Military Aircraft in Formation Flying

High-altitude images of military jets in formation include F-16s and other aircraft, representing naval and aerial combat readiness across different countries.

010808-F-7910D-009. Base: Buckley Air Force Base State: Colorado (CO) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: Air Combat Command

DN-ST-88-01700. Country: Atlantic Ocean (AOC)

010808-F-7910D-009. Base: Buckley Air Force Base State: Colorado (CO) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: Air Combat Command

060912-F-7194F-102. Base: Kadena Air Base State: Okinawa Country: Japan (JPN)

A pair / formation of Portuguese Air Force Lockheed F-16 Viper / Fighting Falcon above the clouds during a Red Flag training mission at Nellis AFB, NV

An air-to-air view of three F-16C Fighting Falcon aircraft of the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing en route to Saudi Arabia for Operation Desert Shield. Each aircraft is carrying external fuel tanks, AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles and an AN/ALQ-131 electronic countermeasures (ECM) pod. The center aircraft is also carrying a low altitude navigation, targeting infrared night (LANTIRN) navigation pod on the left side of its engine intake. Subject Operation/Series: DESERT SHIELD Country: Unknown

030610-F-7709A-006. Country: Gulf Of Mexico Scene Major Command Shown: ANG

Four F-16C Fighting Falcon aircraft of the 432nd Fighter Wing fly in fingertip formation over Misawa Air Base. The aircraft, which represented the wing in the worldwide fighter gunnery meet Gunsmoke '91, are armed with AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles.. Country: Japan(JPN)

F/A-18C Hornets F-14B Tomcat US Navy

Two F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 31st Fighter Wing, Aviano Air Base, Italy, fly over Europe on March 20, 2015. The aircraft were participating in a flying training deployment with the Estonian air force and also participating in additional, unrelated training with the Finnish and Swedish air forces.

Three F-16 Fighting Falcon Block 52 aircraft's, one turning, from the 157th Fighter Squadron, 169th Fighter Wing, McEntire Air National Guard Station, South Carolina, in flight. The aircraft's are armed with AGM-88 HARM's (high-speed anti-radiation missile), AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles and AIM-120 AMRAAM's (advanced medium-range air-to-air missile). Country: Unknown

011107-F-5795G-019. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM Country: Afghanistan (AFG)

An F-16 Fighting Falcon Block 52 aircraft from the 157th Fighter Squadron, 169th Fighter Wing, McEntire Air National Guard Station, South Carolina. The aircraft is armed with AGM-88 HARM's (high-speed anti-radiation missile), AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles and AIM-120 AMRAAM's (advanced medium-range air-to-air missile). Country: Unknown

An air-to-air left side view of two 10th Tactical Fighter Squadron and 50th Tactical Fighter Wing F-16C Fighting Falcon aircraft flying in formation during the weapons training deployment Exercise Sabre Thunder. Subject Operation/Series: SABRE THUNDER Country: Spain (ESP)

020228-F-7910D-010. Country: United States Of America (USA)

A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle from the 4th Fighter Wing conducts operations during a Turkey Shoot training mission near 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 Fighter Wing's victory over the Luftwaffe on April 16, 1945.

An F-16C Fighting Falcon assigned to the U.S. Air Force Weapons School is piloted by Maj. Douglas Mayo, 64th Aggressor Squadron instructor pilot, during a training mission Sept. 22, 2022, over the Nevada Test and Training Range, Nevada. The Aggressor program began in the fall of 1972 with the activation of the 64th Aggressor Squadron. This program started as a direct result of the high air combat loss rate experienced in the Vietnam War.

DN-SC-95-01456. Base: USS George Washington @@(Cvn 73) Country: Caribbean Sea

US Navy VFA-115 Boeing F/A-18C Hornet above the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii

Air to air view of a GBU-15 air launched glide bomb on an F-16 Fighting Falcon, tail #441. Base: Eglin Air Force Base State: Florida (FL) Country: United States Of America (USA)

An air to air right underside view of two US Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles from the 494th Fighter Squadron, Lakenheath Royal Air Force, England. The aircraft are flying sorties in support of the enforcement of a NATO no fly zone over Bosnia-Herzegovina. Subject Operation/Series: DENY FLIGHT Country: Adriatic Sea

An air-to-air left rear view of two F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft escorting the F-16/750 AFTI (Advanced Fighter Technology Integration) testbed aircraft on a flight from Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., to Fort Worth, Texas. Base: Edwards Air Force Base State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

A right side view of two Strike Fighter Squadron 132 (VFA-132) F/A-18A Hornet aircraft in flight. The aircraft are based aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN-72) during the ship's shakedown cruise. Country: Atlantic Ocean (AOC)

Two F-15 Eagle aircrafts over Saudi Arabia in support of Operation SOUTHERN WATCH. The F-15s are a part of the coalition forces of the 363rd Air Expeditionary Wing who enforce the no-fly and no-drive zone in Southern Iraq to protect and defend against Iraqi aggression. Subject Operation/Series: SOUTHERN WATCH Country: Unknown

DN-SC-90-04165. Country: Indian Ocean (IOC)

August 16, 2004 - An F-15E Strike Eagle flies over Iraq during a combat mission.

Aerial view of a fighter plane being refueled in flight, Iraq, July 18, 2006

Three F-15 Eagle aircraft's from the 67th Fighter Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan, fly in formation prior to being refueled by a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft from the 909th Refueling Squadron, Kadena Air Base, while flying over the Pacific Ocean. Country: Unknown

An F-16 Fighting Falcon, from the Alabama Air National Guard, participates in a training sortie during the Green Flag-West 13-2 exercise Nov. 4, 2012, over Nevada. A typical Green Flag exercise involves two multi-role fighter and/or bomber squadrons, unmanned aircraft, electronic warfare aircraft and aerial refueling aircraft.

030929-M-3856H-015. Base: Mcas, Beaufort State: South Carolina (SC) Country: United States Of America (USA)

An F-14A Tomcat of the Fighting Renegades of squadron VF-24 flies above the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Southern California, headed for a training deployment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ranger.

Air to air right side view of an F-14B Tomcat aircraft of Fighter Squadron 143 (VF-143), the Pukin' Dogs, in flight near Lake Tahoe. The aircraft is piloted by LT. Chris Blaschum, USN and the radar intercept officer (RIO) is LT. Jack Lies, USN. State: Nevada (NV) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Two U.S. Air National Guard F-15C Eagles from the 159th Fighter Wing fly in formation with a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 92nd Air Refueling Wing during Operation Noble Defender (OND) over the Caribbean Sea near Puerto Rico, June 29, 2022. As a part of OND, which is a recurring operation, the Continental U.S. NORAD Region (CONR) coordinated and conducted joint operations with the U.S. Navy while concurrently launching jets from different locations across the United States' gulf coast and Puerto Rico. OND, is an integrated air and missile defense operation designed to ensure the defense and security of the northern and southern approaches to North America. This particular OND allowed NORAD units to exercise maneuvers designed to defend the southern approach to the United States from simulated cruise missile threats. NORAD is a bi-national Canadian and American command that employs a network of aerial, ground-based, and space-based sensors, air-to-air refueling tankers, and fighter aircr

DF-ST-82-04302. Base: Tyndall Air Force Base State: Florida (FL) Country: United States Of America (USA)

An F-16 from the 169th Fighter Wing in South Carolina travels along the wing of a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 134th Air Refueling Wing. The 134th Air Refueling Wing celebrated the centennial anniversary of in-flight refueling on June 27, 2023, by performing two flyovers and a total of seven in-flight refuelings in the skies over Tennessee.

Three 35th Tactical Fighter Wing F-4G Phantom II aircraft pass over the Saudi desert while on a training flight during Operation Desert Shield. The aircraft are carrying external fuel tanks on their outboard wing pylons and AGM-88 HARM high-speed anti-radiation missiles on their inboard wing pylons. Subject Operation/Series: DESERT SHIELD Country: Saudi Arabia (SAU)

An F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 100th Fighter Wing, Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, Alabama, flies beside a KC-135 Stratotanker out of the 186th Air Refueling Wing, Key Field, Meridian, Mississippi, after receiving fuel during Southern Strike 2022, April 27, 2022. Southern Strike 2022 is a large-scale, joint multinational combat exercise that provides tactical level training for the full spectrum of conflict. It emphasizes air dominance, maritime operations, maritime air support, precision engagement, close air support, command and control, personnel recovery, aero medical evacuation, and combat medical support.

Three F-16's from the Air National Guard Air Force Reserve Test Center fly in formation during a test mission out of Tucson International Airport, Arizona.

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 77th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron flies in formation over an undisclosed location in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Oct. 31, 2022. Fighter aircraft routinely conduct presence patrols in the CENTCOM AOR to reassure allies and ensure regional security.

Under the direction of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), an F-15 assigned to the Massachusetts Air National Guard flies behind a KC-135 assigned to the Pennsylvania Air National Guard during air-defense Operation NOBLE DEFENDER, Oct. 27, 2022. Operation NOBLE DEFENDER is a long-planned NORAD exercise that validates the commands capability to defend Canada and the United States from every avenue of approach. The Continental U.S. NORAD Region (CONR) led this iteration of OND and coordinated and conducted combined operations, while concurrently launching aircraft from different locations across the northeast coast of the United States. F-15 and KC-135 aircraft from CONR and CF-18 aircraft from the Canadian NORAD Region participated in the operation. NORAD is a bi-national Canadian and U.S. command that employs a network of aerial, ground-based, and space-based sensors, air-to-air refueling tankers, and fighter aircraft controlled by a sophisticated command and control

A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft returns to the fight after receiving fuel on Wednesday, May 28, 2008, from a KC-135R Stratotanker during a refuleing mission over Afghanistan. The Strike Eagle is deployed from Royal Air Force (RAF) Lakenheath, England, and the KC-135R is assigned to the 22nd Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, 376th Air Expeditionary Wing and is deployed from Fairchild Air Force Base Wash.

An F-22 Raptor from the 49th Fighter Wing maneuvers while on a training mission out of Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico.

Italian Air Force Tornado ECR and IDS aircraft in flight.

Two F-15 Eagles from the 44th Fighter Squadron fly over the Gulf of Mexico.

U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18d Hornet takes off to participate in military training on the Nevada Test and Training Range, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, may 11, 2022. The Nevada Test and Training range encompasses nearly 25 percent of all Department of Defense owned land.

An underside view of two F-16 Fighting Falcon Block 52 aircraft's from the 157th Fighter Squadron, 169th Fighter Wing, McEntire Air National Guard Station, South Carolina, in flight. The aircraft's are armed with AGM-88 HARM's (high-speed anti-radiation missile), AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles and AIM-120 AMRAAM's (advanced medium-range air-to-air missile). Country: Unknown

An F-16C Fighting Falcon assigned to the U.S Air Force Weapons School, takes off for a Red Flag-Nellis 22-3 mission at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, July 11, 2022. RF-N 22-3 provides realistic combat training that saves lives while increasing combat effectiveness.

010909-F-1279W-021. State: Florida (FL) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Three U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagles assigned to the 104th Fighter Wing, Massachusetts Air National Guard, fly beside a 101st Air Refueling Wing, Maine Air National Guard KC-135 Stratotanker during a refueling training operation over the northeastern United States October 27, 2022. The 104FW is trained to provide around-the-clock Aerospace Control Alert operations, supplying armed F-15 fighters prepared to scramble in a moments notice to protect the northeast United States from any airborne threat.

DN-SC-04-08732. Country: Unknown

Two F-15E Strike Eagles from Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, fly alongside the wing of a KC-135 Stratotanker from Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., during a refueling mission June 25, 2015, over the Inland Northwest. During the mission some of the F-15E Strike Eagles were flown by Republic of Singapore air force pilots in training, as well as American pilots.

US Navy Boeing F/A-18C above the blue Pacific Ocean direct head on shot

010831-F-2171A-010. Base: Luke Air Force Base State: Arizona (AZ) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: AETC

An F-4G Phantom II Advanced Wild Weasel aircraft of the 563rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, foreground, flies alongside an F-4E over the Gulf of Mexico. Both aircraft are assigned to the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing. Country: Unknown

F-105 Thunderchief. F-105 Thunderchief. "Southeast AsiaAn air-to-air left side view of a 355th Tactical Fighter Wing F-105 Thunderchief aircraft." Photographer: Airman 1st Class Steven A. Wilson

Strike Fighter Squadorn 136 (VFA-136) F/A-18C Hornet aircraft and a Strike Fighter Squadron 131 (VFA-131) F/A-18C Hornet aircraft, center, fly in formation over the airfield at Naval Station, Roosevelt Roads. State: Puerto Rico (PR) Country: United States Of America (USA)

021025-F-6393C-001. Subject Operation/Series: NORTHERN WATCH Country: Iraq (IRQ)

A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft assigned to the 48th Fighter Wing, RAF Lakenheath, flies alongside a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft assigned to the 100th Air Refueling Wing at RAF Mildenhall, during a refueling mission over the North Sea, May 24, 2022. The 100th ARW provides partners with the critical air refueling "bridge" throughout the European theatre, which allows the Expeditionary Air Force to deploy around the globe at a moment's notice.

F-15 Strike Eagles from the 53rd Fighter Squadron fly in a finger tip formation over Denmark. The three week exercise began 26 Aug 1995 and is designed to test the effectiveness of both Danish and American air defenses. Exact Date Shot Unknown. Subject Operation/Series: TACTICAL WEAPONRY '95 Base: Flyvestation State: Karup Country: Denmark (DNK)

An air-to-air front view of an F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft painted in commando colors preparing to refuel taken from the boom handlers position of a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft. Country: Pacific Ocean (POC)

An F-4E Phantom II aircraft of the 335th Tactical Fighter Squadron approaches the refueling boom of a KC-10A Extender aircraft. The Phantom is taking part in a bomb test mission during which it will drop GBU-15 modular glide bombs. Base: Seymour Johnson Air Force Base State: North Carolina (NC) Country: United States Of America (USA)

020129-F-1851B-316. Subject Operation/Series: SOUTHERN WATCH Country: Iraq (IRQ) Scene Major Command Shown: ACC

Five F-15 Eagles from the 173rd Fighter Wing conduct air to air refueling training with a KC-135 Stratotanker.

Four aircraft from the Tactical Fighter Weapons Center, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Fly in formation near Las Vegas. The aircraft are an F-15C Eagle, upper left, an A-10A Thunderbolt, lower left, an F-16A Fighting Falcon, upper right, and an F-15E Eagle, lower right. State: Nevada (NV) Country: United States Of America (USA)

020429-F-4814D-033. Subject Operation/Series: NORTHERN WATCH Base: Incirlik Air Base, Adana Country: Turkey (TUR)

April 8, 2011 - Dutch F-16AMs armed with AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles during a combat air patrol sortie in support of Operation Unified Protector over the Mediterranean Sea close to Libya.

A Fighter Squadron 33 (VF-33) F-14A Tomcat aircraft passes over the desert while returning to the aircraft carrier USS AMERICA (CV 66) after a mission during Operation Desert Storm.. Subject Operation/Series: DESERT STORM Country: Saudi Arabia(SAU)

971016-F-0024F-013. Base: RAF Mildenhall Country: Great Britain / England (GBR)

050201-F-7709A-006. Base: Tyndall Afb State: Florida (FL) Country: United States Of America (USA)

040706-F-7709A-002. Base: Tyndall Air Force Base State: Florida (FL) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: AETC

040719-F-9032T-007. Country: Unknown

Three F-16's from the Air National Guard Air Force Reserve Test Center fly in formation during a test mission out of Tucson International Airport, Arizona.

A left side air-to-air view of an F-111 aircraft dropping four bombs on a target range. The F-111 is flown by the 20th Tactical Fighter Wing, 3rd Air Force, RAF Upper Heyford. Country: England / Great Britain (ENG)

A U.S. Navy Reserve EA-18G Growler assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron 209, Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, departs after aerial refueling during RED FLAG-Alaska 22-1 over the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, Alaska, May 3, 2022. RF-A is a Pacific Air Forces-directed field training exercise allowing forces to practice interoperability by providing unique opportunities to integrate into joint and multilateral training.

031007-F-7709A-001. Country: Gulf Of Mexico Scene Major Command Shown: ANG

Capt. Cameron Wall, F-16 pilot assigned to the 64th Aggressor Squadron, flies over the Nevada Test and Training Range during a routine training mission at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, June 23, 2022. The NTTR mission is to create, operate, and maintain live and synthetic environments and integrate partners to optimize warfighter capabilities.

An air-to-air right side view of an F-14 Tomcat aircraft from Fighter Squadron 111 (VF-111), assigned to the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS CARL VINSON (CVN-70), visible below. Country: Unknown

A Strike Fighter Squadron 125 (VFA-125) F/A-18A Hornet aircraft taxis toward the flight line prior to a mission. Base: Naval Air Station, Fallon State: Nevada (NV) Country: United States Of America (USA)

An air-to-air right view of an F-14 Tomcat aircraft from Fighter Squadron 154 (VF-154) firing an AIM-54 Phoenix missile. Country: Unknown

A two-ship of 8th Operations Group F-16 Fighting Falcons fly during a training event in the skies near Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Dec. 1, 2022. During the training, pilots from the 35th and 80th Fighter Squadrons executed quick-response tactics, honing their jet fighting capabilities to support a free and open Indo-Pacific theater.

DN-SC-04-08729. Country: Unknown

An aerial view of a four-ship wedge formation of US Air Force F-16C Falcon aircraft from the 8th Fighter Wing "Wolf Pack", Kunsan AB, Republic of Korea. Base: Kunsan Air Base Country: Republic Of Korea (KOR)

The U.S. Air Force's F-16D Automatic Collision Avoidance Technology, or ACAT, aircraft was used by NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center and the Air Force Research Laboratory to develop and test collision avoidance technologies.

Three F-16 Fighting Falcons assigned to the 114th Fighter Wing, fly alongside of a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 185th Air Refueling Wing, while traveling to Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course 2-22 at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., April 1, 2022. WTI is a seven-week training event hosted by Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1), providing standardized advanced tactical training and certification of unit instructor qualifications to support Marine aviation training and readiness, and assists in developing and employing aviation weapons and tactics.

A German air force Tornado aircraft receives fuel from a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft assigned to the 100th Air Refueling Wing, Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England, during exercise Cobra Warrior 22 over the North Sea, Sept. 7, 2022. These missions enhance the readiness necessary to respond to any potential challenge in the region.

A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft from the 335th Fighter Squadron flies over North Carolina during a local training mission, Dec. 17, 2010.

Two F-16's from the 56th Fighter Wing at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, manuever on a training mission over the Arizona desert.

An F-15E Strike Eagle deployed from Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England pulls into position to accept fuel from a KC-10 Extender, deployed from Travis Air Force Base, Calif., April 1, 2013, over Southwest Asia. Both aircraft are conducting missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

020129-F-1851B-538. Subject Operation/Series: SOUTHERN WATCH Country: Iraq (IRQ) Scene Major Command Shown: ACC

An air-to-air right front view of three F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft in formation. The aircraft are assigned to the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, Kunsan Air Base, Korea. Country: Unknown

DF-ST-87-11931. Subject Operation/Series: PHOTO FINISH '85 State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Three U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor aircraft assigned to the 90th Fighter Squadron, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, fly alongside a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft assigned to the 100th Air Refueling Wing at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England, over Poland, Aug. 10, 2022. The NATO Air Shielding mission provides a near seamless shield from the Baltic to Black Seas, ensuring NATO Allies are better able to safeguard and protect Alliance territory, populations and forces from air and missile threat.

An air-to-air right side view of an F-16B Fighting Falcon aircraft with a glide bomb mounted on the right outboard wing pylon, an AIM-9 Sidewinder missile on the wingtip, and an AN/ALQ-119 Electronic Countermeasures (ECM) pod on the fuselage centerline. A spin-control parachute container is attached to the aircraft`s tail section. Country: Unknown

Two US Navy Grumman F-14D Tomcats of VF-31 Tomcat aka Felix in tight formation. Wings swept forward.

An air-to-air left side view of an F-16B Fighting Falcon aircraft firing an AGM-45 Shrike missile over the Edwards Air Force Base Test Range. State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

An air to air right side view of a US Navy F-14D Tomcat from Fighter Squadron 31, Naval Air Station Miramar, Calif., equipped with an AIM-9 Sidewinder missile as it flies a close air support mission during the annual air defense exercise. Subject Operation/Series: ROVING SANDS '95 Base: Roswell State: New Mexico (NM) Country: United States Of America (USA)

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