Fighter Jets in Action

Dynamic portrayals of F-15 and F-16 fighter jets in flight operations, including air-to-air views and tanking maneuvers in diverse environments.

040422-F-7823A-010. Country: Iraq (IRQ)

An F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 64th Aggressor Squadron returns to Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, after flying over Las Vegas in honor of 9/11 on Sept. 11, 2022. The flyover was dedicated to the 2,977 people who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001 and to the more than 6,000 others who were injured.

A Bulgarian Air Force MiG-21bis armed with R-60 missiles.

A C-17 Globemaster III prepares to connect to a KC-135 Stratotanker during an air refueling training mission over the Pacific on May 4, 2012. The mission was also an opportunity for ROTC cadets from the University of Hawaii to get a glimpse of the operational military as part of an incentive flight. The C-17 is with the 535th Airlift Squadron at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and the K-135 is with the Hawaii Air National Guards 203rd Refueling Squadron.

February 10, 2009 - A B-52 Stratofortress leads a formation of Japanese Air Self Defense Force F-2s, United States Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons, and Navy EA-6B Prowlers over Guam during Cope North 09-1 at Andersen Air Force Base.

DF-ST-87-03855. Base: Northern Spain Country: Spain (ESP)

971014-N-6834C-199. Subject Operation/Series: SOUTHERN WATCH Base: USS Nimitz (CVN 68)

A six-ship formation of F-15C Eagle and F-15E Strike Eagles from the 366th Fighter Wing, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho fly over Idaho Oct 13, 2009.

An air-to-air left side view of two Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 138 (VAQ-138) EA-6B Prowler aircraft. Country: Unknown

A view of three Attack Squadron 72 (VA-72) A-7E Corsair aircraft en route to their targets during Operation Desert Storm. The aircraft is carrying Mark 20 Rockeye II anti-tank cluster bombs on their outboard wing pylons and an AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles on their fuselage pylons. VA-72 is based aboard the aircraft carrier USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV-67) which is operating in the Red Sea. Subject Operation/Series: DESERT STORM Country: Iraq (IRQ)

An F-16 assigned to the 162nd Wing, Morris Air National Guard Base, Tucson, Ariz., soars over the skies during a recent training Mission. Morris ANG Base is home to the Air National Guard's premier F-16 fighter pilot training unit, the 162nd Wing. It is one of the largest ANG wings in the country and resides next to the Tucson International Airport. The wing shares use of the runway, security and fire control with the airport. Guardsmen provide ready forces in support of civil authorities and wartime operations.

060718-F-2185F-077. Base: Baghdad Country: Iraq (IRQ)

British EF-2000 Typhoon jets with live missiles during an air policing mission.

A T-38 Talon four-ship formation flies over the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup semifinals match between the Republic and the Kansas City Sporting July 27, 2022, in Sacramento, California. The U.S. Air Force performs close to 1,000 flyovers a year, which serve as a way to showcase the capabilities of its aircraft while also inspiring patriotism and future generations of aviation enthusiasts.

DF-ST-89-09405. Base: Phoenix State: Arizona (AZ) Country: United States Of America (USA)

An air-to-air right side view of a 612th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-16A Fighting Falcon aircraft carrying Mark-82 500-pound practice bombs on the wing pylons and an AN/ALQ-131 electronic countermeasures pod on the centerline. The aircraft is over the Konya Range. Country: Turkey (TUR)

DN-SC-87-05551. Country: Unknown

The United States Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, known as the Thunderbirds, fly for the Pacific Airshow in Huntington Beach, California, Sept. 30, 2022. Huntington Beach played host to more than a million attendees along the stretch of Pacific Coast Highway that the Thunderbirds used for their demonstration.

An underside view of four aircraft from the Ecuadoran and U.S. air forces as they fly in formation during the joint Ecuadoran/U.S. Exercise Blue Horizon '86. Clockwise from the lead plane, the aircraft are: a Jaguar International aircraft, a Kfir-C2 aircraft, an F-16A Fighting Falcon aircraft and an F1-E Mirage aircraft. Subject Operation/Series: BLUE HORIZON '86 Country: Ecuador (ECU)

030225-F-7709A-013. Base: Eglin Air Force Base State: Florida (FL) Country: United States Of America (USA)

BLACK SEA (March 19, 2021) Aircraft assigned to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3 and the Turkish air force conduct a mid-air fueling over the Black Sea, March 19, 2021. The Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national interests and security in Europe and Africa.

LEMOORE, California (March 7, 2019) Three F/A-18E aircraft assigned to the Knighthawks of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 136 from Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore flown by Lt. Phil "Quitter" Murphy, Lt. Cmdr. Sean "Dora" Tuohy, and Lt. Nicholas "D-POD" Corey fly in formation over the Sea Test Range in the Pacific Ocean after completing a training mission.

F-15E Strike Eagles of the 4th Fighter Wing perform an "Elephant Walk" as they taxi down the runway during a Turkey Shoot training mission on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., April 16, 2012. The wing generated nearly 70 aircraft to destroy more than 1,000 targets on bombing ranges across the state to commemorate the 4th's victory over the Luftwaffe on April 16, 1945. The aircrews are assigned to the 4th Fighter Wing's 333rd, 334th, 335th, and 336th Fighter Squadrons.

One F-15C Eagle aircraft from the 18th Tactical Fighter Wing holds position as another receives fuel from 22nd Air Refueling Wing KC-10A Extender aircraft during Exercise Giant Warrior '89. Subject Operation/Series: GIANT WARRIOR '89 Base: Andersen Air Base State: Guam (GU) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Three T-38A Talons assigned to the 2nd Fighter Training Squadron flies over Georgia during Sentry Savannah 22-1, May 4, 2022. The 2nd FTS is an adversary squadron, providing threat replication, primarily for the F-22 Raptor formal training unit, the 43d Fighter Squadron. Both units participated in Sentry Savannah, a near-peer training exercise hosted by the Air National Guards Air Dominance Center.

020919-F-4649H-015. Subject Operation/Series: NORTHERN WATCH Country: Unknown Scene Major Command Shown: ACC

DF-ST-89-05354. Country: Unknown

DF-SD-04-11241. Subject Operation/Series: NORTHERN WATCH Country: Iraq (IRQ)

AN air-to-air view of an F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft armed with an AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air (AAM) missile on its left wing and an Air Combat Maneuvering Instrumentation pod (ACMI) on the right wing. Base: Nellis Air Force Base State: Nevada (NV) Country: United States Of America (USA)

An F-16 Fighting Flcon, assigned to the 64th Aggressor Squadron, conducts air-to-air refueling with a KC-135 Stratotanker, assigned to the 927th Air Refueling Wing, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, during a Red Flag-Nellis 22-3 over the Nevada Test and Training Range at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, July 19, 2022. During RF-N 22-3 the aggressor nation refines threat replication, applies advanced threats and jamming capabilities and increases threat capabilities to maximize training in non-permissive environments.

U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft from the 335th Fighter Squadron prepare to be refueled by a 911th Air Refueling Squadron KC-135R Stratotanker over North Carolina during a local training mission, Dec. 17, 2010.

020307-F-1718K-006. State: Okinawa Country: Japan (JPN)

DF-ST-87-03856. Base: Northern Spain Country: Spain (ESP)

DF-ST-88-04707. Base: Great Salt Lake State: Utah (UT) Country: United States Of America (USA)

DF-ST-87-13069. Country: Spain (ESP)

An A-10 Thunderbolt II flies over the Frontiers in Flight airshow at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, on Sept. 25, 2022. The airshow featured 12 performers and served as a way for military members and the installation to show appreciation to local communities and showcase Department of Defense and Air Force capabilities. Wichita is known as the Air Capital of the world, the birthplace of some very famous airframes.

DN-SC-05-10886. Base: Naval Air Station, North Island State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

A B-52H Stratofortress takes off after being taken out of long term storage Feb. 13, 2015, at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. The aircraft was decommissioned in 2008 and has spent the last seven years sitting in the Boneyard,” but was selected to be returned to active status and will eventually rejoin the B-52 fleet. The B-52 was flown by the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group.

AN air-to-air right side view of an F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft banking to the left over a range. One AIM-9L Sidewinder, one AIM-9J Sidewinder, one 2,000-lb. MK-84 bomb and an auxiliary fuel tank are on each wing. AN ALQ-119 electronic countermeasures pod is mounted on the centerline. The aircraft is assigned to the 4th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 388th Tactical Fighter Wing. Base: Nellis Air Force Base State: Nevada (NV) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Two F-15E Strike Eagles are parked on the flightline Feb.10, 2014, as the sun sets over Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. More than 3,200 service members and 125 aircraft from joint U.S. and allied combat forces from around the world participate in Red Flag 14-1, hosted by the 414th Combat Training Squadron. The main objective of the exercise is to increase capabilities to defend against future threats.The F-15Es are assigned to the 391st Fighter Squadron, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho.

040623-F-6911G-002. Base: Nellis Air Force Base State: Nevada (NV) Country: United States Of America (USA)

F/A-22 Raptor US Air Force

A Fighter Squadron 14 (VF-14) F-14A Tomcat aircraft passes over the coast during a training flight prior to the squadron's August 1990 deployment aboard the aircraft carrier USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV-67). Country: Unknown

DN-SC-89-11098. Country: Japan (JPN)

A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor assigned to the 90th Fighter Squadron, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, flies near Guam, Feb. 16, 2010.

120614-N-ZZ999-101PACIFIC OCEAN (June 14, 2012) An F/A-18E Super Hornet from the Dambusters of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 195 flies over the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) during flight operations.

Polish Air Force F-16 aircraft during Exercise NATO Tiger Meet

Aircrew members assigned to the 4th Fighter Wing accompany Col. Jeannie Leavitt (middle) on her final flight, May 29, 2014, over North Carolina. Leavitt will depart Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., for an assignment to the Pentagon as the principle military assistant to the Secretary of Defense. Leavitt is the 4th FW commander.

DF-ST-88-04695. Country: Unknown

DF-ST-89-04214. Country: England / Great Britain (ENG)

An air-to-air left side view of 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron RF-4C Phantom II aircraft near Kadena Air Base.. Country: Japan(JPN)

DN-SC-04-12613. Base: San Diego State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Two F-16C, Fighting Falcon Block 52 aircraft's from the 157th Fighter Squadron, 169th Fighter Wing, McEntire Air National Guard Station, South Carolina, fly below a C-130 Hercules aircraft. The F-16's are armed with AGM-88 HARM's (high-speed anti-radiation missile) and AIM-120 AMRAAM's (advanced medium-range air-to-air missile). Country: Unknown

DF-SC-84-00657. Country: Unknown

Two A-10 Thunderbolt's from the 124th Fighter Wing fly over the Saylor Creek bombing range in Central Idaho.

U.S. Air Force F-16C Falcons from the 187th Fighter Wing, Montgomery, Alabama, are refueled by a KC-135R Stratotanker from the 117th Air Refueling Wing, Birmingham, Alabama, Aug. 17, 2022. Photo was taken with the Red Tails and the 100th anniversary commemorative tail for the 117th Air Refueling Wing.

Four EA-6B Prowlers belonging to each Prowler squadron aboard Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point conducted a "Final Four" division flight aboard the air station March 1, 2016. The "Final Four" flight is the last time the Prowler squadrons will be flying together before the official retirement of Marine Tactical Electronic Warfare Training Squadron 1 at the end of Fiscal Year 16 and the eventual transition to "MAGTF EW". MAGTF EW is a more distributed strategy where every platform contributes to the EW mission, enabling relevant tactical information to move throughout the electromagnetic spectrum and across the battlefield faster than ever before.

TWO USAF F-15E STRIKE EAGLES FLYING OVER OCEAN

A pair of Italian Air Force AMX Ghibli aircraft in flight over the Dolomites.

DN-SC-05-10439. Country: Pacific Ocean (POC)

Artwork: "F-16A Climbing at Dawn" Artist: Hal McCormick U. S. Air Force Art Collection. Country: Unknown

020805-F-7709A-015. Base: Eglin Air Force Base State: Florida (FL) Country: United States Of America (USA)

USAF SR-71 BLACK BIRD RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT

An air-to-air view of a C-141B Starlifter aircraft from the 86th Military Airlift Squadron, foreground, and a C-5B Galaxy aircraft of the 22nd Military Airlift Squadron in formation. State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

DN-SC-89-00015. Country: Mediterranean Sea (MED)

A trio of Royal Canadian Air Force CT-155 Hawk training jets over Moose Jaw, Canada.

An air-to-air right side view of four F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft in a wedge formation over a snow-covered mountain range. The aircraft are assigned to the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing, Hill Air Force Base, Utah. Country: Unknown

Air to air right side view of a formation of five F-15 Eagle fighters assigned to and lead by the flag ship of the 405th Tactical Training Wing (TTW) flying a training mission with a rainbow in the background. Front to rear the aircraft are assigned to, 555th, 550th TFTS (Tactical Fighter Training Squadron), 405th TTW, 426th and 461st TFTS, Luke AFB, Arizona. Exact Date Shot Unknown. Country: Unknown

The United States Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron "Thunderbirds" practice in El Centro, California, Feb. 22 - Mar. 1, 2024. The Thunderbirds travel to El Centro every year to practice alongside their counterparts, the U.S. Navy Blue Angels. Air Force

A right side view of a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 909th Air Refueling Squadron refueling an F-15A Eagle aircraft from the 67th Tactical Fighter Squadron. Another F-15 is flying overhead. Country: Australia (AUS)

Military Jets Fixed Wing Boeing Aviat Airplanes F-15C Eagle air superiority fighter formation winter

An F-16B Fighting Falcon aircraft prepares to take part in an early morning mission during the multi-service exercise Solid Shield '87. Subject Operation/Series: SOLID SHIELD '87 Base: Homestead Air Force Base State: Florida (FL) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Two F-15 Eagles from the 173rd Fighter Wing fly over Crater Lake in Central Oregon.

An air-to-air right side view of parachutists jumping from a C-130 Hercules aircraft of the 16th Special Operations Squadron. Country: Unknown

A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress aircraft from the 20th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron leads a formations of two F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft assigned to the 18th Aggressor Squadron, an F-16CJ Fighting Falcon from Misawa, Japan, an F-15J Eagle from Chitose Japan, two Japanese Air Self-Defense Force F-2 attack fighters from the 6th Tactical Fighter Squadron, two U.S. Navy EA-6B Prowler aircraft from the Electronic Attack Squadron, an U.S. Navy E-2C Hawkeye and a Japanese E-2C Hawkeye aircraft on a flight over Guam during exercise Cope North Feb. 21, 2011. The U.S. Air Force and Japanese Air Self-Defense Force conduct Cope North annually at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam to increase combat readiness and interoperability concentrating on coordination and evaluation of air tactics, techniques and procedures.

A U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II takes off from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, June 1, 2022. The A-10 can execute a variety of missions including forward air control, close air support, as well as combat search and rescue.

DF-SC-88-02977. State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

A T-38 Talon four-ship formation flies over the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup semifinals match between the Republic and the Kansas City Sporting July 27, 2022, in Sacramento, California. The U.S. Air Force performs close to 1,000 flyovers a year, which serve as a way to showcase the capabilities of its aircraft while also inspiring patriotism and future generations of aviation enthusiasts.

EL CENTRO, Calif. (Jan. 24, 2013) Lt. Nate Barton, left wing pilot, assigned to the U.S. Navy flight demonstration squadron, the Blue Angels, from Hummelstown, Pa., references checkpoints while flying in formation with the right wingman over Shadetree Range, near El Centro, Calif., during a training sortie. The Blue Angels are currently conducting winter training where pilots must complete 120 practice flights before kicking off the 2013 air show season at Naval Air Facility El Centro March 16.

030214-F-9528H-018. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM Country: Unknown

An air-to-air left side view of F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft flying in formation over the city of Tampa during a training flight conducted by instructors of the 56th Tactical Training Wing. Base: Tampa State: Florida (FL) Country: United States Of America (USA)

DF-ST-89-07538. Base: Atlantic City State: New Jersey (NJ) Country: United States Of America (USA)

A Japanese Air Self Defense Force Mitsubishi F-1 fighter aircraft (top) flies with three USAF F-16 Falcon aircraft along Japan's scenic coast. The aircraft are assigned to the 35th Fighter Wing, Misawa AB, Japan. From AIRMAN Magazine's February 1995 issue article "Source of the Sun". Base: Naval Air Facility, Misawa State: Aomori Country: Japan (JPN)

040706-F-7709A-033. Base: Tyndall Air Force Base State: Florida (FL) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: AETC

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