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☆ Air Force Secretary says it was 'roughly an even fight' between an AI-controlled F-16 and a highly trained human fighter pilot
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Alex Hollings | Sandboxx News | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The X-62 Variable In-Flight Simulator Test Aircraft (VISTA) flies upside down in the skies over Edwards Air Force Base. Related storiesIn other words, the Air Force Secretary currently places the branch's F-16-piloting AI as roughly comparable in dogfighting skill to some of the nation's most experienced and capable aviators. The X-62 VISTA flies in the skies above Edwards Air Force Base. US Air Force photo by Richard GonzalesKendall rode in the front seat of the Air Force's heavily modified X-62 VISTA — a Block 30 F-16D that has previously incorporated technology, including multi-axis thrust-vector control, not found on any of the Air Force's operational Vipers. Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall, aboard the X-62 VISTA, takes off from the runway at Edwards Air Force Base.

Persons: Frank Kendall, Kendall, Kyle Brasier, Richard Gonzales Kendall, Air Force Frank Kendall, Madeline Guadarrama, we're Organizations: Service, Air Force, Air, Business, Aircraft, Edwards Air Force Base, US Air Force, Air Force's, School, VISTA, Delta Force, Ministry of Ungentlemanly Locations: Washington ,

☆ The US Air Force is teaching AI to navigate aircraft in case GPS gets taken out in a future fight
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

In a future war, electronic warfare and anti-satellite weapons could leave the US military without GPS, a critical tool for navigation and targeting. That challenge has prompted the US Air Force to experiment with using artificial intelligence as an alternative navigation method. Related storiesA potential solution being developed by the US Air Force instead relies on AI for navigating in GPS-denied environments. The potential for AI to be used as an alternative to GPS navigation speaks to the growing concern around GPS denial in a future fight. AdvertisementAI creates new opportunities, and the Air Force's navigation alternative isn't the only project looking into how to integrate AI into military systems.

Persons: Col, Garry Floyd, Floyd Organizations: Service, GPS, US Air Force, Business, Department of Air Force, MIT, Intelligence, Associated Press, Air Force, AP, Pentagon, Air Locations: China, Russia, Ukraine, Geneva

☆ Ukraine's pilots are flying high-risk 'wild weasel' missions first developed in the Vietnam War by the USAF, says defense analyst
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-11 | by ( Cameron Manley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Eastern Ukraine, a Ukrainian Air Force MiG-29 Wild Weasel fires off an AGM-88 HARM towards a Russian radar. (Summer ‘22) pic.twitter.com/IOeu7hzUxW — OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) February 8, 2024The US Air Force pioneered SEAD tactics in the Vietnam War. The term "wild weasel" originated from Project Wild Weasel. This US Air Force anti-SAM strategy used direct attacks to suppress enemy air defenses, according to the National Museum of the US Air Force. But, he added Ukraine's tactics "go far beyond the classic wild weasel missions of Anti-Radiation Missile equipped aircraft."

Persons: —, UkrAF Su, McDonnell Douglas, Stuart Lutz, Gado, Seaman Anthony N, Frederik Mertens, Mertens, William LaPlante, Justin Bronk, Bronk, Russian SAMs, James Hecker, Kajsa Ollongren, Putin Organizations: Service, Ukraine's, US Air Force, Radiation, Business, Ukrainian Air Force, Air, National Museum of, US Navy, US, U.S . Navy, Communication, Hague, Strategic Studies, Radiation Missile, Defense, Washington DC, Wild, Technology, Royal United Services Institute, Russian SAM, United States Air Forces, Air Force, Space, Rygge Air Force Base, OLE BERG, Getty, Dutch Defense Locations: Ukraine's Soviet, Eastern Ukraine, Russian, Ukraine, Ukrainian, treetop, Vietnam, Libya, Iraq, Yugoslavia, London, Europe, Romania, Norway, AFP, Netherlands, Vilnius, Denmark, Crimea, Kerch

☆ Former passenger jets bought by US firm tasked with creating next generation nuclear ‘Doomsday’ planes
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Brad Lendon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

At least one Doomsday plane is on alert 24/7 at a US military base somewhere in the world, the Air Force says. On Friday, a spokesperson for the Colorado-based Sierra Nevada confirmed the purchase of the Korean Air jets but would not give any further details. A Korean Air Boeing 747-800 landing at Rome Fiumicino airport. Earlier this week, Korean Air announced the $675 million sale of five of its aircraft to Sierra Nevada. Korean Air had nine 747-800 passenger jets in its fleet as of October 2023, according to its website.

Persons: Fabrizio Gandolfo, Yoonjung Seo Organizations: South Korea CNN, Boeing, South Korean, Korean, Sierra Nevada Corporation, US Air Force’s, Pentagon, Joint Chiefs, Air Force, US Department of Homeland Security, Korean Air, Korean Air Boeing, Sierra Nevada, Airborne Operations Center, Defense, Dayton International Airport Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Asia, United States, Colorado, Sierra Nevada, Rome Fiumicino, Ohio, Dayton

☆ A Florida deputy who fatally shot a 23-year-old airman in his home may have been in the wrong apartment, witness says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Thomas Novelly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

"The circumstances surrounding Roger's death raise serious questions that demand immediate answers from authorities, especially considering the alarming witness statement that the police entered the wrong apartment," Crump said. AdvertisementThis photo provided by the US Air Force shows Senior Airman Roger Fortson. US Air Force via APThe sheriff's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the attorney's claims. He reportedly said, "I can't breathe" while on the ground after being shot, Crump said, repeating a witness account of the event. Chantimekki Fortson, mother of Roger Fortson, a US Air Force airman, is comforted as she speaks about her son during a news conference regarding his death.

Persons: —, Roger Fortson, Ben Crump, Fortson, Crump, Roger, GulfLive.com, Chantimekki Fortson, Gerald Herbert, Military.com, Eric Aden Organizations: Service, Special Operations, Business, Sheriff's, US Air Force, AP, Air Force, Florida Department of Law Locations: Florida, Fortson's, Okaloosa, Okaloosa County, Aden

☆ A US ally is forging ties with China's air force but probably won't get its J-20 stealth fighter
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Paul Iddon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The UAE is boosting ties with China's air force. Major General Saleh Mohammed bin Mejren Al Ameri, commander of the UAE's Joint Operations, met with the commander of China's People's Liberation Army Air Force on April 23 to promote closer air force cooperation. Another even speculated Abu Dhabi may eventually seek China's premier stealth fighter: the fifth-generation J-20 Mighty Dragon. I don't see this relationship developing into something similar to what the UAE Air Force has with France or even Russia anytime soon." Furthermore, the Emirati air force fighter fleet is already large for such a small country, making it unlikely the L-15s will serve any combat role.

Persons: —, General Saleh Mohammed bin Mejren Al Ameri, China's, Abu Dhabi, Abu, Abu Dhabi's, Ahmed Aboudouh, Aboudouh, Washington's hesitance, Fred Tanneau, Sebastien Roblin, Roblin, haven't, Russia's Su, Robin Organizations: Service, United, Liberation Army Air Force, Dassault Rafales, Chatham House, China Studies Unit, Emirates Policy Center, Rafale, Dassault Aviation, UAE Air Force, UAE, China hasn't, FC, Korea's KF, UAE . The Emirates, KF Locations: UAE, Washington, Beijing, United Arab Emirates, China, United States, Abu Dhabi, UAE's, France, Abu, Russia, Saudi, Pakistan, Ukraine

☆ AI 'pilots' are getting so good they're sometimes beating humans in dogfights
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Some AI-controlled fighter jets are outperforming human pilots in dogfights, per the AP. The outlet witnessed an hourlong experimental flight at the Edwards Air Force Base in California. The Air Force is reportedly planning a fleet of more than 1,000 AI-enabled unmanned warplanes. AdvertisementSome AI-controlled F-16 fighter jets are already outperforming human pilots in dogfights, according to a report from the Associated Press. The US Air Force has been actively exploring AI, which has been cited as a transformative technology for military action globally.

Persons: —, Frank Kendall, Kendall Organizations: Edwards Air Force Base, The Air Force, Service, Associated Press, AP, Air Force, Business, US Air Force, Industry, IDF Locations: dogfights, California, Israel

☆ Air National Guard leaders say proposal to move units to Space Force poses 'existential threat' to US national security
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Thomas Novelly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

The US Air National Guard rebuke a proposal to shift space mission units to the Space Force. "Our internal survey indicates about 70% of our personnel would retrain or retire rather than join the Space Force," Air Force Col. Michael Griesbaum, commander of the Alaska Air National Guard's 168th Wing, told reporters Friday. Airmen from the Colorado Air National Guard load equipment onto a C-17 Globemaster before departing for temporary duty in Washington, DC. AdvertisementBut Air National Guard leaders have expressed concern, saying it would set a clear precedent for other services to potentially take more resources from the National Guard model. "If LP 480 is successful, it will open the door to a wholesale harvesting of National Guard resources, both from the Air National Guard and the Army National Guard to the regular components."

Persons: —, Michael Griesbaum, Chance Johnson, Military.com, Air Force Frank Kendall, Alex Wong, Frank Kendall, We've, Kendall, Griesbaum, Jason Carr, Robert Brown, Jacob Hancock Kendall, Michael Bruno Organizations: US Air National Guard, Space Force, Guardsmen, Service, Air National Guard, Hawaii Air National Guards, Air Force, Space Force Guardians, " Air Force, Alaska Air National, Airmen, Colorado Air National Guard, Tech, National Governors Association, United States Space Force, Rayburn House, Capitol, Getty Images Air Force, Army Guard, National Guard, Army National Guard, United States Space Command, Space Development, Air National Guardsmen, Air Force Staff, Colorado Air National, 233rd Space Group, Department of, National Guardsmen, Florida Air National Guard, Cape Canaveral Space Force, Guard, Brig, Colorado National Guard Locations: Alaska , Colorado, United States, Washington , DC, Niagara Falls , New York, Alaska , California , Colorado , Florida, Hawaii , New York, Ohio, Florida

☆ 21-year-old joined the circus over going to college—and gets shot out of a cannon for work
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-05 | by ( Morgan Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Skyler Miser credits her love for the circus to her parents Brian and Tina, who performed in earlier versions of the Ringling Circus in the early and mid-2000s. Skyler Miser's average work shift lasts about three seconds — a time during which she's shot out of a cannon in front of thousands of people. Miser was just 2 years old when she first performed in the circus, joining her parents on stage to introduce their act. Her father, Brian Miser, and her mother Tina Miser performed in earlier versions of the Ringling Circus in the early and mid-2000s, also as human cannonballs. During her act, Miser is propelled about 70 feet in the air at speeds of up to 65 miles an hour.

Persons: Skyler Miser, Brian, Tina, Skyler Miser's, she's, Abu, Formula, Miser, Brian Miser, Tina Miser, Benjamin Wallace, Ringling, Miser's, Bailey, hasn't Organizations: Ringling, Ringling Brothers, Barnum, CNBC, Circus, Peru Amateur, Air Force, Ringling Bros Locations: Peru , Indiana, Peru, Las Vegas, United States

☆ Russian drones injure 6 in Ukraine's Kharkiv, Dnipro regions
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Russia launched an overnight drone attack on Ukraine's Kharkiv and Dnipro regions, injuring at least six people and hitting critical infrastructure, commercial and residential buildings, regional officials said on Saturday. The Ukrainian Air Force said the Russian forces launched 13 Shahed drones targeting the regions in the northeast and centre of the country. The air defence units downed all the drones, the air force commander said. However, debris from the downed drones struck civilian targets in Kharkiv in the northeast, injuring four people and sparking a fire in an office building, the regional governor said. Oleh Synehubov, writing on the Telegram messaging app, said a 13-year-old child and a woman were being treated in hospital.

Persons: Oleh Synehubov, Serhiy Lysak Organizations: Ukraine's Kharkiv, Ukrainian Air Force Locations: Russia, Dnipro, Russian, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk

☆ AI-powered fighter jet kept up with a human pilot during the Air Force's historic experimental dogfight
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Read previewThe US Air Force conducted a historic test flight on Thursday of its AI-powered X-62A VISTA autonomous warplane. The flight over Edwards Air Force Base, for which Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall sat in the cockpit, ran through several combat exercises and aerial battle scenarios, per The Associated Press. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Related storiesWhile humanitarian groups have expressed deep concern about putting life-and-death decisions in the hands of an AI-powered craft, Kendall stressed that AI is already restructuring global warfare strategies whether we like it or not. AdvertisementThe Air Force did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Persons: —, Frank Kendall, Kendall Organizations: Service, US Air Force, Edwards Air Force Base, Air Force, Associated Press, Business, AP, Force

☆ Air Force preparing new charges against airman who leaked classified info on Discord
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Natasha Bertrand | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The US Air Force is preparing new charges within the military justice system against the Massachusetts Air National Guardsman who pleaded guilty in federal court earlier this year to posting a trove of highly classified intelligence reports and other documents on social media, according to an Air Force spokesperson. But after “close coordination” with the Justice Department, the Air Force has“determined that separate and distinct charges” should be referred against Teixeira “for alleged misconduct related to his military duties,” the spokesperson said. The Air Force will hold a first hearing to review evidence on May 14 at Hanscom Air Force Base in Massachusetts, the spokesperson said. Prosecutors alleged that while working at a Cape Cod airbase, Teixeira posted messages that included classified information in a Discord chat room called “Thug Shaker Central” before eventually posting photos of documents marked as classified. The documents, some of which were reviewed by CNN, included a wide range of highly classified information, such as blunt assessments on the state of the Russia-Ukraine war.

Persons: Jack Teixeira, Teixeira “, Teixeira, “, ”, CNN’s Hannah Rabinowitz Organizations: CNN, US Air Force, Massachusetts Air National, Air Force, Prosecutors, Justice Department, Department of Justice, United States Air Force, Military, The Air Force, Hanscom Air Force Base Locations: Massachusetts, Russia, Ukraine, States

☆ CNN gets a rare look at the Iranian missiles and drones that hit Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Fred Pleitgen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

But he’s more than happy to show the missiles and drones Iran used in its first ever attack against Israel launched directly from Iranian soil. Iran’s attack on Israel included drones, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles. “NATO, The United States and Arab countries of the region wanted to create barriers for our drones, missiles and cruise missiles, but they failed,” Belali says. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Daniel Hagari said that ballistic missiles that reached Israel fell on the airbase and caused only light structural damage. Shahed attack drones on an unmarked truck at an Iranian Revolutionary Guards exhibit in Tehran, Iran on May 1, 2024.

Persons: Tehran CNN —, ”, General Ali Belali, ” Belali, Israel, Belali, Jordan, Fred Pleitgen, Daniel Hagari, John Krzyzaniak, Lockheed Martin Organizations: Tehran CNN, Revolutionary Guard, Islamic, Israel, CNN, Iranian Revolutionary Guards, Revolutionary Guard Aerospace Forces, NATO, Israel Defense Forces, Washington, Wisconsin, Control, ISIS, Lockheed, CIA, Guards Locations: Tehran, Islamic Republic, Israel, Iran, Damascus, Gaza, Iraq, France, United States, Washington ,, Syria, Kurdish, American, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Russia, Moscow

☆ India is drawing lessons from Ukraine to counter China's military might
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

India is trying to modernize its military of 1.5 million people with lessons from Ukraine. AdvertisementAs India boosts defense spending amid tensions with China and Pakistan, it is closely studying the Ukraine conflict for clues to the future of warfare and how to thwart its neighbors. Some lessons that Indian experts have already drawn: India needs lots of artillery, drones and cyberwarfare capabilities. Drones have become the stars and workhorses of the air war, with both sides deploying — and losing — drones in the hundreds of thousands. AdvertisementThere are lessons here for Indian airpower, according to Arjun Subramaniam, a retired Indian Air Force air vice marshal who helped write the ORF report.

Persons: —, Amrita Jash, Wolfgang Schwan, Arjun Subramaniam, Subramaniam, Cyberwarfare, Shimona Mohan, Mohan, Michael Peck Organizations: NATO, Service, Artillery, Indian Army, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Observer Research Foundation, Getty, Russian, Indian Air Force, Air Force, Defense, Foreign Policy, Rutgers Univ, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: India, Ukraine, Russia, China, Pakistan, Eastern, Western, Indian, Siversk, Donetsk Oblast, Anadolu, cyberwarfare, Forbes

☆ Ukraine is building underground stores and bunkers to protect F-16s as the jets' arrival moves closer
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ukraine is preparing ways to protect its F-16s while at base, its air force said. AdvertisementUkraine's air force said it is preparing for the arrival of F-16s by building underground stores and bunkers at its bases. The Associated Press has reported that Ukraine may use Western air bases when it gets F-16s because the jets require high-standard runways and protective hangars. But the air force's update suggests that Ukraine plans on keeping at least some F-16s in Ukraine during periods when they are not flying. Russian President Vladimir Putin warned last month that Western air bases that host F-16s for Ukraine would be "legitimate" targets for his armed forces.

Persons: —, Ilya Yevlash, Yevlash, Vladimir Putin, Jake Epstein Organizations: Service, Air Force, Ukrainian Armed Forces, RBC, Russia, Military, Associated Press Locations: Ukraine, Russia

☆ White House plans to limit Biden's graduation speeches as campuses erupt in protests
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Mike Memoli | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Two White House officials noted that the number of speeches for Biden and Harris is similar to the two previous years. Another White House official declined to preview how Biden might address the campus unrest. Biden campaign officials say that despite the media focus on campus protests, public polling and their own research show that young voters are more concerned with other issues. "We know from the conversations we have that young voters are planning to vote, and voters are planning to vote for us," she said. Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., visited multiple Wisconsin college campuses this week as a member of the Biden campaign's national advisory board.

Persons: Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Biden, Harris, Jill Biden, Barack Obama, Karine Jean, Pierre, John Della Volpe, Della Volpe, Eve Levenson, aren't, Levenson, Ro Khanna, It's Organizations: U.S, Capitol, Montgomery County Community College, Morehouse College, U.S . Military Academy, West, Air Force Academy, White House, Barnard College, Joplin High School, White, Harvard University, Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics, Biden campaign's, Freedoms, Democratic, Biden, Harvard Locations: Blue Bell, Valley Forge , Pennsylvania, U.S, West, Virginia, Florida, Gaza, Wisconsin

☆ F-16s headed to Ukraine this summer will face their most dangerous battlefield ever
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Ukraine is slated to receive its much-anticipated fleet of F-16 fighter jets this summer. AdvertisementThe long-awaited delivery of F-16s to Ukraine is on the horizon, and these advanced American-made fighter jets can't come soon enough for its forces. The fighter jets are expected to arrive at some point this summer, reportedly as early as June. Romanian air force F-16 fighter planes fly above the Baza 86 military air base, outside Fetesti, Romania, Monday, Nov. 13, 2023. US Air Force F-16's stand ready with bombs loaded to take off during the first daylight attack to liberate Kuwait in 1991.

Persons: —, Falcon, SAMs, Alexandru, Egypt —, John Baum, Russia —, Baum, KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV Russia's, Tannehill, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Mark Rutte, Peter Dejong Organizations: Service, Russia's, Rygge Air Force Base, OLE BERG, Getty, NATO, Kyiv, Israeli Air Force, AP, US Air Force, Operation, Allied Force, Yugoslavia, Air Force, Defense Technical Information, Reuters, Storm, Russia, Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, US Navy, SA, Russian, AIM, INA Locations: Ukraine, Balkans, Kyiv, Romania, Norway, AFP, — Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands, Europe, Lebanon's, Israel, Yom, Romanian, Fetesti, Storm, Iraq, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Afghanistan, Islamic, Kuwait, Russian, Zhukovsky, Moscow, Bekaa, East, Syria, Russia, Ukrainian, Eindhoven, Rzeszow, Jasionka, Poland, Crimean

☆ Palmer Luckey's start-up Anduril just proved it can challenge legacy defense contractors and win
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Anduril has just been selected as one of two vendors for a major US air force contract. AdvertisementAnduril Industries, the defense tech startup run by Palmer Luckey, has just been awarded a major contract by the US Air Force, beating out legacy names like Boeing and Lockheed Martin. The Air Force hopes to eventually buy at least 1,000 CAA systems at a cost of $30 million per drone. "I'm confident we're going to deliver on budget and on schedule some really sick AI-powered fighter jets," he added. And the demand is there for them if they can make it: venture capitalists have put more than $100 billion into defense tech since 2021, according to PitchBook data.

Persons: Anduril, Northrup Grumman, Palmer Luckey, —, Lockheed Martin, Atomics, General Atomics Organizations: Boeing, Lockheed, Service, Anduril Industries, US Air Force, Aircraft, Air, Air Force, CAA, Combat Aircraft, CNBC Locations: Anduril, United States of America, …, China, Silicon Valley

☆ Live Updates: Biden Speaks About Aid Package for Ukraine and Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Zolan Kanno-Youngs | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +7 min

Artillery ammunition has been in short supply for the Ukrainian military for more than a year. Now that the Senate has approved a nearly $61 billion aid package to Ukraine, and with President Biden poised to sign it, desperately needed American weapons could be arriving on the battlefield within days. The Senate has approved a nearly $61 billion aid package to Ukraine. The Pentagon has prepared what a U.S. official said on Tuesday was a $1 billion military aid package to be rushed to Ukraine once Mr. Biden signs the funding bill. Jens Stoltenberg, NATO’s secretary general, said on Tuesday that the American aid package would allow for “advanced air-defense systems” to Ukraine but did not specify which kind.

Persons: Biden, Yehor Cherniev, Volodymyr Zelensky, Zelensky, Mr, —, Doug Mills, ATACMS, Lynsey Addario, Jens Stoltenberg, Stoltenberg, Mark Warner, ” Mr, Brendan Hoffman, Oksana Markarova, Markarova, “, Ms Organizations: Artillery, House Republicans, Ukrainian, Tactical Missile Systems, New York Times Artillery, NATO, Pentagon, U.S, Reuters, Artillery Rocket Systems, The New York Times, Patriot, “, Air Force, Democrat, Senate Intelligence, NBC, ., The New York Times Weapons, Ukrainska Pravda Locations: Donetsk, Ukraine, Russian, Russia, United, Kherson, United States, Germany, ”, American, Virginia, Kyiv, Ukraine’s, Europe

☆ More than half of the US Air Force's B-2 stealth bombers just staged a mass fly-off
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

B-2 Spirit stealth bombers executed a mass fly-off earlier this week during a major exercise. AdvertisementMore than half of the US Air Force's B-2 Spirit stealth bombers conducted a large-scale exercise earlier this week, staging a massive fly-off. For a long time, it was the only stealth bomber in the world, but the US is making progress on a new stealth bomber, the B-21 Raider, which achieved its first flight in November last year. AdvertisementAs a penetrating strike stealth bomber, the B-21, the US military has said, is expected to "form the backbone of the future Air Force bomber force." A B-2 Spirit stealth bomber assigned to the 509th Bomb Wing takes off at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., April 15, 2024.

Persons: —, Hailey Farrell, Northrop Grumman, Matthew S, Domingos Organizations: Whiteman Air Force Base, Service, US Air, 509th Bomb, . Air Force, Vigilance, Air Force, Northrop Locations: Mo, Missouri, Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan

Kyiv, Ukraine CNN —Ukraine’s air defenders say they notched up two significant firsts on Friday morning, taking down a Russian Tu22M3 strategic bomber and hitting two Kh-22 hypersonic cruise missiles in flight. Ukraine’s air force said six Kh-22 missiles were launched overnight from Russian bombers flying over the Black Sea and the nearby Sea of Azov – out of a total of 22 missiles and 14 Shahed drones fired overall. A military source told CNN a Patriot air defense system had been responsible for the two successful Kh-22 interceptions. Russia has fired hundreds of them at Ukrainian targets since the start of the full-scale invasion two years ago, according to air force information – all of which had evaded air defense until now. Anatolii Stepanov/AFP/Getty ImagesFatalities in Dnipropetrovsk regionAs well as the six Kh-22 missiles fired overnight, Russia fired 16 other missiles at Ukraine, including two Iskander K cruise missiles, in addition to 14 Shahed drones.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky, ”, Anatolii Stepanov Organizations: Ukraine CNN —, CNN, Patriot, Defense Intelligence, ” Russia’s Defense Ministry, Tass, Kyiv, Getty Locations: Kyiv, Ukraine, Russian, Dnipropetrovsk, Azov, Russia, Germany, Soviet, Russia’s Stavropol, Dnipro, AFP, Dnipropetrovsk region, Synelnykove

☆ Cuts could cost thousands of US soldiers their education benefits
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Ella Sherman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Budget cuts to two major financial aid programs could affect over 100,000 soldiers. Talks of budget cuts coincide with a time where Army recruitment is falling short of its goals. Potential budget cuts to the Army's Credential Assistance and Tuition Assistance programs could impact over 100,000 soldiers, policy experts recently told Inside Higher Education. The Credential Assistance program provides soldiers with $4,000 dollars a year going toward earning various certifications, and the Tuition Assistance program allows active-duty service members to receive $250 per hour of credit. Talks of budget cuts come at a time where recruiting for the Army is notably struggling.

Persons: —, Christine Wormuth, didn't, Wormuth, Will Hubbard Organizations: US Army, Army, Service, Higher, Air Force, Navy, Veterans Education

☆ Ukraine says it took out one of Russia's supersonic strategic bombers for the first time
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Cameron Manley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Ukraine claims to have shot down a Russian Tu-22M3 supersonic bomber in war first. The bomber was on its way to attack Ukraine, said the air forces. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementUkraine has shot down a Russian Tu-22M3 supersonic bomber for the first time since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Kyiv's military intelligence said. In a statement released early Friday, the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine (GUR) said it had taken out one of the strategic long-range bombers that had "launched a missile attack against Ukraine on the night of April 19."

Persons: —, GUR Organizations: Service, Main Intelligence, Business Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Russia's Stavropol, Russia

☆ Ukraine war live updates: Ukraine says it downed Tu-22M3 bomber for the first time; 8 killed in major attack by Russia
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleschuk on Friday said the country shot down a Russian Tu-22M3 strategic bomber for the first time, destroying a warplane capable of using long-range missiles. "During today's attack, two such missiles were destroyed for the first time. Ukraine needs more means, more missiles, in order to better protect the frontline territories from Russian terrorism," he added. Separately, Russia's Defense Ministry said the bomber crashed over the southern Stavropol region when it was flying back to its home airfield, state news agency RIA reported via Telegram. The Stavropol region is located in the North Caucasus region of southern Russia, hundreds of kilometers from Ukrainian-controlled territory.

Persons: Mykola Oleschuk, Oleschuk, Sam Meredith Organizations: Tupolev, Kremlin, Nazi, Ukrainian Air Force, Air Force, Main Directorate of Intelligence, Ministry of Defense, CNBC, Russia's Defense Ministry Locations: Moscow, Nazi Germany, Russian, Ukraine, Stavropol, North Caucasus, Russia

☆ Russia's hunted A-50 command planes are its eyes over Ukraine. Here's how it compares to the Boeing E-3 Sentry.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Benjamin Brimelow | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Ukraine's most significant aircraft kills in 2024 are two Russian A-50 command planes. AP PhotoThe MainstayAEW&C aircraft are aerial radar stations meant to detect and track enemy weapon systems — namely aircraft, missiles, and naval ships. An E-3 Sentry takes off at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada in January 2024. Last November, the Russians threatened to destroy a French Air Force E-3 that was operating over the Black Sea in what a French military spokesman described as "a particularly aggressive radio exchange." AdvertisementLast year, the US Air Force announced that it had selected the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail as the E-3's intended replacement.

Persons: —, Tupolev, William R, Park Chung, hee, Anwar Sadat, Joseph Barron, hasn't, Benjamin Brimelow Organizations: Service, Russian Aerospace Forces, Soviet Union, Machulishchy, State TV, Radio Company, AP, Western Allies, Beriev, Ilyushin, NATO, Nellis Air Force Base, US Air Force, System, Boeing, Air, Air Force, North American Aerospace Defense Command, NORAD, Saudi, Royal Air Force, Control Force, NATO Air Base, U.S . Air Force KC, US Air Force Ukraine, Ukrainian Air Force, Allied, French Air Force, Global Affairs, Fletcher School of Law, Diplomacy, Business, Modern, Institute Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Soviet, Minsk, Belarus, Ukrainian, USSR, China, India, Turkey, Chechnya, Georgia, Syria, Syrian, Nevada, American, Latin America, South Korea, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, France, Chile, NATO, Germany, Europe, Azov, Russia, Poland, Romania, Australia, West

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