AirForces Monthly Magazine

Arromanches III

22nd May 2025

In late 2016 the French nuclear carrier Charles de Gaulle deployed off the Syrian coast for combat operations against so-called Islamic State as part of the global fight against terrorism. For the first time, her carrier air group was mainly composed of Rafale Ms. Henri-Pierre Grolleau tells the story. French Navy combat A pair of […]

AIR FORCE RAFALES IN ACTION

22nd May 2025

The ‘Lorraine’ squadron’s transfer from Al Dhafra to Montde- Marsan in September 2016 made the 30e Escadre (30th Wing) fully operational. Henri-Pierre Grolleau visited Base Aérienne 118 for AFM. A pair of 30e Escadre Rafales cruises high above southwest France. All photos Henri-Pierre Grolleau unless otherwise stated AFLEET OF 47 Rafale B/C and four Mirage […]

UK carrier power is back

22nd May 2025

COMMENT Lt Luke Wraith of 820 NAS performs the first ever landing on the deck of HMS ‘Queen Elizabeth’ in Merlin HM2 ZH827. Crown Copyright TWENTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD PILOT Lt Luke Wraith can be forgiven for having felt nervous. As he carefully placed his Merlin HM2 helicopter onto the huge deck of HMS Queen Elizabeth on July […]

DESERT FALCONS ON DUTY

22nd May 2025

Belgium’s Operation Desert Falcon F-16 detachment recently had its mission in the Middle East extended, as Benoît Denet reports. BELGIAN F-16s SIX BELGIAN F-16s have been based at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base (MSAB), near Azraq, Jordan, under Operation Desert Falcon (ODF), since July 1 last year. Tasked with strikes against so-called Islamic State (IS) targets […]

HAMPERED Pampa

22nd May 2025

Three decades since it was conceived, the IA-63 Pampa has endured faltering progress through sweeping changes in Argentina’s political climate. Remarkably, not only does it remain in production, but new developments are also under way, as Santiago Rivas reports. PAMPA IN PROFILE Pampa E-820 comes in to land at Mendoza, home of Escuadrón IV of […]

P-8 THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR THE UK?

22nd May 2025

While some see acquisition of the P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft as a win for the RAF, others argue that it’s too costly and the nine on order too few. Justin Bronk and Jon Lake argue the respective cases. THE DEBATE A P-8A assigned to Patrol Squadron (VP) 4 ‘Skinny Dragons’ flies near Mount Baker, […]

Atlantic Tiger

22nd May 2025

Bob Archer and Lindsay Peacock report from the NATO Tiger Meet at Landivisiau in Brittany, on France’s Atlantic coast. NATO TIGER MEET 2017 THE 2017 NATO Tiger Meet (NTM) at Base d’Aéronautique Navale (BAN, Naval Air Base) Landivisiau endured mixed weather conditions. But galeforce winds and driving rain did not deter the pilots from ten […]

SCHOOLING AVIATORS

22nd May 2025

Erik Bruijns and Mark deGreeuw profile 72º Stormo, Italy’s military helicopter training unit. TH-500B MM81307 ‘72-44’ during a close formation training flight. All photos ErikBruijns and Mark de Greeuw LOCATED JUST to the west of Frosinonein central Italy, 72º Stormo’s compact home base buzzes with activity. Set amid mountainous terrain, it’s an ideal environment for learning to […]

BALTOPSbombers

22nd May 2025

For the first time, Europe played hostto all three of the Air Force GlobalStrike Command’s strategic bomberssimultaneously this June. ThomasNewdickreports from RAF Fairford. AFGSC IN THE UK A B-52H tops up from a 100th Air Refueling WingKC-135R during BALTOPS 2017 over Latvia on June14. The Stratofortress crew was assigned to the 2nd Bomb Wing. USAF/Staff […]

Additional HC-130J for Minotaur upgrade

22nd May 2025

US Coast Guard HC-130J 2004 at Waco, Texas, following its arrival on May 11 for installation of the Minotaur Mission System Suite by L3. USCG ANOTHER US Coast Guard HC-130J Hercules has begun retrofit with the Minotaur Mission System Suite. The aircraft, serial number 2004, had previously operated at Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, […]

US Army 1-185th AVN Black Hawks in Kosovo

22nd May 2025

One of the Black Hawks deployed to Kosovo with the KFOR Multi National Battle Group-East’s Southern Command Post Task Force Aviation (KFOR SCP TF AVN) prepares to hoist a water bucket in Dakovica, Kosovo, on May 22. The current KFOR SCP TF AVN detachment is manned by personnel from aviation units in Georgia, Indiana and […]

Aries passes through Mildenhall

22nd May 2025

ON FINALS to Runway 11 at RAF Mildenhall, Suff olk, on the evening of May 15 is US Navy EP-3E Aries 161410 of Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron (VQ) 1 ‘World Watchers’ based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington. The aircraft, using the callsign ‘Navy Papa Romeo 410’, was thought to be returning to the […]

Mexican F-5s soldier on

22nd May 2025

F-5E serial 4510 at Santa Lucía air base. It is one of four Tiger IIs currently still operational with Escuadrón Aéreo 401. Arnold ten Pas THE SECOND edition of the Mexican FAMEX (Feria Aeroespacial México) show, held at Santa Lucía air base near Mexico City from April 26-29, provided some details of the Fuerza Aérea […]

Fifteenth Huey II for Argentine Army

22nd May 2025

Alejandro Margossian THE BATALLÓN de Abastecimiento y Mantenimiento de Aeronaves 601 (601st Aircraft Supply and Maintenance Battalion) of Argentina’s Army Aviation Management recently delivered the 15th Bell UH-1H upgraded to Huey II standard under the Hornero project. The helicopter, serial AE-473 (ex AE-449, c/n 12353, US serial 70-15743), is one of 20 being converted under […]

Argentine Army Merlin retirement

22nd May 2025

Juan Carlos Cicalesi The Ejército Argentino (EA, Argentine Army) retired its four Fairchild Swearingen Merlin IIIA/IVA aircraft on May 9. These comprised SA-226T Merlin IIIA serials AE-176 (c/n T-275-148), AE-178 (c/n T-280-171) and AE-179 (c/n T-281-174) and SA-226-AT Merlin IVA serial AE-180 (c/n AT-071E-253). The aircraft were assigned to the Army Aviation Command, which introduced […]

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