6 HEADLINE NEWS

RAF 100  ypast, Russia orders  rst

Su-57s and F-16 order update

8 US NEWS

Boeing sets out KC-46 delivery plans,

COD Osprey ordered and all the latest

unit and deployment news

18 WORLD NEWS

News from Europe and around the

globe including the new F/A-259 from

Aero Vodochody and all the latest

military losses

14 SPECIAL REPORT:

A STORM BREWING

The UK has been setting out its future

combat air power plans with a series of

announcements and statements of

intent. Jamie Hunter assesses whether the

reality matches the ambition

24 ALASKAN AIR BATTLES

Amit Agronov, Erik Bruijns and Mark De

Greeuw head out to ‘Red Flag — Alaska’ and

 nd an exercise that has grown in stature,

attracting participants from around

the globe

32 FEARSOME ‘FULLBACK’

In the second of a two-part review of strike

aircraft in Russian service, Piotr Butowski

details the impressive Su-34 ‘Fullback’, a

multi-role heavy-hitter

36 FIGHTING FOR CANADA

Delays in the decision-making process for a

new  ghter are hampering Canada’s drive to

replace its aging CF-188 force. James

Careless examines the reasons for this and

evaluates options for the way ahead

40 BRITAIN’S NEW AIR POWER FOCUS

The arrival of the  rst F-35Bs for No 617

Squadron ‘Dambusters’ in June was the  rst

step in the plan to establish an impressive

new expeditionary air power capability for

the UK, as Jamie Hunter details

72 AU REVOIR 2000N

The Mirage 2000N has been retired by the

French Air Force as the specialist nuclear

strike role passes to the Rafale B. Fréderic

Lért reports from Istres with exclusive

photos by Anthony Pecchi

78 ‘MARINE ACE’

The Russian Navy held a large-scale exercise

in June. Dmitriy Pichugin was there to see

the various elements of the force’s air power

capabilities in a competitive scenario

IN THE NEWS

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With a new Top Gun movie in

preparation, what better time

to look at the real Naval Fighter

Weapons School with our free

TOPGUN supplement in this

issue? This is one of the unit’s

adversary F-16Bs. Jamie Hunter

ON THE COVER | PAGE 47

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INSIDESEPTEMBER 2018 • Vol 19 • No 9

48 TOPGUN: THE EARLY DAYS

In 2019, the Navy Fighter Weapons School

— better known as TOPGUN — celebrates

its 50th anniversary. Brad Elward details the

origins of the school

50 TOMCATS OF TOPGUN

Inextricably linked to the NFWS thanks to the

hit movie Top Gun, Tony Holmes tells the story

of how the F-14 Tomcat came to symbolize the

very best of US naval  ghter aviation

60 FABULOUS FALLON

Jamie Hunter visits TOPGUN at the Naval

Aviation War ghting Development Center

at NAS Fallon and  nds out how the unit

operates today

68 TOPGUN ‘BANDITS’

TOPGUN has always  own striking adversary

aircraft for the instructors to simulate enemy

 ghters. We look at some of the school’s

present-day markings

82 SAHEL WARRIORS

The French Air Force remains committed to

Operation ‘Barkhane’ in the Sahel region of

Africa. Fréderic Lért visits the Base Aérienne

Projetée in Niamey, Niger

90 DANCING WITH THE ‘LADY’

In the second of a series of fascinating

features, former U-2 pilot Lt Col (ret’d) Rick

Bishop tells the story of how he trained to  y

the demanding ‘Dragon Lady’

98 CROATIAN WARRIORS

Croatia has reached initial operational

capability with its OH-58D Kiowa Warriors

less than a year after receiving them.

Dirk Jan de Ridder and Menso van

Westrhenen found out how this

was achieved

102 CONSTANT ENDEAVOR

The US Marine Corps’ VMGR-252 ‘Otis’ holds

the distinction of being the service’s oldest

continually active squadron. It is also one of

its busiest, having aircraft consistently

deployed since 2005, as James DeBoer and

Scott Youmans explain

110 CUTTING EDGE

Combat Aircraft’s monthly column reporting

from the front line of aerospace technology,

by David Axe

112 FLASHBACK

Our regular feature looking at highlights of

the recent past — this month it’s ‘Gunsmoke’

at Nellis AFB

intent. Jamie Hunter assesses whether the

Greeuw head out to ‘Red Flag — Alaska’ and

 nd an exercise that has grown in stature,

In the second of a two-part review of strike

48 TOPGUN: THE EARLY DAYS 60 FABULOUS FALLON

Westrhenen found out how this

was achieved

TOPGUN SUPPLEMENT

Combat Aircraft’s guide to the world’s most

famous fi ghter school at 50

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