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Category: Air Force

Hellenic Air Force eyes Mirage 2000 sale to India

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The Hellenic Air Force (HAF) is exploring options for its retired Mirage 2000 fleet, with India emerging as a potential buyer for the 18 Mirage 2000 EGM/BGM jets grounded in 2022. This move comes amidst broader questions about the future of the Mirage 2000-5 fleet and the HAF’s evolving fighter force composition.

HAF Mirage 2000-5B
Jerry Gunner from Lincoln, UK, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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USAF F-16 and C-17 to electrify Warbirds Over Wanaka airshow

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The Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow, scheduled for Easter weekend, has secured a major coup with the confirmation of the United States Air Force participation. Both the iconic F-16 Fighting Falcon and the mighty C-17 Globemaster III demonstration teams will grace the skies above New Zealand, adding a thrilling international dimension to the event.

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Vietnam’s fighter choice hinges on more than just hardware, analyst says

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As Vietnam gears up to select its next-generation fighter jet, Ian Storey, a Senior Fellow at ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, suggests the decision carries more than just military implications. In a recent Fulcrum.sg analysis, Dr. Storey highlights the strategic balancing act Vietnam faces as it weighs options from both Russia and the US.

Vietnamese Su-22M4 with Kh-25s
Hoangprs5, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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3rd AS tests new combat offload method for the C-17

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The 3rd Airlift Squadron (AS) of the 436th Airlift Wing has successfully concluded trials of a novel C-17 Globemaster III combat offload procedure dubbed “Method C,” marking a potential leap forward in cargo delivery efficiency and safety. This innovative technique eliminates the need for traditional forklifts or other ground vehicles, utilizing a system of rollers and conveyor belts to safely transfer palletized cargo from the aircraft directly to the ground.

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jared Soucy, 3rd Airlift Squadron loadmaster, adjusts the winch on a C-17 Globemaster III during combat offload Method C testing at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, Jan. 23, 2024. The new combat offload Method C would allow C-17s to deliver cargo without the assistance of any material handling equipment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Amanda Jett)

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Hawaii Air National Guard wraps up Sentry Aloha 24-01 Exercise

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The Hawaii Air National Guard’s Sentry Aloha 24-01 exercise, a large-scale, joint training event, successfully concluded on Jan. 31 after two intensive weeks. Designed to enhance war fighting capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region, the exercise saw participation from over 700 personnel and 40 aircraft across the Department of Defense (DoD) and Australia.

A Hawaii Air National Guard F-22 Raptor, U.S. Navy F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler from VX-9 China Lake, U.S. Navy F-35 Lightning II from VX-9 Det Edwards, and the Royal Australian Air Force’s E-7A Wedgetail from the No. 2 Squadron fly in formation during Sentry Aloha 24-01 Jan. 30, 2024, Pacific Ocean, Hawaii. Sentry Aloha is an ongoing series of exercises hosted by the HIANG’s 154th Wing enabling tailored, cost effective and realistic combat training for Air National Guard, U.S. Air Force, and other Department of Defense services to provide U.S. warfighters with the skill sets necessary to perform homeland defense and overseas combat missions. (U.S. Navy Courtesy Photo)

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