The following picture, released on Sept. 5, 2012 was taken on Aug. 14, 2007, at the end of exercise Valiant Shield 2007. It shows a B-52 leading a formation of four F-18E/F Super Hornet, four F-18C Legacy Hornet, four F-15s and four F-16s, a package made of combat planes belonging to the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps.
Those 17 aircraft (and the weapons they are able to carry) represent a small force capable to perform a wide variety of missions against the most modern enemy air defenses: although it may be a bit far-fetched, I’m quite sure some minor (if not middle-sized) European air forces would be able to assemble an aerial armada as effective as the one depicted in the photograph below.
Image credit: U.S. Navy
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