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☆ Russian fighters have engaged in aggressive maneuvers around at least 6 NATO aircraft in the last 48 hours, US military says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Russian fighter jets bullied a US military drone over Syria on Thursday, the Air Force said. The Russian pilots employed flares in front of the Reaper drones and flew "dangerously close, endangering the safety of all aircraft involved," Grynkewich said. An unclassified US Air Force video shows the Russian jets bombard one of the MQ-9s with flares as it soars above the drone. The US Air Force said in response to the incident that it "fully" supports French security missions across the region. "These events represent another example of unprofessional and unsafe actions by Russian air forces operating in Syria, which threaten the safety of both Coalition and Russian forces," Grynkewich said in the Thursday statement.

Persons: —, Russian Su, Alexus Grynkewich, Grynkewich Organizations: Air Force, NATO, Service, Islamic State, US Air Forces Central Command, Dassault Rafale, US Central Command, US Air Force, Coalition, Russian, ISIS, Raptors, US Air Forces Central Locations: Syria, Russian, Iraq, Washington, Moscow

CNN —Russian fighter jets harassed an American drone operating over Syria for the second time in two days, according to the US Air Force, a sign of increasing friction between the two countries in Middle East airspace. On Thursday, a US MQ-9 Reaper drone was conducting a mission against ISIS targets in northwest Syria when Russian fighter jets approached, Air Force Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich said in a statement about the incident. Video of the encounter released by Air Force Central Command shows two Russian fighters flying near the US drone. In the Wednesday encounter, the Russian jets dropped parachute flares in front of the US drones, forcing the drones to take evasive maneuvers. In March, a Russian SU-27 fighter jet collided with a US MQ-9 Reaper drone in international airspace over the Black Sea.

Persons: Alex Grynkewich, Michael Andrews, ” Grynkewich, Bashar al, Assad, ”, Brig, Pat Ryder Organizations: CNN, US Air Force, ISIS, Air Force, Air Force Central Command, Coalition, Russian, French Rafale, French Armed Forces, Pentagon Locations: Russian, Syria, Middle East, Iraq, Russia

☆ US Navy video shows Iranian ship open fire at a merchant tanker that it was trying to capture
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Iranian naval ships tried to seize two oil tankers crossing Middle Eastern waters on Wednesday. The US Navy said in one incident, Iranian personnel opened fire on one of the commercial ships. The Iranian vessel tried to get the Richmond Voyager to stop, and reached within a mile of the tanker. The US Navy said Iranian personnel then "fired multiple, long bursts from both small arms and crew-served weapons" at the tanker, with several rounds hitting the hull. Unclassified US Navy drone footage shows the Iranian ship open fire at the Richmond Voyager, with some rounds ricocheting, shown in the video as small flashes above the tanker.

Persons: —, TRF Moss, Brad Cooper, Cooper, Biden Organizations: US Navy, Service, US Naval Forces Central Command, Bahamian, Richmond, Richmond Voyager, Navy, Fleet, Combined Maritime Forces, US, US Air Force Locations: Marshall, Gulf of Oman, Iranian, Oman, Hormuz, Iran, Washington, Yemen, Tehran, Syria

☆ Video shows Russian fighter jets bullying US Reaper drones with their afterburners and flares
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russian fighter jets were captured on video harassing US military drones above Syria. The US Air Force said the MQ-9 Reaper drones were conducting a mission against ISIS Wednesday. US officials have warned that Russian aircraft are increasingly carrying out aggressive actions. An unclassified video published by the Air Force shows some moments of the engagement. "These events represent another example of unprofessional and unsafe actions by Russian air forces operating in Syria, which threaten the safety of both US and Russian forces," Grynkewich said.

Persons: —, Alexus Grynkewich, Grynkewich, Michael Kurilla, Russian Su Organizations: US Air Force, ISIS Wednesday, Service, Russian, Islamic State, US Air Forces Central Command, Air Force, ISIS, Central Command, Raptors, Moscow, Islamic Locations: Syria, Russian, Islamic State, Washington

☆ F-22 stealth fighter jets are back in the Middle East as a US commander warns of 'buffoonery' by Russian pilots
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Paul Iddon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

US Air Force F-22 stealth fighter jets were redeployed to the Middle East in mid-JuneTheir redeployment comes amid repeated cases of aggressive flying by Russian air force pilots. Grynkewich spoke shortly after the US Air Force redeployed F-22s to the Middle East. The US planned to compensate by deploying A-10 attack planes, which are designed to strike ground targets, to the Middle East. A US Air Force A-10C refuels from a KC-135 over the Middle East in April. Paul Iddon is a freelance journalist and columnist who writes about Middle East developments, military affairs, politics, and history.

Persons: —, Alexus Grynkewich, Äzzeddin Kasim, Grynkewich, you've, Devin Boyer, Ryan Bohl, RANE, Al, DELIL SOULEIMAN, There's, Bohl, Nicholas Heras, Christopher Ruano, Heras, Su, Paul Iddon Organizations: US Air Force, Russian, Service, Air Force's, US Air Forces Central Command, Wagner Group, Anadolu Agency, Getty Images, Pacific, KC, Tech, East, Getty, New Lines Institute, UAE, Russia, Kremlin Locations: Russia, Syria, Russian, Ukraine, Idlib, East, Europe, North Africa, Al Tanf, AFP, United States, Moscow

☆ Ahlgrim Acres: The mini-golf course underneath an Illinois funeral home
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Jack Bantock | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Welcome to Ahlgrim Acres, a macabre mini-golf experience buried underneath a funeral home. OriginsIn 1964, Roger Ahlgrim strolled into Ahlgrim Family Funeral Services’ newly constructed building, located in the small, leafy village of Palatine, a suburb of Chicago. Ahlgrim FFS / FacebookToday, Jonathan Gwizdala, a fifth-generation Ahlgrim, is among the funeral directors that continue the legacy of his grandfather by overseeing the course. Nothing out of the ordinary there, until you discover they are the names of Ahlgrim Family Funeral Services’ still-very-much-alive funeral directors. Jonathan Gwizdala“Fairway to heaven”Host to thousands of rounds each year, Ahlgrim Acres has become woven into the fabric of the neighborhood.

Persons: Roger Ahlgrim strolled, Arthur Ahlgrim, Ahlgrim, Jonathan Gwizdala, ” Gwizdala, “, you’re, Roger Ahlgrim’s, Roger Ahlgrim's, ’, ”, Gwizdala Organizations: CNN, Ahlgrim, Facebook, Boy Scout Locations: Illinois, Palatine, Chicago

☆ The US's biggest arms buyers are looking elsewhere for a next-generation fighter jet, but it won't be easy to find
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( Paul Iddon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

But Washington has proved to be wary of selling those countries US-made stealth fighter jets. That leaves the Gulf states with various non-US options, which don't look all that promising — at least not any time soon. A prototype of Russia's Su-75 fighter jet at the MAKS-2021 air show outside Moscow in July 2021. AP Photo/Alexander ZemlianichenkoIn 2021, shortly after unveiling its Su-75 fighter, Russia offered to co-produce the jet, which is still in development, with the UAE. While China may eventually offer its FC-31/J-35 stealth fighter for export, it must first demonstrate the jet's effectiveness to attract serious buyers.

Persons: —, Sebastien Roblin, Chris Thornbury, Abraham, Abu Dhabi, FCAS, Roblin, Russia's Su, Alexander Zemlianichenko, Abu Dhabi's, Emily Hawthorne, RANE, Hawthorne, isn't, JOHANNES EISELE, Paul Iddon Organizations: Qatar —, Service, United Arab, —, US Air Force, Al Dhafra, Base, Staff, Abraham Accords, Reuters, AP, East, Korea's KF, Yonhap, Cooperation Council, KF, FC, Getty Locations: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Washington, Gulf, United Arab Emirates, Chris Thornbury But Washington, Israel, Riyadh, British, France, Germany, Turkey, Moscow, Russia, Ukraine, Abu Dhabi, Russian, North Africa, Sacheon, South Korea, Seoul, Korea, Zhuhai, AFP, China

☆ A US Reaper drone made its first-ever landing in the dirt, breaking away from the 'leash' of traditional runways
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The US military recently landed a MQ-9 Reaper drone on a dirt strip for the first time. An Air Force official hailed the exercise as an opportunity to break away from traditional runways. A US Air Force MQ-9 Reaper conducts the first ever MQ-9 Reaper landing on a dirt landing zone during a training exercise near Fort Stockton, Texas, June 15, 2023. For the Air Force, that means learning how to fight from austere locations that provide increased survivability and flexibility. In doing so, a travel pod was attached to the Reaper so it could resupply soldiers who were waiting at the dirt landing zone.

Persons: —, Brian Flanigan, Flanigan, Sgt, Cody H, Ramirez, David Payne , Organizations: An Air Force, Service, US Air Force, Air Force Special Operations Command, Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command, AFSOC, Special Operations Squadron, Commando, 2nd Special Operations Squadron, The Air Force Locations: Fort Stockton, Texas, Fort Stockton , Texas, Wyoming, Rawlins , Wyoming

☆ Some Diablo 4 players are reporting invalid license error messages after the video game's early access launch
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Early access for Diablo 4 faced issues, including licensing errors for some PlayStation users. Diablo 4 marks the latest installment of Blizzard "Diablo" series, which began in 1996, and arrives more than a decade after "Diablo III" was released in May 2012. Here's what you need to know about Thursday's early access launch and the coming official release of "Diablo IV." It's unclear how many early access players have been impacted by the error. According to Blizzard, Diablo 4 is set decades after the events of "Diablo III: Reaper of Souls."

Persons: Blizzard, Rod Fergusson, Adam Fletcher, Inarius, Liam Deane, Omdia Organizations: Diablo, PlayStation, Morning, Blizzard Entertainment, Activision Blizzard, Activision, Windows, Blizzard, Xbox, Associated Press, Druids, Sorceresses, Microsoft, European Union, Sony Locations: U.S

☆ Some Diablo 4 players reported invalid license error messages after the video game's early access launch
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Early access for Diablo 4 faced issues, including licensing errors for some PlayStation users. Diablo 4 marks the latest installment of Blizzard "Diablo" series, which began in 1996, and arrives more than a decade after Diablo 3 was released in May 2012. Here's what you need to know about Thursday's early access launch and the coming official release of Diablo 4. It's unclear how many early access players have been impacted by the error. According to Blizzard, Diablo 4 is set decades after the events of "Diablo 3: Reaper of Souls."

Persons: Blizzard, Rod Fergusson, Adam Fletcher, Inarius, Liam Deane, Omdia Organizations: Diablo, PlayStation, Morning, Blizzard Entertainment, Activision Blizzard, Activision, Windows, Blizzard, Xbox, Druids, Sorceresses, Microsoft, European Union, Sony, Associated Press Locations: U.S

☆ Ukraine wants to work with Western countries to create another 'sea of NATO' on the border with Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-24 | by ( Constantine Atlamazoglou | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Doing so would help turn the Black Sea into another "sea of NATO," the foreign minister said. "It's time to turn the Black Sea into what the Baltic Sea has become, a sea of NATO," Dmytro Kuleba said. "The Black Sea can never be a NATO sea," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in response to Kuleba's comments. The Black Sea region is "a strategically important area for Euro-Atlantic security," Geoană said in April. At the conference in April, Romania's foreign minister said a strong NATO presence in the Black Sea was a "must."

☆ Photos capture US special operators landing one of the Air Force's biggest planes on a Wyoming highway
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The event helped train the Air Force to use roads in case runways aren't an option. But that didn't stop the US Air Force from using the roads to land several aircraft — including one of its biggest planes. An MQ-9 Reaper with the 2nd Special Operations Squadron lands on Highway 287 during Exercise Agile Chariot near Rawlins, Wyoming, April 30, 2023. Air Force planes — including the MC-130J and Warthog — have landed on stretches of highway in recent years in places like Michigan, Latvia, and Sweden. And the Air Force Special Operations Command has even explored modifications to the MC-130J to allow it to land in water.

☆ The US Air Force has big plans for the next-generation drones that will fight alongside its fighters and bombers
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Benjamin Brimelow | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

It's now developing collaborative combat aircraft, which can fight alongside piloted jets or on their own. A need for 'affordable mass'MQ-9s on a runway at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico in April. Worse, the Air Force faces a pilot shortage and its overall number of flight hours has been decreasing. The Air Force also continues to develop top-tier assets like the F-35, the B-21 stealth bomber, and the Next Generation Air Dominance program, or NGAD. "Without it, it's very difficult to envision how we could keep the Air Force at the size it currently is."

☆ LeBron James vs. Steph Curry: Old rivalries reignite as LA Lakers face Golden State Warriors
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Thomas Schlachter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers took down the Memphis Grizzlies 4-2 in the opening round of the playoffs. In another battle of the old vs. the young, the Golden State Warriors beat the Sacramento Kings in an exhilarating seven-game series. José Luis Villegas/APBattles of old2015 FinalsThe first NBA Finals matchup between LeBron and Steph was in 2015. Greg Nelson/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images2017 FinalsThe Golden State Warriors responded to their 2016 Finals loss by recruiting Kevin Durant in the off-season. Following a disappointing end to his second stint with the Cavaliers, LeBron moved across to the West and signed with the Los Angeles Lakers.

☆ Russian pilots trying to ‘dogfight’ US jets over Syria, US Central Command says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-29 | by ( Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Russian pilots are trying to “dogfight” US jets over Syria, according to a spokesman for US Central Command, part of a recent pattern of more aggressive behavior. The attempts have happened in several of the most recent instances of aggressive behavior from Russian pilots, Col. Joe Buccino said. A video released by US Central Command from April 2 shows a Russian SU-35 fighter jet conducting an “unsafe and unprofessional” intercept of a US F-16 fighter jet. That also includes 26 instances in which armed Russian jets flew over US and coalition positions in Syria. Russia subsequently presented state awards to the pilots of the Russian jets.

☆ US Air Force secretary says it's time to move on from the A-10 Warthog because it 'doesn't scare China' and has only 'limited usability'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The US Air Force has been trying for years to retire its aging fleet of A-10 Warthog planes. During a Thursday hearing, the service secretary said the aircraft "doesn't scare China." I was an advocate for that program for a long time, but it doesn't scare China." US Air Force maintainers work on an A-10 Warthog at Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan, September 2, 2011. In December 2021, the Air Force secretary lauded the Warthog, C-130 transport aircraft, and MQ-9 Reaper drone for their past effectiveness.

☆ Russian jet almost shot down a British surveillance plane flying near Ukraine, and only failed because the missile malfunctioned: report
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A Russian jet tried to fire on a British spy plane last year, but the missile malfunctioned, NYT reports. In their telling, the Russian fighter jet pilot misheard the radar operator on the ground as conveying permission to fire, locked on to the British aircraft, and only failed because the missile didn't launch properly. One of the Russian jets "released a missile" in the "vicinity" of the UK plane, which he described as "potentially dangerous." Following the incident, the UK temporarily ceased surveillance patrols, later sending them out with an armed escort. A Russian Su-27 fighter jet seen approaching a US MQ-9 Reaper drone over the Black Sea on March 14, 2023, in video released by the US military.

☆ The US Navy's Super Hornets are having trouble keeping up with the rest of the military's fighter jets
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

F/A-18E/F Super Hornets have mostly replaced F/A-18 Hornets as the US Navy's carrier-based fighters. The Super Hornet — which includes the single-seat F/A-18E and the two-seat F/A-18F — made its maiden flight in 1995. Super Hornet availability is now about 41% compared to about 26% for the Hornet, whose readiness dropped sharply at about the 25-year mark. But the CBO asked a more specific question: How did Hornets compare to Super Hornets at a similar age? Was the discrepancy caused by Super Hornets flying more hours than Hornets?

☆ The Russian air force's struggles in Ukraine reveal glaring problems in now Moscow trains its pilots
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( Alex Hollings | Sandboxx News | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +35 min

Despite being bigger and more advanced than its enemy, Russia's air force has struggled in Ukraine. It's commonly said that Russian fighter pilots are not as well trained as their Western counterparts, particularly those from the United States. But however ineffective you may think Russian pilot training is compared to the West, the truth seems to be … much worse. A Russian air force pilot prepares to take off in an Su-35 fighter jet at Hemeimeem air base in Syria in September 2019. Put simply, the Gulf War air campaign creates a damning juxtaposition when compared directly to Russia's air campaign over Ukraine.

☆ Russian fighter jets are circling a US airbase in Syria a week after a fiery confrontation between Russian jets and a US drone over the Black Sea: report
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Azmi Haroun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russian fighter jets flew over a US military outpost in Syria 25 times in March, per NBC News. The escalation comes a week after Russian fighter jets clashed with a US drone over the Black Sea. On March 14, two Russian Su-27 fighter jets approached, poured fuel on, and then clipped a US MQ-9 Reaper drone over the Black Sea, forcing the US to down the damaged drone. In Syria, Grynkewich said that Russian jets swarming over the US' At Tanf Garrison outpost has created an "uncomfortable situation." Russian and US troops have both had a military presence in Syria since at least 2015.

☆ White House says Russian pilot who ran into a US drone and broke it was, at best, 'an idiot'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Jake Epstein | John Haltiwanger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russian pilots who intercepted and harassed a US drone last week were presented with awards. When asked at a briefing about the awards, a top White House official ripped into the pilots. "I don't know of another military in the world — another air force in the world — that would award a pilot for smashing into a drone," Kirby said. But State Department spokesperson Ned Price last week also said that the incident was indicative of "a lack of competence." He added that "we've known they were unprofessional," but the incident really "demonstrates how poorly trained" their pilots are.

☆ The US is flying drones farther from Russia to be less 'provocative' after a Russian jet harassed and smashed into one, making it crash: report
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A Russian fighter jet clipped a US military drone operating above the Black Sea last week. US officials say drones are flying farther south and away from Russia, according to a report. US officials, however, told CNN that the drones are now flying farther south over the Black Sea and moving away from Russia and occupied Crimea. A Russian Su-27 fighter jet approaches a US military MQ-9 Reaper drone operating above the Black Sea on March 14, 2023. "We are the adults in the room when it comes to international military forces," the former defense official continued.

☆ Sen. Mark Kelly flew with Russian pilots in the Navy and with NASA, and he said the Russian fighter jet running into a US drone shows 'how incompetent they are'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-19 | by ( Sarah Al-Arshani | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A US drone crashed after a Russian fighter jet clipped its propeller over the Black Sea last week. Sen. Mark Kelly, a former Navy combat pilot, said it was an example of Russia's incompetence. He said the incident last week where a Russian fighter jet dumped fuel on and then clipped the propeller of a US military drone shows how "reckless" and "incompetent" they are. I mean, I flew with Russian pilots, fighter pilots who couldn't fly formation. Kelly compared the fighter jet incident to the "incompetence that we see on the battle field every day in Ukraine."

☆ I ate at Dave's Hot Chicken and saw why this is the fastest-growing chain in the US – but I had to draw the line at the palate-scorching Reaper, which requires signing a waiver
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-18 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

Overall, the jumbo tenders and the graffiti wall murals are the showstoppers at Dave's. The chain's made-to-order foods are prepared with high-quality ingredients. It reminds me of the early days of Shake Shack, one of the best better burger chains in the US. I expect Dave's to grow its fan base as it builds its hot fried chicken empire around the US. Nancy Luna/Insider

☆ Russia gives awards to Su-27 pilots who knocked out a US drone this week, after Western officials slammed the incident as 'unsafe and unprofessional'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Russia decorated the two pilots whose intercept took down a US Reaper drone over the Black Sea. US and EU officials have described the incident as "unsafe and unprofessional" on Russia's part. The accolade comes after US European Command accused the pilots of making an "unsafe and unprofessional" intercept. The incident forced the Reaper to crash into the Black Sea, increasing tensions between the US and Russia. Russia claims that the drone was flying with its transponders turned off, and that it was violating airspace restrictions Russia says it made public in relation to its military activities.

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