Swiss Air Force's ADS 15 reconnaissance UAV completes first local flight
A successful first flight in Switzerland has been completed by the Swiss Air Force’s Aufklärungsdrohnensystems 15 (ADS 15, Reconnaissance Drone System 15) at Emmen Air Base
The role of the USAF's U-2 spy plane in monitoring the war in Ukraine
The motto of the U-2 pilots is ‘In God We Trust, All Others We Monitor’. The Dragon Lady has been a key asset in many conflicts, not least the war in Ukraine. Combat Aircraft Journal reports
The dramatic role of RAF Hurricanes in the Battle of El Alamein
This year marks the 80th anniversary of World War Two’s pivotal Battle of El Alamein in North Africa. Andrew Thomas reflects on the dramatic role played by Hawker Hurricane ‘tank busters’ from the RAF’s 6 Squadron
Netherlands selects C-390M to replace Hercules
Five Embraer C-390M Millennium transport aircraft are to be acquired by the Netherlands to replace the four current Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) C-130H/H-30 Hercules
When conscripts flew RAF fighters
The days when National Service pilots flew RAF jet fighters are understandably long gone, but memories remain strong – not least amongst those who piloted Meteors
How will Tempest push the UK further into the digital air combat age?
AirForces Monthly explores the key digital characteristics of Tempest, the UK’s next-generation combat aircraft
USAF KC-46A in-flight refuels CV-22B for the first time
The USAF’s Boeing KC-46A Pegasus tanker fleet reached another milestone on June 1, after the type successfully refuelled a CV-22B Osprey tiltrotor in flight for the first time
No 312 Squadron: Inside the last Dutch F-16 unit
AirForces Monthly visits No 312 Squadron, the Royal Netherlands Air Force’s only fully operational fighter unit and sole remaining employer of the F-16AM/BM (MLU) Fighting Falcon, as it prepares to transition to the F-35A Lightning II
Bomber Command raid on Renault plant
Bomber Command’s raid against the Renault works at Billancourt on 3 March 1942 was a pivotal one for several reasons. Not only did it see the first application of new operational techniques under Arthur Harris, but post-strike reconnaissance brought to the fore the outstanding qualities of the new de Havilland Mosquito
Inside the UK MOD’s New Medium Helicopter Programme
The UK is preparing to divest four legacy rotorcraft fleets, replacing them with a single solution under the MOD’s New Medium Helicopter programme. AirForces Monthly details the competition so far and explore the candidates on offer
Your source for all the latest Airforce and military aircraft news
As the latest fifth-generation platform, the Lockheed Martin F-35 is in use globally for international partner airforces, from the United States Airforce (USAF) to the RAF and the Australian airforce, the sixth-generation fighters are already on the drawing board.
Find out which airforces are looking at virtual cockpits, networked platforms and piloted aircraft working with drone wingmen for the stealth fighters of the 2030s and discover which airforces are planning to replace their existing fleets with the fighter planes of the future.
Military Aircraft Retirement and Technology Updates
International forces around the world are deploying military aircraft manufactured in France, Russia and America including aircraft from Saab, France’s Dassault Rafale, Russian Mig-29s and the Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon, which it will operate for years to come.
What will also be flying well into the next decade is the USAF’s Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor air superiority fighter. The next decade will also see the USAF’s newest stealth bomber, the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider enter service, while the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress strategic bomber will be in its seventh decade of operational service after refurbishments and restorations. This page is the only place you need to be to find out all the latest news on retirements and new deployments.
Be the first to find out which existing platforms such as France’s Dassault Mirage 2000 light weight jet and the Eurofighter Typhoon are facing the need for wholesale technology updates. The Eurofighter is being upgraded for an electronic warfare role in the 2020s and the USAF is improving some of its Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcons with F-35 fifth generation technology.
From restorations to retirement and procurement, international projects for new networked technologies including piloted and autonomous platforms and the contracts to manufacture them, all of this fast-moving defence aviation news and analysis can be found here.
Related Airforce Topics
Want to find out more about other types of military aircraft? We have dedicated pages for the latest Military Aircraft Shows, Military Fighter Aircraft and all the latest cutting-edge Military Aircraft Technology.
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