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  • An Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter operated by the “Sugar Bears” of the 1-52nd General Support Aviation Battalion from Fort Wainwright, Alaska, approaches Malemute Drop Zone while supporting an airborne operation for paratroopers from the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, “Spartan Brigade,” at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Oct. 5, 2021. Training events like this provide both air crews and paratroopers with the opportunity to maintain proficiency in airborne operations and improve inter-unit coordination. The Spartan Brigade is the only airborne infantry brigade combat team in the Arctic and Pacific theaters, providing the combatant commander with the unique capability to project an expeditionary force by air. (U.S. Air Force photo by Alejandro Peña)
    52nd General Support Aviation Battalion From Fort Wainwright Alaska
    A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 14th Fighter Squadron takes off on the runway during a PACIFIC WEASEL (PAC WEASEL) exercise at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Sept. 29, 2021. PAC WEASEL supports the Air Force’s directive to “Accelerate Change or Lose” by giving operators challenging scenarios and the opportunity to share best practices and new techniques in joint and bilateral environments. (U.S Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Leon Redfern)

    SOUTH CHINA SEA (Oct. 6, 2021) An EA-18G Growler, assigned to the “Gauntlets” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 136, prepares to launch off the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), Oct. 6, 2021. Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability through alliances and partnerships while serving as a ready-response force in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Emily Bennett)
    Class Aircraft Carrier USS Carl Vinson
    SOUTH CHINA SEA (Oct. 6, 2021) An E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, assigned to the “Black Eagles” of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 113, prepares to launch off the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), Oct. 6, 2021. Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability through alliances and partnerships while serving as a ready-response force in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Emily Bennett)
    Class Aircraft Carrier USS Carl Vinson
    PHILIPHINE SEA(October 2, 2021) U.S. Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211 complete pre-flight checks on a F-35B Lightning II aboard the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth (R 08) in the Philippine Sea on October 2, 2021. VMFA-211 was preparing to launch for a training defensive counter air mission alongside the United Kingdom�s 617 Squadron as part of dual carrier operations with the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). Conducting realistic and relevant training is essential to maintaining our warfighting readiness and lethality. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by 1st Lt. Zachary Bodner)

    PHILIPPINE SEA (Oct. 2, 2021) U.S. Marine Capt. Michael Pence with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211, accelerates an F-35B Lightning II aboard the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth (R 08) in the Philippine Sea on October 2, 2021. VMFA-211 was preparing to launch for a training defensive counter air mission alongside the United Kingdom�s 617 Squadron as part of dual carrier operations with the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). Conducting realistic and relevant training is essential to maintaining our warfighting readiness and lethality. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by 1st Lt. Zachary Bodner)

    PHILIPPINE SEA (Oct. 2, 2021) U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Andrew D'Ambrogi, the commanding officer of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211, accelerates an F-35B Lightning II aboard the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth (R 08) in the Philippine Sea on October 2, 2021. VMFA-211 was preparing to launch for a training defensive counter air mission alongside the United Kingdom�s 617 Squadron as part of dual carrier operations with the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76). Conducting realistic and relevant training is essential to maintaining our warfighting readiness and lethality. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by 1st Lt. Zachary Bodner)

    Grand Prairie, Texas, 07 October 2021 – Global Medical Response (GMR) will add a total of 21 Airbus helicopters from the H125, H130 and H135 families to its growing air medical fleet, with options to include up to an additional 23 helicopters, bringing the total order potential up to 44 helicopters.

    “We fly a variety of Airbus products, but the main thing they have in common – and the most important thing we look for in our critical care transport solutions – is reliability,” said Rob Hamilton, president of the GMR Alliances Group. “Our Airbus fleet allows us to respond quickly and transport critical patients with the appropriate level of care to give them the absolute best chance of survival. With the addition of these new aircraft, our fleet grows stronger and more capable to save lives when it matters most.”

    GMR, an industry-leading air, ground, specialty and residential fire services and managed medical transportation organization with more than 38,000 employees, is one of the largest operators of Airbus helicopters. GMR delivers care through multiple operating brands, including Air Evac Lifeteam, Guardian Flight, Med-Trans Corp., and REACH Air Medical Services. These operations transported more than 125,000 patients in 2020. This latest order will add to GMR’s current Airbus fleet of nearly 133 helicopters.

    This announcement expands upon additional orders from GMR in recent years as part of an ongoing fleet expansion. In the past 18 months alone, GMR has taken delivery of 15 Airbus helicopters.

    “The air medical mission demands high availability rates. The H125 and H130 set the standard in the single-engine segment, and the H135 has stood out in the twin-engine segment thanks to its consistent reliable performance in this mission,” said Romain Trapp, president of Airbus Helicopters, Inc. and head of the North America region. “The fact that GMR’s entire twin-engine fleet is made up of the H135 speaks volumes to its success in the air medical market. We are proud to continue delivering on our longstanding relationship with GMR and stand ready to continue to support the highest levels of availability for their essential work.”

    Airbus Helicopters is the leading provider of helicopters to the air medical transport industry, providing some 55% of the 2,600 EMS helicopters flying in the world today. More than half of all new air medical helicopters sold in the last decade in the U.S. were produced by Airbus. The H125 and H130 are a reference for single-engine air ambulance missions, especially in the U.S. market, and the H135 is the market leader in emergency medical services (EMS).
    GMR
    Sao Jose dos Campos - SP - October 7, 2021 – The Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) approved financing to export 24 Embraer E175 commercial jets to SkyWest Airlines, the world's largest regional aviation company, based in Utah in the U.S. The deal strengthens Brazil’s industry at a time when it is still feeling the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and boosts the presence of high-tech Brazilian products in the world's largest and most competitive aviation market. The deliveries began in August and will continue until April 2022.

    The financing of over US$ 500 million (more than R$ 2.6 billion), is in line with operations carried out by export credit agencies in countries with cutting-edge aeronautical industries. The aeronautical sector is considered strategic by the nations due to aspects such as advanced technology, continuous innovation, and highly skilled workers. Export credit agencies operate to complement the private credit market, doing so more intensely in times of crisis, which is clear in the history between the BNDES and Embraer.

    Bruno Aranha, director of Productive and Socio-environmental Credit at BNDES, stresses the institution’s importance in financing exports: “BNDES has an established and significant presence in Brazil’s export system, having an anticyclical performance that has maintained Brazilian exporters over more than 25 years. This deal is another important step for BNDES, supporting Embraer in the resumption of sales growth in the context of the greatest challenge ever faced in the history of the aeronautical sector, thus ensuring the maintenance of qualified jobs in the country,” he says.

    The E175, which carries up to 88 passengers, was one of the models least impacted by the effects of COVID-19. Currently, there are more than 600 E175s in operation worldwide, making it the leader in its segment.

    Despite the pandemic effects, the American market has recovered. In May 2020, the number of flights in operation was only 24% of what it was in May 2019. However, that rate increased to 80% in May of 2021. With economic recovery on the horizon, BNDES and Embraer intensified their operations.

    “As the world’s largest owner/operator of the Embraer E175 aircraft, SkyWest has been very pleased with BNDES’s support as our primary financing partner for this important plane,” said Robert Simmons, SkyWest’s Chief Financial Officer. “BNDES has epitomized partnership through years of growth in a variety of economic environments.”

    “BNDES’ support is essential as the air transport market recovers in the US, the main market for our Embraer 175 jet. Regional aviation has played an extremely important role in the recovery of commercial flights around the world and this has benefited Embraer jets, which are the most efficient in the industry. We are the largest exporter of high-value goods in Brazil and have been able to implement and offer smart and flexible financing solutions for our customers, in line with the growth strategy we project for the next few years,” says Antonio Carlos Garcia, Embraer's Executive Vice President, Financial and Investor Relations.

    The financing will be provided via BNDES Exim Post-shipment, transferred in Brazilian reals (R$) in Brazil to the exporter (Embraer). In this type of operation, the importer takes the commitment to pay BNDES in dollars, bringing this foreign currency into Brazil. Credit insurance covering commercial, political, and extraordinary risks is included in the transaction

    About SkyWest

    It is the largest regional air transport group in the world. In 2019, it was responsible for boarding about 45 million passengers on 2,300 daily flights to destinations in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. The company works in partnership with major US airlines: American Airlines, Delta, United, and Alaska.
    Wingtips
    7 October 2021
    In Bückeburg, Lower Saxony on June 23, 2021, a rich, thumping sound rang above the helicopter museum near the moated castle. The characteristic outline of the "carpet beater," as the Bell UH-1D is often called in the Bundeswehr, appeared in the sky. The two rotors with the powerful engine, to which this nickname is owed, "beat" at 324 revolutions per minute. As the aircraft approached the landing field, the special black-and-orange livery appeared: soldiers waving to a Huey taking off, with the words "Goodbye Huey" written in large cursive letters above it.

    This spectacular entry of the Huey was made possible by the initiative of soldiers. The decommissioning of the Bundeswehr helicopter was brought to a fitting end with a farewell tour. And so, from April 2020 to June 2021, they flew to several Bundeswehr locations in the machine with this special livery, before the last flight to the Helicopter Museum in Bückeburg, Lower Saxony. Those involved wanted to express their appreciation for this piece of essential equipment, which has served generations of soldiers in training and on duty.

    The Huey has become a piece of transatlantic history through its long service in the German armed forces. When the Bundeswehr needed a light, multi-purpose helicopter in the 1960s, the world's leading aviation technology came from the United States. The fact that the Bundeswehr chose Bell in its search for the best available technology underpinned the strong and trusting relations between the Federal Republic and the United States in the days of Adenauer, Eisenhower, Erhard and Kennedy.

    The Bell UH-1D convinced them with its smooth maintenance and conversion possibilities, thanks to simple construction, easy and intuitive control characteristics for landing on diverse terrain, and a large cabin that can transport up to 13 persons or 1760kg goods with low empty weight. In 1968, Bell delivered the first helicopters to the German Armed Forces. They were used for a wide range of missions over the course of five decades, including personnel transport, fighting forest fires and floods, as well as search and rescue operations. In all its missions over the past decades, Bell's Huey has proven to be a reliable, versatile and virtually indestructible partner.

    For Bell, the UH-1D helicopter was and is a symbol of our world-renowned legacy and pioneering innovations. It is a prime example of the expertise of our engineers, our enthusiasm for flight innovation and, above all, our passion for flying. Bell is delighted that this enthusiasm has also caught on with our long-standing customers and partners in Europe. And our teams hope to continue to inspire them in the future with new, groundbreaking technology platforms. We’re already working on the next legendary aircraft programs today.

    Bell thanks the Bundeswehr and all its soldiers for their trust and appreciation and is proud to have been a reliable partner for half a century with the iconic Bell Huey.
    Huey
    SAN DIEGO – 07 October 2021 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) is working with the U.S. Army to develop a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) for the Multi-Domain Operations (MDO)-capable Gray Eagle Extended Range (GE-ER) Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS). Incorporating MOSA on GE-ER Increment 2 spans the entire system, including the aircraft and the Command and Control (C2) software suite. The implementation of MOSA will provide multiple new standards for C2, Future Airborne Capability Environment (FACE), Open Mission Systems (OMS), Universal Armament Interface (UAI), as well as further segregating the Flight/Mission systems’ hardware and software.

    “MOSA implementation on GE-ER Increment 2 supports rapid integration of best of breed capabilities,” said GA-ASI Vice President of Army Programs Don Cattell. “We share the Army’s vision for MOSA and want to help them create a system that makes interfacing from all platforms and users as easy as possible.”

    MOSA for GE-ER Inc. 2 has an exceptional return on investment for the Army. On the aircraft, MOSA will enable rapid integration of advanced payloads, communication equipment, along with Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) capabilities. This will reduce the sensor to shooter timelines, while simultaneously reducing the datalink bandwidth requirements in a contested environment, thus increasing range and resiliency.

    The ‘edge processing’ capability will maximize the utility of the Medium Altitude aircraft providing, in near real time, threat Detection, Identification, Location and Reporting (DILR) to the U.S. Army and Joint Force. Furthermore, the software components are being designed to be portable to other manned and unmanned aircraft systems the Army is developing, enhancing capability while reducing cost.

    For the C2 suite on the ground, MOSA implementation will separate the Human Machine Interface (HMI) from the software business logic and will decrease the time associated with interfacing with evolving communication capability in the Joint and multi-national environment. This will allow the Army to tailor the HMI for each platform and minimize regression testing, a capability the Army has never had before.

    GA-ASI is currently testing the MOSA components on a simulator with plans to begin flight testing early next year, along with other industry and government partners selected by the U.S. Army.

    About GA-ASI

    General Atomics-Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), an affiliate of General Atomics, is a leading designer and manufacturer of proven, reliable remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) systems, radars, and electro-optic and related mission systems, including the Predator® RPA series and the Lynx® Multi-mode Radar. With more than seven million flight hours, GA-ASI provides long-endurance, mission-capable aircraft with integrated sensor and data link systems required to deliver persistent flight that enables situational awareness and rapid strike. The company also produces a variety of ground control stations and sensor control/image analysis software, offers pilot training and support services, and develops meta-material antennas. For more information, visit www.ga-asi.com.
    Grey Eagle
    An RAF Typhoon based at Royal Air Force Coningsby has escorted United States Air Force B-1B Lancers as part of the latest Bomber Task Force mission.
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    The Strategic Bombers were escorted by an RAF Typhoon as they approached UK airspace on the west Coast as part of their pre-planned transatlantic flight to RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.
    (Photos courtesy of the RAF)

    F-35B Lightnings from 617 Squadron have conducted Air to Air Refuelling from a US Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet for the first time.
    The refuelling sortie occurred during exercises with the US Navy aircraft carriers USS Ronald Reagan and USS Carl Vinson in the Pacific region. This was part of interoperability training, and is known as buddy-buddy refuelling.

    During the exercise RAF Marham based 617 Squadron also took the opportunity to conduct a joint fly past with US Navy and US Marine Corps jets over the combined fleet of carriers and their escorts.
    (Photo courtesy of the RAF)
    35b 617 Buddy Refueling
     

  • SOUTH CHINA SEA
    10.06.2021.
    US Marine Capt Jacob Slaughter with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211 waits for a F-35B Lightning II to launch before walking across the flight deck aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth in the South China Sea. VMFA-211 is currently deployed with the United Kingdom’s Carrier Strike Group 21.
    (Photo by 1st Lt. Zachary Bodner)
    35B Lightning II To Launch Before Walking Across The Flight Deck Aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth In The South China Sea
    SOUTH CHINA SEA
    US Marine Capt Craig Turner with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211 completes pre-flight checks on an F-35B Lightning II aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth in the South China Sea on October 06, 2021. VMFA-211 is currently deployed with the United Kingdom’s Carrier Strike Group 21.
    (Photo by 1st Lt. Zachary Bodner)

    AU.S. Marine F-35B Lightning II's with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122, Marine Aircraft Group 13, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, refuel at the hot pit on Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, California, Oct. 7, 2021. The air station and the squadrons housed there provide aviation support that enables I Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton tenant commands and visiting units to maintain and enhance their mission capabilities and combat readiness. While the air station primarily supports rotary wing and tiltrotor aircraft, it is also capable of supporting jets like the F-35B. (U.S. Marine Corps photos by Cpl. Andrew Cortez)

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    PHILIPPINE SEA (Oct. 3, 2021) An MV-22 Osprey lands on the flight deck of the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth (R 08) during a photo exercise with the United Kingdom’s carrier strike group, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), led by Hyuga-class helicopter destroyer JS Ise (DDH 182), and U.S. Navy carrier strike groups, led by flagships USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) and USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). The integrated at-sea operations brought together more than 15,000 Sailors across six nations, and demonstrates the U.S. Navy’s ability to work closely with its unmatched network of alliances and partnerships in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. (Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Quinton A. Lee)
    22 Osprey Lands On The Flight Deck Of The Royal Navy Aircraft Carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth
    Toulouse, 08 October 2021 – Air Belgium, the full-service international destination carrier headquartered in Mont-Saint-Guibert in Belgium, has taken delivery of the first of two A330-900.

    The aircraft is configured with 286 seats in a three-class layout (30 comfortable lie-flat business class, 21 premium-class, and 235 economy-class seats). The aircraft is furnished with the Airbus Airspace cabin. All seats are equipped with the latest-generation, in-flight entertainment system, on-board wifi and mood lighting.

    Thanks to the A330neo’s latest technologies, Air Belgium will benefit from cost-effective and eco-efficient aircraft solutions, while providing passengers with the best comfort standards in the quietest cabins in its class. In addition, lower noise and emissions compared to previous-generation aircraft make the A330neo a friendlier airport neighbour.
    Air Belgium First A330neo
    Air Belgium will deploy the aircraft on routes connecting Brussels to long-haul destinations.
    The Belgian carrier currently operates an all-Airbus widebody fleet comprising A330-200F and A340-300; the A340s will be gradually replaced by the A330neos.

    The A330neo Family is the new-generation A330; it builds on the proven economics, versatility and reliability of the A330 Family, while reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by about 25 per cent-per-seat compared to previous-generation, competitor aircraft, and offers an unrivalled range capability. The A330neo is powered by Rolls-Royce’s latest-generation Trent 7000 engines and features a new wing with increased span and composite winglets for better, fuel-beating aerodynamics.

    With an order book of more than 1,800 aircraft from 126 customers at the end of September 2021, the A330 remains the most popular widebody family aircraft of all time.
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  • Two B-1B Lancers, from Dyess Air Force Base’s 9th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron currently operating from Royal Air Force Fairford, England, conduct hot pit refueling using the innovative Versatile Integrated Partner Equipment Refueling (VIPER) kit, at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, Oct. 11, 2021. This was in support of European Command’s Bomber task Force 22-1 mission support series using the VIPER kit, a hot pit refuel tool, supporting Agile Combat Employment operations. (U.S. Air Force photos by Staff Sgt. Chance Nardone)
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    1B Lancers From Dyess Air Force Base S 9th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron Currently Operating From Royal Air Force Fairford England
    SAN FRANCISCO (Oct. 9, 2021)
    The U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, perform at Marina Green during San Francisco Fleet Week (SFFW) 2021. SFFW is an opportunity for the American public to meet their Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard teams and experience America's sea services. During fleet week, service members participate in various community service events, showcase capabilities and equipment to the community, and enjoy the hospitality of the city and its surrounding areas. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Brandie Nuzzi/Released)
    Blue Angels Perform At Marina Green During San Francisco Fleet Week
    Munich, 11th October 2021 – The Airbus Zephyr S completes a successful 2021 test flight campaign in the United States. The final Airbus solar-powered High Altitude Platform System (HAPS) flight touched down on 13th September in Arizona, USA, ending the most ambitious and successful Zephyr flight campaign to date.

    The flight campaign had a clear customer focus - to demonstrate how Zephyr could be used for future operations, flying outside of restricted airspace and over airspace shared with commercial air traffic. Carrying an Optical Advanced Earth Observation system for Zephyr (OPAZ) payload, Zephyr proved its operational value to provide instant, persistent, and improved situational awareness.
    Zephyr 2021 Test Flight Campaign
    “Working with Airbus and the Zephyr team during the 2021 flight campaign, significant progress has been made towards demonstrating HAPS as a capability. This summer’s activities represent an important step towards operationalising the stratosphere” said James Gavin, Future Capability Group Head at Defence Equipment & Support, the procurement arm of the UK Ministry of Defence.

    “Defence investment in cutting edge technology is key to the development of world-leading military capabilities. Zephyr is an important programme within UK Strategic Command and the recent successful flight has required many innovative technical solutions. This represents a significant milestone for Zephyr which is informing the development of new concepts and ways of enabling military operations, particularly in the context of Multi-Domain Integration.” Said Major General Rob Anderton-Brown, Director Capability and MDI Change Programme at Strategic Command.

    The campaign consisted of six flights in total, four low level test flights and two stratospheric flights. The stratospheric flights flew for around 18 days each, totaling more than 36 days of stratospheric flight in the campaign. This adds a further 887 flight hours to the 2,435 stratospheric flight hours for Zephyr to date, marks significant progress for fixed wing HAPS and is a step towards making the stratosphere an operational reality for its customers.

    “Credible and proven ultra-persistence, stratospheric agility, and payload interoperability underscore why Zephyr is the leader in its sector. It is a sustainable, solar powered, ISR and network extending solution that can provide vital future connectivity and earth observation to where it is needed.” said Jana Rosenmann, Head of Unmanned Aerial Systems at Airbus.

    Such an innovative and potentially game-changing capability is part of Airbus ambition to rapidly move towards operationalizing the stratosphere. “Carbon Neutral”, Zephyr uses sunlight to fly and recharge its batteries, using no fuel and producing no carbon emissions.

    With its ability to remain in the stratosphere for months at a time, Zephyr will bring new see, sense and connect capabilities to both commercial and military customers. Zephyr will provide the potential to revolutionise disaster management, including monitoring the spread of wildfires or oil spills. It provides persistent surveillance, tracing the world’s changing environmental landscape and will be able to provide communications to the most unconnected parts of the world.
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    British Airways has launched BA Better World, its new sustainability programme. The airline said this marked a further commitment to put sustainability at the heart of its business, from reducing emissions and waste and positively contributing to the communities it serves, to creating a great place for people to work in order to build a resilient, responsible business.

    At an event at British Airways’ Heathrow engineering base the airline unveiled a new look for one of its most fuel-efficient short-haul aircraft, an A320neo, which it has painted in its new BA Better World sustainability colours as part of a partnership with aircraft manufacturer Airbus.
    BABetterWorld 2
    British Airways has long been leading the aviation industry’s efforts to decarbonise. In 1992 it was the first airline to report its carbon footprint. In 2002 it became the first airline to participate in UK emissions trading. In 2019 British Airways’ parent company IAG became the first airline group in the world to commit to net zero CO2 emissions by 2050, and last year British Airways became the first major airline to voluntarily offset all emissions from its domestic flights.

    After unveiling the new aircraft livery, British Airways announced a collaboration with bp, committing to source sustainable aviation fuel with respect to all its flights between London, Glasgow and Edinburgh during the UK’s COP26 climate change summit being held in Glasgow later this year*. Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is blended with traditional jet fuel to comply with aviation fuel certification standards. The SAF sourced for the COP26 period provides a lifecycle carbon reduction of up to 80% compared to traditional jet fuel.

    In a UK first, British Airways also announced that from today its customers can purchase sustainable aviation fuel to reduce their carbon footprint via its not-for-profit organisation Pure Leapfrog. This is in addition to the existing option for customers to offset their emissions.

    The collaboration with bp forms part of British Airways’ long-term commitment to the development and use of sustainable aviation fuel. The airline’s parent company, International Airlines Group (IAG), is investing $400m over the next 20 years into the development of SAF, with British Airways forming partnerships with a number of technology and fuel companies to develop SAF plants and purchase the fuel, including with Velocys in the UK and LanzaJet in the US. British Airways, as part of an IAG commitment, recently stated it would power 10 per cent of its fuel needs with SAF by 2030.

    Speaking at the event, British Airways CEO and Chairman Sean Doyle said: “With BA Better World we’re on our most important journey yet - to a better, more sustainable future and one which will ensure the long-term success of our business. We’re clear that we have a responsibility to reduce our impact on the planet and have a detailed plan to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, including investing in more fuel-efficient aircraft, improving our operational efficiency and investing in the development of sustainable aviation fuel and zero emissions aircraft.
    BABetterWorld 1
     

  • U.S. Airmen from the 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Wing, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, prepare their F-15E Strike Eagles for a series of integrated training sorties during operation Castle Forge alongside F-16 aircraft from the Hellenic Air Force’s 110th Combat Wing at Larissa Air Base, Greece, Oct. 11, 2021.

    Castle Forge is a U.S. Air Forces Europe-Air Forces Africa-led, joint, multi-national operation. It demonstrates the joint force’s combined ability to respond in times of crisis with a flexible, reassuring presence (U.S. Air Force photos by Capt. Andrew Layton).


    INDIAN OCEAN (Oct. 10, 2021) An MH-60S Sea Hawk, assigned to the “black Knights” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 4, lifts off the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) during a vertical replenishment-at-sea with Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Stockdale (DDG 106), Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain (CG 57) and Royal Australian Navy Fleet replenishment vessel HMAS Sirius (O 266), Oct. 10, 2021 Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability through alliances and partnerships while serving as a ready-response force in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Megan Alexander)
    Class Aircraft Carrier USS Carl Vinson
    While cruising over the Eglin Air Force Base range, a 96th Test Wing F-15E Strike Eagle released a GBU-72 Advanced 5K Penetrator at 35,000 feet here Oct. 7.

    The 5,000-pound bomb’s release marked the end of a test series planned by the 780th Test Squadron and performed by the 40th Flight Test Squadron. That series included the first-ever weapons load, flight and release of the weapon July 23. The squadron’s test goals were to show the weapon could safely release from the aircraft and validate a modified 2,000-pound joint-direct-attack-munition tail kit’s ability to control and navigate a 5,000-pound weapon.
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    The test series, deemed a success by the Armament Directorate’s Direct Attack Division, consisted of three flights. Those flights and drops were made much more complex since this was the first GBU-72 release.

    In addition to the successful flight test series, the ground test series was Eglin’s largest-ever arena test, surpassing the previous titleholder by more than double. The arena test, an open-air test where the warhead detonates surrounded by blast pressure sensors and fragment counting equipment, helps to determine the weapon’s lethality. The 780th TS also planned this test event.

    The flight test series success depended upon the 780th TS’s planners and the 40th FLTS’s aircrews making the right choices, creating new procedures and adjusting quickly to ensure the weapon released correctly and the mission remained on schedule.

    “Test series of this magnitude are never successful, overall, because of just a single person or organization,” said Ronald Forch, 780th TS Programming Engineer over the GBU-72 flight and ground test efforts. “They are ultimately successful because the test engineer is able to perform a role very similar to that of a symphony conductor guiding the performance of a series of consecutive miracles – none any more important than the other.”

    The Armament Directorate recently commended the squadron with the External Team of the Quarter award for its GBU-72 program efforts.

    The GBU-72 was developed to overcome hardened deeply buried target challenges and designed for both fighter and bomber aircraft. The weapon design and its projected effectiveness were developed using advanced modeling and simulation techniques and processes before the first warhead was forged. This is a repeatable process for all future direct attack weapons. Lethality is expected to be substantially higher compared to similar legacy weapons like the GBU-28, according to James Culliton, GBU-72 Program Manager.

    “An advantage to the modeling and simulation to design approach used is early prototypes are production representative,” said Culliton. “This helps us bring our operational test partners in sooner with eyes on, hands on participation, validating our design and procedures sooner while including input that improves the weapon. The collaboration we’ve enjoyed with the 780th TS and 40th FLTS to this end has been the best I’ve experienced in acquisitions.”

    The GBU-72 program now moves on to additional JDAM integration test flights and developmental and operational testing in 2022.
    (Photos by Samuel King)
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    A Romanian air force F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft drops back from a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft assigned to the 100th Air Refueling Wing, Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England, after receiving fuel over Romania, Oct. 7, 2021. The 100th ARW is the only permanent U.S. air refueling wing in Europe and Africa. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Joseph Barron)

    PHILIPPINE SEA (Oct. 3, 2021) An F-35C Lightning II, assigned to the "Argonauts" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147, recovers on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), Oct. 3, 2021. The United Kingdom's carrier strike group led by HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08); the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Forces led by (JMSDF) Hyuga-class helicopter destroyer JS Ise (DDH 182); the Royal Canadian Navy Halifax-class frigate HMCS Winnipeg (FFH 338); the Royal Netherlands Navy De Zeven Provincien-class frigate HNLMS Evertsen (F 805); the Royal New Zealand Navy Anzac-class frigate HMNZS Te Kaha (F 77) and U.S. Navy carrier strike groups led by flagships USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) and USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), conducted multiple carrier strike group operations in the Philippine Sea. The integrated at-sea operations brought together more than 15,000 Sailors across six nations to demonstrate an unmatched network of alliances and partnerships in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Erin C. Zorich)
    Class Aircraft Carrier USS Carl Vinson
    Melbourne, Florida, October 11, 2021 – After successfully delivering over 100 Phenom 300s—one of NetJets’ most requested aircraft—Embraer and NetJets, Inc. have signed a continuing deal for up to 100 additional aircraft, in excess of $1.2 billion. As part of the deal, NetJets will begin taking delivery of the Phenom 300E in the second quarter of 2023, in both the U.S. and Europe.

    NetJets first signed a purchase agreement with Embraer in 2010, for 50 Phenom 300 executive jets plus up to 75 options. With this new aircraft order, which includes a comprehensive services agreement, NetJets signifies their commitment to an enhanced customer experience and their trust in Embraer’s industry-leading portfolio and customer support network to deliver the ultimate experience to its customers.

    “We are pleased to have signed this significant deal with NetJets, as our strategic partnership has been an integral part of Embraer’s success for over a decade,” said Michael Amalfitano, President & CEO of Embraer Executive Jets. “NetJets is recognized worldwide for the excellence of its operations and for providing an outstanding customer experience, so this continuing deal is an endorsement to the quality of our product and standards in performance, technology, comfort, and support. Embraer and NetJets share the same vision for business aviation, making the Phenom 300 series—the best-selling light jet for nine years in a row—an excellent choice.”

    “For years, the Embraer Phenom 300 has been an integral part of the NetJets fleet. With this order for the Phenom 300E, we continue to provide our Owners with the exceptional travel experiences they have come to expect, as well as continue our significant partnership with Embraer,” said Doug Henneberry, Executive Vice President of Aircraft Asset Management at NetJets, Inc.

    Follow us on Twitter: @Embraer

    About Embraer Executive Jets
    Embraer is creating tomorrow’s world of bespoke private air travel today, utilizing industry-leading innovation, design, and technology—all the while incorporating sustainable and socially responsible practices. As a global company with more than 50 years in aerospace, Embraer delivers the ultimate experience in business aviation through aircraft that feature disruptive performance, comfort, and technology. Its portfolio consists of the Phenom 100EV, which offers the business aviation experience in its purest form; the Phenom 300E, which is the best-selling light jet for the past nine years straight; and the Praetor 500 and the Praetor 600, which with best-in-class flight range, are the most disruptive and technologically advanced midsize and super-midsize business jets, capable of continent-crossing and ocean-spanning missions, respectively. Every day, Embraer business aircraft operate around the globe, supported by a strong, responsive customer support network that’s top-ranked in service across the industry. For more information, visit executive.embraer.com.

    About NetJets Inc.
    Originally incorporated in 1964 as Executive Jet Airways, NetJets Inc. has been setting—and exceeding—industry standards for more than 55 years. Today, NetJets Inc. is proud to be a Berkshire Hathaway company known for its unwavering commitment to safety and service. It encompasses NetJets, Executive Jet Management, QS Partners, and QS Security and offers a variety of travel solutions customized to fit each Owner’s needs. This includes fractional aircraft ownership, lease and jet card options, aircraft management, private jet chartering, brokerage and acquisition services, and specialized security services. This is why so many of the world’s most discerning travelers choose NetJets Inc. generation after generation. It is also because NetJets has the largest, most diverse private jet fleet in the world, which grants anytime access to even the most remote destinations across the globe. To learn more about the leader in private aviation, visit netjets.com today.

    About Embraer

    A global aerospace company headquartered in Brazil, Embraer has businesses in Commercial and Executive aviation, Defense & Security and Agricultural Aviation. The company designs, develops, manufactures and markets aircraft and systems, providing Services & Support to customers after-sales.

    Since it was founded in 1969, Embraer has delivered more than 8,000 aircraft. On average, about every 10 seconds an aircraft manufactured by Embraer takes off somewhere in the world, transporting over 145 million passengers a year.

    Embraer is the leading manufacturer of commercial jets up to 150 seats and the main exporter of high value-added goods in Brazil. The company maintains industrial units, offices, service and parts distribution centers, among other activities, across the Americas, Africa, Asia and Europe.

    Fort Worth, TX (12 Oct. 2021) – Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, announced today the signed Bell 505 purchase agreement by the Nebraska State Patrol. The Bell 505 will join a Bell 407 to aid in daily public safety missions including search and rescue, surveillance, photography, criminal pursuits and apprehension, as well as natural disaster response.

    “As we approach the third anniversary of the first delivery of the public-safety configured Bell 505, our customer interest from global municipalities continues to grow,” said Jay Ortiz, vice president, Commercial Business, The Americas. “The Bell 505 delivers best in-class capabilities and cost of operations to complete the important mission of law enforcement agencies’ daily aerial operations.”

    The Nebraska State Patrol began their Aviation Support Unit in 1970 with a Bell 206B Jet Ranger. In 1979, the Patrol purchased a Bell 206BIII Jet Ranger and the following year acquired three Cessna 182RG's. Over a period of nearly 30 years these aircraft flew a combined 40,000 flight hours serving the citizens of Nebraska.

    Today, the agency's aircraft operate almost daily in the interest of public safety. The Aviation Support Division (ASD) will operate a Bell 505, a Bell 407 helicopter, three Cessna T206H Turbo Stationair fixed-wing aircraft, and a Piper Super Cub, and provide support to any law enforcement agency in the state.

    “Operating Bell aircraft has been critical to our Aviation Support Division’s operations in order to protect and serve the citizens of the State of Nebraska, and the Bell 505 will allow us to cost-effectively evolve our mission capability,” Sergeant Brian Petersen, Nebraska State Patrol’s Aviation Division Commander. “Bell has provided industry-leading aircraft and support over the last 30 years, and we look forward to extending our long-standing relationship.”

    Nebraska State Patrol’s Bell 505 is outfitted with mission-leading equipment including L3 Wescam MX-10 camera system, Trakka Beam TLX, and a MacroBlue Tactical Display with Churchill ARS 700C Augmented Reality Mapping System technology.

    With a speed of 125 knots (232 km/h) and useful load of 1,500 pounds (680 kg), the Bell 505 is Bell’s newest five-seat aircraft designed for safety, efficiency and reliability using advanced avionics technology. With a Garmin G1000, the platform leverages advanced avionics to reduce pilot workload and enhance mission experience.
    Bell 505 Nebraska State Patroljpg
    SAN DIEGO – 12 October 2021 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) completed a series of flight demonstrations that featured a company-owned MQ-9B SeaGuardian® Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) in partnership with the Royal Air Force (RAF). The demonstration series began Aug. 25 and ended with the completion of the UK’s Exercise Joint Warrior on Sept. 30.

    “The support of the RAF was key to the success of our demonstrations,” said GA-ASI Vice President of International Strategic Development Robert Schoeffling. “Our partnership allowed us to achieve a number of industry firsts as we showcased our innovative RPA to senior military officials from 16 countries.”

    The flights showcased the many operational capabilities of the MQ-9B, including the platform’s advanced maritime Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), Detect and Avoid System (DAAS), industry-leading endurance and interoperability with NATO partners. During Joint Warrior, a demonstration of Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) took place using the SeaGuardian and an RAF P-8, showing SeaGuardian’s ability to compliment and support Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) tasking, which included tracking, monitoring and reporting of sonobuoys.

    The demonstrations were initially based out of RAF Waddington before moving to RAF Lossiemouth to support Joint Warrior. While based at RAF Waddington, one flight saw SeaGuardian fly to Leeuwarden Air Base, taking the RPA into Netherlands airspace and proving a seamless transition between national air traffic regions, while testing airspace operational procedures. This multi-day demonstration, which took place Sept. 1-2, displayed SeaGuardian's maritime surveillance capabilities in support of international allies. The Royal Netherlands Air Force has ordered four MQ-9A RPA and the first is expected to be delivered to Leeuwarden later this year. SeaGuardian returned to RAF Waddington at the conclusion of the event.

    That important event was followed by the UK’s first Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)-approved point-to-point domestic flight of an unmanned aircraft using the UK’s airways structure, when SeaGuardian flew from Lincolnshire, England to Moray, Scotland on Sept. 12. The flight was controlled by NATS, the UK’s civilian Air Navigation Service Provider.

    “The MQ-9B is the first RPA to be allowed to fly so extensively in UK-controlled airspace,” said Mark Watson, Head of Unmanned Aircraft Systems Traffic Management (UTM) Service Integration for NATS. “This moves us a long way towards same day notification for ‘file and fly’ privileges as an Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC)-capable platform.”

    A large set of airworthiness artifacts have been reviewed by the UK Civil Airworthiness Authority, who have approved MQ-9B for operations in unsegregated, uncontrolled airspace for the first time based on the suite of airspace deconfliction technologies and extensive documentation provided in the Safety Case.

    SeaGuardian is the maritime version of the MQ-9B SkyGuardian®. As the launch customer, RAF has ordered 16 aircraft in their configuration, which they have named the Protector RG Mk1 RPA systems. The Protector is a derivative of the SkyGuardian, featuring an array of customer modifications.

    “The coordination between GA-ASI and our RAF team was exciting to see,” said RAF Group Captain Shaun Gee, Director Air ISTAR Programmes (RPAS and TacISR), and SRO Shadow Programme. “It was great to see first-hand the game-changing capabilities of the RPA we’ve ordered for Protector. The ability of the aircraft to integrate into European airspace is key for the RAF as well as our international allies.”

    The flights culminated with the RPA’s participation in the UK-led Joint Warrior exercise, which showcased how the MQ-9B’s maritime capabilities can be integrated with other air, maritime and land assets. An international audience observed the RPA’s maritime capability which includes a multi-mode surface-search radar with Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar (ISAR) imaging mode, an Automatic Identification System (AIS) receiver, Electronic Support Measures (ESM) along with the standard High-Definition, Full-Motion Video sensor equipped with optical and infrared cameras. As a result of a visit from leadership from the UK Border Force during which they observed the capabilities of the system, a Military Aid to Civil Authorities (MACA) demonstration flight was performed over the English Channel.

    In support of the European Maritime Demonstrations, GA-ASI partnered with SES, the leading provider of global satellite communications (SATCOM) services operating the world’s only multi-orbit constellation of satellites in Geostationary Orbit (GEO) and Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), and offering a unique combination of global coverage and high performance. For the demos, GA-ASI leveraged SES’s GEO connectivity in Ku-band as well as X-band reachback provided via the GovSat-1 satellite. GovSat-1, which is exclusively dedicated for government use and offers secure multi-mission capabilities, is operated as a public-private joint venture between the Government of Luxembourg and SES. The SATCOM service enabled the MQ-9 to operate securely with a high-capacity datalink, allowing real-time transmission of sensor data from the aircraft and operations center using a SATCOM link, including with data rates up to 70 Mbps in secure reachback.

    “With our global satellite connectivity services, SES has been supporting the critical needs of GA-ASI and their government customers for almost two decades, and we’re delighted to take part in this demonstration effort as part of our long-standing relationship with General Atomics,” said Will Tong, Vice President of Strategic Government Initiatives and Head of the Aero ISR market at SES Networks. “As our customer needs evolve and require increasingly secure, flexible and high-performance services for real-time data exchange and reachback, we are happy to leverage our existing capabilities and to further innovate with the next-generation high-throughput systems like O3b mPOWER, enabling network sovereignty and cloud-scale applications that governments are looking for.”

    About GA-ASI

    General Atomics-Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), an affiliate of General Atomics, is a leading designer and manufacturer of proven, reliable remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) systems, radars, and electro-optic and related mission systems, including the Predator® RPA series and the Lynx® Multi-mode Radar. With more than seven million flight hours, GA-ASI provides long-endurance, mission-capable aircraft with integrated sensor and data link systems required to deliver persistent flight that enables situational awareness and rapid strike. The company also produces a variety of ground control stations and sensor control/image analysis software, offers pilot training and support services, and develops meta-material antennas. For more information, visit www.ga-asi.com.

    RAF Typhoons currently deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean have taken part in the first exercise for 20 years with the Egyptian Air Force flying over Egypt.

    The Typhoons joined Egyptian Air Force F-16s during Exercise Bright Star. This was the first time since 2001 that the RAF have flown with the EAF. The Typhoons were also joined on the exercise by F-16s from the Greek Air Force and US Air Force F-15s and F-16s together with C-130 Hercules and B-52s.

    Wing Commander ‘Dutch’ Holland, the Commanding Officer of 903 EAW commenting on the exercise said: “Exercises such as Ex Bright Star 21 are vital as we develop and maintain interoperability with our coalition partners if the RAF is to be truly effective on operations throughout the Middle East. Flying with other air forces requires extensive planning and the contributions of 903 EAW personnel have ensured that the exercise was safely and successfully completed.”
    (Courtesy photo)
    Exercise BRIGHT STAR 2021
     

  • Two crew chiefs assigned to the 9th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron prepare a B-1B Lancer for take-off at Raf Fairford, United Kingdom, Oct. 11, 2021. Two B-1’s participated in a Bomber Task Force Europe training mission where the aircrews integrated with allied Joint Terminal Attack Controllers over Lithuania before conducting a hot pit refueling at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Colin Hollowell)

    B-1B Lancers assigned to the 9th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron take off at RAF Fairford, United Kingdom, Oct. 11, 2021. The 9th EBS conducted a Bomber Task Force training mission where they utilized Agile Combat Employment through the execution of a hot pit refueling at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany after integrating with allied Joint Terminal Attack Controllers during a routine weapons training in the Baltic Sea region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Colin Hollowell)
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    An F-16C Fighting Falcon aircraft assigned to the Wisconsin Air National Guard's 115th Fighter Wing sits ready to depart for an aerospace expeditionary force deployment from Truax Field in Madison, Wisconsin, October 11, 2021. The departure was the unit's final deployment of F-16s before undergoing a scheduled transition to F-35 Lightning II aircraft in 2023. (U.S. Air National Guard photos by Senior Master Sgt. Paul Gorman)


    10,13,21
    A CC-177 Globemaster III transported three CH-146 Griffon helicopters from 8 Wing Trenton to France to participate in Exercise #Volfa. A major training event with allies, also exercises the #RCAF ability to project a Tactical Aviation Detachment across the globe.
    (Photo courtesy of Jeremy Zabarte Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace)
    RCAF
     

  • U.S. Airmen from the 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Wing, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, prepare their F-15E Strike Eagles for a series of training sorties conducted under Operation Castle Forge, alongside allies from the Hellenic Air Force’s 110th Combat Wing at Larissa Air Base, Greece, Oct. 13, 2021. The 110th Combat Wing flies the F-16 aircraft.

    Castle Forge is a U.S. Air Forces Europe-Air Forces Africa-led joint, multi-national operation. It provides a dynamic, partnership-focused training environment that raises the U.S. commitment to collective defense in the Black Sea region while enhancing interoperability alongside NATO allies (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Andrew Layton).

    A Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) CC-150T Polaris strategic airlift and air-to-air refueller refuels an RCAF CF-18 Hornet on their way to support Operation NOBLE DEFENDER in Alaska on 12 Oct, 2021.Photo: Sgt Jennifer Kusche, 8 Wing Trenton
    18 Hornet On Their Way To Support Operation NOBLE DEFENDER In Alaska On 12 Oct 2021
    Two Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) CF-18 Hornet fighter jets take to the skies en route to support Operation NOBLE DEFENDER in Alaska on 12 Oct, 2021. Photo: Sgt Jennifer Kusche, 8 Wing Trenton
    18 Hornet Fighter Jets Take To The Skies En Route To Support Operation NOBLE DEFENDER In Alaska On 12 Oct 2021
    Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18 Hornets land at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Oct. 12, 2021, to take part in Operation Noble Defender. The CF-18s and U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors are flying together as part of Air Defense Operation Noble Defender to enhance interoperability between both countries and work toward mitigating the threat of long-range cruise missiles. (U.S. Air Force photos by Airman 1st Class Mario Calabro)
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    22 Raptors Are Flying Together As Part Of Air Defense Operation Noble Defender
    BAY OF BENGAL (Oct. 12, 2021) An F/A-18E Super Hornet, assigned to the “Golden Dragons” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 192, taxis on the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), Oct. 12, 2021. Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability through alliances and partnerships while serving as a ready-response force in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Megan Alexander)
    Class Aircraft Carrier USS Carl Vinson
    10.06.2021
    The Idaho National Guard’s heritage A-10 Thunderbolt II Warthog, painted to resemble the World War II P-47 Thunderbolt, sat on the Gowen Field flight line for a day with the Idaho Military History Museum's World War II 1941 restored Willys Jeep on Oct. 6, 2021. The Jeep became one of the museum’s newest exhibits this year. Rob Lytle, a retired brigadier general, spent several months restoring the Jeep to get it operational again. Between 1941 and 1945, approximately 650,000 Jeeps were produced by the American Bantam Car Company, the Ford Motor Company and Willys Overland-Motors. This Jeep was painted to represent Idaho's 183rd Field Artillery Battalion (155mm Howitzer-Tractor Drawn) and is similar to those the battalion operated in the European theater of operations between June 1944 and May 1945. Earlier this year, the Idaho National Guard honored its heritage by unveiling the vintage-looking A-10 Thunderbolt II to pay tribute to the 405th Fighter Squadron’s P-47 Thunderbolts that provided aerial support during World War II. The wartime 405th Fighter Squadron returned to the United States in October of 1945 and was inactivated. It was reactivated and designated as the 190th Fighter Squadron, allotted to the Idaho Air National Guard, in 1946. The A-10 Thunderbolt II Warthogs came to Idaho in 1996. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Becky Vanshur)
    47 Thunderbolt Sat On The Gowen Field Flight Line
    The U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron "Thunderbirds" perform at the “CAF Wings Over Houston Airshow” in Houston, Texas, Oct. 9, 2021. Since 1953, the Thunderbirds team has served as America’s premier air demonstration squadron, entrusted with the vital mission to recruit, retain and inspire past, present and future Airmen. (U.S. Air Force Photo/SSgt Laurel Richards)
     9 2021
    HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --

    A portion of the National airspace in southeast New Mexico where Holloman trains F-16s, known as the Talon Military Operations Area, expanded by 93 percent on Oct. 7, 2021.

    The expansion is the result of a more than decade-long effort to reconfigure existing training areas and establish new airspace that improves opportunities for the 49th Wing, which produces over a quarter of all fighter pilots for the U.S. Air Force.

    Previously, Holloman relied on White Sands Missile Range airspace that lies adjacent to the base to meet the majority of F-16 training needs. WSMR is the Department of Defense’s largest open-air test range that services not just the DoD components, but other U.S. and allied customers. Such quality airspace is highly requested by its various users and is constantly scheduled.

    "Historically, WSMR has been the only airspace in which Holloman F-16s can train to the distances and capabilities required by modern air combat,” said Capt. William Camp, 49th Wing mission integration chief. “But the WSMR resource is in high demand from many users, not just the 49th Wing, and its availability does not meet our training requirements.”

    In the past when WSMR airspace was unavailable, Talon MOA was used despite size, location and altitude restrictions that limit training opportunities. To improve training for F-16 Viper pilots, and increase efficiencies, the 49th Wing, in coordination with Headquarters Air Force and the Federal Aviation Administration, began a decade-long process that has resulted in the expansion of the Talon MOAs.

    While WSMR will remain Holloman’s preferred airspace, the 49th Wing now has an additional resource that is appropriately sized and configured to conduct training activities for F-16 pilots. The new Talon operating area also gives the 49th Wing the scheduling authority to efficiently meet the training needs of the F-16 squadrons at Holloman AFB while remaining good stewards of America's premier missile test range.

    “We did a lot of the same missions [in the Talon MOA as we do in WSMR airspace],” said Maj. Matthew Park, 54th Fighter Group standardizations and evaluation chief. “Geographically, the airspace was smaller so we couldn’t accomplish the larger scale missions. Now, we can fit eight different aircraft doing four separate missions there.”

    Student pilots will be able to fly as high as 51,000 feet when authorized by Air Traffic Control and as low as 500 feet over some unpopulated areas of the airspace. They will also see an increase in the variety of their missions and tactics, and an improvement in the techniques and procedures they can execute in the new airspace.

    Leading up to the FAA’s decision to expand the Talon MOAs, years of research was conducted to ensure the expansion was environmentally sound and would not disrupt the land and populations below.

    “Before any action could be taken to expand the airspace, the National Environmental Policy Act process needed to occur. The product of that process was the environmental impact statement,” said Spencer Robison, 49th Civil Engineer Squadron NEPA coordinator.

    The 49th Wing values their local and surrounding communities, and all public comments and concerns from the EIS process were taken into consideration.

    “It’s a very long process that started about 11 years ago,” said William Westfall, 54th Operations Support Squadron airspace manager. “We’d go out to the communities that would be affected or influenced by the possibility of the expansion and we’d ask for their inputs, whether good or bad. It’s a formal process, and they have a period where they can comment on their thoughts. Animal species, the impact on our training to a community – it’s all well thought-out.”

    While this airspace only spans within the southeastern region of New Mexico, the expansion will have effects seen at a national level. The 49th Wing is the Air Force’s premiere F-16 Viper and MQ-9 Reaper training wing, and this expansion will allow the Airmen located at Holloman to produce a majority of the Air Force’s combat-ready aircrew.

    BAY OF BENGAL (Oct. 11, 2021) A Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force SH-60J Sea Hawk lands on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) as part of MALABAR 2021, Oct. 11, 2021. MALABAR 2021 is a maritime exercise designed to improve integration, address common maritime security priorities and concerns, enhance interoperability and communication, and strengthen enduring relationships between the Royal Australian Navy, the Indian navy, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, and U.S. maritime forces. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Aaron T. Smith)
    Class Aircraft Carrier USS Carl Vinson
    14.10.2021.
    In the Leningrad Region, at the airfield of the Transport Mixed Aviation Regiment of the Leningrad Army of the Air Force and Air Defence of the Western Military District, training flights were conducted as part of control exercises for the summer training period of the 2021 training year.
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    The crews of An-26, An-12 and An-72 have practiced the basic elements of piloting: taxiing to the runway, takeoff, flight along a given route, air navigation.
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    In addition, the crews of the Mi-8 multipurpose helicopters practiced takeoff and landing on unprepared sites of limited size, air navigation elements, and hovering over the point.
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    More than 20 aircraft and helicopters, over 120 military personnel of the flight and engineering personnel were involved in training flights.
    (Photos courtesy of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation)
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    Tokyo, 14 October 2021 – All Nippon Airways (ANA) is set to introduce Mixed Fleet Flying (MFF) for the A380 and A320 Family following approval by Japan’s Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB). The Japanese carrier is the first operator in the world to introduce the MFF between the two types.

    MFF is unique to Airbus aircraft. As a result of flight deck and aircraft control systems it enables pilots to be certified to operate more than one type from the Airbus fly-by-wire product line on a regular and concurrent basis. At ANA this will enable crews to fly a mixed pattern of short and long haul services.

    Airbus commonality extends from the flight deck into the passenger cabin as well, with a maximum use of similar systems, control panels and procedures within the various aircraft families. The unique level of technical commonality between Airbus fly-by-wire aircraft also streamlines maintenance procedures, resulting in significantly reduced costs.
    Mixed Fleet Flying
    “We are pleased that A320 and A380 MFF operations were approved by JCAB and that ANA has become the world’s first airline to introduce it ,” said Stéphane Ginoux, Head of North Asia region for Airbus and President of Airbus Japan. “MFF offers airlines increased flexibility and cost-efficiency and has become one of the keys to Airbus’ success. For airlines, the increase in revenue hours flown by pilots due to less standby and downtime results in a significant improvement in productivity.”

    MFF also enables airlines to interchange differently sized aircraft at short notice without crew-scheduling difficulties, allowing them to better match aircraft capacity to passenger demand.
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    Toulouse, 14 October 2021 - Frontier Airlines has become the latest North American operator to adopt Skywise Health Monitoring as its key future fleet performance tool under a five year contract covering 111 single-aisle aircraft.

    Launched in 2019, Skywise Health Monitoring (SHM) gathers live diagnostic feeds from the aircraft through its ACARS* link to the airline’s information system.

    Frontier will use the solution for its A320 Family fleet. Airbus’ SHM will support the airline’s maintenance and engineering teams by enabling real-time management of aircraft events and troubleshooting. This will help the airline in identifying, prioritising, analysing and handling in-service events, enabling quicker decision-making and minimising AOG risks.

    Using the power of the Skywise aviation data platform, SHM collates and centralises the alerts, flight-deck effects, maintenance messages etc., prioritises them, correlates any faults with the relevant troubleshooting procedures, highlights operational impacts, provides the maintenance history of the system (from the logbook and MIS** information collected through Skywise Core and stored in the data lake), allowing effective tracking of the alerts.

    Overall, SHM saves airlines time and decreases the cost of unscheduled maintenance. Natively interfaced with Skywise Predictive Maintenance (SPM) and Skywise Reliability (SR) to provide an integrated user experience, and also ready to harness the new on-board Flight Operations and Maintenance Exchanger (“FOMAX”) data router which can capture over 20,000 real-time aircraft parameters, SHM enables end-to-end unscheduled event management/fixes, for example by anticipating tools and parts’ availability closest to the aircraft.

    *ACARS (Aircraft Communication Addressing and Reporting System)

    **MIS (Maintenance Information System)
    Frontier Airlines
     

  • An Army C-27 Spartan of the United States Army Special Operations Command Flight Detachment is loaded with cargo after arriving at Sumpter Smith Joint National Guard Base, Birmingham, Alabama October 14, 2021. (U.S. Air National Guard photos by Ken Johnson)


    A Royal Canadian Air Force RCAF-188 Hornet stands at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Oct. 14, 2021. The RCAF-188s and U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors are flying together as part of Air Defense Operation Noble Defender to enhance interoperability between both countries and work toward mitigating the threat of long-range cruise missiles. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Mario Calabro)
     14 2021
     

  • 10.17.2021.
    Flight Control Centre overlooking flight deck operations, task group formation and air space. Units from the UK Carrier Strike Group (CSG) met up with the United States Ship (USS) Carl Vinson Strike Group, Japanese Self-Defence Maritime Force Ships, and Royal Australian Navy in a joint exercise in the Bay of Bengal.
    Ships from UK Carrier Strike Group included HMS Queen Elizabeth, HMS Richmond, HMS Defender and USS The Sullivans. Japanese Self-Defence Maritime Force ship included Japanese ship (JS) Kaga (helicopter carrier) and JS Murasame. USS Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group included USS Car Vinson, USS Lake Champlain, USS Stockdale and HMAS Ballarat from the Royal Australian Navy. All manoeuvred into position for a group formation with a fly past consisting of F-35 Jets, F-18 Jets, E-2D Hawkeye and an Osprey. (Royal Navy photography by LPhot Unaisi Luke)
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    Flight Control Centre Overlooking Flight Deck Operations Task Group Formation And Air Space
    Distinguished visitors from the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) and Carrier Strike Group One observe an F-35B Lightning II with the United Kingdom’s (UK) 617 Squadron launch aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth as part of Carrier Integration Operations in the Bay of Bengal on October 17th, 2021. During the visit, leaders and subject matter experts received a tour of the ship and witnessed flight deck operations. Dual-carrier operations between Carrier Strike Group One and the UK’s Carrier Strike Group 21 demonstrate the unmatched interoperability the F-35 provides. (Royal Navy photography by LPhot Unaisi Luke)
    35B Lightning II With The United Kingdom S 617 Squadron Launch Aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth
    A U.S. Air Force crew chief from the 52nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron marshals a U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jet from the 480th Fighter Squadron during Blue Flag 21 at Uvda Air Force Base, Israel, Oct. 17, 2021. BF21 features fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft from several international partners, including Israel, Germany, Italy, France, the U.K. and Greece. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Maeson L. Elleman)

    A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jet from the 480th Fighter Squadron taxis to join other squadron F-16s during Blue Flag 21 at Uvda Air Force Base, Israel, Oct. 17, 2021. The biennial BF exercise is designed to showcase coalition interoperability and strength while improving multinational partnerships. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Maeson L. Elleman)

    U.S. Air Force Capt. Alex Drakoulakis, 480th Fighter Squadron F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot, taxis a U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jet during Blue Flag 21 at Uvda Air Force Base, Israel, Oct. 17, 2021. This is the fifth time the Israeli Air Force has hosted the exercise since it first began in 2013, and it’s the second time fighter jets from Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, have participated. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Maeson L. Elleman)

    The Republic of Korea Air Force Black Eagles perform technical aerobatic maneuvers as part of the Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition 2021 at Seoul Air Base, ROK, Oct. 18. Seoul ADEX 21 is the largest, most comprehensive event of its kind in Northeast Asia, attracting aviation and industry professionals, key defense personnel, aviation enthusiasts and the general public alike. (U.S. Air Force photos by Staff Sgt. Gabrielle Spalding)


    BAY OF BENGAL (Oct. 16, 2021) An F-35C Lightning II, assigned to the “Argonauts” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147, launches off the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) as part of Maritime Partnership Exercise (MPX) 2021, Oct. 16, 2021. MPX 2021 is a multilateral maritime exercise between the Royal Australian Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, U.K. Royal Navy, and U.S. maritime forces, focused on naval cooperation, interoperability and regional security and stability in the Indo-Pacific and is an example of the enduring partnership between Australian, Japanese, U.K. and U.S. maritime forces, who routinely operate together in the Indo-Pacific, fostering a cooperative approach toward regional security and stability. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Haydn N. Smith)
    Class Aircraft Carrier USS Carl Vinson
    ATLANTIC OCEAN (Oct. 17, 2021) A E/A-18G Growler, attached to the "Rooks" of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 137, takes off from the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). Truman is operating in the Atlantic Ocean in support of naval operations to maintain maritime stability and security in order to ensure access, deter aggression and defend U.S., allied and partner interests. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Hunter Day)
     Truman
     

  • A U.S. Marine AH-1Z Viper helicopter with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 775, Marine Aircraft Group 41, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, flies over El Centro, California, Oct. 17, 2021. The reservists of HMLA-775, along with the other squadrons on Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, provide aviation support that enables I Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton tenant commands and visiting units to maintain and enhance their mission capabilities and combat readiness. (U.S. Marine Corps photos by Cpl. Andrew Cortez)
    1

    A U.S. Marine MV-22B Osprey with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 764, Marine Aircraft Group 41, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, lands on Holtville Airfield during a combined training operation with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 775, MAG-41, 4th MAW, near El Centro, California, Oct. 17, 2021. The reservists of HMLA-775, along with the other squadrons on the air station, provide aviation support that enables I Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton tenant commands and visiting units to maintain and enhance their mission capabilities and combat readiness. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Andrew Cortez)
    22B Osprey With Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 764 Marine Aircraft Group 41 4th Marine Aircraft Wing Lands On Holtville Airfield
    U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft from the 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Wing, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, arrive at Graf Ignatievo Air Base, Bulgaria, Oct. 18, 2021, in support of operation Castle Forge, a U.S. Air Forces Europe-Air Forces Africa-led joint, multinational training event. The Strike Eagles will spend the next several days training alongside Bulgarian Air Force MiG-29 aircraft, continuing Castle Forge’s objective of affirming U.S. commitment to NATO allies in the Black Sea region (Courtesy photo)
     18 2021
    PHILIPPINE SEA (Oct. 18, 2021) Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Jackson (LCS 6) sails with German Navy frigate FGS Bayern (F 217) and embarked Super Lynx Mk88A helicopters in the Philippine Sea. Jackson, part of Destroyer Squadron Seven, is on a rotational deployment in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operation to enhance interoperability with partners and serve as a ready-response force in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photos by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Andrew Langholf/released)
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     Jackson Part Of Destroyer Squadron Seven
    BAY OF BENGAL (Oct. 17, 2021) An F-35C Lightning II, assigned to the “Argonauts” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147, flies over the Bay of Bengal as part of Maritime Partnership Exercise (MPX) 2021, Oct. 17, 2021. MPX 2021 is a multilateral maritime exercise between the Royal Australian Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, U.K. Royal Navy, and U.S. maritime forces, focused on naval cooperation, interoperability and regional security and stability in the Indo-Pacific and is an example of the enduring partnership between Australian, Japanese, U.K. and U.S. maritime forces, who routinely operate together in the Indo-Pacific, fostering a cooperative approach toward regional security and stability. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Haydn N. Smith)
    35C Lightning II Assigned To The Argonauts Of Strike Fighter Squadron VFA 147 Flies Over The Bay Of Bengal As Part Of Maritime Partnership Exercise
    0.19.2021.
    The UK’s seventh Poseidon MRA Mk1 Maritime Patrol Aircraft will be known as ‘William Barker VC’ in honour of the Royal Canadian Air Force pilot awarded a Victoria Cross whilst serving with 201 Squadron Royal Air Force in the First World War.

    In October 1918 Major Barker was flying a Sopwith Snipe overhead the Western Front when he became embroiled in a dogfight with 15 enemy aircraft. Despite being wounded three times in the legs and having his left elbow blown away, he managed to control his biplane and disable three enemy aircraft before making a forced landing.

    Regaining consciousness several days later he was informed that he was to receive the Victoria Cross, the highest military decoration awarded for valour ‘in the face of the enemy’. In a short note to the commander of 201 Squadron Barker wrote “By Jove, I was a foolish boy, but anyhow I taught them a lesson….”.

    Group Captain Rob O’Dell from ISTAR Force Headquarters said: “The Royal Air Force has always enjoyed the closest of ties with the Royal Canadian Air Force and it is entirely fitting to name this aircraft after William Barker VC whose exceptional gallantry continues to serve as an inspiration to military aviators.”
    Poseidon MRA Mk1 Maritime Patrol Aircraft Will Be Known As William Barker VC
    For 50 years the 430 Tactical Helicopter Squadron has supported the Canadian Army 's 5 Groupe-brigade mécanisé du Canada / 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group .

    To celebrate their ongoing affiliation, a CH-146 Griffon was given a commemorative paint scheme showing the crests of both units on opposing sides. The helicopter also includes a territorial acknowledgement of the Huron-Wendat Nation.

    During the unveiling ceremony at 2nd Canadian Division Support Base Valcartier, Shaman Mr. Gros-louis purified and instilled the helicopter with the four Wendat values of respect, giving, sharing and welcoming. These values are also written on the helicopter’s tailboom. The commemorative painting will remain on the aircraft for the duration of the anniversary year.
    Photos: Sgt Sébastien Fréchette, Édouard Dufour
     

  • A U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 112 – Marine Aircraft Group 41 – 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, taxis the runway aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct.19, 2021. VMFA-112 is in Japan for a six-month cycle as part of the Unit Deployment Program, where they are helping maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific area of operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Booker T. Thomas III)

    A U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 112 – Marine Aircraft Group 41 – 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, takes off from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 19, 2021. VMFA-112 is in Japan for a six-month cycle as part of the Unit Deployment Program, where they are helping maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific area of operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Booker T. Thomas III)

    SAN DIEGO – 20 October 2021 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) completed the transfer of two MQ-9A Reaper Block 5 Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) to the U.S. Marine Corps on October 15, 2021. The two aircraft have been operated by the USMC since 2018 under a Company Owned/Company Operated (COCO) lease agreement in support of an Urgent Operational Need. The Reapers represent the first increment of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Expeditionary (MUX) Program of Record (POR). The transfer of aircraft includes two Ground Control Stations and associated support equipment.

    The two COCO MQ-9As, using remote split operations from Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, have been in operation for the USMC as part of a lease agreement between GA-ASI and Naval Air Systems Command, accruing over 12,000 flight hours supporting operations in the Middle East and informing the requirements and expectations for the MUX POR. The MUX POR will include an additional 16 new MQ-9As, which the Marine Corps will begin procuring in 2022 to support an Early Operational Capability in 2023 and Initial Operating Capability in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) by 2025.

    “The Marine Corps leveraged the leased aircraft to better understand and articulate the needs of the MUX program, while simultaneously supporting the forward-deployed warfighter,” said GA-ASI President David R. Alexander. “It was a great example of how a customer can ‘try before you buy’ our aircraft. Now they’ve seen firsthand how a persistent ISR platform, like the MQ-9A, can support the Marine Corps’ need for long-range sensing in the Pacific as a part of the Commandant’s Force Design Initiative.”

    With unmatched operational flexibility, MQ-9A Block 5 has endurance of over 26 hours, speeds of 220 KTAS and can operate up to 45,000 feet. It has a 3,850-pound (1,746 kilogram) payload capacity that includes 3,000 pounds (1,361 kilograms) of external stores. It provides a long-endurance, persistent surveillance capability with Full-Motion Video and Synthetic Aperture Radar. An extremely reliable aircraft, MQ-9A Block 5 is equipped with a fault-tolerant flight control system and triple redundant avionics system architecture. It is engineered to meet and exceed manned aircraft reliability standards.
    Reapers
    An RAF detachment of Typhoon jets has joined units from several countries for a complex multi-national flying exercise designed to test aircrew skills to their limits.
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    The Typhoons from 1 (Fighter) Squadron, RAF Lossiemouth, supported by personnel from across the Air Force, are training with aircraft from the US, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, India and Israel in Exercise Blue Flag 21.

    Exercise Blue Flag is one of a series of international flying exercises for the RAF in recent months, pitching a variety of jets into scenarios where they will fly against and with each other to develop interoperability of both aircrew, aircraft and other systems.

    The scenarios will see 1 Squadron Typhoons working with Luftwaffe Eurofighters, French Rafales, Indian Mirages, Greek F16s, Italian F35s, US F16s and Israeli F35s and F16s.

    The exercise, held at Ovda Airbase near Eilat, Israel, is the largest yet of a series of bi-annual exercises hosted by the Israeli Air Force.
    (Courtesy photos)
    Blue Flag
    This week Australia joins FPDA nations, Malaysia, Singapore, the United Kingdom and New Zealand for Exercise BERSAMA GOLD 21 (BG21).

    Conducted across Singapore, Malaysia and parts of the South China Sea, Australia’s involvement in the exercise includes HMA Ships Canberra and Anzac, a P-8A Poseidon and F/A-18F Super Hornets.
    (Photos by POIS Christopher Szumlanski)
     

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