California Army National Guard Maj. Gen. Matthew Beevers answers reporters' questions during the Romanian air force's 71st Air Base's air show and open house at Campia Turzii, Romania, July 23, 2016.
U.S. Air Force crew chiefs from the 354th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron perform maintenance on a U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft engine during a theater security package deployment to Lask Air Base, Poland, July 9, 2015. The U.S. and Polish air forces will conduct training aimed to strengthen interoperability and demonstrate the countries' shared commitment to the security and stability of Europe. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Ruano/Released)
The 86th Airlift Wing and 435th Contingency Response Group conducted a Flying Training Deployment with the Israeli air force's 103rd Squadron here Jan. 27 to Feb. 8.
A powerful bond between nations becomes even stronger when officials from the Polish Air Force visit Spangdahlem Air Base. A1C Alexander Goad explains.
NAMEST AIR BASE, Czech Republic -- Capt. Bennet Merriman, 81st Fighter Squadron A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot, puts on his flight equipment before a close air support and forward air control training mission Sept. 10, during Ramstein Rover 2012 here. RARO 12 is a NATO partnership building exercise involving more than 16 nations. A-10 Thunderbolt IIs from the 81st FS are participating in the exercise to provide close air support to partnering nations and practice forward air control missions with their NATO allies in international security assistance force realistic scenarios. During this mission the 81st FS pilots supported German and Italian forward air controllers. Participating in exercises like RARO 12 ensures effective employment of airpower in support of alliance or coalition forces while mitigating risks to civilians in contingency operations.
NATO forces must work together during global military conflicts and seamless integration isn’t possible without training and an exchange of ideas. Enter the European Tanker Symposium; where members of the Royal Air Force as well as Italian, French, and Belgian air forces talk shop to increase NATO’s Air Power. SSgt Lance Daigle reports.
Bulgarian and American pilots are honing their skills at Exercise Thracian Star. Before they can take to the sky, there’s some prep work on the ground that needs to be done. Robert Sekula has more.
Exercise Thracian Star allows the U.S. and Bulgarian Air Forces to train together. But before pilots can take to the skies the communication between the two nations needs to be locked in tight.
U.S. and Bulgarian Airmen launched Thracian Star 2012, a joint training exercise focused on building partnerships and increasing interoperability, during a ceremony here April 18.
GRAF IGNATIEVO AIR FORCE BASE, Bulgaria -- Col. David Walker, 31st Operations Group and Thracian Star 2012 detachment commander, speaks to a journalist from the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency through a translator April 18, 2012 during the opening ceremony for the month-long joint training exercise focused on building partnerships and increasing interoperability with the Bulgarian air force. Bulgarian and American senior officials took the opportunity to acknowledge and express appreciation for the long-standing partnership between the two nations.
GRAF IGNATIEVO AIR FORCE BASE, Bulgaria -- Maj. Metodi Orlov, (left), a Bulgarian air force MiG-29 pilot, welcomes Maj. Matthew Brockhaus, (right), an F-16 pilot deployed with the 555th Fighter Squadron out of Aviano Air Base, Italy, to Bulgaria on April 17, 2012. Brockhaus is one of more than 500 U.S. Airmen taking part in Thracian Star 2012, a month-long joint training exercise focused on building partnerships and increasing interoperability with the Bulgarian air force. This is the third time since 2007 that men and women from the 31st Fighter Wing out of Aviano AB have conducted this type of training with the Bulgarians.
Staff Sgt. David Ambrusko, 31st Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels service controller, refuels an F-16 after landing at Graf Ignatievo Air Force Base April 17, 2012. Graf Ignatievo is now host to more than two dozen F-16 Fighting Falcons and more than 500 U.S. Air Force personnel in support of Thracian Star 2012, a month-long joint training exercise focused on building partnerships and increasing interoperability with the Bulgarian pilots, maintainers, joint terminal air controllers, firefighters and security forces Airmen.
Tech. Sgt. Brent Watkins, Airman Gage Boardingham and Airman 1st Class Corey Loesch, 31st Civil Engineer Squadron firefighters, test a barrier engagement on an F-16 after landing at Graf Ignatievo Air Force Base April 17, 2012. Graf Ignatievo is now host to more than two dozen F-16 Fighting Falcons and more than 500 U.S. Air Force personnel in support of Thracian Star 2012, a month-long joint training exercise focused on building partnerships and increasing interoperability with the Bulgarian pilots, maintainers, joint terminal air controllers, firefighters and security forces Airmen.
As part of a whirlwind tour of U.S. military commands, the Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces, Gen. Mieczysław Cieniuch, visited the 162nd Fighter Wing here at Tucson International Airport Jan. 12.
Polish Army Maj. Gen. Andrzej Falkowski, the Polish Defense Attaché to Washington D.C., tries on an F-16 pilot’s helmet equipped with the joint helmet-mounted cueing system with help from Master Sgt. Don Lauver while Polish Army Gen. Mieczyslaw Cieniuch (right), Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces, observes Jan. 12.
When U.S. F-16s are in the air over Italy, they often fly far from any ground support should they need to land. A1C Roman Weber tells us how Aviano fire safety officials are making sure pilots and aircraft are safe if they have to make an emergency landing away from home.
Training exercises that require cooperation with service members from other countries can come with language and cultural barriers. SrA Amanda Wowk reports from the United Kingdom where U.S. and Swedish troops are teaming up to stay ready for whatever comes their way.
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England - (left to right) U.S. Air Force Maj. Mike Conrad, 493rd Fighter Squadron pilot, and Swedish Air Force Capt. Fredrik Bergstrom, 211th Fighter Squadron, go over preparations before take-off as Senior Airman Francisco Lumbreras, 748th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron assistant dedicated crew chief assists Bergstrom with gear Nov. 17, 2011. This is Bergstrom's first time ever in a foreign aircraft. Members from the SAF and the 48th Fighter Wing trained together to increase their interoperability and gather experience with foreign aircraft.
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England - U.S. Air Force Maj. Mike Conrad, 493rd Fighter Squadron pilot, (left) checks aircraft forms as Swedish Air Force Capt Fredrik Bergstrom, 211th Fighter Squadron, watches prior to take-off, Nov. 17, 2011. This is Bergstrom's first time ever in a foreign aircraft.Members from the SAF and the 48th Fighter Wing trained together to increase their interoperability and gather experience with foreign aircraft.
On this edition of the AFN Europe Report: We're on location in Luxeuil Les Bains, France, where the locals pull out all the stops for American veterans who liberated the city 67 years ago. We'll hear stories from the men of our greatest generation. This and more on the AFN Europe Report.
Lt. Col. Kirk Toomey, and F-16 pilot from the California Air National Guard, prepares to taxi his F-16D with Lt.
Col. Dmytro Fisher from Migorod Air Base Ukraine during SAFE SKIES 2011. SAFE SKIES 2011 is a joint Ukraine, Poland, U.S. aerial exchange event. (U.S. Air Force photo by Maj. Matthew T. Mutti, 104FW/CCE)
Capt. Frank Prokop, an F-16 pilot from the Alabama Air National Guard sits in the back seat of a Ukrainian SU-27 before his orientation ride on July 19, 2011 with Ukraine Col. Oleh Ges flying in the front seat during exercise SAFE SKIES 2011. SAFE SKIES 2011 is a joint Ukraine, Poland, U.S. aerial exchange event. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Charles Vaughn, 144 FW/PA)
FARNBOROUGH, United Kingdom -- The Air Force has offered visitors a chance to see the legendary F-16 Fighting Falcons during the Farnborough International Air Show July 19-25.
HOHENFELS, Germany – The German reserve and American soldiers paired up for the 8th annual air movement exercise May 28 at Joint Multinational Readiness Center during Operation Open Gate in the Hohenfels training area.
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy -- The 555th Fighter Squadron and the 555th Aircraft Maintenance Unit returned to Aviano after a training deployment to Zaragoza Air Base, Spain, Jan. 22 to Feb. 12, during which the pilots and maintainers were given opportunities to work side-by-side with the Spanish air force and accomplish vital training exercises.
