A Russian Air Force Su-27 Flanker loaded with three types of air-to-air missiles; two R-73s (outer pylons), two infrared-guided R-27Ts (inner pylons), and two semi-active radar-guided R-27Rs in tandem between the engines.
Two PL-15 air-to-air missiles loaded on a Chinese Shenyang J-16 strike fighter. The PL-15 reportedly features an active/passive dual mode AESA seeker, two-way datalink, dual pulse rocket motor, stabilizing fins and tail control fins with a range of up to 200km (108 nautical miles). A graphic found on a Chinese internet site provides approximate dimensions for the PL-15 missile with an overall length of 5.78m (18ft 11in), a fuselage length of 3.95m (12ft 11in) and a diameter of 305mm (12 inches).
A Russian Air Force Su-35S Flanker-E loaded with two types of air-to-air missile; R-73s (outer pylons) and R-77 (inner pylons). The short-range R-73M version features an infrared seeker with +/-60 degree off boresight capability, slaving to a helmet-mounted sight/display system, with thrust-vector control, movable forward canards, control wings fitted on the missile's tail, and a solid rocket motor.
A Triple Nickel pilot works through preflight cockpit checks.
An F-16C assigned to the 31st Fighter Wing prior to receiving fuel over tne Mediterranean Sea from a KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 100th Air Refueling Wing from RAF Mildenhall, England.
Two Triple Nickel jets receive last chance checks on the end of runway ramp.
F-16C 90-0773/AV from the 555th Fighter Squadron in formation with a KC-135 Stratotanker before aerial refuelling during a flight from Souda Bay, Crete.
The F-16's big stick is the beyond visual range AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missile. This shot shows a CATM-120 captive training round.
A recent weapon released to service on the F-16C is the 250lb class GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bomb. Four training rounds are shown on the four-place carriage system.
Ammo troops load a 2,000lb training round onto station 7.
F-16C 88-0425/AV assigned to the 555th Fighter Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada during Exercise Green Flag 16-08.
F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 31st Fighter Wing taxi at Bodo Main Air Station, Norway, during Exercise Cold Response 2016. The exercise tests NATO's ability to defend against any threat in any environment.
An F-16C assigned to the 31st Fighter Wing prior to receiving fuel over tne Mediterranean Sea from a KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 100th Air Refueling Wing from RAF Mildenhall, England.
The entire coastal area of the Adriatic Sea is now covered by NATO. Cliffs near the port of Bar make a scenic backdrop to two Gazelles.
Two Gazelles overhead Ostrvo Gospa od Milosrda island in the Bay of Tivat, near the coastal town of Kotor.
The Gazelle is a light, agile helicopter that is very suitable for reconnaissance, but is unsuitable for fire-fighting, medical evacuation, SAR and troop transport duties.
A Montenegrin HN-45M Gama follows a HO-42 over the rugged Balkan landscape.
Истребитель «Грипен», вооруженный ракетой «Метеор»
An MBDA Meteor missile carried on the left outer wing pylon of a JAS 39 Gripen. The Meteor features an active RF seeker, a datalink for inertial mid-course guidance, enhanced proportional navigation for autonomous terminal guidance, solid fuel variable flow ducted ramjet, and control wings fitted on the missile’s tail. Meteor has an overall length of 3.7m (12ft lin), a diameter of 178mm (7 inches), and a weight of 190kg (418lb).
F-22 Raptor 03-4058/FF assigned to the 1st Fighter Wing based at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia live fires an AIM-120 AMRAAM.
Rafale C 103/30-EF had tail artwork applied back in November 2017 for an event at BA705 Tours to commemorate the Armee de l'Air's aces.
Transporting live weapons is a delicate operation, which is typically carried out by three to four personnel.
Loading a 500lb GBU-12 Paveway II laser-guided bomb onto the Rafale. The yellow line indicates the weapon is live where as the weapon on the left is marked with a blue line indicating it’s an inert practice weapon. Noting the weapon on the left, this photo clearly shows the GBU-12 kit fitted on a standard Mk82 bomb.
Several missions were cancelled due to bad weather because of target obscurity over the firing range.
Armourers from ESTA15/30 load a GBU-12 onto a Rafale.
Armourer and pilot check the smoke cartridge of a LGTR. The cartridge detonates on impact to visually indicate the impact point.
A Rafale from EC 3/30 takes off from BA120 Cazaux with LGTRs loaded on each under wing pylon.
A People’s Liberation Army Air Force J-10C loaded with two types of air-to-air missiles; short-range PL-10s on the outer wing pylons and long-range PL-15s on the inner pylons. The PL-10 reportedly features an infrared seeker with +/-90 degree off boresight capability, slaving to a helmet-mounted sight/display system, thrustvector control with control wings fitted on the missile's tail, strakes fitted at the mid-fuselage position, and a solid rocket motor.
F/A-18F BuNo 165911/NA400 launches from one of the two bow catapults on USS Theodore Roosevelt. Dubbed a cat, a catapult launch is one high-energy, high-force flight operation endured by carrier borne aircraft. The aircraft shown is operated by Strike Fighter Squadron 94 (VFA-94) 'Mighty Shrikes' based at Naval Air Stations Lemoore, California.
F/A-18F Super Hornet BuNo 165672/205 (c/n F11), the first F-model SLM learning aircraft, inside Boeing’s facility at St Louis after being de-spliced in late March 2018. This aircraft has amassed 5,305 flight hours.
PL-15 test articles loaded in the weapons bay of a J-20 fighter during weapon integration tests flown at Chengdu Aircraft Research and Design Institute's airfield.
A 60° Stormo glider starts its take-off run towed by a U-208A. Since February 1, 2016, the wing has used a winch launch system, as well as glider tugs, to launch its gliders.
A Grob G103A (G-103A under the Italian military's designation system) Twin Astir taken on a taxiway at Guidonia's 'Alfredo Barbieri' military airport. Note the wing badge on the tail and the code 60-06 on the nose.
Students of a high school in Novara at Cameri Air Base during a Corso di Cultura Aeronautica, one of the wing's main activities.
A Grob Twin Astir some years ago wearing the old CW code.
The tandem two-seater cockpit of a Grob G103A Twin Astir, the training glider operated by the GW since 1984.
An F/A-18E Super Hornet assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 113 (VFA-113) 'Stingers', launches from the flight deck of USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) in the Arabian Gulf. Saltwater, rainwater and steam shroud the jet, conditions that exist every day while based at sea.
An F/A-18E Super Hornet assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 31 (VFA-31) 'Tomcatters' performs a bolter on the flight deck of USS Gerald R Ford (CVN 78). Dubbed bolter, the term means a touch and go, another high-energy, high-force and routine flight operation.
The first F/A-18E Super Hornet BuNo 166435/201 (c/n E80), the first E-model SLM learning aircraft, in Boeing's St Louis modification facility. This aircraft has amassed 5,599 flight hours.
F/A-18E Super Hornet BuNo 166598/AG112 takes the wire on the flight deck of the USS Dwight D Eisenhower (CVN 69). Dubbed a trap, catching the wire is one of the high-energy, high-force flight operations endured by carrier borne aircraft. The aircraft shown is operated by Strike Fighter Squadron 143 (VFA-143) 'Pukin' Dogs' based at Naval Station Oceana, Virginia.
A 60° Stormo glider starts its take-off run towed by a U-208A. Since February 1, 2016, the wing has used a winch launch system, as well as glider tugs, to launch its gliders.
A GW U-208A in flight. The main external differences from the civil model S.208 are the lack of tip tanks and the presence of cockpit doors on both sides.
A GW U-208A in flight. The main external differences from the civil model S.208 are the lack of tip tanks and the presence of cockpit doors on both sides.
F-35B BF-03 fires the last flight sciences weapon separation test of an MBDA ASRAAM missile during a flight from Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland on May 17, 2017.
The test pilot of F-35B Lightning II BuNo 168313/17, assigned to the 461st Flight Test Squadron based at Edwards Air Force Base, fires an AIM-120 AMRAAM missile above the Point Mugu Sea Test Range, California as part of a weapons delivery accuracy test. During a 31-day calendar period, the Edwards-based F-35 Integrated Test Force accomplished 30 weapon releases (missile live fires and weapon separations) using aircraft configured with Block 3F software.
F-35C CF-02 live fires an AIM-9X Sidewinder while in inverted flight during a flight from Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland on June 8, 2017.
Tooled-up: a Rafale M fighter loaded with three types of air-to-air missiles, MICA-EM (wing tip rails), MICA-IR (outer pylons) and Meteor (inner pylons).
A MICA air-to-air missile loaded on an underwing pylon of a Rafale M fighter. The MICA features an active RF monopulse doppler seeker and a passive imaging IR seeker, a datalink, solid rocket propellant, thrust-vector control with control wings fitted on the missile's tail and strakes fitted at the mid-fuselage position. MICA has an overall length of 3.1m (10ft 2in), a diameter of 160mm (6 inches), and a weight of 112kg (246lb).
