AirForces Monthly - 05.2018

AirForces Monthly is the world’s leading modern military aviation magazine featuring the world’s air forces, their conflicts, weaponry and exercises. Published monthly, it provides the best military aviation news coverage from around the globe and is essential reading for anyone seeking a well-informed view.

*** The unmistakeable shape of Russia’s MiG-31 interceptor adorns the cover of our May issue. Russian aerospace expert Piotr Butowski examines the status of the Cold War-designed Foxhound, a fighter which returned to the news as the launch platform for one of Russia’s new ‘super weapons’ – the Kinzhal hypersonic missile. Other frontline fighters include Swiss Air Force F/A-18s and F-5s, hosted at Meiringen as the air base had a final chance to play a part in the protection of airspace during the World Economic Forum at Davos. Preparing Royal Air Force fighter pilots for the front line is the job of No 29 Squadron at RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire. AFM’s Assistant Editor Jamie Hunter concludes his two-part feature on the making of a Typhoon pilot. Fighters like these are nothing without their armament, the most ubiquitous of which remains the short-range air-to-air missile (AAM). Douglas Barrie and Piotr Butowski launch a review of the heat-seeking AAMs in service around the world. ***