Military Aviation TV

05/09/2024

Terrible news from the Royal Navy & Commando Helicopter Force.

Heartfelt condolences to the family, colleagues and friends.

RIP...

31/08/2024

Remember guys and girls Historic Aircraft cost a lot a lot of cash to keep them in good condition, let alone flying for our enjoyment.
So please pop along to their stalls at the shows and buy something, no matter how small to help them along.
Navy Wings is one such Charity , with the Swordfish,Wasp , Stinson, ands hopefully again a Sea Fury all for our enjoyment.
Bryan and Maggie are two such people who help run the Navy Wings stall at nearly every uk show, all out of the love of it as Volunteers!!!
So a big thankyou to all volunteers at all shows of every aircraft and historic vehicle type!!!!

Photos from Bournemouth this weekend
Navy Wings

29/08/2024

About time...

The assessment phase contract is designed to evaluate how the Royal Navy’s Merlin helicopter fleet can remain operational until 2040

29/08/2024

Collection of images from RIAT 2024 day one arrivals

28/08/2024

The Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) above the Hawk T1 aircraft from the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows at Narsarsuaq Airport in Greenland.

The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows at Narsarsuaq Airport in Greenland, was the third stop on their transit across to Canada for Maple Hawk, their 2024 tour.

Photo UK MOD © Crown copyright 2024/AS1 Iwan Lewis RAF.

27/08/2024

BAE Systems to upgrade flight control computers for F-15EX and F/A-18E/F fighters-Media Release.

BAE Systems has been selected by Boeing to upgrade the fly-by-wire (FBW) flight control computers (FCC) for the F-15EX Eagle II and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighter aircraft. The FCCs feature common core electronics that support the quad-redundant FBW flight control systems (FCS), providing the safety, reliability, robustness, and performance needed for the missions of these advanced platforms.

As the original manufacturer of the FCCs for both aircraft, BAE Systems will modernize the FCC electronics hardware and software to increase processing power, enhance cyber and product security, address obsolescence issues, and support sustainment well into the future. The upgraded FCC will leverage the company’s high-integrity flight control product roadmap, built upon technology investments, and used across multiple recent military airborne platform flight control upgrades. The F/A-18E/F FCC will also receive an additional processor to enable future capabilities for the fleet.

"BAE Systems is a leader in high-integrity controls and this upgrade reflects our commitment to providing our customers with next-generation solutions,” said Corin Beck, senior director of Military Aircraft Systems for Controls and Avionics Solutions at BAE Systems. “Our advanced flight-critical solution ensures that these platforms will maintain fleet readiness now, and in the future, as well as provisions the aircraft to support the integration of new functions.”

These computers efficiently manage aircraft flight by processing pilot inputs, monitoring real-time aircraft movement conditions via on-board sensors, and transmitting commands to actuators that move the control surfaces. The redundant FCS, along with the flight control laws, enables the pilot to maintain controlled operation across the demanding flight regime and multiple loadout configurations. Additionally, the FCS can reconfigure how it controls the aircraft in case of a failure or battle damage by mixing the remaining control surfaces differently. The advanced FBW FCS allows the pilot to focus more on the mission and less on flying the aircraft.

BAE Systems has more than 40 years of experience developing and integrating flight control technology for military and commercial platforms. This flight control upgrade will be conducted at the company’s state-of-the-art engineering and manufacturing facility in Endicott, New York.

23/08/2024

Six Typhoon FGR.4 from XI (Fighter) Squadron from RAF Coningsby was based at Royal Australian Air Force Darwin with Airbus Voyager aircraft from RAF Brize Norton’s Air Mobility Force operating from Royal Australian Air Force Amberly.

Exercise Pitch Black began on the 12 July 2024 and ended 2 August 2024. Held every two years, Exercise Pitch Black focuses on large force employment missions involving large numbers of international aircraft and this iteration was the largest in its 43-year history with 20 nations, over 140 aircraft and up to 4,500 personnel deployed on the exercise.

Photo UK MOD © Crown copyright 2024/AS1 Jason Russell RAF.

22/08/2024

Just to let you all know, our YouTube channel has now passed 5 million views! 😁

Thank you to all of you who has visited our channel...

19/08/2024

This makes this year's airshow very exciting...

08/08/2024

New upload to our YouTube channel, click the link here;
https://youtu.be/fQFIdnrJaJI

The Battle of Midway was a major naval battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II that took place 4–7 June 1942, six months after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor and one month after the Battle of the Coral Sea.
The U.S. Navy under Admirals Chester W. Nimitz, Frank J. Fletcher, and Raymond A. Spruance defeated an attacking fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy under Admirals Isoroku Yamamoto, Chūichi Nagumo, and Nobutake Kondō north of Midway Atoll, inflicting devastating damage on the Japanese fleet.
Military historian John Keegan called it "the most stunning and decisive blow in the history of naval warfare", while naval historian Craig Symonds called it "one of the most consequential naval engagements in world history, ranking alongside Salamis, Trafalgar, and Tsushima Strait, as both tactically decisive and strategically influential''.

This is a one hour documentary with interviews with many of the participants of the Battle Of Midway. The interviewees include PBY pilots. Code breakers from the hypo unit, marines from Midway Atol and pilots from the USS Hornet, USS Yorktown and USS Enterprise. This documentary follows the U.S. Navy from Pearl Harbor and the Battle of the Coral Sea to the victory at Midway.

Thank You For Watching.

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08/08/2024

The best bits from the Sunday of RIAT 2024

The Best of The Rest RIAT 2024

This video contains the rest of the action from the Sunday of the show.Including the not to be missed true Touch & Go from the Czech Gripen not seen a true o...

06/08/2024

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05/08/2024

Inevitable really...

Col. Mark Kimball, commander of the 28th Operations Group at Ellsworth Air Force Base, has been relieved of his command following a loss of trust and confidence in his ability to lead.

03/08/2024

What a classic engine sound ❤️

02/08/2024

British Royal Marines Commandos with 40 Commando Group, offload from an MV-22B Osprey assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268 (Reinforced), Marine Rotational Force, during an Exercise Predator’s Run warm start at Robertson Barracks, NT, Australia.

U.S. Marines and Royal Marines participated in a warm start planning exercise in preparation for Exercise Predator’s Run 24.

Photo Cpl. Juan Torres/U.S. Marine Corps.

01/08/2024

RIAT departures on Monday 22nd July. Multiple military aircraft leaving after the completion of the 2024 Royal International Air Tattoo. I think I covered ar...

31/07/2024

It was the display everyone wanted to see and on the Sunday of RIAT we got two displays that did not disappoint. Enjoy.

Stunning F-15QA RIAT Sunday Displays MUST SEE!

The only time across the whole of the display week that we got to see both F-15 QA’s display on the same day and we got to see a mixture of the flat and full...

30/07/2024

Netherlands Defense searches for remains during recovery of WWII aircraft wrecks-Media Release.

Yesterday (29 July), the Dutch Ministry of Defence began recovering 2 aircraft wrecks from the Second World War in the municipality of Noardeast-Fryslân. These are a Vickers Wellington HE346 from the Royal Air Force and a Messerschmitt Bf 109 from the German Jagdgeschwader . The remains of 6 crew members are believed to be in the wreckage of both aircraft. The recovery will take approximately 8 weeks.

The Vickers Wellington lies in the d**e area near Holwert, the Messerschmitt near Hallum. There were 5 crew members on board the Vickers Wellington , while the pilot of the Messerschmitt flew alone. Because there may be human remains on board, the operations are part of the National Program for promising salvages.

The recovery of the British aircraft in particular is technically complex. For this purpose, almost 100 metres of seawall must be excavated. Defence is being assisted in this by specialists from Rijkswaterstaat and the Water Board. In order to ensure that everything proceeds as safely as possible, a construction pit will be constructed at a depth of 8 metres. A temporary water barrier made of sheet pile profiles will also be installed. This must meet the same requirements as the seawall and will hold back the seawater during the recovery.

In addition to a civilian contractor, various defense units are involved in the recovery. The air force is responsible for clearing wreckage. The Salvage and Identification Service of the army secures any remains and attempts to identify them. The Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service of Defense dismantles possible ammunition.

Depending on the weather conditions, the entire operation will take about 8 weeks. All work must be completed by October 1st at the latest.

During World War II, some 6,000 aircraft crashed in the Netherlands. This happened both on land and in the water. Most of them have been recovered.

The National Program for Promising Aircraft Recovery offers the possibility of recovery at crash sites. In this way, any remaining remains of the crew can be given a final honorable resting place. This gives relatives clarity and peace of mind about the fate of their family members. The national program supports municipalities with the high costs of aircraft recovery.

Photo courtesy Imperial War Museum.

29/07/2024

My 2nd video of aircraft arrivals on 17th July at the Royal International Air Tattoo two days prior to the actual show

29/07/2024

Royal International Air Tattoo participating aircraft start arriving prior to the air show. The airshow held at RAF Fairford is one of the premier events on ...

29/07/2024

Flying from HMS Illustrious, four Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm Sea Harrier FRS.1, from 800 Naval Air Squadron, cross-decked with the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (CVN 69), in October, 1984.

Sea Harrier: last British fighter to shoot down enemy aircraft! 😎

All photos courtesy U.S. Navy.

29/07/2024

Pitch Black 24 – Why the European air forces are Down Under!

Hugs mingle with smiles and tired faces on the flight line at the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) air base in Darwin. The German and Spanish Eurofighters, French fighters and A330 MRTTs of the Multinational MRTT Unit, responsible for air-to-air refuelling operations, have just arrived from Japan.

Spanish, French and German aviators, the three nations participating in the Pacific Skies deployment - 4 continents, 58,000 kilometres, a month and a half expedition - have trained in Alaskan airspace alongside the Americans and, after a quick stop in country of the rising sun, are ready for their next challenge in northern Australia: Exercise Pitch Black.

Even if it is on the other side of the world, it can affect us:
Organised by the RAAF since 1981, Pitch Black is one of the world’s largest military air exercises. Never before has it been on a larger scale than this year’s, with 140 aircraft from 20 countries and more than 4,400 military personnel involved.

“We are in a global environment, in which anything that happens, even if it is on the other side of the world, can affect us, our interests, European interests and Spanish interests,” explains colonel Jesús Margaretto of the Spanish Air and Space Army, participating in the exercise for the first time with four Eurofighter aircraft.

“The deployment of the air forces of these three countries, together or even autonomously, sends a message of our commitment in the Indo-Pacific framework.”

“Pitch Black is an exercise in which there are fourth and fifth generation aircraft. The scenarios are very complex and there are aerial platforms that we are not used to operating with,” adds the Spanish colonel.

Indian Su-30s, US F22s, Thai Gripen and Indonesian F16s are some of the platforms with which Spanish and German Eurofighters, French fighters, French and German A330 MRTTs and French A400M train realistic and simulated threats, in a modern combat environment.

An airspace almost as big as Germany:
Colonel Björn Andersen from the German Air Force, Contingent Commander at Pitch Black, stresses from Australia the importance of the Indo-Pacific region for Germany, as well as the distinctive features of the exercise.

“The exercise Pitch Black provides us with a relatively unique exercise opportunity. The airspace here in northern Australia is almost as big as Germany. This gives us the opportunity to work in large joint operations with our multinational partners to practise air warfare here.,” he says.

“The German Air Force shows with this exercise its operational readiness worldwide.”

Germany participated in the exercise with 5 Eurofighters and 2 A330 MRTTs from MMU.

20 years of French participation:
This year, the French Air and Space Force came to Australia from the east, with the Griffin Strike deployment, alongside the British, and from the west, with Pacific Skies, alongside Germany and Spain.

For France, the Indo-Pacific is key and this deployment demonstrates its ability to rapidly deploy and protect its overseas territories (New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Reunion) and to be a reliable and credible military partner in the region.

Pitch Black is nothing new for the French. They have been taking part for 20 years, and this time, in addition to the fighter jets and A330 MRTTs for refuelling and logistics missions, they have an A400M as a tactical aircraft.

Besides France, Spain and Germany, Airbus military aircraft at Pitch Black 2024 include Eurofighters and A330 MRTTs from the United Kingdom, Eurofighters from Italy and A330 MRTTs from Singapore and Australia.

29/07/2024

Lockheed Martin Sikorsky Advances to Next Phase of Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability Program. Lockheed Martin Media Release.

The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) has awarded Lockheed Martin Sikorsky a contract award to study integrated platform concepts that could fulfill NATO’s next generation rotorcraft requirements through its Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability (NGRC) program.

“Sikorsky is ready to design a rotorcraft prototype for NATO’s NGRC concept study to support defense and deterrence for an ever-changing global environment. Years of investment and rigorous flight testing with multiple X2 technology demonstrators have proven its ability to change the future airspace,” said Andy Adams, vice president of Sikorsky Future Vertical Lift. “Our X2 aircraft will bring to bear the strengths of Lockheed Martin along with input from our European Industry Group, such as digital thread, advanced manufacturing, sustainment, training, and weapon and mission system development, to provide NATO with an integrated rotorcraft system that combines speed, range, maneuverability, survivability and operational flexibility.”

Lockheed Martin Sikorsky’s European Industry Group includes Tier-1 aerospace suppliers, such as BAE Systems, ELT Group, ESG Elektroniksystem-und Logistik GmbH, GE Aerospace, Hellenic Aerospace Industry, Kongsberg, Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenberg GmbH, MAGroup, Malloy Aeronautics, SAFRAN, Rheinmetall and TERMA. This industry group will provide input as to how their world-class military products can support the X2 integrated platform concept approach to advance NATO’s capabilities and provide a next generation rotorcraft solution.

With more than $1 billion invested and 15 years of testing and flying, X2 rotorcraft, Sikorsky’s X2 aircraft are demonstrating mission relevance. The S-97 RAIDER technology demonstrator’s rigorous flight test program continues to provide critical data that correlates to a virtual prototype and enables Sikorsky to experiment with the unique capabilities that an X2 Technology rotorcraft can provide.

NSPA General Manager, Ms Stacy A. Cummings, stated: “The launch of Concept Study #5 is a significant milestone for the NGRC concept stage activities, and demonstrates NSPA’s dedication to meet the challenge of next generation medium lift for Participating Nations. The strategy to launch 3 parallel contracts awarded by competition delivers on our commitment to maximise industry expertise, opportunity and engagement in the programme, and will provide a broad range of potential concepts in the study results for our multinational customers.”

The NGRC program initiative began in 2022 and includes France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, United Kingdom and Canada. The United States and Spain are currently acting as observers. Under the NGRC program, NATO is seeking to develop a medium-class, multi-role rotorcraft aimed to replace medium multi-role helicopters currently in service. NSPA, through its dedicated NGRC Support Partnership, aims to respond to this upcoming requirement, in a timely and cost-effective manner, while concurrently leveraging a broad range of recent advances in technology, production methods, and operational concepts.

29/07/2024

Global Combat Air Programme partners unveil new concept model of next generation combat aircraft-BAE Systems Media Release.

The three nations of the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) – UK, Italy and Japan – have unveiled a new concept model of their next generation combat aircraft at the recent Farnborough International Airshow.

Exhibiting at the show together for the first time, the three GCAP government partners and their lead industry partners BAE Systems (UK), Leonardo (Italy) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (Japan) showcased the significant strides they are making to progress the delivery of a truly next generation combat aircraft.

The new concept model on display in Hall 5 features a much more evolved design with a wingspan larger than previous concepts to improve the aerodynamics of the future combat aircraft.

Engineers from across BAE Systems, Leonardo and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries are working together under a collaboration agreement on the design and development of the future combat aircraft using a range of innovative digital tools and techniques, including computer based modelling and virtual reality to evolve the aircraft’s design during its concepting phase.

''In the 18 months since the launch of the Global Combat Air Programme, we’ve been working closely with our industrial partners in Italy and Japan under the collaboration agreement, and also with the three governments, to understand and align requirements for a next generation combat aircraft. The new model, unveiled at Farnborough International Airshow, shows notable progress in the design and concepting of this future fighter jet. We’ll continue to test and evolve the design, as we move closer towards the next phase of the programme.''
Herman Claesen, Managing Director - Future Combat Air Systems, BAE Systems.

''The pace of the programme is extraordinary, building on a solid foundation and industrial legacy in each country and government-led partnership. Since the treaty was signed in December 2023, the programme has seen strong commitment from each partner. Each brings different, but complementary, qualities and requirements. We are now working closely together to exchange knowledge, address common challenges and achieve common goals. The programme is immensely important for Italy, for Leonardo, including our UK-based business, and for wider Italian industry. GCAP represents the future of combat air in a System of Systems perspective for our generations to come.''
Guglielmo Maviglia, Chief Global Combat Air Programme Officer, Leonardo.

''MHI considers any project to be a valuable opportunity to deepen our knowledge. In particular, since GCAP is a three-country joint development programme between Japan, UK and Italy, we expect to obtain better results and deeper knowledge than ever before by combining the different cultures, experiences and knowledge of the three industries involved. I also hope that this GCAP programme, with the broad participation of Japan’s defence companies, will foster innovation in the country’s industrial sector such as digital transformation, as well as the development of human resources in the field of science and technology.''
Hitoshi Shiraishi, Senior Fellow - GCAP, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

The combat aircraft, set to be in service in 2035, will be one of the world’s most advanced, interoperable, adaptable and connected fighter jets in service, boasting an intelligent weapons system, a software-driven interactive cockpit, integrated sensors and a powerful next generation radar capable of providing 10,000 times more data than current systems, giving it a battle-winning advantage.

GCAP is a strategically important partnership, bringing together the governments of the UK, Italy and Japan, and their respective industries, to collaborate on shared military and industrial objectives in the delivery of a next generation combat air capability.

The programme is hugely significant for the security, political and economic prosperity of each nation and through effective knowledge and technology transfer will help to evolve and deliver important sovereign combat air capability in each nation, for generations to come.

GCAP is set to employ tens of thousands of skilled people across the UK, Italy and Japan, growing industrial skills and technologies for the future.

21/07/2024

New upload to our YouTube channel, click the link here;
https://youtu.be/hb7PV90V6f0

After selling-out at a record pace the Royal International Air Tattoo proved to be a hit as hundreds of aircraft soared over RAF Fairford in front of thousands of visitors.
In total, the aviation showcase welcomed 248 aircraft from 29 nations as 150,000 people descended on the rural airfield.
On Friday, as part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation’s (NATO) 75th anniversary, visitors were treated to a unique flypast featuring aircraft from different NATO nations together, led by a Royal Air Force Rivet Joint.

Another of the Air Displays highlights was the return of the Spanish Navy, with their legendary EAV/8B Harrier II, which might be the types last appearance at RIAT.

Both these displays are shown here, followed by an enthralling slide-show of some of the many aircraft types in the static park.

RIAT 2024 was an epic airshow, and we hope it's even better in 2025.

Thank You All For Watching.

Join this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtYl0HgMAPPl5g4kumnJkzQ/joinAfter selling-out at a record pace the Royal Internatio...

17/07/2024

What an absolute legend!

Happy birthday Sir...

17/07/2024

Hello all.

This Friday, July 19th, we hope to live stream the static aircraft park at this years Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) 2024. Hopefully we will go live somewhere around 10am, UK time.

Please note that we will not be live streaming the actual air display, as this is undertaken by the ever excellent, Planes TV, who will be streaming over 6 days, including arrivals, departures and the main 3 airshow days.

So, if you fancy a look around the 100+ aircraft on static display, which includes an impressive line-up of F-16 Viper to celebrate the types 50th anniversary, please make sure you are subscribed to our channel, and you have clicked the notification bell so when we go live, you won't miss it.

Thanks all, see you on Friday...

YouTube link, click here; https://youtube.com/live/i82v4sEYJxI

14/07/2024

Well, that looks different 😁

13/07/2024

Rise of the Phoenix...

04/07/2024

Dassault Rafale M from 11F based out of BAN Landivisiau, of the French Aeronavale : one of the most elegant combat aircraft.