U.S. Air Force Archives

U.S. Air Force Capt. Nick “Laz” Le Tourneau, pilot and commander of the F-22 Raptor Aerial Demonstration Team, performs an aerial demonstration at Air Dot Show Tour Fort Lauderdale, Florida, May 9, 2026. Capt. Le Tourneau showcased the unmatched capabilities of the F-22 by performing a series of combat maneuvers. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mary Bowers)

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

‘We Can’t Build Them Anymore’: The U.S. Air Force’s F-22 Raptor Stealth Fighter Shortage Is a Wound That Won’t Ever Heal

Summary and Key Points: In 2009, Defense Secretary Robert Gates capped F-22 Raptor production at 187 aircraft — far below the hundreds originally planned...

Jack BuckbyMay 26, 2026

U.S. Air Force Capt. Samuel “RaZZ” Larson, F-22 Raptor Aerial Demonstration Team pilot and commander, performs at the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO, April 14th, 2023. The F-22 Raptor Aerial Demonstration showcases the unmatched maneuverability of the airframe by executing a series of combat maneuvers to inspire Americans and their allies, and deter foreign adversaries. (U.S. Air Force video by Staff Sgt. Michael Bowman)

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‘You Really Ought to Go Home’: How A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor Flew Right Under Iran F-4 Fighter Phantom Totally Unseen

Summary and Key Points: In March 2013, two Iranian Air Force F-4 Phantom IIs scrambled to intercept an American MQ-1 Predator drone flying surveillance...

Harry J. KazianisMay 26, 2026

A Maryland Air National Guard A-10C Thunderbolt II, aircraft 702, from the 104th Fighter Squadron, flies through the air over Bollen Air-to-Ground Range, Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, August 9, 2025. Family, friends and aviation enthusiasts attended the 104th Fighter Squadron Family Range Day to see the jets in action before the anticipated final divestment of the A-10C Thunderbolt II in September. (U.S. Air National Guard Photo by Airman 1st Class Sarah Hoover)

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

Two U.S. Air Force A-10 Warthog Pilots Destroyed 23 Tanks in A Single Day

I have spent quite a bit of time looking at retired A-10 Warthogs, and I have the photos and video to prove it in...

Harry J. KazianisMay 24, 2026

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

The SR-71 Blackbird Literally Disintegrated Around Its Crew at Mach 3.2 and 78,000 Feet — And One Pilot Survived

Since the early 2010s, I have dragged my wife to just about every SR-71 Blackbird museum exhibit within driving distance, or sent my staff...

Harry J. KazianisMay 24, 2026

Uncategorized

Sorry, F-22 and F-35: The F-15EX Eagle II Carries More Bombs Than Any Other U.S. Fighter

The U.S. Air Force is doubling its F-15EX Eagle II procurement from 129 aircraft to 267 — enough to operate 13 squadrons of 21...

Reuben JohnsonMay 24, 2026

An EA-18G Growler, attached to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 133, takes off from the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), May 21, 2026. Abraham Lincoln is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to support maritime security and stability in the Middle East. (U.S. Navy photo)

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

U.S. Navy Fighter Pilots Are More Afraid of Landing on An Aircraft Carrier in The Dark Than of Being Shot at in Combat

Naval aviators are more stressed by night landings on an aircraft carrier than by combat. Physiological studies show higher heart rates and blood pressure...

Steve BalestrieriMay 23, 2026

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

The SR-71 Blackbird’s Airframe Was 85% Titanium Because No Other Metal Could Survive The Heat at Mach 3

The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird intentionally leaked JP-7 fuel onto the ground. The airframe was designed to seal its own fuel tanks only when hot...

Isaac SeitzMay 23, 2026

A Royal Australian Air Force F-35 Lightning II taxis out for a morning mission at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Jan. 31, 2024. Approximately 150 Royal Australian aviators participated in Bamboo Eagle 24-1 with Royal Air Force and U.S. Air Force assets. These exercises build partnerships and is an opportunity to enhance the readiness and training necessary to respond as a joint force to any potential crisis or challenge across the globe. (U.S. Air Force photo by William R. Lewis)

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

The F-35A Lightning II Can Now Drop A Thermonuclear Bomb — And Is The First Stealth Fighter Ever Cleared to Do So

The F-35A Lightning II has been certified as a Dual-Capable Aircraft, allowing it to deliver both conventional and thermonuclear weapons. It is the first...

Harrison KassMay 22, 2026

A U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II assigned to the 33rd Fighter Wing taxis down the runway at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, August 1, 2023. The F-35A is a high-performance, multirole fighter jet that combines stealth, sensor fusion and unprecedented situational awareness. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Abigail Duell)

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

The F-35 Stealth Fighter ‘Kill Switch’ No One Wants to Talk About

The F-35 Lightning II has no kill switch — but Washington still retains enormous leverage over every foreign operator. The Joint Program Office and...

Isaac SeitzMay 22, 2026

National Security Journal

All posts tagged "U.S. Air Force"

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

‘We Can’t Build Them Anymore’: The U.S. Air Force’s F-22 Raptor Stealth Fighter Shortage Is a Wound That Won’t Ever Heal

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

‘You Really Ought to Go Home’: How A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor Flew Right Under Iran F-4 Fighter Phantom Totally Unseen

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

Two U.S. Air Force A-10 Warthog Pilots Destroyed 23 Tanks in A Single Day

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

The SR-71 Blackbird Literally Disintegrated Around Its Crew at Mach 3.2 and 78,000 Feet — And One Pilot Survived

Uncategorized

Sorry, F-22 and F-35: The F-15EX Eagle II Carries More Bombs Than Any Other U.S. Fighter

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

U.S. Navy Fighter Pilots Are More Afraid of Landing on An Aircraft Carrier in The Dark Than of Being Shot at in Combat

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

The SR-71 Blackbird’s Airframe Was 85% Titanium Because No Other Metal Could Survive The Heat at Mach 3

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

The F-35A Lightning II Can Now Drop A Thermonuclear Bomb — And Is The First Stealth Fighter Ever Cleared to Do So

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

The F-35 Stealth Fighter ‘Kill Switch’ No One Wants to Talk About

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