Fighter Sweep
  • Home
  • Military Aviation
  • Air Force
  • Navy
  • Spec Ops
  • Expert Analysis
  • Careers
  • Photos

About Joe Ruzicka

Joe Ruzicka "Smokin" Joe Ruzicka is a former Radar Intercept Officer (RIO) in the F-14 Tomcat and Weapons Systems Officer (WSO) in the F-18 D/F. He was selected as the Legislative Fellow for Senator John McCain (R-AZ) in 2011. Smokin has accumulated over 2000 hours in the Tomcat, Hornet, and various training aircraft, holds a FAC(A) "Forward Air Controller Airborne" designation and was the RIO on the final F-14 Tomcat Airshow Demonstration in September 2005. He graciously thanks all of his former pilots for bringing him home safely. You can follow him on Twitter at @smokinjoe96

All Posts by Joe Ruzicka

Brexit: Could Farnborough Set the Defense Spending Tone for Britain?

Photo courtesy SUAS news

All eyes will turn to the Farnborough International Airshow (11-17 July) in less than two weeks. The airshow comes only days after United Kingdom voters decided to remove the UK View More ›

Joe Ruzicka No Comments News

Ejection Seat Alternative for F-35 a Possibility

The US Air Force is looking into the possibility of replacing the Martin-Baker ejection seat on the F-35. Defensenews.com is reporting that the United Technologies ACES 5 model is under View More ›

Joe Ruzicka 2 Comments Air Force, Expert Analysis, Military Aviation

SECNAV Frustrated Again Over Delay in Super Hornet Sale

Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, in Germany for a NATO exercise in the Baltic Sea last week, told Reuters he was frustrated by delays in approving the sale of the Boeing View More ›

Joe Ruzicka No Comments Navy, News

2000th Strike Against ISIS for USS Harry S Truman

President Truman’s mantra “Give ‘em Hell” rings true with 2000th strike against ISIS Just prior to the end of her deployment, the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman launched View More ›

Joe Ruzicka No Comments Navy, News

DoD Aviation Readiness Crisis: Congress is Aware

Congress understands the desperate need to increase aviation readiness levels and they are targeting acquisition reform as a key function to help in the effort. Bob Simmons and Chris Brose, View More ›

Joe Ruzicka No Comments News

F-35 Top Line Buy to Remain Steady According to Pentagon

F-35 Lightning II

Current Top Line F-35 number holds at 2443 according to Pentagon Official The current number of F-35’s to be purchased — the largest weapons program ever by many billions of View More ›

Joe Ruzicka 1 Comment Military Aviation

Russian SU-34’s Escalate Tensions between Moscow and US

SU-34

In a new twist between Russia and the US for the ongoing control of the campaign against ISIL in Syria, Russian warplanes bombed U.S. backed Syrian rebels near the Jordanian View More ›

Joe Ruzicka 2 Comments Expert Analysis, News

US Navy Pivots to Asia with Dual Aircraft Carriers

x(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jake Greenberg / Released)

PHILLIPINE SEA (June 18, 2016) The Nimitz-class aircraft carriers USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) and USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class View More ›

Joe Ruzicka No Comments Expert Analysis, Military Aviation, Navy

New Fighter Sweep Assistant Editor, “Smokin” Joe Ruzicka reports: A-10 Warthog Replacement Should be a “Coke” Machine

  Happy Father’s Day Fighter Sweep community. I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce the new Assistant Editor for Fighter Sweep. We are incredibly excited to add someone with “Smokin” View More ›

Joe Ruzicka 2 Comments Air Force, Expert Analysis, Military Aviation, News
  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6

Find Us on Facebook

FighterSweep.com

Sign Up
for the Newsletter

What’s Hot

  • August 23, 2019

    From The Cockpit: Defensive BFM

  • Fighter Pilot Reveals Shocking Chemtrails Facts!
    August 21, 2019

    Fighter Pilot Reveals Shocking Chemtrails Facts!

  • March 14, 2015

    There I Was: The X-Files Edition

Follow Us

Facebook Twitter Twitter

Recent Comments

  • Vicki Fast forward to 2019 where there are dozens of class action lawsuits against [...]
  • Paul James Thanks Vicki
  • Skyler Conklin Not according to those who have actually operated it.
  • Jimmy Crackcorn he was likely chasing Jupiter, as UFOs that don't wish to be seen will turn off [...]

© Copyright 2021 SOFREP Media Group. All Rights Reserved.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Advertisers