Combat Aircraft Journal

Lockheed

Rare ‘Silver Dragon’ TU-2S sighted

7th May 2024

After almost three years of extensive maintenance by the USAF’s 9th Maintenance Group in collaboration with Lockheed Martin, TU-2S Dragon Lady, (80-1078/‘BB’), graced the skies once more.

Boeing

Arizona ANG’s snakelike KC-135R

15th April 2024

USAF-operated KC-135R Stratotanker (59-1469) assigned to the Arizona ANG’s 161st Air Refueling Wing (ARW) ‘Copperheads’ at Goldwater ANGB – which is co-located at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, Arizona – now sports a special ‘Copperhead Snake’ livery.

Italy

First US Army C-27J begins upgrade in Italy

15th April 2024

The first of seven US Army-operated C-27J Spartan tactical transports to undergo the C-27J 1.2+ avionics update departed Pope Army Airfield in North Carolina on February 19.

Bahrain

Bahrain’s first F-16C/D Block 70s on delivery

10th April 2024

The first three F-16C/D Block 70 Fighting Falcon multi-role fighters for the Royal Bahraini Air Force (RBAF) departed Lockheed Martin’s production facility in Greenville, South Carolina, on their delivery flight to Shaikh Isa Air Base, Bahrain, on March 6.

309th AMARG

‘Bats’ complete final EC-130H sortie

10th April 2024

The USAF’s 43rd Electronic Combat Squadron (ECS) ‘Bats’ – a part of Air Combat Command’s 55th Electronic Combat Group (ECG) – marked a major milestone in its transition to the new Gulfstream G550-based EA-37B Compass Call electronic attack (EA) aircraft on February 15, when the unit completed its final flight with the legacy EC-130H Compass Call (pictured) at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona.

German Air Force

First German KC-130J heads to Évreux

10th April 2024

The Luftwaffe’s (German Air Force’s) first KC-130J Hercules (55+05) departed Lockheed Martin’s production facility in Marietta, Georgia, on February 28 on its delivery flight to Évreux-Fauville Air Base (BA105), France, where it will join the Franco-German Bilateral Air Transport Squadron (BATS).

Beechcraft

First Royal Canadian Air Force CE-145C Vigilance arrives

10th April 2024

The Royal Canadian Air Force’s (RCAF’s) No 8 Wing celebrated the arrival of the first of three new King Air 350ER manned airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (MAISR) aircraft to Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Trenton in Ontario on February 23, writes Tom Kaminski.

Italy

‘Buzzards’ F-16CM pays homage to 31st FW

10th April 2024

The 31st Fighter Wing (FW) at Aviano Air Base in northern Italy – a part of US Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces-Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA) command – has rolled out new special tail art for its flagship F-16CM Fighting Falcon.

Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon

‘Wolf Pack’ honours Op Bolo

9th April 2024

An F-16CM (89-2060/WP) assigned to the 35th FS ‘Pantons’ – part of the USAF’s 8th FW ‘Wolf Pack’ at Kunsan AB, South Korea – has received special two-tone South-East Asia (SEA) camouflage tail.

Boeing

USAF’s final WC-135R arrives at Offutt AFB

5th February 2024

The 45th Reconnaissance Squadron (RS) – a component of the USAF’s 55th Wing – received its third and final WC-135R Constant Phoenix (64-14829/OF) when the aircraft touched down at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska on December 4, writes Tom Kaminski.

Aermacchi MB-339

Frecce Tricolori to star in North American tour

5th February 2024

Initially announced by Gen Luca Goretti – the Chief of Staff of the Italian Air Force – on November 23, Italy’s premier aerobatic team, Frecce Tricolori (Tricolor Arrows), revealed the full details of what will be its first North American tour in more than 30 years on January 1.

Lockheed Martin

Taiwan’s ‘Vipers’ gain US codes in Arizona

5th February 2024

The Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF)-operated F-16V Fighting Falcons assigned to the USAF’s 21st Fighter Squadron ‘Gamblers’ at Morris ANGB in Tucson, Arizona – which are used for the training of Taiwanese F-16 pilots and maintainers – have started to apply removable US serial numbers and insignia, as well as the Morris ANGB-affiliated ‘AZ’ tailcodes to the newly delivered jets.

Gaza Strip

What happened during the first 10 days of the Israel-Hamas War?

20th October 2023

A new chapter in the Middle East conflict was opened on October 7, when Hamas fighters smashed through the southern perimeter fences dividing Israel and Gaza. In the wake of these events, the Israeli government promised retribution against Hamas and to “wipe it from the face of the earth”. We explore what happened during the first ten days of the conflict

Israel

Lo ocurrido durante los 10 primeros días de la guerra entre Israel y Hamás

20th October 2023

El 7 de octubre se abrió un nuevo capítulo en el conflicto de Oriente Medio, cuando combatientes de Hamás rompieron las vallas del perímetro sur que dividen Israel y Gaza. Tras estos acontecimientos, el gobierno israelí prometió represalias contra Hamás y "borrarlo de la faz de la tierra". Analizamos lo sucedido durante los diez primeros días del conflicto.