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 2022.

Once combined, our selection of deleted entries – which cover nine aircraft types, drawn from six regions and five of our directory role categories – total some 167 airframes.

Click here to access our free-to-download, 36-page 2024 World Air Forces directory, with full fleet listings.

The Australian military permanently grounded its MRH90 Taipans, following a fatal crash

Source: Commonwealth of Australia

Austria’s vintage Alouettes headed into history, as AW169M deliveries commenced

Source: Bundesheer

Colombia’s veteran A-37 Dragonfly fleet left service, along with its aged T-37 trainers

Source: AirTeamImages

The Czech Republic removed its final Mi-35s, after fielding new AH-1Zs

Source: AirTeamImages

India’s navy withdrew the last of its Il-38 maritime patrol aircraft

Source: Indian navy

New Zealand completed the replacement of its P-3K Orions with four P-8A Poseidons

Source: New Zealand Defence Force

Romania retired its MiG-21 fighters – as did Azerbaijan and Guinea

Source: Robert Ghement/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

The UK Royal Air Force ended operations with the C-130J, cutting 15 tactical transports

Source: Crown Copyright

US Air Force departures included all 11 reconnaissance-tasked RC-26B twin-turboprops

Source: US Air Force

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European Defence Editor Craig Hoyle has reported on the UK, European and international military aviation sector for almost 30 years, and has also been the Editor of Flight International since 2015. He joined FlightGlobal in 2003, and also compiles our annual World Air Forces directory.View full Profile

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