Deployment
US aircraft carriers deploy as deterrent against escalating Israel-Hamas conflict
The US Navy’s Carrier Strike Group 12 arrived in the eastern Mediterranean Sea on October 10 to act as a deterrent to any actor seeking to escalate the situation or widen the war with Israel
USMC’s ‘Silver Eagles’ conclude final legacy Hornet deployment
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 115 (VMFA-115) ‘Silver Eagles’ departed MCAS Iwakuni in Japan on September 28, marking the conclusion of a six-month Unit Deployment Program tour in the Indo-Pacific region with Marine Aircraft Group 12 (MAG-12)
US Navy’s unmanned MQ-4C Triton fleet achieves IOC
Northrop Grumman’s MQ-4C Triton HALE UAV achieved Initial Operational Capability with the US Navy in early September
USAF B-2As conclude Bomber Task Force deployment to Iceland
Three B-2A Sprit stealth bombers from the USAF’s 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman AFB, Missouri, landed at NAS Keflavik in Iceland on August 13 to begin a month-long Bomber Task Force-Europe deployment
RAF Chinooks take part in Vortex Warrior at El Centro
Chinook HC5/HC6s and air/ground crews from the RAF’s No 27 Squadron at RAF Odiham, Hampshire, recently deployed to Naval Air Facility El Centro in California in August to conduct specialist desert flying training in Exercise Vortex Warrior
Japanese F-35As mark first overseas deployment for Australian exercise
Four F-35A Lightning IIs from the 3rd Air Wing departed Misawa Air Base – the unit’s home base – for Australia on August 25 to participate in the two-week Exercise Bushido Guardian 2023, marking the first overseas deployment for the type in operational Japan Air Self-Defense Force service
Germany deploys EF-2000s to Iceland for Rapid Viking 2023
The German Air Force has deployed six Eurofighter EF-2000s and 30 personnel from Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 73 (TaktLwG 73; Tactical Air Force Wing 73) ‘Steinhoff’ to Iceland as part of Exercise Rapid Viking 2023
‘KC Hawgs’ in Greece: USAF A-10Cs return for Defender Europe 23
Ten A-10C Thunderbolt IIs assigned to the 303rd Fighter Squadron ‘KC Hawgs’ visited Europe in May this year to take part in the US Army’s Exercise Defender Europe 23. George Karavantos reports on the role they played in the exercise and examines how this elderly stalwart of the American forces still lives to fight another day
US to send F-16s, F-35s to tackle Iranian attacks on oil tankers
The US is to send F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-35 Lightning II multi-role fighters to the Middle East in a bid to counter an increase in Iranian attacks on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, the Pentagon has revealed
Australia to send E-7A Wedgetail to support Ukraine supply effort
The Royal Australian Air Force will deploy a single Boeing E-7A Wedgetail AEW&C aircraft to Germany to help protect the vital gateway of international humanitarian aid and military assistance to Ukraine; a move that demonstrates Australia’s support for the war-torn nation as it continues to defend against the ongoing Russian invasion