AirForces Monthly Magazine March 2017 Vorige editie

The March issue of AirForces Monthly is all about global air power in action. While our cover story examines in unprecedented depth the first air strikes by the US Air Force’s B-2A Spirit since Operation Odyssey Dawn in 2011, our specially compiled Intel Report brings together all the detail – the aircraft, units and bases – involved in the most significant multinational air operation currently staged: the war against the terrorists of the so-called Islamic State (IS) under Operation Inherent Resolve. At the other end of the scale, we visit the Alps to see the Swiss Air Force provide combat air patrols over the World Economic Forum in Davos. Our UK air power report this month looks at the drawdown of the Royal Air Force’s No XV(R) Squadron, the Tornado Operational Conversion Unit at Lossiemouth, while there’s also an exclusive report on the varied work of VX-20, one of the US Navy’s flight test specialists. We continue our study of NATO’s European attack helicopter fleets, and there is extensive coverage of the Bulgarian Air Force – an air arm adapting to the NATO way of operations. Alongside the latest news and attrition, Alan Warnes makes the case for the aircraft carrier – still among the most effective power-projection tools around.