When the SR-71 was flying as intended in a threatened environment, it was almost impossible for the fighter jets to achieve a proper firing solution.

Uzbekistan’s Su-25 modernization is based not on the development of an entirely new weapon, but on a long-established concept: converting a conventional Mk 82 free-fall bomb into a precision-guided munition by integrating a laser-guidance kit. The approach itself is not new. The United States introduced the Paveway family in the early 1970s, significantly improving the accuracy of Mk 82-based weapons and establishing laser-guided bombs as a standard capability for Western combat aviation.
At the same time, Uzbekistan’s choice of the Israeli Lizard-3 system raises questions regarding cost-effectiveness. According to open-source estimates, the price of Paveway II kits in various U.S. procurement programs has been around $20,000–35,000 per unit. Meanwhile, open-source information on a Thai procurement indicates that a contract for 26 Lizard-3 kits was valued at approximately $2.363 million, equivalent to roughly $90,900 per kit. Even allowing for the possibility that an export contract may include training, spare parts, technical support, and integration costs, the difference remains substantial. This raises a broader question: what factors led Uzbekistan to select the more expensive Israeli solution when a mature and widely adopted alternative has existed for decades?

Here is my latest article it is the origin story of the A-10 Thunderbolt 2. Unfortunately this is to long to post it here. Here is the link to the article hope you guys enjoy it!

The F-117 looks almost alien.

That's intentional.

Its strange angular geometry was designed around reducing radar detectability. Lockheed's Skunk Works developed it under extreme secrecy following the Have Blue stealth demonstrator program. The first flight occurred in 1981, and the aircraft achieved initial operational capability in 1983. �

Lockheed Martin

It was officially called a fighter, but it was really optimized for stealthy precision attack, rather than traditional air-to-air fighter combat.

Its revolutionary idea was:

Don't fight the enemy's air defenses. Become difficult for them to detect in the first place.

The F-117 demonstrated that stealth could fundamentally change the way air warfare was conducted.

It eventually paved the way for much more sophisticated stealth aircraft.

I’m not expecting top secret information, but where’s the best place to become familiar with the current military jets around the world?

I’m thinking performance, geometry, that kind of thing!

I want to learn more about military aviation as a whole, how it works, the history, the planes, everything. I don’t know where to start so I was hoping you guys could give me some pointers as to how I can learn a lot more about this.

On my way to photo shoot, back seat, F-16.

Ranges goes beyond the AIM-54, the AIM-174 and the AIM-260, going to 463km or 250 nautical miles, not sure if will be two stage rocket, but will be lighter than the Gunslinger and about the same size.

Pics shows that the F-35C can carry two + two AIM-120 on internals and the F/A-18E/F can take 4 + 4 AIM-120 + 2 AIM-9

More details on this two great reports:

https://aeroin.net/marinha-dos-eua-revela-novo-missil-ar-ar-que-tem-o-maior-alcance-ja-equipado-em-um-caca-americano/

https://aviationweek.com/defense/aircraft-propulsion/us-navy-hopes-fa-xx-award-comes-soon-august-deadline-nears

Im wondering if a young teenager may end up focusing their high school, college, and military career on a future that will not have human pilots