Stood down: which types departed national fleets during our World Air Forces review?
We detail some of the most notable national fleet retirements recorded in the 12 months since we published our last World Air Forces directory at the end of 2024.
Once combined, our selection of deleted entries – which cover nine aircraft types, drawn from three regions and all six of our directory role categories – total some 122 airframes.
Taiwan phased out the last of its F-5 fighter/reconnaissance jets and trainers
Source: Ritchie B Tongo/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Poland gave a colourful send-off to the final NATO-operated Su-22s
Source: WZL-2
New Zealand said farewell to its long-serving H-model Hercules, replacing them with new C-130Js
Source: New Zealand Defence Force
India’s air force retired the MiG-21 after 62 years of service. Croatia and Cuba also ended use of the Mikoyan-built type
Source: Anuj Jain/Shutterstock
The US Navy waved off its veteran EP-3E Aries II electronic intelligence-gatherers
Source: US Navy
The UK Royal Air Force ended operations with the Puma HC2 transport helicopter
Source: Crown Copyright
France sold its departing C-135 tanker fleet to private US operator Metrea
Source: French Air and Space Force
Kawasaki’s C-1 airlifter was withdrawn by lone operator the Japan Air Self-Defence Force
Source: AirTeamImages
Belgium withdrew its four TTH-variant NH90s from operational service
Source: NH Industries
Among other departures not included within our image selection, we record Nigeria as having ended use of the Dornier 128, Peru the Aermacchi MB-339, Spain the CASA C-101, and Tanzania the Shenyang F/FT-6.
We detail some of the most notable national fleet retirements recorded in the 12 months since we published our last World Air Forces directory at the end of 2024.
Once combined, our selection of deleted entries – which cover nine aircraft types, drawn from three regions and all six of our directory role categories – total some 122 airframes.
Taiwan phased out the last of its F-5 fighter/reconnaissance jets and trainers
Source: Ritchie B Tongo/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Poland gave a colourful send-off to the final NATO-operated Su-22s
Source: WZL-2
New Zealand said farewell to its long-serving H-model Hercules, replacing them with new C-130Js
Source: New Zealand Defence Force
India’s air force retired the MiG-21 after 62 years of service. Croatia and Cuba also ended use of the Mikoyan-built type
Source: Anuj Jain/Shutterstock
The US Navy waved off its veteran EP-3E Aries II electronic intelligence-gatherers
Source: US Navy
The UK Royal Air Force ended operations with the Puma HC2 transport helicopter
Source: Crown Copyright
France sold its departing C-135 tanker fleet to private US operator Metrea
Source: French Air and Space Force
Kawasaki’s C-1 airlifter was withdrawn by lone operator the Japan Air Self-Defence Force
Source: AirTeamImages
Belgium withdrew its four TTH-variant NH90s from operational service
Source: NH Industries
Among other departures not included within our image selection, we record Nigeria as having ended use of the Dornier 128, Peru the Aermacchi MB-339, Spain the CASA C-101, and Tanzania the Shenyang F/FT-6.
Click here to access our free-to-download, 36-page 2026 World Air Forces directory, with full fleet listings.
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