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Welcome to The Lowdown, your weekly briefing on global aviation and defense. In this episode, we cover the latest on the F-35 Block 4 program and its delays, downgrades, and the TR-3 foundation for future upgrades. We also dive into the next-generation “doomsday plane,” the E-4C Nightwatch, set to replace the Cold War–era E-4B, and explore how Sierra Nevada Corporation is driving the future of airborne command and control.

We break down massive U.S. Army missile contracts, from Patriot PAC-3 interceptors to AMRAAM production, and highlight the rise of low-cost precision weapons like the laser-guided APKWS rockets now used by the F-15E Strike Eagle. From Venezuelan F-16s buzzing U.S. Navy destroyers, to China-linked cyberattacks, to the Air Force’s first pilotless cargo flight across the Pacific, the headlines point to a rapidly changing defense landscape. You’ll also hear updates on the next-generation bunker buster bomb to replace the GBU-57, SpaceX’s global Starlink military applications, and why precision-guided rockets are shaping future conflicts. If you’re passionate about aviation, military tactics, and defense technology, subscribe now for weekly analysis and insight into the future of airpower and national security.

🛫 Become a Fighter/Bomber/Cargo/Tanker/RPA Pilot 🎯 : http://bogidope.com/?bd=tappodcast 🛫

🔺 Aviation & Defense Newsletter - https://bit.ly/AfterburnNewsletter 🔺

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🎯 Lowdown Newsletter: https://www.lowdownnews.us/

🔺 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/theafterburnpodcast

🛫 Become a Fighter/Bomber/Cargo/Tanker/RPA Pilot 🎯 : http://bogidope.com/?bd=tappodcast 🛫

🔺 Aviation & Defense Newsletter - https://bit.ly/AfterburnNewsletter 🔺

✈ Your Pilot Destination E3 Aviation Association: https://bit.ly/E3Aviation

Become a Patron, Support the Show, & Gain Exclusive Benefits: https://www.patreon.com/c/theafterburnpodcast

🥷 Scrub Your Info from Data Brokers & Protect Yourself | https://aura.com/afterburn 14-day free trial

In July 2012, F-16 pilot Scott “Fester” Fredrick found himself in a fight for survival over the frigid North Pacific. What began as a routine movement flight from Misawa to Eielson turned into a catastrophic engine failure, forcing him to eject over open ocean and spend more than six hours in 55-degree water before rescue.

In this episode, we dive into Fester’s incredible career — from chasing the B-2 Spirit during flight test, to combat over Iraq, to his harrowing ejection and rescue. We talk pilot training lessons, split-second decision making, survival training that saved his life, and how perspective changes after you’ve stared death in the face.

Whether you’re into aviation, military history, or just a great story of resilience and skill under pressure, this one delivers.

🛫 Become a Fighter/Bomber/Cargo/Tanker/RPA Pilot 🎯 : http://bogidope.com/?bd=tappodcast 🛫

🔺 Aviation & Defense Newsletter - https://bit.ly/AfterburnNewsletter 🔺

✈ Your Pilot Destination E3 Aviation Association: https://bit.ly/E3Aviation

Become a Patron, Support the Show, & Gain Exclusive Benefits: https://www.patreon.com/c/theafterburnpodcast

🥷 Scrub Your Info from Data Brokers & Protect Yourself | https://aura.com/afterburn 14-day free trial