PENSACOLA, Fla. (July 27, 2020) The first Blue Angels F/A-18 Super Hornet is parked on the flight line at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. The Blue Angels are slated to transition to the F/A-18 Super Hornet later this year after using the F/A-18 Hornet for 34 years. (U.S. Navy photo's by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Cody Hendrix/Released)




EAST CHINA SEA (July 29, 2020) Sailors, assigned to the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin (DDG 89) attach cargo to a helicopter assigned to the dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Washington Chambers (T-AKE 11) during a vertical replenishment. Mustin is underway conducting operations in support of security and stability in the Indo-Pacific while assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy?s largest forward-deployed DESRON and the U.S. 7th Fleet?s principal surface force. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Cody Beam)

Vineyard, Utah, July 30, 2020 ? Armasuisse contracted Lockheed Martin (LMT) for a fleet of Indago 3 small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), with options for spares, training and tech support and additional systems for the Swiss Army.

Indago provides aerial reconnaissance in environments unreachable by normal fixed-wing, unmanned aircraft systems.

The first phase comprises manufacturing development to optimize the Indago 3?s configuration to meet Swiss Army requirements. These include:
Integration of a transponder for sense and avoid;
Installation of the Silvus Technologies? radio; and
Implementation of Lockheed Martin CDL Systems? VCSi Touch SUAS Ground Control System software that includes access to Swiss maps, including digital terrain elevation data (DTED), and Geofencing.

The first set of optimized systems will be delivered later this year with the remaining systems to be delivered several months following the first delivery. These Indago 3s will support tactical level reconnaissance and surveillance to support information collection, search and rescue, disaster relief and battle damage assessment.

?Indago 3 is uniquely qualified to support the Swiss Army?s mission needs,? said Steve Fortson, UAS Portfolio manager at Lockheed Martin. ?Indagos operate very quietly from relatively low altitude and provide high fidelity sensor imagery. They are simple to use and require minimal training so soldiers can quickly execute their mission. The Silvus Technologies radios also deliver best-in-class performance and efficiency in a miniature package. They?re ideal for use in portable and embedded applications where size, weight, power and cost are key.?

Depending on payloads and operating environment, Indago 3 has a flight time of up to 50 minutes, a range of 10 kilometers, a cruise speed of 25 knots and dash at up to 40 knots. It can also operate at temperatures as low as 30-degrees below zero and as high as 120 degrees Fahrenheit. It?s cyber-secure with high fidelity color and infrared 3-axis stabilized sensors ? and at approximately 5 lbs., Indago can be easily transported by a single backpack and deployed in less than three minutes.

Personnel based at RAF Odiham
have returned from a demanding and intense four-month operational tour in the West African state of Mali supporting the French-led Op Barkhane counter insurgency operations in the region.

During the tour, the Chinooks of 1310 Flt have carried out several significant operations. One of them saw the Chinooks conducting a series of company sized air lifts of units of the French Army?s Groupement Tactique Desert 1 across central Mali.
During one phase of the operation a Chinook flew through the night alongside French Caiman helicopters to insert over 130 troops to conduct a clearance patrol in force. After 36 hours on the ground the French troops were recovered back to Gao, the Chinooks main operating base.
(photo's MOD)

News Article / July 29, 2020
450 Tactical Helicopter Squadron (THS) is located in Petawawa, Ontario. At a time when much of the world is running on a reduced capacity due to the challenges of COVID-19, the ?Vikings? of 450 THS have barely skipped a beat. The Squadron continues to cover off a wide array of essential tasks and responsibilities that come with operating one of the most versatile and capable assets in the Canadian Armed Forces.

450 THS primarily focuses on providing tactical airlift, logistical resupply, and forward aeromedical evacuation to the Canadian Army and Special Operations Forces. 450 THS is also mandated to hold a stand-by posture in support of OPERATION LENTUS at all times. Members on stand-by may be called upon to deploy domestically in support of local governments or other agencies that are in need of urgent help. Crews from 450 THS have deployed several times in recent history in order to provide disaster relief efforts. On the afternoon of May 27th 2020, a crew of seven ?Vikings? from 450 THS were called upon by the Joint Rescue Coordination Center (JRCC) to complete a Search and Rescue (SAR) mission. SAR missions are normally handled by the SAR community; however, in the case of this mission, the SAR helicopter was tasked on standby elsewhere, and the Chinook helicopter was a logical choice given its range, speed, and lifting capability. This marks the first SAR mission the Squadron has been tasked with since its re-inauguration in 2012.

Initial information outlined that several people had been stranded on a small island in Hudson Bay near Puvirnituq, Quebec due to ocean conditions and needed evacuation. Captain Augustine Monteiro, the Aircraft Commander, determined they could reach the stranded persons in approximately 7 hours of flying time with only 1 fuel stop. 450 Squadron?s operations cell, maintenance, logistics and crewmembers put a pause on their other tasks and banded together to help with pre-mission preparations in order to enable the earliest possible departure.

At 4:00 a.m. on 28 May 2020, the crewmembers of ?Rescue 302? arrived at the unit, rested and ready to deploy. The aircraft was airborne by 6:15 a.m. and four hours later, the crew arrived at La Grande Rivi?re airport, their planned fuel stop. On their way there, the crew had to deviate from their flight planned routing to find a way around poor weather. The updated information received by the crew was that 13 Inuit hunters, including 2 infants and 2 children, had crossed onto Millet Island on an ice bridge which had since broken up. A CC-130 Hercules had dropped them a bundle of survival gear to sustain them until Rescue 302 could arrive.

At approximately 3:15 p.m., Rescue 302 landed at a small airfield in Inukjuak, Quebec for their last planned stop prior to the evacuation of Millet Island. At the sight and sound of the Chinook helicopter, some of the locals exclaimed that the presence of Canadian Armed Forces troops made them feel safe given all of the problems going on in the world. The crew donned their immersion suits for the impending flight over freezing cold water. Not only was this to be the first dedicated SAR mission 450 THS had been tasked with, but it would also be one of the unit?s first experience crossing a major body of water!

Soon after departing Inukjuak, the crew discovered that there was more poor weather between them and the Island. The melting ice over Hudson Bay and a local weather system generated an endless amount of low cloud layers and poor visibility due to the fog. With all eyes out, the crew was able to find pockets of clear air to cut through while keeping the aircraft out of harm?s way. During the transit, the crew had the benefit of knowing that the stranded Inuit hunters were experts at surviving off the land, and the air-dropped survival equipment they had received the night prior would provide them with several days of supplies if required. Nonetheless, there was still a sense of urgency to get to them as quickly and safely as possible. The crew made quick work of the weather challenges along the way and arrived on scene at 4:50 p.m.

Millet Island was filled with clusters of lichen-covered black rock. No signs of life were observed. The crew orbited the island a few times and checked the two nearby islands to ensure that they did not miss anyone. Since the crew had come this far, they decided it would be worthwhile to land and search a small shack that was standing at the centre of the island. They had to work hard to find a suitable landing spot on the rocky terrain, which seemed much flatter from the air. The flight engineer and a technician departed the aircraft to search the structure and look for any signs of the stranded group. All that was found were the remains of the hunters? caribou kills and some military rations from the airdropped bundle. With no signs of anyone left behind, the crew determined that the stranded hunters must have found a way through the moving ice, back to the mainland. After a thorough search, Rescue 302 departed Millet Island and landed in Puvirnituq airfield, where they would spend the night.

Upon their arrival at their final destination for the day, the crew was greeted by the Kativik Police force who informed them that the stranded individuals had successfully found their way back to the mainland a few hours prior. They had taken a risk by crossing a gap in open water to find ice that led back to the mainland. Upon hearing the news, the crewmembers of Rescue 302 all took a collective sigh of relief knowing that all of the people stranded in Hudson Bay had made it home safely. After completing post-flight inspections and unpacking some warmer clothing, the crew buttoned up the aircraft for the night and were shuttled away to a house in the village in police trucks. The Police detachment was extremely thoughtful and accommodating giving crewmembers a lift when needed and arranging food and water for dinner. Rescue 302 would like to thank the Police detachment in Puvirnituq for their excellent assistance.

Although in the end 450 THS did not pick up the stranded persons, this callout allowed the unit to test their standby posture and provided excellent training for the crew in conditions not normally flown in. It also allowed the Squadron to have a presence in the North, in a location which they do not often have the opportunity to fly to.
By Captain Augustine Monteiro and Corporal Justin Critchley

NORAD Training over Toronto (July 30 2020)
Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18, United States Air Force F-16 and KC-135 pilots will practice response procedures in high-density airspace over the GTA.

While the aircraft will be operating at a high altitude, the public may be able to see and hear military fighter aircraft flying in close proximity to contracted civilian aircraft as they conduct a simulated interception. This training exercise, developed in coordination with NAV Canada, is essential to ensure NORAD forces are ready to respond to aerospace threats to any locations in Canada and the United States.

An AH-1Z Viper with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167 flies during Exercise Deep Water 2020 at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina, July 29, 2020. The purpose of the exercise is to increase 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing?s interoperability and readiness on a scale that simulates peer-level threats. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Elias E. Pimentel III)

EAST CHINA SEA (July 29, 2020) Sailors assigned to the flight deck crew on board the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG 54) hook up an MH-60R Sea Hawk, assigned to the "Saberhawks" of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 77 for an assisted recovery on Antietam's flight deck. Antietam is forward deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of security and stability in the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class James Hong)

NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA, Italy (July 30, 2020)?U.S. Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263 embark an MV-22B Osprey Tiltrotor aircraft before departing Naval Air Station Sigonella, July 30, 2020. NAS Sigonella?s strategic location enables U.S, allied, and partner nation forces to deploy and respond as required to ensure security and stability in Europe, Africa and Central Command. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Kegan E. Kay)

TUCSON, Ariz., July 31, 2020 ? A team from Boeing [NYSE: BA] and the U.S. Air Force completed the first QF-16 Full-Scale Aerial Target to undergo conversion from a modification line in Arizona. The aircraft was flown last month to Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, where it will be used autonomously in future weapons training operations.

The 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) located at Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson teamed with Boeing under a public-private partnership to create a second modification line to supplement ongoing QF-16 work at Boeing?s Cecil Field site in Jacksonville, Florida.

?The delivery of this first AMARG modified QF-16 aerial target drone is a testimony of the cooperative, synergistic relationship we had hoped for when we created the private-public partnership with Boeing,? said Col. Jennifer Barnard, Commander of the 309th AMARG. ?Though the installation of the drone conversion package is a relatively new venture for us, our hope is to leverage cost efficiencies and proficiencies benefiting both partners.?

Conversion of the F-16 A/C aircraft to the unmanned QF-16 configuration requires modification of the airframe and installation of major components. The QF-16 performs both autonomous maneuvers through autopilot and controlled maneuvers through ground stations.

?The partnership between Boeing and AMARG is crucial to expediting capability to the warfighters,? said Craig DeMeester, Boeing QF-16 program manager. ?It?s an example of great teamwork, and completing this first jet is just the beginning as we have more deliveries planned this year and well into next year.?

Boeing began converting retired F-16s into QF-16s in 2015. More than 120 aircraft are on contract to be modified, with over 40 percent delivered to date.

RAF Typhoons currently operating from Lithuania have intercepted a Russian military formation which included an IL-38 ?MAY? Maritime Patrol Aircraft being escorted by two SU-27 Flanker B Fighters operating over the Baltic Sea.
This was the first time in recent years that the RAF have seen and intercepted a ?MAY? which was operating alongside a Russian OSCAR class submarine which the Typhoons photographed on the surface as it transited towards the west across the Baltic Sea.
This intercept follows an earlier interception at the start of the week when the Typhoons were again airborne to monitor Russian SU-27 Flankers as they transited through Lithuanian controlled international airspace.

Since January 1, the pilots and navigators of the proposed Air Base (BAP) detachment have flown nearly 2,000 hours.
The pilots and navigators are not the only ones to contribute to these air trips: the weather teams, the air traffic controllers and in particular the intelligence unit contribute to the smooth running of the operations.

Fort Hood Texas
08.02.2020.
The sunset is visible behind a CH-47 Chinook helicopter, operated by Soldiers with Bravo Company, 2-104th General Support Aviation Battalion, 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade, as it flies over the 28th ECAB's mobilization station. (U.S. Army photo Spc. Robert Donovic)

An F-16 Fighting Falcon, assigned to the 31st Fighter Wing, peels away from a KC-135 Stratotanker, assigned to the 100th Air Refueling Wing, after receiving fuel near the Black Sea, Aug. 2, 2020. The Stratotanker provided aerial refueling support to F-16s enabling them to integrate into training missions alongside the USS Porter in the Black Sea. These missions were designed to train U.S. forces to operate together while executing multi-domain operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Benjamin Cooper)

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon, assigned to the 18th Aggressor Squadron, takes off during RED FLAG-Alaska (RF-A) 20-3 at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, Aug. 3, 2020. RF-A gives aviators an opportunity to hone skills required in combat by providing training scenarios designed to replicate near-peer adversary tactics, techniques and procedures in a controlled environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Aaron Larue Guerrisky)

An Israeli Air Force F-35I Lightning II ?Aldir? approaches a U.S. Air Force 908th Expeditionary Refueling Squadron KC-10 Extender to refuel during ?Enduring Lightning II? exercise over southern Israel Aug. 2, 2020. While forging a resolute partnership, the allies train to maintain a ready posture to deter against regional aggressors. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Charles Taylor)

An F/A-18E Super Hornet, attached to the ?Gladiators? of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 106, prepares to launch from USS Gerald R. Ford's (CVN 78) flight deck during flight operations Aug 1, 2020. Ford is underway in the Atlantic Ocean conducting carrier qualifications. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Aimee Ford)

An F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 309th Fighter Squadron flies July 27, 2020, above Luke Air Force, Ariz. The F-16 is a multirole fighter jet that can reach heights above 50,000 feet. Luke AFB is home to F-35s and F-16 Fighting Falcons that are used to train the world?s greatest fighter pilots and combat ready Airmen. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Dominic Tyler)

A U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler aircraft assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 132 at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, taxis during Red Flag 20-3 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, July 31, 2020. Red Flag provides aircrews the experience of multiple, intensive air combat sorties in the safety of a training environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Dwane R. Young)

ATLANTIC OCEAN (Aug. 3, 2020) An E-2D Hawkeye attached to the "Greyhawks" of Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 120 approaches the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) during flight operations, Aug. 3, 2020. Gerald R. Ford is underway in the Atlantic Ocean conducting carrier qualifications. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Aimee Ford)

PACIFIC OCEAN (Aug. 2, 2020) Lt. Rodney Wagstaff, from Slidell, La., signals an F/A-18E Super Hornet, attached to the "Royal Maces" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 27, to launch from the flight deck of the Navy's only forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). Ronald Reagan, the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 5, provides a combat-ready force that protects and defends the United States, as well as the collective maritime interests of its allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Erica Bechard)

Melbourne, Florida, August 4, 2020 ? Embraer today announced the Phenom 300MED, a unique Medevac solution for Phenom 300 series aircraft, which is also available for retrofit, through a partnership with umlaut and Aerolite. Embraer and umlaut are jointly developing and certifying a new supplemental type certificate (STC) utilizing Aerolite equipment.

The Phenom 300MED, which is now available for customer configuration, is representative of Embraer?s modern and versatile product portfolio and the company?s intent to deliver the ultimate experience in business aviation, now including the Medevac segment. Designed as an ideal solution for both civil and government applications, the Medevac solution will be installed exclusively by Embraer?s award-winning Services & Support organization, ensuring the highest quality, reliability, and service experience, direct from the manufacturer.

Together, Embraer and umlaut are developing a comprehensive set of configuration alternatives for the Phenom 300MED, which will feature either one or two stretchers, as well as the ability to carry an incubator and additional medical equipment. The aircraft will also feature hospital-grade trim and finishing. As a purpose-built Medevac solution, created in collaboration with the leading companies in the industry, the Phenom 300MED is designed to be quickly and easily configured to meet the various needs of both healthcare providers and patients.

?The Phenom 300 platform ? the most successful light jet in the world ? with its unparalleled technology, comfort, and performance, is uniquely positioned for Medevac operations,? said Michael Amalfitano, President & CEO, Embraer Executive Jets. ?Given the current health crisis, we are proud to be working with two world-class Medevac-solutions partners, and we are primed to immediately start taking orders for this unprecedented air ambulance solution.?

The Phenom 300MED benefits from the platform?s heritage of best-in-class cabin pressurization, low operating costs, high mission flexibility, state-of-the-art avionics, plus its speed and range capabilities. With best-in-class cabin altitude of 6,600 feet, passengers and crew enjoy more oxygen in the cabin. This feature equates to a healthier flight experience, which is essential for medical staff and patient care.

?umlaut is known for generating full service, cross-industry, and end-to-end solutions. Now, we are combining Embraer and umlaut?s strong competencies in aircraft engineering, refurbishment, and certification know-how to bring an unprecedented solution to the market. Together with Aerolite?s state-of-the-art aeromedical equipment, we will deliver a solution that will transcend the current market. Designed from the ground up, this new solution will offer a hospital-grade interior with the flexibility for configuration and reconfiguration that simply isn?t available today,? said Tobias Gei?inger, Managing Director of umlaut.

The Phenom 300MED is further distinguished by the integration of Aerolite medical equipment. Aerolite is a leader in the design, engineering, production, and installation of Air Medical interiors. With over 500 Medevac interiors delivered, the company offers the ideal blend of equipment for the mission.

Ronald Hengartner, CEO of Aerolite, said, ?We are honored that Embraer and umlaut have selected Aerolite?s innovative aeromedical equipment for the new Phenom 300MED. From providing the most modern EMS interior solutions to offering customer-specific support and training, Aerolite is uniquely positioned to help deliver the ultimate Medevac solution.?

Embraer?s products, including the Phenom 300 series, are recognized for high reliability and utilization. More than 550 Phenom 300 series aircraft have been delivered since the aircraft entered the market in December 2009, and it has accumulated more than one million flight hours. According to VREF?s 15-year business aircraft residual value forecast, the Phenom 300E will retain one of the highest residual values in the industry.
About the Phenom 300E
The Phenom 300E is the fastest and longest-ranged single pilot jet, with a high-speed cruise of 464 knots and a five-occupant range of 2,010 nautical miles (3,724 km) with NBAA IRF reserves. With the best climb and field performance in its class, the Phenom 300E costs less to operate and maintain than its peers. The aircraft is capable of flying at 45,000 feet (13,716 meters), powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW535E1 engines with 3,478 pounds of thrust each. The Phenom 300E offers a spacious cabin with the Embraer DNA Design and its baggage compartment is among the largest in its category. The largest windows in the class deliver abundant natural lighting in the cabin as well as in the private lavatory. The comfort of the seats, with recline and full movement capability, is enhanced by the best pressurization among light jets (6,600 ft. maximum cabin altitude). The Phenom 300E features distinct temperature zones for pilots and passengers, a wardrobe and refreshment center, voice and data communications options, and an entertainment system.

The pilot-friendly cockpit enables a single-pilot operation and offers the advanced Prodigy Touch Flight Deck, based on the acclaimed Garmin 3000 avionics suite. The features it carries from a class above include single-point refueling, externally serviced lavatory and an airstair.

The Royal Air Force detachment currently deployed in Lithuania as part of the NATO
Baltic Air Policing Mission, has just completed a unique exercise.

For the first time ever a German Eurofighter detachment has been embedded within an operational RAF Expeditionary Air Wing to allow a sustained period of interoperability training to be carried out. Both Air Forces regularly carry out NATO Air Policing missions and also train together on a regular basis, but this is the first time that the training has been conducted in an operational setting.
The next stage in this training process will be a repeat exercise, but with the roles reversed later in the year. This next exercise will see RAF Typhoons embedded with a German Air Force detachment, when they next conduct Baltic Air Policing.
(Photo's MOD)

Mirage 2000-5 crews deployed to Estonia as part of the enhanced Air Policing mission trained at their sky police mission with an Estonian M-28.

They had to read the registration, recognize his nationality markings and take a picture of them in order to prove it!
(Photo's Arm?e de l'air)

A U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagle assigned to the 493rd Fighter Squadron, takes off at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, Aug. 4, 2020. The 493rd FS conducts routine training to ensure the Liberty Wing brings unique air combat capabilities to the fight when called upon by U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa.(U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jessi Monte)

A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle assigned to the 48th Fighter Wing, flies over Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, Aug. 5, 2020. The F-15E Strike Eagle is an all-weather, extremely maneuverable tactical fighter that allows the Liberty Wing to bring unique air combat capabilities to the battlefield. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jessi Monte)

An F-15E Strike Eagle from the 334th Fighter Squadron taxis on the runway Aug. 3, 2020 at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. Tyndall hosted several aircraft evacuating from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, in response to Hurricane Isaias. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Magen Reeves)

PACIFIC OCEAN (Aug. 5, 2020) An F/A-18E Super Hornet attached to the Royal Maces of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 27 launches from the flight deck of the Navy?s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). Ronald Reagan, the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 5, provides a combat-ready force that protects and defends the collective maritime interests of its allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Samantha Jetzer)

MISAWA, Japan (Aug. 5, 2020) An EA-18G Growler assigned to the "Lancers" of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 131 takes off from the runway at Misawa Air Base. VAQ-131 is an expeditionary squadron deployed to Naval Air Facility Misawa supporting security and stability in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jan David De Luna Mercado)

U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor aircraft assigned to the 90th Fighter Squadron take off from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Aug. 5, 2020. The aircraft flew as part of unit training to maintain mission readiness and combat lethality. (U.S. Air Force photo's by Airman 1st Class Emily Farnsworth)




A U.S. Air Force E-3 Sentry assigned to the 962nd Airborne Air Control Squadron takes off from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Aug. 5, 2020. The E-3 Sentry, also known as the Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS), is equipped with a rotating radar dome that provides air surveillance over land or water to identify and track friendly and enemy aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Alejandro Pe?a)

An F-15C Eagle assigned to the 67th Fighter Squadron takes off during Exercise WestPac Rumrunner, July 31, 2020, at Kadena Air Base, Japan. Team Kadena executed the second iteration of Rumrunner which is an 18th Wing-led exercise dedicated to implementing agile combat employment concepts to ensure readiness to protect and defend partners, allies and U.S. interests in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Benjamin Sutton)

U.S. Marines with Air Combat Element, Marine Rotational Force ? Darwin, operate the RQ-21 Blackjack during flight at Nackeroo Airfield, Bradshaw Field Training Area, Northern Territory, Australia, Aug. 8, 2020. The RQ-21 provides the Marine Corps a rapidly deployable surveillance asset able to operate in austere forward environments. (U.S. Marine Corps photo's by Cpl. Harrison Rakhshani)


The second KC-46A Pegasus taxis on the 916th Air Refueling Wings flightline at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., Aug, 6, 2020. Col. Stephen L. Lanier, 916th ARW Commander,
was on hand to receive the wings second aircraft.
(Photo by Maj. Abby Dolak)

A B-52H Stratofortress assigned to the 419th Flight Test Squadron is undergoes pre-flight procedures at Edwards Air Force Base, California, Aug. 8. The aircraft conducted a captive-carry flight test of the AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon Instrumented Measurement Vehicle 2 at the Point Mugu Sea Range off the Southern California coast. (Air Force photo's by Giancarlo Casem)



A B-52H Stratofortress assigned to the 419th Flight Test Squadron takes off from Edwards Air Force Base, California, Aug. 8. The aircraft conducted a captive-carry flight test of the AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon Instrumented Measurement Vehicle 2 hypersonic prototype at the Point Mugu Sea Range off the Southern California coast. (Air Force photo by Matt Williams)


U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors assigned to the 3rd Wing approach for landing at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Aug. 7, 2020, during RED FLAG-Alaska 20-3. RED FLAG-Alaska is a Pacific Air Forces-directed field training exercise where aircrews fly under simulated air combat conditions. This allows those involved to improve interoperability through the exchange of tactics, techniques and procedures. RF-A 20-3 was adapted to execute the training needed to maintain mission readiness and lethality while mitigating the potential spread of COVID-19. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Emily Farnsworth)



ARABIAN SEA (Aug. 6, 2020) An E-2C Hawkeye, from the "Sun Kings" of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 116, launches from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Nimitz, the flagship of Nimitz Carrier Strike Group, is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and Pacific through the Western Indian Ocean and three critical chokepoints to the free flow of global commerce. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Olivia Banmally Nichols)

ARABIAN SEA (Aug. 7, 2020) An F/A-18E Super Hornet, from the "Mighty Shrikes" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 94, launches off the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Nimitz, the flagship of Nimitz Carrier Strike Group, is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and Pacific through the Western Indian Ocean and three critical chokepoints to the free flow of global commerce. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Dalton Reidhead)

07.08.2020
In the mixed aviation regiment of the Troops and Forces in the North-East of Russia, a night training was conducted to intercept a mock violator of the air border of the Russian Federation. The actions of the unidentified aircraft were imitated by one of the MiG-31 high-altitude fighter-interceptors of the Pacific Fleet's naval aviation.

From the Yelizovo airfield, the crew of another MiG-31 fighter-interceptor from the duty forces was raised to intercept the mock intruder, which practiced the detection, capture with the sight and destruction of the target with the implementation of an electronic missile launch. The fighter pilots carried out the search for the "violator of the state border" in cooperation with ground-based air defence systems.

During the training, the command of the air regiment assessed the coherence of the MiG-31 crew, their compliance with the established takeoff and area occupation standards, as well as the distance of mock target destruction.

Practicing fighter pilots in performing missions at night is an essential element of their preparation for air defence combat duty.

Engineers from Australia and the UK have successfully completed a rigorous structural testing programme that has seen a Hawk airframe achieve the equivalent of 50,000 flying hours.
Hawk aircraft are used to prepare pilots from 13 countries across the world for life in a fast jet cockpit.

The Mark 127 Hawk operated by the Royal Australian Air Force has a safety clearance to fly 10,000 hours and is the most advanced standard of the aircraft.

Air forces in the United Kingdom, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Oman operate similar standards of aircraft in their Hawk fleets with the Qatar Emiri Air Force due to become the latest to operate this most advanced standard of aircraft.

A team from BAE Systems and the Australia Defence Department have recently completed a major structural testing programme on a specially adapted Hawk Mark 127 to put it through five-times this clearance.

The airframe has been subjected to and tested on the range of loads it would experience in actual flight, with durability tests carried out at the Defence Science and Technology Organisation in Melbourne to simulate real life fleet usage based on projected operational requirements.

Mike Swales, Head of International Markets, BAE Systems, said:

"This a major milestone for the Hawk programme which proves there is many years more life left in the 650 aircraft we have training pilots across the globe every day.

"To achieve 50,000 flying hours in structural testing is five times the current clearance of the most modern Hawk in air forces across the world and more than ten times the current flying hours on most of the Australian fleet.

"Hawk has been the world's flying classroom, preparing more than 20,000 pilots for life in a frontline fast jet, for decades and this is proof that it has many years more safe, effective flying ahead of it with customers set to operate the aircraft well into the 2040's."

The testing programme began in February 2006 with the intention of demonstrating the structural integrity of a Mark 127 airframe to five times its intended life. The testing was completed on June 5 2020.

It involved a team of BAE Systems engineers in Brough, United Kingdom working alongside the DSTO team in Melbourne, Australia, to ensure the successful completion of the programme.

The airframe will now be dismantled with components undergoing a further two-year period of detailed inspections.

The first Hawk aircraft entered service with the Royal Air Force in 1976 and is currently in service with air forces from Canada and the United States to India and Australia.

There is production work underway on nine further Hawk aircraft for the Qatar Emiri Air Force which are scheduled to enter service in 2021, preparing its pilots for fast jet aircraft including Typhoon.

A Royal Air Force P-8 Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) completed its first operational mission this week shadowing a Russian warship in the North Sea near to UK waters.

On Monday morning, a P-8A Poseidon from 120 Squadron based at Kinloss Barracks demonstrated its speed and readiness by completing a prolonged overwatch of the Russian warship, Vasily Bykov, as it passed through the North Sea. It did so with support from Typhoon fighters, based at RAF Lossiemouth and the VIP Voyager refuelling aircraft, stationed at RAF Brize Norton.

The Poseidon?s operational debut follows shortly after the Prime Minister?s visit to Kinloss Barracks last month and heralds a significant development in the UK?s Maritime offensive and defensive capabilities. The P-8 offers a potent blend of tracking options and associated weapons able to find surface and sub-surface vessels, once more allowing the RAF to complete effective joint maritime operations with the Royal Navy.

Monitoring and tracking all activity in the airspace and seas around the United Kingdom is paramount to our security, with aircraft from the RAF and vessels from the Royal Navy ensuring our skies and seas are constantly patrolled and defended.

Working with the aerospace and construction industries ?470m is being invested by the UK Government at RAF Lossiemouth to provide a state-of-the-art home for the Fleet of nine aircraft in Scotland

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFNS) --

Approximately 3,000 feet above Eglin Air Force Base, the HH-60W Jolly Green II connected with a HC-130J tanker for the inaugural aerial refueling by the Air Force?s newest combat search and rescue helicopter, Aug. 5.

The connection marked the start of two weeks of developmental testing of the aircraft?s aerial refueling abilities by 413th Flight Test Squadron testers and their mission partners.

?This capability is essential for the CSAR mission since it greatly extends the operating range of the aircraft and thus allows the unit to extend their rescue capabilities over a larger battlespace,? said Joe Whiteaker, 413th FLTS Combat Rescue Helicopter flight chief.

Throughout the tests, the aircrew and engineers will evaluate the helicopter?s ability to connect with the fuel drogue and its handling qualities during the fueling. They also monitor the functionality of the systems and gauges to ensure the aircraft receives the fuel appropriately with the proper pressures.

?Our job is to evaluate how difficult aerial refueling will be for operational pilots and to identify any unforeseen hazards due to the unique configuration of the HH-60W, which may not have been present in the legacy HH-60G,? Whiteaker said.

Early missions will be during daylight hours. Testing will conclude with a nighttime evaluation using night vision goggles.

?This is a critical test milestone for the program as it reinforces the superior capabilities of the HH-60W and its ability to support the Air Force?s CSAR mission,? said Greg Hames, Sikorsky Combat Rescue Helicopter program director.

Maj. Andrew Fama, 413th FLTS pilot, was the Air Force pilot for the refueling mission. He evaluated the handling qualities and made the first contacts. He and the aircrew spent extra time preparing for the mission that included talking through the test sequence and rehearsing the phraseology used during the refueling. It was that extra time spent that made for a smooth mission without issues, according to Fama.

?It?s rare for a test pilot to have the opportunity to test a new aircraft replacing the one he or she flew operationally and to be the first one to do something like this,? Fama said. ?It was an honor to be the pilot to fly this mission and work with a truly professional test team.?

The aerial refueling mission marks yet another 2020 milestone for the HH-60W program. So far, the Jolly Green II has undergone radar, weather and defensive system testing to name a few.

?The execution of this critical test is yet another demonstration of our successful partnership with the Air Force and brings us one step closer to delivering this much needed helicopter to our Airmen,? Hames said.

Load-crew members assigned to the 28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron use a munitions lift truck to load a GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munition into a B-1B Lancer during a 16-hour Bomber Task Force mission to Australia from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Aug. 5, 2020. Bomber Task Force maintainers ensure the bombers, equipment and munitions are ready anytime, anywhere. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Christina Bennett)

An E-8 Joint Surveillance and Tactical Reconnaisance aircraft visited Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, Aug. 10. While based out of Robins Air Force Base, Geogria, the aircraft touched down for a short period of time to refuel mid-mission.
Photo by 2nd Lt. Ashlyn Paulson.

F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 148th Fighter Wing, Minnesota Air National Guard, taxi prior to take off. 148th F-16s will fly to and from Volk Field Air National Guard Base, Wisconsin to participate in the 2020 Northern Lighting Exercise. Northern Lightning emphasizes joint integration of 4th and 5th generation assets from the Air National Guard, Air Force, Navy and Marines.

PEARL HARBOR (Aug. 10, 2020) A B-25 Mitchell, a historic vintage military aircraft, a group known as the "Warbirds", arrive in Pearl Harbor aboard USS Essex (LHD 2) for the 75th Commemoration of the End of WWII. ?Salute Their Service, Honor Their Hope? is the theme of the commemoration in Hawaii in recognition of the WWII veterans and civilians who contributed to the end of the war. The commemoration will include three Legacy of Peace Aerial Parades and will culminate with the official ceremony on USS Missouri (BB 63) on September 2. Flyovers of the warbirds will include: Around Oahu (August 29), Connecting the Military Bases (August 30) and Fly Over the Battleship Missouri Memorial, Pearl Harbor to Waikiki (September 2). To learn more about upcoming events please see https://www.75thwwiicommemoration.org/victory-in-the-pacific/hawaii-events. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jessica O. Blackwell)


PEARL HARBOR (Aug. 10, 2020) North American T-6 Texans, historic vintage military aircraft, a group known as the "Warbirds", arrive in Pearl Harbor aboard USS Essex (LHD 2) for the 75th Commemoration of the End of WWII. ?Salute Their Service, Honor Their Hope? is the theme of the commemoration in Hawaii in recognition of the WWII veterans and civilians who contributed to the end of the war. The commemoration will include three Legacy of Peace Aerial Parades and will culminate with the official ceremony on USS Missouri (BB 63) on September 2. Flyovers of the warbirds will include: Around Oahu (August 29), Connecting the Military Bases (August 30) and Fly Over the Battleship Missouri Memorial, Pearl Harbor to Waikiki (September 2). To learn more about upcoming events please see https://www.75thwwiicommemoration.org/victory-in-the-pacific/hawaii-events. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jessica O. Blackwell)

Hill Aerospace Museum personnel position a Lockheed F-117A Aug. 5, 2020, at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. Tail number 799 was the first operational airframe of a small fleet of 64 stealth aircraft produced and participated in 54 combat sorties in Desert Storm, Allied Force, and Iraqi Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo by Todd Cromar)

WICHITA, Kan. (Aug. 4, 2020) ? Textron Aviation today ushers in the next generation of its legendary King Air turboprop family with the Beechcraft King Air 360/360ER. The updated flagship turboprop offers the latest technological advancements in the cockpit, a redesigned cabin, and enhancements to passenger comfort. The aircraft is currently in production with customer deliveries expected to begin in the Fall of 2020.

The Beechcraft King Air 360/360ER is designed and manufactured by Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company.

?The Beechcraft King Air 360 builds on decades of renowned versatility and reliability in the King Air family, and this upgrade further elevates it with the aircraft?s superior features and engineering advancements designed to create an enhanced flying experience for passengers and crew alike,? said Ron Draper, president and CEO, Textron Aviation. ?The aircraft is a result of our extensive conversations with our turboprop customers worldwide as we continually increase innovation and next-generation capability to help them achieve their varied missions with greater comfort, technology and ease.?

Cockpit upgrades

A key feature of the King Air 360 cockpit is the addition of the Innovative Solutions & Support (IS&S) ThrustSense Autothrottle. The autothrottle supports pilots in their critical mission of delivering people or cargo safely by automatically managing engine power from the takeoff roll through the climb, cruise, descent, go-around and landing phases of flight. This enhancement reduces pilot workload and supports them in their continuous vigilance to prevent over-speed or under-speed, over-temp and over-torque conditions.

Another important update in the cockpit is the new digital pressurization controller, which automatically schedules cabin pressurization during both climb and descent, reducing pilot workload and increasing overall passenger comfort. The pressurization gauges have been integrated with the powerful Collins Aerospace Pro Line Fusion flight deck.

Cabin upgrades

With seating for up to nine passengers, the latest King Air offers an even greater passenger experience than its predecessor. The aircraft features a cabin altitude of 5,960 feet at a typical cruising altitude of 27,000 feet ? more than 10 percent lower when compared to the King Air 350i. The improved cabin altitude levels provide greater comfort for passengers, especially during longer flights.

A redesigned bespoke cabin design features a stunning new look with custom-built cabinetry, partitions and side ledges, upgraded materials and finishes, along with all new interior schemes. Other amenities that come standard on the entire King Air lineup include pull-out work tables, standard power outlets, USB charging stations and a private aft lavatory.

?We created an environment that provides passengers with a greater sense of openness inside the King Air,? said Christi Tannahill, senior vice president, Customer Experience. ?The cabin experience is such a critical element when choosing an aircraft, and it was important for us to surpass customer expectations. Their journey will not only be comfortable, but also a relaxing, enjoyable experience. The Beechcraft King Air 360 offers many of the amenities that our customers desire.?

King Air leadership

Nearly 7,600 Beechcraft King Air turboprops have been delivered to customers around the world since 1964, making it the best-selling business turboprop family in the world. The worldwide fleet has surpassed 62 million flight hours in its 56 years, serving roles in all branches of the U.S. military and flying both commercial and special mission roles around the world.

WICHITA, Kan. (Aug. 11, 2020) ? Textron Aviation today announced the successful flight of its second Cessna SkyCourier flight test article (P1). The milestone flight for the high-wing, large utility aircraft comes just two-and-a-half months after the prototype Cessna SkyCourier first took to the skies on May 17. The P1 aircraft is the first conforming production flight test aircraft and is the first airframe configured as a freighter.

The Cessna SkyCourier is designed and manufactured by Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company.

The first flight of P1, piloted by Peter Gracey and Todd Dafforn, lasted one-hour and 35-minutes reaching a max altitude of 14,200 feet with a max speed of 210 ktas. The aircraft will be used for the flight test program, primarily for systems testing, including propulsion, environmental control and avionics.

?This flight is another important step for the Cessna SkyCourier program as it will be used primarily for testing aircraft systems like avionics, environmental control and anti-icing,? said Chris Hearne, senior vice president, Engineering & Programs. ?Since the debut flight for the prototype aircraft, the team has rapidly moved through testing and has accomplished its goals of initial envelope expansion and handling, including stalls. When you consider they have achieved all these milestones despite the many disruptions caused by a global pandemic, it?s quite remarkable. The Cessna SkyCourier program is heading through the second half of 2020 with a great deal of momentum.?

The aircraft joins the Cessna SkyCourier prototype in the flight test certification program, which will include three variations of flying aircraft. Since the Cessna SkyCourier prototype completed its first flight in May, the aircraft has successfully completed 38 flights and logged more than 76 flight hours. Through the flights, the team has been able to expand speed and center-of-gravity envelopes, complete preliminary engine and propeller tests, as well as initial stability and maneuverability tests.

EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska (AFNS) --
Throughout the years, numerous types of aircraft have flown in the Alaskan skies during Red Flag-Alaska. This year, a new fifth-generation fighter joins the fight.

The 356th Fighter Squadron and 388th Fighter Wing?s F-35A Lightning IIs are the first F-35s to participate in the U.S. Pacific Air Forces-sponsored exercise.

?The purpose of Red Flag-Alaska is to provide training for the aircrew participating on the blue-air side in order to increase mission readiness and prepare them for combat operations,? said Lt. Col. Randolph Kinsey, 18th Aggressor Squadron commander.

Unlike recent RF-A exercises, the F-35s have given the 354th FW a chance to have the ?home team? play as blue air to enhance their warfighting capabilities.

?We?ve been flying F-35s for the past three months and this is the first Red Flag exercise for the 356th FS,? said Lt. Col. James Christensen, 356th FS commander.

The presence of fifth-generation aircraft will make this iteration of RF-A a bit different from past exercises.

?The F-35 brings more information to the airspace than we've had in previous generations of aircraft,? Christensen said. ?This Red Flag is really unique because we now have all fifth-generation fighters on the blue side. When we combine those forces together we can be more lethal.?

Once the 356th FS received its first F-35s in April, the F-35 pilots wasted no time learning the ins and outs of RF-A?s 77,000-square mile playground, also known as the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex.

?What we had to do is get our pilots ready for this Red Flag by flying as much as we possibly could to get proficient in the airplane,? Christensen said. ?For us, this is kind of the intro to the airspace and an intro to four-ship tactics. This is the first time we?ve flown four aircraft together at the same time and we are combining the other F-35s and F-22s to make a large-force exercise.?

Christensen mentioned pilots train on a basic fundamental skills-type progression, which means pilots start at basic skills and work up to advanced tactics. RF-A offers a realistic combat feeling for pilots to train exactly how they fight, he said.

?They can simulate that environment here at Red Flag with the 353rd CTS (Combat Training Squadron) and in the JPARC. They can give us realistic threats, jam our communications, jam our navigation systems and they can give us these problems that I want my young wingmen and my experienced flight leads to experience,? Christensen said.

Now that the 354th FW established the F-35 in Alaska and will grow in size with a second F-35 squadron, the goal for future exercises is to see even more fifth-generation aircraft from Pacific partners join the fight.

?What we need to do in the future and what we have planned for the next Red Flag iteration later this year is we are going to start bringing in partner countries and allies from across INDOPACOM,? Christensen said. ?There are F-35s that are going out to Australia, Japan and Korea, and in the future we want to bring those F-35s up here and practice and train ? so that we have a standard set of tactics, techniques and procedures.?

PEARL HARBOR (Aug. 11, 2020) A North American P-51 Mustang and a Grumman Wildcat and a Grumman F8F Bearcat, of historic vintage military aircraft, a group known as the "Warbirds", arrive in Pearl Harbor aboard USS Essex (LHD 2) for the 75th Commemoration of the End of WWII. ?Salute Their Service, Honor Their Hope? is the theme of the commemoration in Hawaii in recognition of the WWII veterans and civilians who contributed to the end of the war. The commemoration will include three Legacy of Peace Aerial Parades and will culminate with the official ceremony on USS Missouri (BB 63) on September 2. Flyovers of the warbirds will include: Around Oahu (August 29), Connecting the Military Bases (August 30) and Fly Over the Battleship Missouri Memorial, Pearl Harbor to Waikiki (September 2). To learn more about upcoming events please see https://www.75thwwiicommemoration.org/victory-in-the-pacific/hawaii-events. (U.S. Navy photo's by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Jaimar Carson Bondurant)



08.12.2020
Tactical Aircraft Maintenance personnel, also called crew chiefs, from the 148th Fighter Wing generate Block 50 F-16CM Fighting Falcons prior to take off. F-16s from the 148th Fighter Wing, Minnesota Air National Guard, will fly to and return from Volk Field Air National Guard Base, Wisconsin daily for the next two weeks in support of Northern Lightning. Northern Lightning is a flying training exercise emphasizing joint integration of 4th and 5th generation assets from Air National Guard, Air Force and Navy flying units. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Audra Flanagan)

A B-52H Stratofortress sits on the flightline, Aug. 12, 2020, at Minot Air Force Base, ND. The purpose of the five to ten year comprehensive test is to demonstrate the capability of the B-52H aircraft to provide the required voltage levels for the mission configuration at the AGM-86B-to-W80 interface. The test data will be analyzed to compare against previous data in order to monitor changes in the baseline, thus indicating a design issue created by aging, aircraft modification, or a combination thereof. The required sample size for this test will meet a historical Sandia National Laboratories requirement of two B-52 aircrafts.(U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jesse Jenny)

Airman 1st Class Eric G. Jarman, a crew chief assigned to the 5th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, taxis a B-52H Stratofortress, Aug. 12, 2020, at Minot Air Force Base, ND. The purpose of the five to ten year comprehensive test is to demonstrate the capability of the B-52H aircraft to provide the required voltage levels for the mission configuration at the AGM-86B-to-W80 interface. The test data will be analyzed to compare against previous data in order to monitor changes in the baseline, thus indicating a design issue created by aging, aircraft modification, or a combination thereof. The required sample size for this test will meet a historical Sandia National Laboratories requirement of two B-52 aircrafts.(U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jesse Jenny)

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii (AFNS) --
Three B-2 Spirit Stealth Bombers deployed from the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, to Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia to support Pacific Air Forces? Bomber Task Force missions, Aug. 11.

The 29-hour sortie demonstrated continued U.S. commitment to allies and partners by showcasing their ability to deliver lethal, ready, long-range strike options to geographic combatant commanders anytime, anywhere.

?We are excited to return to this important location. (NSF) Diego Garcia puts the ?INDO? in U.S. Indo-Pacific Command,? said Lt. Col. Christopher Conant, BTF commander. ?This Bomber Task Force is our National Defense Strategy in action. We are sharpening our lethality while strengthening relationships with key allies, partners and our sister-service teammates. Despite a global pandemic, the Airmen of Whiteman Air Force Base and Air Force Global Strike Command stand ready to support INDOPACOM and the Department of Defense in achieving our nation?s strategic objectives.?

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii (Aug. 12, 2020) A vintage Consolidated PBY Catalina flying boat takes flight from the waters of Pearl Harbor in preparation for the 75th Commemoration of the End of WWII. ?Salute Their Service, Honor Their Hope? is the theme of the commemoration in Hawaii in recognition of the WWII veterans and civilians who contributed to the end of the war. The commemoration will include three Legacy of Peace Aerial Parades and will culminate with the official ceremony on USS Missouri (BB 63) on Sept. 2. Flyovers of the warbirds will include: Around Oahu (August 29), Connecting the Military Bases (Aug. 30) and Fly Over the Battleship Missouri Memorial, Pearl Harbor to Waikiki (Sept. 2). To learn more about upcoming events please see https://www.75thwwiicommemoration.org/victory-in-the-pacific/hawaii-events. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Charles Oki/Released)

U-2 ?Dragon Lady? maintainers perform a pre-flight inspection before a 5th Reconnaissance Squadron U-2 pilot takes off at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, August 12, 2020. The U-2 is unique in that it is hands on all the way up to take-off. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Noah Sudolcan)

A 5th Reconnaissance Squadron U-2 ?Dragon Lady? advances down the runway followed by a chase car at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, August 12, 2020. Chase car drivers mobilize at high speeds to safeguard U-2?s and their pilots by radioing altitude and runway alignments during take-offs and landings. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Noah Sudolcan)

A F-22 Raptor assigned to the 1st Fighter Wing, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., takes off for a training mission during the Northern Lightning training exercise held annually at Volk Field, Wisc., Aug. 11, 2020. They join F-35A Lightning IIs from the 158th Fighter Wing, Vermont Air National Guard, F/A-18E Super Hornets from VFA-151, Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif., F-16 Falcons from the Wisconsin National Guard, as well as T-38 Talons and L-159Es from Draken International acting as aggressor aircrafts conducting simulated combat missions in a joint-service environment. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Ryan Campbell)

An F/A-18E Super Hornet assigned to VFA-151, Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif., takes off over F-35A Lightning IIs assigned to the 158th Fighter Wing, Vermont Air National Guard, for a training mission during the Northern Lightning training exercise held annually at Volk Field, Wisc., Aug. 11, 2020. They join the 158th, F-22 Raptors from the 1st Fighter Wing, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, F-16 Falcons from the Wisconsin National Guard, as well as T-38 Talons and L-159Es from Draken International acting as aggressor aircrafts conducting simulated combat missions in a joint-service environment. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Ryan Campbell)

An F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet assigned to the 391st Fighter Squadron at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, prepares to launch as an HC-130J Combat King II aircraft takes off during Red Flag 20-3 at Nellis AFB, Nevada, Aug. 6, 2020. Red Flag focuses on building the warfighter mindset, which is the idea that training together builds a lethal, resilient and rapidly adapting joint and coalition force. (U.S. Air Force photo by William Lewis)

An F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet assigned to the 391st Fighter Squadron at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, takes off during Red Flag 20-3 at Nellis AFB, Nevada, Aug. 6, 2020. The Strike Eagle is a dual-role fighter designed to perform air-to-air and air-to-ground missions, and perform at low altitudes day or night and in all weather conditions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Dwane R. Young)

PHILIPPINE SEA (Aug. 13, 2020) Sailors conduct a high-power turn on a on a C-2A Greyhound, attached to the Providers of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 30, Detachment 5, on the flight deck of the Navy?s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). Ronald Reagan, the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 5, provides a combat-ready force that protects and defends the collective maritime interests of its allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Erica Bechard)

An A-10C Thunderbolt II assigned to the A-10 Demonstration Team sits on the flight line at NASA Wallops Flight Facility, in Wallops, Virginia, August 13, 2020. The A-10 Demonstration team is scheduled to perform at the upcoming 2020 Ocean City Air Show held in Ocean City Maryland. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kristine Legate)

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Zachary Pogrebneak, a 90th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, 3rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron F-22 crew chief, prepares a U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor pilot assigned to the 3rd Wing to fly in support of RED FLAG-Alaska 20-3 at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Aug. 12, 2020. RED FLAG-Alaska is a Pacific Air Forces-directed field training exercise in which aircrews fly under simulated air combat conditions. This allows those involved to improve interoperability through the exchange of tactics, techniques and procedures. RF-A 20-3 was adapted to execute the training needed to maintain mission readiness and lethality while mitigating the potential spread of COVID-19. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Emily Farnsworth)

A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor assigned to the 3rd Wing taxis at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Aug. 12, 2020, during RED FLAG-Alaska 20-3. RED FLAG-Alaska is a Pacific Air Forces-directed field training exercise in which aircrews fly under simulated air combat conditions. This allows those involved to improve interoperability through the exchange of tactics, techniques and procedures. RF-A 20-3 was adapted to execute the training needed to maintain mission readiness and lethality while mitigating the potential spread of COVID-19. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Emily Farnsworth)

A C-130J Super Hercules, assigned to the 36th Airlift Squadron, shares the airfield with a rainbow at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Aug. 13, 2020. The Super Hercules provides significant operational capabilities to include carrying tons of supplies to remote operating locations, performing in-flight refueling and medical evacuation, which translates directly into increased ground and air combat effectiveness. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Gabrielle Spalding)

U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagles line up for pre-flight checks during surge operations at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, Aug. 13, 2020. While surging, Liberty Wing fighter squadrons can fly more than 80 sorties a day, honing air-to-air tactics, advance combat maneuvers and ensuring readiness capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jessi Monte)

A U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagle, assigned to the 493rd Fighter Squadron, takes off during surge operations at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, Aug. 13, 2020. While surging, Liberty Wing fighter squadrons can fly more than 80 sorties a day, honing air-to-air tactics, advance combat maneuvers and ensuring readiness capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jessi Monte)

A U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagle, assigned to the 493rd Fighter Squadron, flies overhead during surge operations at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, Aug. 13, 2020. Surge operations provide aircrew and support personnel the opportunity to train the skills necessary to maintain a ready force, capable of ensuring the collective defense of the U.S., the U.K. and the NATO alliance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jessi Monte)

An F-16 Viper over Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, Aug. 13, 2020. The F-16 is a highly maneuverable aircraft that has proven itself as a valued multirole fighter in air-to-air combat and air-to-surface attack scenarios. (U.S Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christine Groening)

An F-16 Viper assigned to the 311th Fighter Squadron, flies over Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, Aug. 13, 2020. Since Sept. 11, 2001, the F-16 has been a major component of the Combat Air Forces committed to the war on terrorism by flying thousands of sorties. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christine Groening)

Toulouse, 14 August 2020 - Airbus Corporate Jets (ACJ) has won the first A321LR order for two aircraft from Lufthansa Technik, highlighting the market appeal and versatility of the A320neo Family. The aircraft will be multi-role capable and can be equipped for various types of missions, such as troop transport, different MedEvac role setups (medical evacuation) and will be operated by the German Air Force (Luftwaffe). Lufthansa Technik has now placed a total order of five Airbus aircraft on behalf of the German Government: three ACJ350-900s and two A321LRs. The A321LRs will be able to fly up to 163 passengers, up to 6 intensive care patients and up to 12 medium care patients, depending on the installed configuration, with a maximum range of 4,200nm/7,800km or 9.5 flight hours.

?We are thrilled Lufthansa Technik has become the launch customer for the ACJ long-range version of the world?s best-selling A321neo,? said Benoit Defforge, ACJ President. ?The ACJ320 Family features the widest cabin of any single-aisle aircraft in the sky, providing the greatest passenger comfort and intercontinental range. Lufthansa Technik and the German Government have a long-standing relationship with Airbus and we are proud of this new milestone order with us.?

The A321LR is a member of the A320neo Family with over 7,400 orders by more than 110 customers. It delivers 30 per cent fuel savings and nearly 50 per cent reduction in noise footprint compared to previous generation competitor aircraft. With a range of up to 4,000nm (7,400km), with 206 passengers, the A321LR is the unrivalled long-range route opener, featuring true transatlantic capability and premium wide-body comfort in a single-aisle aircraft cabin.

Featuring the most spacious cabins of any business jet, while being similar in size to competing large-cabin aircraft, the ACJ320neo Family also delivers similar operating costs. The ACJ320neo Family can do this because its lower maintenance and training overheads ? part of its airliner heritage ? deliver a similar total cost when combined with fuel and navigation and landing charges.

Some 12,000 Airbus aircraft are in service worldwide, supported by a globe-spanning network of spares and training centres, giving corporate jet customers unmatched support in the field. Airbus corporate jet customers also benefit from services tailored to their particular needs, such as the ?one call handles all? corporate jet customer care centre (C4you), and customised maintenance programmes.

Combined with the inherent reliability that comes from aircraft designed to fly many times a day, the ACJ320neo Family is both dependable and available when customers need it.

Airbus corporate jets are part of the world?s most modern aircraft family, which delivers, as standard, features which either cost more, or are unavailable, in competitors. These features include the protection and simplicity of fly-by-wire controls, the benefits of Category 3B autoland, and time and cost-saving centralised maintenance on all systems.

Around 200 Airbus corporate jets are in service on every continent, including Antarctica, highlighting their versatility in challenging environments.

On Thursday, August 6, for the first time, an E-3 F AWACS was committed to Operation IRINI in the Central Mediterranean
The AWACS is able to detect and monitor air and maritime movements in spaces without radar coverage. It allows you to build the aerial and maritime situation over about a million km2 autonomously!
The aircraft took off from the Base a?rienne 702 Avord to join the Mediterranean with a crew composed of about twenty Aviators: pilots, operators, controllers, radar technicians and communication.
Operation EUNAVFORMED IRINI, launched on 31 March 2020, aims to enforce the arms embargo for Libya.