Grand Forks Air Force Base soars to new record with 34.8 hours Global Hawk flight

The 348th Reconnaissance Squadron at Grand Forks Air Force Base (AFB) has successfully extended the operational range of the unmanned RQ-4 Global Hawk aircraft, achieving a record-breaking flight time of 34.8 hours. This accomplishment surpasses both the previous unit record of 34.4 hours and the manufacturer’s record of 30 hours and 24 minutes.

An U.S. Air Force RQ-4 Global Hawk logs over 20,000 flight hours Feb. 13, 2018 at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates. The Global Hawk’s mission is to provide a broad spectrum of ISR collection capability to support joint combatant forces in worldwide peacetime, contingency and wartime operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class D. Blake Browning)

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Japan and U.S. sign agreement to develop new missile to intercept hypersonic missiles

Responding to the growing threat of hypersonic weapons in the region, Japan and the United States have signed an agreement to jointly develop a new missile interceptor system.

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Photo: U.S. Missile Defense Agency

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Australian Navy helicopter forced to take evasive action after encounter with Chinese J-10

Australian officials have accused a Chinese military jet of releasing flares in close proximity to an Australian Navy helicopter on a UN mission in international waters. The incident, which occurred on May 4th in the Yellow Sea near South Korea, has been condemned as “unsafe” and “unacceptable” by the Australian government.

N48-018 in June 2021
U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Zenaida Roth, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

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33rd RQS bids farewell to the workhorse HH-60G Pave Hawk with formation flight

The 33rd Rescue Squadron (RQS) of the U.S. Air Force commemorated the storied legacy of the HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter with a formation flight, marking the imminent transition to the newer HH-60W “Whiskey” model for the unit based in Japan.

U.S. Air Force HH-60G Pave Hawks assigned to the 33rd Rescue Squadron fly in formation over Kadena Air Base, Japan, April 16, 2024. The HH-60G has served the 33rd RQS in fulfilling the motto, “that others may live,” for over 30 years. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jessi Roth)

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Dick Rutan, pioneering aviator and Voyager pilot, dies at 85

Dick Rutan, a decorated Vietnam War pilot who co-piloted the history-making Voyager aircraft on the first non-stop, refuel-free circumnavigation of the globe, passed away on May 3 at the age of 85.

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By Government of the United States – <a rel=”nofollow” class=”external free” href=”http://www.hill.af.mil/museum/history/rutan.htm”>http://www.hill.af.mil/museum/history/rutan.htm</a>], Public Domain, Link

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