combat aircraft

An air

wing

can operate

independently

only up to a

certain point.

Its utility and

lethality hinges

on the support of

other services,

other disciplines

and certainly

other nations

CAPT Greg Newkirk

The weapons systems

offi cer of this EA-18G is

already hard at work as

the aircraft waits its turn

for launch from the carrier.

This VFA-137 ‘Kestrels’

F/A-18E is confi gured as a

tanker, and will launch and

take up station overhead

the ship in case of aircraft

recovering in low fuel states.

A fabulous look-down shot

of a pair of VFA-34 Hornets

on the fl ight deck ready for a

mission. The nearest aircraft

carries a live GBU-12 laser-

guided bomb.

EXERCISE REPORT // RIMPAC

72 November 2018 //^ http://www.combataircraft.net