Multi-Role Fighter
US, UK strike Houthi targets in Yemen in retaliation to Red Sea shipping attacks
The US and UK – with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada and the Netherlands – carried out joint retaliatory strikes on more than 60 targets at 16 different Houthi facilities across Yemen on January 12, with the aim of degrading the Iran-backed militant group from continuing their illegal attacks on multinational shipping vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden
USAF to replace Kadena's outgoing legacy Eagles with F-15EXs?
The USAF is reportedly considering a plan to permanently replace the legacy F-15C/D Eagle fighters assigned to the 18th Wing at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, with a smaller number of new F-15EX Eagle IIs
US, Singapore plotting to base F-15SG Strike Eagles on Guam?
The USAF is assessing proposed infrastructure improvements at Andersen AFB, which would permit the basing of up to 12 Republic of Singapore Air Force-operated F-15SG Strike Eagle multi-role fighters and their relevant mission support infrastructure in Guam – a US island territory in the western Pacific Ocean
Croatia’s Cold War-era MiG-21 fighter fleet enters twilight months of service
As originally planned, the Croatian Air Force is set to begin retiring its aging fleet of Cold War-era MiG-21 Fishbed fighters in the coming months, with the type being replaced by a fleet of second-hand Dassault Rafale B/Cs
Ukraine charts success in New Year strikes against Russian forces
The Su-24M Fencer-D tactical bomber fleet of the Ukrainian Air Force has carried out yet another successful strike, using the UK/French-supplied Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG air-launched cruise missiles against high-value targets in Russian-occupied Crimea on December 26
Checkered Flag brings Tyndall-based F-35As closer to combat readiness
The 325th Fighter Wing at Tyndall AFB, Florida, is well into its transition from an air dominance training and F-22A conversion mission towards being a fully combat-capable fighter wing equipped with more than 70 F-35A Lightning IIs and this was furthered during Exercise Checkered Flag 24-1
Belgian ‘Vipers’ intercept Russian Su-30s over the Baltic
Belgian F-16AM/BM (MLU) Fighting Falcons were launched from Šiauliai Air Base, Lithuania, to intercept Russian fighter aircraft over the Baltic Sea on December 6 – within one week of the Belgian Air Force taking over the lead of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission
Iran agrees to buy Su-35SEs and Mi-28NMEs from Russia
In a dramatic announcement on November 28, the Iranian Defense Minister, Brig Gen Mohammad Reza Gharaei Ashtiani, said the agreement between Iran and Russia over the procurement of Su-35SE Flanker-E multi-role fighters for the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force was back on, but added that the nation will also be acquiring Mi-28NME Havoc attack helicopters for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Army Aviation
Lockheed Martin rolls out first F-35A for Belgium
Lockheed Martin formally presented the first F-35A Lightning II for Belgium to representatives from the Belgian government during a rollout ceremony at the company’s F-35 production facility in Fort Worth, Texas, on December 10
First F-35B for Royal Navy’s 809 NAS on show at RAF Marham
The first F-35B to be assigned to the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm’s 809 Naval Air Squadron – which is being formally stood up today (December 8) as the UK’s second operational frontline Lightning II squadron at RAF Marham in Norfolk – has received special markings to celebrate the occasion