The 93d Fighter Squadron, known as the Makos, is part of the Air Force Reserve Command’s 482d Fighter Wing at Homestead Air Reserve Base, Florida. First activated in 1943, the squadron flew C-47 Skytrains in World War II operations including D-Day, Operation Market Garden, and the Siege of Bastogne. Reactivated as a reserve unit in 1949, the Makos have flown multiple aircraft over the decades and have operated the F-16C/D Fighting Falcon since 1995, conducting air superiority missions during Operations Northern Watch and Iraqi Freedom. As shown hereunder, the 93rd Fighter Squadron has also represented the United States Air Force through their participation in exercise Iniochos 2025

The last military movement of the year 2025 at LMML consisted of a Kuwaiti Air Force Lockheed KC-130J Hercules. The Kuwait Air Force operates a fleet of three Lockheed Martin KC-130J Hercules aerial refueling and transport aircraft, acquired via a U.S. Foreign Military Sale contract signed in 2010 and delivered by early 2014. These extended-range tankers enhance Kuwait’s air mobility and provide in-flight refueling for fighter jets like its F/A-18s, while also performing tactical airlift, airdrop, humanitarian support and disaster-relief missions as needed. The KC-130J combines the proven Hercules airframe with modern engines and systems, and sustainment support for the Kuwait fleet is managed through ongoing contracts with allied partners and the U.S. Naval Air Systems Command.

Four RAF Typhoons (ZK426, ZK340, ZK364 & ZK308) sporting 12 Squadron markings flew in on the 24th November 2025 for a nightstop on their way to the Middle East. They were supported by an Airbus Voyager KC.2 ‘ZZ331’.

Number 12 Squadron, also known as No. 12 (Bomber) Squadron and occasionally as No. XII Squadron, was reformed in July 2018 as a joint RAF/Qatar Emiri Air Force squadron. It is currently based at RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire, and operates the Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4, while temporarily integrating Qatari air and ground crews in order to provide training and support as part of the Qatari purchase of 24 Typhoons from the UK. It is interesting to note the UK and Qatari national flags beneath the Squadron’s fox emblem in the badges adorning their aircraft.

An Italian Air Force Leonardo HH-139B helicopter, bearing serial MM81990, was recently present in Malta for a series of joint training activities with the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM). The visit forms part of ongoing bilateral military cooperation between the two countries, a relationship that has seen Italian Air Force helicopters regularly operating in Maltese airspace in support of shared regional security objectives.

The Italian Air Force operates two distinct variants of the Leonardo AW139 in the search-and-rescue and utility role, designated HH-139A and HH-139B. The newer B model incorporates a higher maximum take-off weight, updated avionics and sensor systems, and a dual-hoist rescue capability. Externally, it can be identified by its slimmer sponsons, reflecting the standard AW139 design.

For more than a decade, the Royal Danish Air Force (RDAF) F-16 Solo Display Team has been one of Europe’s most recognisable F-16 demonstrations, showcasing the agility, power, and precision of Denmark’s frontline fighter. In 2025, the team took to the skies for the last time symbolically closing a significant chapter in Danish airpower history. At the centre of this historic finale was Captain Troels “TEO” Vang, the active-duty fighter pilot chosen to lead the final season and deliver the last public F-16 displays in Danish Air Force service.

A report highlighting the operational significance of the RDAF F-16 demo team for the country of Denmark can be found on the following link.

The MED5 is an informal grouping of five EU Mediterranean frontline states — Malta, Italy, Greece, Spain and Cyprus. These five countries coordinate on migration, border-management and asylum policy to present a united front. Last weekend’s meeting solidified a shared fair but firm approach to migration. The MED5 group reaffirmed its commitment to fully implement the European Pact on Migration and Asylum, while demanding stronger EU support, including tangible solidarity and adequate funding for frontline countries. They also emphasized strengthening border control and return systems for migrants who do not qualify for asylum, plus deeper cooperation with origin and transit countries, viewing prevention and return as essential to tackling irregular migration.

For Malta specifically, the summit offered a chance to highlight the country’s recent results. Over the past five years irregular sea arrivals have dropped by 93%, and returns of irregular migrants have risen to roughly 75–80%. Malta’s representative underlined that despite these improvements, collaboration with the other MED5 states and the EU remains crucial to manage migration fairly and effectively across all member states.

For military aviation enthusiasts, the summit brought about two rare military state aircraft, a Spanish Air Force Dassault Falcon 900 ‘T.18-3’, and the first ever visit at LMML by the Italian Air Force Gulfstream VC-650A ‘MM62343’.

Earlier this week a French Air Force CASA CN-235 visited LMML for a night stop. The CASA CN-235 is a key component of the French Air and Space Force’s transport capability. Introduced in 1991, the fleet now includes 27 aircraft in total, with 19 CN-235-200s and 8 CN-235-300s.

This compact twin-engine transport can accommodate around 40 passengers or about 5 tons of cargo, and its flexibility enables it to perform a wide range of missions, including troop movement, cargo transport from short or semi-prepared airstrips, medical evacuation, humanitarian support, and both parachute and cargo-drop operations.

Roskilde Airshow 2025 took place over the weekend of August 23–24 at Roskilde Airport, drawing just over 21,000 spectators on a sunny weekend. The event featured a broad lineup of aircraft, from Danish and foreign military jets (including the Eurofighter, SAAB Gripen and F-16s) to vintage warbirds, aerobatic teams like the Polish Orlik squadron, and civilian aircraft.

Crowd highlights included a spectacular twilight airshow on Saturday evening with pyrotechnics, lasers, LEDs, and fireworks. The RAF Red Arrows made a much-anticipated return, performing a fly-past on Saturday and a full display on Sunday. On the ground, there were exhibition stands focused on aviation education, military history, and interactive activities for families plus food, rides, and more. As a bonus, there were pleasure flights offered in seaplanes, helicopters, and airliners. The event also marked the airshow’s 30th anniversary.

A report on the airshow can be found on the following link.

Earlier this month, I attended the spotters day organised by the Hellenic Air Force during military exercise Iniochos hosted by the Hellenic Air Force in collaboration with NATO. Exercise Iniochos is a multinational military air exercise hosted annually by Greece at Andravida Air Base in western Greece. Iniochos aims to enhance interoperability, joint training, and combat readiness among allied air forces by simulating complex, real-world air operations including reconnaissance, search & rescue, air-to-air combat, air-to-ground missions, Suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD) and electronic warfare.