military Articles - Page 2 of 3

RAF quick reaction alert Typhoon aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth scrambled to monitor two Russian Blackjacks while they were in the UK area of interest. (Image: Crown Copyright 2020)

Russians probe UK air defences for 3rd time in 6 days

12/03/2020 Written by: Nick Harding
2 minute read

The Royal Air Force (RAF) has launched Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) to intercept Russian military aircraft for 3rd time in six days. The previous two encounters this week all involved Russian Tu-142 Bear Aircraft but today’s encounter was a pair of Tu-160 Blackjacks. The Tu-160 Blackjack is Russias long-range supersonic [read more]

Image shows the first RAF P-8A Poseidon taxiing at NAS Jacksonville after being delivered to the RAF as the first P-8A Poseidon. © Crown copyright 2019

UK takes delivery of first RAF Poseidon MRA1

31/10/2019 Written by: Nick Harding
2 minute read

The UK’s Ministry of Defence has taken delivery of the first Royal Air Force’s (RAF) Boeing P-8 Poseidon MRA1 submarine hunter. ZP801 is the first of nine state-of-the-art maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft which will help the UK track hostile maritime objects as well as supporting the UK’s continuous at-sea [read more]

A Boeing B-52H lands at RAF Fairford (Image: TransportMedia UK.)

US Bombers bound for RAF Fairford

10/10/2019 Written by: Nick Harding
2 minute read

Another flight of the US Air Force’s B52 Heavy Bombers is currently en route to RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire according to Global Strike Command. The first aircraft from the Bomber Taskforce mission will arrive from Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana later this evening and are understood to be B52-H’s [read more]

A United States Air Force B2 Spirit, currently deployed to RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, flies above the English countryside near Dover with two RAF F-35 jets. For the first time, UK F-35 Lightning jets have been conducting integration flying training with the B-2 Spirit stealth bombers of the United States Air Force as part of their deployment to RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, UK. The USAF deployment of the B-2’s from the Bomber Task Force Europe is long-planned. Whilst deployed to the UK the aircraft will conduct a series of training activities in Europe. During this deployment, RAF F-35B Lightning fighters are conducting sorties with the USAF B-2 bombers. Both are 5th generation aircraft and this is the first time that USAF B-2’s have trained with non-US F-35’s. RAF Fairford routinely hosts deployments and exercises by US strategic aircraft. These regular deployments reinforce the US Air Force Europe and the Royal Air Force’s unique and complementary partnership and our collective contribution to NATO. Imagery captured by a USAF Exchange Pilot.

RAF F35’s train with USAF B2 Stealth Bombers

31/08/2019 Written by: Nick Harding
3 minute read

The Royal Air Force’s latest aircraft the F-35B Lightning is being put through its paces alongside the B2-A Spirit Stealth Bomber in the skies around Britain. The United States Air Force (USAF) has deployed 3 B2 Stealth Bombers to RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire which in itself is a rare event [read more]

The B2 Stealth Bombers are back in Gloucestershire

29/08/2019 Written by: Nick Harding
2 minute read

If you have seen strange shapes in the skies over Gloucestershire this week then you could be forgiven for thinking a UFO is to blame but the chances are it is the US Air Forces most secret aircraft, the B2 Stealth Bomber. A flight of 3 Northrop Grumman B2 Stealth [read more]

First RAF P-8A Poseidon takes flight

16/07/2019 Written by: Nick Harding
< 1 minute read

The first Boeing P-8A Poseidon for the Royal Air Force has taken its first flight from Renton, Washington. The maritime poatrol aircraft, designated ZP801, took off and underwent a 90-minute test flight from the Boeing factory at Renton during which the aircraft underwent key testing. The aircraft has now moved [read more]

First ever look inside B2 Stealth Bomber in-flight

29/04/2019 Written by: UK Aviation News
< 1 minute read

For the first time ever we can get a glimpse into the secretive world of the B2 Stealth Bomber thanks to the US based film producer and radio personality Jeff Bolton. During 2018 Jeff became the first civilian to fly and film on-board the iconic stealth bomber and the video [read more]

A Boeing E7 Wedgetail in use with the RAAF (Image: TransportMedia UK)

MOD close to signing $2.6bn deal for E7 Wedgetail AEW’s

28/08/2018 Written by: Lisa Parkes
2 minute read

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is close to signing a deal worth $2.6bn for six Boeing E7 Wedgetail aircraft according to sources within Whitehall. The Airborne Early Warning & Command aircraft will join the Royal Air Force as a direct replacement for the ageing Boeing E3 Sentry fleet based at [read more]

Airbus considering military version of A320neo

18/08/2018 Written by: Nick Harding
< 1 minute read

Airbus is considering making a military version of the Airbus A320neo commercial airliner. The A320M3A (Modular Multi-Mission Aircraft), as it would be designated, would be offered to air forces looking for a multi-mission aircraft for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) roles. The aircraft would be capable being outfitted with modular roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) payloads [read more]

P8-A Poseidon (Image: The Aviation Media Co.)

US approves funds to acquire property in UK for sub hunters

15/08/2018 Written by: Nick Harding
< 1 minute read

The US Department of Defense has approved funding to acquire property and develop military construction projects at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland. The United States National Defense Authorization Act 2019, which was signed into law on Monday, allocates over $79,000,000 for US Navy projects in the UK following the decision last year [read more]