AirForces Monthly Magazine October 2018 Retour à l'édition précédente

The latest issue of AFM examines air arms undergoing major modernisation programmes. We were given an exclusive interview with the Royal Jordanian Air Force commander to discuss recent changes and the future of the air arm, while correspondent Derek Bower evaluates the Finnish Air Force’s preparations to replace its Hornet fleet.

More Hornet coverage comes from Texas, where we caught up with Dallas-based VMFA-112. While it may be a reserve squadron flying ‘legacy’ aircraft, it’s an exemplary US Marine Corps fighter unit. F/A-18s were also at the forefront during Exercise Pitch Black 2018, widely credited as the Royal Australian Air Force’s most important exercise.

This year, the Syrian Air Defence Force has been on the receiving end of attacks from Israeli, US, British and French strike aircraft and cruise missiles. Tim Ripley reports. Dirk Jan de Ridder visits the firefighting specialists of the Hellenic Air Force’s 359 MAEDY, while our Flight Test Focus moves to the French academy for test pilots, the École du Personnel Navigant d’Essais et de Réception.

On the rotary-wing side, features include the Dutch Defence Helicopter Command’s prestigious weapons instructor training course, the CH-47F in Royal Netherlands Air Force service and the Army Air Corps Wildcat’s recent return from a successful debut deployment to Estonia.

Jamie Hunter joined the RAF Typhoon Force as it provided a centrepiece to this summer’s centenary celebration flypast, while Air Marshal (ret’d) Greg Bagwell CB CBE describes the fundamentals of the modern air superiority mission. We also conclude our Force Report on the Republic of China Air Force and bring an Intel Report that reviews NATO’s existing MiG-29 fleets as the iconic Cold War fighter edges towards obsolescence.

Alongside AFM’s letters page and book reviews, you’ll also find the latest coverage of attrition and military aviation news from around the world.