It is no secret that a large part of our aviation technology is devoted to militaries around the world. Ever since the advent of air travel, and in particular powered flight, aircraft have been used for military applications. To be sure, some of the most advanced aircraft in the world are in the military and not available to civilian sectors.
That being said, it is good to stay updated with military aviation as it may shed some light on some of the technology that may be passed over to the civilian side. After all, it was partly Boeing‘s experience with building military bombers that led them to start making civilian commercial airliners. It is also important to stay up-to-date on military technology since it gives us insight into what the military is doing and what the security or risk is, based on which side of the fence you’re sitting on.
In this week’s On Aviation™ Digest, we share a few stories and articles on some of the latest updates coming out of military aviation.
Jet fuel from the air? How DOD contract aims to experiment with sustainable aviation fuel
Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) startup Air Company announced a $65 million deal with the Department of Defense Tuesday. Under the agreement, Air Company will have a chance to further develop its technology and eventually produce fuel for the Air Force directly from atmospheric carbon dioxide directly on military bases around the world. “These contracts allow you to focus on the growth of technology and the development of technology,” Air Company CEO Gregory Constantine told USA TODAY.
By Zach Wichter | USA TODAY
Zelensky Cites ‘Aviation Taboo’ as Reason West Won’t Send Fighter Jets
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says an “aviation taboo” is responsible for Western allies refusing to send fighter jets to aid in his country’s war against Russia. President Joe Biden is among the world leaders who have declined to provide jets to Ukraine despite a sustained pressure campaign. During his nightly televised address on Monday, Zelensky said that Ukraine’s Air Force had been doing “a great job” but lamented the country’s lack of “modern aviation” capabilities.
By Aila Slisco | Newsweek
Reason for air traffic halt over St. Petersburg revealed
Russian air defense forces held drills aimed at enhancing cooperation with civilian authorities in the country’s western military district on Tuesday, the Defense Ministry has announced. Earlier in the day, the airspace over St. Petersburg, the country’s second-largest city, was closed for around an hour before flights fully resumed. The local authorities confirmed that Pulkovo International Airport had stopped receiving aircraft but did not reveal the reason behind the move.
By Russia Today
The US Air Force is finally getting rid of its A-10s, and its focus may be straying from the Warthog’s unique mission
After repeatedly blocking the US Air Force’s attempts to retire the A-10 Thunderbolt II, Congress late last year approved a plan to decommission 21 of the venerable ground-attack aircraft, which is the only US military aircraft purpose-built for close air support. Those retirements would shrink the Air Force’s A-10 fleet to 260 aircraft, and Air Force leaders plan to continue decommissioning A-10s in the years ahead. Air Force officials have said they want to replace the A-10, affectionately known as the Warthog, with the F-35 as the service’s primary close-air-support aircraft.
By Constantine Atlamazoglou | Business Insider
Thank you for reading this week’s On Aviation™ digest. Do you believe that the things currently being done by the military regarding aviation are good moves? Please share your thoughts in the comments below, and remember to continue the conversation on our Twitterand Instagram.
Orlando – On Aviation™
_____________________________
Note: The views and opinions expressed in the content shared in this digest are for informational purposes only, are solely those of the original content creators, and do not constitute an endorsement by or necessarily represent the views of On Aviation™ or its affiliates.