Blog

  • A Tale of Two F-35’s

    The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II remains one of the most polarizing warplanes in modern military history. On one side, it acts as an unrivaled “quarterback of the skies,” leveraging low-observable stealth, sensor fusion, and networked data sharing to dominate battlespaces long before adversaries register its presence. On the other side, years of hardware supply delays, soaring sustainment costs, and software integration hurdles leave military analysts asking a crucial question: Is the F-35 program actually broken? In the video above, Tog takes an animated look inside both sides of America’s flagship fifth-generation fighter jet. Key Takeaways from the Breakdown The…

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  • The Complete F-18 Story

    From the YF-17 Cobra to the F/A-18 Hornet, Super Hornet, Block III Rhino and EA-18G Growler, this is the complete story of one of the most versatile aircraft families ever to operate from an American aircraft carrier. The Hornet was never the fastest fighter in the fleet, and it never had the longest range. But when the Navy needed an aircraft to do something, there was usually a way to make a Hornet do it. In this special feature-length PilotPhotog compilation, we trace nearly five decades of F/A-18 development, technology and operations — from the original Lightweight Fighter competition through…

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  • A-6 Intruder: the ground attack legend

    When bad weather grounded every sleek fighter on the carrier deck, the United States Navy turned to one ugly, subsonic bomb truck: the Grumman A-6 Intruder. It carried a heavier payload than the F-4 Phantom, flew blind through pitch-black storms over Vietnam using the revolutionary DIANE radar system, and laid the foundation for the EA-6B Prowler. Yet, right after proving its unmatched precision-strike capability in Desert Storm, the Navy retired the Intruder—leaving carrier air wings without a true long-range, heavy-payload successor after the stealth A-12 Avenger II was canceled. In this deep dive, we break down how the “Iron Tadpole”…

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  • B-21 Raider: The full story

    The Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider is shaping up to be one of the most successful, highly classified, and revolutionary military aviation programs in history. In this ultimate 90-minute master compilation, we track the complete story and evolution of America’s next-generation stealth bomber—from early renders and wild speculation to real-world flight testing and fleet expansion. We dive deep into every aspect of the program: comparing the B-21 to the legendary F-117 Nighthawk, dissecting close-up photos of its flush engine intakes, analyzing its historic first flight at Plant 42, exploring its role as a digital sensor hub, and examining how it managed…

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  • EF-111A Raven: the other Aardvark

    See how the EF-111A Raven, a Mach 2 tactical jamming aircraft, dominated the skies by blinding enemy radar systems. This video explores the operational history and complex engineering behind the EF-111A Raven. We examine how this tactical jamming aircraft utilized advanced electronics to disrupt signals over hundreds of miles, providing a massive advantage in contested airspace. Whether you are an aviation enthusiast or a history buff, you will learn exactly what made this platform so effective during its service life. We also break down the financial reality of the project, including its staggering $85.9 million cost. The footage provided details…

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