March 19, 2024

US Drones Collide and Crash in Syria

drones collide

Two US drones collided and crashed over Idlib, Syria Tuesday. It is yet unknown if they were shot at afterward and whether that is what caused the crash. Images of burning aircraft crashing to the ground were posted on social media.

Foreign Arms Sales Up 13 Percent

US to Promote Arms Sales at Air Show

The US signed off on arms exports worth $192.3 billion over the past year, a 13 percent increase from the previous year.

First F-35C Flight Mishap Costs $2 Million

F-35C

An F-35C flying from USS Abraham Lincoln was damaged during an aerial refueling exercise. Debris from an aerial refueling basket was ingested into the F-35C’s engine intake, resulting in damage costing about $2 million.

Defense Funding for Drones Nearly Triples

Funding for Drones

The 2019 National Defense Authorization Act allocates funding for nearly three times as many unmanned vehicles as in previous years.

MQ-4C Triton Officially Put Into Service

Triton

The MQ-4C Triton Broad Area Maritime System high-altitude long-endurance UAV has been officially put into service with Unmanned Patrol Squadron 19 at Naval Base Ventura County in Point Mugu, Calif. VP-19 now has two Triton UAVs.

Raptor, Not F-35, Deployed for Security Mission

Intercept F-22 Raptor

The F-22 Raptor has deployed to the Pacific as part of a theater security mission, swapping in for the Air Force’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

AH-1Z Undergoing Testing at Pax

AH-1Z

The US Navy has successfully completed its first joint air-to-ground missile flight test on the AH-1Z helicopter at NAS Patuxent River.

Reaper Drones Help Combat Wildfires

drones fighting wildfires

Remotely piloted Air Force drones were put to work to help combat the recent California wildfires. MQ-9 Reapers from the Air National Guard’s 163rd Attack Wing were put into service in Northern California.

US Slow to Fit Weaponry to Stealth Fighters

Europe leads the US in developing weaponry to fit stealth fighters. Current weapons are too large.