Alex Hollings

Key Points: The A-10 Warthog , also known as the A-10 Thunderbolt II, renowned for its close air support capabilities, isn't built for dogfighting —but its pilots still train for air-to-air combat

Key Points: The U.S. Navy has tested the limits of aircraft carrier aviation with some remarkable aircraft, from the massive C-130 Hercules to the U-2 spy plane.

Key Points: The Sikorsky S-67 Blackhawk, a groundbreaking attack helicopter prototype , set speed records in the 1970s, surpassing even today's combat rotorcraft.

Key Points: A 2015 report detailing F-35 struggles against the F-16 in dogfight trials caused a media stir but lacked critical context. -The F-35 involved was an early AF-2 test model with software restrictions and missing capabilities, including off-boresight targeting and stealth features integral to its design. -These limitations skewed results, making the F-16 appear […]

Key Points: A 2015 report detailing F-35 struggles against the F-16 in dogfight trials caused a media stir but lacked critical context.

Key Points: In the 1950s, the U.S. Navy explored vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) fighters to counter potential airstrip losses in nuclear war. Lockheed's XFV-1 “Salmon” and Convair's XFY Pogo were tail-sitting propeller-driven designs aimed at deploying from non-carrier ships.

Key Points: The McDonnell Douglas Air-2A Genie, developed during the Cold War, was the world's first nuclear air-to-air weapon.

Key Points: The legendary Battle of 73 Easting during the Persian Gulf War showcased the overwhelming superiority of American M1A1 Abrams tanks against a fortified Iraqi Republican Guard force.

Key Points: China's Chengdu J-20 Mighty Dragon , the first non-American stealth fighter to enter service, may owe its existence to stolen designs from multiple foreign aircraft programs

Key Points: China’s J-35 stealth fighter, while less advanced than the F-35 or F-22, represents a strategic evolution in Chinese airpower. -The aircraft’s key advantage lies in its potential role in integrated systems like China’s long-range detection and targeting apparatus, supporting anti-ship capabilities. The J-35 could outmatch older 4th-generation aircraft like the F/A-18 and may […]