UNIT REVIEW: JACK OF ALL TRADES MASTERS OF EVERYTHING!
One-size-fits-all
solutions are rare, but the KC-130J Hercules II comes close, especially
in the hands of the US Marine Corps’ VMGR-252 ‘Otis’. Jamie Hunter and
Jamie Deboer visited MCAS Cherry Point to see the unit at work
PROJECT LIBERTY
Although
at first glance the MC-12W appears an unassuming aircraft, looks can be
deceptive. While the last deployed US Air Force unit de-activated in
October, this intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platform
looks set to remain one of the most highly regarded and sought-after
assets to patrol the skies, as Dr Séan Wilson reports
BROTHERS IN ARMS
South
Carolina is the epicenter of the US Marine Corps’ F-35 training
community. Working hand in hand with the Marine Corps, the UK is also
bedding-in its F-35 force at MCAS Beaufort, the new home of the British
F-35 connection. Jamie Hunter went to find out more
FAR EAST FOXHOUNDS
Since
the era of the Cold War, Russian armed forces stationed in the
Kamchatka Peninsula have had an important role protecting the country’s
eastern borders. Babak Taghvaee reviews the work of the MiG-31 in this
desolate location Lightning strike — two F-35Bs from VMFAT-501
‘Warlords’ break for the camera of Combat Aircraft editor Jamie Hunter
during a photo shoot for this issue.
SPECIAL REPORT: F-35C GOES TO THE BOAT
The
US Navy and Lockheed Martin have for the first time deployed the F-35C
aboard an aircraft carrier. Lockheed Martin/ Andy Wolfe
EXERCISE REPORT: RAMSTEIN GUARD
Krasimir Grozev and Alexander Mladenov attend ‘Ramstein Guard’, an exercise to train air defense operators
INDUSTRY REPORT: LATIN AMERICAN FIGHTERS
Santiago
Rivas reviews the combat aviation fleets of Latin America and reveals
how some have undergone a process of modernization, while other air arms
still struggle to replace obsolete aircraft
EXERCISE REPORT: EAATTC 2014
Alexander Klingelhöller joins tactical transport flying training at Zaragoza
FIGHTER FOCUS: 21ST¬CENTURY FROGFOOT
The Su-25 continues to be the mainstay attack aircraft of the Russian Air Force, as Alexander Mladenov outlines
SAAF AT A CROSSROADS
Dr
Andreas Zeitler reports from Africa Aerospace and Defence 2014 (AAD),
where the current strength of the South African Air Force was on show
EXERCISE REPORT: DESERT DUELS WTI
Ted
Carlson joins the Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course at MCAS
Yuma, where the US Marine Corps is pushed to the limits in the
sweltering Arizona desert. Additional material by Jamie Deboer
CUTTING EDGE
Combat Aircraft’s monthly column reporting from the front line of aerospace technology, by David Axe
HEADLINE NEWS
F-35C completes first carrier trials and latest news from Iraq and Syria air operations
US NEWS
F-35 latest news includes latest production batch order, Marine Corps aviation plan unveiled, and will the A-10 be saved?
WORLD NEWS
First images from China’s Zhuhai air show, KJ-500 prototype breaks cover and Korea cancels F-16 upgrade
EUROPE NEWS
Eurofighter signs E-Scan radar deal, first British A400M delivered and Discovery Air takes over Luftwaffe training role
