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Military Helicopters in Action

Dynamic photos of various military helicopters performing maneuvers, including landing and supply delivery, showcasing aerial combat readiness.

Arabian Sea, February 9, 2012 - MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopters deliver supplies to the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson.
Arabian Sea, February 9, 2012 - MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopters deliver supplies to the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson.
365 assets in this story
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U.S. Army AH-64D Apache attack helicopters, assigned to C Company, 1st Battalion, 211th Aviation Regiment, Utah Army National Guard, participate in a training exercise with partner nations to demonstrate the capabilities of multinational armies working together simultaneously in a combined arms live-fire mission during African Lion 22, June 28, 2022. African Lion 22 is U.S. Africa Command's largest, premier, joint, combined annual exercise hosted by Morocco, Ghana, Senegal, and Tunisia, June 6 - 30. More than 7,500 participants from 28 nations and NATO train together with a focus on enhancing readiness for U.S. and partner-nation forces. AL22 is a joint all-domain, multi-component, and multinational exercise, employing a full array of mission capabilities with the goal to strengthen interoperadurbility among participants and set the theater for strategic access.
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U.S. Air Force Capt. Bryan Tordoff, 41st Rescue Squadron pilot, poses for a photograph before a training flight in an Mi-24 Hind in Lancaster, Texas, June 29, 2022. Tordoff flew the Mi-24 Hind during 41st RQS air combat maneuver training with the HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopter.
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Coastguard on rescue operation Bombay Bombay Mumbai Maharashtra India Copyright: xHemangixNakwe/DinodiaxPhotox
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BAN CHAN KREM, Kingdom of ThailandA CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265, Air Combat Element, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade Forward, III Marine Expeditionary Force, circles over the training area ensuring that it is clear for the beginning of training here February 11 during Cobra Gold 2011. The training area would be used for live-fire weapons training, Military Operations in Urban Terrain, improvised explosive device, combat lifesaver and jungle survival training by Ground Combat Element, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade Forward, III Marine Expeditionary Force, along with Royal Thai and Republic of Korea Marines. Cobra Gold is a yearly, multinational training exercise hosted by the Kingdom of Thailand designed to improve partner nation interoperability.
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020504-F-1644L-009. Country: Afghanistan (AFG)
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Three U.S. Army AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopters from the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade fire 2.75 folding fin rockets during a combined arms live fire demonstration during Noble Partner 22, at the Vaziani training area in the country of Georgia, Sept. 9, 2022. Exercises like Noble Partner enable 12 CAB Soldiers to learn and grow. Noble Partner 22 builds multinational interoperability between allied and partner nations, increasing readiness and improving multinational command and control capabilities. 12 CAB is among other units assigned to V Corps, America's Forward Deployed Corps in Europe. They work alongside NATO Allies and regional security partners to provide combat-ready forces, execute joint and multinational training exercises, and retain command and control for all rotational and assigned units in the European Theater.
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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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Members of the 1723rd Combat Control Squadron conduct fast rope operations from a 20th Special Operations Squadron MH-53H PAVELOW helicopter. Base: Hurlburt Field State: Florida (FL) Country: United States Of America (USA)
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030827-M-7837W-003. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Base: Blaire Airfield, Al Kut State: Wasit Country: Iraq (IRQ)
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A UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter flies over a training area during Operation Desert Shield. Subject Operation/Series: DESERT SHIELD Country: Saudi Arabia(SAU)
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U.S. Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing conduct landing drills with MV-22 Ospreys at Landing Zone Falcon, Hokkaido, Japan, Oct. 7, 2022. Resolute Dragon 22 is an annual bilateral exercise designed to strengthen the defensive capabilities of the U.S.-Japan Alliance by exercising integrated command and control, targeting, combined arms and maneuver across multiple domains.
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A CH-3 helicopter carrying US Air Force Special Activities Center (AFSAC) personnel takes off for Grenada operations during the multiservice, multinational Operation URGENT FURY. Subject Operation/Series: URGENT FURY Country: Unknown
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Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken arrives in Kabul, Afghanistan on April 15, 2021.
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030902-A-XXXXX-7626. Base: Mosul Country: Iraq (IRQ)
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A Macedonian Air Force Mi-24V Hind departing for a night operation.
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A UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter assigned to Alpha "Axemen" Company, 2-158 Assault Helicopter Battalion, 16th Combat Aviation Brigade prepares to land at Baturaja, Indonesia, on Jul. 31, 2022. The unit was transporting Maj. Gen. Stephen Smith, commanding general of 7th Infantry Division to the Exercise Super Garuda Shield 22 headquarters. Garuda Shield, a part of Operation Pathways and a longstanding annual, bilateral military exercise conducted between the U.S. military and Indonesia National Armed Forces, reinforces the U.S. commitments to our allies, and regional partners, joint readiness, and the interoperability to fight and win together.
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U.S. Marine Corps V-22 Osprey
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A US Marine Corps (USMC) CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 166 (HMM-166), Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar, California (CA), prepares to land on the flightdeck of an amphibious assault ship while under way in the Pacific Ocean. A US Marine Corps (USMC) CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 166 (HMM-166), Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar, California (CA), prepares to land on the flightdeck of an amphibious assault ship while under way in the Pacific Ocean.
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Several UH-60A Black Hawk helicopters, their main rotor blades folded back and their tailplanes removed, wait to be loaded aboard U.S. Air Force cargo aircraft during Exercise Market Square III. The helicopters are assigned to Co. A, 1ST Aviation Bn., 82nd Airborne Div. Subject Operation/Series: MARKET SQUARE III Base: Pope Air Force Base State: North Carolina(NC) Country: United States Of America(USA)
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Mountain Peak in Afghanistan
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A High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) hangs on a sling from a CH-47 Chinook helicopter. It will be dropped on Tortue Island for the soldiers of A Company, 2-87 10th Mountain Division. Their mission is to show a U.S. presence to the people of the island who have not seen Americans since the mid 1960s. Exact Date Shot Unknown. Subject Operation/Series: UPHOLD DEMOCRACY Base: Tortue Island Country: Haiti (HTI)
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An MH-53J Pave Low III helicopter from the 31st Special Operations Squadron at Osan Air Base sits on the flightline at Taegu Air Base, South Korea in support of Foal Eagle '93. Subject Operation/Series: FOAL EAGLE '93 Base: Osan Air Base Country: Republic Of Korea (KOR)
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A UH-1N Iroquois helicopter, foreground, and an AH-1 Sea Cobra helicopter fly over the desert during Operation Desert Shield. Subject Operation/Series: DESERT SHIELD Country: Saudi Arabia (SAU)
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U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Ty Dowdy, a plane captain, with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron - 773, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Forces Reserve in support of Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force UNITAS LXIII, conducts a hover test for a UH-1Y Venom at São Pedro da Aldeia, Brazil, during exercise UNITAS LXIII, Sept. 5, 2022. UNITAS is the world's longest-running annual multinational maritime exercise that focuses on enhancing interoperability among multiple nations and joint forces during littoral and amphibious operations in order to build on existing regional partnerships and create new enduring relationships that promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the U.S. Southern Commands area of responsibility. Dowdy is a native of Cedartown, GA.
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U.S. Army National Guard Aviators from Bravo Company, 3rd Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment, N.Y. Army National Guard, based out of Rochester N.Y. land in a remote airstrip in Lewis, N.Y. to assist Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) members of the 274th Air Support Operations Squadron, 107th Attack Wing, N.Y. Air National Guard in departing the field during excercise Future Flag August 7, 2022. The Future Flag excercise allows special warefare airman the opportunity to test and evaluate their operational skills and technology. U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Michael Janker.
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U.S. Marines with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469 fire a rocket at a target from an AH-1Z Viper during Resolute Dragon 22 at Yausubetsu Maneuver Area, Hokkaido, Japan, Oct. 7, 2022. Resolute Dragon 22 is an annual bilateral exercise designed to strengthen the defensive capabilities of the U.S.-Japan Alliance by exercising integrated command and control, targeting, combined arms, and maneuver across multiple domains.
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KAUAI, Hawaii (July 14, 2014) An MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to the Black Knights of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 4, embarked aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), participates in a helicopter exercise off the coast of the Hawaiian Island of Kauai during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) Exercise 2014. Twenty-two nations, more than 40 ships and six submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC exercise from June 26 to Aug. 1, in and around the Hawaiian Islands.
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A US Marine Corps CH-53D Sea Stallion Helicopter at Al Asad Air Base in the Al Anbar Province of Iraq
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SGT. Michael Inglis and AIRMAN 1ST Class Frank Rodriguez, members of the 66th Air Rescue squadron (66th ARS), climb up a rope ladder to an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter following a rappelling exercise in the Nevada desert. The 66th ARS is the first rescue squadron to fly the HH-60G. Base: Nellis Air Force Base State: Nevada (NV) Country: United States Of America (USA)
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CV-22 Osprey in Flight
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An AH-1Z Viper with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron - 773, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Forces Reserve in support of Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force UNITAS LXIII, sits on the flight lines at sunset at São Pedro da Aldeia, Brazil, during exercise UNITAS LXIII, Sept. 7, 2022. UNITAS is the world's longest-running annual multinational maritime exercise that focuses on enhancing interoperability among multiple nations and joint forces during littoral and amphibious operations in order to build on existing regional partnerships and create new enduring relationships that promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the U.S. Southern Commands area of responsibility.
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Washington, Olympia, military airshow.
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FALLON, Nev. (March 30, 2021) An MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to the Black Knights” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 4 conducts a flight maneuver during high-altitude landing training hosted by Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center at Naval Air Station (NAS) Fallon, Nev. The Navy Mountain Flying Course trains pilots and aircrew for challenges associated with flying the aircraft to its limitations in higher density altitudes and power management of the aircraft in this environment. Air Wing Fallon is part of the predeployment training cycle for Navy's carrier air wings. HSC-4, along with VFA-2, VFA-192, VFA-113, VFA-147, VAQ-136, VAW-113, and HSM-78 comprise CVW-2 and are detached to NAS Fallon in order to sharpen their warfighting readiness through a rigorous 5-week curriculum. The training conducted during Air Wing Fallon drives air wing integration and ensures that all CVW-2 squadrons are ready to conduct the full range of military operations when they deploy
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A Marine CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter is used by the 26th Marine Amphibious Unit, during their participation in Exercise Alpine Warrior '82. Subject Operation/Series: ALPINE WARRIOR '82 Base: Camp Ripley State: Minnesota (MN) Country: United States Of America (USA)
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Recordings for a recruitment commercial for the Royal Netherlands Army.
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An air-to-air left side view of two Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron 14 (HS-14) SH-3H Sea King helicopters en route to the aircraft carrier USS RANGER (CV-61) as the ship heads out of port to begin its WestPac '90 cruise. Base: San Diego State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)
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After attending a visit of an official party of the Croatian army at the 7th U.S. Army Joint Multinational Training Command on Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, March 13, 2012. Lt. Gen. Mark P. Hertling, U.S. Army Europe commander, takes off in a helicopter. The aircraft soars above a Stryker armored vehicle.
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Visit of Secretary Dirk Kempthorne to Pima County, Arizona's border area with Mexico, where he joined U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel for meetings, tours, flights, inspections
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Mi-35M attack helicopter of the Russian Air Force during Exercise Aviadarts 2018.
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Departure ceremonies for Sukarno, President of Indonesia, 10:40AM. A United States Army helicopter transporting President of Indonesia Ahmed Sukarno to Andrews Air Force Base prepares for takeoff on the South Lawn, White House, Washington, D.C.
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A scene of Equipment Park is shown July 8, 2022, at Fort McCoy, Wis. Equipment Park is inside the installations historic Commemorative Area. The Equipment Park is an outdoor display of historic and present-day equipment representative of the types used on the installation. The design of the park allows for display of 70 pieces of equipment, ranging from helicopters and howitzers to trucks and trailers. The Commemorative Area also consists of five World War II-era buildings set aside to help tell Fort McCoys unique story. These facilities are representative of the types found in the cantonment area when it was constructed in 1942.
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After a successful "rescue" by Special Forces from Operational Detachment Alpha 954, 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group, West Virginia Army National Guard of "captive" aircrew members, an MH-47E Chinook helicopter is brought in to evacuate them from the "terrorist" camp. The MH-47E is crewed by Company "B," 2nd Battalion, 160th Special Operation Aviation Regiment, Fort Campbell, Kentucky. The event is part of exercise WHITETAIL 2001. Subject Operation/Series: Whitetail 2001 State: Wisconsin (WI) Country: United States Of America (USA)
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Mexican Marines move to board a Mexican Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter to practice Helocast jumps during exercise Tradewinds 2022 (TW22), at Bacalar lagoon, Mexico, May 11, 2022. TW22 is a U.S. Southern Command-sponsored Caribbean-focused multi-dimensional exercise conducted in the ground, air, sea, and cyber domains, designed to provide participating nations opportunities to conduct joint, combined, and interagency training focused on increasing regional cooperation and interoperability in complex multinational security operations.
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A Tigre attack helicopter of the French Army.
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A US Army OH-58D helicopter with the 4th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment hovers over the tree tops as it prepares to support armor belonging to C Troop of the 4-7 Cavalry during maneuvers and gunnery training at the Korea Training Center, Republic of Korea on Oct. 25, 1998. The center is manned throughout the year and various armored units rotate through training scenarios to meet yearly live gunnery training requirements. Subject Operation/Series: KOREA CD Base: Korea Training Center Country: Republic Of Korea (KOR)
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A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter is observed in-flight as it ferries Soldiers with the 28th Combat Aviation Brigade on a flight training exercise near Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa., July 17, 2022. This exercise maintained their combat readiness. (Photo by U.S. Army National Guard Spc. John Trapani)
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A U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter lands with supplies at the base encampment area of the Korean Tactical Range. The range is located approximately 90 miles east of Osan Air Base, South Korea. Base: Sang Dong Country: Korea
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Army Air Corps WAH-64D Apache in front of a wall of fire.
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A Russian KA-27 Helix helicopter stands on the flight deck of the guided missile destroyer ADMIRAL VINOGRADOV (BPK-554) after visiting the destroyer USS KINKAID (DD-965) during helicopter exchange operations. Country: Northern Arabian Sea
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U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 214th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, execute a hot refueling for an AS-532 Cougar helicopter belonging to the Netherlands Defence Helicopter Command during exercise Falcon Autumn 22 at Vredepeel, Netherlands, Nov. 7, 2022. 12 CAB is among other units assigned to V Corps, America's Forward Deployed Corps in Europe. They work alongside NATO Allies and regional security partners to provide combat-ready forces, execute joint and multinational training exercises, and retain command and control for all rotational and assigned units in the European Theater.
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A UH-1 Huey hovers over a landing zone during Combat Survival Training (CST) for Academy cadets on June 28, 2022 at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. More than 1,000 Academy cadets are learning to lead in intense war-fighting environments, taught by cadet cadre and supervised by SERE specialists during June and July 2022, receiving training on medical care, food preparation, aircraft signaling, and navigation.
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990102-N-3236B-010. Base: Naval Air Station, North Island State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)
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MC-130H Combat Talon II, June 1991
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A CH-47F Chinook assighed to B Company, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) perches on a mountain in the Alps in Germany, Oct. 21, 2020.
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070105-A-6656Q-012. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM State: Jalalabad Country: Afghanistan (AFG)
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A U.S. Air Force HH-60 Pave Hawk, assigned to the 46th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron, receives fuel from an HC-130J Combat King II aircraft during a high-altitude aerial refueling as part of a combat search and rescue exercise over an undisclosed location, July 5, 2022. Air Force Central Command's ERQSs are organized, trained, equipped and postured to conduct full spectrum personnel recovery to include both conventional and unconventional combat rescue operations within the Central Command theater of operations. Special warfare operators assigned throughout the combined joint operational area conduct operations in support of Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve.
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View of nose sections and cockpits of line of United States Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion heavy lift helicopters, Camp Bastion, Helmand Province, Afghanistan
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221112-N-IX644-1042 ADRIATIC SEA (Nov. 12, 2022) An MH-60S Nighthawk helicopter attached to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 5, moves cargo to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77), during a replenishment-at-sea with the supply-class fast combat support ship USNS Arctic (T-AOE 8), Nov. 12, 2022. Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7 is the offensive air and strike component of Carrier Strike Group 10, George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group (GHWBCSG). The squadrons of CVW-7 are Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 86, VFA-103, VFA-136, VFA-143, Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 140, Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 121, HSC-5, and Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 46. The GHWBCSG is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe area of operations, employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet to defend U.S., allied and partner interests.
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St. Inigoes, Maryland, June 27, 2005 - A RQ-8A Fire Scout Vertical Takeoff and Landing Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (VTUAV) System turns at its flight power setting prior to a flight demonstration at the 2005 Naval Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Air Demo held at the Webster Field Annex of Naval Air Station Patuxent River. Fire Scout has the ability to autonomously take off and land from any aviation-capable warship and at unprepared landing zones. With an on-station endurance of over four hours, th
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U.S. Marines with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing conduct landing drills with MV-22 Ospreys at Yausubetsu Maneuver Area, Hokkaido, Japan, Sept. 30, 2022. Resolute Dragon 22 is an annual bilateral exercise designed to strengthen the defensive capabilities of the U.S.-Japan Alliance by exercising integrated command and control, targeting, combined arms, and maneuver across multiple domains
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An air-to-air right side view of two AH-1 Cobra helicopters from the 17th Air Cavalry Brigade in-flight for a combat run on the Camp Del Balomple Range. President Ronald Reagan mobilized U.S. exercise task force Dragon/Golden Pheasant, consisting of both the 82nd Airborne Division and the 7th Light Infantry Division, to help discourage Nicaraguan forces from entering Honduras. Subject Operation/Series: DRAGON/GOLDEN PHEASANT Base: Zambrano Country: Honduras (HND)
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Accompanied by an instructor, an undergraduate helicopter training student pilots his UH-1H Iroquois helicopter during a training flight near Fort Rucker. As the center of Army aviation, Fort Rucker produces hundreds of aviation course graduates each year. While the majority of these students are soldiers, approximately 50 are Air Force personnel. State: Alabama(AL) Country: United States Of America(USA)
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LTC Michael Gourgues conducts his final flight in an AH-64D Apache Helicopter
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Replacement coin for 10 cents, U.S.A., Army Air Force Exchange Services, Military base, 2004
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A MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Houston prepares to land on the flight deck of USCGC Mohawk (WMEC 913) in Abidjan, Cotê dIvoire, Aug. 12, 2022. Mohawk is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Africa area of operations, employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet to defend U.S., allied, and partner interests.