Real photographs come first
We prefer licensed real photographs, especially for recognisable equipment. Sources can include Wikimedia Commons, government media and manufacturer press libraries with explicit reuse terms. An image being publicly visible does not establish permission to reuse it.
Each published asset records its creator, original source, licence or public-domain basis, attribution and modifications. Captions identify the depicted equipment and any limitations. A family photograph is not evidence of a particular variant or its current service status.
A clear diagram is a good alternative
When no suitable licensed photograph is available, we use a labelled diagram, a generic category icon or a specification card. Category icons are navigation aids, not scale drawings or depictions of the exact variant. A page can also have no photograph.
AI illustrations are a secondary fallback
An AI visual must carry the visible label “AI-generated illustration · Not an official photograph”, including in its alternative text. Its caption must explain that it is illustrative and may contain inaccuracies. We do not use it as evidence for specifications, identification, operators or configuration.
For familiar systems such as F-35, Rafale, Abrams, Leopard 2, Patriot, S-400, AK-12 and M4A1, use a licensed real photograph where possible and a diagram or no image otherwise. Never invent a convincing-looking photograph to fill a gap.
Corrections and rights
Editors check the specific source’s reuse terms and depicted configuration before publication. If an attribution, licence or identification is uncertain, the asset stays unpublished. Raise an image concern through the site’s correction workflow, including the page and original image source.