Real Thaw 2010

Following the 2009 edition, the Portuguese Air Force (PoAF) has organized once more the Real Thaw military exercise. This is an international exercise focused on Close Air Support (CAS) and modern air combate operations in a scenario which closely resembles Afghanistan. In the 2010 edition a total of 1,000 military and 50 aicraft from Portugal, Belgium, Dennamark, Spain, Lituania and United States (along with a NATO E-3A AWACS aircraft) have been involved in the day and night missions.

The Brazilian website Defesa Net has published a report convering the exercise. You can check the full article in the following adress:

http://www.defesanet.com.br/10_02/100202_05_realthaw2010.htm

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Spotting in the air base of Monte Real

Some photographs of the morning missions during a spotting session in mid-July in the air base of Monte Real. This is the home base for the F-16 fleet from the Portuguese Air Force. This year, the air base of Monte Real celebrates its 50th anniversary. Commemorations include an air show, in 22th of July, which will bring to Portugal the A-7H Coirsair from the Greek Air Force - the last operator worldwide of this historical aircraft that once operated with the Portuguese colors.

Currently, two squadrons operate the F-16 fighter in Monte Real: the 201 Sqn. "Falcões" with the F-16 OCU fleet and the 301 Sqn. "Jaguares" with the modernized F-16 MLU. The OCU cells, received by 1994, are now starting a modernization programme which will bring the entire fleet up to the MLU variant.

A F-16BM fighter from 301 Sqn. arrives from a mission in the Portuguese skies. Notice that the pilot is using the new JHMCS (Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System) and the aircraft is equipped with a Litening AT (Advanced Targeting) targeting pod. The operation of the Litening AT started in 2009 and it has been already used in the international military exercise Real Thaw.

The older but still trustable F-16B from the 201 Sqn. which has an important operational background with a dettachment in the Balkan war in the 1990s and the participation in the well-known Red Flag exercise from the US Air Force.

A Portuguese F-16 fighter from 201 Sqn. in a fly-by above the air base of Monte Real minutes before landing.

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Monte Real: Home of the Portuguese F-16 fleet

The May and June issues of the Spanish magazine War Heat have published the first and second part of an article which I wrote together with Juan Carlos Pando (you can also visit his webpage) about the Portuguese F-16 fleet.

The article covers the history of the air base of Monte Real, where the two F-16 squadrons of the Portuguese Air Force are located, as well as the operational life of the Fighting Falcon with Portuguese colors. The MLU programme as well as new equipments, weapon systems and international exercises are also mentioned in this article.

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UPF: Force Protection

The Brazilian website Defesa Net has published an article introducing the recent created Unidade de Protecção de Força (UPF) of the Portuguese Air Force. This is an elite infantry force which assures the protection of the Portuguese aircraft and personnel deployed on foreign missions.

You can check the full article on the following adress:
http://www.defesanet.com.br/nato/pt_upf.htm

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Real Thaw 09

The Brazilian website Defesa Net has published an article covering the military exercise Real Thaw, organized by the Portuguese Air Force, with the participation of units from Dennamark and Spain. The article also focus the new Litening AT targeting pod which has just entered in service with the MLU fleet.

You can check the full article on the following adress:
http://www.defesanet.com.br/nato/pt_real_thaw.htm

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New link: Cannon Two

Jorge Ruivo is a gifted photographer and a truelly passioned enthusiast of military aviation. With 30 years of memories and photos to share, he has recently created a personal blog. The firts report could not be better: the impressive description and photographic report of his first flight on a F-16B fighter. Bravo Zulu, Jorge! A blog to visit regulary.

http://cannontwo.blogspot.com/

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