Six California Air National Guard F-15C Eagles were seen at RAF Lakenheath on the 2nd November 2018.
The F-15s belong to 194th Fighter Squadron, nicknamed 'Griffins', 144th Fighter Wing, and based at Fresno Air National Guard Base, in California.
These aircraft were deployed to Ukraine in October to participate in the first-ever 'Clear Sky' exercise at Starokostiantyniv Air Base in Ukraine.
Clear Sky 2018 is a joint and multinational exercise that involved about 950 personnel from nine different nations, including Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the United States. This year marks the 25th anniversary of collaboration between the California Air National Guard and Ukraine as part of U.S. European Command's State Partnership Programme. The exercise was to contribute to security in Eastern Europe and to raise the level of training for the Ukraine Armed Forces.
The Six F-15C aircraft seen at RAF Lakenheath were:
November 2018:
82-0028 - F-15C 194th FS/144th FW
84-0004 - F-15C 194th FS/144th FW (Special paint scheme)
86-0144 - F-15C 194th FS/144th FW
86-0167 - F-15C 194th FS/144th FW
84-0009 - F-15C 194th FS/144th FW
80-0010 - F-15C 194th FS/144th FW
Eight US Navy F/A-18 Super Hornets from the USS Harry S. Truman Nimitz-class aircraft carrier arrived at RAF Lakenheath on Thursday 4th October 2018. The aircraft carrier arrived off Portsmouth on the morning of Saturday 6th October 2018.
On Friday 5th October 2018, six USAF F-22A Raptors also arrived at RAF Lakenheath. The F-22A Raptors are from the 94th Fighter Squadron (FS), nicknamed 'Hat in the Ring', 1st Fighter Wing (FW) based at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, in Virginia, USA.
Both the Raptors and Super Hornets are at Lakenheath to train and conduct engagements with NATO allies, partners and the 48th Fighter Wing (F-15s based at Lakenheath).
A US Navy Grumman C-2A Greyhound (162144) from the 'Truman' was also seen at RAF Lakenheath.
The eight F/A-18 Super Hornets & six F-22A Raptors seen at Lakenheath were:
October 2018:
F/A-18F Super Hornet - 166808/204 VFA-211 'Fighting Checkmates' based at NAS Oceana, Virginia
F/A-18F Super Hornet - 166665/210 VFA-211 'Fighting Checkmates' based at NAS Oceana, Virginia
F/A-18E Super Hornet - 166820/300 VFA-136 'Knighthawks' based at NAS Lemoore, California
F/A-18E Super Hornet - 166823/303 VFA-136 'Knighthawks' based at NAS Lemoore, California
F/A-18E Super Hornet - 166839/411 VFA-81 'Sunliners' based at NAS Oceana, Virginia
F/A-18E Super Hornet - 166840/412 VFA-81 'Sunliners' based at NAS Oceana, Virginia
F/A-18F Super Hornet - 166624/102 VFA-11 'Red Rippers' based at NAS Oceana, Virginia
F/A-18F Super Hornet - 166631/106 VFA-11 'Red Rippers' based at NAS Oceana, Virginia
The F/A-18E is a single-seat and the F/A-18F is a tandem-seat variant of the Super Hornet.
On Thursday 4th October, the following US Navy aircraft were seen at RAF Mildenhall:
163291 - US Navy P-3C Orion
161588 - US Navy P-3C Orion
165152 - US Navy Gulfstream C-20G
1666694 - US Navy C-40A Clipper
There was also an Italian Air Force ATR P-72A - MM62298 (Maritime Patrol Aircraft).
Arizona Air National Guard F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 195th Fighter Squadron, 162nd Wing, Tucson, Arizona, paid a quick visit to RAF Mildenhall on September 17th 2018 as they transited through RAF Mildenhall after participating in Exercise Ample Strike.
Exercise Ample Strike, which took place from 31st August to 15th September, is a Czech Republic led Exercise that offers advanced air/land integration training to joint terminal attack controllers (JTACs) and close air support (CAS) aircrews, in various training areas across the southern region of the Czech Republic.
Nineteen NATO allies and partner nations participated in the exercise, including the Arizona Air National Guard F-16s, a KC-135 Stratotanker and B-52 Stratofortress. After the exercise the F-16s, KC-135 and B-52 took part in the NATO Days airshow, scheduled for September 15th-16th 2018 at Ostrava Air Base, Czech Republic.
Two Arizona Air National Guard F-16s seen at Mildenhall:
Monday 17th September 2018:
86-285 AZ - Arizona Air National Guard F-16
86-292 AZ - Arizona Air National Guard F-16
John Bilcliffe |
John Bilcliffe |
John Bilcliffe |
Twelve McDonnell Douglas F-15C/D Eagles landed at RAF Lakenheath on 11th & 12th September 2018 on their way back from Romania, as they transit back to the USA. Eight aircraft arrived at Lakenheath on Tuesday 11th September 2018 and another four aircraft on Wednesday 12th September 2018.
The twelve aircraft were:
Tuesday 11th September 2018:
85-0118 MA - F-15C (131st FS/104th FW)
85-0134 MA - F-15D (131st FS/104th FW) (Two-seat training version)
84-0002 Oregon - F-15C (123rd FS/142nd FW)
84-0005 Oregon - F-15C (123rd FS/142nd FW)
84-0021 Oregon - F-15C (123rd FS/142nd FW)
84-0028 MA - F-15C (131st FS/104th FW)
86-0158 MA - F-15C (131st FS/104th FW)
84-0003 Oregon - F-15C (123rd FS/142nd FW)
Wednesday 12th September 2018:
85-0111 MA - F-15C (131st FS/104th FW)
85-0106 Oregon - F-15C (123rd FS/142nd FW)
83-0018 MA - F-15C (131st FS/104th FW)
85-0094 Oregon - F-15C (123rd FS/142nd FW)
MA:- The 131st Fighter Squadron (131st FS 'Barnestormers') is a unit of the Massachusetts Air National Guard 104th Fighter Wing, located at Barnes Air National Guard Base, Westfield, Massachusetts. The 131st is equipped with the F-15C/D Eagle.
Oregon:- The 123rd Fighter Squadron (123rd FS 'Redhawks') is a unit of the Oregon Air National Guard 142nd Fighter Wing, located at Portland Air National Guard Base, Oregon. The 123rd is equipped with the F-15C Eagle.
Matt Varley |
Matt Varley |
Matt Varley |
On the 23rd July 2018, five new Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) Boeing F-15SA aircraft were seen at RAF Lakenheath on their way from St. Louis Lambert International Airport, Missouri, USA to Saudi Arabia. A previous batch of five RSAF aircraft passed through Lakenheath on 14th May 2018.
The five Royal Saudi Air Force Boeing F-15SA aircraft were:
Monday 23rd July 2018:
12-1018 - RSAF F-15SA
12-1024 - RSAF F-15SA
12-1025 - RSAF F-15SA
12-1026 - RSAF F-15SA
12-1068 - RSAF F-15SA
Monday 14th May 2018:
61-66 - RSAF F-15SA
12-1021 - RSAF F-15SA
12-1064 - RSAF F-15SA
12-1063 - RSAF F-15SA
12-1060 - RSAF F-15SA
In October 2010, the US Congress was notified by Saudi Arabia of a possible sale of 84 new F-15SA aircraft and upgrades to a further 68 of their existing F-15S aircraft. The first four F-15SAs were delivered via RAF Lakenheath in December 2016 and subsequent batches have been delivered since then with the last five seen at Lakenheath in May 2018 and this latest batch of five in July 2018.
The F-15SA (Saudi Advanced) version has a modern fly-by-wire flight control system in place of the hybrid electronic/mechanical system used by all previous F-15s. It uses the APG-63(v)3 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, digital electronic warfare systems (DEWS), infrared search and track (IRST) systems, and other advanced systems. The fly-by-wire system will allow the carriage of weapons on the previously unused outer wing weapon stations.
John Bilcliffe |
John Bilcliffe |
John Bilcliffe |
On the 20th July 2018, fourteen F-16C Fighting Falcons from the 510th Fighter Squadron 'Buzzards', 31st Fighter Wing, based at Aviano Air Base, Italy, deployed to RAF Lakenheath, for about two-weeks, to evaluate aircraft and personnel capabilities and train in NATO operations with the 48th Fighter Wing and British allies. They arrived in three batches of four and then the final two aircraft joined them at Lakenheath.
The fourteen aircraft arrived in four batches:
Friday 20th July 2018:
89-2030 - F-16C (510th FS, 31st FW)
88-0516 - F-16C (510th FS, 31st FW)
88-0525 - F-16C (510th FS, 31st FW)
88-0541 - F-16C (510th FS, 31st FW)
89-2026 - F-16C (510th FS, 31st FW)
89-2008 - F-16C (510th FS, 31st FW)
89-2011 - F-16C (510th FS, 31st FW)
89-2018 - F-16C (510th FS, 31st FW)
89-2057 - F-16C (510th FS, 31st FW)
88-0491 - F-16C (510th FS, 31st FW)
89-2046 - F-16C (510th FS, 31st FW)
89-2102 - F-16C (510th FS, 31st FW)
90-0709 - F-16C (510th FS, 31st FW)
89-2049 - F-16C (510th FS, 31st FW)
During the event, Fourteen F-16C Fighting Falcons and approximately 200 Airmen, assigned to the 31st Fighter Wing, Aviano Air Base, Italy, focused on maintaining joint readiness while building interoperability capabilities with NATO and other U.S. Air Force assets.
"We couldn't have asked for a warmer greeting from the Airmen here at the 48th Fighter Wing," said Lt. Col. Ben Freeborn, 510th FS commander. "This FTD allowed us to test our flexibility with unfamiliar airspace and evaluate our execution of the close air-support mission with our host nation allies."
The Buzzards flew approximately 332 hours across 168 sorties to evaluate aircraft and personnel proficiencies in NATO operations with the 48th Fighter Wing and British allies. Training deployments like this exemplify United States Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa's continuing efforts to develop and improve long lasting partnerships in the region.
Twelve of the Aviano departed RAF Lakenheath on Monday 6th August 2018.
John Bilcliffe |
John Bilcliffe |
John Bilcliffe |
Eight USAF A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft from the 127th Wing, Michigan Air National Guard Base (nicknamed the Red Devils) arrived at RAF Mildenhall on Thursday 31st June 2018. They are passing through to take part in exercise 'Saber Strike 2018'. Excercise 'Sabre Strike 2018' takes place in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland with troops from nineteen countries taking part. The exercise is to promote regional stability and security while strengthening partner capabilities.
The A-10 aircraft arrived at RAF Mildenhall on Thursday in two batches of four. The first batch arrived at 6.40pm and were 80-262, 80-258, 81-996 & 78-641, and the second batch of four arrived at 6.57pm and were 81-0975, 81-0998, 81-0994 (special scheme) & 80-0184.
On the following Saturday morning six A-10s departed from RAF Mildenhall to take part in 'Excercise Sabre Strike' while the other two, 81-0996 and 81-0994 (special scheme) remained at RAF Mildenhall.
The Special scheme A-10 (81-0994) commemorates the 100th Anniversary of the 107th Squadron 'Red Devils'. This aircraft along with 81-0996 took part in the annual D-Day Anniversary event near Cherbourg in France, on Sunday, before returning to RAF Mildenhall.
Matt Varley |
Matt Varley |
Matt Varley |
• RAF Lakenheath - November 2018:
Six USAF F-15C (California ANG 144th FW/194th FS).
• RAF Lakenheath - October 2018:
Six USAF F-22A Raptors, eight US Navy F/A-18 Super Hornets and a US Navy C-2A Greyhound.
• RAF Mildenhall - October 2018:
US Navy Aircraft and Italian Air Force ATR P-72A.
• RAF Mildenhall - September 2018:
Arizona Air National Guard F-16 Fighting Falcons.
• RAF Lakenheath - September 2018:
Twelve MA & Oregon McDonnell Douglas F-15C/D Eagles.
• RAF Lakenheath - July 2018:
Five Royal Saudi Air Force Boeing F-15SA.
• RAF Lakenheath - July 2018:
Fourteen Aviano F-16C Fighting Falcons.
• RAF Mildenhall - June 2018:
Eight USAF A-10 Thunderbolt II.
John Bilcliffe |
John Bilcliffe |
John Bilcliffe |
John Bilcliffe |
John Bilcliffe |
John Bilcliffe |
John Bilcliffe |
John Bilcliffe |
John Bilcliffe |
John Bilcliffe |
John Bilcliffe |
John Bilcliffe |