Brian Everstine
@beverstine
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Pentagon editor at @aviationweek. PNW transplant in D.C. Sadly a Mariners fan. Alumnus of @airforcemag, @militarytimes, @ap, @thenewstribune.
Washington, D.C.
Joined July 2008
And some 'personal news.' Today is my first day as the new Pentagon editor at @AviationWeek. Excited to join this awesome team and keep writing about things that fly. Send me some tips.
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DOD: "Phoenix Ghost" drones were rapidly developed by USAF in response to Ukrainian requirements. They have 'similar capabilities' to the Switchblades. >121 going to Ukraine. Will require 'minimal training'. Whoa.
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The U.S. has sent threat emitters to Ukraine. Designed to replicate threats at American ranges, Ukrainians are using them to confuse Russian pilots, USAF Chief says.
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The special guests for the B-21 rollout. Also a flyover of all 3 bombers expected
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A+ timing here, LM.
Meet the future of air dominance. 💪. Two @usairforce F-35As paired up with an XQ-58A Valkyrie uncrewed combat aerial system for a recent test, showcasing the seamless connectivity of the F-35 with an autonomous platform—creating a team that’s even smarter and faster.
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US official: Langley jet (F-22) fired a single missile at the balloon.
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Senior US defense official: Pentagon assesses Russia is flying ~200 sorties per day, some of them never enter Ukrainian air space. Some staying out of Ukrainian airspace and launching cruise missiles. Russia still displaying risk aversion in air operations.
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NORTHCOM commander: Debris field from Chinese balloon is about 15 football fields by 15 football fields. Balloon 200 feet tall, payload about the size of Embraer ERJs.
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News: The first U.S. Air Force B-21 test aircraft has begun formal ground testing, and a sixth has entered production in Palmdale
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More KC-135s have their markings wiped. These are new arrivals to CENTCOM
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Got to see the laser a few months ago. It will be on display at the National Museum of the US Air Force (not sure when). It is an absolute unit
YAL-1, better known as the Airborne Laser, was a test aircraft built to shoot down enemy ballistic missiles. The modified 747-400 had a nose-mounted laser powered by chemicals that were stored in tanks inside the plane. The military canceled the project in 2011
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New from me: USAF's Air Mobility Command is removing identifying markings from its aircraft. Tankers/airlifters are flying without "U.S. AIR FORCE," unit markings, tail numbers, flashes, etc. AMC says it is needed for opsec. Gray tails are now REALLY gray.
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Last RT: Photo appears to first be posted on the amn/nco/scno FB page that regularly posts info/photos from Airmen.
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Ukraine has 56 fighter aircraft remaining on ground, greater than 80 percent of its fleet in tact. Flying 5-10 sorties per day.
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Senior US Defense Official: More than 60% of M777 Howitzers committed by US have been transferred in last week. First group of trainers back in Ukraine, 2nd group undergoing training now.
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DOD announces training of Ukrainian troops on artillery, radar, armored vehicles is happening at U.S. bases in Germany.
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New: The Pentagon has approached @SpaceX about ways to use Starship as a government-owned, government-operated asset for individual, potentially high-risk missions, a company official says.
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Official: The balloon's overflight had intelligence value to the US. The US was able to "study and scrutinize" the balloon and its equipment.
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Breaking. NSC spokesman: US fighter aircraft just downed an unidentified high-altitude flying object that was at about 40,000 feet over US territorial waters near Alaska.
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Senior military official: US Navy and Coast Guard vessels in the area to start recovery of debris. Debris in 47 feet of water, expected to be "easy" but no timeline available now.
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Head of U.S. EUCOM said the baby born on the C-17 is named "Reach," after the call sign of the aircraft.
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đź‘€. USAF plans to certify its 'retired' F-117 Nighthawk to receive fuel from the KC-46 this month.
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F-22 was flying at 58,000 feet, balloon was between 60,000-65,000 feet.
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No details on specific capabilities, range, etc. Just like Switchblade, it is a "one-way" drone that will "deliver a punch." DOD won't say how quickly the drone was developed, but has to be on the order of months. Official has "no idea' how it got its name. Not that creative, tbh.
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Senior US defense official: "planes have already taken off" with equipment for Israel. Pentagon scouring its stocks including in CENTCOM for Israeli needs while working with industry to meet urgent requirements---air defenses, munitions.
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DOD says Ukraine has been effective with its SAMs, and not showing a need to fly more than they have. "They are making the caution of the Russian pilots warranted by the way they're using the capabilities that they have.".
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Boeing at #AIAASciTech unveils a new blended wing body concept aimed for military use. Comes as USAF wants a BWB cargo/tanker demonstrator in 2027.
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Probably the best look we'll get of the payload under the Chinese surveillance balloon
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Senior US defense official this morning: Continue to believe Russia has not achieved air superiority. Ukrainian air defenses operating, Ukrainian aircraft operable, flying and engaging Russian forces.
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With so much interest in C-17s, thought I'd post my long story into its development and current operations from our April issue. #AvGeek .
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.@EdwardsAFB passed along these new photos of an F-16 all dressed up for its 50th birthday. The Viper had its (accidental) first flight on Jan. 20, 1974 during what was supposed to be a high-speed taxi test. #avgeek
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Who needs Rapid Dragon when you've got a Toyota. (photo from /r/airforce).
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US can't confirm any reports of Russian aircraft firing on Belarus from Ukrainian airspace. Ukraine has said Russian aircraft are doing that to create a pretext for Belarus to get involved.
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Unconfirmed pic of the F-35C in the South China Sea popped up on reddit .
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NORTHCOM and NASA took time to model what would happen if the balloon was downed over land vs over water---senior defense official. While extra time was valuable for intel gathering, primary reason for waiting was risk. Defense official: Debris fell in a 7 mile area.
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Worth saying this announcement comes a few hours before Ukrainian PM Denys Shmyhal meets with SecDef Austin at the Pentagon.
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The U.S. Air Force early this year announced a plan for a new, air-launched, cheaper munition--the Extended Range Attack Munition. Now, the service's weapons directorate says it is for Ukraine.
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An Alaska Air pilot got sick of the holding pattern over Lewis County during yesterday's fog at SEA and got clearance for a sightseeing loop around Rainier. Another reason AS is the best. via reddit.
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AEVEX Aerospace is led by former USAF ISR senior official, with a history of work with SOCOM.
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Inbox: @northropgrumman announces it has delivered the Stand-in Attack Weapon to the Air Force.
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SecDef Austin says Denmark announced today it will deliver a Harpoon launcher and missiles for Ukraine to help it defend its coast.
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The latest photos of Sikorsky's Raider X competitive prototype. 90% complete here at West Palm Beach.
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Official: Understanding is the drones have been developed, some may still need to be produced. Earlier in briefing another official said new equipment on the newest list will start arriving this weekend.
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NEW: The U.S. Air Force is committing to buying @BoeingDefense E-7A Wedgetails to serve its AWACS mission as it retires E-3s. Contract planned for FY23, prototype delivery in FY27. Full production decision expected in 2025.
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Official: Chinese PLA balloons have traversed airspace in 5 continents, including East Asia, South Asia and Europe.
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.@HQUSAFEAFAF boss Gen. Hecker said it took contractors just a couple months to integrate AGM-88 HARMs on Ukrainian Mig-29s. The missile doesn't have all of the same capabilities it would on an F-16, for example, but they have been "relatively successful.".
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Happy to see the pilot is safe.
Drone crashes on runway at Holloman Air Force Base, no injuries reported.
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US continues to provide aid for Ukraine, another shipment on the way to Europe in the next 24 hours. Sending resources "as fast and as much as we can.".
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That F-35C that crashed into the deck of the USS Carl Vinson in January also struck an EA-18G. That Growler is now being repaired at the Navy's Fleet Readiness Center Southwest.
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Interesting, at least to me, that NORTHCOM/NORAD wasn't aware of the AIM-9X being fired at such a high altitude before or any tests against a balloon. Not that either of those would have been an expected use for the Sidewinder. Ended up beign a "we'll do it live" kinda thing.
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On the MiGs: US not vetoing what another nation does (Poland could send them on its own) US doesn't want to be an intermediary. It is also not clear to the US that more jets would be a "contributing factor in helping Ukrainians." UKR needs MANPADs, anti-armor, small drones, etc.
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The military doesn't typically have the ability to collect intel in the US, but "in this case, specific authorities were granted" to collect intel against the balloon. Won't go into specific assets. Trackers saw Combat Sent, Rivet Joint.
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The three babies (one born on the C-17 and two after landing) are safe and healthy at Landstuhl.
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Pentagon: Russia does not have air superiority, Ukraine still has air & missile defense capability including aircraft. 'In general' Russians have lost 'a little bit of their momentum.' An indicator is that no population centers have been taken.
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USAF doesn't have a factsheet on MOAB, so heres a rundown from our almanac. MOP is bigger by weight, but MOAB's warhead & yield much larger.
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DOD: US Navy F-35Cs make combat debut along with USAF aircraft in series of targeted operations Nov. 9-10 on Houthi targets in Yemen. Strikes in response to repeated attacks on shipping in Red Sea and Bab-el-Mandeb Strait.
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Only recent contract award is part of a package from Naval Air Warfare Center for work at Pax River.
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FYI: Fort Walton Beach has a brewery with planes and cats, if you are so inclined.
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When I walking away from the B-21 and looking at it from the side at the roll-out last year, it really struck me how much it looks like what we think of the RQ-180.
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Strike Eagles had themselves a night. Senior adm official: 494th and 335th Fighter Squadrons had dozens of takedowns last night. President Biden today spoke with the commanders of the squadrons. US aircraft shot down more than 70 drones. Navy aircraft involved as well.
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Gen. VanHerck ends speculation on the warhead being removed. Absolutely there was a warhead on the missile, there was an explosion you can see.
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USAF Secretary Kendall: One country has expressed interest in obtaining retiring A-10s, and then hints it isn't Ukraine.
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UKR has >80% of its aircraft remaining, probably more, Hecker estimates.
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Rode along on a KC-135 today, topping up thirsty aggressor F-35s and F-16s during Red Flag. We flew tracks off Baja California, this RF includes a maritime scenario for the first time.
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VanHerck: AIM-9X picked because of closer range and smaller warhead to limit damage vs AIM-120. "We assess from an effectiveness standpoint that it was going to be highly effective and that was proven on Saturday.".
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And it is South Carolina, they’re speaking to locals. Probably the only thing that would be more clearly understood was if they measured the debris field in NASCAR tracks.
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@darth Since I put the hat on, Dwight only drinks third wave coffee and has been playing I Am Easy to Find on repeat
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Official: Russia in early stages did not do SEAD, though everyone expected it. Whether they learn from it and conduct those operations during a rush to Kyiv "I just don't know.".
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Exclusive: Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works is showing a new concept of an optionally crewed tanker, with wing-mounted booms. This as the Air Force is finishing an AoA for NGAS, which is expected to consider uncrewed options.
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New B-21 shot in promo for USAF public affairs "Around the Air Force" video, with a good look at apertures.
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New: The U.S. Navy's F/A-XX (NGAD) has entered the"design maturation" phase. The service has confirmed for the first time that Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman are competing for the aircraft, GE and Pratt for the engine.
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đź‘€. Both RTX and Northrop Grumman showed off new models of hypersonic cruise missiles at AFA.
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Lockheed Martin releases this picture of its LMXT tanker (Airbus A330 offering for KC-Y) refueling its "NGAD" mockup.
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B-21 ceremony wrapped up, not at my laptop yet. Surprising color, looks like a merged RQ 180 and B2 especially from the side, IMO
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I am once again calling for a complete shut down of military acronyms until we can figure out what is going on.
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Fourth time is the charm: A USAF B-52 on May 14 successfully fired an AGM-183A ARRW hypersonic missile. Successful test comes after 3 failures, and the Air Force questioning the future of the program
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Germany's Ministry of Defense formally announced it will buy 35 F-35As, making it the ninth foreign military sales customer for the jet. Lockheed: Deal includes engines, role-specific mission equipment, spares, logistics support, training and armament.
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Official: Balloon entered US ADIZ north of Aleutian Islands on Jan. 28, into Canada Jan. 30.
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A statement from NATO on the status of democracy in the United States.
Shocking scenes in Washington, D.C. The outcome of this democratic election must be respected.
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US defense official: Initial onslaught included >100 missiles. Primarily short-range ballistic missiles, but also medium-range ballistic, cruise, surface-to-air missiles and sea launched missiles.
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Pratt & Whitney says its NGAP has completed a digital preliminary design review.
In this era of rapidly advancing technologies, air dominance is a critical imperative for success. Take a look 👀 at how we’re rising to the challenge: #WeArePW
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75 fixed wing heavy and medium bombers took part in initial attack. Targets focused on military air defenses, barracks, ammo warehouses, 10 airfields.
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Boeing unveiled this model of its solid fuel ramjet missile last week at the Tailhook Navy aviation conference, likely to compete for the Navy's HALO (the company previously named it the Spear). Will also pitch it to the Air Force.
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Yesterday 20 Ukrainian solders started a week-long training course on the Phoenix Ghost tactical UAS.
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USAF is developing "Franklin," a cheap cruise missile coinciding with the DIU's ETV. The idea is, much like the legend Aretha Franklin, it deserves "Respect.". A cheap missile that, to an adversary, has to be as respected as a high-end cruise missile.
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Timeline: Alaska IDIZ Jan. 28, Canada Jan. 30, CONUS via North Idaho Jan. 31. It did not go back over open water after entering Alaska.
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New: The saga continues. USAF boss says the ongoing look at NGAD, the next-gen tanker and the next CCA increment shows the plans are unaffordable, no matter the combo, because of other priorities unless the Air Force gets more resources.
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BREAKING: All V-22 Ospreys grounded after preliminary investigation into Nov. 29 crash finds “materiel failure” a possible cause of the mishap. 2nd grounding of V-22s from all US services this year.
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