Baltic Air Policing – EXTRA Our forthcoming December issue of Combat Aircraft includes a feature from Rich Cooper on the deployment of four 59th Tactical Fighter Wing JAS 39C Gripens from Kecskemét air base are for the first time flying…

End of the line at Long Beach The final Boeing C-17A Globemaster III departed the company’s plant at Long Beach, California on Sunday November 29, marking the official end of aircraft production in Long Beach. The airlifter flew over a…

Special colours mark farewell event The Argentine Air Force is marking the retirement of its charismatic Mirages, with final flights currently slated for December 3. The remaining Mirage IIIDA, a Finger IIIB and a Dagger Bs have received special markings…

Luftwaffe to join Syria mission for reconnaissance Germany has responded to pressure from France to become more involved in the mission against Islamic State (IS). It looks set to deploy 4-6 Tornados, which will operate in the reconnaissance role. The…

Su-24M shot down over Turkish/Syrian border On the morning on November 24, a Russian Air Force Su-24 ‘Fencer’ was shot down near the Turkish/Syrian border. It was not immediately clear if the aircraft had been downed by air-to-air or ground-to-air…

The SDSR announcement paves the way for nine British MPAs The announcement that the UK Royal Air Force is to receive nine Boeing P-8 Maritime Patrol Aircraft was expected by many. The aircraft are likely to be established in service…

Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015 The UK SDSR 2015, to be announced this afternoon, looks set to increase the Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon Force by two additional squadrons. The RAF currently has five front line Typhoon units: Nos…

Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015 In a statement released by the UK Government this morning ahead of the official SDSR announcement later today, the following plans have been laid out: • The UK will acquire 9 new Boeing P-8 Poseidon…

Study is looking at new-build F-15, F-16 or F/A-18E/Fs A senior USAF officer has said that Air Combat Command is studying the viability of purchasing new fourth-generation fighter aircraft. Up to 72 aircraft could be purchased to equip a single…

Tu-22M3s strike as part of large strategic bomber force Some fourteen Tu-22M3 ‘Backfires’ from Mozdok attacked IS targets in the east of Syria. While Kh-555 ALCMs appear to have been used from the Tu-95MS and Kh-101s from the Tu-160s, videos…