DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ US Air Force's F-22 Raptors lost to German Eurofighters in mock dogfights, but the verdict on the superior jet isn't as simple
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Alex Hollings | Sandboxx News | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +29 min

German Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets fly during a media day. Piroschka van de Wouw/ReutersDespite their generational differences, the F-22 Raptor and Eurofighter Typhoon actually have a number of things in common. A German air force Eurofighter Typhoon taxis toward the runway at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska before departing for a combat-training mission, June 11, 2012. So what's the verdict between the F-22 Raptor and Eurofighter Typhoon? A composite image showing a German air force Eurofighter Typhoon jet and a US Air Force F-22 Raptor.

Persons: …, Valerie R, David Cenciotti's, Piroschka van de Wouw, it's, Randy Gordon, Sam Eckholm, doesn't, Rich Wells, Thomas Wiegold, John P, Michael Holzworth, It's, Marc Gruene, haven't, Gruene, isn't, Jens Stoltenberg, Bernd Wüstneck, Eurofighters, Chris Jung, That's, Eric Wicklund, Erich Hartmann, He's, Alex Muller, Andreas Pfeiffer, who's, Thomas Bergeson, Wade Tolliver, we're, Dirk Smith, Mike, Bertie Simmonds, Micheal Jordan, Chesty Puller Organizations: Service, EA, German Eurofighter Typhoons, Business, Eurofighter, Spangdahlem Air Base, US Air Force, Tactical Air Force, America's Raptors, BFM, Germany's Eurofighter, Farnborough, Air, Germany's, German Air Force Eurofighter, Reuters, Typhoon, MIT, RAF, Breaking Defense, AIM, Air Force, Staff, Raptors, Eielson Air Force Base, Tech, Germany's Air Force, Combat Aircraft, TVC, Raptor, NATO, Tactical Air, Getty, Typhoons, Seoul International Aerospace, Defense, Eurofighters, 4th, US Navy, KC, Red Flag, Navy SEAL, ISIS, Qaeda, Flag, FS, Eurofighter Typhoon Locations: Germany, Alaska, Red, Estonia, Vietnam, Flag Alaska, gun's, American

☆ A new improvised anti-drone protection system appears at Russian military airfield
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( David Cenciotti | The Aviationist | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russians are not only using car tires to protect their aircraft from Ukrainian "kamikaze" drones. A Telegram channel recently posted images of what's described as an anti-drone structure at a Russian airfield. According to Ukrainian sources, the tires are being used as a sort of makeshift protection from attacks carried out with kamikaze drones. A rough translation of the first part FighterBomber's post reads as follows:"This solution was urgently developed, and literally in a couple of days it was installed at one airfield to protect aircraft from drones. How the system works is not clear: maybe the net is used to repel hostile drones that would get caught up in the wires.

Persons: what's, Engels, Sukhoi Su Organizations: Telegram, Service, Russian Aerospace Forces Locations: Ukrainian, Russian, Russia, Wall, Silicon, Sukhoi, Ukraine

☆ Russia says it's using a new jet to launch Kinzhal 'hypersonic' missiles in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( David Cenciotti | The Aviationist | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Russian state media says an Su-34 aircraft launched Kinzhal missile against a target in Ukraine. Until now, only MiG-31K aircraft were known to have employed the Kinzhal missile in combat. Russia touts the Kinzhal as a hypersonic weapon but it's really a conventional air-launched ballistic missile. "The Su-34 fighter jet used the Kinzhal hypersonic missile in the special military operation. Since then, Ukraine has reported downing Kinzhal missiles at least four more times, the last one last month.

Persons: Su, Russian Aerospace Forces Su, Alexander Zemlianichenko, Kinzhal, Fullback wasn't Organizations: Service, Russian Aerospace Forces, TASS, Russian State, Russian Air Force, 47M2, AP, Observers, Russian, U.S . Air Force, Kinzhal, Fullback Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Wall, Silicon, Russian

☆ B-2 stealth bombers are in Iceland on their first deployment since a fiery mishap grounded the whole fleet
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( David Cenciotti | The Aviationist | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

US Air Force B-2 stealth bombers have returned to Keflavik in Iceland for the first time since 2021. It's the first deployment since B-2 bombers resumed flying after a five-month safety stand down. The deployment is the first one since the stealth bomber fleet returned to normal operations on May 22, 2023, after a five-month safety stand down following the incident in December last year. Two pilots approach a B-2 during Bomber Task Force 24-4 in Keflavik on August 15. A crew chief prepares to marshal a B-2 during Bomber Task Force 24-4 in Keflavik on August 15.

Persons: Heather Salazar, James Hecker, Andrew Kousgaard, Col Kousgaard, Diego Garcia, Northrop Grumman Organizations: US Air Force, Keflavik, Service, 509th Bomb, Whiteman Air Force Base, Whiteman, Alliance ., Bomber, Tech, RAF Fairford, Force, Naval Air Station Keflavik, US Air Forces, US Air Forces Africa, NATO Allied Command, 393rd Bomb Squadron, Whiteman AFB, Libya Air, Allied Force, ISIS, Lajes, Andersen Air Force Base, Raider, US Air Force's, Northrop Locations: Iceland, Wall, Silicon, Missouri, Keflavik, Mississippi, Europe, U.S, Korean, Libya, Serbia, Fairford, Azores, Portugal, Guam, Ocean Territory

☆ Japan's military is thinking about how to drop long-range cruise missiles from its biggest panes
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( David Cenciotti | The Aviationist | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Japan is considering using its Kawasaki C-2 tactical transport aircraft to drop stand-off missiles. A Kawasaki C-2 flies around the Hawaiian Islands in September 2022. The Rapid Dragon allows the deployment of long-range cruise missiles using standard airdrop procedures from a cargo aircraft. After successful extraction, the AGM-158B JASSM-ER (Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile-Extended Range) missiles extend their wings and turn on the engine. The Kawasaki C-2 is a long range twin-engine transport aircraft designed to replace the old C-1.

Persons: Makensie Cooper, JASDF Organizations: Kawasaki, Service, Japan's Defense, Japan Times, US, US Air Force, Japan's Defense Ministry, US Air Force Special Operations Command Locations: Japan, Wall, Silicon, United States

☆ Ukrainian pilots are now using US-made rockets on Soviet-designed helicopter gunships
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Stefano D'Urso | The Aviationist | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A recent video shows a Ukrainian attack helicopter using US-made 70 mm Hydra rockets. The rockets appear to be being used in an adapted M261 rocket pod on the wing of a Mi-24V. In fact, a video emerged on social medias showing an aircrew loading the US-made 70 mm rockets in an adapted M261 rocket pod under the stub wing of a Mi-24V. The Hydra 70 mm rocket and the 19-shot M261 rocket pod are apparently replacing the S-8 80 mm rocket and the 20-shot B-8V20 rocket pod usually seen under on Ukrainian Mi-24s. Apart for the pylon adapter installed on the pod, we don't know if other modifications were required to employ the new unguided rockets.

Persons: Hinds, LAU Organizations: Service, Soviet, Rotary Wing Locations: Ukrainian, Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Czech Republic

☆ Photos show US Air Force's epic 'Mammoth Walk' with F-16 fighters, A-10 attack planes and U-2 spy planes in South Korea
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Stefano D'Urso | The Aviationist | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The Pacific Air Forces' 7th Air Force staged a large aircraft generation training event at Osan Air Base. The Pacific Air Forces' 7th Air Force staged a large aircraft generation training event at Osan Air Base with the participation of all the subordinate units from Osan and Kunsan air bases, where the 51st and 8th Air Wings are based. The "Mammoth Walk," as the photos' captions called it, happened on May 5, 2023, but it was only disclosed few days ago. An A-10C Thunderbolt II and an U-2 Dragon Lady stand parked on the runway at Osan Air Base during the Mammoth Walk training event on May 5, 2023. U.S. Air Force A-10C Thunderbolt IIs and a F-16 Fighting Falcon wait to taxi down the runway during a Mammoth Walk training event at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, on May 5, 2023.

Persons: —, Sgt, Joshua J, Garcia, Aaron Edwards, Beverly Organizations: Pacific Air Forces, 7th Air Force, Osan Air Base, Service, Osan, 8th Air Wings, 5th Reconnaissance Squadron, 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Fighter Squadron, Falcons, 80th Fighter Squadrons, 9th Reconnaissance, U.S, Army's, AF, Osan AB, US Air Force, AIM, . Air Force, Beverly Midnight, Fighter Squadrons Locations: South Korea, Osan, Korea, GBU, Republic of Korea

☆ The US Air Force's first stealth jet showed up to an exercise in Alaska with a not-so-stealthy addition
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-25 | by ( David Cenciotti | The Aviationist | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Stealth aircraft, such as the F-22 Raptor or the F-35 Lightning II 5th generation jets are equipped with Luneburg (or Luneberg) lenses: radar reflectors used to make the LO (Low Observable) aircraft (consciously) visible to radars. In fact, tactical fighter-sized stealth aircraft are built to defeat radar operating at specific frequencies; usually high-frequency bands as C, X, Ku and S band where the radar accuracy is higher (in fact, the higher the frequency, the better is the accuracy of the radar system). However, once the frequency wavelength exceeds a certain threshold and causes a resonant effect, LO aircraft become increasingly detectable. For instance, ATC radars, that operate at lower-frequency bands are theoretically able to detect a tactical fighter-sized stealth plane whose shape features parts that can cause resonance. F-35s deployed abroad usually feature their typical four radar reflectors: to exaggerate their real RCS (Radar Cross Section) and negate the enemy the ability to collect any detail about their LO "signature".

☆ Ukraine's military intelligence agency is showing off the Black Hawk helicopter it got through a crowdfunding campaign
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Stefano D'Urso | The Aviationist | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ukraine's military intelligence agency has released footage of a Black Hawk helicopter it recently received. Special-operations personnel from Ukraine's military intelligence agency train with a Black Hawk helicopter in April. Currently, Ukraine can easily accommodate about a hundred Black Hawk multirole helicopters, about 50 Apache attack helicopters and about 40-60 Chinook cargo helicopters", said the first Ukrainian Black Hawk pilot, who carries the call sign "Maestro." So far this is the only UH-60 helicopter in Ukraine. We now know that the Black Hawk in question is a 1980 UH-60A model, which formerly served in the US Army with the serial number 80-23439.

US Air Force at Eglin Air Force Base are now testing a new type of flight helmet. "It is common knowledge fighter pilots have long term neck and back issues," said Maj. Brett Gedman, from the 301st Fighter Squadron. The Air Force's Next Generation Fixed Wing Helmet at Eglin Air Force Base. An F-22A Raptor pilot adjusts the Next Generation Fixed Wing Helmet before a mission at Eglin Air Force Base on March 24. An F-22A pilot adjusts the Next Generation Fixed Wing Helmet before a mission at Eglin Air Force Base on March 24.

☆ The US Air Force is finally getting rid of its A-10s, and its focus may be straying from the Warthog's unique mission
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Constantine Atlamazoglou | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Those retirements would shrink the Air Force's A-10 fleet to 260 aircraft, and Air Force leaders plan to continue decommissioning A-10s in the years ahead. Not so closeUS Air Force joint terminal attack controllers during a close air support training with an A-10 in Nevada in September 2011. Michael HolzworthCurrent and former Air Force officials have said that the F-35 would take over the A-10's mission after the Warthog left the fleet. So it will perform the mission very differently," said Kendall, who is now the Air Force's top civilian official. Those skills "are perishable," Boeding added, "and the stakes are too high to not train dedicated crews (ground and air) in purpose build close air support aircraft."

☆ Ukraine's military intelligence service got an unannounced delivery of a US-made Black Hawk helicopter
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Stefano D'Urso | The Aviationist | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Ukraine's Directorate of Intelligence published photos of the unannounced delivery of a US-made helicopter. The helicopter's livery suggests the US bought a Black Hawk back from a private firm to send to Kyiv. This delivery comes unannounced, as the UH-60 Black Hawk was not included in any of the aid packages and its supply to the Armed Forces of Ukraine was not mentioned by officials. —Defence intelligence of Ukraine (@DI_Ukraine) February 21, 2023However, Defence Blog was quick to notice that the Black Hawk, in addition to the Ukrainian flags and roundels, wears a peculiar livery. This livery was saw in the past on helicopters of the US firm Ace Aeronautics, which specializes in converting older Black Hawk helicopters divested by the US Army for the civilian market.

☆ Japan says 3 balloons that floated into its airspace years ago are 'strongly presumed' to have been Chinese spy balloons
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( David Cenciotti | The Aviationist | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Three balloon-shaped flying objects were spotted in Japanese airspace in 2019, 2020, and 2021. Japan's Defense Ministry said Tuesday that they were "strongly presumed" to have been Chinese reconnaissance balloons. "If a balloon enters Japan's airspace without permission, it constitutes an infringement of Japan's airspace. Three additional unidentified objects, later appearing to have been much smaller commercial or research balloons, were also spotted and shot down. The Chinese balloon carried "multiple antennas" capable of collecting signals intelligence, a senior State Department official said, and the balloon maker has proven ties to the Chinese military, according to a CNBC report by Abigail Williams.

☆ Iran unveils underground base meant to protect its aging US-made fighter jets
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Stefano D'Urso | The Aviationist | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Iran unveiled an underground air force base called "Eagle 44" for the 44th anniversary of the Iranian revolution. The underground base is said to be the first large enough to host fighter jets and one of several being built. During the visit of the officers, the aging F-4 Phantoms jets of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force were shown starting up and taxiing through the tunnels to reach the runway outside of the underground base. Iranian military officials at underground air force base "Eagle 44" on February 7. According to Tasnim, the new missile was put on display in the new underground base, but Su-24s and the "Asef" missile were nowhere to be seen in the photos and videos shared by the news agencies.

☆ US Air Force crews have revived a method to load bombers that hasn't been used in 30 years
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( David Cenciotti | The Aviationist | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

US Air Force weapons loaders at Dyess Air Force Base revived a capability unused for three decades. In January, airmen used a Launcher Load Frame to pre-load munitions that were then loaded on a B-1B bomber. download the app Email address By clicking ‘Sign up’, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider as well as other partner offers and accept our Terms of Service and Privacy PolicyThe US Air Force has recently released some interesting photos showing the activity carried out a Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, earlier this month. A US Air Force weapons load crew member helps transport a Launcher Load Frame at Dyess Air Force Base on January 9. A Launcher Load Frame is raised into a B-1B at Dyess Air Force Base on January 9.

☆ The US Air Force's newest fighter jet just showed off a new way to fire missiles
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-15 | by ( Stefano D'Urso | The Aviationist | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

In November, F-15EX fighter jets fired missiles from their new weapon stations for the first time. The new outer wing weapon stations increase the F-15EX's payload over that of its predecessor. This Operational Flight Program Combined Test Force mission was the first Air Force test flight to validate the weapons could be fired effectively and safely from those stations. Now, the new pylons are equipped with two LAU-128 missile rails each, adding four missile stations to the payload. An F-15EX takes flight for the first time out of Eglin Air Force Base in April 2021.

☆ A Ukrainian fighter pilot who took a blood-covered selfie after ejecting has been named a Hero of Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-11 | by ( David Cenciotti | The Aviationist | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Maj. Vadym Voroshylov snapped a selfie after a night ejection from his MiG-29 Fulcrum. Voroshylov regularly posts photos and videos that provide a unique view of the air war in Ukraine. Recently, he snapped a selfie of his blood-covered face after ejecting over west-central Ukraine. Top editors give you the stories you want — delivered right to your inbox each weekday. —Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) October 15, 2022However, the wreckage of one of the destroyed UAVs caught the MiG-29 cockpit.

☆ South Korea's F-35A fighter jets had to be grounded 172 times over 18 months because of malfunctions
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-10 | by ( David Cenciotti | The Aviationist | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A South Korean lawmaker is concerned about the issues affecting the country's F-35A fighter jets. The jets were "operationally unready" 234 times in an 18-month period ending in June 2022, the lawmaker said, citing air force data. A South Korean Air Force F-35A. A South Korean F-35A. In total, South Korea ordered 40 F-35A, the last of those was delivered in January this year.

Search resuls for: "The Aviationist"

18 mentions found