Australia’s air intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities took a significant step forward this week after three Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) platforms reached major milestones within the space of six months, the Department of Defence announced on Sept. 22.
This image has been digitally altered. *** Local Caption *** On Tuesday 22 September 2026, Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, the Honourable Richard Marles MP, accompanied by Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Stephen Chappell DSC, CSC, OAM, visited RAAF Base Edinburgh to announce a series of significant milestones for Australia’s Air Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (Air ISR) capabilities. The Acting Prime Minister announced the achievement of Initial Operational Capability (IOC) for the MQ-4C Triton and MC-55A Peregrine, the completion of major upgrades to the first two P-8A Poseidon aircraft in Australia’s fleet in the United States, and the forthcoming commencement of upgrades to the remaining fleet at the recently opened Deep Maintenance and Modification Facility at RAAF Base Edinburgh. These milestones represent a significant enhancement to the Royal Australian Air Force’s ability to deliver persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance effects across Australia’s primary area of military interest. RAAF Base Edinburgh is the Royal Australian Air Force’s principal Air ISR hub and home to No. 92 Wing, which operates the P-8A Poseidon, MQ-4C Triton and MC-55A Peregrine through Nos. 9, 10, 11, 12 and 292 Squadrons. Built through years of collaboration between Defence, industry and the United States, Australias integrated Air ISR fleet continues to grow.
Continue reading “Australia completes Poseidon fleet, declares IOC for Triton and Peregrine”
Category: Air Force
Inert Sentinel missile goes vertical at Vandenberg as program targets 2027 flight
The U.S. Air Force and Northrop Grumman have assembled an inert LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile in its operational, vertical orientation at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. The stacking concluded a four-month test campaign called Pathfinder and keeps the program on track for its first flight test in 2027, the Air Force and the company said Sept. 14.
Photo: Northrop Grumman
Continue reading “Inert Sentinel missile goes vertical at Vandenberg as program targets 2027 flight”
RSAF opens new runway 03/21 at Changi East
The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) has brought a new runway into service at Changi East, with Runway 03/21 becoming operational from Sept. 17 1600UTC, (0000hrs, Sept. 18 local time), according to an AIP Supplement published by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS).
Continue reading “RSAF opens new runway 03/21 at Changi East”
U.S. Air Force tests new small cruise missile in combat
U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) has evaluated a new small cruise missile in a live combat setting, an unusual step for a weapon system that has not yet entered full-rate production, the command announced Sept. 14.
Photo: AFSOC
Continue reading “U.S. Air Force tests new small cruise missile in combat”
Ramstein Air Base sees historic taxiway landing
For the first time in its history, an aircraft touched down at Ramstein Air Base without ever using the runway. On Aug. 18, a 37th Airlift Squadron aircrew of the United States Air Force landed a C-130J on a taxiway during a wing exercise, marking the first time an airplane has landed at Ramstein without using a runway.
.jpg)
U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Joseph Curzi, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Continue reading “Ramstein Air Base sees historic taxiway landing”