ROKAF McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II retirement ceremony

The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) held a meticulously planned ceremony on Friday, Jun. 7th, at Suwon Air Base to bid farewell to its legendary F-4 Phantom fighter jets after an impressive 55-year service record. Nicknamed “Dokkaebi” (Korean goblin) for their versatility, the Phantoms were revered as guardians of South Korean skies.

Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) F-4E Phantom
Alert5, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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Reservists prove mettle with Manually Operated Lift Truck in Agile Combat Training

A recent training exercise conducted by the 419th Fighter Wing, a US Air Force Reserve unit, focused on evaluating the effectiveness of the Multi-Capable Airmen (MCA) concept within the Agile Combat Employment (ACE) strategy. One key aspect of the exercise involved demonstrating the viability of using a Manually Operated Lift Truck (MOLT) for weapons loading in remote environments.

Staff Sgt. Shelbi Campbell and Staff Sgt. Robert Cheek work the crank of a manually-operated lift truck during a wing exercise at Marine Corps Station Miramar May 15, 2024. The 419th Fighter Wing exercise was designed, in part, to demonstrate effective training with a MOLT in remote environments. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kayla Barker)

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Air Guard F-15Cs sharpen skills alongside Marine F-35Bs in joint training

California Air National Guard’s 144th Fighter Wing (144 FW) recently hosted Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211 (VMFA-211) for a joint training exercise focused on fighter integration. The F-35B Lightning IIs from Arizona arrived at Fresno Air National Guard Base on Jun. 7th, to train alongside the 144th FW’s F-15C Eagle fighter jets.

An F-35B Lightning II is refueled on the flightline of the Fresno Air National Guard Base, California, while parked next to an F-15C Eagle, June 8, 2024. F-35s from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211 and F-15s from the 144th Fighter Wing conducted fourth and fifth generation fighter integration training June 7-9, 2024, to refine and sharpen their skills while completing required flight training hours.(U.S. Air National Guard photo by Maj. Jason Sanchez)

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F-22 Raptor surpasses 500,000 flight hours

The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, a symbol of American air dominance for over two decades, continues to rack up impressive milestones. Having recently surpassed a staggering 500,000 flight hours for the entire fleet, the F-22 remains unmatched in its combination of stealth, speed, agility, and integrated avionics. First deployed in 2005, this fifth-generation fighter continues to prove its worth as a cornerstone of U.S. air defense.

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