Retirement

Airlift

Brazil bids fond farewell to legacy Hercules fleet

19th March 2024

The Força Aérea Brasileira (FAB; Brazilian Air Force) bid a fond farewell to its remaining C-130 Hercules tactical transports at Galeão Air Base (AB) in Rio de Janeiro on February 29, with the type having flown more than 377,000 operational flight hours over the past 60 years

BAE Systems Hawk

Canada axes CT-155 Hawk fleet as it reevaluates pilot training programme

19th March 2024

The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) is making major changes to its flight training programme in preparation for the frontline fighter force’s upcoming transition from the CF-188A/B Hornet to the F-35A Lightning II

Agusta-Bell AB.212

Italian Air Force marks end of HH-212A ops with final flight

12th March 2024

The Italian Air Force’s (ItAF’s) 9° Stormo (Wing) held a celebratory event at Grazzanise Air Base on February 22 to mark the final flight of the HH-212A combat search-and-rescue (CSAR) helicopter fleet

Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II

Maryland ANG to lose flying mission after upcoming A-10C departure

12th March 2024

When its 21-strong fleet of A-10C Thunderbolt II close air support/ground attack aircraft are retired from use, the Maryland Air National Guard’s 175th Wing will transition to a new cyber-based mission. Announced on March 7, the move will leave the Maryland ANG without a flying mission

Basic Trainer

Thailand retires PC-9 trainers after 30 years of ops

5th March 2024

After more than 30 years of operational service, the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) bid a fond farewell to its fleet of Pilatus PC-9 single-engine, tandem-seat training aircraft during a retirement ceremony at the RTAF Flying Training School at Kamphaeng Saen Air Base on February 2

309th AMARG

Davis-Monthan AFB bids fond farewell to first ‘Warthog’

28th February 2024

In line with the USAF’s plan to retire its entire fleet of A-10C Thunderbolt II close air support (CAS) aircraft within the next three-to-five years, the 355th Wing (WG) has withdrawn its first ‘Warthog’ from operational use at Davis-Monthan AFB in Arizona, which shares an almost 50-year history with the type

Kaman SH-2 Super Seasprite

New Zealand considers axing Super Seasprite helicopter fleet

27th February 2024

The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) is reportedly considering a move to axe its eight-strong fleet of SH-2G(I) Super Seasprite multi-role maritime helicopters as part of a 6.5% cut in defence spending – equivalent to NZ$150m (US$91.23m) – that has been requested by the New Zealand government

Airbus Helicopters

Germany to retire Tiger gunships six years earlier than planned

20th February 2024

Germany’s Annual Armaments Report – which was published on January 31 – confirmed that Berlin is now bringing forward the planned retirement date for its Tiger UHT attack helicopters by six years from 2038 to 2032

Australia

Australia now ‘burying’ retired MRH-90 fleet despite Ukrainian interest

30th January 2024

Over recent months, the Australian Army has been scrapping and subsequently burying its problematic fleet of MRH-90 Taipan (NH90 TTH) tactical transport helicopters – which were removed from operational service more than a year earlier than planned – despite recent second-hand interest from Ukraine

Retirement

US Army plots major UH-60 Black Hawk fleet reduction

9th January 2024

The US Army is moving forward with plans to reduce the size of its UH-60 Black Hawk battlefield utility helicopter fleet by approximately 7.5%. This reduction will include roughly 157 legacy UH-60A+ and UH-60L airframes, all of which are operated by the Army’s active-duty component

Retirement

El Ejército de EE.UU. planea una importante reducción de la flota de UH-60 Black Hawk

9th January 2024

El Ejército de Tierra de los Estados Unidos tiene previsto reducir su flota de helicópteros de combate UH-60 Black Hawk en aproximadamente un 7,5%. Esta reducción incluirá aproximadamente 157 fuselajes UH-60A+ y UH-60L heredados, todos ellos operados por el componente de servicio activo del Ejército.

Croatia

Croatia’s Cold War-era MiG-21 fighter fleet enters twilight months of service

9th January 2024

As originally planned, the Croatian Air Force is set to begin retiring its aging fleet of Cold War-era MiG-21 Fishbed fighters in the coming months, with the type being replaced by a fleet of second-hand Dassault Rafale B/Cs

Croatia

La flota croata de MiG-21 de la era de la Guerra Fría entra en sus últimos meses de servicio

9th January 2024

Tal y como estaba previsto en un principio, la Fuerza Aérea Croata (CroAF) comenzará a retirar en los próximos meses su vetusta flota de cazas MiG-21 Fishbed de la época de la Guerra Fría, que serán sustituidos por una flota de Dassault Rafale B/C de segunda mano.

Norway

Noruega despide a los Reyes del Mar abdicantes

11th December 2023

La Real Fuerza Aérea Noruega (RNoAF) retiró el 27 de noviembre el último de sus helicópteros de búsqueda y salvamento (SAR) Sea King Mk 43B, poniendo fin a más de 50 años de servicio operativo.

Norway

Norway bids farewell to abdicating Sea Kings

11th December 2023

The Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF) retired the last of its Sea King Mk 43B search-and-rescue helicopters on November 27, bringing to an end more than 50 years of operational service

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Retirement

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