Latest news with #F-16FightingFalcons
CBS News
13-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Ohio National Guard running night flying missions in Toledo area
The Ohio National Guard's 180th Fighter Wing, which is based in northwest Ohio, is participating in night flying this week. The pilots and crew started the nighttime missions with F-16 Fighting Falcons Monday night and will continue that work through Thursday, according to a post on social media from the wing. The 180th Fighter Wing formed in 1995. The headquarters is in Swanton, near Toledo. Past night flight missions have been heard and noticed by southeast Michigan residents.
Business Insider
09-05-2025
- Business Insider
US Air Force's massive 53-aircraft runway exercise 'sends a message you can't ignore' to rivals like China
What is an elephant walk? Dating back to World War II, the term "elephant walk" referred to the taxiing of military aircraft en masse before taking off in single-file formations like a herd of elephants walking trunk-to-tail. Elephant walks not only demonstrate operational airpower and readiness but also train military pilots in wartime operations that involve launching a large number of sorties in a short period of time. Third-largest elephant walk in Air Force history Elephant walks typically involve a large number of aircraft, and the Kadena Air Base event on Okinawa was no exception — 53 Air Force and Navy aircraft, as well as two Army Patriot air defense batteries, participated in the runway display. The elephant walk could be the largest to ever take place in Japan, nearly twice the size of last year's 33-aircraft display at the base, which featured F-22 Raptors and F-16 Fighting Falcons. The Kadena elephant walk is among the largest ever by the US Air Force, outnumbering an elephant walk in 2020 at Hill Air Force Base in Utah that only featured F-35A Lightning II aircraft. In April 2023, 80 aircraft were displayed in an elephant walk at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas. At Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina, a 70-aircraft demonstration consisted of only F-15E Strike Eagles, making it the largest single-type elephant walk. Rescue helicopters, drones, and fighter jets Fighter jets made up more than half of the elephant walk, with 24 F-35As, eight F-15Es, and two Navy EA-18 Growlers. Six HH-60 Pave Hawk rescue helicopters led the herd, along with two MQ-9 Reaper drones, which are used for surveillance and precision strikes. Cargo planes, tankers, and spy planes Two MC-130J Commando II special operations cargo planes and six KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft brought up the rear of the formation. Three spy planes also made an appearance in the elephant walk — one E-3G Sentry radar surveillance aircraft, one RC-135 Rivet Joint signals intelligence aircraft, and one P-8 Poseidon operated by the Navy for maritime patrol and reconnaissance. The formation was flanked by two US Army MIM-104 Patriot missile interceptors, which have proven to be vital assets in the US' air defense strategy against Chinese missile threats. Exercise Beverly Herd The airpower demonstration on Okinawa was an iteration of Exercise Beverly Herd, an annual military exercise that prepares US and allied forces for combat in the Pacific. Aside from the elephant walk, rescue and maintenance squadrons stationed at Kadena also practiced surveilling damage on an airfield, and Air Force civil engineers worked with Navy specialists to remove simulated unexploded ordnance from the runway. At Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, about 11 miles from Kadena, F-35 fighter squadrons from Eielson Air Force Base are also training in warfighting concepts and maneuvers focused on Agile Combat Employment, which is designed to increase lethality and survivability in combat. 'A message you can't ignore' The military exercises come as China escalates its military presence in the Pacific over Taiwan, the self-governing island which Beijing claims as its own. "An elephant walk like this sends a message you can't ignore," Chief Master Sgt. Brandon Wolfgang, 18th Wing command chief master sergeant, said in a statement. "It shows our Airmen, allies, and adversaries that we're united, capable, and ready." China's rapid military build-up has been fueling tension with other US allies on the First Island Chain, which includes Japan and the Philippines. The latter nation also has ongoing territorial disputes with China, primarily in the South China Sea. Deterrence in the Indo-Pacific The Beverly Herd exercises were among a series of military drills the US and its allies are hosting in the Indo-Pacific theater to counter growing Chinese aggression in the region. Earlier this month, the US and the Philippines held a joint exercise, Balikatan, at a strategic chokepoint south of Taiwan. China criticized the military drills, accusing the US and the Philippines of using Taiwan as an excuse to "provoke tension and confrontation." "This kind of teamwork and presence is exactly how we maintain deterrence in the Indo-Pacific," Wolfgang said of the Kadena elephant walk.
Morocco World
10-04-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
US Defense Giant Lockheed Martin Eyes Moroccan Manufacturing Hub
Rabat – A high-level delegation from Lockheed Martin swept through Morocco last week, signaling the American defense behemoth's serious interest in the North African country's rapidly evolving defense industry landscape. Led by retired Brigadier General Joseph Rank, Lockheed's CEO for Africa and Saudi Arabia, the team networked between Rabat and Casablanca, meeting officials and touring industrial facilities in what industry circles describe as more than just a courtesy visit. The visit was not mere window shopping, as it reflects the company's 'enduring relationship with Morocco' and 'a shared commitment to innovation, security, and economic progress,' according to Rank. In Casablanca's industrial zone, the delegation, facilitated by Morocco's Investment and Export Development Agency, reportedly toured several potential partners, including TDM Maroc, SABCA Maroc, Collins Aerospace RFM, and Exellia Maroc. These companies are at the forefront of Morocco's push to develop sophisticated aerospace and defense manufacturing capabilities. Behind closed doors in Rabat, sources say Rank's team engaged in substantive talks with senior officials about cementing Morocco as a critical node in Lockheed's global supply chain — a relationship that began in 1974 with the delivery of Morocco's first C-130H Hercules transport aircraft. Today, that partnership has evolved dramatically. Moroccan pilots now operate Lockheed's F-16 Fighting Falcons, while the country's military employs Sikorsky helicopters, advanced radar systems, and integrated air defense technologies—all bearing the Lockheed Martin stamp. Read also: Will Morocco Become First Arab, African Nation to Acquire the F-35? For Morocco, the stakes couldn't be higher. The North African country has invested heavily in creating a self-sustaining defense ecosystem, viewing it as both a security imperative and an economic catalyst. As Rank departed, he left little doubt about Lockheed's intentions: 'As we continue to deepen our collaboration, we aim to advance Morocco's defense capabilities, expand local expertise, and contribute to long-term industrial growth.' The company's executives conducted a visit to the sector's key industrial facilities in Morocco in December 2024 to reinforce its five-decade presence in the country. With billions in potential investments hanging in the balance, all eyes are now on what concrete steps might follow this high-profile courtship. The visit comes as Morocco positions itself as a defense manufacturing hub, already attracting global players like India's Tata Advanced Systems, Turkish drone-maker Baykar, and Israel's Bluebird Aero Systems, creating what some analysts call Africa's defense manufacturing triangle. Tags: Defense IndustryLockheed MartinMorocco Defense Industry
CBS News
27-03-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Minnesota Twins' starting lineup for MLB Opening Day 2025 game announced
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins are facing off against the St. Louis Cardinals for MLB Opening Day 2025 on Thursday. The Cardinals are hosting the Twins at Busch Stadium in St. Louis , and the starting pitch is set for 3:15 p.m. CST. Pundits are looking at Minnesota's 2025 season as an opportunity to build from. The team won its first playoff series in two decades two seasons ago , but ultimately eked out a 2024 record that saw the team just barely avoid losing more games than they won, thanks in large part to a late-season collapse . We now know the starting lineups for both teams. Check them out below. Pitcher: Pablo López Pitcher: Sonny Gray Thursday is the beginning of a three-game series for the Twins and Cardinals. The next two games are set for Saturday and Sunday afternoon. After that, the Twins continue on the road, taking on the Chicago White Sox, who last season broke the MLB's 62-year-old single-season record for the most losses during a season . The Twins play their first home game of the season on April 4 at 3:10 p.m. when they host the Houston Astros at Target Field. The home opener plans include a traditional breakfast on the plaza from 6 to 9 a.m. just outside Target Field, a traditional flyover will feature two F-16 Fighting Falcons from the Minnesota National Guard's 148th Fighter Wing, and a special tribute to the late president and artistic director of Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, Michael Brindisi, involving a special performance by the cast of the current staging of "Grease." A recent study in recent years found that the Minnesota Twins have one of the most affordable home openers , and this year's home opener initially listed ticket prices as low as $9 for some .
Egypt Today
17-03-2025
- Politics
- Egypt Today
US initiates large-scale strikes on Yemen as Trump warns ‘hell will rain down upon' Houthis
Two US Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons patrol the US Central Command area of responsibility – FILE/CENTCOM CAIRO – 15 March 2025: US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday the launch of "decisive and powerful military action" in Yemen in response to the Houthis' threats to resume attacks on Israeli ships. At least 31 people were killed and 101 more were injured across Yemen with most casualties being amongst women and children, wrote Anees Al-Asbahi, spokesman for the Houthi-run health ministry, citing preliminary data yesterday. Footage aired by Houthi-run Al Masirah TV showed multiple individuals, including children, arriving at hospitals with burns on their bodies and faces, as well as other injuries. In a message to the Houthis on Truth Social, Trump warned, "your time is up, and your attacks must stop, starting today. If they don't, hell will rain down upon you like nothing you have ever seen before!" He also issued a stern warning to Iran, which supports the Houthis, stating that the US will 'hold you fully accountable, and we won't be nice about it.' 'The Houthi attack on American vessels will not be tolerated. We will use overwhelming lethal force until we achieve our objective,' Trump declared. Last week, the Houthis announced their intention to resume attacks on Israeli ships after their deadline for Israel to allow the resumption of aid deliveries into Gaza expired. The Houthis have carried out dozens of attacks on vessels linked to Israel and US warships in solidarity with the Palestinian people in Gaza amid the ongoing Israeli war that began on October 7, 2023. The Israeli war in Gaza has killed more than 48,500 people to date, injured nearly 112,000 others with most of fatalities being women and children. Tel Aviv has halted humanitarian aid to Gaza, home to around 2.3 million residents, following the expiration of the first phase of the ceasefire with Hamas on March 1. The ceasefire took effect on 19 January, mediated by Egypt, Qatar and the US, allowing thousands of trucks laden with humanitarian aid and fuel to enter the enclave. Israeli restrictions on aid deliveries throughout the war left Gaza on brink of famine, bringing serious warnings from the United Nations and relief groups about a worsening humanitarian situation. The UN estimates that 96% of the population faces acute food insecurity, with 2.15 million people experiencing crisis levels of hunger or worse.
