Radar Sweep

How ‘Wild Weasel’ Missions Became Essential in the Fight with Iran

Task & Purpose

As fighting with Iran restarted in early July, the U.S. Air Force sent more fighter jets to the Middle East. The F-16s and F-35s based in Germany and the United Kingdom carry out multiple missions, but are also capable of suppressing enemy air defense operations. Those missions, also known as SEAD or “Wild Weasel” missions, have become central to U.S. operations in the Middle East, as the military has waged extensive air campaigns over enemy territory in recent years.

USMC Just Took Delivery of Its Last MV-22 Osprey

The War Zone

wo decades after the tiltrotor MV-22B Osprey first achieved initial operational capability, the U.S. Marine Corps on July 28 received its final delivery of these controversial aircraft, closing the books at 359 of them.

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Boeing Spends Big to Meet Deadline for New Air Force One

The Wall Street Journal

Boeing spent another quarter in the red as it poured more resources into developing new presidential jets and accelerating production of commercial planes. The U.S. manufacturer said fast-tracking work on the modified 747-8 jets that will some day serve as Air Force One will cost an additional $280 million, the latest in a series of cost overruns on the more than $4 billion project.

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Iran Considered Retaliatory Strike on Ukrainian Seaport

The New York Times

Iran considered attacking a seaport in Ukraine in response to a Ukrainian strike on an Iranian ship, but a flurry of diplomacy has calmed the situation for now, according to Iranian and Western officials.