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Gen Mark Kelly, who has logged more than 6,000 flying hours, including more than 800 in combat, is the new head of U.S. Air Combat Command, which has nearly 115,000 enlisted personnel, 20,000 officers and 22,600 civilians at more than 242 locations housing nearly 1,100 aircraft.

This compelling and informative historical account of the role of naval combat aviation juggles three themes: the story of the Top Gun program, Hollywood’s impact on fighter pilot aviation including of course the iconic movie Top Gun; and finally a history of the evolution of aircraft in a war fighting role. Chapters highlight the origin of the Navy’s fighter pilot program and its rigorous training, interspersed with personal vignettes and anecdotes of the pilots and their lifestyle. The book also reveals some of the many technological advances that transformed aerial combat from WWI to current day.

With a focus on rapid deployment of equipment, supplies, personnel and management, Frontec specializes in operational support services, facilities management, logistics and consulting, remote site turn-key accommodation and disaster and emergency response solutions.

One of Canada’s largest defence maintenance organizations, IMP has six Operating Units: IMP Aerospace, Cascade Aerospace, IMP Electronics Systems, IMP Aerostructures, IMP Naval & Land Services and Canadian SAR Helicopter.

Recent drone attacks on Saudi Arabian petroleum facilities evidently are raising concerns about the prospect of similar strikes against other strategic facilities. The extensive damage has spiked an increase in global oil prices.

An off-the-cuff assertion by technology entrepreneur Elon Musk that the era of manned fighter aircraft “has passed” is predictably being challenged. Douglas Birkey, executive director of the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, based  in Arlington, Va., says the demands and intricacies of aerial combat are such that drones will remain an impracticable alternative for the foreseeable future.

The evolution of the role of fighters is at the center of the shift to recraft combat capabilities and operations as operational contexts change.

While training programs are now producing a higher output of pilots, another challenge is the limited capacity of the next stage of training, in which newly-winged RCAF pilots advance to the Operational Training Units. How does the Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) program. factor in?

Over the past half-decade, a growing chorus of former government officials and retired generals have argued that Canada should reverse its long-held position of non-participation and formally join the United States’ continental Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) program. How does that look as we close out 2018?

The Nordic perspective on the importance of the cross-border training and how it affects allied relationships across NATO.

How can the public understand why an interim buy of fighter jets is suddenly necessary to ensure Canada’s security, when 13 former Air Force Commanders can’t either?

Airbus is a global leader in aeronautics, space and related services. It is also a leader in providing tanker, combat, transport and mission aircraft, as well as one of the world’s largest space companies.

With a reputation for innovation and excellence, CMC designs, manufactures and supports advanced avionics products.

Six divisions employ some 2000 people in six provinces and utilize a Canadian supply base of more than 800 companies to design, build, integrate, deliver and service world leading products.

Marinvent provides aerospace consulting, services, training, tools and IP. Its unique combination of technical experts, flying avionics test bed, test pilots, software tools and research simulator are used to help customers bring their new products to market efficiently.

A recent RCAF announcement may impact defence policy, defence procurement, SAR mission effectiveness. Who will answer the SAR community?

Danish government has released a new defence agreement covering the next six years of defense expenditure and planning. It also defines the top two threats to focus on in terms of priorities and spending.

The space industry’s role in the Canadian economy is significant, including earth observation, communications, robotics, and pure and applied research. 

Does Canada face unmanageable simultaneous commitments to NORAD and NATO? The House of Commons Standing Committee on National Defence (SCND) recently went In Camera to start drafting its long-awaited report on “Canada and the Defence of North America”, an issue the Members of Parliament have been studying for the better part of a year. 

Defence capability gaps aren’t an issue in our country. So why should the federal government announce one now?

An ­international leader in the development of equipment and systems for maritime forces worldwide, specializing in under sea surveillance.

President Trump is proposing a $54 Billion surge in U.S. military spending for new ships and aircraft (including fighters) in his first federal budget – while slashing big chunks from domestic programs and foreign aid to make the government "do more with less."

Russia is in the process of expanding and modernizing its national military aviation fleet (manned and unmanned) by 2020. 

If the C-27J Spartan is chosen to become the nation’s next fixed-wing search-and-rescue (FWSAR) aircraft, the mission of DRS Technologies Canada will be to help make that challenge more manageable.

WWII Spitfire and Hurricane pilot epitomizes the dedication and humility of wartime service.

An assessment of Britain's National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015 and how it impacts defence recapitalization.

What are our future needs? Have new technologies and threats been considered? Read on for a personal commentary on the replacement program.

A global leader in the delivery of training for the defence and security, civil aviation and healthcare markets.

This leading global security company provides innovative systems, products and solutions in autonomous systems, cyber, C4ISR, logistics and modernization to government and commercial customers worldwide.

Designs, manufactures and services engineered textiles and survival solutions for all military environments.

How much more hybrid can you get than the current situation over Syria? Airpower needs to seamlessly operate in all airspace – uncontested, contestable and contested.

After years of research and investment, robotic technology deserves a greatly expanded role in many areas.

Airbus Helicopters Canada is the helicopter manufacturing division of Airbus Group that designs, builds and supports state of the art Helicopters in Canada.

Prototype Equipment Design is a Canadian company providing precision design and manufacturing for the global future.

Pratt & Whitney: A global leader in aircraft propulsion. UTC Aerospace Systems: Suppliers of advance aerospace and defense products. Sikorsky: Industry leader in flight solutions for commercial and military markets around the world.

A decade of painfully public, thoroughly documented delays and renegotiations has taken the procurement beyond an embarrassment to a political liability.

New cargo aircraft offer an intriguing mix of capacity, capability and range.

The Project Manager (2000-2005) recalls the original SOR process.

Airpower is ­central to 21st century security; but not by supporting aircraft with limited aviation tanking assets.

The CP-140 Aurora is arguably the most effective strategic C4ISR platform available.

There are no bargains in a hostile sky. Alternative fighter jets could make Joint Strike Fighter look like a good deal.

New frontline fighters have revolutionized basic & advanced military flying training. With flight time so expensive, the call goes out for a new generation of Trainers.

DCNS; WiDS; Lockheed Martin.

Until a few years ago, major air forces worldwide trained their jet pilots on basic and advanced training aircraft equipped with analogue cockpits. As a result, a widening technology gap has developed between Advanced Jet Training (AJT) aircraft of the 1970's (such as BAE Hawk TMk1, Aero L39 Albatross and Dassault Alphajet) and modern front-line combat aircraft.

The politicization of Canada’s Defence procurement process continued with the recent announcement of a $4.6 billion plan for 16 new aircraft to replace Canada’s fleet of old C-130 Hercules tactical transports just on the eve of the federal election. 

Over the years, various procedures have been followed when purchasing military ­equipment, from long and costly procedures to replace the Sea King helicopters, to the purchase of 16 tactical aircraft at a cost of close to $5 billion.

With its letters and logo emblazoned on the badges of more than 4,300 airport screening officers, most Canadians boarding a flight in this country should recognize the name CATSA (Canadian Air Transport Security Authority). Few, however, are fully aware of its critical role in the global security system.

The Canadian Forces’ efforts have turned to replacing the aging and increasingly unavailable fleets of CC-130 Hercules and CC-115 Buffalos. What has happened to the ''fast-tracked'' FWSAR requirement?

C-295 to become the Air Force’s new fixed-wing search and rescue aircraft.

Its unique flying characteristics make the helicopter ideally suited to search and rescue missions worldwide.

Canada’s area of responsibility for SAR covers over 15.5 million square kilometres, of which over 60% is above the tree line. Given those facts, training for arctic rescue is critical to ensure an appropriate response to distresses in that region. Arctic SAREX is a testament to the Canadian Forces’ dedication that others may live.

Because Canadians no longer live in a “fire-proof house” perhaps now might be the right occasion to pay heed to the words of Liddell Hart: “A self contained and sea-based amphibious force is the best kind of fire extinguisher because of its flexibility, reliability, logistics simplicity and relative economy.”

Canada’s newest Chief of the Air Staff explains how the transformed Air Force will reposition itself to effectively respond to threats faced in today’s world.

There is a growing demand for military transport aircraft. The world’s Air Forces will take delivery of 922 new transports valued at US$53 billion. FrontLine reviews three aircraft that could handle the CF requirements: Lockheed C-130J, Boeing C-17, and the Airbus A400M.

There is a growing demand for military transport aircraft. The world's Air Forces will take delivery of 922 new transports valued at US$53 billion. FrontLine reviews three aircrafts that could handle the CF requirements: Lockheed C-130J, Boeing C-17, and the Airbus A400M.

No sovereign nation with the size and location of Canada can be without a ­balanced military. “Boots on the ground” is the current buzz phrase. Do we need more and better equipped soldiers?

Airbus Military’s A400M

It's unfortunate that the subject of military spending is almost always precipitated by a tragic incident within our armed forces or their inability to respond when needed. This latest tragedy should be a wake up call that we need to seriously examine how we equip our military to represent our nation to the world.

As the exclusive flight test agency of the Canadian Forces, the AETE conducts a wide variety of flight and ground testing involving every aircraft and helicopter type in the Canadian inventory. 

Operation Iraqi Freedom, while not a model for future conflict, still ­provides pointers to how far the US has progressed along the path to fielding capabilities that are increasingly important in the emerging American way of war.

Take a look back.

Lockheed Martin and Alenia conceived an updated variant of the G222.

Multinational flying packages which are becoming common in ­military operations today. The NFTC offers participating air forces a three-phase training programme for their future fighter pilots using state-of-art software and equipment.

General Atomics Aero­nautical Systems, Inc., was awarded a Canadian Forces contract to deploy its ALTAIR unmanned aircraft, a Predator B variant, in support of the Atlantic Littoral Intelligence, Surveillance, Recon­naissance Experiment (ALIX).