Slater

Let's see if Boeing can't make a mess of the USAF order...

USAF uses gold coloring for inert munitions that are used for classroom training. I believe that all NATO countries use a standard set of colors/color coding for munitions.

Since the munitions pictured are (apparently) inert, I would suggest that "Exercise" might be plausible.

The MJ-4 was used for preloads when those were in widespread USAF use. The farm tractor tow vehicle depicted in the kit was used a lot in Vietnam, but phased out of use in the late 1970's/early 1980's timeframe. MB-4 Coleman tugs were the mainstay until the "Bobtail" tow truck came into use in the early 1980's (1982 at RAF Upper Heyford).

This new variant is supposedly approaching Tomahawk-like ranges, with a 1,000 pound warhead. All AGM-158's will be painted a low-observable black going forward. Gives them more of a Marvel Universe bad guy flavor, I suppose. https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/news/features/2024/xr-taking-todays-cruise-missile-further.html

That was my thought - Why? Although the main problem seems to be the remote vision system used in aerial refueling, Japan would seem to have the technological expertise to effect a solution.

Given the KC-46's ongoing technical issues, I have to wonder why Airbus wasn't considered the superior option? https://www.dsca.mil/sites/default/files/mas/Press Release - Japan 24-91 CN.pdf

The F-35 club is slowly expanding (assuming that this sale goes through to completion) : https://www.dsca.mil/sites/default/files/mas/Press Release - Romania 24-94 CN.pdf

Was Blackhawk ever a viable candidate?

Does anyone make an accurate Mk 20 in any scale?

Add this batch to Poland's 96 requested, and Boeing is working up a backlog: https://www.dsca.mil/sites/default/files/mas/Press Release - Korea 24-36 CN.pdf

For anyone who has used these particular paints, how accurate is the green to the US Army color of that era? https://squadron.com/icm-acrylic-paint-set-for-cobra-ah-1g/

They also want AMRAAM's, although an oddly small quantity: https://www.dsca.mil/sites/default/files/mas/Press Release - Israel 24-08 CN_0.pdf

Wonder if this will make it all the way through to delivery? https://www.dsca.mil/sites/default/files/mas/Press Release - Slovakia 23-79 CN_0.pdf

Not sure on this, but the A-7E may have also carried the AGM-123 Skipper II weapon (basically a powered GBU-16).

I believe Iran adapted the HAWK surface-to-air missile into an air-to-air configuration?

Possibly both air-to-air and anti-surface capable? https://www.twz.com/air/aim-174-super-hornet-launched-variant-of-sm-6-missile-breaks-cover-in-hawaii

MER's went out of general USAF use in the 1970's (except for the F-111's BRU-3). The TER became more or less the standard.

F-35 markings seem to be getting bolder: https://theaviationist.com/2024/06/21/f-35b-receives-bat-topside-marking/

Looks like a precise weapon: https://www.twz.com/air/ea-18g-growler-killed-a-houthi-mi-24-hind-with-an-agm-88e-anti-radiation-missile

Another bump for the production line: https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2024/06/05/germany-leans-into-eurofighter-with-new-order-of-20-jets/

Seems to be some life left in the old bird after all.

...and Brazil: https://www.dsca.mil/sites/default/files/mas/Press Release - Brazil 24-21 CN.pdf

And add Austria to the list: https://www.dsca.mil/sites/default/files/mas/Press Release - Austria 24-64 CN.pdf

Doesn't Sweden already operate this type? https://www.dsca.mil/sites/default/files/mas/Press Release - Sweden 24-63 CN.pdf