The Afterburn Podcast

Col Kevin "Flint" Hicok commanded the 20th Fighter Wing during Operation Midnight Hammer, leading the largest Air Force wing in CENTCOM since Desert Storm. The three-part documentary series is on Afterburn Defense: Part I: https://youtu.be/MgQ_X3Td8a4 Part II: https://youtu.be/GzdL6NMYDso Part III: https://youtu.be/Xc22-2RaGSY Operation Midnight Hammer through the eyes of the people who flew it. This is the full interview with Col. Kevin Hicok, a career F-16 fighter pilot who commanded the F-16 Wild Weasels that flew Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses ahead of the B-2 strike on Iran. Before Iran, the wing fought over Yemen in Operation Rough Rider, a sustained air campaign against Houthi surface-to-air threats. What they learned there is the reason the F-16 Block 50 and the AGM-88 HARM were part of the strike package on June 21st, 2025. These interviews were recorded between December 2025 and January 2026 and preserve firsthand accounts from pilots, maintainers, intelligence officers, and logistics airmen who were there. 0:00 Intro 0:56 Commanding the Largest F-16 Wing in the Air Force 3:49 From a Small Town in Iowa to Fighter Pilot 10:02 Deploying the Whole Wing for the First Time Since Desert Storm 15:23 Operation Rough Rider and the Houthi Drone Threat 17:27 Learning About Operation Midnight Hammer 19:22 Surging 100 More Aircraft and 220 Percent More People 20:20 The Logistics Nobody Sees: Fuel, Water, and 115 Degree Heat 23:17 Sending Airmen Across the Line Into Iran 29:18 When the Last Jet Landed Have a story? Want to Connect? Advertise? https://theafterburnpodcast.com/contact/

Operation Midnight Hammer through the eyes of the F-16 Wild Weasel fighter pilots who flew into Iran. Ghost" Trembly and "Cash" Croghan were the wing and squadron weapons officers for the 55th Fighter Squadron, the F-16 Wild Weasels who flew Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses ahead of the B-2 strike on Iran. Watch the three-part documentary series on Afterburn Defense: Part I: https://youtu.be/MgQ_X3Td8a4 Part II: https://youtu.be/GzdL6NMYDso Part III: https://youtu.be/Xc22-2RaGSY They planned the F-16 portion of the strike package. In this conversation, they explain why a fourth-generation fighter flew into Iran alongside the B-2s and F-35s, how the squadron reconfigured from the Yemen fight in a matter of hours, and why nobody in the squadron believed the mission was real until it was. Before Iran, the 55th Fighter Squadron fought over Yemen in Operation Rough Rider, a sustained air campaign against Houthi surface-to-air threats. What they learned there is the reason the F-16 Block 50 and the AGM-88 HARM were part of the strike package on June 21st, 2025. These interviews were recorded between December 2025 and January 2026 and preserve firsthand accounts from pilots, maintainers, intelligence officers, and logistics airmen who were there. 0:00 Preparing the Squadron for Deployment 5:16 New Equipment: AESA Radar and the F-16 Block 50 8:52 Operation Rough Rider: Counter-UAS Over Yemen 15:31 Mission Planning on a Folding Table 21:14 Five Days Out: Nobody Believed It Was Real 28:49 Reconfiguring the Jets From Rockets to HARMs 31:45 The Night "Glitch" Shot a SAM in 8 Seconds and saved "Cash" 41:21 Why the F-16 Was the Only Jet That Could Do It 46:38 The 15-Minute Brief Before Flying Into Iran 49:47 A 300 Mile Ingress Into Iranian Airspace 1:05:50 Is That a Missile Coming Off the Ground 1:12:41 How Tight the Fuel Really Was 1:20:40 Bunker Diving and Life on the Base Please leave us a review on Apple/Spotify Podcasts: Apple - https://apple.co/3dLradT Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3SAeSUr Afterburn Podcast Links: Website – https://www.theafterburnpodcast.com Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/theafterburnpodcast Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rainwaters27/?hl=en Have a story? Want to Connect? Advertise? https://theafterburnpodcast.com/contact/

Operation Midnight Hammer through the eyes of the people who flew it. "Smalls" commanded the 55th Fighter Squadron, and "Scar" was one of the F-16 pilots who helped plan and execute the mission. They are the Wild Weasels who flew Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses ahead of the B-2 strike on Iran. Watch the three-part documentary series on Afterburn Defense: Part I: https://youtu.be/MgQ_X3Td8a4 Part II: https://youtu.be/GzdL6NMYDso Part III: https://youtu.be/Xc22-2RaGSY This is the full interview. Both of them flew the mission. In this conversation, they talk about what it means to command a squadron and fly in the same formation, the moment a squadron commander has to let his wingmen push ahead of him, the mechanical failure one of them handled over hostile territory, and what they told their families before they left. Before Iran, the 55th Fighter Squadron fought over Yemen in Operation Rough Rider, a sustained air campaign against Houthi surface-to-air threats. What they learned there is the reason the F-16 Block 50 and the AGM-88 HARM were part of the strike package on June 21st, 2025. These interviews were recorded between December 2025 and January 2026 and preserve firsthand accounts from pilots, maintainers, intelligence officers, and logistics airmen who were there. 0:00 Taking Command of the 55th Fighter Squadron 3:25 The Deployment That Became Something Else 8:33 Shooting Rockets at Drones From an F-16 12:12 Commanding a Squadron in Combat 23:16 Realizing the Threat Was Real 29:34 The Weight of Sending People Out 40:04 From Rough Rider to Midnight Hammer 43:45 Letting My Wingmen Go In First 49:55 Learning About the Iran Mission 54:51 The Phone Call That Changed Everything 1:09:25 The Helmet Mix-Up on the Ramp 1:18:26 Tanker Frequencies and Marshal Delays 1:26:13 Employing Over Iranian Airspace 1:34:02 Compressor Stall Over Enemy Territory 1:39:19 Crossing the Line Back 1:42:22 What They Told Their Families Have a story? Want to Connect? Advertise? https://theafterburnpodcast.com/contact/

Operation Midnight Hammer through the eyes of the people who flew it. "Glitch" was one of the youngest F-16 pilots in the formation, flying his first combat deployment with the Wild Weasels who flew Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses ahead of the B-2 strike on Iran. Watch the three-part documentary series on Afterburn Defense: Part I: https://youtu.be/MgQ_X3Td8a4 Part II: https://youtu.be/GzdL6NMYDso Part III: https://youtu.be/Xc22-2RaGSY This is the full interview. He was woken up at ten at night and told to pack a bag. In this conversation, he talks about the night over Yemen when a surface-to-air missile came off the ground at his formation and he had seconds to respond, why Rough Rider frightened him more than Iran did, the drive out to the jets before the strike, and the call he made to his girlfriend when he could not tell her where he was. Before Iran, the 55th Fighter Squadron fought over Yemen in Operation Rough Rider, a sustained air campaign against Houthi surface-to-air threats. What they learned there is the reason the F-16 Block 50 and the AGM-88 HARM were part of the strike package on June 21st, 2025. These interviews were recorded between December 2025 and January 2026 and preserve firsthand accounts from pilots, maintainers, intelligence officers, and logistics airmen who were there. 0:00 Becoming an F-16 Pilot 2:06 Preparing for the Spring Deployment 3:19 A Threat Environment Nobody Trained For 5:18 What the Outgoing Squadron Warned Them About 8:46 Flying the SEAD Mission in Combat 11:01 First Combat Sortie Over Yemen 12:32 A Missile Launch on My Scope 14:09 Watching a SAM Fired at My Formation 17:28 Getting the Call for Operation Midnight Hammer 21:17 Mission Planning for the Iran Strike 24:23 I Can't Tell You Where I Am 26:15 The Drive Out to the Jets 31:41 Why Yemen Scared Me More Than Iran 35:28 Employing Over Iranian Airspace 37:57 How Tight the Fuel Was Have a story? Want to Connect? Advertise? https://theafterburnpodcast.com/contact/

Operation Midnight Hammer through the eyes of the people who flew it. "Cuffs" was the deployed Director of Operations for the 55th Fighter Squadron, the Wild Weasels who flew Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses ahead of the B-2 strike on Iran. Watch the three-part documentary series on Afterburn Defense: Part I: https://youtu.be/MgQ_X3Td8a4 Part II: https://youtu.be/GzdL6NMYDso Part III: https://youtu.be/Xc22-2RaGSY This is the full interview. He ran the squadron's operations from the main base while the strike launched from somewhere else. In this conversation, he talks about how young the pilots flying this mission actually were, what it took to run a squadron split across two locations, the last handshakes before they stepped, and the wait until he heard they were on their way back. Before Iran, the 55th Fighter Squadron fought over Yemen in Operation Rough Rider, a sustained air campaign against Houthi surface-to-air threats. What they learned there is the reason the F-16 Block 50 and the AGM-88 HARM were part of the strike package on June 21st, 2025. These interviews were recorded between December 2025 and January 2026 and preserve firsthand accounts from pilots, maintainers, intelligence officers, and logistics airmen who were there. 0:00 Spinning Up the Squadron for Deployment 1:43 A Threat Environment Unlike the Last 20 Years 4:09 Why the F-16 Still Matters in This Fight 6:28 Getting Out the Door 9:09 Most of These Pilots Were in Their Twenties 12:11 Learning a New Base and New Configurations 16:28 First Combat Sorties Over Yemen 20:24 Thinking About the Risk to Yourself 22:44 Learning About Operation Midnight Hammer 26:27 Trusting the Weapons Officers to Plan It 28:58 Running a Squadron Split Across Two Locations 32:48 The Night It Happened 36:50 The Last Handshakes Before They Stepped 39:38 Watching Them Come Home Have a story? Want to Connect? Advertise? https://theafterburnpodcast.com/contact/

Operation Midnight Hammer through the eyes of the people who flew it. "Glib" was the intelligence officer for the 55th Fighter Squadron, the Wild Weasels who flew Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses ahead of the B-2 strike on Iran. Watch the three-part documentary series on Afterburn Defense: Part I: https://youtu.be/MgQ_X3Td8a4 Part II: https://youtu.be/GzdL6NMYDso Part III: https://youtu.be/Xc22-2RaGSY This is the full interview. His job was to know the threat better than anyone in the squadron. In this conversation, he talks about the night the reporting was bad enough that he told a pilot to be prepared, what it is like to brief men whose wives and children you know, how a squadron built its own targeting picture when the strategic intelligence was not enough, and what he did on the ground while they were over Iran. Before Iran, the 55th Fighter Squadron fought over Yemen in Operation Rough Rider, a sustained air campaign against Houthi surface-to-air threats. What they learned there is the reason the F-16 Block 50 and the AGM-88 HARM were part of the strike package on June 21st, 2025. These interviews were recorded between December 2025 and January 2026 and preserve firsthand accounts from pilots, maintainers, intelligence officers, and logistics airmen who were there. 0:00 Building the Threat Picture Before Deployment 2:38 A Contested Environment Again 7:15 The Night I Thought My Pilots Would Die 8:35 Finding Out About Operation Midnight Hammer 14:26 The Night of the Mission 20:21 What the Squadron Did That Nobody Sees Have a story? Want to Connect? Advertise? https://theafterburnpodcast.com/contact/

Operation Midnight Hammer through the eyes of the people who flew it. MSgt. Edge was the fuels NCOIC responsible for getting gas into every aircraft, supporting the Wild Weasels who flew Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses ahead of the B-2 strike on Iran. Watch the three-part documentary series on Afterburn Defense: Part I: https://youtu.be/MgQ_X3Td8a4 Part II: https://youtu.be/GzdL6NMYDso Part III: https://youtu.be/Xc22-2RaGSY This is the full interview. Nothing flies without fuel. In this conversation, he explains how his team pumped 548,000 gallons in a single night, why one three-mile transfer line put a hard ceiling on the entire operation, how a project that normally takes years got done in a matter of days, and what it took to convince a host nation to change an order. Before Iran, the 55th Fighter Squadron fought over Yemen in Operation Rough Rider, a sustained air campaign against Houthi surface-to-air threats. What they learned there is the reason the F-16 Block 50 and the AGM-88 HARM were part of the strike package on June 21st, 2025. These interviews were recorded between December 2025 and January 2026 and preserve firsthand accounts from pilots, maintainers, intelligence officers, and logistics airmen who were there. 0:00 A Deployment That Was Supposed to Be Routine 2:20 Planning for a Buildup Nobody Expected 4:03 Twenty-One Days of Work in Three Days 6:21 The Fuel Line That Capped the Whole Operation 12:09 548,000 Gallons on the Night of Midnight Hammer 15:00 Hot Refueling F-35s for the First Time 17:02 Find a Way to Yes Have a story? Want to Connect? Advertise? https://theafterburnpodcast.com/contact/

Operation Midnight Hammer through the eyes of the people who flew it. Lt Col Tilton commanded the logistics readiness squadron at the deployed location, supplying the base the Wild Weasels flew from when they took Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses ahead of the B-2 strike on Iran. Watch the three-part documentary series on Afterburn Defense: Part I: https://youtu.be/MgQ_X3Td8a4 Part II: https://youtu.be/GzdL6NMYDso Part III: https://youtu.be/Xc22-2RaGSY This is the full interview. Everything the mission needed had to arrive first. In this conversation, he explains why the base ran out of food more than once, what it took to run a second fuel line through a wall and under roads in the two weeks before the strike, how the fleet grew from a few dozen vehicles to hundreds, and the plan for what happens to loaded aircraft if the base goes to alarm red. Before Iran, the 55th Fighter Squadron fought over Yemen in Operation Rough Rider, a sustained air campaign against Houthi surface-to-air threats. What they learned there is the reason the F-16 Block 50 and the AGM-88 HARM were part of the strike package on June 21st, 2025. These interviews were recorded between December 2025 and January 2026 and preserve firsthand accounts from pilots, maintainers, intelligence officers, and logistics airmen who were there. 0:00 Getting a Fighter Wing Out the Door 2:14 The Air Force Isn't Built for Agile Deployment 8:37 Running a Squadron With Half the Leadership Gone 10:52 A Ramp That Kept Shrinking as Jets Arrived 14:32 The Fuel Trucks That Kept Breaking 19:04 When the Base Ran Out of Food 23:27 Running a Second Fuel Line Before the Strike 32:15 What Happens When the Base Goes to Alarm Red Have a story? Want to Connect? Advertise? https://theafterburnpodcast.com/contact/

Operation Midnight Hammer through the eyes of the people who flew it. SrA Michalenko was an avionics journeyman for the 55th Fighter Squadron, working the computer and threat warning systems on the F-16s that flew Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses ahead of the B-2 strike on Iran. Watch the three-part documentary series on Afterburn Defense: Part I: https://youtu.be/MgQ_X3Td8a4 Part II: https://youtu.be/GzdL6NMYDso Part III: https://youtu.be/Xc22-2RaGSY This is the full interview. It was his first deployment. He was given four hours to pack a bag and told to watch the news. In this conversation he talks about the call to a girlfriend he could tell nothing to, arriving somewhere he could not name, and launching a fighter jet on his own for the first time in his career on the night of the Iran strike. Before Iran, the 55th Fighter Squadron fought over Yemen in Operation Rough Rider, a sustained air campaign against Houthi surface-to-air threats. What they learned there is the reason the F-16 Block 50 and the AGM-88 HARM were part of the strike package on June 21st, 2025. These interviews were recorded between December 2025 and January 2026 and preserve firsthand accounts from pilots, maintainers, intelligence officers, and logistics airmen who were there. 0:00 What an Avionics Technician Works On 2:18 Bamboo Eagle and the First Deployment 5:16 Working Inside a Cockpit in Desert Heat 9:08 Four Hours to Pack a Bag 10:46 The Call I Couldn't Explain 13:10 Launching a Jet for the First Time 18:12 Waiting to See If They Came Back 20:25 A Big Ball of Fear Have a story? Want to Connect? Advertise? https://theafterburnpodcast.com/contact/

Operation Midnight Hammer through the eyes of the people who flew it. CMSgt. Hilliard was the senior enlisted leader for maintenance in the 55th Fighter Squadron, the Wild Weasels who flew Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses ahead of the B-2 strike on Iran. Watch the three-part documentary series on Afterburn Defense: Part I: https://youtu.be/MgQ_X3Td8a4 Part II: https://youtu.be/GzdL6NMYDso Part III: https://youtu.be/Xc22-2RaGSY This is the full interview. No jet flies without the people who fix it. In this conversation he talks about how the squadron decided which specific aircraft would fly the Iran mission, what it takes to generate a sortie that most people never think about, running a maintenance unit where many of the airmen had never deployed before, and the eighteen hours he waited after the jets taxied out. Before Iran, the 55th Fighter Squadron fought over Yemen in Operation Rough Rider, a sustained air campaign against Houthi surface-to-air threats. What they learned there is the reason the F-16 Block 50 and the AGM-88 HARM were part of the strike package on June 21st, 2025. These interviews were recorded between December 2025 and January 2026 and preserve firsthand accounts from pilots, maintainers, intelligence officers, and logistics airmen who were there. 0:00 From a One-Stoplight Town to the Viper 5:18 What It Actually Takes to Launch One Sortie 8:16 Spinning Up a Maintenance Unit for Combat 11:42 Leading Airmen Who Had Never Deployed 17:22 Flying With Fewer Jets Than You Need 21:16 A Week Out From Operation Midnight Hammer 23:27 Eighteen Hours of Waiting 26:06 A Different Kind of Battlefield 33:59 The Empty Break Rooms 39:05 How We Chose Which Jets Would Go Have a story? Want to Connect? Advertise? https://theafterburnpodcast.com/contact/

Operation Midnight Hammer through the eyes of the people who flew it. SSgt Dray was a weapons technician responsible for the munitions and countermeasure systems on the F-16s, arming the Wild Weasels who flew Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses ahead of the B-2 strike on Iran. Watch the three-part documentary series on Afterburn Defense: Part I: https://youtu.be/MgQ_X3Td8a4 Part II: https://youtu.be/GzdL6NMYDso Part III: https://youtu.be/Xc22-2RaGSY This is the full interview. He is one of the airmen who put the weapons on the jets. In this conversation he explains what it actually takes to reconfigure a fleet of F-16s from one mission to another, the failure he chased down that nobody could explain, what changed for him when he realized this was not training, and the night the loading told him something was about to happen. Before Iran, the 55th Fighter Squadron fought over Yemen in Operation Rough Rider, a sustained air campaign against Houthi surface-to-air threats. What they learned there is the reason the F-16 Block 50 and the AGM-88 HARM were part of the strike package on June 21st, 2025. These interviews were recorded between December 2025 and January 2026 and preserve firsthand accounts from pilots, maintainers, intelligence officers, and logistics airmen who were there. 0:00 What a Weapons Technician Actually Does 2:10 Spinning Up Before the Deployment 8:30 Reconfiguring a Fleet of F-16s 12:35 Arriving in Theater During Rough Rider 14:42 The Failure Nobody Could Explain 19:24 This Wasn't Training Anymore 20:48 The Night Something Was About to Happen Have a story? Want to Connect? Advertise? https://theafterburnpodcast.com/contact/

Operation Midnight Hammer through the eyes of the people who flew it. Capt. Grooms was the logistics director of operations at the deployed location, supporting the Wild Weasels who flew Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses ahead of the B-2 strike on Iran. Watch the three-part documentary series on Afterburn Defense: Part I: https://youtu.be/MgQ_X3Td8a4 Part II: https://youtu.be/GzdL6NMYDso Part III: https://youtu.be/Xc22-2RaGSY This is the full interview. He was never read in on the mission. He worked it out from the math. In this conversation he explains how a base built for one squadron absorbed a hundred more aircraft, why transportation became the problem nobody anticipated, how tanker pilots ended up driving buses, and what the fuel numbers told him before anyone told him anything. Before Iran, the 55th Fighter Squadron fought over Yemen in Operation Rough Rider, a sustained air campaign against Houthi surface-to-air threats. What they learned there is the reason the F-16 Block 50 and the AGM-88 HARM were part of the strike package on June 21st, 2025. These interviews were recorded between December 2025 and January 2026 and preserve firsthand accounts from pilots, maintainers, intelligence officers, and logistics airmen who were there. 0:00 Bamboo Eagle and the Lesson Before Deployment 2:09 Becoming Logistics Director at the Deployed Location 6:53 Transportation Was the Problem Nobody Expected 10:01 Training Tanker Pilots to Drive Buses 10:50 Running Short on Fuel Contracts 14:23 The Math That Told Us Something Was Coming 16:31 After the Jets Came Back Have a story? Want to Connect? Advertise? https://theafterburnpodcast.com/contact/

Operation Midnight Hammer through the eyes of the people who flew it. Capt. Williams and MSgt. Matos led F-16 maintenance for the 55th, keeping the jets flying for the Wild Weasels who flew Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses ahead of the B-2 strike on Iran. Watch the three-part documentary series on Afterburn Defense: Part I: https://youtu.be/MgQ_X3Td8a4 Part II: https://youtu.be/GzdL6NMYDso Part III: https://youtu.be/Xc22-2RaGSY This is the full interview. Nobody told them what was coming. The configuration changes did. In this conversation, they explain what it actually takes to put one jet in the air, how a young maintenance team learned under pressure, why the flight hours downrange ran far past anything they see at home, and the airman who did not get to work the night of the strike. Before Iran, the 55th Fighter Squadron fought over Yemen in Operation Rough Rider, a sustained air campaign against Houthi surface-to-air threats. What they learned there is the reason the F-16 Block 50 and the AGM-88 HARM were part of the strike package on June 21st, 2025. These interviews were recorded between December 2025 and January 2026 and preserve firsthand accounts from pilots, maintainers, intelligence officers, and logistics airmen who were there. 0:00 Getting the Jets Out the Door 7:03 Maintainers Working Across Airframes 9:49 Rough Rider and a Young Maintenance Team 15:54 The Configuration Changes That Tipped Us Off 18:07 What It Takes to Generate One Sortie 20:36 Maintenance Roles During Midnight Hammer 25:09 The Airman We Benched on the Super Bowl Have a story? Want to Connect? Advertise? https://theafterburnpodcast.com/contact/

Today we sit down with an HH-60G Pave Hawk combat search and rescue (CSAR) pilot who flew through some of the worst fighting in Afghanistan, and the single mission that changed how he trains the mind for combat. John "Rain" Waters talks with retired Lt. Col. John Mangan, a decorated CSAR pilot with more than 200 combat missions who commanded the 33rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron in Kandahar. They get into the leave-no-one-behind ethos, the honey-buns story that got a grounded rescue bird fueled in a combat zone, the command chaos of Operation Anaconda, why wounded troops died on runways waiting for approval to launch, and the Helmand rescue of two dying Marines that became the basis for his book, The Three Rings Mindset. Along the way, the science of why a trained pilot froze into his habits under fire, and how repetition and purpose beat fear. John Mangan: www.JohnManganBooks.com Subscribe to Afterburn Defense for combat aviation and defense breakdowns, grab The Three Rings Mindset, and subscribe to The Lowdown newsletter at lowdownnews.us. Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/@AfterburnPodcast The Lowdown Newsletter: https://www.lowdownnews.us/ Support The Afterburn Podcast for on Patreon and gain early access and AD Free episodes. Plus access to "There I was…" stories. https://www.patreon.com/theafterburnpodcast Please leave us a review on Apple/Spotify Podcasts: Apple - https://apple.co/3dLradT Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3SAeSUr 00:00 Intro 02:39 Growing up around gunships and A-10s 07:28 Pilot training and the barany chair 17:11 Why he chose combat rescue: leave no one behind 24:41 Iceland and the pre-9/11 "end of history" Air Force 33:59 Operation Anaconda and the honey buns fuel story 43:44 How Anaconda became a war-college lesson in failure 47:24 Wounded troops dying while the chain of command froze 49:28 The four motivations behind every warrior 55:35 Manda Bay: the rescue that never launched 1:01:47 Improvising under fire with a broken minigun 1:04:30 Army dust-off vs Air Force combat rescue 1:11:37 The Pave Hawk flying combat at 12,000 hours 1:14:13 Flying into a firefight for two dying Marines 1:36:21 Why a trained pilot flew over the enemy twice Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) Prep with AFOQT Wingman https://afoqtwingman.com/Code: AFTERBURN for 10% off

Today we break down why the US-Iran war reignited over the Strait of Hormuz, why the June ceasefire collapsed, and what a waterway a single drone can shut means for oil prices, escalation, and how this conflict actually ends. Mike "FLASH" McVay sits down with Dr. Michael Bosack, founder of the Parley Policy Initiative and former Deputy Secretary of the UN Command Military Armistice Commission, to make sense of the current escalation. The conversation covers the five ways wars actually end, the difference between a negative and a positive peace, the good, bad, and ugly of the memorandum of understanding that was supposed to stop the fighting, why the Strait of Hormuz was the flaw nobody was talking about, and why negotiation at this level is a game of poker, not chess. Dr. Mike Bosack: https://www.parleypolicy.com/ Subscribe to Afterburn Defense for tactical and technical breakdowns of the news that matters, and subscribe to The Lowdown newsletter at lowdownnews.us. 00:00 Intro 01:40 Bosack's path: maintenance, MQ-9s, and the Korean Armistice 06:36 What the Parley Policy Initiative actually does 10:10 Phases 4 and 5: the "now what" nobody plans for 14:39 The five ways every war ends 19:57 Negative peace vs positive peace 22:45 Inside the negotiating room: the war stories 31:09 The US-Iran ceasefire deal: good, bad, ugly 36:40 Why the Strait of Hormuz is the real crux 44:26 Why it's not really about the nukes 48:56 How allies complicate the deal 55:26 Negotiation is poker, not chess 01:05:41 How this ends: the range of outcomes Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) Prep with AFOQT Wingman https://afoqtwingman.com/Code: AFTERBURN for 10% off

This is a 3-part series. Best if viewed on Afterburn Defense Youtube.  Part I: https://youtu.be/MgQ_X3Td8a4 Part II: https://youtu.be/GzdL6NMYDso Part III: https://youtu.be/Xc22-2RaGSY Operation Midnight Hammer through the eyes of the F-16 Wild Weasel pilots who flew it. This is the firsthand account of the 55th Fighter Squadron and the 20th Fighter Wing. These are the pilots who fly Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses, known as SEAD, the crews who went in first to suppress Iranian air defenses, and the ground support teams who made the mission possible. Part three covers the mission to strike Iran's nuclear facilities. Recorded between December 2025 and January 2026, this series preserves the experiences of the people who were there, in their own words. Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) Prep with AFOQT Wingman https://afoqtwingman.com/Code: AFTERBURN for 10% off

Operation Midnight Hammer through the eyes of the F-16 Wild Weasel pilots who flew it. This is the firsthand account of the 55th Fighter Squadron and the 20th Fighter Wing. These are the pilots who fly Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses, known as SEAD, the crews who went in first to suppress Iranian air defenses, and the ground support teams who made the mission possible.  Part two covers the mission planning and the thoughts of the pilots and other squadron members when they thought of the upcoming mission to strike Iran's nuclear facilities. Recorded between December 2025 and January 2026, this series preserves the experiences of the people who were there, in their own words.  This is Part 2 of a 3-part series. Have a story? https://theafterburnpodcast.com/contact/ Commonly used Acronyms: https://www.lowdownnews.us/p/operation-midnight-hammer Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) Prep with AFOQT Wingman https://afoqtwingman.com/Code: AFTERBURN for 10% off

This episode was designed for video. Watch this episode for text and graphical explanations: https://youtu.be/EDnLrP_45fk Operation Midnight Hammer through the eyes of the F-16 Wild Weasel pilots who flew it. This is the firsthand account of the 55th Fighter Squadron and the 20th Fighter Wing. These are the pilots who fly Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses, known as SEAD, the crews who went in first to suppress Iranian air defenses, and the ground support teams who made the mission possible.  Part One covers Operation Rough Rider, the air campaign over Yemen in the spring of 2025 that put these pilots into combat months before Iran. What they learned there is the reason they were ready for what came next. Recorded between December 2025 and January 2026, this series preserves the experiences of the people who were there, in their own words.  This is Part 1 of a 3-part series.  Commonly used Acronyms: https://www.lowdownnews.us/p/operation-midnight-hammer  The full one-on-one interview episodes are coming soon to  @afterburnpodcast  Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) Prep with AFOQT Wingman https://afoqtwingman.com/Code: AFTERBURN for 10% off

YT: https://youtu.be/rvVVQ3n081I This is the untold story of the F-16 pilots who flew deeper into Iran than any fourth-generation aircraft during Operation Midnight Hammer, the historic B-2 strike targeting Iran's nuclear sites with the Massive Ordnance Penetrator. These were the only non-stealth jets escorting the B-2 strike package, flying over 250 nautical miles into one of the most sophisticated integrated air defense networks on Earth, well beyond the range of any personnel recovery assets. These pilots provided Suppression of Enemy Air Defense (SEAD) coverage for the B-2's. When air refueling assets fell out before they even left Saudi airspace, these crews didn't abort. They improvised, redirected tankers, and executed refueling at speeds the F-16 had never done before in combat conditions. This is the first-person account from the pilots themselves. What they saw over Iran, what they were thinking at bingo fuel, and what it actually took to bring every aircraft home. Operation Midnight Hammer | F-16 SEAD | Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses | Iran nuclear strikes | Twelve Day War | 55th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron | AGM-88 HARM | Wild Weasel    Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) Prep with AFOQT Wingman https://afoqtwingman.com/Code: AFTERBURN for 10% off

Rob "Z-Man" Zettel is a retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, commercial airline captain, and author of American MiG Pilot who served as a top-secret Red Eagles instructor pilot flying Soviet MiG-21 and MiG-23 fighter jets during the Cold War program Constant Peg.   American MiG Pilot: Inside the Top Secret USAF “Red Eagles” MiG Squadron: https://amzn.to/4fLi2DA Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) Prep with AFOQT Wingman https://afoqtwingman.com/Code: AFTERBURN for 10% off

On May 20th, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice unsealed a federal indictment charging former Cuban head of state Raul Castro with the murder of American civilians. That same day, the USS Nimitz carrier strike group entered the Caribbean. We break down the 1996 Brothers to the Rescue shootdown, the GAESA military conglomerate controlling Cuba's economy, and what the Venezuela playbook tells us about where this is headed. Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) Prep with AFOQT Wingman https://afoqtwingman.com/Code: AFTERBURN for 10% off

Watch online: https://youtu.be/uvAyxlmpBdk We spent two days in Waco, Texas, inside the L3Harris facility where the Sky Raider II International™ is built. From the beginning, where an 802 Air Tractor enters the production line until it rolls out as Air Force Special Operations Command's newest airplane, the OA-1K Sky Raider II. We dive into what it takes to turn a crop duster into a precision-strike and ISR platform capable of operating from austere environments with only a two-man crew and 6,000 pounds of ordnance. Exclusive access to the production line, the weapons systems, and the people who build and fly it. Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) Prep with AFOQT Wingman https://afoqtwingman.com/Code: AFTERBURN for 10% off

Video: https://youtu.be/L0D9c5nYO5E China's Chengdu Aircraft Corporation has more than doubled J-20 production efficiency using autonomous vehicles and AI-driven dark factories. With roughly 300 J-20s in service today and output estimated at 100-120 airframes annually, the PLAAF could field over 1,000 fifth-generation fighters by 2030. Today we discuss what that production capacity means, how it compares to F-35 output, and whether quantity changes the calculus regardless of quality. Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) Prep with AFOQT Wingman https://afoqtwingman.com/Code: AFTERBURN for 10% off

Watch this episode on YT: https://youtu.be/8X_ll2FrRIA Beijing confirmed Chinese engineers were at Pakistani air bases supporting J-10CE operations during Operation Sindoor in May 2025. Today we discuss PL-15 & the J-10CE's combat performance data, what China just proved about its export hardware, and what the J-35 deal with Pakistan means now. Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) Prep with AFOQT Wingman https://afoqtwingman.com/Code: AFTERBURN for 10% off

Dos Gringos Concert: dosgringosdenver.com James "Whacker" Reeman IG: @f16pilot Whacker's Content: Fastjetfriday.com Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) Prep with AFOQT Wingman https://afoqtwingman.com/Code: AFTERBURN for 10% off

Roy "Deacon" Qualls went from zero flight hours to undergraduate pilot training six months later. From there — OV-10s, F-15s, the Louisiana Air National Guard, and a parallel career at American Airlines flying the 777. In this episode Deacon walks through some of the defining moments of that career — receiving the 9/11 shoot down order on an unclassified fax, scrambling toward Air Force One on the morning of September 11th, flying a night CAP over Houston with a live weapons free ROE, and leading airmen through Hurricane Katrina rescue operations out of New Orleans.   Pilot's Edge: Think, Train, and Fly Like a Pro: https://www.amazon.com/Pilots-Edge-Think-Train-Like/dp/B0FY26ZJJM Deacon Fini Flight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4X8CIjCj9k Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) Prep with AFOQT Wingman https://afoqtwingman.com/Code: AFTERBURN for 10% off

When two brand new F-35s sustained catastrophic damage in separate accidents, the Air Force faced a decision most people don't know exists — write them off as total losses or call in one of the most specialized and least talked about teams in the United States Air Force. They called in the Aircraft Battle Damage Repair team. ABDR.  In this episode, I sit down with General Sebren and Senior Master Sergeant Cross to break down exactly what aircraft battle damage repair is, how the decision gets made to repair or write off a damaged aircraft, and what it takes to put a $100 million fighter jet back together when the damage doesn't fit any technical order or regulation ever written. We dive into the "Frankenstein F-35" — two damaged airframes combined into one flyable jet — and what that process actually looks like from the people who did it. Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) Prep with AFOQT Wingman https://afoqtwingman.com/Code: AFTERBURN for 10% off

The Secretary of the Air Force just announced the A-10 Warthog will remain in service until at least 2030. For a platform that has been on the chopping block since Desert Storm — with depot maintenance shut down in February, training pipelines closing, and squadrons deactivating — this is a significant reversal Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) Prep with AFOQT Wingman https://afoqtwingman.com/Code: AFTERBURN for 10% off

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The Pentagon just submitted the largest defense budget request in American history — $1.5 trillion for fiscal year 2027 — and buried inside those numbers is a clear picture of exactly where the US military thinks the next war will be fought and how. In this video I break down what each service is actually buying, from the Air Force's $5 billion bet on the F-47 next generation fighter and $4.5 billion for the Sentinel ICBM, to the Navy doubling aircraft procurement to $34 billion, the Army quadrupling missile spending to $36 billion, and a $53 billion autonomous warfare program that signals the Pentagon is serious about drones at scale. Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) Prep with AFOQT Wingman https://afoqtwingman.com/Code: AFTERBURN for 10% off

Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) Prep with AFOQT Wingman https://afoqtwingman.com/Code: AFTERBURN for 10% off

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In March 2026, somewhere between 12 and 15 drones overflew the flight line at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana — home to the B-52 bomber fleet, Global Strike Command, and the nuclear command and control communications systems that link the President to America's nuclear arsenal. These weren't hobbyist drones. According to reports they flew in close formation, spread out and conducted various maneuvers, and appeared to be jam resistant. Nobody stopped them. Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) Prep with AFOQT Wingman https://afoqtwingman.com/Code: AFTERBURN for 10% off

The J-35 is China's latest 5th generation fighter jets, and this video discusses its accelerated delivery timeline to Pakistan. We explore the implications of this advanced china fighter jet for military aircraft and the china air force. Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) Prep with AFOQT Wingman https://afoqtwingman.com/Code: AFTERBURN for 10% off

Maj. Gen. John "Trapper" Winters joins the Afterburn Podcast for a two-hour conversation covering one of the most unconventional paths to two stars in Air Force history — starting as an F-4 Electronic Warfare Officer and navigator, then beating 6% odds to earn a slot in pilot training, flying F-16s in the Aggressor program, commanding a fighter squadron, and ultimately rising to Mobilization Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations at the Pentagon.  In this episode, we cover it all. Trapper talks about growing up in a military family, knowing since age three that he wanted to fly fast jets, and what it actually took to make that happen — including working his way through B-52 EWO school, flying with Vietnam veterans who defined squadron culture through "fear, ridicule and sarcasm," and earning a pilot training slot when almost nobody believed it was coming. Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) Prep with AFOQT Wingman https://afoqtwingman.com/Code: AFTERBURN for 10% off

Live Stream with Ward: https://www.youtube.com/live/5QSiJmqS6AQ?si=nT-Q09vbwpf3Wuow    Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) Prep with AFOQT Wingman https://afoqtwingman.com/Code: AFTERBURN for 10% off

Cinco's book: Unlocking the Last 20%: Rising to Greatness Through Discipline, Balance, and Resiliency https://amzn.to/48cisOP Tucker "Cinco" Hamilton is an Air Force Colonel, experimental test pilot, and the inaugural Chief of AI Test and Operations for the Department of the Air Force. He flew 30+ aircraft, including all three variants of the F-35, logged 82 combat missions, commanded the largest flight test organization in modern aviation, and was in the cockpit the first time an AI agent took control of a high-performance drone in flight. Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) Prep with AFOQT Wingman https://afoqtwingman.com/Code: AFTERBURN for 10% off

President Trump's recent comments on a potential Iran ceasefire have sparked much discussion, as we explore the ongoing strikes in the region and the evolving iran war. This video also covers reports of Chechen units preparing for a possible US ground invasion and Iran's reveal of a new underground base for fighter jets, all contributing to the complex middle east conflict. Stay informed on this critical iran update and the latest developments shaping the us iran war. Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) Prep with AFOQT Wingman https://afoqtwingman.com/Code: AFTERBURN for 10% off

On March 30th, 2026, Arlington National Cemetery honored Colonel Clarence "Bud" Anderson, a storied combat veteran and test pilot, with a moving ceremony. This tribute to his military service included flyovers featuring F-35s and iconic P-51 Mustangs, some bearing his famous "Old Crow" name. It was a poignant moment of military aviation history, showcasing the legacy of a true American veteran who served in WWII.    Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) Prep with AFOQT Wingman https://afoqtwingman.com/Code: AFTERBURN for 10% off

Episode on YT: https://youtu.be/YMZk0NI0rFc After the upload, news broke last evening that an additional attack against Prince Sultan Air Base injured numerous troops. https://www.airandspaceforces.com/us-forces-saudi-arabia-iran-attack/  Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) Prep with AFOQT Wingman https://afoqtwingman.com/Code: AFTERBURN for 10% off

Video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/2JnUysRvRvs On the evening of Sunday, March 22nd, Air Canada Flight 8646 — operated by Jazz Aviation — collided with an airport firefighting and rescue vehicle that had been cleared to cross Runway 4 at LaGuardia Airport. The captain and first officer were both killed. 41 of the 72 passengers and 4 crew members were transported to the hospital, with 9 remaining hospitalized as of Monday morning. Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) Prep with AFOQT Wingman https://afoqtwingman.com/Code: AFTERBURN for 10% off

Watch this episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/2KKwJTeSEA8 Newsletter: https://bit.ly/LowdownNews Website: https://bit.ly/Afterburn_Website Merch: https://bit.ly/AfterburnMerch Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/theafterburnpodcast     The United States operates roughly 19 military sites across the Middle East — 8 of them permanent. For decades that presence was the strategy. Deterrence through presence. If you can see us, you won't mess with us.That calculus may be changing.In this video I break down the US basing problem in the Middle East — what it looked like going into the Iran war, what's happened since Operation Epic Fury began, and the uncomfortable question nobody wants to answer: are these bases now a liability?Five US Air Force refueling aircraft were damaged at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. Al Udeid — the crown jewel of US air operations in the region and home to the Combined Air Operations Center — has been a consistent Iranian target. Iran sent a direct message to Jordan warning its population to pressure their government to remove US forces. And Gulf states hosting US bases have absorbed billions in economic damage specifically because they allowed the US to operate from their soi Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) Prep with AFOQT Wingman https://afoqtwingman.com/Code: AFTERBURN for 10% off

Protect your accounts with Proton Pass: http://proton.me/afterburndefense The war in Iran is escalating — and the weapons being used are getting bigger. In this video I break down three major developments from the last 48 hours.First, the GBU-72 Advanced 5K Penetrator — America's newest 5,000-pound bunker buster — has been confirmed in combat, used against missile storage facilities threatening the Strait of Hormuz.   

A US F-35 was forced into an emergency landing at a US airbase in the Middle East after being struck by suspected Iranian fire during a combat mission over Iran. CENTCOM confirmed the emergency landing and that the pilot is in stable condition — but has not confirmed what hit it or whether it was enemy fire.  

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Day 13 of Operation Epic Fury. General Caine and Secretary Hegseth briefed this morning and several details aren't getting enough coverage. CENTCOM confirmed all six crew members of the KC-135 mishap have been killed.  Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/6dMaKZ_8CuE  From the briefing: ATACMS — Army Tactical Missile Systems fired from HIMARS — have been used to sink multiple Iranian ships, including a submarine in port. That's a ground-launched ballistic missile being used as an anti-ship weapon and it's a significant shift in how this war is being fought. Today is also the heaviest strike day of the entire campaign by Caine's own account, with over 6,000 targets struck and 99% of today's munitions being delivered overhead — not standoff. That's a permissive environment.  We also cover the Strait of Hormuz situation — at least six civilian seafarers killed, tanker traffic down more than 90%, and Caine's direct quote: "The only thing preventing commercial traffic through the Straits right now is Iran. They are the belligerents here." Sources and links in the comments. Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) Prep with AFOQT Wingman https://afoqtwingman.com/Code: AFTERBURN for 10% off

In Bro Chat #21, Mike "FLASH" McVeigh, John "RAIN" Waters, Jeff "VADER" Brandon, Jeff "BENDER" Page, and Kevin "KONAN" Parkhurst debate the greatest fighter pilots in American history — and can't fully agree on a single mountain.  Robin Olds is a given. Everything else is up for grabs.  From Royce Williams' classified Korean War sortie to Richard Bong's 40 kills in a P-38, from John Boyd's OODA loop to Eddie Rickenbacker setting the standard in WWI — we make the case, defend the picks, and violently disagree in the comments section. Who did we miss? Drop your Mount Rushmore below Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) Prep with AFOQT Wingman https://afoqtwingman.com/Code: AFTERBURN for 10% off

Welcome to a heavy, packed episode of the Afterburn Podcast. Today, we are covering breaking news out of the Middle East, rapid tactical escalations, and a highly concerning mystery stateside. We open today's show by addressing the tragic breaking news regarding the U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker mishap in western Iraq. We discuss the known details of the mid-air collision during high-tempo Operation Epic Fury refueling operations, the inherent and often-overlooked dangers of nighttime tanking under combat conditions, and we honor the American crew members who lost their lives. Next, we transition into our Day 13 update for Operation Epic Fury. The U.S. has unleashed the colossal 30,000-pound GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP). We analyze the strategic strike on the Parchin military complex outside of Tehran, a facility long suspected of nuclear weapon development. Despite the regime's efforts to harden the site, the deployment of the "Mountain Buster" proves there is nowhere to hide. Finally, we close out the episode with the bizarre and unsettling news regarding retired Major General William Neil McCasland. We discuss the details surrounding his sudden disappearance from his New Mexico home, the active Silver Alert issued by the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office, and the wild speculation—ranging from his past command at the Phillips Research Site at Kirtland AFB to the resurfacing of old UAP and Roswell lore—that has taken over the internet in his absence.   00:00 Intro 01:56 KC-135 06:01 Day 13 Update 14:57 General MaCasland    Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) Prep with AFOQT Wingman https://afoqtwingman.com/Code: AFTERBURN for 10% off

As many of you probably have noticed, we've been doing a lot more with news and defense analysis over on YouTube. Short 8-15 minute videos on things that are happening. It seems to be received well and has gained some traction. Don't worry, the "standard" podcast is still happening. I think it pairs well. But maybe its not for you...and that's ok.  https://www.youtube.com/@AfterburnPodcast With this pivot, there's been a learning curve, and so it hasn't necessarily migrated across all the platforms. Some things just aren't quite easy to do, especially when I weave in traveling with hotel wifi. For example, you'll see I just shared the video.  That said, many have reached out asking to have this released in an audio format, so here it is, and we'll see how it goes. Let me know your thoughts.   00:00 Intro 01:19 F-15E shot down over Iran Debunked 15:55 Strike Eagle Shoot down Ground Video 24:00 UAE F-16 Shoots down drone over Dubai 36:50 Missing F-22 from the Middle East Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) Prep with AFOQT Wingman https://afoqtwingman.com/Code: AFTERBURN for 10% off

Mike "Dozer" Shower is a proven combat fighter pilot, having flown both the F-15C and F-22. He is an F-15C MiG killer from Operation Allied Force and one of the original eight pilots handpicked for the F-22 Raptor's initial operational test (IOT&E) at Edwards Air Force Base. In this deep-dive interview, Dozer provides a firsthand account of the transition from 4th-generation fighters to 5th-generation air dominance. We break down the YF-22 and the development of "offensive stealth," and the haunting story of the Raptor's original "Skynet" debrief system.