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
Subscribe to Combat
Aircraft Monthly and
make great savings on
cover price.
See pages
44 and 45 for details.
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
S AV E
SUBSCRIBE AND
S AV E
SUBSCRIBE AND
S AV E
SUBSCRIBE AND
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
3 Contents C.indd 3 20/07/2018 15: