An Italian F-35A and a German Tornado IDS at ILA2022 in Berlin. (Photo: Lockheed Martin) The deliveries of the German 5th gen fighters will begin by 2026. The German Ministry of Defense announced that a Letter of Acceptance (LoA) for the acquisition of 35 F-35 Lightning II fighter jets has been signed. The LoA finally …
F-35A Lightning II
All The German F-35s To Be Stationed At Büchel Air Base
File image of a USAF F-35A ( U.S. Air Force picture by Heide Couch) The F-35A jets of the Luftwaffe(German Air Force )will certainly be based in Büchel, in the Eifel area of western Germany. The Bundeswehr(the militaries of the Federal Republic of Germany)have actually made a decision that all the brand-new F-35A stealth jets …
Dutch F-35s, Canadian F-18s and Italian Tornados Among The Highlights Of Frisian Flag 2022
One of the six CF-188 Hornet of the RCAF that took part in Frisian Flag 2022. (All images: Edwin Schimmel) After being cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic, Frisian Flag 2022 eventually took place, despite the current crisis in Ukraine. Frisian Flag is a large-scale exercise series organized, annually, by the 322 …
Italian F-35s Will Get AIM-9X Block II Air-To-Air Missiles
An Italian Air Force F-35A at Amendola Air Base. (Image credit: David Cenciotti) The missiles will fill a capability gap caused by the IRIS-T not being integrated with the F-35. The Naval Air Systems Command’s (NAVAIR) Air-to-Air Missiles Program Office (PMA-259) just announced that Italy became the 28th Air Intercept Missile (AIM)-9X International Partner on …
F-35 In ‘Beast Mode’, Swing-Role Typhoons And Everything You’ll Find In The 2022 Calendar Of The Italian Air Force
The cover of the 2022 calendar. The 100-1 marks the fact that 2022 will lead to the centenary of the Italian Air Force that will be celebrated in 2023 (on Mar. 28, 2023). (All images: ItAF / Troupe Azzurra) The Italian Air Force 2022 Calendar Marks A Significant Change In The Service’s Communication Strategy. On …
The F-35A Released B61-12 Joint Test Assemblies Completing Final Flight Test Of Nuclear Design Certification
An F-35A Lightning II takes off to complete the final test exercise of the nuclear design certification process at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Sept. 21, 2021 . Test pilots flew to the Tonopah Test Range at Nellis AFB and released two B61-12 Joint Test Assemblies from operationally realistic flight envelopes. (U.S. Air Force photo …
U.S. Air Force Officially Activates 495th Fighter Squadron At RAF Lakenheath
Here is how the future 495th Fighter Squadron’s flagship F-35A might look like. (Original photo by U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Eric Burks, edited by Stefano D’Urso/The Aviationist) The “Valkyries” will be the first Europe-based USAF F-35 squadron, with the first aircraft expected to arrive at their new home later this year. During an official …
Aggressor F-35s Joined The Fight During First Next Generation Red Flag Exercise
An F-35 Lightning II from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, takes off during Red Flag 21-3 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, July 23, 2021. Red Flag was created to increase interoperability, leveraging common perspectives against shared threats. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Miranda A. Loera) Red Flag 21-3 saw the participation of …
Two Russian Tu-160s And Four Flankers Intercepted By Italian F-35s, Danish F-16s and Swedish Gripens Over The Baltic
One of the two Tu-160s involved in the June 15, 2021 mission over the Baltic. (Image credit: Russian MOD) Two Russian Tu-160s, two Su-27s and two Su-35s were escorted at various stages by NATO and Swedish fighters in the Baltic region. Two Russian Tu-160 (NATO reporting name “Blackjack”) bombers carried out an 8-hour mission over …
Check Out These Awesome Shots Of Four RNoAF F-35A Jets Refueling For The First Time From A French C-135 Tanker
Four RNoAF F-35A “breaking” (All images: EMA COM) The aerial refueling of four RNoAF (Royal Norwegian Air Force) F-35A Lightning II stealth aircraft from a French Air Force C-135FR provided an opportunity for some great shots. Last week, a C-135 from Air Refueling Squadron (ERV) 4/31 “Sologne” from Istres Air Base 125, carried out an …