Aviation Articles

USAF scales back Grey Wolf acquisition plans

The USAF has scaled back its fielding plans for the MH-139A Grey Wolf multi-mission helicopter, reducing the size of the planned fleet by nearly 50%

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Pentagon unveils $850bn FY25 budget request and eyes further aircraft retirements

Released on March 11, the $849.8bn FY25 President’s Budget for the US Department of Defense (DOD) represents an increase of $7.8bn in spending when compared to the FY24 base request. The $167.6bn procurement budget includes $61.2bn for new military aircraft and related systems

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Canada axes CT-155 Hawk fleet as it reevaluates pilot training programme

The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) is making major changes to its flight training programme in preparation for the frontline fighter force’s upcoming transition from the CF-188A/B Hornet to the F-35A Lightning II

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Maryland ANG to lose flying mission after upcoming A-10C departure

When its 21-strong fleet of A-10C Thunderbolt II close air support/ground attack aircraft are retired from use, the Maryland Air National Guard’s 175th Wing will transition to a new cyber-based mission. Announced on March 7, the move will leave the Maryland ANG without a flying mission

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US Army axes FARA and UH-60V upgrade in favour of more UH-60Ms, CH-47Fs

The US Army revealed plans to rebalance its aviation modernisation investments on February 8, including the cancellation of its multi-billion dollar Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) programme – which was set to see a fly-off competition between Bell’s 360 Invictus and Sikorsky’s Raider X offerings in the near future – and also the axing of the service’s plan to upgrade hundreds of Black Hawks to UH-60V standard

USAF’s 305th RQS welcomes first Jolly Green II

The USAF’s 305th Rescue Squadron (RQS) – a component of Air Force Reserve Command’s (AFRC’s) 943rd Rescue Group (RQG) – joined the HH-60W Jolly Green II family on February 1, when the first aircraft (21-14521) arrived at Davis-Monthan AFB in Arizona

USMC’s first East Coast F-35B unit declared operational

The USMC formally declared its first East Coast-based F-35B Lightning II squadron operational when Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 542 (VMFA-542) ‘Tigers’ – a component of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) – achieved Initial Operational Capability (IOC) at MCAS Cherry Point in North Carolina on February 5

USAF’s final WC-135R arrives at Offutt AFB

The 45th Reconnaissance Squadron (RS) – a component of the USAF’s 55th Wing – received its third and final WC-135R Constant Phoenix (64-14829/OF) when the aircraft touched down at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska on December 4, writes Tom Kaminski.

USAF welcomes second batch of F-15EX Eagle IIs

Delivery of the second batch of new F-15EX Eagle II fighters to the USAF got underway on December 20, when two examples of the type arrived at Eglin AFB in Florida following a ferry flight from Boeing’s production facility at St Louis Lambert International Airport in Missouri

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USAF to replace Kadena's outgoing legacy Eagles with F-15EXs?

The USAF is reportedly considering a plan to permanently replace the legacy F-15C/D Eagle fighters assigned to the 18th Wing at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, with a smaller number of new F-15EX Eagle IIs