AirForces Monthly Magazine

FACh adds new Bell 412

22nd May 2025

The FACh acquired five second-hand Bell 412s in 2000, one of which was lost in an accident. The Bell 412EP entered service in July 2009 and by mid- 2011 a total of 12 examples had been delivered. via Gonzalo Godoy THE COMMANDER-INCHIEF of the III Brigada Aérea (3rd Air Brigade) of the Fuerza Aérea de […]

New 737s for Mexican Air Force

22nd May 2025

THE FUERZA Aérea Mexicana (FAM, Mexican Air Force) has replaced its recently retired ex-Mexicana Boeing 727 transports with three factoryfresh Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The new jets are painted in a dark grey scheme with lowvisibility markings and have received the serials 3526, 3527 and 3528. Winglet-equipped Boeing 737-800 3526 is one of three such aircraft […]

Air power in the battle for Ras Lanuf

22nd May 2025

COMBAT REPORT THE PETROCHEMICAL facilities, known as the ‘oil crescent’, located around the Libyan cities of Ras Lanuf and Sidra, are of key strategic value. They represent one of the few financial resources for the government of Tobruk and have been fought over by rival powers in Libya. In the east, these comprise the secular […]

Nigerian Mi-35Ms delivered

22nd May 2025

THE FIRST two Mi-35M attack helicopters ordered by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) have been delivered. NAF559 and NAF560 were handed over in Abuja in January. Assembly of the helicopters took three months and the pilots were trained by Russian instructors. The helicopters were officially inducted during celebrations marking the 53rd anniversary of the NAF […]

WATCHING RUSSIA WATCHING US

22nd May 2025

Tim Ripley examines the secretive world of RAF and USAF spy flights around Russia’s western borders. A Royal Air Force RC-135W tops up from a KC-135 Stratotanker belonging to the US Air Force’s 100th Air Refueling Wing off the coast of England. This was the first time a tanker belonging to the Mildenhall-based 100th ARW […]

LIGHTNINGS AT LAKENHEATH

22nd May 2025

The US Air Force said it planned to make a first international operational deployment with its F -35A s in 2 017, and in April eight aircraf t from Hill AFB, Utah, arrived at R AF Lakenheath, UK, to make that a reality. AFM’s Thomas Newdick det ails this landmark overseas exercise. F-35 IN THE […]

THREE DECADES OF TURKISH VIPERS

22nd May 2025

Turkey celebrates its 30th anniversary as an F-16 ‘Viper’ operator later this year. Since its first aircraft were delivered in October 1987, the fleet has grown into the third largest after those of the United States and Israel, as AFM’s Alan Warnes reports. TURKISH F-16S TURKEY HAS built a strong military to keep safe its […]

Mexico’s Rotary Revival

22nd May 2025

Mexico is upgrading its helicopter fleet to a standard previously unknown in the region. Mariano García and Jose Quevedo visited Escuadrón Aéreo 108, the first Mexican Air Force UH-60M Black Hawk operator, to review the type’s status in military service. MEXICAN BLACK HAWKS THE BLACK Hawk is no stranger to Mexican skies, having made its […]

ITALIAN TORNADO FORCE

22nd May 2025

Ghedi air base, near Brescia in the province of Lombardy, is home to 6º Stormo ‘Alfredo Fusco’. Since the disbandment of 50º Stormo, and 15 5º Gruppo’s return to 6º Stormo, the base has become home to all of Italy’s Tornado squadrons. Niels Roman, Roy van Sonsbeek and Robin Coenders report. ITALIAN TORNADOS HARM-toting MM7070 […]

USAF F-35As deploy to Lakenheath

22nd May 2025

THE US Air Force’s F-35A has made its first overseas training deployment, and the first to Europe by the US Lightning II. Six F-35As from the 34th Fighter Squadron (FS) ‘Rude Rams’, 388th Fighter Wing (FW) and the Air Force Reserve’s 466th FS, 419th F W, Hill Air Force Base, Utah arrived at RAF Lakenheath, […]

First two-seat JF-17B flown in China

22nd May 2025

THE FIRST prototype of the twin-seat JF-17B Thunder multi-role fighter performed its maiden flight at Chengdu, China on April 27. This version was unveiled by CAC/CATIC at the 2013 Paris Air Show and since then some design details have evolved. Most obviously, the new aircraft has a second cockpit and a dorsal spine accommodating relocated […]

Hill ‘Vipers’ debut at TLP

22nd May 2025

THE SECOND Tactical Leadership Programme (TLP) of the year at Albacete air base in Spain saw the debut of F-16C/Ds from the US Air Force’s 388th Fighter Wing (FW) and the 419th FW, an Air Force Reserve Command unit attached to the 388th at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. Eight F-16s were present for the […]

Spanish Hornets begin first BAP mission

22nd May 2025

On their way to Estonia on April 28 are two of the five aircraft assigned to the Spanish ‘Ambar’ Detachment that includes EF-18Ms C.15-23/15-10, C.15-24/15-11, C.15-26/15- 13, C.15-32/15-19 and C.15- 36/15-23. Roberto Yáñez ON APRIL 28 four Ejército del Aire (Spanish Air Force) Ala 15 EF-18Ms and a spare aircraft departed Zaragoza air base for […]

No XV(R) Squadron Tornados to Marham

22nd May 2025

One of eight former No XV(R) Squadron Tornado GR4s transferred to Marham, ZD741 ‘LS-F’, in ‘MacRobert’s Reply’ markings, departs Lossiemouth on April 12 for its ferry flight. This GR4 was due to go into storage at the Norfolk base. Niall Paterson TORNADO GR4s have been transferred from RAF Lossiemouth, Scotland, to RAF Marham, following the […]

First Chinook HC5 for Odiham

22nd May 2025

THE ROYAL Air Force received its first Chinook HC5 when the helicopter arrived at RAF Odiham, Hampshire from the Gosport Fleetlands facility operated by Vector Aerospace, Boeing’s principal subcontractor in the programme, on March 22. ZH901 is the first of eight HC3 versions to be converted under the £400m upgrade as the RAF works towards […]

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