Modern Military Aircraft Operations

Dramatic images of military aircraft takeoffs and landings, featuring F-15s, F-16s, and B-1s in action, highlighting training operations in various bases.

An F-15 assigned to the assigned to the 433rd Weapons Squadron, U.S. Air Force Weapons School, lands during Black Flag 22-1 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, May 10, 2022. Black Flag 22-1 is focused on developing and validating large force tactics and integration required to deliver combat capability and tactical advantage for the Combat Air Force.
An F-15 assigned to the assigned to the 433rd Weapons Squadron, U.S. Air Force Weapons School, lands during Black Flag 22-1 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, May 10, 2022. Black Flag 22-1 is focused on developing and validating large force tactics and integration required to deliver combat capability and tactical advantage for the Combat Air Force.
114 assets in this story
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A B-25 Mitchell performs a fly-by during Wings Over Solano at Travis Air Force Base, California, May 14, 2022. The Wings Over Solano open house and air show provided an opportunity for the local community to interact directly with the base and its Airmen and see capabilities on full display at Travis AFB.
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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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A U.S. Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier II takes off from Norwegian Air Base Bodø during Exercise Cold Response 2022, March 31, 2022. The Harrier is assigned to Marine Attack Squadron 223, 2d Marine Aircraft Wing. Exercise Cold Response 22 is a biennial exercise that takes place across Norway, with participation from each of its military services, as well as from 26 additional North Atlantic Treaty Organization allied nations and regional partners.
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KANOHE BAY, Hawaii (July 6, 2022) A Royal Canadian Air Force CP-140 Aurora from 407 Long Range Patrol Squadron arrives at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, July 6, for Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022. The crews will conduct surface, subsurface and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions alongside maritime aviation assets from Australia, India, Japan, Republic of Korea and the U.S. 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 worlds 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 worlds oceans. RIMPAC 2022 is the 28th exercise in the series that began in 1971. (Royal Canadian Air Force photo by Maj. Trevor Reid)
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The Idaho Air National Guards 124th Fighter Wing is hosting biennial A-10 Thunderbolt II competition, Hawgsmoke, Sept. 6-9, 2022. On Sept. 7, nearly 30 A-10s from across the nation parked at Gowen Field's flightline in preperation for the competition. At the previous competition, Hawgsmoke 2021, the 124th Fighter Wings 190th Fighter Squadron was recognized as the top pilot team at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. The winning team traditionally hosts the next competition. The 190th Fighter Squadron won all three team awards in 2021: overall champion, top bombing team and top tactical team. The overall win was the squadrons third since 2003.More than 150 pilots, maintainers and weapon teams from approximately 14 active duty, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve units from across the globe are in the competition.
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DF-ST-89-09410. Base: Phoenix State: Arizona (AZ) Country: United States Of America (USA)
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970424-F-8006R-002. Subject Operation/Series: ROVING SANDS Base: Roswell State: New Mexico (NM) Country: United States Of America (USA)
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The United States Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, known as the Thunderbirds, perform at their final show of the 2022 season, Aviation Nation, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Nov. 4, 2022. Since 1953, the Thunderbirds team has served as Americas premier air demonstration squadron, entrusted with the vital mission to recruit, retain and inspire past, present and future Airmen.
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The United States Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, known as the Thunderbirds, perform for the Abbotsford International Air Show in Abbotsford, British Colombia, August 7, 2022. The Abbotsford International Airshow is one of two stops the Thunderbirds will make in Canada for the 2022 show season.
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A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II jet with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 542, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, lands in preparation for Exercise Nordic Response 24 in Norway, Feb. 16, 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. Exercise Nordic Response 24 is VMFA-542's first overseas operational exercise as an F-35B Lightning II jet squadron. Marine Corps
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Lt. Col. Todd Hudson, 152nd Airlift Wing Chief of Safety and Nevada Air National Guard C-130 navigator, flies his final flight with the 152nd Airlift Wing before he retires from the military in Reno, Nev., June 25, 2022. Hudson is set to become the Air Force Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) commander at North Valleys High School in Reno.
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The United States Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, known as the Thunderbirds, perform for the Abbotsford International Air Show in Abbotsford, British Colombia, August 5, 2022. The Abbotsford International Airshow is one of two stops the Thunderbirds will make in Canada for the 2022 show season.
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Tora, Tora, Tora dazzle the audience 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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Air show attendees gather for the 2022 Kaneohe Bay Air Show, Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Aug. 13, 2022. The air show was hosted in order for the local community, service members and residents of MCBH to interact during a world-class event. The Kaneohe Bay Air Show, which contained aerial performances, static displays, demonstrations and vendors, was designed to express MCBHs appreciation to the residents of Hawaii and their continued support of the installation.