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☆ Ukrainian F-16 fighter pilots have had to dramatically change the way they fly after long flying Soviet jets, and it's a lot to overcome
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-04 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Ukraine's F-16 pilots have had to get up to speed on a different fighter jet quickly. And more broadly, Ukraine's air force is having to rapidly undergo a wider transition that its international partners took significantly longer to do. Those older jets have hydraulic systems, while F-16 jets are fly-by-wire, which means computers process the input by pilots. A Ukrainian air force F-16 fighter jet flies in an undisclosed location in Ukraine. A farewell ceremony for Ukrainian F-16 pilot Oleksiy Mes in Shepetivka on August 29.

Persons: Ukraine's, —, Michael Bohnert, Bohnert, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Vitalii, Tom Richter, James Hecker, Mitchell, David Deptula, Christopher Bowie, Oleksiy Mes, Oleksiy, they're, Valentyn, Keir Giles, Michael Clarke, Gordon, Skip, Davis Organizations: Service, RAND Corporation, Associated Press, Getty, Nokia, US Marine, National Guard, Politico, US Air Forces, NATO Allied Air Command, AP, Air Force, Pentagon, Ukrainian Air Force, Libkos, REUTERS, Chatham House's, West, Ukraine, US Army, Defense Investment Division Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Soviet, Europe, Ukrainian, Shepetivka, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Netherlands, Chatham House's Russia, Eurasia, British

☆ Ukraine isn't flying the most dangerous missions with its F-16s because the pilots are still new to the fighter, US general says
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-18 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewA top US Air Force general said that Ukraine is not using its F-16s for the most dangerous missions because the pilots flying them are still new to the fighter jet. Given the vulnerabilities of more offensive missions, it was thought that Kyiv would use the fighter jets in an air-defense role. Before Ukraine received its long-sought-after F-16s from NATO, one of the big questions surrounding the much-hyped transfer of the fighter aircraft was how Kyiv would actually go on to use them in combat. AdvertisementThe Ukrainian F-16s flew their first combat mission in late August as they helped defend the country against a massive Russian aerial bombardment. It's still unclear what caused the crash, but Ukraine dismissed the commander of its air force and said it would investigate the incident.

Persons: —, James Hecker, haven't, they're, " Hecker, that's, Ogirenko, Oleksandr Syrskyi, It's Organizations: Service, US Air Force, Business, US Air Forces, NATO Allied Air Command, Tuesday's Air & Space Forces Association's Air, Air & Space Forces Magazine, Ukraine, NATO, REUTERS, Former US Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Europe, Ukrainian, Kyiv

☆ Here's what American air-to-air missiles can do for Ukraine's new F-16s against the Russians
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-31 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Read previewThe US is sending Ukraine air-to-air missiles to go with the new F-16 fighter jets coming this summer from European partners, per a new report on armaments. AdvertisementPowerful air-to-air missilesThe AIM-120 is an all-weather, beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile with active radar for decreased dependence on the aircraft for intercepts. On the other missile Ukraine is receiving, the AIM-9X is a short-range air-to-air missile with an infrared seeker and is the newest variant in the Sidewinder family. The Russians are operating Su-35 and MiG-31 fighter jets that carry long-range air-to-air missiles like the R-37. With F-16s, Ukraine can potentially better use these weapons to degrade Russia's vaunted air-defense capabilities.

Persons: —, Boris Roessler, it's, Gen, Oleksandr Syrskyi, George Calin, Netherlands —, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, James Hecker, Hecker Organizations: Service, AIM, Air Missile, 9X, Street, Business, Danish Air Force, Getty, Ukrainian Air Force, Eglin Air Force Base, US Air Force, Guardian, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Ukrainian Air, REUTERS Kyiv, Soviet, Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, NATO Locations: Ukraine, Kyiv, Germany, Fla, Ukrainian, Soviet, Fetesti, Romania, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Netherlands

☆ Russia's showing NATO its hand in the air war over Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-13 | by ( Sinéad Baker | Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +21 min

Experts told Business Insider the Ukraine war has underscored how some elements of modern air combat are radically changing. And in fights like Desert Storm and the Iraq War, the West established air superiority by taking out its opponent's air defenses. The Russian air force can't meet Western air forces air to air in a major attack without being "shot to pieces," Bronk said. "Nobody really wants an air war with Russia," said John Baum, a Mitchell Institute expert and retired US Air Force lieutenant colonel. "It is not a highly desirable thing, I think, from either side, to want to have this air war."

Persons: It's, Justin Bronk, hasn't, DIMITAR DILKOFF, Bronk, Andrew Curtis, Mark Cancian, Guy Snodgrass, Hoshang, Giorgio Di Mizio, David Allvin, it's, James Hecker, NATO hadn't, " Hecker, that's, Maxim Shemetov, Fabian Hinz, Riivo Valge, Mattias Eken, They're, Paula Bronstein, Anthony Sweeney, US Army Cancian, REUTERS Lockheed Martin, Timothy Wright, disaggregation, Schmuelgen Jarmo Lindberg, Evelyn Hockstein Valge, John Baum Organizations: Kyiv, NATO, Business, Royal United Services Institute, Western, Getty, US Air Force, Storm, Marine, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Russian Defense Ministry Press, AP Russia, AP, Hudson Institute nonresident, International Institute for Strategic Studies, REUTERS, RAND Corp, Patriots, US Army, West, Patriot, Ukraine, REUTERS Lockheed, Finnish Defense Forces, Eurofighter Typhoons, Mitchell Institute Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Russian, AFP, Iraq, Europe, West, Afghanistan, Baltic, Western Europe, Estonian, Finnish, Finland, Washington

☆ 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

☆ Ukraine and the US are mixing weapon systems that weren't built to play together to up Kyiv's defenses, and apparently they work
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

They've seen success in using US missiles with Buk-M1 systems and HARM missiles on Soviet fighter jets. AdvertisementWith its air defenses working overtime to defend against constant Russian strikes, Ukraine is working with the US to create new capabilities by cobbling together Western and Soviet systems that weren't built to play together. Reporting earlier this year indicated Ukraine had found ways to modify the Soviet Buk air defenses to fire the RIM-7. The US and its Western allies have offered Ukraine air defenses like Patriot batteries, IRIS-T, NASAMs, and Gepard anti-aircraft guns, but Ukrainian forces continue to operate a number of Soviet air defenses, the Buk and the S-300 being among the most prominent. AdvertisementThe new capability was promising for Ukraine and indicated future modifications to its Soviet systems could be made, like firing US missiles from Soviet Buk vehicles, which are self-propelled, mid-range surface-to-air missile systems.

Persons: They've, —, Yurii Ihnat, Ihnat, SAMs, Richard, Diana Quinlan, James Hecker, Theodore Roosevelt, Seaman Anthony N, Olaf Scholz, Germany Organizations: Soviet, Service, Ukrainian Air Force, Kyiv Independent, RIM, American AIM, New York Times, IRIS, Amphibious, NATO, Valiant, U.S . Navy, Pentagon, US Air Forces, US, Politico, Marines, Thunderbolts, Marine Fighter Attack, Radiation, Nimitz, Communication, AIM Locations: Ukraine, Soviet, United States, American, Russia, Europe, Taiwan, Russian, Crimea

☆ The US Air Force is buying a new missile as it makes plans to blast through enemy air defenses
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Russia and Ukraine are using their air defenses to deny each other control of the air. The US wants to avoid that, and it's working on a new missile to take down enemy air defenses. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Russian and Ukrainian air forces have played a relatively minor role in the war in Ukraine. Both sides have tended to keep their aircraft over friendly territory rather than risk tangling with sophisticated enemy air defenses, such as Ukraine's US-made Patriot and Russia's S-400. Ukrainian air forceThe US military currently uses the AGM-88E Advanced Anti-radiation Guided Missile, or AARGM, which is an upgraded HARM.

Persons: —, it's, James Hecker, Hecker, Northrop Grumman, Northrop, Northrop Grumman What's, they've, " Hecker, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, US Air Forces, Air and Space Forces Association, Ukrainian, Press, Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff, Handout, REUTERS, US Air Force, Radiation, Storm, US, Air and Space Forces Magazine, Joint, Air Force, Defense, Foreign Policy, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Europe, Kharkiv, Vietnam, Iran, North Korea, Forbes

☆ NATO air forces are turning to the alliance's new experts for help training to dodge Russian missiles
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Christopher Woody | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

NATO air forces have been training with Finland, NATO's newest member, to operate from highways. The British and Norwegian air forces are the latest to train with NATO's newest member, sending Typhoon and F-35A fighter jets to participate in Exercise Baana, the Finnish air force's annual exercise, this month. Norwegian Armed Forces/Martin MellquistIn announcements about the milestone, the British and Norwegian air forces cited similar reasons for pursuing it. Maj. Gen. Rolf Folland, chief of the Royal Norwegian Air Force, said that being able to operate from small airfields and motorways "increases our survivability in war." US Defense Department/SRA Glenda PellumLanding on highways is not new — NATO air forces practiced it during the Cold War — but it has gotten more attention from Western air forces seeking to counter threats from long-range weapons fielded by Russia and China.

Persons: —, AS1 Tomas Barnard It's, Jim, Typhoon's, it's, Martin Mellquist, Rolf Folland, Folland, Glenda Pellum, Ole Andreas Vekve, James Hecker Organizations: NATO, Service, British, Royal Air Force, British Typhoons, Squadron, Ministry of Defence, Baana, Royal Auxiliary Air Force, Norwegian Armed Forces, Combat, Royal Norwegian Air Force, US Defense Department, US Air Force, US Air Forces, NATO's Allied Air Command Locations: Finland, Russia, Ukraine, Norwegian, British, West Germany, NATO, China, Eastern Europe, Lithuania, Sweden, Soviet Union, Finnish, Europe

☆ Deep trenches, cheap drones, and a more efficient war machine are just some of the ways Russia has improved since it first invaded Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Russia expected a swift victory against Ukraine when it first invaded the country last February. Russia has since improved its weapons and defense, setting the stage for a long, deadly war. Russia has also adapted to Ukraine's weapons, setting up air defense systems that can shoot down missiles and drones and tools that can jam the other side's GPS signals. While Russia takes down Ukraine's drones, the country has stockpiled cheap drones of its own from China, the Journal reported. Putin has indicated that he was bracing for a long war in Ukraine as the death toll racks up, Reuters reported.

Persons: Vladimir Putin's, James Hecker, George Barros, Mark Milley, Putin Organizations: Ukraine, Service, CNN, Street Journal, US Air Forces, Institute for, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Reuters, New York Times Locations: Russia, Wall, Silicon, Ukraine, Moscow, West, Europe, China, Ukrainian

☆ Ukraine's air force has gotten good at fighting on the run, and Russia's military can't catch up, top US general says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Christopher Woody | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Ukraine's air force has been able to keep operating by spreading out its jets among different bases. Russia has struggled to catch up to that dispersal, the top US Air Force general in Europe says. That success underscores the US Air Force's need to be able to distribute its jets and crews. Russia began the war with a larger and more advanced air force, including better radars and longer-range missiles. US Air Force crew chiefs perform a "communications out" launch of an F-16 during an exercise in Lithuania in August.

Persons: James Hecker, they've, Hecker, Danil, " Hecker, OLEKSII FILIPPOV, Justin Bronk, Bronk, Dara Massicot, Massicot, Stephanie Longoria Organizations: US Air Force, Service, US Air Forces, Air and Space Forces Association, Washington DC, Getty, Britain's Royal United Services Institute, Ukraine, Carnegie Endowment, International, Russian BDA, Air Force, Tech Locations: Russia, Europe, Wall, Silicon, Washington, Ukraine, Kyiv, Russian, Lviv, AFP, Moscow, Lithuania, Latvia, Finland

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon said Thursday that it has not restarted counterterrorism operations in Niger, a day after the head of U.S. airpower for Europe and Africa said those flights had resumed. Gen. James Hecker, responding to a question from The Associated Press at a security conference Wednesday, said the U.S. military has been able to resume some manned aircraft and drone counterterrorism operations in Niger. In the weeks since, the approximately 1,100 U.S. forces deployed there have been confined inside their military bases. And we’re able to do some of our surveillance operations primarily for force protection in the area. The bases are a critical part of America’s overall counterterrorism efforts in West Africa.

Persons: James Hecker, Sabrina Singh, “, ”, Robert Firman, Hecker, ” Hecker Organizations: WASHINGTON, Pentagon, Associated Press, U.S ., Nigerien, Department, Atlantic Council, State Department Locations: Niger, Europe, Africa, U.S, Niamey, Niger’s, West Africa

☆ Ukraine says it could have a small group of trained combat pilots ready to fly F-16s by the winter
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-10 | by ( Charles R. Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Ukrainian pilots could be ready to fly F-16 fighter jets by early February, The Wall Street Journal reported. Officials in Kyiv said the initial group of F-16 pilots would likely number fewer than 10. Ukrainian pilots began their F-16 training just last month. Get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in business, from Wall Street to Silicon Valley — delivered daily. Indeed, Ukraine expects its first graduating class of F-16 pilots to contain "fewer than" 10 people, the Journal reported.

Persons: Biden, that's, James Hecker, cdavis@insider.com Organizations: Street Journal, Service, Street, US Air Forces, Ukrainian, Kyiv, US Defense Department, Pentagon Locations: Wall, Silicon, Europe, Ukraine, Kyiv, Arizona

☆ As Ukraine's air force dodges Russian missiles, the US and its allies are practicing to keep their jets flying while under attack
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( Christopher Woody | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Ukraine's air force has remained operational in the face of ongoing Russian attacks. US Air Force/Airman 1st Class Albert MorelLike other Air Force commands, US Air Forces Europe regularly conducts ACE exercises. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Air Force's concern is driven by the proliferation of precision weapons that could allow an adversary to pick off valuable targets. US airmen and Finnish Air Force pilots at Rovaniemi Air Base during Astral Knight 23 Part 6 on August 23. The Pentagon's EDI budget request for 2024 includes nearly $500 million for the Air Force to improve base infrastructure and pre-positioned equipment.

Persons: James Hecker, " Hecker, Albert Morel, they've, haven't, Hecker, John Lamontagne, Albert Morel Running, Capt, Quincy Watts, Watts, we're Organizations: Air, Service, Russian, US Air, US Air Forces Europe, Defense Writers, Astral, US Air Force, Air Force, Rovaniemi Air Base, NATO, US Air Force KC, Kallax Air Base, Finnish Air Force, Air Base Locations: Wall, Silicon, Ukrainian, Russian, Ukraine, Rovaniemi, Finland, Europe, Lithuania, Sweden, Baltic, Latvia, Italy, Aviano, China, Estonia

☆ Take a look at the $63 million F-16 fighter jet the West has pledged to help Ukraine win the war with Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-26 | by ( Nathan Rennolds | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Denmark and the Netherlands are sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, with US approval. Ukraine has long coveted the US-made jet as it seeks to bolster its air capabilities in its war with Russia, which has a more advanced air force. Mads Claus Rasmussen/AFP/Getty ImagesSpecificationsThe F-16 is a multi-role fighter built by Lockheed Martin for the US Air Force. A US Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe US will also begin training Ukrainian pilots to fly and maintain F-16s in Arizona in October, the Pentagon said Thursday.

Persons: Joe Biden, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Mette Frederiksen, Mads Claus Rasmussen, Lockheed Martin, Justin Bronk, Ethan Miller, James Hecker, It's, Stringer, John Kirby, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Al Jazeera, Kajsa Ollongren, Oleksii Reznikov, Pat Ryder Organizations: Service, Getty, Lockheed, US Air Force, Falcon, AIM, Royal United Services Institute, U.S . Air Force, Nevada, US Air Forces, Israeli Air Force, US National Security, Pentagon, Pentagon Press, Air Force Locations: Denmark, Netherlands, Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Russia, Indian Springs , Nevada, Europe, Romania, Athens, Al, Kyiv, Arizona

☆ The White House 180 on F-16s for Ukraine is complete
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-26 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Biden administration on Thursday announced plans to begin F-16 pilot training for Ukrainian troops. The offering is a marked shift from Biden's original position of not providing F-16s or training. In February, he ruled out providing F-16s; by May, he supported allies supplying jets. Russia's superior air power has been challenging for Ukrainian troops to overcome. Representatives for the White House and Ukraine Ministry of Defense did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment.

Persons: Biden, Pat Ryder, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Joe Biden, It's, James Hecker Organizations: Ukrainian, Service, Morris Air National Guard Base, Pentagon Press, Air Force, ABC News, White, Ukraine Ministry of Defense, SA, US Air Forces Locations: Wall, Silicon, Tuscon , Arizona, Ukraine, Russia, Hiroshima, Netherlands, Denmark, Europe

☆ Top US Air Force general was surprised that Russia 'gave up' trying to destroy Ukraine's Russian-designed air defenses so quickly
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Christopher Woody | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Russia's limited use of its air force in Ukraine has surprised US Air Force leaders. Those leaders are surprised in large part because Ukraine is using air defenses that Russians designed. "I would say that I was somewhat surprised" by Russia's inability to control the air and knock out Ukrainian air defenses, Hecker said. Ukrainian forces are now using US-made Patriot missiles and the US-Norwegian-designed NASAMS to defend against long-range threats as well as several Western-designed systems for short-range air defense. US intelligence assessments leaked online this spring suggested Ukraine could expend its supply of surface-to-air missiles for several systems by mid-year.

Persons: James Hecker, " Hecker, Justin Bronk, Hecker, Ukrainian Defense Ministry Hecker, Charles Brown Jr, Brown, Sen, Tommy Tuberville, Ed Ram Organizations: US Air Force, Service, Russian Air Force, US Air Forces, Defense Writers, Russian Ministry of, Royal United Services Institute, Russian Sukhoi, Ukraine's Defense Ministry, Ukrainian Defense Ministry, Air Force, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Ukraine, Ukrainian, International Institute of Strategic Studies, The Washington, Getty, Patriot, Russian, Ukraine Defense Contact Locations: Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Europe, Russian, Russia, British, Soviet, Norwegian, Kyiv

☆ U.S. approves shipments of F-16s to Ukraine in major gain for Kiev
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Even so, Air Force Gen. James Hecker, commander of U.S. air forces in Europe and Africa, told reporters in Washington he did not expect the F-16s to be a game-changer for Ukraine. Ukrainian air forces supporting infantry are using decades-old Soviet-era planes, which are vulnerable to air-to-air missile attacks from Russian fighter jets, Capt. Danish Defense Minister Jakob Ellemann-Jensen said Friday that the training of Ukrainian pilots is starting this month. A coalition of 11 Western countries — the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden and the United Kingdom — pledged in July to train Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16s. In other developments:— Russian air defenses stopped drone attacks on central Moscow and on the country's ships in the Black Sea, officials said Friday, blaming the attempted strikes on Ukraine.

Persons: James Hecker, Yevgen, Rakita, Jake Sullivan, State Anthony Blinken, Jakob Ellemann, Jensen, —, Joe Biden's, Abrams, Joseph Schulte Organizations: Air Force, NATO, NATO Air Policing, United, Kyiv, 18th Army Aviation Brigade, Associated Press, State, Danish, Sukhoi Locations: Netherlands, United States, Denmark, Ukraine, Washington, Europe, Ukrainian, U.S, Africa, Russia, Russian, Belgium, Canada, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, United, Moscow, Hong Kong, Istanbul

☆ Ukraine is closer to having F-16s, but don't expect them to suddenly start 'taking down' Russia's formidable air defenses, top US general says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Christopher Woody | Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

In addition to anti-radar missiles, Ukrainian jets have employed US-made guided bombs, which Russia has countered with electronic warfare. While F-16s would allow Ukraine to better employ those weapons, Hecker said Russia's military will continue to adapt and adjust. "It allows us to follow through on the training of Ukrainian pilots. Although the timeline has been somewhat unclear, Denmark — one of 11 countries in the coalition — announced on Friday that it would start training pilots later this month. But training and equipping Ukrainian airmen to operate F-16s and other sophisticated jets will be a long-term project, Hecker said Friday.

Persons: Ukraine's, James Hecker, " Hecker, JOHN THYS, Hecker, It's, you'll, Beata Zawrzel, Kajsa Ollongren, Wopke Hoekstra, Antony Blinken, Pat Ryder, Yasuo Osakabe, US Air Force Hecker, they're, that's, it's Organizations: Service, US Air Force, US Air Forces, Defense Writers, Siauliai, NATO, Getty Images, SA, NATO Summit, Defense, —, Pentagon, Air Force, Yokota Air Base, Alpha Jet Locations: Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Denmark, Netherlands, Europe, Romanian, Lithuania, AFP, Russia, Ukrainian, Vilnius, Japan, France

☆ 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

☆ Air forces are ditching runways to prepare their jets to keep operating when enemies aim for their bases
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Stavros Atlamazoglou | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

It is meant to be a test of the British air force's ability to operate away from its main bases. Some air forces moved away from that capability after the Cold War and now have to train for it again. US Air Force/Senior Airman Jonathan Valdes MontijoThe US military has also been planning distributed air operations from unconventional airfields and runways. When done correctly, ACE "complicates the enemy's targeting process, creates political and operational dilemmas for the enemy, and creates flexibility for friendly forces," according to the Air Force's ACE doctrine. Gen. James Hecker, the head of US Air Forces in Europe, said last year that his command was sending airmen to study the Swedish approach.

Persons: Jon Hobley, Air Marshal Harvey Smyth, Smyth, Janis Laizans, Sweden's JAS, Jonathan Valdes Montijo, Phil Speck, James Hecker, " Hecker, Janes, Stavros Atlamazoglou Organizations: Service, Royal Air Force Eurofighter, FGR4, Coningsby, Getty, NATO, Britain's Royal Air Force, Air, Aviation, RAF, REUTERS, US Air Force, Marine Corps, Agile, US Air National Guard, Air Force, Aircraft, US Air Forces, Hellenic Army, 575th Marine Battalion, Army, Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins, School, International Locations: Wall, Silicon, Ukraine, London, Finland, Finnish, Russia, Sweden, Guam, Estonia, Wyoming, Europe, Swedish, Johns

☆ Russia's air force 'remains largely intact,' but more jets won't fix all its problems in Ukraine, NATO commanders say
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-15 | by ( Christopher Woody | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

After 16 months of fighting, most of Russia's air force remains intact. And even though Russia has a vastly larger air force, other issues may keep it from operating effectively, according to two NATO air commanders. Royal Air Force Air Chief Marshal Rich Knighton at the Global Air & Space Chiefs’ Conference on July 13, 2023. Massicot and others say Russia's air force could still exploit its numerical advantage if Ukraine's air-defenses network falters, though other factors could inhibit Russian air operations going forward. "The Russians have recapitalized a fair amount of their tactical air force, and they've done a lot on the weapons front as well.

Persons: Rich Knighton, Knighton, Muhammed Enes Yildirim, James Hecker, " Hecker, Hecker, hasn't, We've, Dara Massicot, Johnny Stringer, Stringer Organizations: NATO, Service, Royal Air, Jets, Global Air & Space Chiefs, Conference, Air, British Defence Intelligence, Royal Air Force Air, Global Air & Space Chiefs ’ Conference, Space Power Association, YouTube, Ukrainian Air Force, Russian, Anadolu Agency, Getty, US Air Forces, NATO's Allied Air Command, Aircraft, Russian Ministry of Defense, Rand Corporation, British Air Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Ukrainian, London, Donetsk, Europe, Poland, Romania, Russian, Bakhmut, Kherson, Massicot

☆ Former F-16 pilot says he would not want to fly missions over Ukraine right now, arguing 'there is no fighting chance'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Ukraine has repeatedly asked the US for fourth-generation fighter jets like the F-16. A former F-16 pilot said these jets don't have a fighting chance given Russia's air defense systems. One former F-16 pilot told Insider he wouldn't want to attempt to fly missions over Ukraine right now, asserting that the aircraft can't outmatch Russia's air defense systems. Fourth-generation fighters "have no business in a modern-day battlefield," John Venable, a 25-year veteran of the US Air Force, told Insider in a recent interview. F-16 fighters would likely be outmatched by Russian air defense systemsThe airspace above Ukraine remains contested after 14 months of war.

☆ Ukraine's fighter jet fleet is slowly growing, but its weapons to bring down Russian jets are dwindling, leaked US document shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-16 | by ( Christopher Woody | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

The jets will bolster Ukraine's fighter fleet, which is still under fire from Russia's larger air force. But air-defense ammunition is a more urgent need, one underscored in recently leaked US documents. Berlin approved Warsaw's request to send jets to Ukraine on Thursday, the same day it was received. Both air forces have shifted tactics and now operate farther from the front line, playing to the advantage of the Russian aircraft, which have an edge at longer ranges. Without the threat posed by those interceptor missiles, Russian aircraft would have greater freedom to attack Ukrainian aircraft and bomb Ukrainian targets, including in support of Russian front-line troops, the leaked document says.

☆ Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark struck a deal to run their 200+ advanced fighter jets as a single fleet, creating a new headache for Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-25 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Air force commanders of Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark said Friday that they have signed a letter of intent to establish a unified Nordic air defense, Reuters reported. "Our combined fleet can be compared to a large European country," commander of the Danish air force, Major General Jan Dam, told Reuters. Norway, Denmark, and Finland have all committed to the F-35 jets which are the most advanced Western fighter planes. NATO Air Command chief General James Hecker was also present at the signing of the letter at Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany. Sweden and Finland applied to join NATO in May 2022, jolted by Russia's invasion of Ukraine into ending decades of their position of "non-alignment."

☆ Nordic countries plan joint air defence to counter Russian threat
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

COPENHAGEN, March 24 (Reuters) - Air force commanders from Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark said on Friday they have signed a letter of intent to create a unified Nordic air defence aimed at countering the rising threat from Russia. The move to integrate the air forces was triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February last year, commander of the Danish air force, Major General Jan Dam, told Reuters. Finland has 62 F/A-18 Hornet jets and 64 F-35s on order, while Denmark has 58 F-16s and 27 F-35s on order. The signing at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany last week was attended by NATO Air Command chief General James Hecker, who also oversees the U.S. Air Force in the region. The Nordic air force commanders first discussed the closer cooperation at a meeting in November in Sweden.

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