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 2023.

Once combined, our selection of deleted entries – which cover nine aircraft types, drawn from four regions and all six of our directory role categories – total some 175 airframes.

Click here to access our free-to-download, 36-page 2025 World Air Forces directory, with full fleet listings.

Brazil retired its veteran C/KC-130H Hercules, replaced by Embraer’s homegrown KC-390

Source: Brazilian air force

Canada flew its last sortie with the Hawk advanced jet trainer: 17 examples departed

Source: Royal Canadian Air Force

The Netherlands said ‘Farewell Falcon’, having flown F-16s since 1979. Some jets will now head to Ukraine

Source: Alex van Noije

The German navy ended operations with Sea King transport helicopters

Source: Bundeswehr

South Korea’s air force gave its final F-4 Phantoms a colourful send-off

Source: Yonhap/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Italy phased out its AMX light strike aircraft, after 35 years of service

Source: AirTeamImages

The Swedish air force ended operations with its Saab 105 jet trainers

Source: AirTeamImages

Electronic warfare-adapted AP-3Cs were stood down by Royal Australian Air Force

Source: Commonwealth of Australia

September saw the US Air Force’s last KC-10 tankers leave use

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 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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