The UK’s F-35 Lightning Force has concluded Exercise Red Flag at Nellis Air Force Base in the US.
Royal Air Force 617 Squadron deployed F-35 jets for three weeks at Nellis for the air combat exercise.
The exercise offered the squadron the opportunity to train on the F-35 in real-world conditions against simulated enemy air defence systems on the ground ahead of embarkation on HMS Queen Elizabeth later in 2020.
The deployment also afforded Lightning Force support and maintenance crew the ability to train to keep the aircraft flying for the duration.
Wing Commander John Butcher, Officer Commanding 617 Squadron, said: ‘Our experience on Red Flag has been amazing. Lightning has performed really well in this exercise and I have also been really pleasantly surprised as to how everyone has performed in this environment, our team has done fantastically well.’
The takeover of the Italian firm by Baykar solidifies the company’s efforts to forge closer ties with Italian industry, bolsters its partnership with Leonardo to produce UAVs and secures its foothold in Europe.
The F-15EX Eagle II had already been singled out for further funding in January 2025, when it was chosen to replace the A-10 aircraft for the US National Guard.
Spain’s Defence Minister told the Senate Defense Commission on 27 June of the decision to acquire Turkish Aerospace Industries’ (TAI) trainers as the country seeks to replace its Northrop F-5M aircraft.
The company has tested over 15 mission sets for the drone, with the rotorcraft used to demonstrate the viability of armed forces utilising large uncrewed aerial systems’ (UAS) for autonomous missions in the future.
The US Navy’s answer to a sixth-generation fighter has experienced a range of setbacks and delays to the programme, with only $47 million in this latest proposed budget set aside for completing the aircraft.
The UAE’s Edge Group has been positioning itself as a key defence and technology partner to Indonesia, where it has been focusing on naval platforms, UAVs and long-term industrial collaboration.
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