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Military Aircraft in Action

Photographs showcasing military aircraft in various operations including airstrikes and training exercises, with a focus on C-130s and F-15s.

Two Royal Air Force Typhoon fighters await takeoff clearance at Nellis Air Force Base.
Two Royal Air Force Typhoon fighters await takeoff clearance at Nellis Air Force Base.
144 assets in this story
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Two Minot Air Force Base 5th Bomb Wing B-52H Stratofortresses taxi on to the runway before takeoff during Red Flag-Nellis 22-1 at the Nevada Test and Training Range on Jan. 25, 2022, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. The Nevada Test and Training Range is the U.S. Air Forces premier military training area with more than 12,000 square miles of airspace and 2.9 million acres of land. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Michael A. Richmond)
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DF-ST-89-07174. Country: Unknown
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A Royal Air Force Tornado GR4 during low fly training in North Wales. The Tornado GR4 is a multirole fighter aircraft capable of delivering a wide variety of weapons.
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An F-15 Eagle from the 173rd Fighter Wing flies in formation with two A-10 Thunderbolt's from the 124th Fighter Wing over Central Idaho.
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November 20, 2008 - A ScanEagle unmanned aerial vehicle launches from the Navy Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren test range in Dahlgren, Virginia.
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MV-22 Osprey Tilt-Rotor Aircraft
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An F-15 Eagle takes off during Red Flag-Alaska 14-2, June 16, 2014, on Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. Red Flag-Alaska is a series of Pacific Air Forces commander-directed field training exercises for U.S. and partner nation forces, providing combined offensive counter-air, interdiction, close air support, and large force employment training in a simulated combat environment. The aircraft is assigned to the 159th Fighter Squadron, Florida Air National Guard.
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DF-ST-86-08018. Base: Cairo West Country: Egypt (EGY)
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DA-SC-89-11653. Base: White Sands Missile Range State: New Mexico (NM) Country: United States Of America (USA)
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U.S. Marines assigned to Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron (VMU) 2 conduct a preflight inspection on an RQ-21A Blackjack at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, May 5, 2022. VMU-2 and other squadrons assigned to 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) trained to integrate with and support Marine ground units during Service Level Training Exercise (SLTE) 3-22. SLTE is a series of exercises designed to prepare Marines for operations around the globe. 2nd MAW is the aviation combat element of II Marine Expeditionary Force.
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Aerial view of rows of retired military aircraft casting long shadows on the desert floor, a testament to bygone eras of aviation, Tucson, Arizona, United States.
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Aerial view of rows of military aircraft shimmer in the desert sun against a backdrop of rugged mountains, a testament to aviation history, Tucson, Arizona, United States.
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United States Marines assemble an Aerovironment RQ-11 Raven-B unmanned aerial vehicle at a forward operating base in Afghanistan's Helmand Province
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DA-SC-89-11652. Base: White Sands Missile Range State: New Mexico (NM) Country: United States Of America (USA)
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1988 - An Army Tactical Missile System (TACMS) missile lifts off from a Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) launcher at Launch Complex 33..
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The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and Patrouille de France fly together over Death Valley, Calif., April 17, 2017. The Thunderbirds and Patrouille de France are two of the oldest aerial demonstration teams in the world.
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Aerial view of a Russian MI-17 helicopter followed by a MI-24 Hind attack helicopter attacks a convoy of military vehicles using a smoke generator that simulates NBC (Nuclear, Biological & Chemical). The Russian helicopter is operated by members of Optec Threat Support Activity during the world's largest joint service, multi-nation tactical air operations exercise. Subject Operation/Series: ROVING SANDS 97 Base: El Paso State: Texas (TX) Country: United States Of America (USA)
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Long shot, left side view, M198 155mm Howitzer in firing position. M813 5 ton truck, rear half only, behind howitzer. Desert underbrush in foreground and mountain range in background. Country: Unknown
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A Philippine Air Force FA-50 takes off for a bilateral air defense training mission during exercise Balikatan 22 at Basa Air Base, Philippines, April 1, 2022. Balikatan is an annual exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and U.S. military designed to strengthen bilateral interoperability, capabilities, trust, and cooperation built over decades of shared experiences. Balikatan 22 is the 37th iteration of the exercise and coincides with the 75th anniversary of U.S.-Philippine security cooperation.
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An F-15EX Eagle II zooms over an antenna of microphones during a flight test Oct. 31 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The aircraft underwent various ground and flight acoustic testing to create a baseline noise level for use by the Department of Defense. This was the first time this type of in-depth digital acoustic sound testing was done on any F-15 model.
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A U.S. Marine Corps M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System assigned to Kilo Battery, 2nd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, Marine Forces Reserve, fires a rocket while conducting a HIMARS rapid insertion training event during Weapons and Tactics Instructor course 2-22, Dugway Proving Ground, Utah, April 6, 2022. Kilo Battery conducted their annual training with WTI 2-22, enabling their Marines, and the aircrew training with WTI, to conduct a complex training evolution and certify that they are fully mission capable.
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U.S. Air Force Combat Controllers conduct air traffic control operations at the Toussaint Louverture International Airport, Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Jan. 24, 2010. Air Force Combat Controllers have managed air traffic at the airport since arriving on the day following the earthquake. Department of Defense assets have been deployed to assist in the Haiti relief effort following a magnitude 7 earthquake that hit the city on Jan. 12, 2010.
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Tora, Tora, Tora wows the crowd during the Frontiers in Flight Air Show at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, Sept. 25, 2022. The air show featured 12 performers including Tora Tora Tora, an A-10 demonstration, and the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds to name a few. An air show, also known as an open house, is a way for military members and installations to show appreciation to local communities as well as showcase Department of Defense and Air Force capabilities. Wichita, home to McConnell AFB, is known as the Air Capital of the World, the birthplace of some very famous airframes.
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MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, Hawaii (July 30, 2022) A U.S. Marine Corps Stalker Group 2 Unmanned Aerial System is displayed during an amphibious raid for a multinational littoral operations exercise as part of Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022 at Pyramid Rock Beach, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, July 30, 2022. Twenty-six nations, 38 ships, three submarines, more than 170 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 29 to Aug. 4 in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. The world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity while fostering and sustaining cooperative relationships among participants critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2022 is the 28th exercise in the series that began in 1971.
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Military Lockheed Martin Jets Fixed Wing Aviat Airplanes F-16C F-16D Fighting Falcon fighters Singapore
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020529-N-5362A-015. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM Base: Bagram Air Base State: Parwan Country: Afghanistan (AFG)
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KANEOHE BAY (July 10, 2022) U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornets sit at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022. Twenty-six nations, 38 ships, four submarines, more than 170 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 29 to Aug. 4 in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. The world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity while fostering and sustaining cooperative relationships among participants critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2022 is the 28th exercise in the series that began in 1971.
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Senior Airman Dylan Molina, 332d Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, prepares an RQ-11B Raven Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) for flight at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia August 16, 2022. UAV roles have expanded to include intelligence gathering, electronic attack, drone strikes, suppression or destruction of enemy air defense network node or communication relay, combat search and rescue.
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Kent Pietsch, piloting his Interstate Cadet, performs aerobatics during the 2022 Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Air Show at MCAS Miramar, San Diego, California, Sept. 24, 2022. Since 1973, Pietsch has been performing for millions of people at more than 400 shows that have taken him to quality venues throughout the United States. The theme for the 2022 MCAS Miramar Air Show, Marines Fight, Evolve and Win, reflects the Marine Corps ongoing modernization efforts to prepare for future conflicts.
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An EA-18G Growler takes off from Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, for a United States Air Force Weapons School Integration mission Dec. 6, 2022. The Growler is a derivative of the F/A-18 Hornet, the U.S. Navys maritime strike aircraft. Its mission is mainly electronic attack and suppression of enemy air defenses, particularly at the start and on-going early stages of hostilities.
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U.S. Marines with Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing; and 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, conduct an air assault as part of work ups for Exercise Summer Fury 22, at Camp Roberts, California, July 21, 2022. The exercise is designed to enhance Marine-Air-Ground Task Force integration and increase aviation operations proficiency with realistic, relevant training to ensure the Marine Corps largest aircraft wing remains operationally excellent, interoperable, deployable on short notice and lethal when called into action.
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Three F-16 Fighting Falcons assigned to the 64th Aggressor Squadron perform a flyover above downtown Las Vegas, Nevada, 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.
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U.S. Air Force An A-10 Thunderbolt II from the 74th Fighter Squadron, Moody Air Force Base, Ga., taxi's toward the end on the Nellis runway for a training mission during the Green Flag West 11-2 exercise at Nellis Air Force Base Nev., Dec. 6. Green Flag-West provides a realistic air-land integration training environment for forces preparing to support worldwide combat operations.
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040420-F-6844O-001. Base: Vandenberg Air Force Base State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)
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MQ-9 ReaperPrimary function: Unmanned hunter/killer weapon system. Speed: 230 mph. Dimensions: Wingspan 66 ft.; length 36 ft.; height 12.5 ft. Range: 3,682 miles. Armament: AGM-114 Hellfire missiles; GBU-12, GBU-38 JDAM. Crew: Pilot and sensor operator on the ground.
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A formation of five US Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet aircraft assigned to VMFA-112 from NAS Fort Worth, Texas fly over the base during exercise RIMPAC '98. Subject Operation/Series: RIMPAC '98 Base: Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe State: Hawaii (HI) Country: United States Of America (USA)
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An LGM-118A Peacekeeper intercontinental ballistic missile is test fired. Country: Unknown
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A CV-22 Osprey, assigned to the 8th Special Operations Squadron at Hurlburt Field, flies as part of a training sortie Oct. 27, 2022. The primary mission of the 8th SOS is to provide rapid global response supporting long-range infiltration, exfiltration and resupply of Special Operations Forces in hostile or denied territories.
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AN air-to-air left side view, from left to right, of two OH-58 Kiowa helicopters, four UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and two AH-1 Cobra helicopters over the city during exercise Bright Star '80. Subject Operation/Series: BRIGHT STAR '80 Base: Cairo Country: Egypt (EGY)
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Spectators watch the Royal Saudi Air Force aerobatics team, the Saudi Hawks, perform during the Saudi World Defense Show near Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Feb. 5, 2024. Saudi Arabias WDS 2024, one of the regions largest defense expositions, includes a wide array of aircraft and assets from across the U.S. Department of Defense. The U.S.s commitment of personnel and aircraft to the Saudi WDS highlights the importance of continued defense cooperation between allies and partners with a shared vision for enduring peace and stability in the region. Air Force photo
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DD-ST-85-06536. Country: Unknown
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F-3754-SPC-95-0012. Base: Cape Canaveral State: Florida (FL) Country: United States Of America (USA)
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A KC-135 Stratotankers assigned to the 151st Air Refueling Wing and two F-35s assigned to Hill Air Force Base fly over Salt Lake City, Utah, during Operation Centennial Contact, June 27, 2023. During the operation, more than 150 aircraft flew above communities around the country and across the world to honor 100 years of air refueling excellence. Aerial refueling serves as a force multiplier, increasing the speed, range, lethality, flexibility and versatility of combat aircraft.