Новости за 10.04.2024

The F-20 Tigershark was canceled before reaching full-scale production, and it has since faded into obscurity. But the sleek fighter will seem familiar to most aviation enthusiasts, because the F-20 was developed from the more familiar F-5 fighter and T-38 trainer. These aircraft round out a family of Northrop Grumman aircraft with similar and recognizable characteristics. 

So much for the soft economic landing. 

The disappointing consumer price inflation numbers released on April 10 suggest that inflation will not come down to the Federal Reserve’s 2 percent target without a recession. The numbers also suggest that interest rates will need to stay high for longer in order to regain control over inflation. That could spell real trouble for the financial system in general and regional banks in particular. It could also make the economy a central focus of the November presidential election. Читать дальше...

Six months into the war with Hamas, throughout which Jerusalem has mostly managed to keep Washington on-side, Israel’s proposed IDF operation in Rafah is now testing American patience.

Summary: Speculations about what the YF-23 could have achieved in service remain a captivating "what if" scenario, with its legacy untarnished by the realities of operational challenges, technological obsolescence, or financial criticisms that have befallen the F-22. This narrative cements the YF-23's place in aviation lore, a beautiful relic of aerospace ambition unblemished by the trials of time and service.

Summary: The Montana-class battleships, authorized but never constructed, represented what could have been the pinnacle of U.S. naval power during World War II, eclipsed by the strategic shift towards aircraft carriers. Designed to outclass the preceding Iowa-class in firepower and size, the Montana-class aimed to enhance U.S. naval capabilities significantly. With plans for twelve 16-inch guns per ship, these vessels would have boasted a 25% increase in firepower over the Iowas. However, the evolving naval warfare landscape... Читать дальше...

Summary: Imperial Japan's Yamato-class battleships, constructed before World War II as the heaviest battleships ever built, were intended to secure naval victory but ultimately met their demise at the hands of U.S. forces. Following World War I, a naval arms race prompted the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922, limiting warship tonnage among major powers to prevent another global conflict. Japan withdrew from this treaty in 1936 amidst rising ultranationalism and expansionist ambitions, leading to... Читать дальше...

In 2023, China’s economy grew at the slowest pace since 1990, apart from two years during the COVID-19 pandemic when the country was closed to the outside world. For many observers in the United States, China’s economic woes are a welcome development.

The U.S. Navy can’t build Virginia-class submarines fast enough: While it was already obvious that the U.S. Navy’s newest submarines were failing to meet their original production timelines, recent reports suggest that Virginia-class ships could face years-long delays. 

It recently made headlines that NATO is not obligated to defend Hawaii, Guam, the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), American Samoa, or other parts of the United States in the Pacific. But that doesn’t leave America alone in its Pacific defense. It has other treaty allies who can pitch in when push comes to shooting. That’s one reason why the first U.S.-Japan-Philippines trilateral meeting in DC this week is so important.

Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall has no doubt logged quite a few miles in the air, even before he was appointed to head the Department of the Air Force. Now as the air services top civilian official, he will soon go boldly in the wild blue yonder in the cockpit of an autonomously piloted F-16 Fighting Falcon.

Summary: Seventy-nine years after the sinking of the Imperial Japanese Navy's aircraft carrier Amagi, marking the end of Japan's World War II naval ambitions, Japan has unveiled the upgraded JS Kaga at Kure—the same port where Amagi met her demise. This modern vessel, initially a "multi-purpose operation destroyer," has been transformed into a de facto aircraft carrier capable of hosting the F-35B Lightning II. The transformation symbolizes a significant shift in Japan's defense capabilities and posture... Читать дальше...

Summary: Fighter jets, epitomizing the pinnacle of aviation innovation, have evolved dramatically from World War One's biplanes to today's stealth-capable, fifth-generation marvels like the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, the priciest weapon system ever developed. These aircraft are not merely symbols of air superiority but are central to military strategies worldwide, justifying their hefty investment costs. Despite numerous successes, aviation history also records several fighter projects that didn't meet expectations. Читать дальше...

The bomber emerged in the twentieth century as one of the most feared weapons in the world. The concept didn’t even exist as the century turned, but by the end of World War II, the bomber was one of the primary offensive weapons for the world’s leading militaries. It inspired earned trepidation in the hearts of civilians and the minds of soldiers.