AirForces Monthly Magazine

Maiden flight of An-132D prototype

22nd May 2025

The An-132D prototype immediately after taking off from Kiev-Svyatoshino airport on March 31. Note the orange nose radome fitted with flight-test instruments, as well as the various cameras fitted on the wingtips and tailfin. Sergey Smolentsev THE PROTOTYPE An-132D (c/n 001), formally rolled out at Antonov’s main production facility in Kiev on December 20 last […]

Kazakhstan orders two more C295s

22nd May 2025

One of five previous C295s that entered service with the Sil Vozdushnoy Oborony Respubliki Kazakhstan (Kazakhstan Air Defence Force) from January 2013. Airbus DS AIRBUS DEFENCE and Space announced on April 20 that Kazakhstan is to acquire two more C295 transport aircraft. The contract between Kazakhstan and Airbus covers the final two aircraft included in […]

New Indian Su-30MKI squadron

22nd May 2025

A NEW unit has been formed with the Su-30MKI under the Indian Air Force’s Western Air Command. During a ceremony at Halwara Air Force Station, Punjab, on April 24, the type was inducted into service with 221 Squadron ‘Valiants’. The ‘Valiants’ was originally formed on February 14, 1963, at Barrackpore and latterly flew the MiG-23, […]

Japan MSDF retires MH-53Es

22nd May 2025

The final two JMSDF MH-53Es at the retirement ceremony for the type on March 3 at Iwakuni. USMC/Lance Cpl Joseph Abrego A RETIREMENT ceremony was held at Iwakuni on March 3 to mark the decommissioning of the Japan Maritime Self- Defense Force’s (JMSDF’s) Sikorsky MH-53Es. The last two of these helicopters that had remained in […]

Pakistan buys more AW139s

22nd May 2025

PAKISTAN IS continuing to reinforce its helicopter fleet with additional AgustaWestland AW139s. An undisclosed number of helicopters have been purchased from Leonardo, the Italian company announced on March 28. Deliveries will begin in early 2018 and the aircraft will be used for utility, search and rescue and emergency medical service missions. Pakistan is acquiring the […]

Pakistan Air Force Il-78MP in France

22nd May 2025

PAKISTAN AIR Force (PAF) Il-78MP R11-03AN was an unusual visitor to Châteauroux-Centre ‘Marcel Dassault’ Airport on April 20. In 2006, Ukraine sold four former Ukrainian Air Force Il-78s to the PAF. These aircraft, which bear the unique designation Il-78MP, were overhauled at Nikolayev between 2007 and 2011. The first aircraft was delivered in late 2009 […]

Additional Poseidons under contract

22nd May 2025

BOEING HAS RECEIVED a $2.2bn contract to produce additional P-8A multi-mission maritime aircraft for Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. The latest deal, awarded on March 30, covers at least 17 Poseidon aircraft under Lot 8 full-rate production, including four for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), 11 for the US Navy and […]

Sixth KC-30A prepares for delivery

22nd May 2025

ON THE EVENING of March 14 KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) A39-006 for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) arrived at Airbus Defence and Space facilities in Manching, Germany to receive its military paint scheme. The aircraft, MSN892/MRTT39, built in 2007, is a former Qantas A330-302, previously on the civil register as VH-EBH. Conversion to […]

S-70B-2 Skeletor retired

22nd May 2025

THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN Navy has retired S-70B-2 Seahawk serial N24-011 (c/n 70-595) Skeletor after a career during which it logged 6,200 airframe hours. After more than 28 years of service, the Seahawk completed its last operational flight during HMAS Arunta’s recent maintenance period in Bahrain while deployed on Operation Manitou, the Australian government’s contribution to […]

Patrolling hostile waters

22nd May 2025

The South China Sea is a magnet for trouble, but airborne maritime surveillance assets are still a scarcity, as AFM’s Alan Warners explains. INTEL REPORT Leonardo sent one of the two recently delivered ATR 72MPAs to LIMA, which received a good deal of interest during the event. Babak Taghvaee AIRBORNE SURVEILLANCE is a role Southeast […]

Chariots of fire

22nd May 2025

This year’s Iniohos exercise featured an increased number of participants drawn from four air arms. Amit Agronov reports from Greece. Israeli F-16C Block 40 Barak 519 from the ‘First Fighter’ Squadron made its first appearance with a kill marking representing an unmanned aerial vehicle operated by Hamas below the left side of the cockpit HAF […]

FAP in force

22nd May 2025

This year’s Real Thaw exercise – the ninth – involved aircraft from almost every squadron in the Força Aérea Portuguesa (FAP, Portuguese Air Force). Jorge Ruivo watched the action. Real Thaw 2017 was very likely the last such exercise for the Portuguese Air Force’s Alpha Jet As. Although not involved every day, two examples were […]

Hercs on tour

22nd May 2025

Together for the ninth time, Polish and American C-130 crews trained at Powidz, Poland, as Krzysztof Kuska reports. C-130E 1505 (70-1276) kicks up dirt on the grass strip at the 33rd Transport Aviation Base. The operating unit for the Polish Hercules fleet is the 14. Eskadra Lotnictwa (14th Aviation Squadron) home-based at Powidz. All photos […]

European Gunships Part 4

22nd May 2025

AFM concludes its review of Europe’s helicopter gunship fleets with a focus on the British Army Air Corps Apache. FLEET SURVEY GUNSHIP HELICOPTERS PART 4 A line-up of AAC Apaches at Royal Naval Air Station Merryfield, Somerset, during a major 16th Air Assault Brigade exercise held between Dartmoor and Salisbury Plain. Rich Pittman United Kingdom […]

Portugal approves Alouette successor

22nd May 2025

THE PORTUGUESE government has authorised the purchase of five helicopters to replace the Força Aérea Portuguesa (FAP, Portuguese Air Force) fleet of Alouette IIIs, which has been operated for more than 50 years. The order, signed by the defence minister, authorises the purchase of five helicopters plus two options, training, spare parts and support material, […]

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