Modern Fighter Jets in Action

Dynamic images of advanced military aircraft like F-35s and F-22s flying and on missions, showcasing their impressive capabilities in various environments.

Italian Navy F-35B on the flight deck of the ITS Cavour aircraft carrier.
Italian Navy F-35B on the flight deck of the ITS Cavour aircraft carrier.
221 assets in this story
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The U.S. Air Force 354th Air Expeditionary Wing and Marine Aircraft Group 12 performed a capabilities demonstration during a pre-planned readiness exercise at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, July 7, 2022. The demonstration included five U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornets, eight F-35B Lightning IIs, a KC-130J Super Hercules aircraft, 10 U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors and 10 F-35A Lightning II aircraft, showcasing a high level of readiness and joint service capability in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.
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220624-N-XN177-2189 PACIFIC OCEAN (June 24, 2022) - Sailors and Marines refuel an F-35B Lightning II aircraft assigned to Marine Strike Fighter Squadron (VMFA) 121 on the flight deck aboard amphibious assault carrier USS Tripoli (LHA 7), June 24, 2022. Tripoli is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
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Royal Netherlands Air Force personnel prepare to launch a U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II assigned to the 495th Fighter Squadron during a cross-service training exercise at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, Jan. 19, 2023. The Liberty Wing, along with its NATO allies and mission partners continues to strengthen deterrence efforts and adapt through improving readiness and responsiveness.
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Distinguished visitors view F-35B Lightning II during a visit aboard Amphibious Assault Ship USS Tripoli, in the Philippine Sea, Sept. 5, 2022. USS Tripoli and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit invited their guests on board in order to showcase the capabilities of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121, 31st MEUs, F-35Bs. The 31st MEU is operating aboard ships of the Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group in the 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready response force to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
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DF-ST-91-03301. Subject Operation/Series: DESERT SHIELD Base: Langley Air Force Base State: Virginia (VA) Country: United States Of America (USA)
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An F-16 Fighting Falcon takes off Oct. 15, 2014, at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, during Red Flag-Alaska 15-1. The Pacific Air Forces commander-directed field training exercises for U.S. and partner nation forces provide combined offensive counter-air, interdiction, close air support and large force employment training in a simulated combat environment. The F-16 is assigned to the 18th Aggressor Squadron at Eielson AFB.
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A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II aircraft with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 242 takes off from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Jan. 12, 2023. Marines with VMFA-242 will take part in their first deployment in support of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit since becoming fully operationally capable in 2022.
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U.S. Marine Corps Col. Chad A. Vaughn, commanding officer, Marine Aircraft Group 13 (MAG-13), prepares for takeoff as his family waves to him before his final flight with the unit at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, June 27, 2023. Vaughns final flight was conducted with aircraft from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211, one of MAG 13s subordinate squadrons.
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U.S. Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121 conduct maintenance on F-35B Lightning II aircraft while underway aboard the amphibious assault carrier USS Tripoli (LHA 7), June 13, 2022. Marines with VMFA-121, based out of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, are conducting flight operations in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.
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A Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter assigned to the 301st Tactical Fighter Squadron sits on the flightline at Yokota Air Base, Japan, May 21, 2022 during the Japanese-American Friendship Festival fireworks display. Due to COVID-19 pandemic, this year festival marks the first time Yokota has held the annual event since 2019. The festival is aimed at increasing bilateral relationships between U.S. and Japanese communities and allows people to see U.S. and Japanese military capabilities first-hand.
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A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor assigned to the 3rd Wing takes off from Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport during Polar Force 22-4 in Anchorage, Alaska, April 7, 2022. The F-22 performs both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions, making it a vital tool to the 21st Century Air Force. The F-22's characteristics provide synergistic effects, increasing lethality against all advanced air threats.
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Adm. Christopher W. Grady, Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff delivers remarks at the U.S. Air Force B-21 Raider unveiling ceremony, Palmdale, Calif., Dec. 2, 2022. (DoD photos by Chad J. McNeeley)
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Two U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet aircraft, assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 312, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, taxi on a runway after landing in preparation for Exercise Nordic Response 24 at Andenes, Norway, Feb. 21, 2024. Exercise Nordic Response, formerly known as Cold Response, is a NATO training event conducted every two years to promote military competency in arctic environments and to foster interoperability between the U.S. Marine Corps and allied nations. Marine Corps
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An F-35A Lightning II with the 58th Fighter Squadron, 33rd Fighter Wing, takes off at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, Feb. 10, 2023. The 58th FS is traveling to MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, to take advantage of optimal weather conditions, focus on the training mission, practice skills in a new environment and build comradery in the units.
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U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Ryston Archuleta, 90th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron crew chief, salutes the pilot as an F-22 Raptor taxis for take-off from Ørland Main Air Station, Norway, Sept. 14, 2022. The 90 EFS forward deployed to Norway to conduct an agile combat employment (ACE) exercise with the Royal Norwegian Air Force and NATO Allies and partners. The joint training and integration provided in this ACE exercise improves the resilience and survivability of coalition airpower.
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U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Ryston Archuleta, 90th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron crew chief, salutes the pilot as an F-22 Raptor taxis for take-off from Ørland Main Air Station, Norway, Sept. 14, 2022. The 90 EFS forward deployed to Norway to conduct an agile combat employment (ACE) exercise with the Royal Norwegian Air Force and NATO Allies and partners. The joint training and integration provided in this ACE exercise improves the resilience and survivability of coalition airpower.
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A U.S. Navy EA-18 Growler lands at Misawa Air Base, Japan, April 1, 2022. F-16s from the 35th Fighter Wing, Misawa, integrated with U.S. Navy EA-18 Growlers in order to rehearse multi-domain joint mission, increasing interoperability and strengthening collective lethality. U.S. Air Forces remain committed to the defense of Japan and its sovereign territory, in accordance with the U.S.-Japan defense treaty alliance.
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In the foreground from left to right, U.S. Air Force Senior Airmen Tyelor Henderson, Christian Cortez, and Staff Sgt. Andrew Heims, all assigned to the 525th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, stand ready to compete in a timed F-22 Raptor load crew competition at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Jan. 7, 2022. Load crew competitions provide the 3rd Maintenance Groups weapons loaders an opportunity to showcase their speed and efficiency, while honing teamwork as an integral component of the U.S. Air Forces Fly, Fight, Win mantra. Henderson, Cortez and Heims are from Kansas City, Mo., Anaheim, Calif., and Clarksville, Tenn., respectively.
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More than 6,000 visitors showed up to an open house hosted by the Vermont Air and Army National Guard, where military aviation, equipment, vehicles, munitions and flight simulators were on display, along with a career fair, musical performances and police dog demonstrations, at the Vermont Air National Guard Base, South Burlington, Vermont, Sept. 11, 2022. The event was planned to coincide with the Vermont National Guard's observance of the 21st anniversary of the attacks of 9/11 which saw Vermont Air National Guard F-16s flying patrols over NYC in the immediate aftermath of the attack.
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220706-F-IU083-1223 KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii (July 6, 2022) - A U.S. Air Force MQ-9 Reaper assigned to the 49th Wing taxis down a runway at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022. Unmanned and remotely operated vessels extend the capability of interconnected manned platform sensors to enhance capacity across the multinational force. 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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Capt. Aleksandar Velinov, a Bulgaria air force F-16 pilot, is the first pilot from his country to graduate from the 162nd Wing's international pilot training program.