A Mig 17 on display at the 2025 Southern California Air Show, March ARB, California, April 12, 2025. The Southern California Air Show offered visitors a unique opportunity to witness the cutting-edge technology and capabilities of various aircraft, including the U.S. Air Force’s next-generation tanker, the KC-46A Pegasus. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Steven Lewis)

An F-5A on display at the 2025 Southern California Air Show, March ARB, California, April 12, 2025. The Southern California Air Show offered visitors a unique opportunity to witness the cutting-edge technology and capabilities of various aircraft, including the U.S. Air Force’s next-generation tanker, the KC-46A Pegasus. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Steven Lewis)

P-51 Mustangs on display at the 2025 Southern California Air Show, March ARB, California, April 12, 2025.
(Courtesy photos by CAP 1LT Drewitz)


U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (April 12, 2025) An EA-18G Growler, attached to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 136, launches from the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) during flight operations in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. (Official U.S. Navy photo)

U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (April 12, 2025) A U.S. Navy Aviation Ordnanceman checks ordnance on an F-35C Lightning II, attached to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 97, on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) during flight operations in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. (Official U.S. Navy photo)

U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (April 11, 2025) An F/A-18E Super Hornet, attached to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 113, launches from the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) during flight operations in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. (Official U.S. Navy photo)

An F/A-18F Super Hornet, attached to the "Blacklions" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 213 and an F/A-18E Super Hornet, attached to the "Golden Warriors" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 87 fly over the world's largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mahan (DDG 72), April 11, 2025. The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group is underway in the Atlantic Ocean completing integrated naval warfighting training. Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) is the Joint Force’s most complex integrated training event and prepares naval task forces for sustained high-end Joint and combined combat. Integrated naval training provides America’s civilian leaders and commanders highly-capable forces that deter adversaries, underpin American security and economic prosperity, and reassure Allies and partners. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Maxwell Orlosky)

The U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Team, the Blue Angels, perform aerobatic maneuvers for spectators at the 2025 Beaufort Airshow at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina, April 13, 2025. The mission of the Blue Angels is to showcase the pride and professionalism of the United States Navy and Marine Corps by inspiring a culture of excellence and service to the country through flight demonstrations and community outreach. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Mason Coots)

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Viper Demonstration Team alongside the P-51 Mustang prepares for a heritage flight formation alongside for spectators at the 2025 Beaufort Airshow at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina, April 13, 2025. The single-ship performance team demonstrated the professionalism instilled in Air Force pilots and showed the capabilities of the F-16C Fighting Falcon. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Delilah M. Romayor)

LEEUWARDEN AIR BASE, Netherlands, April 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) Skunk Works and the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) showcased the first-ever live classified data share outside the United States between an F-35 in flight and Keystone, a Dutch Command and Control (C2) environment at Ramstein Flag, Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) exercise.

In this real-time live fly exercise, Dutch F-35s operating in an Anti-Access Area Denial environment, successfully detected, identified, and passed targeting data on multiple simulated ground effectors via Multifunction Advanced Datalink through a Skunk Works' Open Systems Gateway (OSG) into Keystone. Keystone then transmitted the data to a rocket artillery platform which engaged a ground target and confirmed successful takedown, effectively closing the loop. This entire process was executed from start to finish in a matter of minutes. This is a first, and a significant step forward in multi-domain integration, proving F-35 interoperability between several allied nations in real-time.

By unlocking the vast amount of data from an F-35, the Skunk Works OSG enables allied air and missile defense systems to receive precise targeting information, allowing them to detect, track, and defeat threats more effectively. This enhanced situational awareness, and interoperability empowers joint forces to respond more quickly and decisively, ultimately strengthening collective defense of partners and allies.

"Ramstein Flag was a resounding success, demonstrating the power of collaboration between United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA), and Skunk Works", said RNLAF Air Commodore Bert 'Vida' de Smit. "We are thrilled with the results and look forward to continuing this work with our partners to drive innovation and advance our integrated battlespace capabilities."

"The combined joint all-domain capabilities demonstrated at Ramstein Flag are a breakthrough in multi-domain operations, emphasizing the F-35's ability to seamlessly integrate with our international partners' C2 environments," said OJ Sanchez, vice president and general manager, Lockheed Martin Skunk Works. "This achievement is a testament to the strength of our partnerships with the RNLAF and USAFE-AFAFRICA. Lockheed Martin is accelerating delivery of novel MDO capabilities that enhance the effectiveness of our allies' F-35 fleets to ensure peace through allied strength."

Lockheed Martin Skunk Works is committed to delivering open architecture solutions that enhance multi-domain integration capabilities across allied forces.

This week, RAF Eurofighter Typhoons and Swedish Air Force JAS-39 Gripens conducted training together for the first time since the start of their joint deployment to Malbork, Poland.

The British Typhoons departed Malbork Air Base first to simulate an adversary formation, with the Swedish Gripens being scrambled to intercept the Typhoons, supported by a German Air Force A400M air-to-air refuelling aircraft.

This is a first for the detachment, however it is not the first time the RAF Typhoon and Swedish Air Force Gripen aircraft have trained together. Previously, the aircraft from the RAF and Swedish Air Force carried out joint training in October 2022 as part of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) at Ravlunda Range in southern Sweden.

This week’s training sortie allowed pilots from No. II (Army Cooperation) Squadron and Swedish Air Force 211 and 212 Fighter Squadrons, to gain first-hand experience of working together. This will lead to a better understanding of capabilities and increased interoperability both in the air and amongst the ground crews.

Conducting air-to-air refuelling from a German A400M was another first for pilots from No. II (AC) Squadron, further enhancing the squadrons capability whilst operating in the enhanced Air Policing mission.

Operation Chessman is the UK contingent delivering the NATO enhanced Air Policing mission. RAF personnel currently deployed at Malbork Airbase, are under the command of 140 Expeditionary Air Wing. Personnel from across the RAF are currently deployed to Malbork alongside NATO's newest member, Sweden, until July 2025.
(Photos courtesy of the RAF)

The end of "MILEX" 2025.

From March 25 to April 10, the European Union conducted the "MILEX" exercise, a full-scale crisis management training exercise.

Two Mirage 2000D crews from Nancy Air Base 133 participated in the closing ceremony at the Hungarian airbase in Pápa. The program included discussions with civilian and military participants, followed by a VIP aircraft escort by French aircraft from the 3rd Fighter Wing.
(Photo courtesy of Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace)

Some more photos courtesy of the Koninklijke Luchtmacht, taken during the current Ramstein Flag 2025.