Lockheed Martin F-16

Dominant narratives about the war frequently have proved false. What surprises await in 2023?

A new level of scrutiny and investment is coming to high- and near-space altitudes following a bizarre series of ballooning incidents in February.

Red Flag, the service’s most important combat training event, shifts to overwater for the first time in its 48-year history.

The leading explanation is that the three downed high-altitude objects were “benign” and tied to a commercial or other civilian purpose, officials say.

Changes in radar restrictions in the wake of the Chinese balloon may be causing the surge in detections of unidentified objects in recent days, officials say.

Several key U.S. Air Force aircraft saw their mission-capable rates drop in fiscal 2022 compared to the prior year.

Ukraine has kept its skies contested using a collection of internationally donated systems, though experts warn of donors’ complacency.

Defensive preparations in the center of Moscow perhaps reveal a new Russian respect for homegrown weapons being fielded by Ukraine.

Even if Ukraine can push Russian forces out of the country, it is likely Moscow will continue to harbor territorial ambitions.

The ALQ-254(V)1 Viper Shield completed an internal critical design review, the company announced on Jan. 30.

U.S. President Joe Biden appeared to dismiss the possibility of directly providing Lockheed Martin F-16s to Ukraine.

Momentum for the handover of fighters to supplement Ukraine’s remaining air defense fleet of Soviet-era Sukhoi Su-27s and RAC MiG-29s is gradually gaining.

Col. Yurii Ihnat, spokesman for Ukraine’s Air Forces Command, said the type of aircraft likely to be provided has been determined.

The delayed milestone keeps the program on track for a rescheduled first delivery of the upgraded, single-engine fighter to the Royal Bahrain Air Force.

The Lockheed Martin’s Block 70s will be Jordan’s first new-build F-16s.

Netherlands ministers have suggested they could make F-16s available to Ukraine if Kiev requests the combat aircraft.

“We expect approval in line with our joint strategic interest,” Turkey Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavosoglu told reporters.

The European Union has said it will provide fighter jets to Ukraine as part of a €450 million ($502.3 million) support package of lethal aid.

The seat, a derivative of the company’s Mk. 18 escape system, was selected by Lockheed Martin as part of an open competition.

Turkey is reportedly looking to acquire Block 70-standard F-16s, and would upgrade around 80 of its Block 50 aircraft to the F-16V standard.

Belgium’s F-16 fleet has returned to operations after being grounded over engine problems.

The Netherlands is temporarily taking over Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) air-policing duties for Belgium following the grounding of that country’s F-16 fighter fleet.

The U.S. Air Force chief of staff envisions a 4.5-generation, or fifth generation “minus,” as the F-16 replacement.

Greece’s Hellenic Aerospace Industry (EAB) has carried out the post-modification test flights of its first upgraded F-16V.

A major upgrade for the Air National Guard's F-16s has reached full operational capability status a month after a jet equipped with a new radar demonstrated a new cruise missile defense role.