Writer and editor. TWZ. Military aerospace and air warfare, mostly. Contact me: t.newdick (at) gmail.com. RT, like ≠ endorsement.
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Once in a while, I remember there was a plan to fill the F-117 cockpit with carbon monoxide, to help counter the fact that the pilot’s head was calculated to have 200 times the radar signature of the rest of the jet. More here: thedrive.com/the-war-zone/f-…
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Russia’s Unfortunate Aircraft Carrier Has Caught Fire Again thedrive.com/the-war-zone/ru…
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‘Crowdfunded’ Aid For Russian Jet Squadron Looks Like Someone Raided A Home Depot
thedrive.com/the-war-zone/cr…
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The 'launcher' also appears to be based on some kind of truck-like shape, whereas the Buk TELAR is a lower-profile tracked vehicle so would not have the characteristic 'cab' at the front.
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The ‘Ghost of Kyiv’ Is The Mythical Hero Ukraine Needs Right Now
thedrive.com/the-war-zone/44…
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Seeing F/A-18Es armed with five AIM-120s and four AIM-9Xs makes me wonder what the largest number of AAMs carried by a deck-launched fighter is in an *operational* context. twz.com/air/super-hornets-no…
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Some welcome good news for the @Leonardo_live NH90 program: the Italian Army @Esercito has taken delivery of its 60th and final UH-90A (NH90 TTH) multirole helicopter, from Leonardo’s Venice Tessera facility. The Italian Army has logged 31,096 flight hours with the type so far.
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PHOTOS: Russian Navy MiG-31s practice landing on 'conditionally damaged strip' at Yelizovo airfield, Kamchatka. (RU MoD)
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The August edition of @AFMonthly – on sale today – is my last as editor. I am genuinely proud of the magazines that have been produced since I took the helm. None of it would have been possible without the team and, above all, the contributors and readers. Thanks to all of you.
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Rare photo showing an unusually painted Yak-38 FORGER VTOL fighter jet on the deck of the Soviet aircraft carrier Tbilisi (later Admiral Kuznetsov), circa 1990. I am not aware that it undertook any flights from the ship, but may be wrong. (ITAR-TASS/A. Kremko)
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After 2 weeks of multiple health screens and asking everyone to quarantine, I surprised my closest inner circle with a trip to a private island where we could pretend things were normal just for a brief moment in time.
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Iranian air power on show – exclusive photos from Kish Island by Daniele Faccioli for @AFMonthly: airforcesmonthly.keypublishi…
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That is not what is happening here. If you can't positively ID the aircraft involved, please refrain from guesswork.
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Interestingly, this photo also confirms that Ukraine has integrated Storm Shadow on both the Su-24M striker and the Su-24MR recce jet. Likely speaks to the generally low number of FENCER airframes available. thedrive.com/the-war-zone/su…
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The equivalent would be the RAF directly replacing its English Electric Lightnings with Typhoons.
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Can’t recall seeing too many photos of IRIS-T missile live-fire shots. At least not from operational @eurofighter jets. Here’s one from @Team_Luftwaffe, during live-fire campaign at Vidsel, Sweden.
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In the December issue of @AFMonthly, Piotr Butowski assesses the current status of NATO’s last surviving ‘Fitters’, equipment of which includes these unique SPPU-22-01 gun pods, with twin 23mm barrels pointing forwards or rearwards. (Photos: @k2dact) @Poland_MOD
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Swedish Air Force Pays Tribute To Spy Plane Crew Shot Down By Russia 70 Years Ago thedrive.com/the-war-zone/sw…
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Retired @portalfab Mirage F-2000C 4940 has been repainted in these special markings to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the 1º Grupo de Defesa Aérea and the 30th anniversary of Ayrton Senna's supersonic flight in a Mirage III from Anápolis on March 29, 1989. @Dassault_OnAir
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Turkey’s Kaan Next-Generation Fighter Has Flown
The TF Kaan is the latest and most impressive expression of Turkey’s increasingly ambitious military aerospace industry.
Story:
twz.com/air/turkeys-kaan-nex…
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THREAD. The MiG-29 might be a dwindling power within the Russian Aerospace Forces (see the May @AFMonthly for more on that) but the FULCRUM hasn’t been far from the headlines recently, with reported transfers to Libya and/or Syria in the last weeks. 1/
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Interesting formation here, of Royal Danish Air Force F-35 Draken leading a pair of RAF Tornado F3s from No XI(F) Squadron at @RAF_Leeming. Seems to date from around 1991, when Eskadrille 725 painted this jet to mark its 40th anniversary. Anyone know any more? (Credit: Forsvaret)
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As per info available to @AFMonthly:
F-16A Block 1-15 MLU: 23 [the total number to pass through the MLU upgrade, not 24]
F-16B Block 1-15 MLU: 21
F-16A Block 1-15: 9 (Jordan)
F-16B Block 1-15: 4 (Jordan)
F-16C Block 52: 12
F-16D Block 52: 6
According to fleet data from @AviationWeek, out of Pakistan's total 76 F-16s, 13 are from Jordan. The breakdown (H/t @TheDEWLine):
F-16A Block 1-15 MLU: 24
F-16B Block 1-15 MLU: 21
F-16A Block 1-15: 9 (Jordan)
F-16B Block 1-15: 4 (Jordan)
F-16C Block 52: 12
F-16D Block 52: 6
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F/A-18C of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 323 'Death Rattlers', MAG-11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, carrying ten AIM-120 AMRAAMs and two AIM-9X missiles, refuelling over the W-291 training area in southern California, March 6. @USMC @3rdmaw @MCASMiramarCA
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🚨📷BREAKING! B-21 Raider Has Flown For The First Time
Check out our story on this historical moment, including video of it taking to the skies:
thedrive.com/the-war-zone/b-…
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Hearing unconfirmed reports that the Belgian Air Force is planning to retire its four NH90 TTH transport helicopters (last example received November 2014) as a cost-saving exercise. Funds required for F-35 and A400M. New, smaller helicopter to be acquired instead.
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Interesting photo, for sure, but an old one, with the Bort number now censored. Originally photographed by Andriy Rakul and dated March 2014. More here: russianplanes.net/ID131421
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Interestingly, the latest Baltic Air Policing intercept by @RoyalAirForce @eurofighter Typhoons involved Russian Navy Su-27 'Red 93'/RF-33749 that performed an 'unsafe' intercept of USAF RC-135U on June 19, 2017. Note the 'Guards' badge and individual name 'Aleksandr Klubov'.
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Working on @EjercitoAire @eurofighter feature for the October issue of @AFMonthly. Pilots describe the Typhoon as the ‘Spaceship’, praising its heavy weapons load, and “incredible” radar and avionics that provide “unbeatable SA for combat”. (Photos: Salvador Mafé Huertas and EA)
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Low, Fast And Dangerous: A Firsthand Account Of Ukraine’s Secret Helicopter Rescue Missions thedrive.com/the-war-zone/lo…
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Turkish Air Force ‘Panthers’ Phantom marks 111 Filo anniversary: airforcesmonthly.keypublishi… (Photos: Cem Dogut)
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'Hogs' and 'Frogs' ready to join forces: USAF A-10Cs and Bulgarian Su-25Ks fly together combataircraft.net/view_arti…
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Perhaps of interest in view of the recent news out of the Black Sea. A Ukrainian Air Force Su-27UB flying chase for Neptun anti-ship missile trials before that weapon was declared operational. (Ukrainian MoD screencap)
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Very happy to announce my new posting to @thewarzonewire, where I am joining an expanding team, with some new, and other familiar faces. Exciting times ahead. thedrive.com/the-war-zone/35…
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The first three nations to put the @thef35 into combat, together for the first time: F-35A Lightning II from @USAF_ACC, F-35I Adir from @IAFsite and F-35B Lightning from @RoyalAirForce stationed @RAFAkrotiri. USAF photo, Exercise Tri-Lightning over eastern Mediterranean, June 25
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Armed Ukrainian Air Force Su-27 on alert, reportedly at Vasylkiv, not normally a FLANKER base. Considering proximity to Kyiv, it’s somewhat surpassing that the base is still generating sorties, if that’s indeed the case.
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Evidence Of Russia Using Grom Standoff Weapons In Ukraine Emerges thedrive.com/the-war-zone/ev…
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India’s Secretive Stealthy Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle Demonstrator Breaks Cover thedrive.com/the-war-zone/42…
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BREAKING STORY: Russian Navy MiG-29K lost in Mediterranean: combataircraft.net/2016/11/1…
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. @Saab today completed a first flight of the initial Brazilian Gripen E fighter, 39-6001. At 14.41hrs CET on August 26, the Gripen E aircraft took off on its maiden flight from Saab’s airfield in Linköping, Sweden, flown by company test pilot Richard Ljungberg.
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Mexican Light Attack Plane Strafes Cartel Forces After Arrest Of El Chapo’s Son (Updated) thedrive.com/the-war-zone/me…
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Turkey’s First Homegrown Manned Tactical Jet Has Flown thedrive.com/the-war-zone/tu…
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Normal service can now resume, with a preview of these spectacular @k2dact shots of @ItalianAirForce Tornados that will appear in the March issue of @AFMonthly. Tonkas may have departed UK skies this time last year, but the ‘Mighty Fin’ is still going strong at Ghedi in Italy. 🇮🇹
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Fighting Russia In The Sky: MiG-29 Pilot’s In-Depth Account Of The Air War Over Ukraine
thedrive.com/the-war-zone/45…
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And another new-generation fighter concept unveiled at @salondubourget today: the TF-X from Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI).
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What a line-up… and *then* you start looking for the other airframes scattered around the base. @Dassault_OnAir photo of Brétigny air base, south of Paris, including Ouragan, Mystère IV, Super Mystère B2, Étendard IV, Mirage IIIE, Mirage IIIR, Mirage IV.
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Egyptian MiG-29M/M2 fighters escort Rossiya Il-96-300PU RA-96022 during President Vladimir Putin's visit to Egypt last month. Cairo ordered 46 MiG-29M/M2s in April 2015. Deliveries to be completed in 2020.
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A busy week putting together the April issue of @AFMonthly. Plenty of highlights, but these photos of 18th Aggressor Squadron F-16Cs captured at @EielsonAirForce are very special. (Photos: Kedar Karmarkar) @PACAF ‘Have at You!’
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The more things change…
UK F-35Bs launched from the deck of @HMSQNLZ and flew alongside @Forsvaret_No Norwegian F-35As to escort a Russian Maritime Patrol Aircraft as it flew in proximity to UK Carrier Strike Group.
#UKCSG23 #JEFtogether
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The first @eurofighter Instrumented Series Production Aircraft (ISPA 6) equipped with the Kuwait Air Force configuration completed a first flight today. The jet is the first to fly with the Captor E-Scan radar together with Phase Enhancement P3Eb. (Artist’s concept illustrated)
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. @Leonardo_live and @ThalesDefence have announced the first successful firings of the Martlet Lightweight Multirole Missile (LMM) from the AW159 Wildcat. Trials were conducted as part of the UK MOD’s Future Anti-Surface Guided Weapon (FASGW) programme from April 27 to May 21.
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Russia's Zvezda publishes first air-to-air footage of the latest Su-57 (and Su-30SM) shot from the ramp of an An-12 transport (HT @jetcitystar):
«Звезда» публикует первые кадры полета новейшего истребителя Су-57, снятые с рампы транспортного самолета Ан-12:
tvzvezda.ru/news/opk/content…
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As @CombatAir_Mag prepares for an in-depth analysis of ongoing F-117 operations from Tonopah, @AFMonthly asks whether a new Nighthawk squadron is now operating from the Nevada base: airforcesmonthly.keypublishi… (Photo: @NeilJackson10)
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Back in the office after a successful trip to the @ItalianAirForce and the sights of Tuscany from the air. Oh, and a new appreciation for the @Leonardo_live C-27J Spartan. Look out for more in @AFMonthly
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Ukrainian MiG-29s Are Firing AGM-88 Anti-Radiation Missiles thedrive.com/the-war-zone/uk…
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A first *official* view of the UAE Air Force’s first @Saab GlobalEye AEW&C aircraft during rollout at Linköping.
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Six Royal Saudi Air Force @eurofighter Typhoons have arrived at @RAFConingsby for first-time participation in Exercise Cobra Warrior that will run in March. Also taking part for the first time are the Indian Air Force and Finnish Air Force. (Photos RAF/Crown Copyright)
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Quite the mixed load-out for this Gifu test F-2A, seen on June 15. From wing stations: AAM-3 and AAM-5 short-range AAMs, ASM-2 anti-ship missiles, AAM-4 medium-range AAMs.
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The November @AFMonthly features @warnesyworld talking to Hungarian and Czech @saab Gripen pilots about their latest @NATO Baltic Air Policing missions. Here are some of the HUNAF intercepts that didn't make it in…
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There is a difference that I can’t quite put my finger on
France is angered by Australia’s buying US submarines while cancelling the French-Australian contract. Isn’t that the same thing that happened in 2014 when France refused to deliver the “Mistral” ships to Russia in violation of an earlier agreement? What goes around, comes around
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These Photos Of Armed NATO F-16s Patrolling Over The Baltics Are Absolutely Incredible thedrive.com/the-war-zone/44…
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As I noted before, the pixellated missile (assuming only one example is shown) is an R-27. You can see that the pixelation ‘follows’ the unique fin configuration of that weapon. And in this screencap you can see the other forward fin very clearly. 1/2
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Dassault has announced that Rafale deliveries to the @Armee_de_lair resumed last December 29, after an interruption of four years due to a combination of budgetary constraints/export demands. Rafale B359 is part of the Tranche 4 order for 60 aircraft that was awarded in 2009.
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Almost exactly a year since announcing its plan to buy 18 Rafales, Greece has revealed plans to increase the fleet to 24. My story on the original order here: thedrive.com/the-war-zone/36…
#Greece announces acquisition of further six @Dassault_OnAir #Rafale to bring fleet size to 24. Here’s the source speech by @PrimeministerGR: primeminister.gr/2021/09/11/…
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Photo of Ukrainian MiG-29 with Kh-29T (AS-14 KEDGE) TV-guided air-to-surface missile seems to indicate progress with fight test of the indigenous MiG-29MU2 upgrade. @DefenceU
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Swiss Air Force Mirage IIIRS. Not sure, but maybe the last tactical jet to make regular use of RATO gear?
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Japan-Based USAF F-16s Flew South China Sea Mission Fully Loaded With Live Air-To-Air Missiles thedrive.com/the-war-zone/40…
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Another issue of @AFMonthly safely to press and here is an idea of some of the features that will appear in the forthcoming June issue, available online and as a hard copy from May 21. (Photos: Matt Mansell, @anthonypecchi @ironbirdphotos, Paolo Rollino).
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Airbus C295 Transport Testbed Emerges Loaded With Turkish Guided Bombs thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39…
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Watch from the cockpit of a B-1 as it’s intercepted by a Su-27: airforcesmonthly.com/2017/06…
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This is not a 'skirmish'. Both jets are MiG-29s. While both Russia and Ukraine operate these types, there are no frontline Russian MiG-29s anywhere near Kyiv, as far as we know.
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Seems like the missile portion of Russia’s Kinzhal airborne strike missile system has received the NATO codename KILLJOY. The 9A7760 Kinzhal consists of MiG-31K (FOXHOUND-D) plus the izdeliye 292 airborne version of the 9M723 Iskander (SS-26 STONE) ballistic missile.
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While contracted Red Air provider Draken International competed a first flight of one of its recently regenerated @Dassault_OnAir Mirage F1s at Lakeland Linder International Airport, Florida, on November 12, @ParamountGroup1 has now released photos of the event.
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. @RoyalAirForce @eurofighter Typhoon FGR4s from @RAFLossiemouth intercepted Russian Aerospace Forces Il-20M COOT-A RF-93611 over the Baltic on May 2. The Typhoons from No 6 Squadron are currently at Šiauliai air base, Lithuania, part of the latest Baltic Air Policing rotation.
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Today is the 60th anniversary of the first flight of the biggest and heaviest fighter to ever see service: the Tupolev Tu-28 (later Tu-128) FIDDLER. Difficult to get an idea of its size, but this photo (via hobbyrcz.wordpress.com) helps:
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The first @AirbusDefence CC-295 for the Royal Canadian Air Force’s (@RCAF_ARC) Fixed Wing Search and Rescue Aircraft Replacement (FWSAR) programme has been rolled out of the paint shop showing off its final livery at the Airbus facility in Seville, Spain.
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A fact I haven’t seen mentioned in regard to retirement of the RAF’s Tornado on March 31: its demise marks the end of the UK’s final nuclear bomber. Though the role was removed by March 1998, the GR1 was primary carrier of the WE.177 tactical nuclear bomb for much of its career.
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. @48FighterWing Lakenheath Strike Eagles return from deployment sporting new wrestler nose art. Full story at key.aero/article/lakenheath-… (Photos: Laura Ellis)
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It's great to end the week having hit the 30k followers mark. This account wouldn't be anything without the input of experts and enthusiasts both military and civilian – and of course, my fellow journalists and editors. Thank you all!
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This Navigator Aboard A Russian Il-76 Looks Like A TIE Fighter Pilot From Star Wars thedrive.com/the-war-zone/38…
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Current Luftwaffe Baltic Air Policing configuration comprises Tranche 1 @Eurofighter_1 with 2 x AIM-120B, 2 x IRIS-T, loaded 27mm gun:
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Now apparently known as MiG-35UB, this is the two-seat version of MiG-35 fighter. One prototype of each now flying for Russian evaluation:
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Currently working on the January issue of @AFMonthly and wondering if there is a better posting for military flying than this one – @Armee_de_lair Escadron de Transport 82 ‘Maine’ in French Polynesia. @AirbusDefence (Photos: FAPF)
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Here's a look at @Saab proposal for Gripen Aggressor. Note no-live-weapons capability, no cannon, but PS-05 MkIV and HMD option.
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Sixty years ago today, detonation of “Tsar Bomba.” The Most Powerful Nuclear Bomb Blast Ever thedrive.com/the-war-zone/35…
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AIDC-modified F-16V begins flight test: airforcesmonthly.keypublishi… by @hanchia_hccapa for @AFMonthly
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These Are The Best Images Ever Of The World's Most Secretive 737
thedrive.com/the-war-zone/40…
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MiG-29 numbers are rapidly dwindling within the Russian Aerospace Forces, as Alexander Mladenov explains in the current, May issue of @AFMonthly. Among final units are the 3624th Aviation Base (Erebuni), 185 TsBPiBPr, 237 TsPAT (Strizhi) and 968 IISAP. tinyurl.com/y8zftagw
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Anniversary @Saab Gripen marks 100 years of Czech Air Force: airforcesmonthly.keypublishi… (Photos: Jens Schymura/Marcus Fülber) @annwolgers @RichJBsmith @GripenNews @ObranaTweetuje
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British Typhoons Have Used Storm Shadow Cruise Missiles For The First Time In Combat thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39…
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