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I really like the paint schemes on the Russian Knights aircrfat. It is amazing that those old Tomcats are still flying! The US navy retired their F-14s in 2006. All of the USN Tomcats have been scrapped.
Photos Multi-national Aircraft Exercises
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Iran had gone through alot for their F-14s - They tried everything to keep them combat operational,even integrating Hawk SAMs to be used as AAMs ( and it surprisingly performed very well during the Iran-Iraq war ).
Through a combination of engineering ingenuity and audacious espionage, Iran kept its F-14s in working order — and even improved them. The swing-wing fighters took to the air in several conflicts and performed extremely well against its foes.
Today Iran’s 50 or so surviving F-14s remain some of the best fighters in the Middle East.
Heres an interesting article covering Iran's Tomcats - https://warisboring.com/grounding-the-ayatollah-s-tomcats-d02551f1104e#.uhbmiu51q
USA retired the F-14 prematurely in favour of the F/A-18.It could have been around for longer.After all,its a very versatile aircraft and one of the best interceptors ever made.Its sophiscated radar and long range AIM-54 Phoenix have only but one match - MiG-31 with its R-33 missiles.
Kira.
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Years ago I posted this on why the Tomcat was retired. By the way I actually worked on survival gear associated with the Tomcat...seat pans(life rafts) oxygen regulators and parachutes.
07 October 2012;
Download HiRes
Pula, Croatia (Oct. 28, 2002) -- An F-14B "Tomcat" assigned to the "Jolly Rogers" of Fighter Squadron One Zero Three (VF-103) flies in formation with a pair of MiG-21’s assigned to the Croat Air Force. VF-103 is part of a detachment from Carrier Air Wing Seventeen (CVW-17) embarked aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73) participating with the Croat Air Force in Joint Wings 2002. Joint Wings is a multinational exercise between the U.S. and the Croat Air Force designed to practice intelligence gathering. George Washington is homeported in Norfolk, Va., and is nearing the end of a scheduled six month deployment after completing combat missions in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Southern Watch. U.S. Navy photo by Capt. Dana Potts. (RELEASED)
Honestly the Tomcat without the E-2 Hawkeye to help it conduct operations is somewhat limited in it's full ablity.
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@bdpopeye
Even if both F-35 and F/A-18 are more modern and superior in terms of technology,presicion and electronic warfare capabilities,but unfortunately,both of them aren't exactly that lethal for A2A engagements as the F-14.Both have low armament,range,maneuvetability - its A2A performance can't exactly match with the likes of J-15 or Su-33,while the F-14 would send chills down the spines of enemy pilots.
Since the F-15 or F-22 aren't exactly carrier-borne,the current naval carrier based birds would not give the aerial enemies that type of force to be reckoned.The USN needs a sophiscated air superiority carrier borne jet.
Kira.
Even if both F-35 and F/A-18 are more modern and superior in terms of technology,presicion and electronic warfare capabilities,but unfortunately,both of them aren't exactly that lethal for A2A engagements as the F-14.Both have low armament,range,maneuvetability - its A2A performance can't exactly match with the likes of J-15 or Su-33,while the F-14 would send chills down the spines of enemy pilots.
Since the F-15 or F-22 aren't exactly carrier-borne,the current naval carrier based birds would not give the aerial enemies that type of force to be reckoned.The USN needs a sophiscated air superiority carrier borne jet.
Kira.
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Phoenix you are greatly versed in military aircraft!...well now... because of standoff weapons the chances of air to air combat are greatly diminished. The Hornet when operating with E-2 Hawkeyes and E/F-18G Growlers is a very capable aircraft. Very capable.
As of this date the USN has no plans for an true air-superiority fighter.
In 2018 or'19 the F-35C Lightning II will start to be added to carrier air wings. Later this year the F-35B will be deployed aboard USS Wasp when she shifts homeports from Norfolk VA to Sasebo Japan.
As of this date the USN has no plans for an true air-superiority fighter.
In 2018 or'19 the F-35C Lightning II will start to be added to carrier air wings. Later this year the F-35B will be deployed aboard USS Wasp when she shifts homeports from Norfolk VA to Sasebo Japan.
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Can you explain how?
Ever since the 1960s,the US focused on designing its aircrafts for long range BVR combat.Compared to Soviet influenced designs,the US aircrafts have much more superior avoinics,sensors,missiles and defensive countermeasures giving a huge edge in long range combat,while Soviet designs focus on dog-fighting and short range combat - excelling in maneuverability,G-limits,speed,control and main cannon ( Russian standard is 30mm compared to the US 20mm ).
Following that doctrine,the USN is doing ok with the hornets but as other countries are developing stealth aircrafts,it would be quite easy for an enemy to sneak up to the hornet and force it to close quarters combat,something its not made for.And lets not talk about the F-35 at all...
Don't you think the US should change its aerial combat doctrine a bit?
Instead of spending trillions on F-35,which can be easily taken down by a MiG-21 in WVR
combat,the US should be focusing more on masterpieces like the Raptor.
Kira.
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The war fighting zone the US expects will be multi-layered with US defenses. A2A combat is not ruled out. However in my opinion armed with ASRAAM missiles with a speed of mach 3 and a range of 50 KM or sparrow missiles with a range of 32 to 50 KM this coupled with the ECM emitted from an E/A-18G Growler and guidance from an E-2 Hawkeye opposing aircraft need not be in sight to be attacked.
I don't know. But I do know that because the USN has E-2 Hawkeyes it would be very difficult for any aircrfat to sneak up on a Hornet. Very difficult. And no one knows what an F-35 can really do in combat.
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OUTSTANDING JOB by the Royal Air Force!!
Not an excersise but an intercept!
RAF Typhoons were yesterday (Tuesday 17 June 2014) scrambled to intercept multiple Russian aircraft as part of NATO’s ongoing mission to police Baltic airspace. The Typhoon aircraft, from 3 (Fighter) Squadron, were launched after four separate groups of aircraft were detected by NATO air defences in international airspace near to the Baltic States.
Once airborne, the British jets identified the aircraft as a Russian Tupolev Tu22 ‘Backfire’ bomber, four Sukhoi Su27 ‘Flanker’ fighters, one Beriev A50 ‘Mainstay’ early warning aircraft and an Antonov An26 ‘Curl’ transport aircraft who appeared to be carrying out a variety of routine training. The Russian aircraft were monitored by the RAF Typhoons and escorted on their way.
A Russian SU-27 Flanker (top) with a RAF Typhoon fighter
Image of two Russian SU-27 Flanker aircraft, seen with a RAF Typhoon fighter (distant)
Image of a Russian SU-27 Flanker aircraft
Image of a Russian Tu22 Backfire bomber aircraft during the intercept
Image of a Russian Beriev A50 ‘Mainstay’ early warning aircraft during the intercept
Image of a Russian Beriev A50 ‘Mainstay’ early warning aircraft during the intercept
Image of an Antonov An26 ‘Curl’ transport aircraft, taken from RAF Typhoon aircraft during the intercept
Image of a Antonov An26 ‘Curl’ transport aircraft during the intercept with a RAF Typhoon aircraft seen below
Not an excersise but an intercept!
RAF Typhoons were yesterday (Tuesday 17 June 2014) scrambled to intercept multiple Russian aircraft as part of NATO’s ongoing mission to police Baltic airspace. The Typhoon aircraft, from 3 (Fighter) Squadron, were launched after four separate groups of aircraft were detected by NATO air defences in international airspace near to the Baltic States.
Once airborne, the British jets identified the aircraft as a Russian Tupolev Tu22 ‘Backfire’ bomber, four Sukhoi Su27 ‘Flanker’ fighters, one Beriev A50 ‘Mainstay’ early warning aircraft and an Antonov An26 ‘Curl’ transport aircraft who appeared to be carrying out a variety of routine training. The Russian aircraft were monitored by the RAF Typhoons and escorted on their way.
A Russian SU-27 Flanker (top) with a RAF Typhoon fighter
Image of two Russian SU-27 Flanker aircraft, seen with a RAF Typhoon fighter (distant)
Image of a Russian SU-27 Flanker aircraft
Image of a Russian Tu22 Backfire bomber aircraft during the intercept
Image of a Russian Beriev A50 ‘Mainstay’ early warning aircraft during the intercept
Image of a Russian Beriev A50 ‘Mainstay’ early warning aircraft during the intercept
Image of an Antonov An26 ‘Curl’ transport aircraft, taken from RAF Typhoon aircraft during the intercept
Image of a Antonov An26 ‘Curl’ transport aircraft during the intercept with a RAF Typhoon aircraft seen below
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52nd Paris Air Show...
French President Emmanuel Macron exits the cockpit of a Rafale jet fighter helped by Dassault Aviation CEO Eric Trappier (R) during his visit at the 52nd Paris Air Show in Le Bourget, north of Paris, France, June 19, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]
A Dassault Rafale fighter participates in a flying display two days before the opening of the 52nd Paris Air Show at Le Bourget airport near Paris, France June 17, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]
A F-35 Lightning II fighter participates in a flying display two days before the opening of the 52nd Paris Air Show at Le Bourget airport near Paris, France June 17, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]
An Embraer KC-390, a medium-size, twin-engine jet-powered military transport aircraft, is seen parked before a flying display, on the eve of the 52nd Paris Air Show at Le Bourget Airport near Paris, France June 18, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]
A Dassault Rafale fighter aircraft takes part in a flying display on the first day of the 52nd Paris Air Show at Le Bourget airport near Paris, France, June 19, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]
French President Emmanuel Macron exits the cockpit of a Rafale jet fighter helped by Dassault Aviation CEO Eric Trappier (R) during his visit at the 52nd Paris Air Show in Le Bourget, north of Paris, France, June 19, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]
A Dassault Rafale fighter participates in a flying display two days before the opening of the 52nd Paris Air Show at Le Bourget airport near Paris, France June 17, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]
A F-35 Lightning II fighter participates in a flying display two days before the opening of the 52nd Paris Air Show at Le Bourget airport near Paris, France June 17, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]
An Embraer KC-390, a medium-size, twin-engine jet-powered military transport aircraft, is seen parked before a flying display, on the eve of the 52nd Paris Air Show at Le Bourget Airport near Paris, France June 18, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]
A Dassault Rafale fighter aircraft takes part in a flying display on the first day of the 52nd Paris Air Show at Le Bourget airport near Paris, France, June 19, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]
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Borrowed your photo of a UAV AW Hero for our 'Drone Zone' media category 
https://www.militaryimages.net/media/categories/the-drone-zone.61/
https://www.militaryimages.net/media/categories/the-drone-zone.61/
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The US hardly ever played any war on the defensive.
Just as the US is multi-layered with AD,its enemies would be the same as well. While attacking the enemy on their territory,the enemy SAMs pose a serious threat to the USAF. And more importantly,the E-2 and E/A-18G you have been talking about might not always be present to aid in combat.
I have doubts about the F-35.Its a jack of all trades but master of none - it can perform almost all roles needed in mordern aerial warfare but doesn't prove any potential to excel the current stealth aircrafts ( Su-57,J-20,F-22 ) especially in air-to-air combat,where its low maneuverability would dearly cost it.
Kira.
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Juniper Falcon is a joint IAF-USAF exercise that takes place every year at the Uvda Air Base. In the exercise, the IAF’s “Hammers” and the “Knights of the Twin Tail” Squadrons teamed up with US Air Force pilots to form the “blue team,” with the goal of taking down the IDF’s “Flying Dragon” Squadron, or the “red team.” It’s the Flying Dragon Squadron’s job to think like the enemy, fly like the enemy, and attack and defend like the enemy.
Photos IDF Spokesperson's Unit.
Juniper Falcon 2017 by Israel Defense Forces, on Flickr
Juniper Falcon 2017 by Israel Defense Forces, on Flickr
Juniper Falcon 2017 by Israel Defense Forces, on Flickr
Juniper Falcon 2017 by Israel Defense Forces, on Flickr
Juniper Falcon 2017 by Israel Defense Forces, on Flickr
Juniper Falcon 2017 by Israel Defense Forces, on Flickr
Juniper Falcon 2017 by Israel Defense Forces, on Flickr
Photos IDF Spokesperson's Unit.
Juniper Falcon 2017 by Israel Defense Forces, on FlickrJuniper Falcon 2017 by Israel Defense Forces, on FlickrJuniper Falcon 2017 by Israel Defense Forces, on FlickrJuniper Falcon 2017 by Israel Defense Forces, on FlickrJuniper Falcon 2017 by Israel Defense Forces, on FlickrJuniper Falcon 2017 by Israel Defense Forces, on FlickrJuniper Falcon 2017 by Israel Defense Forces, on Flickr
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