Defense Secretary Gates messed up F-22 stealth fighter and other military procurement

Retired Air Force Chief of Staff General Norton Schwartz has stated in his new memoir that F-22 production was axed after building less than half the required number so that the flying force could get then-Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to approve building a new stealth bomber. Gates made near-sighted decisions based upon focusing on …

Read more

Cessna’s with Hellfire missiles dominates the skies of Iraq and Afghanistan

A turboprop Cessna with Hellfire missiles is appropriate technology for air superiority and close air support in Afghanistan. The Cessna 208 Caravan is an American single-engined turboprop, fixed-tricycle landing gear, short-haul regional airliner and utility aircraft that is built by Cessna. The airplane typically seats nine passengers with a single pilot. There is a modified …

Read more

Russia building 12 Su-57 Stealth Fighters for 2019 combat testing

Russia is building 12 pre-production Sukhoi Su-57 stealth fighters. They are Russia’s first indigenously designed and built fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft. “We are buying Su-57 jets for test combat use. First stage state trials are over,” Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov told journalists. “This year, we will sign a contract for the first batch …

Read more

Russia has first flight of Su-57 stealth fighter with a more powerful engine

Russia’s Su-57 fifth-generation stealth air superiority fighter, also known as T-50, had performed its first test flight with a new-generation engine, according to a source in the Russian Industry and Trade Ministry. Su-57 was equipped with the first stage engine 117S. The new engine has no name yet and is referred to as “second stage …

Read more