Khalem Chapman
Carl Vinson completes first Indo-Pacific deployment with Block III Super Hornets
The US Navy’s Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) – the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 1 (CSG-1) – returned to its homeport at NAS North Island in San Diego, California, on February 23, after completing a four-month deployment to the Western Pacific region and marking the end of the first operational cruise for the service’s new F/A-18E/F Block III Super Hornets
Singapore to buy eight more Lightning IIs
Singapore will acquire eight examples of the conventional take-off and landing (CTOL)-configured F-35A Lightning II fifth-generation multi-role stealth fighter to supplement the 12 short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL)-capable F-35Bs it has already purchased
First Dutch AH-64E arrives at Gilze-Rijen
The first AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopter for the Royal Netherlands Air Force’s (RNLAF’s) No 301 Squadron landed at Gilze-Rijen Air Base – the unit’s home-base – for the first time on March 14
Ukraine’s first future F-16 pilots complete basic flying training with RAF
The RAF revealed on February 24 that the first cohort of Ukrainian Air Force (UkrAF) pilots to receive basic flying training (BFT) in the UK have now completed their syllabus and are now learning to fly the F-16 Fighting Falcon
T-7A Red Hawk endures month-long climatic testing at Eglin AFB
The USAF has marked a significant milestone in the operational development of its new advanced jet trainer, the T-7A Red Hawk, after a Boeing-operated test aircraft (21-7003) completed a month-long extreme weather trial inside the McKinley Climatic Laboratory at Eglin AFB, Florida, on February 23
Thailand retires PC-9 trainers after 30 years of ops
After more than 30 years of operational service, the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) bid a fond farewell to its fleet of Pilatus PC-9 single-engine, tandem-seat training aircraft during a retirement ceremony at the RTAF Flying Training School at Kamphaeng Saen Air Base on February 2
Wisconsin ANG's 'Badger Air Militia' embarks on first F-35A training deployment
A number of F-35A Lightning IIs and more than 150 airmen from the Wisconsin Air National Guard’s (ANG’s) 115th Fighter Wing (FW) – which is home-based at Truax Field ANGB in Madison – completed the Weapons System Evaluation Program’s (WSEP’s) Exercise Combat Archer at Tyndall AFB, Florida, on February 23
Hungary orders four more Gripen Cs
Saab inked a contract with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) covering an order for four more single-seat JAS 39C Gripen multi-role fighters for the Hungarian Air Force (HuAF) on February 23
Davis-Monthan AFB bids fond farewell to first ‘Warthog’
In line with the USAF’s plan to retire its entire fleet of A-10C Thunderbolt II close air support (CAS) aircraft within the next three-to-five years, the 355th Wing (WG) has withdrawn its first ‘Warthog’ from operational use at Davis-Monthan AFB in Arizona, which shares an almost 50-year history with the type
New Zealand considers axing Super Seasprite helicopter fleet
The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) is reportedly considering a move to axe its eight-strong fleet of SH-2G(I) Super Seasprite multi-role maritime helicopters as part of a 6.5% cut in defence spending – equivalent to NZ$150m (US$91.23m) – that has been requested by the New Zealand government