Aviation Articles

Operation Desert Storm: RAF Jaguars over the Gulf

Key.Aero charts the formidable efforts of the Royal Air Force SEPECAT Jaguar Detachment during the 1991 Gulf War

Albania receives first Black Hawks from US Army

A pair of surplus UH-60A Black Hawk battlefield utility helicopters, which were formerly operated by the US Army, were delivered to Rinas Air Base, near Tirana in Albania, on January 13

News Freemium

US GAO says SOCOM should 'slow down' with Armed Overwatch acquisition

The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) has recommended that US Special Operations Command (SOCOM) should slow down its acquisition of the AT-802U Sky Warden, pending a more thorough analysis of the fleet size that is needed

News Freemium

Spain offers second-hand Eurofighters to Colombia

The Colombian Air Force received a new Eurofighter Typhoon proposal from the Spanish government in early December, with the proposed deal reportedly covering the supply of between 12-16 second-hand Tranche 2 Eurofighters from the Spanish Air and Space Force

Lockheed Martin tests AOEW system on US Navy MH-60R

Lockheed Martin has supported a successful government test of the firm’s Advanced Off-Board Electronic Warfare (AOEW) system on a US Navy-operated MH-60R Seahawk multi-mission maritime helicopter at NAS Patuxent River in Maryland

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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

RAF Poseidon Force to gain UK-made Sting Ray torpedoes

The UK Ministry of Defence will integrate the British-made Sting Ray acoustic homing lightweight torpedo onto the RAF’s fleet of P-8A Poseidon MRA1 maritime patrol aircraft, with the munition set to augment the type’s current US-made Mk 54 Lightweight Torpedo

Feature Freemium

RAF aircrew training – the problems and way ahead

The RAF’s training system has been the topic of countless news headlines in recent years, leaving trainees on hold for months, awaiting a pilot flying slot. Added to this have been unfortunate cost-cutting exercises. Jon Lake looks through the chaos to see if there’s a solution 

Feature Freemium

Next-generation AWACS ­– Boeing’s E-7 Wedgetail

Boeing’s E-7 Wedgetail was expected to take over from the E-3 AWACS as it departed, but this hasn’t happened. Delays and cost overruns have meant the aircraft has not yet reached its full potential. However, a recent order by the USAF might be just what it needs, says Jon Lake.

Where all the F-22 Raptors are based and why

From a lofty original ambition of fielding 750 F-22s, regular USAF budget reductions saw a total force of fewer than 200. In a recent Key Publishing special magazine on the F-22 Raptor, Jon Lake looks at where and why they are based.