The sun dipped low over the Arizona desert as two E-2C Hawkeyes, their wings casting long shadows across the tarmac, made its final approaches. The aircraft, belonging to Airborne Command & Control Squadron (VAW) 123, touched down gently at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, the last of their kind to leave the squadron’s care. This event marks the end of an era for VAW-123 and the beginning of its full transition to the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye.
240909-N-N0783-1003 TUCSON, Ariz. – An E-2C Hawkeye aircraft assigned to Airborne Command & Control Squadron (VAW) 123 prepares to land Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, the largest aircraft boneyard in the world in Tucson, in September 2024. VAW-123 transferred two of their four E-2C Hawkeye aircraft to the boneyard. This event was part of the squadron’s transition to the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye to be completed in mid-2025. (Photo courtesy U.S. Navy) Continue reading “VAW-123 retires E-2C Hawkeye, embraces E-2D Advanced Hawkeye era”
The world-renowned Exocet anti-ship missile family reached a new milestone with the 4,000th unit rolling off the production line at MBDA’s facility in the Centre region of France. The landmark missile was recently handed over to the French Navy, marking a significant achievement for both MBDA and the French armed forces.
In a historic first, the United States Navy successfully launched a Naval Strike Missile (NSM) from a destroyer during Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2024. This significant event marks a key advancement in the Navy’s capabilities. While the NSM has been integrated onto several Littoral Combat Ships, this firing represents a crucial expansion of the weapon system.
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62), while participating in Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2024, fires the first naval strike missile from a U.S. destroyer July 18. Twenty-nine nations, 40 surface ships, three submarines, 14 national land forces, more than 150 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC in and around the Hawaiian Islands, June 27 to Aug. 1. The world’s largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity while fostering and sustaining cooperative relationships among participants critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world’s oceans. RIMPAC 2024 is the 29th exercise in the series that began in 1971. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jordan Jennings) Continue reading “A first for the Burkes: Fitzgerald launches NSM”
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.
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.
