The U.S. Air Force continues to bolster its forces in the Middle East after Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel, as F-15Es from RAF Lakenheath, U.K., arrived in the region Oct. 13.
The KC-10 Extender took another step toward retirement last week, as the venerable tanker finished off its last ever overseas deployment. A KC-10 from Travis Air Force Base, Calif., conducted the aircraft’s final combat sortie from Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, on Oct. 3. The ...
U.S. Air Force F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters that deployed to the Middle East to deter Iranian aggression in the Persian Gulf and push back against Russian bullying in the skies over Syria have left the region, according to service officials.
A U.S. Air Force F-16 shot down a Turkish government drone on Oct. 5 after it flew within half a kilometer of U.S. forces in Syria. The incident was an extremely rare military engagement between two NATO members, who were already at odds over a ...
An Air Force task force charged with advancing new technologies is considering fielding one-way attack drones in the Middle East, the top USAF commander for the region told reporters Oct. 4. Task Force 99, a small detachment in Air Forces Central (AFCENT), is exploring kinetic ...
After a series of incidents in the skies over Syria, Russian pilots appear to have become less aggressive toward U.S. forces following the arrival of F-35 stealth multirole fighters to the Middle East, according to U.S. officials. Originally tasked to deter Iranian attacks on commercial ...
Air Forces Central has unveiled a colorful new patch to acknowledge the significant role U.S. allies and partners play in military operations in the Middle East. Lt. Gen. Alexus G. Grynkewich, the commander of AFCENT, said the move is an overdue recognition that coalition partners are ...
Twelve U.S. Air Force F-35s have arrived in the Middle East to beef up U.S. Central Command’s airpower in the region and deter Iran from seizing oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz, the service announced July 26. The deployment of the aircraft also comes ...
A Russian fighter damaged a U.S. drone over Syria earlier this week, the top Air Force commander for the region said July 25, in the latest escalation between American and Russian aircraft. The incident took place at approximately 7:23 am Syria time on July 23. ...
There was something different about one of the U.S. fighters that flew over the Strait of Hormuz this past week to deter Iran from seizing oil tankers. Three green stars are plainly visible on an F-16, tail 2137, in newly released Department of Defense photos ...
A Russian fighter harassed a U.S. manned surveillance aircraft over Syria on July 16, engaging in a maneuver that risked the lives of the four American crew members, U.S. officials said July 18. The move comes as escalating tensions with Iran and Russia have led ...
The last Air Force C-21A Learjet left Qatar on June 30, ending an era for a little-known aircraft that had an outsized impact overseas.