The National Interest

Summary: The U.S. Navy is poised to repurpose its Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) as modern mine countermeasures vessels, a move that could redefine their role within the fleet. The introduction of the Mine Countermeasures Mission Package (MCM MP) aboard the USS Canberra (LCS-30) marks a significant shift from traditional Avenger-class mine countermeasure ships to more versatile platforms.

Summary: The aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (IKECSG), along with her carrier strike group, recently transitioned to the U.S. 6th Fleet's area of operations in the Eastern Mediterranean, following a five-month deployment under the U.S. 5th Fleet.

Summary: The U.S. maintained unrivaled aerial superiority with its fifth-generation F-22 Raptor for many years, but now faces increasing competition from China and Russia. Both nations have developed their own fifth-generation fighters, the Chengdu J-20 and the Sukhoi Su-57, and are pushing rapidly into the sixth-generation with programs like China's NGAD.

Summary: The F-4 Phantom, a standout fixed-wing aircraft during the Vietnam War, epitomized American air power with its dual capability for air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. Known for its speed, durability, and heavy armament, the F-4 Phantom was instrumental in achieving approximately 150 air combat victories while sustaining 42 losses.

Summary: The F-14 Tomcat, immortalized by the 1986 film "Top Gun," was a key naval interceptor for the U.S. Navy, designed primarily to establish air superiority and defend against Soviet bombers. First flown in 1970 and operational by 1974 on the USS Enterprise, it replaced the F-4 Phantom.

Summary: The F-15EX Eagle II, an advanced 4.5th generation fighter jet of the U.S. Air Force, is designed to carry a hefty load of up to 30,000 lbs of munitions, making it the most heavily armed aircraft in the service. It can be equipped with a diverse array of weaponry tailored to both air superiority and ground support roles.

The March 31, 2024, Turkish municipal elections dealt Turkish President Erdogan a devastating blow. For the first time since his party, the Justice and Development Party (AKP), came to power in 2002, it polled second nationwide. In what will now look like a terrible political miscalculation, Erdogan, who campaigned tirelessly everywhere, chose to make local contests all about him and his rule. Unaccustomed to losing, he now faces an unprecedented crisis of legitimacy with consequences for both domestic and foreign policy. Читать дальше...

Summary: The F/A-18 Hornet, a carrier-based multirole aircraft, has been a significant player in U.S. naval aviation since its introduction in 1983. Known for its versatility, the Hornet can perform both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions, reaching speeds of Mach 1.7 and carrying a variety of weapons, including AIM-9 Sidewinders and smart bombs.

Why China Can't Match the U.S. F-35 Fighter Jet: Insights from a Navy Expert: The Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, one of the world’s few fifth-generation fighters, is generally considered the most capable aircraft in the world with respect to data fusion and network interconnectivity. China’s attempt to produce its own equivalent of the F-35, the J-20, is a capable aircraft. While it looks suspiciously similar to the F-35, the J-20 is not on par with the Joint Strike Fighter itself.

Summary: The U.S. Air Force has awarded a $13 billion contract to Sierra Nevada Corp. (SNC) to develop a new Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC), set to replace the aging E-4B Nightwatch, also known as the "Doomsday plane".