The AIM-54 Phoenix The AWG-9 weapons control system and P&W TF30 engines were used by the F-14A Tomcat, which was built in 1968 to replace the controversial F-111B, which was…
The A-10 Warthog October 1975 saw the delivery of the first A-10A in production at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (AFB), in Arizona. Over the years, numerous enhancements have been made…
The Black Hawk Multirole Helicopter The Black Hawk is the military’s most versatile helicopter, suited for a variety of missions, including command and control, air assaults, medical evacuations, and lift…
The US Army AH-64E Apache attack helicopter Version 6.5 upgrade aligns the entire E model fleet under the same software, streamlining training and maintenance while providing a pathway for sensor/capability…
The KC-10 Extender A modified McDonnell Douglas (later Boeing Company) DC-10, the KC-10A entered service in 1981. Twenty KC-10s were modified to add wing-mounted pods further enhancing their aerial refueling…
Uncertainty about the return of the V-22 tiltrotor Air Boss Vice Adm. Daniel Cheever, the head of US naval aviation, said in a panel at the WEST 2024 conference, co-hosted…
The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress To overcome enemy defenses, the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress was designed with a focus on high-altitude flight, speed, and powerful defensive armament. Its advanced turbosupercharged…
Joe “Hoser” Satrapa Without a brace of Joe “Hoser” Satrapa stories, no dissertation on present-day section tactics—or naval aviation in general—could be considered complete. Hoser was a legendary figure in…
The F-86D Sabre Dog To counter the growing Soviet threat, the US government and USAF started a massive effort in the late 1940s to establish an effective defense of US…
The U-2 Built in complete secrecy by Kelly Johnson and the Lockheed Skunk Works, the original U-2A first flew in August 1955. Early flights over the Soviet Union in the…