Military Heat

After tens of years of development and tens of billions of dollars spent on the project, the world’s first production tiltrotor aircraft, the V-22 Osprey entered service with the U.S Marines. There is still a lot of controversy surrounding this aircraft, so how exactly did it all begin?

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The Saab JAS 39 Gripen is the first new-generation multi-role/swing-role fighter to enter service worldwide and combines high performance, outstanding maneuverability and fully integrated information and weapons systems for all air combat situations.
Offering an unrivaled mix of simplicity and sophistication to defeat all present and future threats, it is the world’s most capable and cost-effective combat aircraft in operation today. (Read more…)

During WW2, commander of the Free French 2nd Armoured Division was General Philippe de Hauteclocque “Leclerc”. He was to lead the drive towards Paris after landing in Normandy and in his honour France’s main battle tank was named Leclerc. A total of 406 AMX-56 Leclerc main battle tanks are in service with the French Army, and 388 Leclercs are used by the United Arab Emirates Army.
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On April 17, 2002, the Swiss Air Force invited the German Luftwaffe MiG-29 Fulcrums to a two week exercise, where pilots from both sides were to engage in DACT (Dissimilar Air Combat Training). It was not the first time German MiGs were called upon to confront western pilots with the much feared Russian myth, it was however the first time MiGs were deployed over the Alps. This is an edited video of the action that took place over the mountains. (Read more…)

The American F-16 Falcon and the Russian MiG-29 Fulcrum are two amazing planes that have sparked an endless debate as to which one is better. In 1997 USAF’s 457th F-16 squadron trained at Forth Worth alongside German MiG-29s and pilots from both sides engaged in simulated dogfights. This is HUD footage taken from an F-16 combined with a few famous quotes.

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On August 17 2007 two Eurofighter Typhoons from the Royal Air Force Number XI Squadron intercepted a Russian Tupolev Tu-95 Bear-H that approached British airspace. On March 29, 2007, Number XI Squadron of the Royal Air Force stood up as a Typhoon Squadron. The two Typhoons were delivered just eight days before the incident, on August 9, 2007.
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The Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 50/52/60 represents a further step in the evolution of the F-16 Fighting Falcon multirole jet fighter. There are many new modifications, most of them internally, but the biggest change visible to the eye is the pair of removable conformal fuel tanks and a dorsal avionics compartment that make the new Falcon one of the ugliest jets ever.

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Produced by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW), of Munchen, Germany the Leopard 2 is probably the best tank on the battlefield today. With operators like Germany, Austria, Chile, Canada, Spain, Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Switzerland and Turkey the Leopard 2 is one of the best selling tanks in the world.

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In the late 1960’s a secret program was undertaken by the US Air Force and Navy to evaluate flight characteristics of soviet built aircraft. The US acquired aircraft, radar systems, missiles as well as other hardware from friendly nations (Israel,Egypt,etc.) or aircraft used by their pilots to defect. The program continued until the early 1990’s, when the fall of the Soviet Union led to the end of the Cold War. (Read more…)

The M1A1/A2 Abrams is the main battle tank in the United States Army and Marine Corps arsenal.Named after General Creighton Abrams, former Chief of Staff and Commander of the 37th Armored Regiment, the M1 Abrams was first deployed in 1980. Saudi Arabia and Egypt also use the M1 Abrams as their nations main battle tank. The M1 Abrams was used in conflict for the first time during the first Gulf War when 1848 were deployed to fight in the deserts of Iraq. (Read more…)

Also known as the Frisbee or the Wobblin’ Goblin the F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter is the world’s first aircraft that incorporates stealth technology.Developed by the famous Skunk Works division of Lockheed Martin as a development of the Have Blue stealth technology demonstrator, the F-117 Nighthawk flew for the first time in 1977.First delivery was made in 1982 and in 1990 the US Air Force received the last of the 59 aircraft ordered. (Read more…)

Formerly known as the Future Large Aircraft the Airbus A400M is the next generation tactical transport aircraft.Designed to meet the requirements of European NATO nations for a cost effective high speed turboprop the A400M will fill the gap between the C-130 Hercules and the larger C-17 Globemaster.

On August 28 2007 assembly of the first production Airbus A400M was started in Seville. (Read more…)

September 25 marked the delivery of the first production Boeing EA-18G Growler to the US Navy.The Boeing EA-18G Growler is a new airborne electronic attack (AEA) aircraft that will replace the EA-6B Prowler, the Navy’s current AEA aircraft that has been in service since 1971.The Growler was delivered to the Navy ahead of schedule and within allocated budget.

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Recently there has been a surge of Armee de l’Air (French Air Force) videos over the internet showing french pilots doing a lot of low flying and generally spectacular stuff.The french have a number of units all over the world and one of these places is the Replubic of Chad.The Mirages and Jaguars of Armee de l’Air have been operating in Chad since the 80’s and have been deeply involved during 80’s and 90’s in fights for Libyan containment (at least two French aircraft have been shot down), which have culminated with the bombing of the Libyan airfield of Ouadi-Doum.

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On August 17 the long-range divisions of Russia’s Air Force resumed patrolling of remote areas over the North Eastern Atlantic, the Norwegian and Northern Seas, the Sea of Japan, and the North Pole.Russia resumes long range patrols using the Tupolev Tu-95 Bear after nearly 15 years of inactivity.

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