Stealth Fighters
Formally Retired in 2007, the F-117 Still Flies for the Air Force
As an aggressor aircraft, the F-117 can teach pilots how to detect and engage with a low-radar cross-section jet. The F-117 will forever hold a place in aviation lore as...
Why Israel Wants the F-22 Raptor (And Why It Won’t Get It)
Considering Israel’s proximity to hostile neighbors, it is fair to assume the nation has more wants than needs when it comes to arms. From air defense systems and fighter jets...
China Has a Sixth-Gen Fighter: What Do We Know About the J-36?
Last month, the People’s Republic of China appeared to have leapfrogged the United States in military aviation technology, as a previously undisclosed aircraft recently made its maiden flight. The aircraft...
Did China Just Show Off Its Sixth-Gen Stealth Bomber?
As tensions between Washington and Beijing continue to mount, the race to produce the world’s first-ever sixth-generation aircraft is in full throttle. At the tail end of 2024, new images surfaced the...
YF-23 Black Widow Stealth Fighter Can Be Explained in 3 Words
Destined to Fail: The Northrop/McDonnell Douglas YF-23, a fifth-generation stealth fighter developed in the late 1980s as part of the U.S. Air Force’s Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) program, competed closely with...
F-15EX vs. F-35: Which Fighter Jet Should You Spend Your $90 Million On?
What You Need to Know: The F-15EX Eagle II and F-35 Lightning II are often compared due to their similar price points, around $90 million, despite differing generations. The F-35,...
Additive Printing to Help Keep USMC F-35s Flying
The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is a true marvel of the modern age, and soon maintainers will employ advanced technology to keep the aircraft flying—namely additive or “3D printing.”...
F-35I Adir: Israel Has Its Very Own Custom Stealth Fighter to Strike Iran
What You Need to Know: On Tuesday, Iran fired over 180 missiles at Israel in retaliation for the killing of Hezbollah and Iranian military leaders. Israel has vowed to respond,...
The $67 Million Stealth Revolution: Inside the YF-118G Bird of Prey
Summary and What You Need to Know: In the 1990s, McDonnell Douglas’ Phantom Works team developed the Bird of Prey (YF-118G), a groundbreaking stealth aircraft tested at Area 51. Unlike...
FC-31: China’s Answer to the F-35 Fighter Is a Real Threat
Summary and Key Points: The FC-31, a fifth-generation stealth fighter developed by China’s Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, aims to rival the U.S. F-35 and strengthen the People’s Liberation Army Air Force...
NGAD: America’s New 6th Generation Fighter Might Be In Serious Trouble
Summary and Key Points: The future of the US Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, intended to replace the F-22 Raptor, is uncertain due to budget constraints and...
Why the ‘Retired’ F-117 Stealth Fighter is Still Soaring for the U.S. Air Force
Summary: Despite its official retirement in 2007, the F-117A Nighthawk, a pioneer in stealth technology, remains a valuable asset for the U.S. Air Force, continuing to participate in various missions and...