A U.S. Air Force F-35 Lightning II from the 388th Fighter Wing at Hill AFB takes off to participate in a training sortie mission at the Utah test and training range on September 25, 2024. The 388FW is dedicated to its mission of providing F-35A dominance anytime, anywhere. (U.S. Air Force photo by SrA Nicholas Rupiper)

A AH-1Z Viper attached to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 165 (Reinforced, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, flies near the expeditionary sea base USS Miguel Keith (ESB 5) in the Philippine Sea Sept. 24, 2024. Elements of the 15th MEU are embarked aboard Miguel Keith conducting routine operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Luis Agostini)

ATLANTIC OCEAN (Sep. 24, 2024) Sailors reposition a T-45C Goshawk training aircraft on the the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (IKE). Dwight D. Eisenhower is underway in the Atlantic Ocean conducting training carrier qualifications for the Chief of Naval Air Training. This is the first opportunity for student naval aviators from Training Air Wings (TW) 1 and 2 to launch and recover on an underway aircraft carrier. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Theodore Morrison)

ATLANTIC OCEAN (Sept. 24, 2024) An E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, attached to the "Seahawks" of Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 126, lands on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), Sept. 24. Harry S. Truman, the flagship of the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (HSTCSG), is underway in the Atlantic Ocean on a regularly scheduled deployment. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Logan Nystrand)

Aircraft fill up King Hangar to avoid any potential weather conditions from Hurricane Helene Sept. 25 at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The base was in full preparation mode to prepare and secure vehicles, buildings and aircraft for the upcoming weather. (U.S. Air Force photo by Matt Veasley)

Yokosuka high school students prepare for takeoff during the Girls in Aviation Day Flight at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Sept. 21, 2024. Military children from Yokota and Yokosuka schools had the opportunity to take flight with instructors and explore careers in aviation. (U.S. Air Force photos by Airman 1st Class Cayla Hunt)


Royal Australian Air Force F-35A Lightning IIs made their first appearance in an overseas air show in Bali from September 18 to 21.

The Bali International Air Show 2024 involved two F-35As and 22 aviators from 2 Operational Conversion Unit (2OCU) making the trip to Indonesia.

At Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar, 2OCU provided a ground static display and two flying displays as part of the air show.

The Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) also had a significant presence at the event. This included a newly delivered C-130J Hercules, F-16 and Su-30 fighter aircraft, and the TNI-AU’s Jupiter Aerobatic Team.

Visitors to the RAAF F-35A static display included Chief of Staff for the TNI-AU, Marsekal TNI (Air Chief Marshal) M. Tonny Harjono.

Commanding Officer 2OCU Wing Commander Phil Eldridge led the RAAF contingent at the air show.

“We were excited to support Bali International Air Show 2024, join with our friends from the Indonesian Air Force, and speak firsthand with the Indonesian public,” Wing Commander Eldridge said.

“Indonesia and Australia enjoy a broad, deep and growing strategic partnership, and this air show is a great opportunity for us to showcase our cooperation.

“Our participation in [the] air show allowed the public to meet our workforce and see the F-35A capability up close.”

The Bali International Air Show was Indonesia’s first major international air show since 1996.

F-35As were introduced to RAAF service in 2018 and have supported many Australian air shows, and have deployed abroad on international exercises.

The F-35As have also transited through Bali while en route to exercises within the region.

The Bali International Air Show follows the TNI-AU’s participation in Exercise Pitch Black in July, when it deployed six F-16 jet fighters to RAAF Base Darwin.

“We welcome this opportunity to return to Indonesia with the F-35As, as it also provides us with useful training experience in deploying over long distances,” Wing Commander Eldridge said.

“Our people build their skills through coordinating this deployment with the Indonesian Air Force, ensuring we’re experienced and ready to work closely with them in future.”
(Photos courtesy of the RAAF)

The Netherlands is saying goodbye to the F-16 tomorrow, the F-35 will now take over duties of F-16 completely
Whether it is guarding the Benelux airspace, conducting operations to deter terrorism, for example, or contributing to NATO's nuclear deterrence. The F-35 can do it all.

Effective today, this type of fighter aircraft is officially fully operational under all circumstances. Full Operational Capability (FOC) in jargon.
(Photo courtesy of the Koninklijke Luchtmacht )

MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. (AFNS) --

The 908th Flying Training Wing has been transitioning from a C-130-equipped tactical airlift unit to becoming the formal training unit for the MH-139A Grey Wolf for nearly four years now. After divesting the last of its C-130s in April 2022, and receiving its first Grey Wolf in April 2024, the wing has taken another first in the life of the U. S. Air Force’s newest aircraft: participation in a training exercise.

The 908th Operations Support Squadron held a Ready Airman Training exercise, Sept. 7, at Maxwell Air Force Base.
an MH-139A Grey Wolf participates in an exercise

The exercise was a culmination event for the squadron, after having spent the previous five duty days, spread out since July 2024, covering items such as base defense, tactical combat casualty care, weapons handling, small arms tactics, survival, evasion, resistance and escape tactics and other agile combat employment priorities, giving leadership a chance to test and evaluate multi-capable Airman skills.

“Most of the planning was accomplished by Tech. Sgt. Jesse Liethen, as he developed the ground exercise,” explained, Lt. Col. Justin McCullough, 703rd Helicopter Squadron director of operations, who also happened to be the copilot for the flight. “From there, the aircrew planning was relatively simple as it ended up being an exercise in basic maneuvers for us. We are in the infancy stages of our flight training, but it was exciting to provide the ground members who were in the exercise a sense of realism to their scenario.”

A little past the halfway point of the hour-long exercise, an MH-139A was spotted flying in the local pattern overhead. Then it began circling the training compound.

Those participating in the exercise on the ground then simulated calling for a show of force fly-by, an air support concept that demonstrates air superiority.

After that, the aircraft performed a landing in an unimproved location, a grass field outside of the training compound, and simulated having a security forces team exit the aircraft and proceed to help reinforce the compound, then exfiltrate the area.

“This was a valuable experience as aircrew to participate with ground parties before being added to our mission qualifications in the coming months,” said Lt. Col. Kyle Wamser, 908th Operations Group Standardization and Evaluation chief, who was the aircraft commander during the flight. “It supports our crawl, walk then run approach to the new aircraft and was even better that a lot of people beyond the crew flying were able to complete valuable training.”

While this level of participation was very rudimentary, this was indeed only the beginning of the Grey Wolf being involved in 908th training exercises.

“For this exercise, we did not fly any members or do anything outside of our basic proficiency level,” McCullough explained. “But, in the future we will be able to provide airlift support, static line, and potentially medical evacuation scenarios.”

The crew know that while their role in this exercise was small, it takes an entire wing to make something like this possible.

“The wing plays a role in every flight we make,” McCullough said. “The 908th Maintenance Group ensures the aircraft are ready and inspected to the highest standards, members from aircrew flight equipment make sure we are equipped, and even the support functions of the 908th Mission Support Group play a role in getting our members here to the unit training assembly. Multiple Airmen throughout the wing make every sortie possible. It is nice to fly on the UTA weekends so that more members of the wing can get a chance to see what they are a part of and the aircraft in action.”

The flight was historic in another way as well. This was the first MH-139A flight the entire crew was made up of Air Force Reserve Command members, with Wamser and McCullough as the aircraft commander and copilot, respectfully, and Master Sgt. Kyle Nagamatsu as the special mission aviator, marking the first time a 908th Grey Wolf has been flown without any of the unit’s active-duty counterparts from Detachment 3 of the 58th Operations Group.

“It is certainly exciting to see the program as a whole move forward and hit key historic milestones like this,” McCullough said. “The 908th OSS provided a great training scenario, and we were really just a small piece of the puzzle.”
(U.S. Air Force photo by Bradley J. Clark)

The last U.S. Air Force KC-10 Extender takes off from the flight line during the KC-10 farewell ceremony at Travis Air Force Base, California, Sept. 26, 2024. As the final base to operate the KC-10, Travis AFB had the honor of bidding farewell to an aircraft that has been a vital component of the U.S. military’s global reach and power projection capabilities, this ceremony marking the closing of an important chapter in the history of military aviation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kenneth Abbate)

The last U.S. Air Force KC-10 Extender and two F-15Es Strike Eagle assigned to the California Air National Guard's 144th Fighter Wing fly in formation during the KC-10 farewell ceremony at Travis Air Force Base, California, Sept. 26, 2024. As the final base to operate the KC-10, Travis AFB had the honor of bidding farewell to an aircraft that has been a vital component of the U.S. military’s global reach and power projection capabilities, this ceremony marking the closing of an important chapter in the history of military aviation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kenneth Abbate)

A KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing takes-off from MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, Sept. 25, 2025. Service members assigned to the 6th ARW deployed to U.S. Central Command’s and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s areas of responsibility in support of Air Mobility Command’s objective to project, connect, maneuver, and sustain combat power anywhere on the globe, from the ground up. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Lauren Cobin)

A U.S. Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet aircraft assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 31 takes off from the flight line during Weapons System Evaluation Program-East 24.12 at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, Sept. 17, 2024. In total, the Navy flew seven aircraft giving multiple pilots and ground crew the chance to test their skills with live munitions. During WSEPs, QF-16 drones as well as subscale drones are deployed to act as targets, providing the pilots and the missiles accurate combat environment to test their capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Zachary Nordheim)

Guangzhou – Airbus Helicopters has delivered the first H175 helicopter to the aviation force of the Guangzhou Public Security Bureau (GZP). The new helicopter will perform public service missions and support emergency management.

The H175 will join GZP’s fleet, which includes two H145 helicopters that were delivered in 2016 and 2019 respectively and have accumulated a total of 3,200 flight hours.

“The H175, with its outstanding performance and capabilities, will enhance our efficiency and provide us with an essential tool to fulfill our diverse mission portfolio,” said ZHANG Rui, Vice Mayor of Guangzhou and Secretary of the Party Committee of Guangzhou Public Security Bureau. “We look forward to continuing to work together with Airbus to jointly promote the development of the aviation industry in Guangzhou.”

"We are very proud of our long track record of successful cooperation with the GZP," said Colin James, Managing Director of Airbus Helicopters in China. "We are pleased to equip the GZP with our H175 helicopter, which is an ideal platform for these critical public service missions, supporting them in keeping our communities safe."

In service since 2015, Airbus' H175 belongs to the super-medium class of helicopters, combining long-range and payload with smooth flight qualities, making it the optimal solution for a wide range of onshore and offshore mission profiles, including disaster relief, search and rescue and other public services, as well as crew change and private and business aviation. 65 H175s have been delivered to date and have accumulated more than 240,000 flight hours.

Currently, there are around 80 Airbus helicopters used for public services in China to help support the protection of local communities.

Gavião Peixoto, Brazil, September 27, 2024 – Embraer, a global leader in the aerospace industry, delivered today the seventh C-390 Millennium multi-mission aircraft to the First Squadron of the First Group (1º/1º GT) at Galeão Air Force Base in Rio de Janeiro. This milestone comes as the Brazilian Air Force celebrates five years of service for the C-390, performing a wide spectrum of military and humanitarian missions across the globe.

“Over the past five years, the C-390 Millennium has demonstrated operational qualities, reliability, and versatility, performing the most demanding missions anytime, anywhere, with the Brazilian Air Force. With the delivery of this brand-new aircraft, we are proud to contribute even more to the operational success of the FAB’s missions”, Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security.

Since becoming operational with the Brazilian Air Force in 2019, the C-390 Millennium has proven its capacity, reliability, and performance. From transporting supplies in the midst of the COVID crisis, participating in international missions and exercises to performing aerial refueling, repatriating Brazilian citizens and fighting wild fires, this game-changer aircraft continues to prove its versatility.

With a maximum payload of 26 tons, a top speed of 470 knots, and state-of-the-art systems, the C-390 is the best aircraft in its class. Its powerful engines, large cargo hold equipped with a rear ramp and robust landing gear enable it to carry out the most demanding missions, including from unpaved runways. A true strategic asset for its end users, the C-390 Millennium can perform a wide range of military and civilian missions such as transport of cargo, personnel and vehicles, peacekeeping operations, special operations, humanitarian support, medical evacuation, search and rescue, firefighting, air-to-air refueling, and disaster management.

Thanks to its leading performance, cost-effectiveness, and versatility, the C-390 was selected by several nations, including Brazil, Portugal, The Netherlands, Austria, Czech Republic and South Korea.

The current fleet of aircraft has accumulated more than 14,000 flight hours, with a mission capability rate of 93% and mission completion rates above 99%, demonstrating exceptional productivity in the category.

27 Sep 2024
An advanced new radar which will equip Royal Air Force (RAF) pilots with the ability to locate, identify and suppress enemy air defences has taken to the skies for the first time.

This significant achievement saw the prototype of the European Common Radar System Mark 2 (ECRS Mk2) operated on a UK Typhoon test and evaluation aircraft at BAE Systems in Lancashire, supported by the radar’s developer, Leonardo UK.

The flight is the latest step in the ongoing development programme for the UK Typhoon fleet and strengthens the aircraft’s control of the airspace.

The ECRS Mk2 can perform traditional radar functions such as search and targeting, as well as providing advanced electronic warfare capabilities making it an even more potent capability in NATO’s frontline fleet. This will enable Typhoons to locate and deny use of an adversary’s radar with a powerful electronic jamming attack, whilst staying beyond the reach of threats.

"Evolution of Typhoon’s air combat capability is paramount to ensure Typhoon continues to deter potential aggressors, defend our nation and defeat our adversaries wherever we need to fly and fight whether for the UK or in our staunch support to the NATO alliance. This first flight of this ECRS Mk2 prototype new radar in the test aircraft is a positive step towards ensuring this."
Air Commodore Nick Lowe, Head Capability Delivery Combat Air and Typhoon Senior Responsible Officer, Royal Air Force.

"This is another landmark moment in this strategically important programme which will provide the RAF with battle-winning technology that gives them the edge to protect the nation. The ECRS Mk2 radar will further transform Eurofighter Typhoon’s control of the air and provide exceptional capability our adversaries will struggle to match."
Nick Moore, Typhoon Deputy Head Capability Acquisition at DE&S

"The development of Typhoon’s radar supports 600 jobs across the UK’s combat air industry. Programmes such as the ECRS Mk2 ensure the UK retains a sovereign capability to develop and integrate cutting edge systems in to frontline combat aircraft such as Typhoon. Through this work we are directly supporting critical know-how and sustaining hundreds of highly-skilled jobs."
Andy Holden, Radar Delivery Director, BAE Systems.

"In parallel with the trials, the radar’s production design has also been progressing apace. The development of the ECRS Mk2 is fully using the UK’s world-class radar design skills. Over the past few months, its processor, receiver and antenna power supply and control units have all been re-engineered from the prototype design to further enhance the capacity, capability and performance of the Mk2 system in alignment with the new antenna and electronic warfare capability."
Tim Bungey, Chief Engineer for ECRS Mk2, Leonardo UK.

The first flight follows a programme of integration through ground-based testing delivered by a successful collaboration between the UK Ministry of Defence, Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), the RAF and industry.

The Typhoon programme supports more than 21,000 highly skilled UK jobs and generates around £1.6bn annually to the UK economy. The work developing the ECRS Mk2 is securing 600 roles including more than 300 at Leonardo's site in Edinburgh, 100 in Luton and 120 at BAE Systems in Lancashire.

The RAAF deployed three EA-18G Growlers from No 6 Squadron, and approximately 120 personnel for the Exercise Tarang Shakti 24, marking the first time Australia has sent combat aircraft for training in India!
(Photos courtesy of the RAAF)