AirForces Monthly June 2019

US air power old and new is at the forefront of the June issue of AFM, with the US Air Force’s Cold War-era B-52H strategic bomber gracing the cover and coverage of the F-35A stealth fighter’s debut combat deployment with the service. This spring, six Stratofortresses touched down at RAF Fairford, UK, for one of the most significant bomber deployments to Europe in over a decade, while in the Middle East, F-35As from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, arrived at Al Dhafra in the United Arab Emirates.

There’s more heavy metal in the form of the MiG-31, profiling Russian Naval Aviation’s squadron of Foxhound long-range fighter interceptors on the isolated Kamchatka peninsula. NATO fighter coverage includes an in-depth review of the many achievements of the Dutch F-16 as the ‘Viper’ marks 40 years of service with the Royal Netherlands Air Force.

Following last month’s feature detailing the introduction of the Typhoon to the Royal Air Force of Oman, Derek Bower visits RAFO Masirah to witness pilot training on the Hawk Mk166 jet trainer.

A two-part feature examines some of Europe’s surviving Alouette IIIs, assessing the future of the charismatic helicopter in Belgian and Portuguese colours. Meanwhile, the US Marine Corps has already called time on another classic: Ivan Voukadinov reflects on the last days of the venerable EA-6B Prowler electronic warfare with its final squadron, VMAQ-2 ‘Death Jesters’.