Tag Archives: F-16

Losing Crimea Would Escalate Russian-Ukraine Conflict, Former Defense Secretary Says

Losing Crimea Would Escalate Russian-Ukraine Conflict, Former Defense Secretary Says

A Ukrainian artilleryman trains on an M109 self-propelled howitzer at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, May 11, 2022. Soldiers from the U.S. and Norway trained Armed Forces of Ukraine artillerymen on the howitzers as part of security assistance packages from their respective countries.
(U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Spencer Rhodes, 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team)

Losing Crimea, which holds an important naval base in Sevastopol, to Ukraine would cross a “real red line” for Russia and likely risk an escalation of the ongoing war, a former U.S. defense secretary said Wednesday. Read More

Experts Say Arms Sale to Taiwan Answer Defense Needs, But Spur New Questions

Experts Say Arms Sale to Taiwan Answer Defense Needs, But Spur New Questions

Satellite image of the Taiwan Strait, separated mainland China on the left, from the island of Taiwan on the right. NASA photo

A pending sale of F-16 fighters, Abrams tanks, anti-armor and anti-aircraft missiles, to Taiwan drew rebukes from Beijing but also set off alarms on the island about its ability retain talent and develop home-made defenses, one of its leading security experts said Wednesday.

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Analysis: Implications of Turkish Shoot Down of Russian Warplane

Analysis: Implications of Turkish Shoot Down of Russian Warplane

A Russian Su-24 Fencer shortly after its was shot down by a Turkish F-16 on Nov. 24, 2015.

A Russian Su-24 Fencer shortly after its was shot down by a Turkish F-16 on Nov. 24, 2015.

The ongoing conflict in Syria took a turn Tuesday when a Turkish Lockheed Martin F-16 reportedly shot down a Russian Air Force Sukhoi Su-24 Fencer fighter-bomber. The Fencer’s large weapon-payload capacity has made it a favorite for Russian forces supporting their ally Bashar al-Assad in Syria. The aircraft lost today reportedly was bombing targets near the Turkish border. Read More

The Implications of Expanding ISIS Airstrikes Into Syria

The Implications of Expanding ISIS Airstrikes Into Syria

USS Philippine Sea (CG-58) launches a Tomahawk cruise missile as seen from the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) on Sept. 23, 2014. US Navy Photo

USS Philippine Sea (CG-58) launches a Tomahawk cruise missile as seen from the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) on Sept. 23, 2014. US Navy Photo

The start of U.S. airstrikes in Syria early Tuesday morning local time marks a major expansion of the air campaign begun in northern Iraq to target the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS or ISIL). Read More

How Taiwan Would Defend Against a Chinese Attack

How Taiwan Would Defend Against a Chinese Attack

Taiwanese troops following an undated exercise.

Taiwanese troops following an undated exercise.

On March 6, Taiwan’s Minister of National Defense Yen Ming told the national legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee the country’s military could hold out “at least one month” alone against a Chinese invasion. Read More

Navy Divers Recover Downed F-16 Wreckage

Navy Divers Recover Downed F-16 Wreckage

Divers, assigned to Mobile Diving Salvage Unit 2, Company 2-4, wait on the diving stage to be lowered into the water during air surface supplied diving operations off the coast of Virginia on Aug. 16, 2013. US Navy Photo

Divers, assigned to Mobile Diving Salvage Unit 2, Company 2-4, wait on the diving stage to be lowered into the water during air surface supplied diving operations off the coast of Virginia on Aug. 16, 2013. US Navy Photo

Navy salvage divers have recovered the flight data recorder and pieces of an Air Guard F-16C that crashed Aug. 1 after a mid-air collision, according to a Tuesday release from the service.

Divers from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2 aboard the USNS Grasp (T-ARS-51) recovered the debris after almost a weeklong search from under 107 feet of water. Diving operations were completed on Monday, according to the statement. Read More