Aviation News
Greece has declined a request from the Baltic nations of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia to take part in air patrols over their airspace. The Baltic countries, which lack their own fighter jets, had asked Greece to send F-16s to contribute to the NATO air policing mission, which helps safeguard their skies.
Continue reading “Greece declines NATO Baltic Air Policing mission”
At 102 years old, retired Captain Jim Kunkle received a tribute that few could imagine: a KC-135R Stratotanker adorned with the colours of his wartime P-38. Kunkle, a P-38 pilot from the 401st Fighter Squadron during World War II, was honoured by the Nebraska Air National Guard’s 155th Air Refueling Wing at the Central Coast AirFest last month. The newly painted KC-135 features black-and-white invasion stripes and nose art inspired by Kunkle’s P-38.
A MH-53 helicopter that was assigned to the U.S. Navy’s Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron Twelve (HM-12) has flown its final flight and retired at Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum in Florida.
Photo: U.S. Navy
Continue reading “DRAGON 437 retires”
The Royal Netherlands Army is poised to significantly enhance its short-range air defence (SHORAD) capabilities with the acquisition of the National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (NASAMS) and the National Manoeuvre Air Defence System (NOMADS) from Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace. This acquisition, valued at approximately $1 billion, is expected to commence deliveries in 2028 as part of the comprehensive integrated air and missile defence program known as CITADEL.
Photo: KONGSBERG
Continue reading “Netherlands Strengthens Defence with NASAMS and NOMADS Acquisition”
An EA-18G Growler from Electronic Attack Squadron 130 (VAQ-130), known as the “Zappers,” crashed into a mountainside east of Mount Rainier on Oct. 15. The aircraft, which took off from Oak Harbor on a routine training flight, crashed at 3:23 p.m. The condition of the two crew members on board remains unknown.