenny Payne says the explosion occurred Thursday at a weapons cache. He did not have other details.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16, 2009 – Coast Guard searchers today found crash debris believed to belong to a missing Air Force pilot’s F-16 jet that collided yesterday with another F-16 near the South Carolina coast during a night-training exercise, an Air Force spokesman said today. “The Coast Guard has found some debris in the ocean that is apparently from our missing F-16,” Robert Sexton, chief of public affairs at Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter, S.C., said during a telephone interview with American Forces Press Service. Shaw Air Force Base is the home of the 20th Fighter Wing, to which the...

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, SC (WIS) - Two Air Force F-16 jets based out of Shaw Air Force Base collided off the coast of South Carolina Thursday night, and one of them is missing. Air Force officials said the fighters were assigned to the 20th Fighter Wing collided in mid-air over the Atlantic Ocean about 8:30pm on Thursday near Myrtle Beach. The aircraft were participating in night training maneuvers, officials said. The aircraft carried one person each. One F-16 was able to land safely at Charleston AFB, and the pilot is being examined by Air Force medical personnel. The location...

PICTURES: Lockheed Martin unveils first F-16 Block 52 ordered by Pakistan By Stephen Trimble Lockheed Martin today unveiled the first of up to 36 F-16 Block 52 fighters that could be sold to the Pakistan Air Force in a ceremony attended by the chiefs of both Pakistani US air forces. The so-called “Peace Drive I” programme brokered by the US government once called for Pakistan to buy up to 55 F-16s. That number has been reduced to firm orders for 12 single-seat F-16C and six F-16Ds. Pakistan also has signed options to buy 18 more F-16 Block 52s, all powered...

Over the skies of the Barry M. Goldwater Range, one Luke F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot recently reached a milestone that few pilots can claim. Lt. Col. Greg Lukasiewicz, 62nd Fighter Squadron assistant director of operations and 944th Fighter Wing, 301st Fighter Squadron Reservist pilot, broke 4,000 F-16 flying hours after 20 years of piloting the F-16 jet, making him the 26th F-16 pilot to amass the equivalent of more than 166 days in the cockpit. For Colonel Lukasiewicz, it is just another notch on his belt. "Our flight commanders keep a log of our flying hours and track individual pilots'...

GE plans to source parts from India for F-16 engine BS Reporter / Chennai/ Bangalore September 17, 2009, 0:22 IST General Electric (GE), which is in contention as the engine supplier for the medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) contract of the IAF with three of its engines, is keen on sourcing components from Indian industry. GE said, it will manufacture, assemble and test the engine, if any of its partner wins the contract, at the Hindusthan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The global engine manufacturing behemoth said it will get many of its engine components manufactured by local firms. GE’s F110-GE-132 turbofan...

Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009 U.S. floated plan to withdraw fighter jets Japan stayed silent in light of North Korea, realignment worries Kyodo News The U.S. government sounded out Japan in early April about pulling out all of the approximately 40 F-16 fighters from Misawa Air Base in Aomori Prefecture, possibly beginning later this year, sources close to Japan-U.S. relations said Friday. As part of the ongoing review of the U.S. defense strategy by the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama, the United States at the time also told Japan of an idea to remove some of the more than 50...

The Obama administration has proposed the possible pull out of all 40 F-16s from Misawa AB to the government of Japan. The discussion are supposed to have taken place back in April and have only now been released. The move could possibly start at the end of the year with the agreement of the new incoming administration of Democratic Party of Japanese leader Yukio Hatoyama. As part of the same strategic review plan the US has also told Japan that they may also remove 50 or so F-15s from its base in Kadena, Okinawa. Both proposals are pending as the...

International media, usually harshly critical of Israel, expressed sympathy over the tragic death of Air Force pilot Assaf Ramon, whose father, the first Israeli astronaut, died in the Columbia spaceship disaster six years ago. CNN told it viewers, “After the disaster of the Columbia space shuttle in 2003. Ilan Ramon, the first Israeli astronaut, became an admired figure in the United States, the news of the death of his son stunned many Americans.”

An F-16 from the IDFAF crashed in the Southern hills near Hebron. The pilot who was killed was the son of the late Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon, who died in the Space Shuttle Columbia accident in 2003. he pilot Lt. Assaf Ramon, 20, was on his 47th training flight since completing his pilot training in June 2009. He was flying an unarmed training mission when the accident happened. IAF commander Maj.-Gen. Ido Nehushtan and the head of the IDF Manpower Division Avi Zamir personally delivered the sad news to his mother, Rona Ramon's at there home. The news of the...

The Iraqi Government has a problem, a problem partially of their making. They do not have an air defense capability and the US is departing soon. It takes years to build a legitimate air defense capability and Iraq does not have the time. Since 2006, the Iraqi Ministry of Defense has been briefing about a three phased series of five-year plans for Iraqi Security Force development. In May 2009, the Iraqi Minister of Defense stated that Phase 2 and Phase 3 will be delayed given current funding. - Phase 1 (2006-2010): Tactical Independence. This means the ability for the Iraqi...

U.S. weighing F-16 options for Iraq Wed Sep 2, 2009 7:23pm EDT By Jim Wolf WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Air Force is crafting several options designed to meet an Iraqi request for Lockheed Martin Corp F-16 fighter aircraft, a senior Air Force official said on Wednesday. Whether new or refurbished, the F-16 is a potential key to fostering U.S. and Iraqi ability to operate together in the future, said Bruce Lemkin, the Air Force's point person for international affairs. "It is extraordinarily important," he told Reuters by telephone. "It's not just the airplane. It's the partnership that comes with...

F-16Is grounded for inspection after one suffers engine failure YAAKOV KATZ Israel Air Force commander Maj.-Gen. Ido Nehushtan decided Wednesday night to temporarily ground all F-16I fighter jets from training operations after a jet experienced engine failure earlier in the day and made an emergency landing. The F-16I - called the Sufa (storm) in the IAF - is one of the most-advanced fighter jets in the air force, the last of which arrived in Israel earlier this year. The incident occurred Wednesday afternoon when the engine of an F-16I, on a routine flight, experienced an unusual engine malfunction. The pilot...

UAE F-16s make debut appearance in US 'Red Flag' exercise By Craig Hoyle Lockheed Martin F-16Es from the United Arab Emirates air force are participating in the US Air Force's "Red Flag" series of multinational exercises for the first time, with the current manoeuvres set to conclude at Nellis AFB, Nevada on 5 September. The UAE aircraft are drawn from its US-based training squadron for the Block 60 F-16E/F, which is permanently based at Tucson AFB. Air force personnel set for involvement in the Red Flag exercise took part in a two-week series of preparatory training at the Arizona base...

Lt. Col. D. Scott Brenton is 25th Pilot in the World to Spend 4,000 HoursFlying the F-16 HANCOCK FIELD AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, NY (08/10/2009)(readMedia)-- A New York Air National Guard pilot in the 174th Fight Wing has become the 25th pilot in the world to accrue 4,000 hours of flight time in the F-16. On Saturday, August 8, Lt. Col. D. Scott Brenton, a Manlius resident, hit the 4,000 hours mark when he took off in F-16 86-0249 on a routine training mission and then touched down at 11:15 a.m. "I have often joked that I have never considered...

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A gap between the possible loss of F-16s and the arrival newer planes to be serviced could jeopardize jobs and future missions at Hill Air Force Base, according to U.S. Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah. “It’s a little bit fluid as to the impact on Hill AFB,” he said, speaking to the Clipper and other media from across the state Friday morning. “One concern is the phase-out of the F-16s that have been flying there” and maintained there, the Republican senator said. “They (F-16s) won’t be completely gone, but then comes the impact – what are they going...

AVON PARK -- Dwayne Quick has always known that he would fly an F-16 fighter. Since he was 2 years old, he says, it has been his dream. Just a couple of weeks ago, the Avon Park High School graduate discovered that dream would come true when he was allowed to join the Texas Air National Guard after a long battle to clear up a paperwork snafu. "I always knew that if I had faith, I would fly a fighter, and since I was two years old, that has been my dream," Quick told the News-Sun. "In 2000, I told...

Recently, 20th Maintenance Group Airmen tackled the task of a one-time inspection of 87, 20th Fighter Wing Lockheed-Martin F-16 Fighting Falcons to ensure the safety of the wing's pilots and aircraft. Normally an F-16 weighing in at about 28,000 pounds traveling 160 knots uses only about 7,000 feet of runway during landing; therefore, fighters must have a reliable brake system that will get them from high speeds to a safe landing and a successful mission. An unusual number of anti-skid and braking system problems led Col. Robert Hopkins, former 20th MXG commander, to recommend and Col. Joseph Guastella, Jr., 20th...

Spangdahlem has some of the best Airmen throughout the U.S. Air Forces in Europe. The 23rd Fighter Squadron proved that when the unit was designated the 2008 USAFE Fighter Squadron of the Year. "The talented men and women in the squadron are the number one driver for that award - there's no doubt about it," said Lt. Col. Mike Lay, 23rd FS commander. "I may get a lot of credit, being the squadron commander, but it's really the people who make up the squadron who are behind it." Many factors contributed to the selection of the 23rd FS as the...

S. Korea Reconsidering Stealth Fighter Plans By Jung Sung-ki Staff Reporter The South Korean military is having second thoughts about introducing so-called fifth-generation stealth fighters due to technical and budgetary problems. Last week, the Weapon Systems Concept Development and Application Research Center at Konkuk University in Seoul submitted its interim report on the feasibility of the KF-X indigenous fighter development project to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). The agency commissioned a six-month final feasibility study on the KF-X program in April. The report suggests major changes in required operational capabilities (ROCs) for the KF-X aircraft. In particular, the report...

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- Flying at home station is necessary for training, but flying with other units, especially an allied unit like the Israeli Air Force, results in valuable experience and preparation for the fight. A squadron of F-16Is from Ramon Air Base, Israel, is one of the nine units participating in Red Flag 09-4 through July 24 in Las Vegas. Red Flag exercises present a unique experience for U.S. and allied units to fly together against red air, or 'enemy' aircraft provided by the Aggressor Squadrons at Nellis Air Force Base, in a realistic combat environment. The...

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- Las Vegas may have a reputation for fun and games, but when it comes to Red Flag exercises, there is no room for messing around, especially for the new guys. The very purpose of Red Flag is to train new Airmen - especially pilots - to plan and fight in large force employments, or LFEs. For Lt. Col. Ross "Rosco" Anderson, Red Flag 09-4 Air Expeditionary Wing Operations Group commander, his first Red Flag in July 1996, was a whole new ball game when it came to flying. "I was completely overwhelmed by the...

An F-16 from the Pakistan Air Force has crashed in the vicinity of Khosab on Thursday. The pilot was killed. According to a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) spokesman, the plane was on routine night training mission when it crashed close to village of NurPur, 105km south west of Sargodha. Sargodha police said, fire broke out at the accident site, while rescue workers are making all efforts to bring it under control. According to police, the pilots body now identified as Squadron Leader Saud Ghulam Nabi has been recovered from the wreckage. A board of inquiry has been setup to investigate...

The most senior retired military officer to back President Obama's run for the White House says the president is making a "real mistake" in terminating F-22 production. Retired Gen. Merrill McPeak, who was the Air Force chief of staff during the 1991 Operation Desert Storm and who credited air power with winning the war, was the first four-star officer to endorse the one-term senator in his presidential campaign. McPeak traveled with Obama to bolster the candidate's commander-in-chief credentials, much to the chagrin of the general's fighter pilot colleagues. But now McPeak is breaking with Obama on the president's most contentious...

Pakistan Updates F-16s, Builds JF-17s Posted by Graham Warwick 6/29/2009 9:52 AM CDT Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI, aka Tusas) says it has finally signed the deal to upgrade Pakistan's F-16A/Bs. The contract, worth around $75 million, is to install Mid Life Update kits and structural modifications in 42 F-16s over 46 months beginning in October 2010 - about two years later than originally planned. Pakistan is also to receive 18 new F-16C/Ds beginning in 2010. JF-17s (Photo via Wikipedia) The chief of Pakistan's air force, meanwhile, says production of the JF-17 lightweight fighter codeveloped with China will begin at the...

India - Last Chance for Super Viper Posted by Graham Warwick at 6/23/2009 3:17 PM CDT I'll be delighted to be proved wrong, but I can't see Lockheed Martin's F-16IN as the front runner in India's 126-aircraft fighter competition, even if it has been rechristened the "Super Viper" (farewell, belatedly, to the unloved Fighting Falcon moniker). Artwork: Lockheed Martin Maybe I am being ageist. I became an aviation journalist in August 1978, the same month and year that the F-16 entered service. And that seems a long time ago to me. But I'm still writing and Lockheed is still building...

TOOELE, Utah — Military officials are trying to locate the pilot of an F-16 that crashed at the Utah Test and Training Range west of Salt Lake City. Base's 388th Fighter Wing, crashed late Monday night while on a routine training mission.

The Air Force wants to look at arming fighter jets to shoot down ballistic missiles, according to a letter from Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz to the head of the Defense Department's Missile Defense Agency. The June 2 letter from Schwartz, addressed to the MDA director, Army Lt. Gen. Patrick O'Reilly, called for a study of arming F-15s and F-16s, and possibly F-22s and F-35s, with specialized munitions under a concept dubbed Air Launched Hit-to-Kill. Schwartz said a 2008 war game, based in the European theater in 2020, piqued the interest of the Air Force to study the ALHK...

House defense authorizers are pressing Defense Secretary Robert Gates to consider buying existing fighter jets instead of the next-generation F-35 Joint Strike Fighter to curtail a severe fighter jet shortfall in the Air Force National Guard. During a House Armed Services Committee markup of the 2010 defense authorization bill on Tuesday, lawmakers raised alarm that aircraft shortfalls could present significant challenges to the Air Force’s ability to protect domestic airspace. At press time, lawmakers had included an amendment sponsored by Reps. Frank LoBiondo (R-N.J.) and Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) that would force Gates to consider buying F-15, F-16 and F-18 aircraft...

An F-16 has only one engine. When it goes, you are coming down. It is just a matter of figuring out where the airplane will come to rest on terra firma. The pilot does an awesome job.

Rafale allowed to take part in aircraft bid K.V. Prasad NEW DELHI: French fighter aircraft Rafale has been allowed to take part in the Indian Air Force’s bid to acquire 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Defence Procurement Board here on Monday, sources in the Defence Ministry said. Rafale, made by Dassault, was earlier declared out of the race after technical evaluations. Sources in the Ministry said the Technical Evaluation Committee had made the recommendation, as Dassault did not provide information on some equipment and add-ons that the IAF wanted to be...

May 20, 2009 (by Asif Shamim) - Hill AFB could loose one-third of its F-16s after the air force announced it plans to remove 250 aircraft from its fleet in a accelerated retirement program according to the Standard Examiner.

Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany would lose 18 F-16s and possibly one of its three fighter squadrons in a plan the Air Force announced Tuesday to eliminate about 250 fighter jets from its inventory.

A pair of F-16 fighter jets are scheduled to make periodic passes over downtown Washington at relatively low altitudes early tomorrow and again in the predawn hours Wednesday as part of a military exercise, the Air Force said. The two Air Force jets, taking part in an exercise run by the North American Aerospace Defense Command, are slated to fly over the city at about 5,000 feet several times between midnight tonight and 6 a.m. tomorrow, and again during the same time frame starting at midnight Tuesday, said Air Force Lt. Col. Almarah Belk. She said two Cessna prop planes...