Combat Aircraft Journal

15/07/2025

David Willis looks at the B-1B’s combat debut and the creation of its predecessor https://www.key.aero/article/b-1s-troublesome-birth-and-combat-debut?utm_source=Facebook

Image credit: Jake Melampy via USAF

The Rockwell B-1 experienced a troubled birth, but today it is probably the USAF’s premier long-range conventional strike platform. In the first part of a development history of the bomber, David

15/07/2025

RIAT/ has today posted an update to its aircraft participation list. Click below for our updated RIAT preview: https://www.key.aero/article/royal-international-air-tattoo-riat-preview?utm_source=Facebook

Image credit: Ben Stanley Hall

KeyAero provides a preview of this year’s Royal International Air Tattoo, picking out what are set to be the highlights of this year’s airshow.

14/07/2025

FREE ARTICLE: KeyAero provides a preview of this year’s Royal International Air Tattoo/, picking out what are set to be the highlights of this year’s airshow https://www.key.aero/article/royal-international-air-tattoo-riat-preview?utm_source=Facebook

Image credit: Ben Stanley Hall

KeyAero provides a preview of this year’s Royal International Air Tattoo, picking out what are set to be the highlights of this year’s airshow.

14/07/2025

Have you been going to RIAT/ for years? If so, see how good your knowledge is of the airshow https://www.key.aero/article/try-our-royal-international-air-tattoo-riat-quiz?utm_source=Facebook

Have you been going to RIAT for years? If so, see how good your knowledge is of the airshow.

13/07/2025

Concluding AFM’s celebration marking the 40th anniversary of the , Ben Stanley Hall looks at some more of the most notable debuts at the world’s greatest military airshow https://www.key.aero/article/memorable-riat-aircraft-attendees-and-stories-behind-them-part-2?utm_source=Facebook

Image credit: Glenn Stanley

Concluding AFM’s celebration marking the 40th anniversary of the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford. Ben Stanley Hall looks at some of the most notable debuts at the world’s greatest

12/07/2025

NATO has ordered two more A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft from Airbus Defence and Space https://www.key.aero/article/more-a330-mrtts-nato-and-two-more-nations-join-programme?utm_source=Facebook

NATO has ordered two more A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft from Airbus Defence and Space.

12/07/2025

Ben Stanley Hall looks at some of the more interesting first appearances at the world’s greatest military airshow https://www.key.aero/article/memorable-riat-aircraft-attendees-and-stories-behind-them-part-1?utm_source=Facebook

Image credit: Peter March

2025 marks the 40th anniversary of what is now known as the Royal International Air Tattoo making RAF Fairford its home. Ben Stanley Hall looks at some of the more interesting first appearances at the

11/07/2025

As the Royal International Air Tattoo celebrates its fourth decade at RAF Fairford, we take a trip down memory lane with Peter R March, an Air Tattoo Volunteer since 1971 https://www.key.aero/article/riat-40-years-and-thriving?utm_source=Facebook

Image credit: Glenn Stanley

As the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) celebrates its fourth decade at RAF Fairford, we take a trip down memory lane with Peter R March, an Air Tattoo Volunteer since 1971

10/07/2025

Aramco of Saudi Arabia has ordered two C-27Js in a firefighting and multi-mission configuration, becoming the first civilian customer for the variant https://www.key.aero/article/aramco-orders-leonardo-c-27js?utm_source=Facebook

Image credit: Leonardo

Aramco of Saudi Arabia has ordered two Leonardo C-27Js in a firefighting and multi-mission configuration, becoming the first civilian customer for the variant.

09/07/2025

Babak Taghvaee looks at the closure of the French Air Force storage facility at Châteaudun https://www.key.aero/article/scrapped-frances-davis-monthan?utm_source=Facebook

Image credit: Maxime Garcia

Babak Taghvaee looks at the closure of the French Air Force storage facility at Châteaudun

09/07/2025

Norway and the United States recently tested a mid-flight hand-over of a networked munition during the Jotun Strike trial https://www.key.aero/article/us-allows-weapon-be-controlled-flight-another-country-first-time?utm_source=Facebook

Image credit: Torbjørn Kjosvold

Norway and the United States recently tested hand-over of a networked munition during the Jotun Strike trial, marking a first for NATO in cross-national, mid-flight ordnance control.

07/07/2025

Have you ever aspired to be published in a global magazine?
Now is the time...
With the latest edition of Combat Aircraft Journal recently going on sale, we would like to remind all of our valued readers of our monthly photo competition.

The prize - To have your image published across a double-page spread in CAJ with full credit

Up to three images per entrant of modern military aircraft, with a detailed caption of what is happening within the image. Please refrain from sending air-to-air images.

Email your photos and captions now, subject - 'Just a nice pic / JANP' to
[email protected]

Deadline for this month's competition - 14th of July, so be quick!!

Shown is the winner for August's edition, Arnold ten Pas, with this haunting image of a Ukrainian Air Force Su-27UB, ‘75 blue’, landing in the dark at its home at Myrhorod Air Base in Poltava Oblast, just a few months before the Russian invasion