Latest news with #F-16FightingFalcons
Economic Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Economic Times
US Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon 'Super Squadron' in South Korea to target North Korea and China; here's what it means
Days after North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un's sister Kim Yo Jong asked the United States of America to accept the reality that her country is a nuclear weapons state, the American Air Force has started boosting its fighter aircraft strength in South Korea's north. The US Air Force is creating a "Super Squadron" by bringing in more than 30 F-16 Fighting Falcon first F-16 Fighting Falcons, out of the 31 combat jets likely to be reassigned, were on July 28 moved from South Korean Kunsan Air Base to the north and stationed at Osan AB, which is situated just 48 miles south of the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). This redeployment of F-16s is a step towards the US Air Force's Super Squadron Test. "These F-16s are the first of many being temporarily reassigned to Osan AB for Phase II of the test, the temporary transfer supporting Seventh Air Force's efforts to maximize capabilities and increase combat effectiveness on the Korean Peninsula," the US Air Force stated in a press Read: Aliens coming, interstellar object 3I/ATLAS may be their ship and we have no defense; this Harvard astrophysicist is almost 100% sure'Osan is receiving additional F-16s as part of the Air Force's Super Squadron Test Part II initiative, which is a force-optimization test designed to see if a larger, consolidated squadron can generate more combat power and operate more efficiently,' said US Air Force Captain Bryce Hughes, 51st Maintenance Group Officer and Sortie Generation Flight commander, as per the same press with the approximately 31 F-16s, the US Air Force will also move 1,000 airmen from Kunsan AB to Osan AB for the start of Phase II. The reassignment of the airmen will start October 2025. US Air Force personnel stationed at the Osan AB are training with the 36th Fighter Generation Squadron (FGS) to gain experience in maintaining the F-16s and help maximize combat airpower generation. As part of the Super Squadron Test, the US Air Force in October 2024 moved nine F-16s and 150 airmen to the 36th Fighter Squadron and FGS at Osan AB. "Phase II of the test is expected to continue through October 2026, capitalizing on data from the first phase and assessing focus areas like maintenance, manpower and logistics requirements at a larger scale,: the US Air Force stated.'We're working hand-in-hand with the Wolfpack to ensure a smooth transition of both personnel and equipment in preparation for Phase II. The 51st Fighter Wing is leading the charge on the Super Squadron Test. I'm proud of what the Mustangs have accomplished already, and I look forward to testing the limits of what we can do over the next year," said Colonel Ryan Ley, 51st Fighter Wing order to enhance its combat effectiveness in the Korean Peninsula, the US Air Force has taken several steps in the last few years. The force began replacing its older fighters with newer and more potent variants, including removal of F-15C/Ds from Kadena Air Base in Japan. The place of the phased out jets will be taken up by the new F-15EXs. To maintain its operational readiness, the force has rotated in F-15Es and F-22s in the interim US has been facing an increasingly assertive China in East Asia. The Chinese defense forces have in the last couple of decades modernized and expanded rapidly. It is now actively challenging the US in many regions of the Pacific Ocean, South China Sea and near Read: China's robot army's new addition - missile-firing and flying turtle; signs of preparation for World War III?A couple of months back in June 2025, two Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy aircraft carriers carried out a joint military exercise in the Pacific, near the Japanese island of Iwo Jima. China's aircraft carriers Liaoning and Shandong launched Shenyang J-15 fighters during day and night, as well as carried out multiple combat maneuver. China's guided-missile destroyer Wuxi and supply ship Hulunhu were also part of the military third and most advanced aircraft carrier, Fujian, which is undergoing sea trials, recently demonstrated its ability to launch fighters using an electromagnetic catapult, breaking one more ceiling and moving closer to the US in terms of naval technology. A six-and-a-half minute long video of the Fujian sea trial was shown on Chinese state media CCTV where several J-15T fighters were is armed with multiple nuclear tipped intercontinental ballistic missiles, fifth generation stealth fighters like the Chengdu J-20 Mighty Dragon and Shenyang J-35 (which has two variants - one for the air force and other for the navy) and the worls's largest naval force. Its recent advancement in space and satellite technology has given the US one more reason to worry which is now actively looking at its adversaries possessing offensive capability from beyond the earth. Kim Yo Jong, who usually issues statements on behalf of her brother Kim Jong Un, on July 29 stated that while the North Korean leader and US President Donald Trump's relationship is 'not bad', her country possesses nuclear weapons and will not give them up. Demanding the US to accept the reality of nuclear North Korea, Kim Yo Jong called the situation in 2018 and '19 during Trump's first term as the US President vastly different for that in Read: A UN report on UN reports' declining readership: Surprising truth behind the world's most ignored document 'The year 2025 is neither 2018 nor 2019. The recognition of the irreversible position of the DPRK as a nuclear weapons state and the hard fact that its capabilities and geopolitical environment have radically changed should be a prerequisite for predicting and thinking everything in the future,' she and facing crippling sanctions from the US-led western powers and many other countries, North Korea has been increasingly dependent on China and Russia for its economic and military Jong Un has sent military supplies including troops and artillery shells to Russia to fight the Ukraine war. The move to power the Russian war machinery has come under severe criticism from the US and its allies. Russia and North Korea recently started the first direct passenger flight between Pyongyang and Moscow in decades.
Time Out
01-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
The Chicago Air and Water Show returns in August—see who's included
Warn your pets: One of Chicago's most beloved (and most booming) summer traditions, The Chicago Air and Water Show, returns August 16 and 17. The 66th edition will feature all the high-flying, heart-pounding military and civilian stunts you'd expect, and, best of all, it's completely free. From 10:30am to 3pm both days, be dazzled as the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds headline the action, slicing across the sky in their F-16 Fighting Falcons. They're joined by the U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights, the U.S. Coast Guard Search & Rescue Demo and a fleet of crowd-pleasing performers from across the armed forces, including A-10s, C-17s, Ospreys, and KC-135s. Civilian acts round out the show with aerobatic daredevils like Bill Stein Airshow, Kevin Coleman and the Warbird Thunder crew, plus stunt biplanes, mini jets and vintage aircraft performing choreographed chaos over the lakefront. And the Chicago fire and police departments get in on the action, too, with sea rescue demonstrations and helicopter flights, respectively. The official event is Saturday and Sunday, but don't sleep on the Friday, August 15, rehearsal. For prime viewing, North Avenue Beach is the main stage, but anywhere along the lakefront delivers solid views, with the city skyline adding a cinematic backdrop. There are plenty of options to make it a full day out. Why not snag a reservation at Offshore, the world's largest rooftop (as certified by Guinness World Records), for panoramic views? Or skip the crowds at North Avenue Beach for the less populated Northerly Island or Montrose Beach. Bring blankets, snacks and sunscreen, and be ready to stake out your spot early. The city installs white and green pole markers in Grant Park for easy reference points and emergency info, so take note of your nearest one. Whether you're a local with nostalgia for the roar of jet engines or a first-timer looking to soak up one of summer's most quintessentially Chicago experiences, the Air and Water Show delivers patriotic flair, family-friendly thrills and more than a few moments that'll leave you looking up in awe.
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
