Fighter Jets in Action

Dynamic portrayals of F-15 and F-16 fighter jets in flight operations, including air-to-air views and tanking maneuvers in diverse environments.

040422-F-7823A-010. Country: Iraq (IRQ)

An air-to-air left underside view of an 80th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft during exercise TEAM SPIRIT '86. Subject Operation/Series: TEAM SPIRIT '86 Country: South Korea

A right front view of three F-16A Fighting Falcon aircraft during deployment to Kunsan Air Base, Korea. The aircraft, from the 35th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, is equipped with auxiliary fuel tanks. Country: Pacific Ocean (POC)

AN air-to-air left side view of an F-15 Eagle aircraft from the 422nd Tactical Fighter Wing flying over the base range. Base: Nellis Air Force Base State: Nevada (NV) Country: United States Of America (USA)

040422-F-7823A-010. Country: Iraq (IRQ)

020501-F-7203T-017. Subject Operation/Series: NORTHERN EDGE 2002 Country: United States Of America (USA)

An air-to-air right side view of two 614th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-16A Fighting Falcon aircraft over Spain during a training mission. Country: Unknown

A pair of F-16C "Fighting Falcons" from the 35th and 80th Fighter Squadron, Kunsan Air Base return home after another exercise mission. Exact Date Shot Unknown. Subject Operation/Series: FOAL EAGLE '94 Country: Republic Of Korea (KOR)

020806-F-7709A-004. Base: Hill Air Force Base State: Utah (UT) Country: United States Of America (USA)

F-15E Eagle aircraft of the 4th Tactical Fighter Wing fly near a KC-135Q Stratotanker aircraft in preparation for refueling during Operation Desert Shield. The Stratotanker, assigned to the 1700th Air Refueling Squadron (Provisional), is conducting the mission over Saudi Arabia.. Subject Operation/Series: DESERT SHIELD Country: Unknown

An air-to-air left side view of an F-15C Strike Eagle aircraft from the 18th Fighter Wing, 44th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Kadena, Air Base, Japan. An Unidentified F-15 aircraft is in the background. Country: Unknown

020424-F-7203T-027. Country: United States Of America (USA)

F-16 Falcon Jet Fighters

An F-15B from the 199th Fighter Squadron, Hawaii Air National Guard, approaches the refueling tail-boom of a KC-135 from the 203rd Air Refueling Squadron, Hawaii Air National Guard, over the Pacific Ocean. Country: Pacific Ocean (POC)

An F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft assigned to the 4th Fighter Wing, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, flies over North Carolina, Florida, Jan. 4, 2023. The F-15E is a dual-role fighter capable of reaching targets over long ranges and destroying enemy ground positions.

DF-ST-87-07426. Subject Operation/Series: COPE THUNDER '86-1 Country: Philippines (PHL)

A U.S. Air Force F-16C Block 50 Fighting Falcon receives in-flight refueling.

An F-16 Fighting Falcon, assigned to the 179th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, conducts aerial operations with the Royal Bahrain air force over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, May 25, 2022. The U.S. and Bahrain work jointly to enhance interoperability in the interest of regional security.

An F-16C Fighting Falcon Block 52 aircraft from the 157th Fighter Squadron, 169th Fighter Wing, McEntire Air National Guard Station, South Carolina, in flight. The aircraft is armed with 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 F/A-18A Hornet aircraft from Strike Fighter Squadron 192 (VFA-192) assigned to the aircraft carrier USS MIDWAY (CV-41). Each aircraft is armed with an AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missile on its port wing tip. Country: Unknown

Capt. Brandon Lavalley (left) and Maj. Derrick Vincent, both pilots assigned to the 4th Fighter Squadron, fly toward the Nevada Test and Training Range on day three of Red Flag 12-2 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Coalition partners from South Korea and Saudi Arabia participated in the joint training exercise.

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

040122-F-7709A-017. Country: Gulf Of Mexico Scene Major Command Shown: ACC

An air-to-air right underside view of a 50th Tactical Fighter Wing, 10th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-16C Fighting Falcon aircraft assigned to Hahn Air Base, Germany. The aircraft is armed with Mark 84 2000-pound practice bombs and is en route to the Bardenas Reales Air-to-Ground Bombing Range in Northern Spain. The 10th Tactical Fighter Squadron is deployed to Zaragoza Air Base, Spain, for annual weapons training. Country: Unknown

030402-F-7709A-005. Country: Gulf Of Mexico Scene Major Command Shown: ACC

010811-F-7910D-015. Base: Buckley Air Force Base State: Colorado (CO) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: Air Combat Command

Two Fighter Squadron 32 (VF-32) F-14A Tomcat aircraft return to the aircraft carrier USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV 67) at the end of FLEET EX 90. Subject Operation/Series: FLEET EX 90 Country: Atlantic Ocean (AOC)

Four F-14 Tomcats from VF-2 flying above the Indian Ocean.

Three F-16 Fighting Falcon aircrafts from the 169th Fighter Wing, South Carolina Air National Guard, over the coast of South Carolina. Country: United States Of America (USA)

010921-F-2171A-002. Base: Klamath Falls State: Oregon (OR) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: AETC/ANG

DN-ST-89-08998. State: Nevada (NV) Country: United States Of America (USA)

F-15C and F-15E model fighters from the U.S. Air Force Fighter Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nevada fly in formation over the skies above the ranges north of Nellis after flying a training mission during the extensive course. Country: Unknown

F-14 Tomcat flying above the clouds.

An F-16 Fighting Falcon flies over the Nevada Test and Training Range during a routine training mission at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Sept. 1, 2022. 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.

020531-F-7709A-014. Base: Tyndall Air Force Base State: Florida (FL) Country: United States Of America (USA)

A right side view of a B-1 bomber aircraft being refueled by a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft over the base range during testing and evaluation. The KC-135 is assigned to the 141st Air Refueling Wing, Washington Air National Guard. Base: Edwards Air Force Base State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

980404-F-7910D-009. Subject Operation/Series: SOUTHERN WATCH 1998 Base: Prince Sultan Air Base Country: Saudi Arabia (SAU) Scene Major Command Shown: ACC

DF-ST-86-04056. Country: United Kingdom (GBR)

An F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft assigned to the 4th Fighter Wing, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, approaches a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing, MacDill AFB, Florida, Jan. 4, 2023. The F-15E is a dual-role fighter capable of reaching targets over long ranges and destroying enemy ground positions.

An F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 310th Fighter Squadron at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, prepares to take fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker, July 15, 2022. The KC-135 crew made 31 contacts and provided over 39,000 thousand pounds of fuel during their mission.

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 140th Fighter Wing out of Buckley Air Force Base, Colo., receives fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 161st Air Refueling Wing out of Phoenix, Ariz., Nov. 15, 2010, over Brazil. Both wings are participating CRUZEX V, or Cruzeiro Do Sul (Southern Cross). CRUZEX is a multi-national, combined exercise involving the Air Forces of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, France and Uruguay, and observers from numerous other countries with more than 82 aircraft and almost 3,000 Airmen involved.

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 77th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron refuels from a KC-10 Extender assigned to the 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron over an undisclosed location in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Nov. 3, 2022. With assistance from the KC-10, F-16s are able to remain in the aor for longer durations, maximizing their patrol time and ensuring regional stability.

030409-F-1631A-008. Subject Operation/Series: IRAQI FREEDOM Country: Bulgaria (BGR)

021107-F-7709A-001. State: Florida (FL) Country: United States Of America (USA)

US Navy Boeing F/A-18C above the blue Pacific Ocean and broken clouds during golden sunset light

011107-F-5795G-006. Subject Operation/Series: ENDURING FREEDOM Country: Afghanistan (AFG)

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft, assigned to the 79th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, carries out aerial operations in the U.S. Air Forces Central area of responsibility, Sep. 18, 2022. The 79th EFS delivers airpower and showcases U.S. commitment to deterrence and regional stability.

A U.S. Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcon assigned to the South Carolina Air National Guard lines up behind a KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the Kansas Air National Guard for in-fight refueling over the Atlantic Ocean during Sentry Savannah 22-1, May 3, 2022. Sentry Savannah is a joint, total force integrated exercise that showcases the nation's combat aircraft readiness, tests the capabilities of warfighters in a near-peer environment and trains the next generation of fighter pilots for tomorrows fight.

DF-ST-87-03753. Subject Operation/Series: GUNSMOKE '85 State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Under the direction of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), twoF-15s assigned to the Massachusetts Air National Guard fly in formation with 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 an

Colombian Air Force KFIRs and the U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons from the South Carolina Air National Guard, 157th Fighter Squadron fly in formation during Relampago VII, an exercise in Barranquilla, Colombia, Aug. 30, 2022. The purpose of this exercise is to provide the Colombian Air Force with requested realistic interoperability training as allied countries, under NATO standards. South Carolina is Colombias State Partner in the State Partnership Program.

021214-F-2341K-008. Base: Great Lakes State: Minnesota (MN) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Major Command Shown: ACC

U.S. Air Force F-16 aircraft assigned to the 179th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron conduct aerial training operations with Egyptian Air Force partners in support of exercise Agile Phoenix within the U.S. Air Forces Central area of responsibility June 29, 2022. Agile Phoenix is a joint agile combat employment exercise focused on enhancing interoperability and ensuring regional security.

A Fighter Squadron 84 (VF-84) F-14A Tomcat aircraft, foreground, and a Fighter Squadron 41 (VF-41) Tomcat, center, stand by as a second VF-84 Tomcat receives fuel from an Air Force KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft during Operation Provide Comfort, a multinational effort to aid Kurdish refugees in southern Turkey and northern Iraq.. Subject Operation/Series: PROVIDE COMFORT Country: Turkey(TUR)

AN F-4G Phantom II Wild Weasel aircraft banks to the right over a range. The F-4G carries one AGM-78 Standard anti-radiation missile on its left wing, an ALQ-119 electronic countermeasures pod on the left side of the fuselage and an auxiliary fuel tank on the centerline. The aircraft belongs to the 563rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, 35th Tactical Fighter Wing. Base: Nellis Air Force Base State: Nevada (NV) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Left side view of four F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft, armed with AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles, led by US Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Mike Cosby, 177th Fighter Wing Commander, New Jersey Air National Guard. Country: Unknown

July 25, 2007 - An F-15C Aggressor flies over a mountain range on a refueling mission at Red Flag-Alaska.

031229-F-9629J-021. Country: Iraq (IRQ) Scene Major Command Shown: AMC

A U.S. Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcon, from the New Jersey Air National Guard's 177th Fighter Wing, flies above the clouds after aerial refueling with another NJ ANG aircraft, a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 108th Wing, Jan. 23, 2022, enroute to Naval Air Station Key West, Fla. The NJ ANG fighter jets and tanker aircraft flew to the 156th Wing, Muñiz Air National Guard Base in Carolina, PR, for the NJ ANGs first Agile Combat Employment (ACE) training exercise. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Hunter Hires)

An F-16 from the 169th Fighter Wing in South Carolina approaches floats above the clouds after refueling from 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.

A top view of an F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft from the 428th Tactical Fighter Squadron, en route to Hawaii to participate in exercise Cope Elite. Subject Operation/Series: COPE ELITE Country: Pacific Ocean (POC)

020813-F-4177H-028. Subject Operation/Series: NORTHERN WATCH Country: Unknown

An air-to-air right side view of a 50th Tactical Fighter Wing, 10th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-16C Fighting Falcon aircraft assigned to Hahn Air Base, Germany. The aircraft is armed with Mark 84 2000-pound practice bombs and is en route to the Bardenas Reales Air-to-Ground Bombing Range in Northern Spain. The 10th Tactical Fighter Squadron is deployed to Zaragoza Air Base, Spain, for annual weapons training. Country: Unknown

030908-F-7709A-004. Country: Gulf Of Mexico Scene Major Command Shown: ACC

An air-to-air right front view of a Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 321 (VMFA-321) F/A-18A Hornet aircraft over the Bravo-19 target range. The reserve squadron is at Naval Air Station, Fallon, for two weeks of active duty training at the Naval Air Warfare Center target complex. State: Nevada (NV) Country: United States Of America (USA)

DF-ST-86-11830. Country: Spain (ESP)

U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles, assigned to the 335th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, fly alongside Saudi Arabian Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles during an agile combat employment exercise Agile Spartan within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Sep. 5, 2022. Joint training enhances international partnership and interoperability in the interest of regional security.

DF-ST-88-05145. Base: English Channel

A left side view of an Attack Squadron 65 (VA-65) A-6E Intruder aircraft in flight. The aircraft is based aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN-72) during the ship's shakedown cruise. Country: Atlantic Ocean (AOC)

DF-ST-85-13253. Country: Unknown

A U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II aircraft assigned to the 421st Fighter Squadron, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, receives fuel from a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft assigned to the 506th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, over the Pacific Ocean, while conducting Agile Combat Employment (ACE) rehearsals, June 30, 2022. ACE shifts operations from centralized physical infrastructures to a network of smaller, dispersed locations that can complicate adversary planning and provide more options for joint force commanders.

Chilean Air Force F-16 in the air over Brazil.

February 10, 2009 - A B-52 Stratofortress leads a formation of Japanese Air Self Defense Force F-2s, United States Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons, and Navy EA-6B Prowlers over Guam during Cope North 09-1 at Andersen Air Force Base.

010830-F-6184M-009. State: Tennessee (TN) Country: United States Of America (USA)

040506-F-7823A-004. Country: Iraq (IRQ)

030417-F-6809H-004. Country: Unknown Scene Major Command Shown: 398th AEG

Two F-16 Block 52 aircraft's from the 157th Fighter Squadron, 169th Fighter Wing, McEntire Air National Guard Station, South Carolina, inverted 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

A Canadian Air Force CF-18 Hornet aircraft approaches for a landing during Cope Thunder North, an exercise that tests aircrews' skills in strike, support, air defense and combat rescue roles. Units from the Canadian Forces, the U.S. Marine Corps, Alaska Air National Guard, Strategic Air Command and other Pacific Air Forces units are participating in the exercise.. Subject Operation/Series: COPE THUNDER NORTH Base: Elmendorf Air Force Base State: Alaska(AK) Country: United States Of America(USA)

Two U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle, assigned to the 355th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, prepare to return to aerial operations after a successful refuel with a KC-135 Stratotanker, assigned to the 50th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, in the U.S. Air Forces Central area of responsibility, May 5, 2022. The 355th EFS, deployed with Ninth Air Force, delivers airpower and showcases U.S. commitment to deterrence and stability in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.

AN air-to-air left side view of two F-15 Eagle aircraft returning from a training mission. AN AIM-9L Sidewinder is mounted on the left wing of each aircraft. The aircraft are assigned to the 433rd Fighter Weapons Squadron. Base: Nellis Air Force Base State: Nevada (NV) Country: United States Of America (USA)

961015-F-9448S-004. Base: Mcentire Ang Station State: South Carolina (SC) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Close-up shot of an F-16C Fighting Falcon Block 52 aircraft from the 157th Fighter Squadron, 169th Fighter Wing, McEntire Air National Guard Station, South Carolina, in flight. The aircraft is armed with AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles. Country: Unknown

020813-F-4177H-015. Subject Operation/Series: NORTHERN WATCH Base: Incirlik Air Base, Adana Country: Turkey (TUR)

A U.S. Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcon with the 177th Fighter Wing flies behind a 108th Wing KC-135R Stratotanker during a refueling mission over the Atlantic Ocean on April 21, 2022. The 108th Wing's principal mission is air refueling for Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps aircraft as well as aircraft of allied nations.

A right side view of four F/A-18A Hornet aircraft from Strike Fighter Squadron 137 (VFA-137) as they pass over the clouds during a training flight out of Naval Air Station, Cecil Field, Florida. VFA-137 and the other squadrons of Carrier Air Wing 6 (CVW-6) are to depart at the end of May on a Mediterranean deployment aboard the aircraft carrier USS FORRESTAL (CV-59). Country: Unknown

021107-F-7709A-002. State: Florida (FL) Country: United States Of America (USA)

U.S. Navy F-18s fly next to B-52H Stratofortresses over the Pacific Ocean, Feb. 24, 2024. Joint operations, such as these, provide the opportunity to improve shared tactics to better integrate joint defense capabilities. Air Force

F/A-18C HornetUS Navy

DF-ST-88-02982. Country: England / Great Britain (ENG)

A USAF F-16 Falcon aircraft connects to the refueling probe of a KC-10 Extender aircraft from McGuire AFB, New Jersey during refueling operations, part of Exercise HORNETS NEST. Subject Operation/Series: HORNETS NEST Base: Mcguire Air Force Base State: New Jersey (NJ) Country: United States Of America (USA)

040820-F-6911G-001. Base: Nellis Air Force Base State: Nevada (NV) Country: United States Of America (USA)

F/A-18C Hornets US Navy

An air-to-air right rear view of a six-ship delta formation of F-16A Fighting Falcon aircraft in flight. The aircraft are from the 35th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, being deployed to Kunsan Air Base, Korea. Country: Pacific Ocean (POC)

A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle, assigned to the 355th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, conducts aerial refueling operations with a KC-135 Stratotanker, assigned to the 50th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, in the U.S. Air Forces Central area of responsibility, May 5, 2022. The 355th EFS, deployed with Ninth Air Force, delivers airpower and showcases U.S. commitment to deterrence and stability in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.

An Attack Squadron 72 (VA-72) A-7E Corsair aircraft passes over the Saudi desert during low-level training. VA-72 is deployed aboard the aircraft carrier USS JOHN F. KENNEDY (CV-67), which is on station in the Red Sea in support of Operation Desert Shield. Subject Operation/Series: DESERT SHIELD Country: Saudi Arabia (SAU)

KWANGJU AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- An 80th Fighter Squadron F-16 Fighting Falcon flies Oct. 21, 2010, in support of exercise Max Thunder 10-02. More than 170 Wolf Pack Airmen from 8th Fighter Wing units participated in the fourth annual exercise at Kwangju Air Base Oct. 15-22.

December 17, 2010 - A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft releases flares during a local training mission over North Carolina.

As F-16A Fighting Falcon aircraft of the 169th Tactical Fighter Group, South Carolina Air National Guard, receives fuel from a KC-10 Extender aircraft during a training flight. Country: Unknown

18th Wing Commander, Brigadier General Gary North, flying a F-15D Eagle, receives fuel from a KC-135R Stratotanker piloted by Major James Seaward, Lieutenant David Eisenbrey, (copilot), CHIEF MASTER Sergeant Gregory Durand, (boom operator), Technical Sergeant David Steiner, (boom operator), and Colonel William Kunzweiller, (18th Operations Group Deputy Commander), while his wingman Captain Michael Casey, (F-15C), from the 44th Fighter Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan, and two F-16 Fighting Falcons piloted by Major Nathan Hill and Lieutenant Chris Heber, 36th Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter Wing, Osan Air Base, South Korea, wait for their turn during a training mission over the Pacific .... Complete Scene Caption: 18th Wing Commander, Brigadier General Gary North, flying a F-15D Eagle, receives fuel from a KC-135R Stratotanker piloted by Major James Seaward, Lieutenant David Eisenbrey, (copilot), Chief Master Sergeant Gregory Durand, (boom operator), Technical Sergeant David Steiner, (

Two F-16C Fighting Falcons assigned to 64th Aggressor Squadron fly back into the training area during a Red Flag-Nellis 22-1 mission Jan. 28, 2022 over the Nevada Test and Training Range. The 64th AGRS played as the Red Force against Blue Forces in training that prioritizes first timers’ combat missions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Alexandre Montes)

of 3