PHOTO: VFA-113 Stingers Hornet breaks sound barrier

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110606-N-TU221-408 PACIFIC OCEAN (June 6, 2011) An F/A-18C Hornet assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 113 breaks the sound barrier during an air power demonstration over the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). Carl Vinson and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 are currently underway in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Travis K. Mendoza/Released)

PHOTO: First RAAF KC-30A tanker arrives in Australia

The KC-30A lands for the first time on Australian soil at its new home, RAAF Base Amberley. The KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft arrived at RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland on 30 May 2011 after departing Madrid, Spain on Friday 27 May. The arrival of the first aircraft, A39-003, at RAAF Amberley follows an extensive development and test program by Airbus military in Spain for the world’s most advanced tanker aircraft. (© Commonwealth of Australia by ACW Joanne Larsen )

PHOTO: Taliban infiltrators destroy Pakistani Navy P-3s

(RIZWAN TABASSUM/AFP/Getty Images)

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A brazen attack by Pakistani Taliban militants on the Pakistani Navy's main airbase at Mehran near Karachi late in the evening of 22 May has resulted in two of Pakistan's newly delivered P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft being destroyed on the ground. The militants reported snuck into the base at night and reportedly launched RPGs at the Orions before engaging personnel at the base with small arms, leaving ten soldiers and at least three attackers dead. Another is believed to be buried under debris and two more are thought to have escaped.

The loss of two P-3Cs and possible damage to others will come as a major blow as the type is the mainstay of the Pakistan naval air arm. Under a 2006 contract with the US government's Foreign Military Sales framework, Pakistan purchased seven former US Navy P-3Cs. The aircraft were fully refurbished by Lockheed with upgraded mission equipment.


(AP Photo/Shakil Adil)

(AP Photo/Shakil Adil)

Via BBC, Flightglobal

PHOTO and VIDEO: Libyan Navy frigate burns after NATO airstrike

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Smoke and flames pour from the Libyan Navy frigate Al Ghardabia, after it was hit during an airstrike by Tornado bombers of Britain's Royal Air Force on the port area of Tripoli, in the early hours of Friday May 20, 2011. NATO confirmed that its warplanes targeted the vessels and accused Libya of using its ships in the escalating conflict, including attempts to mine the harbor in Misrata. Rebels trying to end the nearly 40-year rule of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi have been struggling to hold the Western city of Misrata against repeated attacks by forces loyal to Gadhafi. (AP Photo)

Meanwhile, Russia Today has video footage of the strike on the Al Ghardabia, as well as cockpit video of the strikes on Libyan warships, released by the RAF.



Base Leg Note: The Al Ghardabia (213) is a Russian/Soviet-built Project 1159 (Koni-class) frigate. Libya operated two such frigates, but the Al Hani (212) was captured by rebels in Benghazi earlier in the Libyan civil war.

PHOTO: Royal Malaysian Air Force MiG-29s in formation

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MiG-29s of the Tentara Udara Diraja Malaysia (Royal Malaysian Air Force) fly in formation over the South China Sea at Exercise Bersama Shield 2011.

Malaysia ordered 18 MiG-29N/NUBs in the early 1990s, split among 16 MiG-29N fighters and 2 MiG-29UB conversion trainers. Currently serving with 17 Skuadron based at Kuantan in Peninsular Malaysia's East coast, the MiGs, which underwent a modest upgrade in the early part of the 2000s, serve in the interceptor role in the TUDM.

(Photo Credit: Commonwealth of Australia)

PHOTO: First-ever B-1 munitions capability layout

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DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- A B-1 bomber was showcased with its massive weapons capability during a first-ever B-1 munitions capability layout photo shoot at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, April 5. A B-1 is capable of delivering twice as many 500-pound Joint Direct Attack Munitions and 2,000-pound Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles as a B-52, and nearly twice the payload of a B-2. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Darcie L. Ibidapo)

PHOTO: Shenyang J-15 PLA Navy carrier-based fighter

High quality photos have been appearing on the Internet from China of the J-15 carrier based fighter being developed for the People's Liberation Army - Navy (PLAN). Click on the thumbnails for higher resolution images.

PHOTO: Libyan rebel Hind attack helicopter in action near Ajdabiya

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A military helicopter (Ed: Mil Mi-24/25 Hind) with the rebel flag painted on its side flies very low towards the front line around the Libyan town of Ajdabiya despite a UN-imposed no-fly zone, on April 9, 2011, as rebel forces and fighters loyal to Moamer Kadhafi exchanged fire in and around the town. (AFP PHOTO / ODD ANDERSEN via Al-Jazeera)

PHOTO: RAAF C-130J returns from Middle East with nose art

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Nicknamed 'Desert Devil', No. 37 Squadron (37SQN) C-130J Hercules A97-466 sits on the RAAF Richmond flightline after returning from an eleven month deployment to the Middle East. (Photo © Commonwealth of Australia by LAC David Said )

PHOTO: T-38 completes 50 years of service

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A T-38 Talon sits on the flightline at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, March 17, 2011, during a ceremony commemorating the aircraft's 50th anniversary. (Courtesy photo/Jo Hunter)

See Related US Air Force story

Photo Gallery: Aircraft involved in Operation Odyssey Dawn

I have created a Photo Gallery for news photos, gathered from various news sources, of aircraft involved in the continuing enforcement of the no-fly zone over Libya to protect civilians caught up in the fighting, as set out in United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973. Known variously as Operation Odyssey Dawn (United States), Operation Harmattan (France), Ellamy (United Kingdom) and Operation Mobile (Canada), attacks started at about 1700GMT on the 19th of March when the French Air Force bombed regime positions near Benghazi.

This Gallery will be updated as new photos emerge in the following days, so do check back often.

PHOTO: Yokota Combat Shadow supports Operation Tomodachi

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An MC-130P Combat Shadow from Yokota Air Base's 17th Special Operations Squadron refuels a HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter from the 33rd Rescue Squadron over the Pacific Ocean March 18. The refueling missions are in support of humanitarian relief operations after an 8.9-magnitude earthquake and resulting tsunami rocked Northeastern Japan March 11. (U.S. Air Force photo/Osakabe Yasuo)

PHOTOS: Devastation from tsunami at Matsushima Airbase

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A JASDF UH-60J helicopter sits among debris at Matsushima air base of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, northeastern Japan, on Saturday, March 12, 2011, one day after a giant quake and tsunami struck the country's northeastern coast. (AP Photo/Kyodo News)


Japanese vintage military planes have dirt on their wings at Matsushima air base of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, northeastern Japan, on Saturday, March 12, 2011, one day after a giant quake and tsunami struck the country's northeastern coast. (AP Photo/Kyodo News)


A JASDF Mitsubishi F-2B fighter has its nose struck in a building at Matsushima air base of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, northeastern Japan, on Saturday, March 12, 2011, one day after a giant quake and tsunami struck the country's northeastern coast. (AP Photo/Kyodo News)


An overview of JASDF Mitsubishi F-2 fighters damaged by the tsunami at Matsushima air base of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, northeastern Japan, on Saturday, March 12, 2011, one day after a giant quake and tsunami struck the country's northeastern coast. (AP Photo/Kyodo News)


An pair of JASDF Mitsubishi F-2 fighters and a Kawasaki T-4 trainer damaged by the tsunami that swept through Matsushima air base of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, northeastern Japan, on Saturday, March 12, 2011, one day after a giant quake and tsunami struck the country's northeastern coast. (AP Photo/Kyodo News)

PHOTO: RAF Tornado in commemorative scheme at Red Flag

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NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- A Royal Air Force Tornado GR4 returns from a flight during Red Flag 11-3, March 1. Red Flag is a realistic combat training exercise involving the air forces of the United States and its allies. The exercise takes place north of Las Vegas on the Nevada Test and Training Range--the U.S. Air Force's premier military training area with more than 12,000 square miles of airspace and 2.9 million acres of land. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Michael R. Holzworth)

PHOTO: Libyan Mirage F-1ED at Malta shows off full rocket pods

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Two Libyan Air Force Mirage jet fighters unexpectedly flew to Malta this afternoon with their pilots claiming they escaped to Malta after having been ordered to bomb protesters who have taken control of the second city of Benghazi. The pilots told the Maltese authorities that they left from a base near Tripoli. They are being questioned by the police. The pilots initially asked for emergency clearance to land and for refuelling. (Photo by Ray Abela via Airplane Pictures)

NOTE: You can see from this view that the rocket pod carried by this Mirage F-1ED is fully loaded with rockets.

PHOTO: Royal Thai Navy Bell 212 helicopter lands aboard USS Essex

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110216-N-4743B-095 GULF OF THAILAND (Feb. 16, 2011) Sailors direct a Royal Thai Navy Bell 212 helicopter as it prepares to land aboard the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2). Essex is part of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group and is participating in Exercise Cobra Gold 2011, a U.S. and Thailand co-sponsored multinational exercise designed to improve interoperability between participating nations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Adam M. Bennett/Released)

PHOTO: AV-8B Harrier lands aboard the USS Essex at Cobra Gold

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110213-N-8607R-204 GULF OF THAILAND (Feb. 13, 2011) Aviation boatswain's mates watch as an AV-8B Harrier jet lands aboard the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2). The Essex Amphibious Ready Group is participating in exercise Cobra Gold 2011, a U.S. and Thailand cosponsored multinational exercise designed to improve interoperability between participating nations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Eva-Marie Ramsaran/Released)

PHOTO: First MC-130J Sees The Light of Day

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The first of 15 MC-130Js currently on order for U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command has completed final assembly at the Lockheed Martin facility in Marietta. Following painting and production flight test the aircraft will be delivered this summer. (Lockheed-Martin Photo)

See related News story at Flightglobal

PHOTO: PLAAF Nanchang Q-5J trainer

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Nanchang Q-5J twin-seater trainer of the People's Liberation Army Air Force 82nd Attack Regiment, 28th Attack Division based at Hangzhou-Jianqiao in Zhejiang Province. The type has replaced the JJ-6 (Chinese-built twin-seat MiG-19) that had been in service for more than 30 years. In addition to a new fleet of "modern" fighters, the PLAAF is also procuring more specialized training assets - a trend that is ignored by many of the PLA watchers out there. (Photo by VF-154 via China Defense Blog)

PHOTO: Last F-35B test aircraft takes flight

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FORT WORTH, Texas, January 28th, 2011 -- The last Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II assigned to developmental flight testing departs Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base on its first flight Thursday. Known as BF-5, the short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) jet will ferry to NAS Patuxent River, Md., later this year, where it will join four F-35Bs and one F-35C carrier variant aircraft currently undergoing testing. (Lockheed Martin photo by Randy Crites)