PHOTOS: USAF-RMAF mixed formation air-to-air photos at Cope Taufan

Now this is something you don't see every day. A mixed formation air-to-air photo shoot comprising of United States Air Force F-15C Eagle and F-22A Raptor alongside Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) Su-30MKM Flanker, MiG-29NUB Fulcrum, F/A-18D Hornet and BAe Hawk 108 over Georgetown, Malaysia, on June 18, 2014. USAF F-15s from the 131st Fighter Squadron, 104th Fighter Wing, Barnes Air National Guard Base, Mass and F-22s from the 154th Wing, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii sre currently in Malaysia for Exercise Cope Taufan 14, a biennial large force employment exercise taking place June 9 to 20 designed to improve U.S. and Malaysian combined readiness. (All photos U.S. Air Force by Tech. Sgt. Jason Robertson/Released)

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More images at DVIDS

More on F-16 CAPES, Gen. Hostage speaks & Japan's F-35 costs balloon

Photo © Tom Harvey/Lockheed Martin

Defensenews is on a roll the past few days, with several interesting stories being posted. First up, a follow-up to their story on the United States deciding to defund the USAF/RoCAF F-16 CAPES upgrade program, this time focusing on how Taiwan's and Singapore's upgrades are affected. They also interviewed the chief of the USAF's Air Combat Command (ACC), Gen. Michael Hostage who talks about A-10s, F-35s, F-22s and budgets.

Last but not least, they look at how spiraling costs (a recurring theme) has clouded Japan's planned purchase of the F-35.

Asia-Pacific Military Aviation News roundup: 30 Sept 2013

F-22A Raptor of the 525th Fighter Squadron

The F-22 folks at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, have devised a concept to rapidly deploy a contingent of four F-22s - supported by a C-17 - to any forward location and having the fighters combat-ready at the new location within 24 hours. PS. More of my F-22 photos.

Woah. Sections of the Chinese state-controlled media have lambasted the combat capabilities of the Shenyang J-15 when operating off the carrier Liaoning. However, as the linked Defensenews article makes clear, some of the criticism does not stand up to scrutiny. And the Flanker-family's limitations when operating in a STOBAR-configured carrier is already well-known.

Asia-Pacific Military Aviation News roundup: 26 Sept 2013

Kadena-based F-15C Eagle

Aircraft from the USS George Washington have conducted a joint exercise between the U.S. Navy and Air Force. USAF participants comprised of F-22s and F-15s from Kadena Air Base in Okinawa.

Demonstrating the global nature of their training, the Republic of Singapore Air Force's U.S.-based F-15s will train with the American, Canadian and German air forces in Idaho, while their F-16s are flying with the Indonesian Air Force and AH-64 Apaches and CH-47 Chinooks have been ferried to Australia to take part in Exercise Wallaby.

As if highlighting how they need replacement, a South Korean Northrop F-5E Tiger II has crashed. The pilot successfully ejected from the stricken jet.

The Chengdu J-10 fighter needs an export licence before it could be exported to overseas customers. There has reportedly been interest, though.

PHOTOS: F-22 Raptor at the Avalon Airshow

Some photos from the excellent USAF Air Combat Command F-22 Raptor demonstration that was the highlight of this year's Avalon Airshow. Piloted by Major Henry 'Shadow" Schantz, the demonstration showed off the capability of this extremely capable air dominance fighter. What struck me about the demo was that it was less about the power and the noise of traditional fighter airshow demonstrations, but the amazing maneuverability bestowed upon the F-22 by its powerful engines and thrust vectoring nozzles. Indeed, as the fourth photo in this set shows, the F-22s nose, and its afterburner plumes are at different planes from one another.

A totally amazing experience, which has been sadly put on hold indefinitely after the USAF cancelled all aircraft flybys, demonstrations and airshow support in the aftermath of sequestration in the United States government following its budget woes.

Click on the thumbnails below for high res imagery, or follow this link.

USAF F-22, F-16 and C-17 flying displays confirmed for Avalon Airshow

F-22 at 2011's Avalon Airshow. The F-22s were static only the last time they swung by the neighbourhood.

From Avalon Airshow's Facebook page:

The United States Air Force has just confirmed that its top-of-the-line fighter, the F-22 Raptor will return to Avalon for the first flying display ever seen in Australia.

Two F-22 Raptors and their teams will be attending the 2013 Australian International Airshow and Aerospace & Defence Exposition, with one of the aircraft on static display.

Major Henry 'Schadow' Schantz is the United States Air Force F-22 Raptor Aerial Demonstration Team Chief and will be showcasing the aircraft's amazing maneuverability for the Airshow crowds.

The United States Air Force is once again showing its long standing support for the Avalon event and is also bringing an F-16 demonstration team (Ed: Almost certainly the PACAF F-16 display team from the 35th Fighter Wing based at Misawa, Japan) for the flying display along with a C-17 demonstration team.

USAF F-22s on the move across the Pacific Rim

With the oxygen generation system problems which had caused hypoxia-like symptoms among its pilots seemingly resolved, the USAF's F-22 fleet is on the move around the Pacific Rim again. The USAF's Alaska-based 3rd Wing has deployed F-22s from its 90th Fighter Squadron to Andersen Air Force Base in Guam from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson while over in Hawaii the joint USAF-Hawaii Air National Guard F-22 squadron at Hickam has received its full complement of aircraft with the arrival of the last four of the unit's assigned fighters.

U.S eases F-22 flight restrictions; to deploy to Kadena

American Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has eased some flight restrictions on the troubled F-22 Raptor fighter jet, and a squadron of the aircraft will deploy within days to Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, south of Japan. In a briefing on Tuesday, the USAF's Chief of Staff said the service “minimized but perhaps not eliminated” the risks of problems with oxygen deprivation in pilots.

The F-22s will still be required to fly within an hour and a half of land on its trip to Japan and will do so by taking a route over the Aleutian Islands across the North Pacific. The aircraft will have to fly below 45,000 feet and will be restricted to training flights within a half-hour of Kadena.

Japan set to choose F-35 even as DoD recommends production cut

Various reports, citing the Japanese media, have said that the Japanese Defence Ministry is set to select the Lockheed-Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter as the winner of the country's F-X next generation fighter competition. Japan's requirement is for 40 aircraft, with delivery expected in 2016. That delivery schedule might not happen, as a special U.S. Department of Defence review has recommended a cut in early F-35 production due to 13 ongoing or likely future design problems.

Aviationweek's Bill Sweetman has a takes a deeper look into the latest JSF issues, with the DoD's "Concurrency Quick Look Review" full report available here.

Meanwhile, on a (slightly) related note, the 195th and final F-22 Raptor has been delivered to the U.S. Air Force, which means the production will now be closed. You might recall Japan looked at the F-22, only to be rebuffed due to the type not being cleared for export.

Newest F-22s leverage on F-35 stealth coatings

The newest F-22 Raptors produced by Lockheed Martin incorporates improved radar absorbent coatings derived from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program. The new coatings system and gap-fillers do not alter the F-22's radar cross-section, but do improve on the durability of those coatings reduces maintenance burden on the end-user.

Limitations keep F-22 from use in Libya ops

Limitations in the F-22's ability to communicate with other aircraft via datalinks and air-to-ground operations are the likely reasons keeping the Raptor from playing a more active role in Odyssey Dawn. Or maybe, the USAF doesn't think the opposition is worth fielding their trump card for.

Media Release: F-22 to make Australian debut at Avalon Airshow

Airshows Down Under has issued a Media Release about the Australian of the F-22 Raptor at this year's Avalon Airshow. The show will be held at Avalon Airport, Geelong, Victoria in Australia March 1-6 2011.

Alaska F-22 crash AIB on recess; cause undetermined as yet

Per the direction of the USAF's Pacific Air Forces commander, the Accident Investigation Board for the Alaska-based F-22 Raptor crash has recessed until weather conditions allow further recovery operations of the crash site. The AIB has been unable to determine the cause of the accident.

Old School Jet Retooled to Slay Stealth Fighters

Wired.com has an article about how the USAF's new AESA radar upgrades for older F-15s to better detect stealthy fighters (like the Chinese J-20) for F-22s to engage. No mention of how Eagle drivers feel about this.

Alaskan Raptors, Aggressors to deploy to Kadena

Lots of visitors at Kadena. The US Air Force will deploy 15 F-22A Raptor fighter jets from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska to Okinawa's Kadena Air Base next week for a four-month deployment. The 18th Aggressor Squadron from Alaska's Eielson Air Force Base will also deploy its F-16s at Kadena until mid-February.

USAF believes F-22 crash pilot did not survive

The USAF has announced that Capt. Jeffrey Haney, the pilot of the F-22 Raptor from the 3rd Wing of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson which crashed two days ago, has been killed in the crash. A recovery team at the crash site found a part of the ejection seat, along with several life support items that Captain Haney wore during the flight.

F-22 missing in Alaska; search underway

The US Air Force has launched a search operation after one of its Lockheed Martin F-22 fighters failed to return to its base following a training mission.

UPDATE 11.10am: The apparent wreckage of the missing F-22 has been spotted from the air, and rescue crews are currently on the way to the scene.

Hawaii ANG's third F-22 arrives

The Hawaii Air National Guard has recently received its third F-22 Raptor fighter at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. The remainder should touch down in Hawaii throughout 2011 to bring the squadron's strength up to 20 aircraft.

Alaskan Raptors get new shelters

The F-22s of the 525th Fighter Squadron are now roosting in new homes. 15 newly completed aircraft shelters now protect the Bulldogs' Raptors from the frigid Alaskan conditions at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.

Fighting Gamecocks return to Hawaii

The USAF's 19th Fighter Sqn has been reactivated at Hickam AFB in Hawaii after recently disestablishing at Elemendorf AFB, Alaska. The Fighting Gamecocks will operate the F-22 Raptor alongside the Hawaii Air National Guard.