Alex Hollings

1 month ago | 19fortyfive.com | Alex Hollings

Key Points – A new US Air Force report, “The Department of the Air Force in 2050,” outlines a future where the US homeland and forward airbases are no longer sanctuaries, facing persistent threats from adversaries’ ultra-long-range precision weapons, including from space. -This necessitates a fundamental shift from today’s fighter-centric force. -The report warns that reliance on easily targeted forward bases and short-range tactical aircraft (like F-22s) will be untenable.

1 month ago | 19fortyfive.com | Alex Hollings

The A-10 Thunderbolt II, better known as the Warthog, is renowned for its massive 30mm GAU-8 Avenger rotary cannon. But for a short time in the twilight of the Cold War, the Air Force wanted to know if it could replace the low-and-slow Warthog by strapping a variant of the same massive gun to the light-and-nimble F-16.

1 month ago | 19fortyfive.com | Alex Hollings

Key Points and Summary: Lockheed’s SR-71 Blackbird, first flown nearly 60 years ago, remains unmatched as the fastest crewed jet ever. Famously outrunning over 4,000 missiles, the Blackbird combined revolutionary stealth, sustained Mach 3+ speed, and advanced engineering, making it virtually untouchable. -While Soviet MiG-25 jets briefly reached Mach 3.2, they couldn’t sustain it without severe engine damage—unlike the Blackbird.

1 month ago | 19fortyfive.com | Alex Hollings

Key Points: The U.S. Navy is bolstering carrier defenses with Raytheon’s Coyote and Anduril’s Roadrunner-M drone interceptors. -These turbojet-powered, loitering drones are specifically designed to counter swarms of low-cost enemy drones—a growing threat from adversaries like Iran and China. -Equipped with advanced radars, Coyote and Roadrunner-M intercept incoming threats at short range, offering significant savings compared to traditional missiles.

1 month ago | 19fortyfive.com | Alex Hollings

Key Points and Summary: China’s J-20 Mighty Dragon stealth fighter likely incorporates stolen design elements from multiple aircraft rather than being wholly original. -Its overall layout strongly resembles Russia’s cancelled MiG 1.44 prototype, potentially acquired during Mikoyan’s financial struggles. -Key features, however, show clear influence from America’s F-22 (forward fuselage) and F-35 (air inlets), designs confirmed accessed vai Chinese espionage efforts like the Su Bin hacking case.