Air Force Archives - Page 39 of 2536

Saudi Arabia orders four more Airbus A330 MRTT aircraft

Posted on July 11, 2024 by alert5

Airbus has secured a new order from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for four additional A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft. These aircraft will bolster the Royal Saudi Air Force’s (RSAF) aerial refueling and strategic airlift capabilities.

Colin Cooke Photo, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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F-15E with unique air-to-air kill surpasses 15,000 flight hours during combat mission

Posted on July 10, 2024July 10, 2024 by alert5

A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle, tail number #89-0487 and nicknamed “Lucky,” has achieved a remarkable feat, surpassing 15,000 flight hours during a combat sortie on May 17. This accomplishment marks a significant milestone for this Strike Eagle which is the only F-15E credited with an air-to-air kill.

F-15E Strike Eagle aircrew, consisting of a pilot and weapon systems officer, exit the cockpit at an undisclosed location in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, May 17, 2024. The Strike Eagle consists of two aircrew who employ the advanced weapon system’s radar, electronic warfare sensors, and traditional weapons loadouts. (U.S. Air Force photo)

U.S. Marines and RAAF achieve F-35 pilot interchangeability

Posted on July 9, 2024July 9, 2024 by alert5

In June 2024, during a joint training exercise at RAAF Base Tindal, Australia, two United States Marine Corps (USMC) F-35B pilots from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 214 successfully flew Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) F-35A aircraft. This accomplishment signifies a significant step towards interchangeable operations between the two forces.

From left, Royal Australian Air Force Flight Lieutenant Stuart Atkin, an F-35A Lightning II pilot with the RAAF No. 75 Squadron; RAAF Squadron Leader Brett Gordon, an F-35A Lightning II pilot with the RAAF No. 75 Squadron; U.S. Marine Corps Maj. John Rose, an F-35B Lightning II pilot and executive officer of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 214, Marine Aircraft Group 13, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing; and RAAF Flight Lieutenant Nicholas Ebzery, an F-35A Lightning II pilot with the RAAF No. 75 Squadron, pose for a picture after a flight at RAAF Base Tindal, Northern Territory, Australia, June 13, 2024. Leaders with VMFA-214, a USMC F-35B squadron, flew the RAAF F-35A during bilateral training, exhibiting interchangeability between RAAF and U.S. Marine aviation. VMFA-214 deployed more than 200 Marines and eight F-35B Lightning II aircraft from Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, to RAAF Base Tindal, Australia, to conduct bilateral training with the RAAF No. 3 Squadron and No. 75 Squadron. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nicholas Johnson)

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US offers F-16 loan to Thailand, high interest raises concerns

Posted on July 5, 2024 by alert5

The Biden administration has proposed a loan to the Royal Thai Air Force (RTA) to facilitate the purchase of a complete fleet of F-16 Block 70 fighter jets. This offer aims to modernize the RTA’s aging fleet and potentially streamline the acquisition process by allowing for a larger upfront purchase instead of buying four to five planes at a time.

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon prepares to depart after receiving fuel from a KC-135R Stratotanker over Southwest Asia, Feb. 3, 2021. The F-16 is a compact, multi-role fighter aircraft that delivers airpower to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Taylor Harrison) (This image has been altered for security reasons)

U.S. Air Force in Japan get major fighter upgrades

Posted on July 4, 2024July 4, 2024 by alert5

The U.S. Air Force presence at Kadena Air Base, Japan will undergo a transformation. The current fleet of F-15C/D aircraft being rotated out will be permanently replaced with a smaller contingent of the latest Boeing F-15EX variant.