Fighter Aircraft Operations

Photos featuring F-15 and F-16 fighter jets, showcasing pre-flight checks and readiness for training missions, emphasizing military aviation capabilities.

An F-15E Strike Eagle from the 492nd Fighter Squadron awaits clearance to taxi for a sortie in preparation for exercise Red Flag 16-4 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Aug. 12, 2016. Red Flag is the Air Forces premier air-to-air combat training exercise and one of a series of advanced training programs that is administered by the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center and executed through the 414th Combat Training Squadron.

An F-15E Strike Eagle from the 492nd Fighter Squadron awaits clearance to taxi for a sortie in preparation for exercise Red Flag 16-4 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Aug. 12, 2016. Red Flag is the Air Forces premier air-to-air combat training exercise and one of a series of advanced training programs that is administered by the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center and executed through the 414th Combat Training Squadron.

F-16C Fighting Falcon aircraft of the Air Force Reserve's 944th Tactical Fighter Group stand by for a preflight check. Base: Luke Air Force Base State: Arizona (AZ) Country: United States Of America (USA)

U.S. Air Force Capt. Christopher Hartman, a pilot assigned to the 77th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, conducts pre-flight systems checks in the cockpit of an F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft prior to departure for the Bahrain International Airshow (BIAS) 22, from Prince Sultan Air Base, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Nov. 6, 2022. BIAS, a biennial event, is an opportunity to strengthen military-to-military relationships with regional partners and promote U.S. national security objectives in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.

A Hill Air Force Base 421st Fighter Squadron AIRMAN prepares to remove the chocks on an F-16D Fighting Falcon. The F-16D, with two 600-gallon tanks and an SSU-20 practice bomb carrier, was parked on the Utah Air National Guard flightline overnight and is now departing for a training mission. The Utah ANG ramp plays host to transient aircraft on a regular basis. Base: Salt Lake City State: Utah (UT) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: ANG

A U.S. Air Force pilot and Weapons Officer from Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, settle in to an F-15E Strike Eagle for a training mission September 1, 2022. The Mountain Home Range Complex terrain and airspace provides 9,600 square miles of unique and challenging training opportunities for the Department of Defense.

DF-ST-86-11343. Subject Operation/Series: RED FLAG Base: Holloman Air Force Base State: New Mexico (NM) Country: United States Of America (USA)

An F-16 from the 69th Fighter Squadron taxis to the runway during the Operations Readiness Inspection. Base: Moody Air Force Base State: Georgia (GA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle taxis prior to take off April 6, 2022, at Andravida Air Base, Greece. The 48th Fighter Wing from Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England was one of the many nations that participated in INIOCHOS 22, a Hellenic air force-led operational and tactical level field training exercise, hosted by the Hellenic Air Tactics Center at Greeces fighter weapons school.

A right side view of the Strike Fighter Squadron 136 (VFA-136) F/A-18C Hornet aircraft of the commander of Carrier Air Wing 7 (CVW-7) parked on the flight line. Base: Naval Air Facility, Andrews Afb State: Maryland (MD) Country: United States Of America (USA)

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon taxis at an undisclosed location in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility in preparation for Exercise Ballast Cannon, Jan. 6, 2024. Through decades of collaboration and cooperation, U.S. and regional allies and partners have developed critical relationships necessary to remain agile and effective in combined operations.

Lt. Col. Joost Luijsterburg, Royal Netherlands Air Force detachment commander, Morris Air National Guard Base, waits to taxi his aircraft at Naval Air Station Key West, Florida. This is the last temporary duty that the RNLAF will make with the 162nd Wing before they return to the Netherlands.

DF-ST-89-00772. Subject Operation/Series: SHADOW HAWK Base: Azarq Air Base Country: Jordan (JOR)

U.S. Air Force F-16CM/DM Fighting Falcon operating from Graf Ignatievo Air Base, Bulgaria.

Hellenic Air Force F-16D Block 52 with avionic humpback

F-16s from the 22nd Fighter Squadron, 53rd Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem AB, Germany, receive end of runway checks prior to flying. Exact Date Shot Unknown. Subject Operation/Series: TACTICAL WEAPONRY '95 Base: Flyvestation State: Karup Country: Denmark (DNK)

North Arabian Gulf, October 17, 2005 - An F-14D Tomcat of VF-31 Tomcatters (Carrier Air Wing 8) in launch position on the flight deck of USS Theodore Roosevelt in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

011012-F-0308N-201. Subject Operation/Series: SOUTHERN WATCH Country: Unknown Scene Major Command Shown: CENTCOM

A U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18D Hornet aircraft with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 232 taxis the runway after landing at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Jan. 19, 2024. Nicknamed the Red Devils, VMFA-232 traveled from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan to Guam as a part of their Aviation Training Relocation Program deployment to train multilaterally with allies and partners, and enhance the squadrons combat readiness.

An F-15 Strike Eagle from the 493rd Fighter Squadron, 48th Fighter Wing, Royal Air Force (RAF) Lakenheath, United Kingdom, touches down on the runway at RAF Lakenheath during a routine flying mission. Base: Raf Lakenheath State: East Anglia Country: England / Great Britain (ENG) Scene Major Command Shown: USAFE

From left to right: U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Val Stewart, 125th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, Airman 1st Class Layla Leis, 125th AMXS weapons loader, and Staff Sgt. Joshua Hostetler, 125th AMXS weapons loader, conduct pre-flight checks on an F-15C Eagle aircraft before takeoff during night flying at the Jacksonville Air National Guard Base, Florida on Sept. 14, 2022.

Pakistan Air Force F-16B taxiing at Konya Air Base, Turkey.

A U.S. Air Force pilot walks toward an F-15C Eagle at Muniz Air National Guard Base, Puerto Rico in support of North American Aerospace Defense Commands (NORAD) Operation Noble Defender (OND), 1 July, 2022. As a part of OND, which is a recurring operation, the Continental U.S. NORAD Region 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 aircraft controlled by a sophisticated comman

AIRMAN First Class (A1C) Charles P. Kapinos, gives the throttle up sign as his F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 366th Air Expeditionary Group (AEG) operates on a forward base, in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM Country: Unknown Scene Major Command Shown: CENTCOM

Military Jets Fixed Wing Boeing Aviat Airplanes F/A-18 Hornet Sparrow missile strike fighter

A left rear view of the undercarriage of an F/A-18 Hornet aircraft armed with Mark 82 500-pound general purpose bombs, suspended from PAVE Knife pods, an AIM-7 Sparrow III air-to-air missile and an AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missile on the wingtip. The Hornet is on display during the open house Expo `83. Base: Naval Air Station Patuxent River State: Maryland (MD) Country: United States Of America (USA)

DF-ST-86-08104. Base: Inshas Country: Egypt (EGY)

An F-16C Fighting Falcon assigned to Aviano Air Base, Italy, takes off for Red Flag-Nellis 24-1 mission at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Jan. 16, 2024. Red Flag is an opportunity to enhance the readiness and training necessary to respond as a joint force to any potential crisis or challenge across the globe.

Thai ground crewmen sit in the shade beneath a Royal Thai Air Force F-5E Tiger II aircraft during the combined Thai/U.S. joint exercise Thalay Thai '89. Subject Operation/Series: THALAY THAI '89 Base: Utapao Air Base Country: Thailand (THA)

A U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagle assigned to the 123rd Fighter Squadron, Portland Air National Guard Base, Oregon, taxis during Weapons System Evaluation Program-East 22.08 at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, May 17, 2022. WSEP is a formal, two-week evaluation exercise designed to test a squadrons capabilities to conduct live-fire weapons systems during air-to-air combat training missions.

U.S. Air Force F-16CM/DM Fighting Falcon operating from Graf Ignatievo Air Base, Bulgaria.

010925-F-3378P-002. Base: Great Falls State: Montana (MT) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: Montana Air National Guard

Santa Claus visits U.S. Airmen of the South Carolina Air National Guards 169th Fighter Wing and their family members at McEntire Joint National Guard Base, S.C., Dec. 2, 2017. During his visit, Santa gave special thanks to the children for the sacrifices they make when their mothers and fathers are away serving on military duty.

040907-F-0017C-019. Base: Kwang-Ju Air Base State: Jeollanam-Do Country: Republic Of Korea (ROK)

DF-ST-86-09667. Subject Operation/Series: SOLID SHIELD 85 Base: Mcentire Ang Station State: South Carolina (SC) Country: United States Of America (USA)

040826-F-9232E-201. Base: Kadena Air Base State: Okinawa Country: Japan (JPN)

A U.S. Air Force pilot assigned to the 77th Fighter Squadron, Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, taxis an F-16C Fighting Falcon during Checkered Flag 22-2 at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, May 12, 2022. Checkered Flag is a large-force aerial exercise held at Tyndall which fosters readiness and interoperability through the incorporation of 4th- and 5th-generation aircraft during air-to-air combat training. The 22-2 iteration of the exercise was held May 9-20, 2022.

Close-up of a U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle taking off.

U.S. Marines with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 and Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 533 prepare to launch F-35B lightning II aircraft, embarked aboard the amphibious assault carrier USS Tripoli (LHA 7), and F/A-18 Hornet aircraft at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, June 14, 2022, to participate in a joint maritime strike rehearsal to demonstrate service components fires and effects capabilities in the maritime environment during exercise Valiant Shield 22 (VS 22). Exercises such as Valiant Shield allows the Indo-Pacific Command Joint Task Force the opportunity to integrate forces from all branches of service to conduct long-range, precise, lethal, and overwhelming multi-axis, multi-domain effects that demonstrate the strength and versatility of the Joint Task Force and our commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.

U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons taxi at an undisclosed location in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility in preparation for combined Exercise Ballast Cannon, Jan. 6, 2024. Exercises like Ballast Cannon allow the U.S. and partner nations to improve interoperability, the ability to address adversaries and provide stability in the region.

A Royal Canadian Air Force CF-188 Hornet preparing for a night takeoff from Romania.

030405-F-5712B-005. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Country: Unknown

An instructor and student pilot from the 47th Flying Training Wing begin to take off in a T-38C Talon during a training sortie at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, Sept. 30, 2022. Laughlin trains the most pilots of any training base in the Air Force and is dedicated to producing combat-ready Airmen, leaders and pilots.

Two ground crew personnel install an air combat range data link pod on the wing tip on an F-16C Falcon from the 35th Fighter Wing, Misawa Air Force Base, New Mexico. Exact Date Shot Unknown. Subject Operation/Series: GUNSMOKE 95 Base: Nellis Air Force Base State: Nevada (NV) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Head On View of a US Marine Corps F/A - 18D At Al Asad Air Base in the Anbar Province of Iraq

021010-F-4649H-027. Subject Operation/Series: NORTHERN WATCH Base: Incirlik Air Base, Adana Country: Turkey (TUR)

Senior Airman Matthew Persson, 80th Fighter Generation Squadron dedicated crew chief, guides a F-16 out of a hardened aircraft shelter piloted by Lt. Gen. Scott Rolls Pleus, 7th Air Force commander, before a flight at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Aug. 5, 2022. Gen. Pleus is a command pilot with more than 2,500 flight hours. (U.S. Air Force photos by Tech. Sgt. Timothy Dischinat)

A CF-18 Hornet assigned to the 401st Tactical Fighter Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force taxis down the runway before flight during exercise RED FLAG-Alaska 22-1, May 2, 2022. RF-A exercises are focused on improving the combat readiness of U.S. and international forces and providing training for units preparing for air and space expeditionary force tasking.

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft assigned to the 77th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron arrives at King Fahad Air Base, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, for an off-station agile combat employment training exercise, Jan. 9, 2023. The 378th Air Expeditionary Wing conduced this exercise in coordination with the Royal Saudi Air Force to ensure capabilities to rapidly deploy and operate throughout the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.

North Arabian Gulf, October 17, 2005 - An F-14D Tomcat of VF-31 Tomcatters (Carrier Air Wing 8) during operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom on USS Theodore Roosevelt.

Pilots await clearance to taxi for takeoff in their F-16 Fighting Falcons belonging to the 35th Fighter Squadron, Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, as part of the Red Flag 22-2 exercise at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, June 14, 2022. Known as the Pantons, the 35th FS performs air and space control and force application roles including counter air, strategic attack, interdiction, and close-air support missions. It employs a full range of precision ordnance, can operate day or night and in all weather conditions. The Red Flag Exercise was established in 1975 and serves as a two-week advanced aerial combat training exercise held multiple times a year by the USAF, alongside joint partner and allied air and ground forces.

An F-16CM Fighting Falcon pilot, assigned to the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron, Eglin Air Force Base, poses during Rattlesnake Rodeo, the Force Development Evaluation exercise, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Sept. 9, 2022. Rattlesnake Rodeo takes advantage of local Nellis aircraft such as F-22s, F-16s, F-15Es, F-35s, A-10s and range assets in a large force exercise manner.

041211-F-1467B-007. Base: Misawa Air Base Country: Japan (JPN)

The United States Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, known as the Thunderbirds, perform at the AllianceTexas Aviation expo in Fort Worth, Texas, Oct. 22, 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.

A U.S. Air Force F-35 Lightning II taxis during exercise Falcon Strike 2022 at Amendola Air Base, Italy, Nov. 15, 2022. Falcon Strike 22 consisted of multiple NATO nations practicing joint offensive and defensive air operations that integrated fourth and fifth-generation airpower.

US Air Force Captain Brett Gallagher, a pilot from the 494th Fighter Squadron, 48th Fighter Wing, Royal Air Force Lakenheath, United Kingdom, stands next to a F-15E Strike Eagle prior to preflight checks. The Strike Eagle is a two-seat fighter designed to maintain air superiority during combat. (Duplicate image, see also DF-SD-01-03278 or search 000828-F-9032T-006). Base: Raf Lakenheath State: East Anglia Country: England / Great Britain (ENG)

View of a Russian MiG-29 fighter parked on the ramp at the Abbotsford Air Show. Exact Date Shot Unknown. State: British Columbia (BC) Country: Canada (CAN)

A right front view of an F/A-18C Hornet aircraft of Strike Fighter Squadron 147 (VFA-147) parked on the flight line. Base: Naval Air Facility, Andrews Afb State: Maryland (MD) Country: United States Of America (USA)

An F-16C Fighting Falcon aircraft from the 389th Fighter Squadron, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho arrives and taxis down the runway at Azaraq Air Base, Jordan. The plane will be participating in the Air Power Expeditionary Force. An ancillary mission of the Force is to assist US Air Force and other multinational forces operating in Saudi Arabia and other nearby countries patrol the no-fly zone over southern Iraq. Subject Operation/Series: AIR POWER EXPEDITIONARY FORCE Base: Azraq Air Base Country: Jordan (JOR)

An F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft assigned to the 366th Fighter Wing, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, sits on the flightline at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England, Oct. 3, 2022. The 100th ARW supports the Air Forces global reach mission by extending the range of U.S. Air Force aircraft.

$Two A-10 Thunderbolt IIs taxi on the flightline at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, April 15, 2022. A section or division will arrive in tight formations to enable all aircraft to land in a fraction of the time it would take for each to arrive separately.$

Turkish Air Force F-16 during Exercise Anatolian Eagle.

Military aircraft F/A-18 Super Hornet jet fighter taking off

The first F/A-18C(N) Hornet aircraft to be delivered to Strike Fighter Squadron 147 (VFA-147) stands on the flight line following its arrival at the air station from McDonnell-Douglas corporate facilities in St. Louis. The squadron is making the transition from A-7E Corsair II aircraft to the more technologicaly advanced Hornet. Base: Naval Air Station, Lemoore State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

030228-F-0718S-011. Base: Spangdahlem Air Base State: Rheinland-Pfalz Country: Deutschland / Germany (DEU)

U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 492nd Fighter Squadron perform preflight checks at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, before forward deploying to Łask Air Base, Poland, to support NATO Air Shielding efforts, Aug. 5, 2022. The 48th Fighter Wing is engaged, postured, and ready to assure, deter and defend in an increasingly complex security environment.

A U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagle assigned to the 67th Fighter Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan, lands at Royal Australian Air Force Base Darwin, Australia, prior to the start of Exercise Pitch Black 2022, Aug. 15, 2022. PB22 is the RAAF Chief of Air Forces biennial capstone international engagement activity with forces drawn from a wide range of regional, coalition and allied nations and is scheduled from Aug. 19 to Sept. 8, 2022.

030210-F-3252P-012. Base: Cannon Air Force Base State: New Mexico (NM) Country: United States Of America (USA)

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon, assigned to the Ohio National Guard's 180th Fighter Wing, sits on the flightline at Naval Air Station Key West, Florida, Oct. 30, 2022. The 180FW deployed to Key West to train with Fighter Squadron Composite 111, the Navy's premier adversary squadron, providing realistic training scenarios that ensure the 180FW is prepared for homeland defense and contingency operations around the globe.

Spanish Navy AV-8B Harrier at Rota Naval Air Station, Spain.

DN-ST-86-06066. Base: USS Coral Sea (CV 43) Country: Mediterranean Sea (MED)

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon, assigned to the Ohio National Guard's 180th Fighter Wing, goes through pre-flight checks before a training flight at Naval Air Station Key West, Florida, Oct. 31, 2022. The 180FW deployed to Key West to train with VFC-111, the Navy's premier adversary squadron, providing realistic training scenarios that ensure the 180FW is prepared for homeland defense and contingency operations around the globe.

A U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II student pilot assigned to the 357th Fighter Squadron, taxis down the flight line at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, Nov. 22, 2022. The 357th Dragons conducts all formal course directed aircraft training, day and night weapons and tactics employment, air refueling and dissimilar air combat maneuvers.

A right side view of two F-15 Eagle aircraft preparing for takeoff during Exercise Gallant Eagle '82. Subject Operation/Series: GALLANT EAGLE '82 Base: Naval Air Station, Miramar State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

An F/A-18C Hornet jet fighter of the Swiss Air Force taxiing at an airbase in Meiringen, Switzerland.

Lt. Col. Michael May, an F-16 Fighting Falcon Test Pilot with the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron, preforms some final checks before take off at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, July 19, 2020. The F-16 can locate targets in all weather conditions and detect low flying aircraft in radar ground clutter. .

Members of the 23rd Fighter Group at Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina, fix their A-10 Thunderbolt aircrafts at the Seymour Johson Air Force base, North Carolina, flightline while their runway is temporarily under construction. Base: Seymour Johnson Air Force Base State: North Carolina (NC) Country: United States Of America (USA)

An F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 148th Fighter Wing, Duluth Air National Guard Base, Minnesota, taxis toward the runway prior to a Red Flag-Nellis 22-1 mission Jan. 27, 2022 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. Participants conduct a variety of scenarios, including defensive counter air, offensive counter air suppression of enemy air defenses and offensive counter air-air interdiction. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Zachary Rufus)

A Polish Air Force F-16 Block 52+ at Albacete Air Base, Spain.

U.S. Airmen assigned to the 67th Fighter Squadron and 67th Aircraft Maintenance Unit conduct pre-flight operations during RED FLAG-Alaska 22-1 on Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, May 2, 2022. RF-A 22-1 provides training for deployed maintenance and support personnel in sustainment of large-force deployed air operations.

U.S. Air National Guardsmen assigned to the 138th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron prepare to launch F-16 Fighting Falcons at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, Oct. 28, 2022. The unit visited Tyndall to participate in Checkered Flag 23-1. Checkered Flag is a large-force aerial exercise which fosters readiness and interoperability through the incorporation of 4th- and 5th-generation aircraft during air-to-air combat training. The 23-1 iteration of the exercise was held Oct. 31 - Nov. 10, 2022.

011017-F-0308N-476. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM Base: Al Udeid Air Base, Doha Country: Qatar (QAT) Scene Major Command Shown: CENTCOM

DF-ST-88-03771. Subject Operation/Series: SOLID SHIELD Base: Homestead Air Force Base State: Florida (FL) Country: United States Of America (USA)

A pilot assigned to the F-16 Viper Demonstration Team taxis on the flightline at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., Jan. 26, 2022. The Team works closely with the Air Force Heritage Flight Foundation to create a unique demonstration for the U.S. Air Force past and present, exhibiting the professional qualities the Air Force develops in the people who fly, maintain and support these aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Madeline Herzog)

U.S. Navy F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet fighter pilots from Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 122 West Coast Rhino Demonstration Team out of Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif., wave to the crowd during Arctic Thunder Open House at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska July 31, 2022. The Super Hornet is the second major model upgrade since the inception of the F/A-18 aircraft program.

Ground guides walk alongside an F-15C Eagle aircraft of the 1ST Tactical Fighter Wing as the aircraft taxis across the apron during Operation Desert Shield. Subject Operation/Series: DESERT SHIELD Country: Saudi Arabia (SAU)

220905-N-SH953-1089Virginia Beach, Va. (Sept. 5, 2022) - The Red Rippers of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 11 returned home to Naval Air Station Ocean, September 5. VFA-11, part of Carrier Air Wing 1, embarked on USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), returns to Naval Station Norfolk after 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.

A U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18C Hornet aircraft with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232 taxis the flight line during Cope North 24 at Tinian, Northern Mariana Islands, Feb. 12, 2024. Allies and partners train together during the multilateral exercise, Cope North 24, to improve shared tactics and multilateral defense capabilities. Marine Corps

U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle landing on runway in Konya, Turkey.

An F-16D Fighting Falcon aircraft from the 314th Fighter Squadron, 58th Fighter Wing, carrying 2,000-pound concrete-filled practice bombs, waits for last-minute checks in the south arming area. Base: Luke Air Force Base State: Arizona (AZ) Country: United States Of America (USA)

F-16 Fighting Falcon aircrafts from the 169th Fighter Wing of the South Carolina Air National Guard (SCANG) sit on the runway at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. The 169th Fighter Wing is deployed to Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, in support of an F-15 Eagle Weapons Training School. Base: Tyndall Air Force Base State: Florida (FL) Country: United States Of America (USA)

040325-F-0209W-005. Base: Kirkuk Country: Iraq (IRQ) Scene Major Command Shown: CENTAF

A U.S. Air Force pilot prepares for takeoff in an F-16 aircraft at Savannah Air National Guard Base, Georgia, July 22, 2022. Agile Flag 22-2 is Air Combat Command's first lead-wing certification event designed to demonstrate the 23rd Wing's capability to generate combat air power while continuing to move, maneuver, and sustain the Wing and subordinate force elements in a dynamic and contested environment.

Ein Eurofighter Mehrzweckkampfflugzeug der Luftwaffe Bundeswehr, aufgenommen im Rahmen der Uebung Rapid Viking 2023 in Island. Keflavik, 03.08.2023

981001-F-0024F-001. Base: RAF Mildenhall Country: Great Britain / England (GBR) Scene Major Command Shown: USAFE

A U.S. Air Force Airman assigned to the 14th Fighter Squadron taxis an F-16 Fighting Falcon onto the runway during Exercise Beverly Sunrise 22-06 at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Sept. 1, 2022. The 35th Fighter Wing conducted a readiness exercise to train and test the response and procedures for deployment and combat contingency operations.

U.S. Air Force personnel assist in conducting post-flight checks of a U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon during Exercise Ballast Cannon 24.3 at an undisclosed location in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Jan. 7, 2024. Exercise Ballast Cannon occurs nearly quarterly with the Royal Bahraini Air Force to support the U.S. Air Forces rapid expeditionary capabilities by integrating Agile Combat Employment objectives for F-16 Fighting Falcon, KC-135 Stratotanker, and operational support personnel. The U.S. and coalition forces routinely train throughout the region to ensure they can maintain critical operations required to defend their mutual defense interests.

DM-SC-89-07940. Base: Marine Corps Air Station Futenma State: Okinawa Country: Japan (JPN)

U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle on the ramp at Konya Air Base, Turkey.

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