Reuters
A two-seat Hellenic Air Force F-4 Phantom crashed during a low-altitude flying display at Tanagra Air Base north of Athens, killing both pilots. The accident occurred during Athens Flying Week, and the air force is investigating the cause; reports said there were no signs of an ejection.
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A two-seat Hellenic Air Force F-4 Phantom crashed during a low-altitude flying display at Tanagra Air Base north of Athens, killing both pilots. The accident occurred during Athens Flying Week, and the air force is investigating the cause; reports said there were no signs of an ejection.
The U.S. Air Force is retiring the C-130H-based EC-130H Compass Call electronic warfare fleet after more than four decades of service. Its mission systems are transitioning to modified Gulfstream business jets, with the EA-37B assuming the role as the EC-130H exits operations.
The average flyaway cost of the F-35A and F-35B increased by more than 11% compared with recent contracts, while the F-35C’s price rose by more than 8%, according to figures provided by the F-35 Joint Program Office. The increases affect the program’s latest production lots.
The U.S. Air Force is accelerating development of an MQ-9A Reaper successor after the loss of dozens of aircraft during Operation Epic Fury. Officials want a drone that can be fielded more quickly, produced in large numbers and cost roughly $10 million each— a fraction of the Reaper’s cost.
A defense startup can develop a capability that precisely meets military requirements and still fail to win Pentagon business. After reviewing more than 1,000 startup pitches, the analysis identifies a recurring pattern that separates companies able to convert strong products into defense contracts from those that cannot.
Sierra Nevada will lead development and analysis of an adaptation kit to convert the C-130J for snow runway operations, creating a ski-equipped LC-130J configuration for the U.S. Air Force. The work is scheduled to conclude in March 2028, establishing the design basis for operations from ice- and snow-covered runways.
The U.S. Air Force’s last operational EC-130H Compass Call completed its final flight on Sept. 2, ending more than 40 years of service for the C-130-based electronic warfare aircraft. The EA-37B is set to take over the Compass Call mission as the EC-130H retires.
The U.S. Air Force is accelerating efforts to replace the MQ-9 Reaper after what Lt. Gen. Christopher Niemi called “concerning” losses. Niemi cautioned that pursuing the same acquisition approach could produce a successor costing roughly as much as the MQ-9, underscoring pressure to balance speed, survivability and affordability.
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