It has been confirmed that Lockheed Martin (shortly - LMT) is reportedly shopping around a F-35/F-22 hybrid concept, combining aspects of the two 5th-generation fighters as the Pentagon begins work on a 6th-generation fighter that could take decades to develop and field.
It is said backers of a F-35/F-22 hybrid fighter note that it would provide an incremental improvement over the existing, cutting-edge fighters, during the development process of the new 6th generation aircraft which can last very long for. According to a report by Defense One, to counter threats from obvious adversaries like Russia and China, Lockheed has pitched to the Air Force and U.S. allies a fighter that has an upgraded F-22 stealth body and the F-35's avionics.
It has been confirmed that Lockheed Skunk Works' design will compete with Boeing and General Atomics to build an unmanned, carrier-launched refueling plane for U. S. Navy. The Navy is currently evaluating the tanker design from Skunk Works, as well as a drone from Boeing's Phantom Works known as the T-1 and a joint project between Boeing Autonomous Systems and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems on another MQ-25 prototype.
The 48th rotation of detachments contributing to NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission will start soon. From September 2018, the Belgian Air Force will take the lead over the mission at Šiauliai, Lithuania, while the German Air Force will augment out of Ämari, Estonia. Belgium will also Belgium to take over lead of the mission.
This will be 7th time of the Belgian military aircraft deployment to the Baltic States. The Belgian Air Force will deploy to the NATO mission not only the F-16 fighter jets, but also – like other participating countries - Airmen and all necessary equipment. The detachment will come from two fighter bases located at Florennes and Kleine Brogel and stay until the end of the year. It is worth noting that more than decade ago - in March 2004 - Belgium was the first nation to be responsible for safeguarding the airspace of the three Baltic States since their accession to NATO.
During the next few months the U.S. Air Force will test a new concept drone designed to act like a sidekick to combat planes with human pilots. Codename of this project is “loyal wingman”. Such a drone or, to be more specific, entire “drone fleet” will give huge advantage to more precious manned aircraft operating in the hostile areas. “Loyal Wingman” it is a drone wingman that could act in concert with its crewed partner to shoot down enemy fighters, run interference for the crewed airplane as it carries out an attack, or suppress and destroy enemy air defenses before the crewed plane enters range.
