Pratt and Whitney has proposed an upgrade to the F-35 Lightning II’s F135 engine that would increase useable power while reducing fuel consumption. Dubbed Growth Option 2.0, the new engine would utilise a more advanced power and thermal management system (PTMS) enabling the aircraft to carry new weapons and sensors, plus new compressor and turbine
The RAAF detachment of F-35A pilots, maintainers and support personnel based at Luke AFB in Arizona has recorded the 1,000th sortie of an Australian F-35A. The milestone flight was recorded by one of the RAAF’s first two F-35A pilots, SQNLDR David Bell when he and 3SQN Commanding Officer WGCDR Darren Clare flew together on June 4.
Eight F/A-18A/B classic Hornets from the RAAF’s 75SQN have deployed to Cold Lake AFB in Alberta, Canada to participate in Exercise Maple Flag. The exercise, from June 11 to 22 is a complex international training event which this year will involve the air forces of Canada, Belgium, Brazil, France, Norway, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the US,
The first four Royal Air Force Lockheed Martin F-35B Lighting IIs arrived at their new home base at RAF Marham in Norfolk on June 6. The four aircraft of 617 Squadron, known as the ‘Dambusters’, ferried across the Atlantic Ocean from Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Beaufort in North Carolina where they have been based
The US Navy has announced the Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton has entered service, with a detachment of Unmanned Patrol Squadron (VUP)-19 in a newly refurbished hangar facility at NAS Point Mugu in California. The May 31 announcement signifies an early operational capability (EOC) for the Triton, a marinised version of the RQ-4B Global Hawk. The
The Israel Defence Force says it has used its F-35I ‘Adir’ fighters in recent combat operations, marking the combat debut for the long-awaited fifth-generation fighter. During a May 22 speech to visiting air chiefs at a conference in Israel, IAF commander Major General Amikam Norkin showed a picture of an F-35I flying over Beirut. “I
