F-35B on HMS

Queen Elizabeth
Colombian
UK carrier trials in detail Kfirs Latin America’s
lion pride

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FORCE EXERCISE
REPORT REPORT

Tornado tales Lebanese Air Force CRUZEX 2018

Operation Telic’s ‘young gun’ Air power on the rise Fighters of the Southern Cross
Comment

The first ‘fifth-gen’ air force?

s the first two F-35A fighters to of ‘legacy’ types the F-35 will replace, the it is a catalyst for transforming us into a fifth-
A be permanently based in Australia
touched down at RAAF Base
RAAF has adopted a different approach.
Arguably, it’s done a better job of winning
generation fighting force.” He continued: “An
integrated Australian Defence Force is greater
Williamtown, north of Sydney, on December the public relations battle in the process. than the sum of its parts and the F-35 has
10, officials were keen to point to the In this way, the Lightning II is seen as been a driver for this change. So today, ladies
transformative potential of the ‘fifth-generation’ the future lynchpin of a multi-facetted and and gentlemen, the naysayers can take a seat.”
fighter. While analysts have periodically thoroughly advanced air force, working Davies was admitting that in Australia, too,
expressed unease at what first gained traction alongside the F/A-18F Super Hornet and the F-35 has its critics. However, the RAAF’s
as a marketing term, the Australian Defence EA-18G Growler; the forthcoming Gulfstream recent history of astute procurement and
Force has embraced it. Indeed, the Royal G550 intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance investment in high-end capabilities has helped
Australian Air Force (RAAF) has expressed and electronic warfare (ISREW) aircraft; shield the JSF from attack. The government
its aspiration to become the world’s first plus MQ-4C Triton and MQ-9 Reaper may be committing over AUS$17bn to acquire
fully networked ‘fifth-generation’ air arm. unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). In this 72 F-35As (with the possibility of more orders
Beyond the hype, there’s much to envy high-tech order of battle, the E-7 Wedgetail to follow), but the stealth fighter is just one
in the RAAF’s ambitious procurement airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) element in a AUS$200bn investment to
programme. “The [F-35A] Joint Strike Fighter aircraft is a relative veteran. It all puts the thoroughly overhaul the entire defence force.
replaces nothing, but changes everything,” RAF’s own efforts to field a new AEW&C
former RAAF chief Air Marshal Geoff Brown platform in a somewhat unfavourable light.
said. “It requires a new way of thinking Speaking at the F-35A’s formal welcoming
and a new way of operating,” he added. ceremony at Williamtown, Brown’s successor,
While other air arms – including the Air Marshal ‘Leo’ Davies, explained: “The F-35 Thomas Newdick
type’s largest customer, the USAF – have is not just a fifth-generation fighter, with speed Email at:
often pointed to the number and variety and agility and advanced information systems, [email protected]

The first two home-based Australian F-35As over the Hopi Reservation, Arizona, prior to their flight to Williamtown. CPL Dan Pinhorn/Commonwealth of Australia

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Contents February 2019 #371

Cover: A B-1B Lancer from the US Air Force’s

37th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron returns to its
mission over Afghanistan after receiving fuel from a
KC-135 Stratotanker from the 340th Expeditionary
Air Refueling Squadron. The bomber was flying
in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in
March 2014. In this issue, AFM pays an exclusive
visit to the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing at the
base known as ‘The Deid’ – Al Udeid, Qatar. Here,
‘Bones’ deployed from the 7th Bomb Wing at
Dyess Air Force Base in Texas, provide the ultimate
symbol of US air power in the region in support
of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel in Afghanistan
and Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq and Syria.
USAF/Master Sgt William Greer Right: Westland Sea
King Mk43B serial 073 against the spectacular
backdrop of Norway’s rugged coastline and fjords.
Responsibility for search and rescue within the
Luftforsvaret (Royal Norwegian Air Force, RNoAF)
falls to 330 Skvadron, which operates 12 Sea King
helicopters across two Joint Rescue Coordination
Centres (JRCCs) and five bases overseeing the
north and south of the country. See p60 for more.

Features
3 Comment on Operation Telic – the youngest RAF
AFM’s opinion on the hot topics in Tornado pilot engaged in the 2003 war
military aviation. against Saddam Hussein’s Iraqi forces.
He spoke to Thomas Newdick about
flying the GR4 in combat.
28 Perfect partnership
A pair of F-35B Lightnings embarking
on board HMS Queen Elizabeth off the 48 Desert ‘Bones’
east coast of the US marked a major In an exclusive insight into US Air Force B-1B
step forward in regenerating the UK’s operations during combat missions in the
Carrier Strike capability. Richard Scott Middle East, Ashley Wallace was granted
joined the carrier at the end of the First access to the secretive base at Al Udeid,
Of Class Flight Trials to find out how Qatar for a rare look at the Lancer at war.

SUBSCRIBE aircraft and ship performed together.

60 Kings of the Arctic
& SAVE!
Subscribe to AFM and make great savings on
40 TORNADO TALES
Telic’s ‘young gun’
Flying Officer Pete Beilby turned 24
Located within the Arctic Circle, Bodø
airfield is surrounded by sea, mountains
and fjords, and experiences the strongest
cover price! See pages 22-23 for details. in the Kuwaiti desert while deployed winds in Norway. It’s an environment

4 // FEBRUARY 2019 #371 www.airforcesmonthly.com

 News
All the world’s military aviation news, by region
6-7 .................Headlines
8-9 .................United Kingdom
10-12 .............Continental Europe
14-16 .............North America
18...................Latin America
19...................Middle East
20 ..................Russia & CIS
21...................Africa
24-25 .............Asia Pacific
26 ..................Australasia

Regular features
34 INTEL REPORT:
Egypt’s defence expo
Alan Warnes reports from the first Egypt
Defence Exhibition (EDEX), held from
December 3-5 on the outskirts of Cairo.

44 EXERCISE REPORT:
CRUZEX 2018
Air arms from Brazil, Chile, Peru and Uruguay as
well as the United States, Canada and France,
came to Natal air base in northeast Brazil for
the joint CRUZEX exercise in late November.

56 EXERCISE REPORT:
Trident Juncture 2018
Trident Juncture 2018 was the largest
collective defence exercise by NATO
forces since the end of the Cold War.

74 FORCE REPORT:
Lebanon: a force on the rise
The small but effective Lebanese Air Force
has had its fair share of struggles in the
past, but is now undergoing an increase in
aircraft numbers as well as professionalism.

82 EXERCISE REPORT:
Falcon Autumn 2018
Exercise Falcon Autumn combined
the rotary forces of the
Germany Army and the Royal
Netherlands Air Force.

fraught with danger for the aviators of 330 80 Postcard 84

Skvadron, as Neil Dunridge discovered. from Iruma COMMANDER’S
AFM contributor Rolf UPDATE
66 Tehran’s show of force Flinzner was at Iruma BRIEFING:
The ninth Iran International Airshow ran Air Base in the city Composite air
from November 26-29 on the small island of of Sayama, Saitama operations
Kish. In the shadow of renewed international Prefecture, north of Bringing a range of
pressure on the country, Daniele Faccioli western Tokyo, when effects to bear in a neat air
witnessed an incredible display of air power. the Japan Air Self-Defense package is the very essence
Force opened the station’s of the COMAO. It’s a way to meet
70 Cold Lake – where fighter doors to the public as part of the mission objectives in a complex scenario.
Culture Day national holiday on November 3.
pilots are made
The NATO Flying Training in Canada 88 Attrition
programme was launched in 2000, and 419 92 Jungle lions at 30 Dave Allport details the world’s
Tactical Fighter Training Squadron became Yissachar Ruas reports from Palanquero most recent military accidents.
responsible for Phase IV training – the air base as AFM flies with the upgraded
last step before the cockpit of a frontline Kfir fighters of the Colombian Air 98 Coming up
fighter. Dirk Jan de Ridder investigates. Force’s Escuadrón de Combate 111. See what’s featuring in your AFM next month.

www.airforcesmonthly.com #371 FEBRUARY 2019 // 5

 NEWS Headlines

RAAF Lightning Spain eyes

participation
in NGWS
IIs arrive in future fighter
THE SPANISH Ministry of

Australia
Defence has signalled its
intent to join the Franco-
German New-Generation
Weapon System (NGWS)
future fighter programme.
In a letter to French
and German defence
ministers Florence Parly
and Ursula von der
Leyen, their Spanish
counterpart Margarita
Robles, communicated
her government’s firm
interest in participating
in NGWS, requesting a
formalisation through a
future Letter of Intent (LOI)
or tripartite Memorandum
of Understanding (MOU).
Spain expects to invest
around €25m in the project
Above: Serials A35-010 and A35-009 – the first F-35s to be permanently based in Australia – in formation with ‘classic’ F/A-18s for the next two years.
on their arrival. CPL David Gibbs/Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Defence In a statement, the
Spanish MoD said that the
THE FIRST two Royal Squadron at Luke Air Force Hickam AFB in Hawaii and testing leading up to Netherlands and Italy have
Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base, Arizona, as part RAAF Base Amberley, planned declaration of joined the British Tempest
F-35As to be permanently of the international F-35 Queensland. For the final initial operational capability next-generation fighter
based in Australia arrived training school. The RAAF leg of the journey the (IOC) at the end of 2020. effort, but that it expected
at RAAF Base Williamtown, has a requirement for 72 fighters were flown by The next two jets are the two programmes
New South Wales, on F-35As and may eventually the commanding officer planned to be delivered to eventually merge.
December 10. The acquire a further 28 aircraft of No 3 Squadron, Wing to Williamtown in April Spain is seeking to
Lightning IIs, A35-009 and in the next decade. Commander Darren and eight aircraft will replace its 20 oldest F/A-
A35-010, are the ninth and The two aircraft had been Clare and Squadron have arrived by the 18s – based at Gando
tenth jets to be delivered to delivered to the RAAF at Leader Red Borrman. end of the year. in the Canary Islands –
the service; the first eight Luke in September and The two aircraft will The 72 F-35As for the by 2025, before phasing
are temporarily assigned October last year. The pair now conduct a period of RAAF are due to be out the remaining 65
to the USAF’s 61st Fighter arrived at Williamtown via verification and validation delivered by 2023. Hornets by 2030.

Russian F-35 kicks off IOT&E phase

Blackjacks Operational Test Team
(JOTT), under the oversight
visit of the independent Director
of Operational Test and
Venezuela Evaluation (DOT&E), will
execute formal IOT&E
A PAIR of Vozdushno-
Kosmicheskiye Sily with international partner
Rossiyskoy Federatsii participation. The 31st
(VKS, Russian Aerospace TES has ten F-35 pilots,
Forces) Tu-160 strategic 145 maintainers and 11
bombers arrived in engineers assigned to this
Venezuela for a brief phase of the Joint Strike
visit on December 10. Fighter programme and will
According to a statement make use of 23 Block 3F
from the Russian defence aircraft of different versions.
ministry, the Blackjacks The completion of
touched down at Simón F-35 IOT&E will aid the
Bolívar International US Navy in making
Airport, Caracas. The an initial operating
bombers’ arrival in capability decision and
Latin America came will help inform full-rate
F-35As were among the aircraft involved as Edwards AFB completed its final Orange Flag (Milestone C) production
just days after a visit to test event for the year on December 13. USAF/Ethan Wagner
Moscow by Venezuelan for the US Department of
President Nicolas Maduro. THE USAF’s 31st Test the same day. Lt Col the F-35 programme.” Defense in the future.
Venezuela’s defence and Evaluation Squadron Nicholas Ihde, 31st TES During the IOT&E phase, The JOTT began some
minister General Vladimir (TES) began F-35 initial commander, explained: 31st TES F-35 pilots pre-IOT&E events such as
Padrino welcomed the operational test and “This sortie consisted of will fly more than 30 cold weather operations,
Russian bombers and said evaluation (IOT&E) at seven F-35s performing missions designed to fully weapons demonstrations,
the deployment showed Edwards Air Force Base, both offensive counter-air, evaluate the complete air suitability deployments and
“we also are preparing to California on December suppression of enemy air system as well as identify lower threat missions last
defend Venezuela to the 5. The effort began with defences and air attack technical and operational year. IOT&E is expected
last inch when necessary”. a large-force employment operations. This marks an areas for improvement. to be completed in the
mission from the base important milestone for The Joint Strike Fighter third quarter of this year.

6 // FEBRUARY 2019 #371 www.airforcesmonthly.com

 Subscribe to www.airforcesmonthly.com
for breaking news stories. E-mail the news team
at [email protected]

First flights for new

European trainers
TWO NEW jet trainers air force has ordered
have made their maiden an initial five aircraft for
flights. Leonardo’s first delivery in early 2020 after
production M-345 HET which they will begin to
(High Efficiency Trainer) replace its 137 MB-339s.
took to the air at Venegono The first L-39NG was
Superiore Airport in Varese, flown two months after
Italy, on December 21, with its rollout ceremony
test pilots Quirino Bucci on October 12, in a
and Giacomo Iannelli at configuration representative
the controls (above left). of serial aircraft including
Leonardo A day later, the initial pre- final upgraded ‘wet’ wing
serial L-39NG trainer and and new air intakes. Type
light attack aircraft, serial certification is planned
7001, made its first flight at by the end of this year.
Aero Vodochody Airport, Initial customers for the
Prague (below left). The L-39NG comprise Senegal,
Czech jet trainer was Portuguese private
piloted by David Jahoda company SkyTech and
and Vladimír Továrek. American firm RSW, for an
As the M-345’s launch initial total of 38 aircraft.
customer, the Italian Air Currently, Aero Vodochody
Force has a requirement is finalising an agreement
for up to 45 examples with domestic customer
of the basic/advanced LOM Praha, which provides
trainer, under the service’s military pilot training in
Aero Vodochody T-345A designation. The the Czech Republic.

VFA-147 completes
carrier qualifications
THE US Navy’s Strike the F-35C fleet replacement
Fighter Squadron (VFA) squadron (FRS), VFA-
147 ‘Argonauts’ has been 125 ‘Rough Raiders’.
fully certified ‘safe for VFA-147 commanding
flight’ with the F-35C. The officer CDR Patrick
Commander Joint Strike Corrigan explained:
Fighter Wing (CJSFW) “Since we returned from
made the announcement deployment [in December
on December 12, after the 2017], our team has been
squadron completed carrier driving toward fully bringing
qualifications aboard this platform online for the
USS Carl Vinson (CVN navy. As the ‘Argonauts’
70). This marks a major close out the final stages
milestone for the navy of our safe-for-flight
on the path to declaring certification, we continue to
initial operating capability exhibit the relentless drive
(IOC) later this year. required to meet transition
The safe-for-flight goals and milestones. With
operations certification this certification, we are
(SFFOC) marks the final announcing that we have
step for VFA-147’s transition the right skills, training
from the F/A-18E to the and people to take this
F-35C. The SFFOC was mission and execute it, Two VFA-147 F-35Cs stationed at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California, fly in formation for a
photo exercise. US Navy/Chief Mass Communication Specialist Shannon E Renfroe
achieved in concert with to its fullest potential.”

Final Mirage F1 leaves

Spain for US
THE LAST of 20 ex-Spanish officially terminate the
Air Force Mirage F1Ms technical agreement
acquired by Draken between the Ejército del Aire
International has left Spain. and Draken International,
The final example departed which had laid down delivery
the Maestranza Aérea de terms of the fighters and
Albacete (MAESAL, Albacete materiel to be transferred.
Rework Centre) on December Draken’s 20 newly
12, ending the history of the acquired Mirages include
French fighter in the Ejército one single-seater to be
del Aire. The aircraft was used as a source of spares.
transported by road to the The other jets will be
port of Valencia, to begin employed in the adversary
its sea voyage to Florida. role after a complete
Above: Mirage F1M C.14-57 ‘14-32’ leaves Albacete for the last time on December 12. Draken On December 18, a overhaul in Lakeland,
International via Roberto Yañez contract was signed to Florida. Roberto Yañez

www.airforcesmonthly.com #371 FEBRUARY 2019 // 7

 NEWS United Kingdom

Typhoons launch Defender

returns to
with Meteor service
AN ARMY Air Corps
(AAC) Defender AL2 has
returned to service, three
years after a ground
accident at RAF Brize
Norton, Oxfordshire.
The aircraft, ZH003,
returned to its unit, 5
Regiment/651 Squadron
at Joint Helicopter Flying
Station Aldergrove
(Belfast International
Airport), Northern Ireland,
on November 5.
The grounding incident
on October 5, 2015
occurred when the
Defender was hit by
a vehicle while it was
Above: Typhoon FGR4 ZK337/‘337’, wearing No II (Army Co-operation) Squadron markings, departs Lossiemouth on a QRA parked on the ground at
mission armed with Meteor and ASRAAM. Crown Copyright Brize Norton. Following
RAF TYPHOON FGR4s on its fuselage weapon provide an unrelenting capability for the Typhoon an assessment of the
launched from RAF stations and short-range deterrence to those who Force, which is proud to damage, work began on
Lossiemouth, Scotland on ASRAAM missiles, taking wish harm upon the UK continue defending the repairs at Brize Norton,
the morning of December off from Lossiemouth. and our armed forces.” UK and our allies, 24/7.” but the aircraft was not
10 for a first sortie in Defence Secretary Gavin Chief of the Air Staff Air The pilot of the first made airworthy again
defence of UK airspace Williamson said: “This Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Meteor-equipped Typhoon until last August and
armed with the Meteor latest missile system Hillier added: “RAF quick said: “The responsibility was able to fly out to
beyond-visual-range air- demonstrates the next reaction alert Typhoon of flying such a capable Daedalus Airport, Lee-
to-air missile (BVRAAM) chapter of the Typhoon fighters are now armed with platform armed with this on-Solent, Hampshire.
during a quick reaction which will see the jet the most advanced air-to- formidable weapon is BN Defence completed
alert (QRA) mission. evolve its ability to target air missile in the world, the immense, but the options repairs at its Lee-on-
An MOD photo showed and destroy any airborne MBDA-developed ramjet- this gives us in responding Solent facility before the
a Typhoon, equipped threat at great distances. powered Meteor. Another to an emergency situation aircraft returned to its
with four Meteor missiles The Meteor missile will huge leap forward in cannot be understated.” AAC unit. Dave Allport

Tornado Force winds

down at Marham
TORNADO GR4 ZG775/‘AF’ GR4 continues to support
of No IX (Bomber) Squadron Operation Shader over Iraq
is one of two jets so far to and Syria from RAF Akrotiri,
be specially painted at RAF Cyprus. Unconfirmed
Marham, Norfolk to mark reports suggest the final
the type’s retirement from pre-retirement exchange
service on March 31 (right). took place at Marham on
The other aircraft is the No December 4. Two jets –
31 Squadron ‘special’, GR4 ZA597/‘063’ (below) and
ZD716/‘DH’ (see Tornado ZA601/‘066’ – arrived
retirement scheme for there, apparently after
‘Goldstars’, January 2018). completing their last
Meanwhile, the Tornado Shader deployment. Peter R Foster

ETPS Tucanos
retired
ANOTHER TYPE has been
withdrawn from Empire
Test Pilots’ School (ETPS)
service at Boscombe
Down, Wiltshire as a result
of fleet modernisation
within QinetiQ and the
ETPS. The two Tucano
T1s operated by the ETPS,
ZF510 and ZF511, were
retired in November. The
last reported sortie by one
of them was on November
15, when ZF510 flew as
‘Tester 04’. Both are now
Neil Dunridge stored. Dave Allport

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for breaking news stories. E-mail the news team
at [email protected]

RAF Atlas beach landing trials AN RAF A400M Atlas

flown by a military crew
has undertaken a beach
the A400M and cutting-
edge fly-by-wire controls
made this task easier to
landing and take-off first. fly than other platforms.
It follows earlier We are now looking
experiments from semi- forward to the challenge of
prepared surfaces, conducting this operation
including beaches, flown by using night-vision goggles
Airbus test crews and was later in the trial.”
announced by the service Wing Commander Neil
on December 11. The trials Philp, officer commanding
on Pembrey Sands in South No 206 Squadron, added:
Wales were conducted by “My specialist team has
personnel from No 206 worked hard to deliver this
Squadron, supported by trial and has showcased
No 70 Squadron engineers, the tremendous tactical
both based at RAF Brize potential of the A400M.
Norton, Oxfordshire. Once this capability is
Flight Lieutenant Cheng, handed over to the front
a No 206 Squadron line it has the potential
pilot, commented: “The to have a great impact
RAF A400M Atlas C1 ZM414 lands on Pembrey Sands. RAF
advanced flight deck of on operations.”

HMS Queen
Elizabeth returns
from WESTLANT 18
THE ROYAL Navy aircraft Squadrons, as well as
carrier, HMS Queen Royal Marines from 42
Elizabeth (R08), sailed Commando and supporting
back into Portsmouth units from the US Navy
on December 10, after and US Marine Corps.
completing initial fast Aircraft operating
jet trials in the US. The envelopes will be
65,000-tonne carrier’s further expanded during
first transatlantic operational trials,
deployment, which began scheduled for this year.
last August, saw her Commander Air onboard,
embark two F-35Bs from Cdr James Blackmore
the Integrated Test Force oversaw the flight trials and
(ITF) based out of Naval said: “Since the ship sailed
Air Station Patuxent River, from build only 17 months
Maryland. The warship ago, we have operated
also conducted a week- fixed wing – most notably Above: A Merlin HM2 from 820 NAS flies from HMS ‘Queen Elizabeth’ during WESTLANT 18. Four
long visit to New York. the F-35B, rotary wing of the squadron’s helicopters and over 100 personnel arrived home at Royal Naval Air Station
The WESTLANT 18 Task and the tiltrotor MV-22 Culdrose as the carrier passed Cornwall on her way to Portsmouth on December 9. RNAS Culdrose
Group comprised HMS Osprey – nine different the partnership with the capability for decades to in the supercarrier era.”
Queen Elizabeth, HMS aircraft types in all. We F-35B. In that combination, come, strategic choice for See p28-33 for more
Monmouth, RFA Tidespring have proved the incredible we have something very our government and a Task on the return of the
and aircraft from 820, design of the Queen special that will provide Group focus for the Royal Royal Navy’s Carrier
845 and 814 Naval Air Elizabeth class of ship and significant operational Navy; we are truly back Strike capabilities.

QinetiQ operates final military-serialled flights

QINETIQ AT MOD (QCFO). The sorties took QinetiQ Hawk T1s, XX162 by the RAF Centre of two PC-21s (G-ETPA and
Boscombe Down, Wiltshire, place on December 19, and XX327, for a formation Aviation Medicine. G-ETPB). These will join
has operated the final when Gazelle AH1 XX453 flight around the local area. On the day prior to the the two previously acquired
flights of military-serialled flew from Boscombe during These two aircraft will final flights, a formation AW109E Powers, plus
aircraft in the QinetiQ Air the morning, before Hawk continue to fly for another of QinetiQ Gazelles single examples of the Avro
Fleet, which will now be T1 XX154 carried out a couple of years, as they do was put up for one RJ70, RJ100 and Diamond
known as the QinetiQ flight in the afternoon. It not form part of the new last time, comprising DA42 Twin Star, all of
Civil Flying Organisation was joined by two other QCFO – both are operated Gazelle AH1s XX449 which have now been given
and XX453, plus Gazelle civilian registrations. RJ100
HT3 XZ939. A fourth QQ101 became G-ETPL
example, Gazelle HT3 on September 28 and
ZB625, was undergoing DA42 QQ103 was allocated
maintenance at the time. G-ETPM on September
As part of the transition 20. Avro RJ70 QQ102 has
to a civilian-registered G-ETPK reserved for it,
fleet, three new types while AW109Es QQ100 and
have been introduced, as ZE416 will become G-ETPI
previously reported in AFM, and G-ETPJ, respectively.
comprising four Airbus All three are currently
H125s (G-ETPE, G-ETPF, undergoing maintenance
G-ETPG and G-ETPH), and repainting but will take
Above: One of QinetiQ’s four unique blue-and-white painted Gazelle HT3s, ZB625 over the two Grob G 120TP-As up their new markings on
Salisbury Plain Training Area. Ian Harding (G-ETPC and G-ETPD) and completion. Dave Allport

www.airforcesmonthly.com #371 FEBRUARY 2019 // 9

 NEWS Continental Europe

Poland
assumes
BAP
mission
THE SIŁY Powietrzne (SP,
Polish Air Force) took
over responsibility as
lead nation for the 49th
rotation of the NATO
Baltic Air Policing (BAP)
mission. On December
31, four F-16Cs from
the 31. Baza Lotnictwa

Spanish Army retires UH-1H

AFTER 52 years of service Above: ACAVIET UH-1H HU.10-40 ‘ET-217’ during one of the type’s final sorties from
Taktycznego (31st
Tactical Aviation Base)
at Poznañ-Krzesiny
arrived at Šiauliai
and approximately 231,000 Colmenar Viejo. The last flight was completed under the command of Lt Col Muñoz Bueno air base, Latvia.
flight hours, the Fuerzas and piloted by Cdr Zaloña. Rene Köhler Formal handover of
Aeromóviles del Ejército Viejo, near Madrid. Initially operated by the during Operation Romeo- responsibility for the air
de Tierra (FAMET, Spanish The first 12 UH-1Hs were Unidad de Helicópteros II Sierra, to secure the policing mission took
Army Airmobile Forces) delivered on July 12, 1971 (UHEL II, 2nd Helicopter disputed islet of Perejil, off place on January 3.
withdrew its last UH-1Hs and received the local Unit), the ‘Hueys’ were the coast of Morocco. The Polish detachment,
on December 12. The final designation HU.10. These immediately deployed to From September 2016, known as Orlik 8,
‘Hueys’ were operated by the aircraft wore individual codes El Aaiún, to take part in most of the FAMET’s UH-1s replaced the Belgian Air
Academia de Aviación del from ‘ET-301’ to ‘ET-312’, military operations in the were replaced by the NH90 Component’s F-16AMs
Ejército de Tierra (ACAVIET), subsequently revised to the Spanish Sahara. The type’s TTH (HT.29 Caiman), 26 that had been stationed
the Spanish Army’s flight ‘ET-2xx’ series. A total of 60 final combat deployment of which are currently on at Šiauliai for the
academy based at Colmenar were eventually acquired. took place in July 2002, order. Paolo Rollino previous four months.

First NH90 for 5e

RHC delivered
A FURTHER Aviation 14. The helicopter, F-MEBE
Légère de l’Armée de ‘EBE’, had been delivered
Terre (ALAT, French to Pau on October 22.
Army Aviation) unit has The NH90 will replace the
re-equipped with the elderly SA330Ba Pumas
NH90 TTH Caïman. currently operated by
The first of the type the regiment’s Escadrille
for operation by the 5e d’Hélicoptères de
Régiment d’Hélicoptères Manœuvre 1 (EHM 1) and
de Combat (5e RHC, EHM 2. It was expected
5th Combat Helicopter that the 5e RHC would
Regiment) was formally receive a total of four
accepted into service at NH90 TTHs by the end
The first NH90 TTH Caïman for the 5e RHC, coded ‘EBE’, in a hangar at Pau. ALAT/5 RHC
Pau-Uzein on December of 2018. Dave Allport
TURKEY’S JANDARMA J-3943 (c/n 70-3943, ex
New Turkish Jandarma Black Genel Komutanliği
(Gendarmerie General
SP-YVN), while the other is
believed to be J-3904 (c/n

Hawks handed over Command) has taken

delivery of its first two S-70i
Black Hawks. They were
70-3904, ex SP-YVM).
The Jandarma expects to
take delivery of 30 T-70 Black
formally handed over during Hawks, a Turkey-specific
a December 5 ceremony variant of the S-70i for which
attended by Deputy Minister Turkish Aerospace Industries
of Internal Affairs, Mehmet (TAI) is prime contractor,
Ersoy and the Jandarma’s working in association with
general commander, Sikorsky and other Turkish
General Arif Çetin. suppliers. The overall deal
The two new general- covers an order for 109 of
purpose helicopters, built the type (plus 12 options)
by Sikorsky subsidiary for various branches of
PZL Mielec in Poland, the Turkish armed forces.
wear a distinctive, white, The new helicopters are
red and blue civilian-style to replace the Jandarma’s
colour scheme. One of older model S-70As, the first
the two is confirmed as of which entered service
Left: One of the first two in December 1988. Four
Turkish Jandarma S-70i Black S-70i Black Hawks are
Hawks, J-3943, wearing already in service in Turkey,
temporary test registration having been delivered to the
SP-YVN, during a pre-delivery National Police in November
test flight. Jandarma 2014. Dave Allport

10 // FEBRUARY 2019 #371 www.airforcesmonthly.com

 Subscribe to www.airforcesmonthly.com
for breaking news stories. E-mail the news team
at [email protected]

Slovakia Turkish Navy receives Bayraktar TB2 UAVs Third Dutch

A FORMAL commissioning inducted on that date, region. The type has been
signs F-16 ceremony was held one of which performed in operational use since F-35A flies
on December 16 at its first official mission 2015 and is already flown THE THIRD Royal
contract Çanakkale air base in that same afternoon. by the Turkish Air Force, Netherlands Air Force
(RNLAF) F-35A, F-003
THE SLOVAK government northwestern Turkey to The Turkish Navy plans Turkish Land Forces,
has finalised a $1.8bn introduce the Bayraktar to take delivery of ten Turkish Gendarmerie (AN-03), made its maiden
contract with Lockheed TB2 Silahlı İnsansız Hava of these domestically General Command and flight from Naval Air
Martin for 14 F-16V Block Araçları (SIHA, Armed produced UAVs. They Turkish National Police. Station Fort Worth Joint
70/72s – 12 single-seaters Unmanned Air Vehicle) will be used to assist On December 26, the Reserve Base, Texas,
and a pair of two-seaters. into Türk Deniz Kuvvetleri operations against illegal company announced the on December 15. Take-
The deal was signed on (Turkish Navy) service. migration and trafficking type had completed 80,000 off was at approximately
December 12 by Slovakia’s Five of the type were in the North Aegean Sea flight hours. Dave Allport 0935hrs local time for a
Minister of Defence Peter 1hr 45min test sortie.
Gajdoš and Ana Wugofski, The Lightning II will be
Lockheed Martin’s vice- delivered to Luke Air
president of international Force Base, Arizona,
business development. where it will train pilots
The contract includes as part of the USAF’s
provisions for equipment, 308th Fighter Squadron.
logistic support and The unit previously flew
training of air and ground Block 42 F-16C/Ds at the
crew. Weapons in the base for training, but was
package comprise AIM- deactivated on June 25,
120C-7 AMRAAMs and 2015. It was re-formed
AIM-9X Sidewinders. at Luke last November
Slovakia is due to receive 30 as an F-35A training
the first four aircraft in unit for the RNLAF and
2022, two of which will Royal Danish Air Force
be two-seater variants, – see 308th Fighter
and the remaining ten Squadron reactivated
single-seaters will follow at Luke, January,
by December 2023. One of the five TB2 tactical UAVs during the induction ceremony at Çanakkale. Bayraktar p17. Dave Allport

THE HRVATSKO ratno of Moscow’s debt to the

First overhauled Croatian zrakoplovstvo (HRZ,
Croatian Air Force) returned
to service its first overhauled
former Yugoslavia. The
helicopters’ original service
life expired in 2017.
Mi-171Sh returns to service Mi-171Sh Hip in December,
following an overhaul at
All of these Hips were
based at Lučko Heliport
the Zrakoplovno-tehnički with the Eskadrila
centar (ZTC, Aeronautical višenamjenskih helikoptera
Technical Centre) at Velika (EVH, Utility Helicopter
Gorica near Zagreb. Squadron). Due to delays
ZTC has been contracted in issuing a contract for
for the general overhaul of overhaul, the EVH was
ten Mi-171Sh helicopters forced to borrow some
under a $31.8m deal, in of the older Mi-8 MTV-
co-operation with Russian 1s from the Eskadrila
Helicopters. Produced by transportnih helikoptera
the Ulan-Ude factory, the (ETH, Transport Helicopter
The first overhauled Croatian Mi-171Sh, serial 220, during a combat search and rescue helicopters were delivered Squadron) based at Split-
presentation at Zadar-Zemunik on December 12. MORH/Tomislav Brandt via author in 2007-08 to settle part Divulje. Antonio Prlenda

Third Italian P-72A delivered in Second Polish Air Force

upgraded configuration BBJ under test
BRAND NEW 737-800 Boeing committed to
A THIRD P-72A maritime
Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) delivering a second-hand
patrol aircraft has entered
c/n 63990 (l/n 7297, US aircraft and two newly
Aeronautica Militare (AM,
test registration N785BJ) built BBJs. After additional
Italian Air Force) service. The
for the Siły Powietrzne negotiations, the second-
aircraft, MM62281 (c/n 1031,
(SP, Polish Air Force) hand jet was replaced
ex F-WKVC) ‘41-04’, was
taxis at Seattle’s Boeing by a brand new 737-800
delivered to the 41° Stormo’s
Field facility, Washington, manufactured for but not
88° Gruppo at Sigonella,
on December 4. The delivered to a commercial
Sicily, on December 5, direct
aircraft is one of three airline – the entire contract
from Leonardo. Its arrival
purchased to transport cost around $668.8m. The
came two years after the first
Polish government officials. first 737-800 was delivered
P-72A, which was delivered
Under the initial agreement, at the end of 2017.
to Sigonella on November
25, 2016. The fourth and
final aircraft is expected
to join them shortly. Above: The third AMI P-72A arrives at Sigonella air base on
Unlike the two previously December 5. AMI
delivered aircraft, the system upgrades. The same achieve full operational
third P-72A is in a upgrade will be retrofitted capability, while at present
more advanced, final to the two earlier aircraft crews continue training
configuration, incorporating and the new modifications and evaluation of the
various sensor and mission will enable the type to systems. Dave Allport Joe G Walker

www.airforcesmonthly.com #371 FEBRUARY 2019 // 11

 NEWS Continental Europe

Germany
extends
Heron 1
contracts
THE LUFTWAFFE will
continue to fly Heron 1
unmanned aerial vehicles
(UAVs) in Afghanistan
and Mali under contracts
signed by Airbus and
the Federal Office of
Bundeswehr Equipment,
Information Technology
and In-Service Support
(BAAINWBw). The
December 12 agreement
extends the lease of the
Ian Harding drones for another 18
months, until mid-2020.
In theatre, the UAVs are

Belgian Sea King’s farewell tour operated by Airbus DS

Airborne Solutions GmbH,
which is responsible
WITH JUST a few weeks departed Koksijde in ‘Vic’ Koksijde at around 1245hrs. first entered service in for system provision,
remaining before the formation at 0955hrs with Covering approximately November 1976. RS01 maintenance and repair.
Belgian Air Component anniversary marked aircraft 130nm, the formation and RS03 were withdrawn The Luftwaffe has been
retires its search and RS05 at its apex, and flew past ten important from service on December using the Heron 1 in
rescue Westland Sea RS02 and RS04 in echelon landmarks, including 17, 2008 and August 29, Afghanistan since 2010
King Mk48s at the end formation to its left and the IJzer (Yser) Tower at 2013, respectively. The and in Mali since 2016. As
of March, the final three right. They were supported Diksmuide commemorating remaining three are being of the contract signature,
aircraft serving with 40 in flight by a Koksijde- soldiers killed during retired over three months: more than 46,000
Smaldeel (Squadron) based based SA316 Alouette III World War One, the air RS02 on January 19, RS04 operational flying hours
at Koksijde performed and a Beauvechain-based traffic control centre at on February 19 and, finally, had been flown in both
a farewell formation A109BA. A 40 Smaldeel Semmerzake, plus Gent, RS05 on March 26. The 40 countries. The aircraft
tour over east and west NH90 NFH (NATO Frigate Zeebrugge and Ostend. Smaldeel Sea Kings have are stationed at Mazar-
Flanders on December Helicopter) supported Belgium acquired five saved more than 1,750 e-Sharif in Afghanistan
19. The three helicopters the formation’s return to Sea King Mk48s that lives to date. Ian Harding and Gao in Mali.

Germany Special schemes for Portuguese ‘Vipers’ French Navy

TWO F-16AMs from the
orders H145s Força Aérea Portuguesa receives
(FAP, Portuguese Air Force)
for SAR have received special Falcon 50M
GERMANY’S FEDERAL colours to commemorate
Office of Bundeswehr anniversaries of the with SAR
Equipment, Information service’s two current
Technology and Fighting Falcon units: capability
In-Service Support Esquadra 201 ‘Falcões’ THE FRENCH defence
(BAAINWBw) ordered celebrates 60 years of ministry has accepted a
seven H145s on service, while Esquadra Marco Casaleiro via Jorge Ruivo first Falcon 50M maritime
December 13. The new 301 ‘Jaguares’ is marking Base Aérea 5 Monte Real paint schemes are serials surveillance aircraft
helicopters will replace its half-century. Both in central Portugal. The two 15105 (Esquadra 301) and equipped with a new
the current Heeresflieger squadrons are stationed at aircraft to receive the new 15103 (Esquadra 201). hatch to drop search and
(German Army Aviation) rescue (SAR) equipment.
UH-1D search and The Direction générale de
rescue (SAR) fleet. The l’armement (DGA, General
aircraft will be delivered Directorate of Armament)
in 2020 and will be took delivery of the jet at
stationed at Niederstetten, Mérignac on November
Holzdorf and Nörvenich. 29. At the same time, the
Airbus Helicopters DGA awarded Dassault
will be responsible Aviation a contract to
for logistics support, retrofit the SAR release
repair and maintenance hatch on the other
of the helicopters. three Falcon 50Ms in
Marco Casaleiro via Jorge Ruivo
The H145 LUH SAR service with the Marine
(Light Utility Helicopter Nationale (French Navy).
Search and Rescue)
versions will be equipped
Poland adds Leonardo M-346s The Marine Nationale
operates a fleet of eight
with high-performance THE SIŁY Powietrzne amendment will increase the The option also includes
Falcon 50Ms: four Falcon
cameras, searchlights, (SP, Polish Air Force) will SP fleet to 16 aircraft. The a support package as
50Mi (‘intervention’)
emergency beacon receive another four M-346 manufacturer announced well as an upgrade of
aircraft capable of
locator systems, a advanced trainers after an the latest deal with the the entire M-346 fleet to
dropping SAR equipment,
full suite of medical option first outlined in a Armament Inspectorate the NATO STANAG 4193
and four Falcon 50Ms
equipment, rescue March 2018 contract was of the Polish Ministry Edition 3 IFF standard.
currently without this
winches and cargo hooks. exercised with Leonardo. of National Defense The latest four aircraft will
rescue capability.
Worth around €130m, the on December 14. be delivered in 2022.

12 // FEBRUARY 2019 #371 www.airforcesmonthly.com

 NEWS North America

Three VMAQ-2 EA-6Bs delivered to AMARG Contract to

AS THE end of the EA-6B
Prowler in US military
03’, passed through Tinker
Air Force Base, Oklahoma,
be placed in desert storage.
These were the last
bases on the east coast.
A ‘Sundown Ceremony’ at
upgrade 56
service approaches,
three aircraft from the
for a fuel stop on November
28-29 while making their
Prowlers to be placed in
desert storage with AMARG.
Cherry Point for the EA-6B
and VMAQ-2 on March 8 will
SOCOM
type’s last operational US
Marine Corps unit, Marine
final flights from Marine
Corps Air Station Cherry
The other three EA-6Bs
remaining with VMAQ-2 at
mark the end of the type’s
USMC service. VMAQ-2
A/MH-6
Tactical Electronic Warfare
Squadron (VMAQ) 2 ‘Death
Point, North Carolina,
to Davis-Monthan AFB,
Cherry Point (162230 ‘CY-
02’, 162228 ‘CY-04’ and
returned from the Prowler’s
final operational deployment,
‘Little Birds’
Jesters’, have been retired Arizona. There they were 163047 ‘CY-05’) are all to Al Udeid, Qatar, in US SPECIAL Operations
from service. The aircraft, handed over to the 309th earmarked for preservation November – see VMAQ- Command is moving
163045 ‘CY-00’, 162934 Aerospace Maintenance in museums or as gate 2 EA-6Bs return home, forward with a
‘CY-01’ and 163032 ‘CY- and Regeneration Group to guards at Marine Corps January, p16. Dave Allport programme to modernise
its fleet of A/MH-6
‘Little Bird’ helicopters.
On November 26,
Boeing was awarded
a $100,000 minimum,
$45m maximum,
indefinite-delivery/
indefinite-quantity, firm-
fixed-price contract for
56 upgraded primary
airframe structures for
the A/MH-6. An initial
$5,173,400 in fiscal
year 2018 procurement
funds was released at
VMAQ-2 EA-6B Prowler 163045 ‘CY-00’ turns onto runway 18 at Tinker AFB on November 29 to make its last ever take-off the time of the award.
as it departs for storage at Davis-Monthan. Crew for the final flight were pilot Capt Evan ‘Fonix’ Bottorff, plus electronic The precise number
countermeasures officers Capt Aaron ‘Bambi’ Staggs and Capt David ‘Nicole’ Richey. USAF/Greg L Davis of these helicopters
currently in service
is unconfirmed, but
VRM-30 is Three ‘new’ CV-22Bs for Mildenhall it is thought that this
order for 56 airframes
navy’s first A SWAP-OVER of US Air
Force CV-22B Ospreys
departed from the base on
December 9. Five days later,
11-0060) had previously
served with the 7th SOS,
covers all of the AH-6M/
MH-6M helicopters
CMV-22B operated by the 352nd
Special Operations Wing’s
on December 14, three more
CV-22Bs arrived to replace
between 2013 and 2016.
With these changes, the
remaining operational
with Special Operations
squadron 7th Special Operations
Squadron (SOS) at RAF
them. These comprised
10-0052 callsign ‘Honda
current complement should
comprise nine aircraft:
Command. These
THE US Navy established helicopters have been
Mildenhall, Suffolk, took 81’, 11-0059 ‘Honda 82’ 07-0033, 08-0050, 08-0051,
its first CMV-22B carrier progressively upgraded
place during December. and 11-0060 ‘Honda 83.’ 10-0052, 11-0059, 11-0060,
onboard delivery (COD) in recent years while
Three Ospreys (11-0057, Of the three new arrivals, 12-0063, 12-0064 and
unit, Fleet Logistics Multi- options were examined
11-0058 and 11-0061) two of these (11-0059 and 12-0065. Dave Allport
Mission Squadron (VRM) 30 regarding their ultimate
‘Titans’ during a ceremony replacement. As this
at Naval Base Coronado
in San Diego, California,
US Navy pilots conduct E-2D aerial still seems to be some
years away, it appears
on December 14.
VRM-30 was established
refuelling training that upgraded airframes
for them is another part
to begin the navy’s of the efforts to extend
transition from the C-2A their service life.
Greyhound, which has In a related move,
provided logistics support Boeing was awarded
to aircraft carriers for four a $48.05m contract
decades, to the CMV-22B, by Special Operations
which has an increased Command on December
operational range, greater 19 for production of
cargo capacity, faster Mission Enhanced Little
cargo loading/unloading, Bird (MELB) kits to
increased survivability and upgrade the AH/MH-6.
enhanced beyond-line- An initial $4,633,100 was
of-sight communications released at the time of
compared with the C-2A. the award. The number of
The establishment of MELB kits involved in the
the squadron follows a deal was not announced,
$4.2bn contract from but it seems likely that all
July last year, which will of the above airframes
see Boeing deliver 39 will be upgraded. The
Above: LCDR John Dues, left, and LT Andrew Quiel, both assigned to VX-1’s E-2D Hawkeye contract is expected
CMV-22B aircraft for the
Operation Test Team, were the first pilots to complete aerial refuelling training on an E-2D. US
US Navy, among other to be completed by
Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Victoria Kinney
V-22 tiltrotor deliveries. December 2026.
The first CMV-22B aircraft THE FIRST fleet aviators (VX) 1’s E-2D Hawkeye flying with another E-2D. The US Army’s AH/
are scheduled to be have received aerial Operation Test Team Changes made to the MH-6 fleet is operated
delivered to the squadron refuelling qualifications completed the milestone E-2D for in-flight refuelling by the 160th Special
in Fiscal Year 2020. In on the E-2D Advanced on December 3, after day include a fixed probe and Operations Aviation
the meantime, navy pilots Hawkeye at Naval and night-time ‘plugs’ associated plumbing, Regiment (SOAR)
and maintainers will train Air Station Patuxent involving a probe-equipped formation lighting and long- headquartered at Fort
with the US Marine Corps River, Maryland. E-2D and a KC-707 endurance seats, as well Campbell, Kentucky.
MV-22B community. Pilots from Air Test and tanker. The training also as flight control software Dave Allport
Evaluation Squadron included night formation and hardware changes.

14 // FEBRUARY 2019 #371 www.airforcesmonthly.com

 Subscribe to www.airforcesmonthly.com
for breaking news stories. E-mail the news team
at [email protected]

‘3 Amigos’ Congressional Budget

F-16 upgrades Office recommends
completed at Hill cancelling F-35 buys AS PART of a document the remaining costs to
published on December complete the programme
13 entitled Options for amount to $253bn.
Reducing the Deficit: Other options to cut
2019 to 2028, the US costs suggested in the
Congressional Budget CBO report include retiring
Office (CBO) presented the entire USAF fleet
discretionary cost-cutting of 61 B-1B bombers in
options that could shave 2020. This would reduce
billions of dollars from the costs by about $18bn
defence budget. Among through to 2028 and the
these was a suggestion CBO suggests that the
that the Department of 76 B-52Hs and 20 B-2As
Defense (DoD) halts further that would remain in
Above: F-16C 84-318 ‘LF’ in the markings of the ‘Wild Ducks’ was processed by the 573rd production of the F-35 the inventory under this
AMXS and is seen on the ramp at Hill AFB following a functional check flight on November 9.
and instead buys the option could be used for
USAF/Alex R Lloyd
most advanced versions the B-1B’s missions. One
A FINAL F-16 has been Time Compliance Technical received the modifications, of older, non-stealthy argument against this
redelivered to the USAF Order modifications and including 24 Foreign fighter aircraft that are still option, says the CBO,
after undergoing work on incorporated modifications Military Sales aircraft for in production. The CBO is that it would reduce
the so-called ‘3 Amigos’ including updates to the Indonesian Air Force. proposes that through to the air force’s ability to
modification line, run the centre display unit, During the life of the 2028 the USAF should attack targets from great
by the 573rd Aircraft helmet-mounted integrated programme, the workload purchase 510 F-16s, while distances or to have
Maintenance Squadron targeting and beyond line- evolved from inspecting the US Navy and Marine aircraft with large payloads
(AMXS) at the Ogden Air of sight communication. and doing minor repairs at Corps should acquire 394 orbiting over conflict areas
Logistics Complex, Hill The first F-16 modified an average of 1,795 hours F/A-18E/Fs. These would awaiting orders to attack.
Air Force Base, Utah. was completed in March to more elaborate repairs be purchased to a similar The CBO suggests another
A first F-16 modified 2013. At the height of that included replacing schedule as currently cost-cutting option could
was completed in March production, 18 aircraft were bulkhead segments, which planned F-35 orders. The be to defer development
2013 and the programme on the line at one time. In increased the average hours 429 F-35s already acquired of the B-21 stealth bomber
provided three structural total, more than 300 F-16s by 59% to 2,863 hours. by the US services would until after 2028. This
remain in operation. By would free up funding

Tyndall T-38s transfer to Eglin the CBO’s estimation, this

would save about $13bn
between 2020 and 2028.
for other programmes,
but could be a problem if
current, ageing bombers
USAF 2nd Fighter unit’s temporary base at that provide air-to-air threat However, the CBO notes had to be retired earlier
Squadron T-38A 68-177 Eglin as part of a mission replication to support F-22 that a force composed than expected, possibly
‘TY’ taxis down the runway shift by the air force as combat and formal training of a mix of stealthy and leaving a capability gap.
at Eglin Air Force Base, Hurricane Michael recovery squadrons. The squadron non-stealthy aircraft Another suggestion by
Florida, on November 30. efforts continue at Tyndall. also maintains readiness would be less flexible the CBO is to withdraw
The jet is one of seven The 2nd FS is one of two to augment worldwide against advanced enemy all of the approximately
Talons deployed to the T-38 adversary squadrons combat operations. air defence systems. In 180 F-22s remaining in
addition, the US Marine operation and place them
Corps would end up in long-term desert storage
with fewer F-35Bs for its at Davis-Monthan AFB.
amphibious assault ships This would save about
Through to 2019, the DoD $30bn through to 2028.
received appropriations The CBO says F-35s could
for 542 F-35s, comprising partially replace F-22 air-
338 F-35As for the USAF, to-air combat capabilities,
135 F-35Bs for the USMC while the USAF would
and 69 F-35Cs for the US retain its ability to attack
Navy. Current plans call for ground targets with
purchase of 1,914 more stealthy aircraft by using
F-35s through to 2044 B-2s and, in future,
USAF/Ilka Cole and the DoD estimates B-21s. Dave Allport

First F-35As for 421st

Fighter Squadron
THE USAF’s 421st Fighter Since then, the 34th and 4th
Squadron (FS) at Hill Air FS and aircraft maintenance
Force Base, Utah, received units have been established
its first F-35A on December and have generated nearly
12. The unit is the last of 10,000 sorties with more
three squadrons in Hill’s than 15,000 flying hours.
388th Fighter Wing (FW) to The arrival of the first jets
take possession of combat- in the 421st brings the
ready aircraft, bringing the total number of F-35As
wing closer to full strength. at Hill to 52 as the 388th
The USAF’s first operational FW builds towards a full Above: Lt Col Richard Orzachowski, 421st FS commander and 1st Lt Ryan Allen, the
F-35As landed at Hill Air complement of 78 F-35As squadron’s youngest wingman, flew the unit’s first jets to Hill AFB from the Lockheed Martin
Force Base in October 2015. by the end of the year. plant in Fort Worth, Texas. USAF/Todd Cromar

www.airforcesmonthly.com #371 FEBRUARY 2019 // 15

 NEWS North America

RCAF retires Sea Kings Above: A ceremonial flypast of three RCAF Sea Kings from Patricia Bay on December 1 for the type’s last air-to-air photo
THE CANADIAN Armed
Forces officially retired the sortie included this specially painted example. DND
CH-124 Sea King maritime Lt Gen Al Meinzinger, durability and capability, supporting NATO assurance Armed Forces’ support
helicopter on December commander of the RCAF, but to the men and women measures on board HMCS to firefighting operations
31, after more than five said: “The retirement of who operated, maintained St John’s last summer. in British Columbia.
decades of service. The the CH-124 Sea King is and otherwise supported In total, the CH-124 The last of the Sea Kings
maritime helicopter’s truly historic for the Royal this incredible helicopter.” Sea King fleet flew more performed a final flight over
withdrawal was marked by Canadian Air Force. No The Royal Canadian Navy than 550,000 hours. Most Victoria on December 17
a parade at 443 Maritime other fleet has served as first procured the CH-124 recently, an example was and remained on standby
Helicopter Squadron, long as the Sea King, and in 1963 and ‘Black Horse’ deployed in a transport until the end of the year,
Patricia Bay, British its 55 years of service are Flight completed the type’s role during Operation when the CH-148 Cyclone
Columbia on December 1. a monument not only to its last operational deployment Lentus 18-05, the Canadian assumed its responsibilities.

F-35B’s first FCLP AC-130W returns from Middle East

at Ie Shima
A USMC F-35B has to Marine Fighter Attack
performed the type’s first Squadron (VMFA) 121, part
field carrier landing practice of Marine Aircraft Group 12,
(FCLP) at Ie Shima Island, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing.
Japan. The Lightning II jet FCLP prepares F-35B
landed, refuelled and took pilots for situations faced
off for the first time from the while deployed on assault
Okinawa base on December ships and involves the
5. The F-35B was assigned same restrictions.

USAF AC-130W Stinger Force Base, New Mexico, location in the Middle East
II 88-1307 from the arrives at Aviano Air Base, for a short stop before
16th Special Operations Italy on December 6. It heading back to the US.
Squadron at Cannon Air flew in from an undisclosed Umberto Greco

Maritime strike mission for Lightning II

THE PENTAGON has revealed that the additional will initially be based
disclosed that the Block mission of “expanded around the AGM-154 Joint
IV version of the F-35 will surface warfare” will Standoff Weapon (JSOW),
add a new maritime strike involve changes to the but could potentially
role. Joint Strike Fighter radar and other sensors incorporate the joint US
Program Executive Officer to prosecute attacks on Navy/USAF Long-Range
An F-35B performs a vertical landing during an FCLP at Ie
Shima on December 5. USMC/Lance Cpl Alexia Lythos Vice Adm Mat Winter sea targets. The update Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM).

B-52s complete deployment Down Under

A USAF B-52H assigned Base, Louisiana, takes Andersen Air Force Base, to Australia to participate Enhanced Air Cooperation
to the 96th Expeditionary off from Royal Australian Guam, on December 9, in Exercise Lightning (EAC) under the Force
Bomb Squadron, deployed Air Force Base Darwin, 2018. The Stratofortress Focus as part of US Posture Initiative between
from Barksdale Air Force Australia, to return to was one of two deployed Indo-Pacific Command’s the US and Australia.

USAF/Senior Airman Christopher Quail

16 // FEBRUARY 2019 #371 www.airforcesmonthly.com

 Aviation Tours

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• 10-23 March JAPAN: JASDF’s 4 super bases; Iwakuni; and pharewell
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• 28-31 Mar TURKEY: BREXIT Break: TAF Museums in Ankara & Istanbul;
spotting & sightseeing
• 29 Apr-12 May USA: CALIFORNIA: Chino Airshow plus 20 aviation
museums & collections
• 14-18 May FRANCE: NATO Tiger Meet; Arrivals & Spotters Day;
FAF Chateaudun
• 31 May-17 Jun UK, FRANCE & GERMANY: 75th Anniversary of D-Day &
70th Anniversary of Berlin Airlift; 37+ DC-3s!
• 14-25/29 Jul CANADA & USA: floatplane bases of Ontario, fabulous
optional sightseeing flights. Optional Extension to Oshkosh:
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• 21-29 Jul USA: Oshkosh: 6 full days at the world’s largest
aviation event – stunning!
• 23-29 Jul USA: Oshkosh: short tour with 4 full days at AirVenture
• 27 Aug – 2/6 Sep RUSSIA: 2-days MAKS; museums; An & Mil repair plant;
Optional Extension to St Petersburg
• 20-27 Aug SLOVAKIA: large annual International Airshow & museums
• 4-8 Sep AUSTRIA: return of the much-missed “Air Power Airshow”,
Zeltweg
• 19-23 Sep GREECE: Athens Aviation Week Airshow; HAF & National
War museums
• 18-28 Oct USA: TEXAS: CAFs Wings Over Houston & Dallas airshows;
museums & airfields
• 20-27 Oct ECUADOR: Air Force, Army, Navy & police airbases (tbc)
• TBA KAZAKHSTAN: major airbases (tbc). Limited numbers. List open

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 NEWS Latin America

Colombia
requests
second-hand
F-16C/Ds
ACCORDING TO reports
from Latin America in
early December, the
Colombian government
has issued a Letter
of Request to its US
counterpart requesting
pricing details for the
possible purchase of
18 second-hand F-16C/
Ds. These would be

Fifty years of Argentine C-130s supplied as Excess

Defense Articles and
could be taken either
from the active US Air
THE FUERZA AÉREA Above: Non-airworthy C-130H TC-68 displayed in bomber configuration to commemorate the
Force inventory or from
Argentina (FAA, Argentine type’s service in the Falklands/Malvinas conflict. Esteban G Brea
those currently stored
Air Force) marked 50 recognised personnel who northeast of the Falkland C-130H TC-61 – the sole by the 309th Aerospace
years of C-130 operations fought in the Falklands/ Islands on June 8, 1982. survivor of the first three Maintenance and
with a ceremony held Malvinas conflict in 1982 Meanwhile, a dedication Hercules acquired by the Regeneration Group
at the I Brigada Aérea and retired C-130H TC-68 was given to the crew of FAA – received special at Davis-Monthan Air
(1st Air Brigade) at El was presented with C-130E TC-62 that was anniversary markings on its Force Base, Arizona.
Palomar, Buenos Aires, on underwing bombs to reflect destroyed by a terrorist tail. Also attending the event The Fuerza Aérea
December 14. The event its wartime service as a bomb after taking off from were Luftwaffe A400M Colombiana (FAC,
was chaired by the FAA makeshift bomber. In this San Miguel de Tucumán 54+21 and a C-130H of Colombian Air Force)
chief of staff, Brigadier configuration it attacked the Benj Matienzo Airport on the Georgia Air National has been seeking
General Enrique Amrein. 100,000-ton supertanker August 28, 1975, killing Guard’s 165th Airlift replacements for its Kfir
The commemoration also Hercules 480 miles (772km) four of the 144 on board. Wing. Esteban G Brea C10/C12 fleet for many
years and has considered
numerous options during
Argentine PA-28 and that period. As an interim
measure, the FAC has
Skyline modernised extensively upgraded
its Kfirs over the years.
Plans for new fighters
have repeatedly been
thwarted by a limited
budget and this could
still be a problem with
the latest proposed
acquisition. Dave Allport

Above: Cessna 182 Skyline PG-355 alongside a pair of PA-28 Dakotas, including modernised PG-446. All have received a new
low-visibility grey scheme. Esteban G Brea Third Cessna
TWO NEWLY upgraded Aires, on December 20. The the rest of the service’s The Skyline PG-355 208B and
Fuerza Aérea Argentina modernisation was carried general-purposes fleet. has been returned to
(FAA, Argentine Air Force) out by the FAA and the Upgrade work and flight flying condition and is ‘Hueys’ for
aircraft – Piper/Chincul private company Redimec, tests were carried out now assigned to the VI Honduras
PA-28 Dakota PG-446 and which developed a revised at the Área Material Río Brigada Aérea (6th Air
Cuarto (ARMACUAR/ A THIRD Cessna 208B
Cessna 182 Skyline PG-355 cockpit featuring Garmin Brigade) while PG-446 will
Río Cuarto Materiel Area), Grand Caravan EX
– were presented at Base avionics. The same work will continue to serve at BAM
in Córdoba province. has entered Fuerza
Aérea Militar Morón, Buenos now be implemented across Morón. Esteban G Brea
Aérea Hondureña (FAH,
Honduran Air Force)
Argentine Gendarmeria service. The aircraft,
FAH-021 (c/n 208B-
receives AW119s 5461, ex N160TW),
was handed over to the
THREE LEONARDO and they are believed Honduran President,
Helicopters AW119Ke to have been handed Juan Orlando Hernández
Koalas have been acquired over soon afterwards. Alvarado, on December
by the Gendarmeria They have taken up GNA 5. The aircraft’s primary
Nacional Argentina serials GN-935, GN-936 mission will be medical
(GNA, Argentine National and GN-937. These were all evacuation. It joins two
Gendarmerie). Although second-hand helicopters, others delivered in 2015.
they were handed over on formerly being registered Four upgraded UH-1Hs
October 26, they underwent as C-FNMU (c/n 14731), were also delivered. These
some modification work N963TC (c/n 14734) and were originally donated by
with Modena Air Service XA-UWY (c/n 14718), Taiwan in 2015. Overhaul,
at its facility in Don in Canada, the US and upgrade and repainting
Torcuato, Argentina. Mexico, respectively. was funded by Brazil,
Images released by the Tie-ups between their with work carried out by
company on December 5 former identities and Above: The three AW119Ke Koalas acquired by the GNA at Avionics Services of Sao
showed all three still at its new serials are as yet the Modena Air Service facility on December 5. Modena Air Paulo. Dave Allport
facility awaiting delivery unconfirmed. Dave Allport Service

18 // FEBRUARY 2019 #371 www.airforcesmonthly.com

 NEWS
Subscribe to www.airforcesmonthly.com
Middle East for breaking news stories. E-mail the news team
at [email protected]

Iraqi New Iraqi T-50s delivered

JetRanger
update to operational base
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
have emerged on the
re-serialling of new
JetRangers at the Iraqi
Army Aviation College at
Habbaniyah/Al-Taqqadum
(see New Iraqi JetRanger
serials, December, p25).
Serials YI-240 to YI-244
and YI-246 to YI-248 are
the eight OH-58C Kiowas
previously carrying YI-223,
YI-474, YI-735, YI-957,
YI-148, YI-177, YI-172 and
YI-300, respectively. YI-245
and YI-249 are the army’s
two OH-58As, previously Above: The crew of one of the latest batch of T-50IQs, 5014, in front of the aircraft following its first test flight in Iraq. IQAF
YI-167 and YI-060 DELIVERY OF the third at the end of October and test flying completed, Training Wing’s 204th Flying
respectively. The Bell batch of Iraqi Air Force were initially transported by all six were flown from Training Squadron, which
206B/AB206B JetRangers (IQAF) T-50IQ Golden road to al-Basra/al-Shaibah al-Basra/al-Shaibah to was thought to be based
now also have sequential Eagles has been completed Air Base for reassembly Baghdad-Al Muthana/ there. However, onward
serials from YI-230 to with arrival of the aircraft and test flights – see Martyr Mohammad Alaa delivery of the aircraft to
YI-239, giving all of the at their operational base. Third batch of T-50IQs in Air Base. It was previously Mohammad Alaa implies
JetRangers and Kiowas a As previously reported, the flight test, January, p22. expected they would remain the unit is still operating
more logical system, rather six aircraft arrived by sea On December 8, with at al-Basra with the Flying from there. Dave Allport
than random allocations.
Units within the Army
Aviation College at
Habbaniyah comprise
First flight for second UAE C295W Latest
the 16th Rotary Training
THE SECOND C295W for
the United Arab Emirates
F-15SA
Squadron (RTS, with
one Mi-171E and seven
Air Force and Air Defence
(UAEAF&AD) makes its
deliveries via
Mi-171Sh helicopters),
200th RTS (eight Bell
maiden flight from the
Airbus factory at San Pablo,
Lakenheath
407GXs), 300th RTS near Seville, Spain, in THE NEXT batch of
(two OH-58As and eight December. Serial 821 (c/n F-15SA fighters for the
OH-58Cs), 500th RTS 180) is one of five examples Royal Saudi Air Force
(eight Bell 407GXs) and ordered for the Gulf state in (RSAF) passed through
the Instructor Pilot Unit November 2017. The first, RAF Lakenheath, Suffolk
(five Bell 206Bs, two serial 820 (c/n 178), began on their delivery flights in
Bell 206B-3s and three test flights in early October. December. The four jets –
AB206B-3s). Dave Allport Antonio Muñiz Zaragüeta serials 12-1013, 12-1014,
12-1015 and 12-1019 –
bring total deliveries to
51. The aircraft touched
down at the UK base
on December 10 using
the callsigns ‘Retro
61-64’. Normally, winter
deliveries route through
Lajes in the Azores.
The kingdom has
ordered 84 new-build
F-15SA aircraft, and
a further 70 earlier
F-15S examples are
being upgraded to the
later configuration.

Oman retires
Deliveries of F-15SAs
got under way when
the first four arrived
via Lakenheath during

Puma/Super Puma December 2016 (see

Saudi F-15SA deliveries
commence, February
2017, p24). Three followed
Above: RAFO SA330J Puma serial 610 in formation with a Super Lynx Mk120 and AB205A-1. Peter R Foster
in February 2017, five
THE ROYAL Air Force of Oman Royal Flight in 1982 One of them, 615, has Squadron also operated were delivered in March
Oman (RAFO) is finally and 1990, respectively. been allocated for two SA330J Pumas, serials that year, and six each in
retiring the Puma/Super All three were transferred ground instructional use 610 and 611. These were August, September and
Puma after 36 years of to the RAFO in February at the Military Technical due to be phased out December. Four more
service. The two AS332C 2005. Although the exact College in Muscat. The of service in December. transited Lakenheath in
Super Pumas (serials date is unknown, they were fate of the other two has In future the role of the March last year, a further
615 and 616) and single recently withdrawn from not been determined. SA330s and AS332s will four in May and five in
AS332L1 (serial 617) were use by 14 Squadron at In addition to the Super be fulfilled by the RAFO’s July-August 2018.
originally delivered to the RAFO Base Al Musanaa. Pumas, the RAFO’s 14 NH90 TTHs. Dave Allport

www.airforcesmonthly.com #371 FEBRUARY 2019 // 19

 NEWS Russia & CIS

More Su-30SMs arrive in Kazakhstan Armenia

finalises
Su-30SM
deal
UNCONFIRMED
REPORTS on December
3 suggest Armenia
may have signed a
long-expected deal to
acquire an unspecified
number of Su-30SMs.
Agreement was reached
back in 2012 to supply
12 Su-30SMs to the
Armenian Air Force, but
contract completion was
thwarted by lack of funds.
Other less costly options
were also examined.
Above: New KADF Su-30SM ‘12 Red’ taxies in to its parking spot on the ramp at Taldykorgan after completing its flight from It is now said that
the Irkutsk factory. Kazakh MOD Moscow has offered to
A FURTHER four Su-30SM Air Base at Taldykorgan on arrivals, the most recent 2018, p18. To date the provide around $100m
fighters have been handed December 19, followed by deliveries were in December KADF has ordered 26 of in credit to finance
over to the Kazakhstan Air ‘11 Red’ and ‘12 Red’ on 2017, when ‘07 Red’ and the type, but eventually the acquisition of the
Defence Force (KADF). Bort December 25. The latest ‘08 Red’ were received – plans to acquire 36. Another aircraft and other military
numbers ‘09 Red’ and ‘10 jets bring the total in service see Kazakhstan receives two eight jets are due to arrive equipment. The unit cost
Red’ flew in to the 604th to 12. Before the newest more Su-30SMs, February this year. Dave Allport was given as $22.5m.
Shortly before Armenia’s
change in government
Ukrainian Ministry of Interior receives first H225s last year, the then
defence ministry had
THE FIRST two H225s postponed the Su-30SM
have been supplied to purchase until 2024.
the Ukrainian Ministry of However, the new acting
Interior, Airbus Helicopters defence minister, David
announced on December Tonoyan, said in a news
21. The aircraft are the conference on November
first of 21 on order. One 12 that negotiations have
of the initial aircraft, ‘51 resumed, and a decision
Blue’, is destined for would be made very
search and rescue (SAR) soon. Russian officials
missions and the other, ‘10 also said they hoped to
Yellow’, will be operated quickly implement the
by the National Guard for agreement with Armenia’s
law enforcement duties. new leaders. Dave Allport
The H225s were Above: H225 ‘51 Blue’ (M-ABJZ, c/n 2725) will be operated by the State Emergency Service. It
re-equipped in just over was previously in service with CHC Norway as a civilian EC225LP, LN-OJB. Airbus Helicopters
three months by Airtelis
at its facility in Salon-
the coming weeks.
Ukraine is receiving
last July. This comprises
21 H225s (‘repurposed’
rotorcraft, September
2018, p19). All will be
Final Su-35 of
de-Provence, France. 55 rotorcraft under EC225LPs), ten brand new used for SAR, emergency 2018 delivered
Another two H225s were an intergovernmental H145s and 24 H125s (see medical services and other
A CEREMONY was held
due to join the fleet in agreement contract signed Ukraine acquires 55 Airbus public service missions.
at Sukhoi’s Komsomolsk-
on-Amur (KnAAZ)
production facility on

Latest A-50U returns to service Transport Aircraft Division).

December 11 to transfer
the final production
Su-35S of 2018 to the
Russian Ministry of
This latest A-50U had
Defence. The aircraft
been at Taganrog since
was also the 100th multi-
2017 and is the fifth such
role fighter of this type
conversion to be completed.
to be produced to date.
The extensive modernisation
Currently, the Su-35S is
includes enhanced radar
in VKS service with the
characteristics and use
22nd IAP (Fighter Aviation
of much lighter radar
Regiment) at Tsentralnaya
components, while crew
Uglovay-Artem, 23rd IAP
workstations have also been
at Dzemgi/Komsomolsk-
considerably improved. Beriev
on-Amur, 159th IAP at
is working on additional
Above: VKS A-50U ‘45 Red’ departs Taganrog for its flight to Ivanovo-Severnyi. UAC Besovets-Petrozavodsk
A-50U upgrades, although it
and 968th IISAP
BERIEV HAS redelivered an Forces). The aircraft, Bort flown by an air force crew remains unclear how many
(Instructor-Research
additional upgraded A-50U number ‘45 Red’ (RF-93952, to its permanent operational will be acquired because the
Composite Aviation
airborne early warning and c/n 0093493818), was base at Ivanovo-Severnyi upgrade is an interim solution
Regiment) at Lipetsk.
control (AEW&C) aircraft to the handed back to the service with the 144th APSDRLO pending entry into service of
Khotilovo’s 790th IAP is
Vozdushno-Kosmicheskiye at Taganrog on December 6 (Airborne Early Warning the more advanced A-100,
expected to be the next
Sily Rossiyskoy Federatsii after completing flight and Aviation Regiment) as part which is currently undergoing
recipient. Dave Allport
(VKS, Russian Aerospace ground tests. It was then of the 12th VTAD (Military flight testing. Dave Allport

20 // FEBRUARY 2019 #371 www.airforcesmonthly.com

 NEWS Africa

DRC operates
Boeing 737
A SECOND-HAND Boeing
737 recently entered
service with the Force
Aérienne Congolaise
(Congolese Air Force) in
the Democratic Republic
of Congo. The airliner was
first noted in service at
Kinshasa, DRC, in early
December and is painted
overall dark grey, with
serial 9T-TCQ on the rear
fuselage and the national
roundel just aft of the wing,
but is otherwise unmarked.
Its delivery date and
origin remain unknown.
The 737 is one of a
number of airliners in
More Salvadoran MD500s arrive
military service in the
DRC. These include
a veteran 53-year-old
for MINUSMA mission
THREE ADDITIONAL Above: One of the three FAS MD500s is unloaded from an Il-76 at Gao, Mali. MINUSMA
DC-8-55F, 9T-TCN, MD500E Guardiancillo light has already been operating MD500s on MINUSMA are expected to adopt
which was also seen at attack helicopters of the for MINUSMA since mission, August 2018, p19. UN registrations while
Kinshasa in December. Fuérza Aérea Salvadoreña May 2015, when they The MD500Es are all from operating for MINUSMA.
It’s unconfirmed whether (FAS, El Salvador Air Force) were first deployed to the Prima Brigada Aérea All are painted overall
it is still operational, but have arrived in Gao, Mali, Timbuktu. El Salvador (1st Air Brigade)/Escuadron white with UN titles.
the aircraft is rumoured for the United Nations announced last year a de Helicópteros at Base Around seven or eight
to be airworthy. Six Multidimensional Integrated doubling of its helicopters Aérea de Ilopango. The of the type are believed
Boeing 727s and a single Stabilization Mission in Mali operating in Mali to three already deployed to to remain in operational
Boeing 707 have also (MINUSMA). They were air- replace four German Army Mali (serials 48, 49 and service with the FAS,
been active here in recent freighted in on board an Tiger attack helicopters 50) are operating with UN meaning that almost all
years, although it is Il-76 transport, MINUSMA being withdrawn from registrations UNO-087P, of its complement of
unclear how many remain stated on December 12. MINUSMA operations – UNO-088P and UNO- MD500Es are operating
airworthy. Dave Allport A trio of FAS MD500Es see El Salvador to increase 089P and the later trio in Mali. Dave Allport

More first ‘New’ Alpha

flights for Jet for Nigeria
A FIFTH ‘new’ Alpha Jet

African has been delivered to

the Nigerian Air Force
(NAF). The aircraft,
C-27Js NAF476, passed through
Manchester Airport in the
LEONARDO’S AIRCRAFT UK and Madrid-Barajas,
Division has completed the Spain, on December
maiden flight of an initial 4 on delivery from the
C-27J for the Kenya Air US before arriving in
Force. The 1hr 35min sortie Nigeria on December 6.
from the manufacturer’s It follows four others,
plant in Turin-Caselle, Italy NAF474, NAF475, NAF477
took place on December 3. and NAF478, which were
Serial 222 is the first of Above: Kenya Air Force C-27J serial 222, with the temporary management system
Italian test registration CSX62308, lands at Turin. Kenya’s
also ferried by air from
three examples acquired by adds required navigation the US, the first on an
Kenya between November Spartans are expected to be delivered early this year to performances (RNP) and
replace four DHC-5D Buffalos based at Moi Air Base, unknown date, while
2017 and last February localiser performance with the other three passed
Mombasa. Marco Rossi
together with a number vertical guidance (LPV) through Manchester on
Below: On its maiden flight the second Zambian Air Force
of AW139 helicopters Spartan – wearing primer and the test serial CSX62309 – flew
approach capabilities. May 11, 2015; March
– reportedly four. for around 2hrs and 40mins and made touch-and-goes at In related news, a second 23, 2015; and June 3,
The C-27Js are in a new Cuneo-Levaldigi Airport, south of Turin. Marco Rossi C-27J for the Zambian 2016, respectively.
baseline configuration that Air Force (ZAF) made Known tie-ups include
includes a revised avionics a first flight from Turin- NAF475 – former
suite with new cockpit Caselle on December 27. N42NV (c/n 0042,
displays, weather radar, In September 2015 Alenia ex Luftwaffe/40+42,
radio navigation, intercom Aermacchi announced that cancelled from the US
system, cockpit and cargo an undisclosed African register on November 26,
panels and lighting system air force had ordered two 2014) with Alpha Jets USA
with LED technology, plus examples. The ZAF’s deputy of Wilmington, Delaware;
enhanced satellite and radio commander Maj Gen NAF477 – former N88XA
communication capabilities. David Muma confirmed the (c/n 0088, ex 40+88) with
The avionics comply with deal in December 2017. Air USA of Henderson,
next-generation air traffic The first example for Nevada, while yet to be
control requirements and Zambia, a ‘white tail’ identified is N707XA (c/n
provide Traffic Collision Spartan serialled CSX62307, 0007, ex 40+07), also from
Avoidance System (TCAS) made its maiden flight Air USA. Dave Allport
7.1 capability. A new flight on July 17 last year.

www.airforcesmonthly.com #371 FEBRUARY 2019 // 21

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 NEWS Asia Pacific

Pakistan Navy inducts Sea Kings and ATR 72

Above: Pakistan Navy Sea King HAR3A 17 (left), ATR 72-212A 79 (centre) and Sea King HC4+ 19 during their induction ceremony at PNS Mehran on December
12. Pakistan Navy
AN ATR 72-212A, along converted into maritime is also being converted rescue colours, plus HC4+ an operational condition.
with two Sea Kings recently patrol configuration by to MPA configuration by serial number 19 (c/n The third airworthy example,
acquired from the UK Rheinland Air Service (RAS) RAS but currently remains WA1002, ex Royal Navy/ HC4+ serial number 18 (c/n
Ministry of Defence, have at Mönchengladbach, at Mönchengladbach. ZG821), in its previous WA963, ex Royal Navy/
been inducted into service in Germany and is believed The two Sea Kings ‘Junglie’ dark green scheme. ZF117), has been identified
a ceremony at Pakistan Naval to have been delivered comprise HAR3A serial These were from a batch of as the example lost in a
Station Mehran, Karachi. to Pakistan last June. A number 17 (c/n WA1010, ex five shipped to Pakistan from fatal crash on August 31
The ATR 72, serial 79 second ATR 72-212A, RAF/ZH544), still wearing the UK in December 2017, last year – see Attrition,
(c/n 788, ex A2-ABS), was 78 (c/n 712, ex EC-JAH), its RAF yellow search and although only three were in October, p93. Dave Allport

Latest Afghan MD530F arrivals Second

JASDF
A FURTHER batch of
MD530Fs has been
delivered to the Afghan
KC-46 on
Air Force. Shipment of
the Cayuse Warriors
contract
was announced by the BOEING HAS a contract
manufacturer on December for a second KC-46
19, although the transfer for the Japan Air Self-
took place on September Defense Force (JASDF).
12. They were airfreighted On December 6 the US
on board a National Air Department of Defense
Cargo Boeing 747. announced the USAF
The latest batch had exercised the option
comprised five helicopters: for the second Pegasus
serials 280 (c/n 0280FF, ex tanker through the
N6090J), 282 (c/n 0282FF, Foreign Military Sales
ex N6082A), 283 (c/n (FMS) process. The latest
0283FF, ex N6093U), 284 contract modification is
(c/n 0284FF, ex N6084Z) valued at $158.9m; total
and 285 (c/n 0285FF, Above: The five latest enhanced MD530Fs for the Afghan Air Force, with 282 and 283 in contract value is $449.4m.
ex N6045R). This is the the foreground, on board National Air Cargo 747-428BCF N919CA, which shipped them to Boeing was awarded
second shipment of the Afghanistan. MDH the initial FMS contract
enhanced version of the Additional MD530Fs not 290 (c/n 0290FF, ex these enhanced versions for Japan’s first KC-46 in
Cayuse Warrior to be yet delivered include 281 N6090G), 291 (c/n 0291FF, of the type to Afghanistan; December 2017 following
delivered to Afghanistan. (c/n 0281FF, ex N60881), ex N6091Y), 292 (c/n others will go to Lebanon. the Japan Ministry of
The first five arrived in 286 (c/n 0286FF, ex 0292FF, ex N6092N), 0293 Those for Afghanistan Defense’s KC-X aerial
Kandahar on August 8 – N6086Z), 287 (c/n 0287FF, (c/n 0293FF, ex N6093D) will join 27 survivors of refuelling competition.
see Improved MD530Fs ex N6087K), 288 (c/n and 294 (c/n 0294FF, ex 29 earlier versions of the Work on the second
delivered to Afghanistan, 0288FF, ex N6063X), 289 N60894). MD Helicopters is Cayuse Warrior previously tanker is expected to be
November, p26. (c/n 0289FF, ex N6089L), scheduled to deliver 30 of delivered. Dave Allport completed by July 2021.

Third Indian LUH takes

to the air
HINDUSTAN (serial ZG4620) and
AERONAUTICS Ltd (HAL) PT2 (serial ZJ4630).
has reached a further The type is planned to
milestone in its Light Utility replace the Indian Armed
Helicopter (LUH) project Forces’ ageing Cheetah
with the maiden flight and Chetak fleets. HAL
of the third prototype, reports it has agreements
PT3, at Bengalaru. in principle to supply 187
The LUH was flown on LUHs, comprising 126 for
December 14 by test the Indian Army and 61
pilots Wg Cdr (ret’d) Anil for the Indian Air Force.
Bhambhani and Gp Capt First flight of LUH
(ret’d) M R Anand VM. PT-1 was carried out
PT3 is built to production on September 6, 2016,
configuration standard followed by second
based on the feedback prototype PT-2 on May Above: The unmarked third prototype Light Utility Helicopter, PT-3, during its maiden flight at
from flight testing PT1 22, 2017. Dave Allport Bengalaru. HAL

24 // FEBRUARY 2019 #371 www.airforcesmonthly.com

 Subscribe to www.airforcesmonthly.com
for breaking news stories. E-mail the news team
at [email protected]

YS-11EB still on duty Myanmar

inducts
JF-17s and
ATR 72
AS PART OF the
71st Defence Force
Day celebrations on
December 15, the first
four Myanmar Air Force
(MAF) Chengdu/Pakistan
Aeronautical Complex
(PAC) JF-17M Thunder
fighters (serials 1701,
1702, 1703 and 1704)
were handed over to the
Myanmar Defence Force
JAPAN AIR Self-Defense Force (JASDF) YS-11EB serial 12-1161 from the Denshi Sakusengun (Electronic Warfare Operations at Mandalay-Meiktila air
Group) performs a ‘touch and go’ during a training sortie at Iruma Air Base. Alongside YS-11FC 12-1160 of the Hiko Tenkentai base. The aircraft are
(Flight Checker Squadron), this is one of the few YS-11s remaining in JASDF service. The YS-11EB’s designated replacement, operated by an unknown
RC-2 serial 18-1202, is already active at Iruma, suggesting the propeller type’s days are numbered. Ron Wilkinson fighter squadron at
Pathein air base, where

India Pakistan orders more Mi-35Ms at least six had arrived

by last October – see
Six Thunders reportedly
donating PAKISTAN HAS ordered a
further five Mi-35M attack
The Mi-35Ms will
reportedly join four
they eventually arrived
in the country last April
delivered to Myanmar,
December, p22. Pathein
Kirans to helicopters, according to
the country’s army officers
examples previously
ordered; these were
before officially entering
service in December.
air base comes under
Myanmar and Russian officials
attending November’s
originally believed to
have been delivered
The Pakistan Army’s
Hind operating unit is 4
the Western Sector
Operations Centre.
INDIAN MEDIA reports on Also officially handed
International Defence to the Pakistan Army Army Aviation Squadron,
December 1 indicate the over during the same
Exhibition and Seminar Aviation Corps by August based at Quetta Khalid in
New Delhi government ceremony at Meiktila was
(IDEAS) in Karachi. 2017, but it appears Balochistan. Dave Allport
is to donate six HJT- an unidentified Harbin Z-9
16 Kiran jet trainers to (or perhaps an AS365N2,
Myanmar. Officials said
the decision is a goodwill
gesture to thank Myanmar
Philippines eyes new rotorcraft at least three of which
are reportedly in MAF
service), along with an
THE PHILIPPINES has Philippine Department of helicopters for the PAF.
for its army’s assistance ATR 72-212A, bearing
begun talks with different National Defense (DND). The Turkish Aerospace
in dealing with insurgents the serial number 0009.
manufacturers as it Some Philippine media Industries (TAI) T129
deep inside its territory. The latter, assumed to
seeks to modernise the sources claim that the PAF ATAK multi-role combat
It is intended to deploy be second-hand, joins
helicopter inventories has already selected the helicopter is reportedly
an Indian Air Force team four others that are
of its armed forces. Sikorsky S-70 Black Hawk the recommended
to Myanmar for two years already in service with
Korea Aerospace Industries for the CUH requirement, candidate of the air force
to maintain the aircraft the Transport Squadron
(KAI) has confirmed it’s quoting Defense Secretary technical working group
and assist Myanmar at Mingaladon air base,
entered negotiations Delfin Lorenzana. assigned to the project.
Air Force (MAF) pilots along with three ATR
with a view to supplying Reportedly, 16 Black Hawks The PAF is thought to have
in training on the type. 42-300s, two of which
its KUH-1 Surion utility could be acquired at a passed a recommendation
However, as the MAF has have been converted into
helicopter. The platform is a cost of $240m. As well as to procure the T129 onto the
only recently introduced maritime patrol aircraft.
candidate for the Philippine the S-70 and Surion, other DND, which will now engage
new Yak-130s for jet The additional ATR-72
Air Force’s (PAF’s) Combat options for CUH include with TAI on the potential
training, it is uncertain will increase Myanmar’s
Utility Helicopter (CUH) the AW139 and Mi-171. acquisition. According to
what use it can make internal freight and
requirement after a deal to The same sources claim reports in the Philippine
of the elderly Indian personnel transportation
provide 16 new Bell 412EPIs that Manila is also gearing media, an initial eight to ten
aircraft. Dave Allport capacity. Dave Allport
was terminated by the up to buy new attack ATAKs would be purchased.

Japan considers selling F-15Js

Above: A line-up of JASDF F-15Js at Gifu for the base’s airshow on November 18. The Air Development and Test Wing jets wear special markings recalling the
anime TV series ‘Dragon Pilot: Hisone and Masotan’, which features an anthropomorphic F-15 and is set at Gifu. Masahiro Oishi
REPORTS FROM Tokyo F-15J fighters back to the Japanese officials are Eagles as part of plans upgraded, the remaining
suggest the Japanese US government to help said to be in discussions to acquire 105 Lightning 100 or so older airframes
government is considering raise funds to purchase with Washington with IIs. While around half are deemed unsuitable
selling some of its oldest additional F-35s. a view to selling back the F-15J fleet has been for modernisation.

www.airforcesmonthly.com #371 FEBRUARY 2019 // 25

 NEWS Australasia

Final new
RNZAF
King
Air 350i
arrives
Australia marks 50 DELIVERY OF all four
Beechcraft King Air

years of P-3 operations 350i aircraft to the

Royal New Zealand
Air Force (RNZAF) has
been completed. The
THE ROYAL Australian Above: The RAAF Orion marked 50 years of operations on November 30 with a formation
flypast over RAAF Edinburgh and the city of Adelaide. Roy Choo final example arrived at
Air Force (RAAF)
RNZAF Base Ohakea to
commemorated half a Squadron retired its SP-2H of the upgraded aircraft to support counter-
join No 42 Squadron on
century of P-3 Orion Neptunes in favour of ten were four years later than insurgency operations in
November 19. The aircraft
operations on November P-3Cs. A follow-on order for planned – the first was 2017 and, more recently,
are being used in the
30. To mark the milestone, a further ten P-3Cs replaced delivered in July 2002 while to Japan for maritime
multi-engine pilot training
three AP-3C Orions flew the P-3Bs between 1984 the last was accepted surveillance enforcing UN
role and also undertake
in formation over their and 1986, and the latter in December 2004. sanctions on North Korea.
specialist aircrew training
home base at RAAF Base were returned to Lockheed. The multi-phase project After the P-8A Poseidon
for air warfare officers
Edinburgh and Adelaide, In the 1990s, studies also saw the delivery of declared initial operating
who will go on to the
South Australia. A water to upgrade and sustain three refurbished ex-US capability (IOC) with No
P-3K2 and C-130.
cannon salute greeted the the P-3Cs led to Project Navy P-3Bs for aircrew 11 Squadron early last
As previously reported,
aircraft on their return. Air 5276. Under the training in the late 1990s. year, the AP-3C is in the
the first aircraft, VH-ZPE
The RAAF’s association programme, 18 Orions Designated TAP-3Bs, they process of a graduated
(c/n FL-1017, ex N817AP),
with the Orion began in May underwent a major mission were retired by 2004. drawdown to retirement.
arrived at Ohakea last
1968, when the first of ten systems upgrade and Under No 92 Wing, AP-3Cs Two aircraft will remain in
March 24 (see First new
P-3Bs were delivered to No airframe refurbishment with were deployed on numerous service to fulfil the ELINT
RNZAF King Air 350
11 Squadron at Edinburgh, L-3 Communications as high-profile missions, role and the final aircraft
delivered, May 2018,
replacing its P-2E Neptunes. prime contractor, emerging including in the Middle East is planned for retirement
p30) and subsequently
Ten years later, No 10 as the AP-3C. Deliveries from 2003-12, the Philippines in 2021. Roy Choo
took up serial NZ2353.
The other three are

Two more Roulettes PC-21s delivered

A FURTHER two Royal HB-HWZ, both in Roulettes East Sale, Victoria. December, 40 of the RAAF
NZ2350 (c/n FL-897, ex
VH-ZPF, RP-C1834),
NZ2351 (c/n FL-962, ex
Australian Air Force colours, arrived at Adelaide These are the 25th and aircraft had either been VH-ZPG, N5062T) and
(RAAF) PC-21s have Airport, South Australia, 26th RAAF aircraft to delivered or were being NZ2352 (c/n FL-979,
been delivered. on December 9 and be delivered out of an completed in the Pilatus ex VH-ZPJ, N979KA).
The aircraft, A54-025/ departed the following order for a total of 49. factory at Stans-Buochs, All are being leased from
HB-HWY and A54-026/ morning for RAAF Base As of the beginning of Switzerland. Dave Allport Hawker Pacific for an
initial seven-year period.
They are replacing four
King Air 200s, which
were also leased from
the company. The latter
aircraft, NZ7121, NZ7122,
NZ7123 and NZ7124,
were re-registered back
to Hawker Pacific with
civilian registrations
ZK-KHP, ZK-DHP,
ZK-MHP and ZK-PHP,
RAAF PC-21s A54-025/HB-HWY and A54-026/HB-HWZ at Adelaide Airport, where they made an overnight stop on December respectively, on November
9-10 during their delivery flight to East Sale. Nathan Rundle 6. Dave Allport

Schiebel Camcopter trials for Australian Army

SCHIEBEL’S CAMCOPTER 129-3. The Elta ELK-7065 payloads is an important of UAS capabilities. keep the Australian
S-100 vertical take- Compact Airborne HF activity supporting We will continue to Army at the forefront of
off and landing (VTOL) COMINT/DF 3D System army’s understanding explore all options to new technologies.”
unmanned air system was trialled during the
(UAS) has conducted first week, followed by
trials with the Australian Overwatch Imaging’s
Army to demonstrate TK-5 Firewatch during
new communications the second week of the
intelligence (COMINT) exercise. The Firewatch
and imaging payloads. provides wide-area multi-
The drone took part in band land mapping and
an active army exercise automatic small object
in co-operation with detection functions.
Elta Systems and Director General of
Overwatch Imaging. Aviation for the Australian
The Australian Army Army, Brigadier John
conducted two weeks of Fenwick, commented: “The A Camcopter S-100 VTOL
tests with the S-100 in lease of the Camcopter UAS during recent trials with
support of Project Land S-100 and its advanced the Australian Army. Schiebel

26 // FEBRUARY 2019 #371 www.airforcesmonthly.com

HMS Queen Elizabeth

PERFECT
PARTNE
M
id-morning on September 25 over
the deep blue Atlantic waters
off the east coast of the United
States. Cdr Nathan Gray, a Royal Navy pilot
assigned to the F-35 Integrated Test Force
(ITF) at NAS Patuxent River, brings F-35B
BF-05 into a hover alongside HMS Queen
first pilot to land an F-35 on Queen Elizabeth,
Cdr Gray told AFM: “I was immensely proud.
I couldn’t find the words so I punched the
air several times. I had to pinch myself
coming around the corner to land.”
Sqn Ldr Edgell noted at the time:
“It’s taken an indescribable
those aircraft first arrived,” he told AFM.
“Nathan Gray is a good friend of mine; we
flew together many years ago. To see the
jet in the hover alongside, and then to finally
land vertically on deck, was a key moment.
“It opens the next chapter in carrier
aviation for the Royal Navy – this was
Elizabeth (R08). Translating laterally across level of dogged determination the start of the next 50 years of what
the flight deck, he executes a textbook and perseverance to we’re going to do with the ship.”
vertical landing on spot 3 in front of the achieve this incredible
ship’s Flying Control (FLYCO) office. moment. We have written a Integrating assets
The jet’s tyres touched the deck at exactly little piece of history today, but While the initial embarkation of the two fully
1045hrs Eastern Standard Time as Gray marked look beyond this and are focusing instrumented ‘orange wired’ F-35Bs was cause
a symbolic first step in the UK’s return to fast jet now on what will be an extensive for much fanfare on board Queen Elizabeth, it
carrier operations after a near eight-year gap. period of F-35 testing at sea.” was only the first act in an intensive eight-
A second test F-35B (BF-04), piloted by Cdr James Blackmore, Queen week programme of fixed-wing First Of
Squadron Leader Andy Edgell, landed Elizabeth’s Commander Air, watched Class Flight Trials – or FOCFT (FW) –
aboard shortly afterwards. It had been BF-05’s first recovery from FLYCO. which ran through to mid-November in
planned that Edgell would become the first The moment had a special resonance two main phases that were
pilot to execute a short take-off from Queen for him: as a lieutenant commander in the primary focus for the
Elizabeth’s ski-ramp a short time later, but a November 2010, he was the last Harrier navy’s four-month
combination of circumstances meant that, GR9 pilot to launch from HMS Ark Royal
in the event, that honour also fell to Gray. ahead of her premature retirement.
Reflecting on the distinction of becoming the “It really was a momentous occasion when

“Queen Elizabeth has been designed, keel up, as

a strike carrier based around an F-35B fixed-wing
air group. We call it a fifth-generation carrier for a
fifth-generation aircraft” Cdr Nathan Gray

28 // FEBRUARY 2019 #371 www.airforcesmonthly.com

 The embarkation of a pair of F-35B
Lightnings on board HMS Queen Elizabeth
off the east coast of the US marks a major
step forward in the regeneration of the UK
Carrier Strike capability. Richard Scott
joined the carrier at the end of the First Of
Class Flight Trials to find out how aircraft and
Lockheed Martin/Dane Wiedmann ship performed together.

ERSHIP WESTLANT 18 deployment.

Some 170 ITF personnel,
drawn from government,
navy and contractor teams
from the UK and US, were
embarked on Queen Elizabeth
for the FOCFT (FW) period,
York between October 19 and 26.
The primary purpose of
FOCFT (FW) was to validate
design modelling and support
the production of a ship/air
integration release to service.
This meant executing launches
accompanied by a comprehensive and recoveries in varying conditions
suite of test, telemetry and of ship motion, relative wind and
data recording equipment. headings to establish safe operating
Four test pilots – Sqn Ldr Edgell, Cdr Gray, US conditions by day and night; establishing
Marine Corps test pilot Maj Michael ‘Latch’ safe operating limits for the ship and
Lippert and BAE Systems F-35 STOVL lead aircraft; measuring the dynamic forces and
test pilot Pete ‘Wizzer’ Wilson – collectively accelerations induced in the undercarriage
flew 85 sorties (amounting to 75 flight during landing and take-off; and measuring
hours) in the two aircraft during back- the control margins while operating under a
to-back periods of Developmental wide variety of conditions, including carriage
Testing (DT): DT-1 nominally ran from of internal, external and asymmetric loads.
September 25 to October 17, with “This is what First Of Class Flight Trials is
DT-2 following from October all about,” said Cdr Gray. “It’s bringing the
28 until November 19; two systems together – the aircraft and the
punctuated by Queen ship – to ensure they are interoperable, and
Elizabeth’s visit to define the operating limits. This provides
to New the basis for the whole ‘fighting system’.

Above: Testing included a period of work with

external weapons installed, illustrated here as Maj
Michael Lippert accelerates down the deck with
GBU-12s for the first time on October 9. Crown
Copyright Inset: Richard Scott

www.airforcesmonthly.com #371 FEBRUARY 2019 // 29

HMS Queen Elizabeth

“Queen Elizabeth has been designed, keel

up, as a strike carrier based around an F-35B
fixed-wing air group. We call it a fifth-generation
carrier for a fifth-generation aircraft. It’s got
all the systems and engineering for the F-35
built into the ship. No other carrier in the
world has been built just for this air vehicle.”
Cdr Neil Mathieson, Queen Elizabeth’s
Commander Air Engineering, elaborated: “All the
[aviation and air engineering] facilities in the ship
were driven by this one aircraft. For example, the
height of the overhead gantries was all based on
the height required to take a lift fan out of an F-35.
The workshop facilities, indeed everything around
the hangar space, have been optimised for the jet.
“From my background, having previously
worked in the F-35 programme doing ship/ Above: F-35B BF-05 rolls in towards the ‘Queen He told AFM: “It truly was an evaluation
Elizabeth’ at the start of DT-I. Lockheed Martin/
air integration, helping with the design Dane Wiedmann Below: Cdr Nathan Gray shows his of the compatibility between the F-35 and
of this platform and in the early days obvious delight after landing on the British carrier the ship, and for the wind envelopes we
discussing what FOCFT would look like, for the first time. Crown Copyright/LPhot Kyle Heller wanted to develop for launch and recovery.
to actually come on board and witness “We planned during this [Developmental
such a phenomenal successful flight trials Testing] period to be able to develop envelopes
programme, I couldn’t have imagined it.” to support the initial CQ [carrier qualification]
of the operational testers [in 2019] and to
Beyond expectations be able to get the initial maritime IOC [initial
Unlike previous trials on American large- operational capability] envelopes for the
deck amphibious ships where the ITF aeroplane – that was largely internal stores
was still in the process of characterising with a bit larger [operating] envelope.”
F-35B performance, the flight qualities of Within days of the first landing, all four ITF
the aircraft are now well understood, said pilots had qualified for daytime flight operations,
Andrew Maack, F-35 ITF Chief Test Engineer and night flying began on September 29. DT-1
and Site Director from Patuxent River. initially focused on wind envelope expansion
but later advanced to first testing with external
stores and two recoveries using the short
rolling vertical landing (SRVL) technique.
BF-04 and BF-05 returned to Patuxent
River on October 16 on completion of DT-1,
by which time they had completed 98 ski-
jump launches, 96 vertical landings and
two SRVLs. It should be noted that BF-05
didn’t conduct any missions during the last
five days of DT-1 due to a fleet-wide safety
inspection and subsequent replacement of
a suspect fuel tube. However, this had no
impact on the timeline or any test objective.
DT-2 focused on external stores testing,
minimum performance short take-offs and
SRVLs, plus testing the aircraft in more
challenging wind conditions. A ‘back to
front’ vertical recovery was also conducted
as part of envelope expansion.
As is routine with first of class trials, all
flying was undertaken to visual flight rules.
Above: BF-04 on the hangar deck lift. Many dimensions of the Queen Elizabeth class have been
tailored to the F-35B. Lockheed Martin/Dane Wiedmann Below: A deck officer signals BF-05 to However, the ship’s AN/SPN-41 instrument
launch. Note that the flag indicates the take off is being conducted with a tail wind. carrier landing system was operational
Crown Copyright

30 // FEBRUARY 2019 #371 www.airforcesmonthly.com

and pilots flew a number of approaches
using azimuth/elevation alignment from it.
Inside FLYCO
Test points HMS Queen Elizabeth is unique in that she adopts
By the time DT-2 wrapped up on November a twin island arrangement, which separates
18 – a day ahead of schedule – the ITF had the running of the ship from the control of
completed 202 ski-ramp short take-offs, 187 flying operations. This novel configuration,
vertical landings and 15 SRVLs. A total of 54 adopted for survivability, spatial and sensor
inert GBU-12 weapons were also dropped; separation reasons, is intended to give greater
while the UK will use the Paveway IV precision- visibility of operations and increased safety.
guided bomb in service, the GBU-12 shares FLYCO, from where all aviation
the same mass/aerodynamic properties. operations and flight deck movements are
The test points flown in DT-1/DT-2 established managed, is sited in the aft island.
an F-35 operating envelope significantly beyond Extending outward from the main island
threshold, and have in fact ‘bowled out’ almost structure, the position affords operators a
half the test points originally planned for DT-3. spacious operational working space and
Maack said: “We’ve managed to test in a very wide field of view over the flight
conditions that provide us ‘stretch capability deck through floor to ceiling windows.
wind envelopes’ and, in addition to that, with Commander Air sits on a raised platform
different loadouts, such as external stores and that provides good sightlines across the
the max asymmetry. We’ve completed all the compartment. They have overall responsibility
work already that was planned for DT-3 and for aviation operations, but delegates
in some cases beyond [as stretch goals]. control to Lieutenant Commander Flying. Above: Commander Air, Cdr James Blackmore sits
Four separate operator positions are ranged in FLYCO. Richard Scott
“It’s going to provide a tremendous envelope
that the ship can manoeuvre within to support beneath: Lieutenant Commander Flying to run the with the officer of the watch and the captain.
F-35 operations. We talk about the F-35’s deck; an adjacent air traffic controller managing I’m aft, controlling the aviation side of things.”
carefree handling qualities. In this case I aircraft that are airborne, and giving clearances This arrangement – which physically separates
think that the envelopes we’re going to be to land; the deck operations officer, responsible the ship’s operations from the aviation activities
able to recommend for fleet use are going to for controlling all ‘non-kinetic’ operations such as – requires a new set of internal processes.
provide the ship with the flexibility [of having] bringing aircraft up and down between the flight “What it’s forced us to do is formalise everything
carefree envelopes with regards to how they deck and hangar, and putting aircraft on spots; we do, and actually it’s stopped us getting
can manoeuvre, and still [provide] suitable and the Landing Signal Officer, who monitors in each other’s way,” said Blackmore.
conditions for an F-35 to launch and recover.” the pilot approach to the deck and decides “That formalisation of the process is really
Queen Elizabeth’s ‘Air Boss’ was similarly whether the aircraft is safe to land or should be important. Because, as we grow towards 36 jets
satisfied by the success of FOCFT (FW). ‘waved off’ to try again or, in extremis, divert. in this aircraft carrier, we’re going to have to be
“We’ve not missed a test point,” said “FLYCO is a control tower, but it’s much more very rigid and formal in the way we do business,
Cdr Blackmore. “Every one that we’ve than that,” explained Cdr Blackmore. “We’re but also flexible with that mass of aircraft.
flown we’ve been absolutely on the not just controlling aircraft, it’s [also] about “This FLYCO gives you the ability to do
money, and we haven’t had to re-fly. the aircraft on the flight deck, the weapons, that. I’ve got amazing situational awareness
“That’s unprecedented for development the fuel, the choreography, the synchronisation in here [from] radars, communications and
testing. It’s made us incredibly efficient – and then ultimately getting the aircraft visual out of the window. For me, having
and put us well ahead of the test curve launched and recovered safely on deck.” worked in multiple different types of towers,
for QEC carriers with the F-35B aircraft. He added: “We’ve split into two islands. The both in the Invincible class and also in US
Everything we’ve seen has been positive.” ship drivers, if you like, are in the forward island Navy CVNs, I think this design is spot on.”
According to BAE Systems test pilot ‘Wizzer’
Wilson, a big factor in that success was Queen
Elizabeth’s single-minded focus on supporting
the ITF. “They were really focused on giving
us the conditions we needed,” he said.
“It’s rare for a test team to jump on board
and realise that the whole ship team is there
for you. Their support should really not be
underestimated – the ITF came away with
huge respect for how the ship performed.”
Cdr Gray added: “It was an ambitious flight
test plan. But we’re operating on a ship
designed for the F-35. It’s been exceptional to
see the aircraft and the ship melded together,
and we’ve now established a capability that
far outweighs the envelope that’s been given
to the F-35 from any other ship in the world.”

Rolling in
The first execution of SRVL recoveries to
Queen Elizabeth was the highlight of DT-1/
DT-2 from an experimental flying perspective.
The manoeuvre exploits the ability of the
F-35B to operate in a semi-jetborne mode:
the extra lift enables the aircraft to land at
weights significantly above its maximum
hover weight. This should allow for more than
2,000lb of additional weapon/fuel ‘bring back’.
Above: The view of the flight deck from FLYCO – the team has excellent visibility of flight operations
However, an SRVL recovery presents from here. Richard Scott
some inherent risk given that the F-35B

www.airforcesmonthly.com #371 FEBRUARY 2019 // 31

HMS Queen Elizabeth

“Now we’ve got it out of the simulator,

proven the concept, proven the capability and
proved the doubters wrong. We will be doing
more SRVLs, and not just with test pilots.”
From FLYCO, Cdr Blackmore saw good
integration between the LSO and pilots, saying:
“We’re going to need an LSO for this approach,
based on current assessment. But that’s not a
bad thing [because] it gives us subject matter
expertise in FLYCO from a qualified pilot.
“Every one of those [SRVL] landings went
according to the test plan. It’s a slightly
limited envelope at the moment but that’s just
because we’re in a test environment. What
we’ll look to do next year [in DT-3] is expand
that envelope and quantify the additional ‘bring
back’ we ultimately get from that technique.”
He added: “SRVL is going to be important in
terms of providing us much more operational
flexibility. We don’t want to be dropping
weapons in the sea – they’re getting more
expensive, they’re getting smarter, so we must
retain those weapons if we haven’t delivered
them against the enemy. It’s important we bring
Above: The rear island incorporates FLYCO, which co-ordinates flying operations. Note the FLYCO office them back on board so we can reuse them.”
extending from the island and the two electronic information displays that provide selected real-time
operations information. Richard Scott Review items
must approach the ship from the aft on full-motion simulator in BAE Systems’ As might be expected, the DT-1/DT-2
a precise glide slope (nominally 7°) and ship/air integration facility at Warton. trials identified a handful of sub-optimal
speed. Once on deck, the aircraft must He told AFM that the SRVL approach closely aspects. For example, initial SRVL trials
use its own brakes to come to a stop. matched prior modelling and simulation. “In my showed that the lighting in the fixed array
A ship-referenced velocity vector is view, this is the way to land [the F-35B] on this visual landing aid requires refinement.
incorporated in the pilot’s helmet-mounted carrier because it gives you so much capability.” “The [fixed array] reds were very bright,
display to provide a flight path marker Cdr Gray added: “It’s a manoeuvre we’ve but the whites were surprisingly ‘un-bright’,”
corrected for ship speed. Queen Elizabeth is developed through exceptional hard work explained Wilson. “None of the prior
also equipped with an SRVL-specific visual and practice in the simulator at BAE Systems modelling had suggested that would be
landing aid, in the form of a fixed array of Warton. We’ve now demonstrated that recovery the case. We ended up actually having to
lights in the flight deck tramlines, which at sea, and [proved it] as a benign manoeuvre.” paint some lines on the flight deck to aim at
provides a stabilised glide slope indication. The 15 SRVL recoveries flown in DT-1/ because that’s how dim the lights were.
Also, the manoeuvre is flown in close DT-2 were all designed to demonstrate “At the same time, we think the [flight
co-operation with the Landing Signal Officer initial manoeuvre capability and gather deck] lights are rather bright by night.
(LSO) in FLYCO, who monitors the aircraft’s evidence to validate prior simulations. So there’s some work to do there.”
approach to ensure that glide slope, airspeed, Cdr Mathieson explained: “There’s been The helmet, while judged acceptable in its
attitude and line-up remain within parameters. a huge amount of development work to current form, is another item for review. “There’s
‘Wizzer’ Wilson was the first ITF pilot understand the hazard and risk events, no obvious indication to the pilot of the quality
to recover to Queen Elizabeth using the then mitigating all those hazards, to make of the alignment of the helmet,” said Wilson.
SRVL manoeuvre. He had previously flown sure the manoeuvre was safe, and then “We came up with a procedure that allowed
2,000-plus simulated SRVLs using the actually a viable capability enhancement. us to measure the precision of the helmet but,

32 // FEBRUARY 2019 #371

 Below: The test team was quick to praise the entire
ship’s company for pulling together to make DT-1
and 2 such a resounding success. Richard Scott

even then, when we were flying approaches that a vertical landing to Queen Elizabeth in and changes to overtake [speed].”
we found there were some subtleties in sea state 7 is going to be very doable.” DT-3 will be followed by Operational Testing
the way the helmet was aligned that was (OT-1) which, explained Cdr Blackmore,
at times causing some ‘stereo vision’.” Next steps will be more operationally focused.
Cdr Gray commented: “The helmet worked Queen Elizabeth returned to HM Naval “So far we’ve operated just two jets, but
okay, and it gives us everything we need for Base Portsmouth on December 10 to this ship is designed around [an air group]
what we do around the ship, but in my view end WESTLANT 18. Following the ship’s of up to 36 jets, plus the rotary-wing aircraft
there’s still work to be done in some areas. return, BAE Systems began a pre-planned to go with it,” he said. “This is going to be a
Like anything, things could be improved.” 13-week capability insertion period. phenomenally busy place, but the way that
He added: “They will be – we’ve got another The next phase of F-35B testing aboard we’ve designed it – with dedicated vertical
50 years in this programme. Certainly over the ship will take place during the landing spots and also a runway – allows us
the next one or two years, as we in the UK WESTLANT 19 deployment in the latter to simultaneously launch and recover aircraft.
declare IOC [Land] and then IOC [Maritime] part of 2019. Again, the flying will be split “There will be some big lessons for the
and start developing more evidence from into two phases running back-to-back. ship to learn [about] how we increase the
the fleet to start to influence change.” “As well as establishing operating limits in high mass, and how we operate that mass.
Another test limitation – albeit favourable sea states, DT-3 will look to further expand the Also how we integrate extra aircraft to
– was Queen Elizabeth’s inherent stability. SRVL operating envelope,” said Wilson. “There ensure the way we operate around the
“In sea state 6, the ship really doesn’t move are many ‘tens’ of test points to fly. There will deck remains as flexible as possible.
very much,” said Wilson. “So we need be in the order of 50 to 60 more SRVLs in “It will enable us to prepare for our
to get the ship moving more because we order to give a decent clearance to the fleet. work-up here in 2020. That will support
haven’t yet found the limiting sea state. “We’d do internal weapons, external achievement of IOC [Maritime] at the
“It would be good to find what the limits of weapons, asymmetries, day as well as end of 2020, and ultimately our first
the envelope are in DT-3. I personally think night, ship motion, crosswinds, headwinds operational deployment in 2021.” AFM

Above: Vertical landings limited the ‘bring back’ capability due to weight restrictions, which is why the
short rolling vertical landing is so important. Lockheed Martin/Dane Wiedmann Left: BF-04 races up the ski-
jump as BF-05 is loaded with inert weapons for its next test event. Lockheed Martin/Dane Wiedmann

#371 FEBRUARY 2019 // 33

Intel
Report

Egypt’s
defence

Above: An ‘F-16’ was one of many inflatable decoys outside the halls at EDEX.
All photos Alan Warnes unless otherwise stated Main image: Egypt is well into
deliveries of its initial 24 Dassault Rafales. A further 12 are on the cards but
still await a contract. Dassault Aviation

34 // FEBRUARY 2019 #371 www.airforcesmonthly.com

 ‘In association with ....’

Airforces
Intelligence
airforcesintel.com

ce expo Alan Warnes reports

first Egypt D
reports from the
efence Exhibition
Defence
(EDEX), held from December
3-5 at the Egypt International
Exhibition Centre (EIEC) on the
outskirts of Cairo.

t came as quite a Additionally, Iran poses a constant unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)
I surprise when Egypt
announced it was to
threat to Arab national unity,
supporting Shiite minorities in the
and is aimed at thwarting swarm
attacks, was also on display.
hold its first ever international likes of Bahrain and Iraq. Egypt’s Such equipment provided an
defence exhibition. As a country recent concerns with the ‘Muslim interesting insight into the threats
renowned for military secrecy, Brotherhood’, which saw its leader Egypt has faced in recent times.
it was hoped such an Mohamed Morsi become president This technology was exhibited by
event might provide some for a year in 2012-13, means that an Egyptian military research and
insight into the modernisation Turkey and Qatar – accused of development department, which
of the Egyptian Air Force (EAF). supporting the uprising – have was also responsible for a full-
Fortunately, it did, but few been given the cold shoulder size inflatable decoy F-16, as well
officials were prepared to go on by the new Egyptian regime. as tanks and armoured personnel
the record to discuss specifics. carriers, presumably designed to
The event went some way to Emerging counter a more strategic threat.
fulfilling a promise by President requirements
Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to strengthen As one would expect, solutions Air force
the military; inviting 300 of the to burgeoning Egyptian military modernisation
world’s defence companies requirements were on show, such The Egyptian Air Force operates
to Cairo afforded plenty of as blast-proof seats for the next- aircraft sourced from a variety
opportunities to tap into local generation armoured vehicles of nations and manufacturers,
interest. The president is a former – improvised explosive devices which might be a logistical
army officer and all too well (IEDs) have claimed the lives of nightmare, but it means operational
aware of ongoing conflicts with many soldiers there. There were readiness isn’t hampered by
Islamist militias in Egypt. While ‘drone guns’ to detect control sanctions. Two of America’s
terrorists have been pushed signals and bring down small, military aerospace powerhouses
back to the Sinai Peninsula, armed, quadcopters in a controlled – Boeing and Lockheed Martin –
this internal unrest is a major manner. An anti-drone jammer, were at the event and both have
focus for the Egyptian military. which provides a shield against a vested interest in significant

www.airforcesmonthly.com #371 FEBRUARY 2019 // 35

Intel
Report
local business. The week before
EDEX, the US Defense Security
Cooperation Agency (DSCA)
notified the nation’s Congress of a
possible $1bn deal for ten Boeing
AH-64E Apaches, although no one
at EDEX was prepared to discuss
the business. There are currently
45 AH-64D Apaches serving with
the EAF with 35 being rebuilt and Above: Egyptian Air Force F-16D
serial 9823 was photographed before
upgraded AH-64As. Delivery of the
delivery in October 2012. It was
ten new AH-64Ds was delayed by one of four two-seat F-16D Block
a US arms embargo, announced 52s (serials 9821-9824) ordered by
on October 9, 2013 due to ongoing Egypt under the Peace Vector VII
programme. Michael Keaveney Left:
unrest in Egypt. However, it was
This ‘drone gun’ can reportedly
lifted on April 22, 2014 and the bring down quadcopters safely
attack helicopters were subsequently by intercepting the signal of the
delivered by ship to Alexandria on operator. It has been developed
by the Egyptian Armed Force’s
November 24 the same year.
Research and Development unit
Lockheed Martin featured two which also designed the inflatable
interesting models on its stand – a decoys. Below: This model of an
C-130J and an F-16C Block 52. F-16C Block 50 at the Lockheed
Martin stand at EDEX provided an
Egypt operates around 24 C-130Hs,
insight into possible upgrades for
and while the US manufacturer has Egypt. Bottom: Lockheed Martin is
been discussing C-130J sales in thought to be close to agreeing a
Egypt for several years, it has never C-130J Super Hercules deal with
Egypt. USAF/SSgt Benjamin Gonsier
reached contract award. In April
2016, a senior company official
allegedly told reporters that the north
African nation had ordered a pair of
C-130Js for delivery in 2018, but it
subsequently denied this. Sources
hinted to AFM that a C-130J
sale is closer than ever before.
The EAF has taken delivery of
240 F-16s over four decades
but they’ve all lacked genuine
smart weapons capabilities. So,
a model sporting Joint Direct
Attack Munitions (JDAMs), AIM-
9X Sidewinders and AIM-120
Advanced Medium-Range Air-
to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs) – not
to mention the pilot wearing a
Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing
System (JHMCS) – was quite
intriguing. None of the EAF F-16s

36 // FEBRUARY 2019 #371 www.airforcesmonthly.com

 ‘In association with ....’

Airforces
Intelligence
airforcesintel.com

have such capabilities, and Right: All single-seat and 12 two-

seat Rafales had been delivered to
these models – if wearing local 34 Squadron ‘Wild Wolves’ at Gebel
insignia – usually give some clues El Basur Air Base by the end of last
as to what is being marketed October. Dassault Aviation/Anthony
to the host nation. Even when Pecchi
acquiring new Block 52 F-16s
in 2013, they lacked these
capabilities, which, according to
a Lockheed Martin source, was
“because [Egypt] never signed
an agreement that allowed it
to acquire these weapons”.
That might be about to change. In
January last year, Egypt signed the
Communications, Interoperability
and Security Memorandum
of Agreement (CISMOA) with
US Central Command, which
should pave the way for such
munitions. Until now, the Arab
state had declined to comply, comprising 16 dual-seat Rafale
largely because it did not want
to allow US personnel access to
DMs and eight single-seat EMs. All
of the single-seaters and 12 two-
Egypt discusses Archangel
Not many companies at EDEX were which transforms the Hydra 70
its facilities and communications. seaters had been delivered to the open to admitting they were in unguided rocket into [a system for]
This limited the EAF ‘Vipers’ to 203rd Tactical Fighter Brigade’s discussion with the Egyptian military. attacking moving and stationary
outdated AIM-7 Sparrow and 34 Squadron ‘Wild Wolves’ at However, that didn’t stop North targets with low collateral damage.”
AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles Gebel El Basur Air Base, located Carolina-based IOMAX confirming BAE Systems was keen to stress
and old laser-guided bombs. between Alexandria and Cairo, it was in talks for a potential sale of that its laser-guided rocket could only
Lockheed Martin said it has also by the end of last October. 12 Archangel Border Patrol Aircraft be acquired through FMS and claims
offered to upgrade the 30 or so The €5.2bn deal, signed in (BPA). Under a Foreign Military Sales the system has had a “100% success
surviving Block 15 F-16s with kit February 2015, marked the first (FMS) deal these will offer a similar rate in Iraq” from Iraqi Air Force Bell
including the Northrop Grumman export deal for the French fighter weapon configuration as the United IA-407s. The EAF already operates 12
APG-68(V)9 multimode fire control and one that critically included the Arab Emirates Block II aircraft. BPA Block 1s, supplied by the UAE in
radar. If agreed, this could result SCALP standoff cruise missile, a This includes the GBU-12 laser- spring 2017, for which IOMAX provides
in Egypt’s oldest F-16s, and capability Egypt had apparently guided bomb, GBU-58 Laser JDAM logistical support, spares and training.
newer Block 32/40/52 examples been seeking for its F-16s, but and AGM-114 Hellfire missiles. Flatley revealed to AFM: “These older
being enabled to employ AIM- to no effect. Indeed, the US Given poor relations with Turkey, aircraft are likely to be upgraded to
120, AIM-9X and JDAM. It would government tried to thwart SCALP Egypt has opted to replace the the similar Archangel configuration
signify a significant boost in coming to Egypt by curbing some Roketsan Cirit 2.75in laser-guided in the near future. This will see the
firepower, so it will be fascinating component supplies, believed to rockets of the UAE aircraft with the armed control system being upgraded
to see how relations with the US include the GPS guidance receiver. BAE Systems Advanced Precision Kill and with it the ability to carry a
progress in the coming months. An Egyptian source disclosed Weapon System (APKWS) laser-guided payload of 1,000Ib, allowing two GBU-
to AFM that a first batch had rocket. According to IOMAX vice 58 Laser JDAMs on dual ejection
French progress already been delivered by the time president of business development, racks under each wing. The BRITE
Lack of smart weaponry was the US raised its objections. Seamus Flatley: “We are in the early Star FLIR on these older BPAs will be
partly why the Egyptians elected A follow-on order for 12 stages of integrating the APKWS, replaced by the L3 Wescam MX-15.”
to acquire 24 Dassault Rafales; additional Rafales was agreed in

The Egyptian Air Force operates 45

AH-64Ds with a further ten AH-64Es
planned. USAF/SSgt Justin Warren

www.airforcesmonthly.com #371 FEBRUARY 2019 // 37

Intel
Report
Right: A Kamov Ka-52 attack
helicopter operated by the Egyptian
Air Force was the only real aircraft
at EDEX. Unfortunately it wore no
markings, just a Rosoboronexport
sticker. Below right: Safran displayed
a large mock-up of its AASM Hammer
weapon at EDEX and was clearly
proud of its connection with the
Egyptian Air Force. Below: Two
Egyptian SA342L Gazelles participate
in a combined-arms live fire during a
Bright Star exercise. Helwan Factory
for Development Industries (HFDI)
currently supports Egypt’s Gazelle
fleet. USAF/SSgt Michael Battles

November 2017, but has yet to Safran has also joined the local amounted to one third of the order. has spurred plans to overhaul
be signed, with Egypt reportedly Rafale action, having signed a Talk at the show made it clear the EAF’s training organisation.
insisting additional SCALPs contract with Egypt to deliver that MiG is keen to market Currently, the air force’s academy
come under such an agreement. its 250kg (550lb) Armement Air- the impressive Zhuk-AE active flies around 70 Grob G 115s, which
European missile manufacturer Sol Modulaire (AASM) Hammer electronically scanned array (AESA) urgently need replacing. Grob’s
MBDA informed AFM “there is air-to-ground weapons in 2015. radar, which is not part of the chief sales officer, Karl ‘Charly’
no problem” as it seems non- All three versions are in service current avionics system delivered Fuernrohr, told AFM he is optimistic
US technology has already been with the EAF fleet: inertial/GPS to the EAF. Around 20 aircraft, the EAF will purchase a batch of
sourced for the new weapons. and terminal infrared guidance, including two dual-seaters, are new Grob G 120TPs within the next
Both versions of the MBDA Mica hybrid inertial/GPS guidance, and thought to have been delivered year or so. “We can take students
beyond visual range/extended inertial/GPS plus laser guidance. to date. A single-seat MiG-29M2 all the way to the lead-in fighter
short-range air-to-air missile are With a range exceeding 38 miles was lost on October 29, 2018, with training [LIFT] sector. We mix it
in the Rafale’s quiver and were (60km), the Hammer gives Egypt’s the pilot successfully ejecting. with simulator hours and drastically
on display at the MBDA stand Rafales a significant operational The only real aircraft at the decrease their flying time, even
at EDEX. The Mica IR (infrared) advantage over previous ‘kit’. The exhibition was an EAF Kamov for take-offs and landings. For
has a dual-band imaging infrared weapon, which has been in service Ka-52 attack helicopter (c/n computer-based training, the
seeker, while the RF version has on French Air Force and French 35383002008) on display in student receives a tablet or
a radar seeker that provides all Navy Rafales since 2008, has the a car park. Unfortunately, it computer and completes his
weather, shoot-up/shoot-down ability to conduct all-weather, day/ bore no markings except for training through the digital route.
capability. An MBDA spokesman night precision ground strikes a Rosoboronexport sticker Today’s youngsters spend most of
explained to AFM: “We can fit against fixed or moving targets. and was mostly covered. their days playing with their phones
six Micas under the aircraft and While 24 of the 42 Ka-52s have and tablets so now they can be put
with extra pylons we can increase Russian update been delivered, Russia is keen to to better use by learning to fly!”
that to eight. The MICA has Flying alongside F-16s and sell up to 15 naval Ka-52K Katran LIFT is another hot topic in Egypt,
two different seeker-heads, so Rafales are the first MiG-29M/ versions for the two Egyptian with several companies thought to
the operator can cope with the M2 Fulcrums. An agreement, Mistral-class large landing ships. have demonstrated their respective
differing weather conditions or reputedly worth around $2bn, These vessels were built by offerings as the EAF prepares
threat. Both have the same missile was signed in the first quarter of France for Russia, but under to replace its K-8E Karakorams.
body, which allows the seeker 2015, but details remain vague sanctions imposed in the wake Candidates are thought to
heads to be swapped if required.” even relating to the number of jets of Russia’s annexation of Crimea include the Leonardo M-345,
The EAF is also the first export involved. A MiG spokesman told in 2014, the deal was stopped, Korea Aerospace Industries/
customer for the new Thales AFM the total was for “46 or 50” and Egypt acquired them. Lockheed Martin T-50 and Irkut/
Talios multifunction targeting and the number of two-seaters Arrival of the new fighters in Egypt Rosoboronexport Yak-130. AFM
pod, with deliveries expected in
2019. Thales claims it is the first
pod to cover the critical decision
Arab Organization for Industrialisation
The Arab Organization for so, they increased the standard Helwan Factory for Development
chain from intelligence gathering
Industrialisation (AOI), founded in 1975, eight years mean time between Industries (HFDI) has been focussing on
to weapon delivery. Capabilities
was exhibiting the products and services overhaul (MTBO) to ten years. The overhauling Mi-8s, Mi-17s and SA342L
range from deep strike to air-
of the 13 companies that comprise factory has assembled 30 Chinese Gazelles of the EAF since 2004. A video
to-air target identification and
its business. One of them, the Helwan ASN-209 UAVs for reconnaissance depicted a facility packed with Russian
are reportedly ideal for non-
Aircraft Factory, assembled 120 K-8Es missions and is said to be keen to helicopters in various states of repair.
traditional intelligence, surveillance
between 2008 and 2010, and has work on the newer generation aircraft A spokesman said: “We would like
and reconnaissance (NTISR)
now also overhauled most of them. being delivered, like the Rafale, MiG- to gain an export licence to overhaul
missions. The Talios system will
Chairman, Maj Gen Eng Zein, was 29M or even upgrade the Lockheed these helicopters operating with other
replace the Damocles pod that
pleased to tell AFM that while doing Martin F-16s, according to Zein. Middle East and Africa countries.”
currently equips Egypt’s Rafales.

38 // FEBRUARY 2019 #371 www.airforcesmonthly.com

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Tornado Tales

TELIC’S

‘YOU

ete Beilby comes from a family of more than 50 combat missions in theatre for Telic Tornados
P fighter pilots – his father flew Sea
Vixens with the Royal Navy and his
the pilot, ranging from long-range interdiction
– the mission the Tornado was first designed
On February 6, 2003 the then UK Defence
Secretary Geoff Hoon announced a major
grandfather was a Fleet Air Arm Corsair for – to close air support of ground troops. commitment to possible military action
pilot during World War Two. Originally, Beilby’s navigator in Kuwait was Wg against the Iraqi military regime – Operation
he’d wanted to become a pilot in the Royal Cdr Paddy Teakle, his boss at No 31 Telic – which involved the deployment of
Marines, but the lure of fast jet flying saw Squadron back at RAF Marham, Norfolk. some 100 fixed-wing assets plus additional
him join the RAF from school and begin a “We flew as a constituted crew, and we support from Joint Helicopter Command.
career in the front seat of the Tornado GR4. flew as a constituted pair as well, with the The British presence in the Gulf region soon
Arriving at Ali al-Salem air base in Kuwait squadron exec, Sqn Ldr Paul Smith, who amounted to around 42,000 personnel from
in January 2003, he was called upon to drop was a navigator, and Sqn Ldr Simon Hume, all three services. Operation Telic (derived
bombs in anger within just ten minutes of who was the pilot,” Beilby recalled. from the Greek word for final) included
flying – during Operation Resinate which At 42 years old, Beilby’s ‘nav’ was the most the deployment of 1,200 Royal Marines
enforced the no-fly zone over Iraq. experienced airman in the detachment in from 3 Commando and 42 Commando
“There are guys who have flown over 80 Kuwait, and commander of Ali al-Salem’s alongside 1,000 members of 16 Air Assault
missions over Iraq and never dropped their Combat Air Wing which brought together crews Brigade and the Army Air Corps.
bombs,” the then Fg Off Beilby told the Daily from across the Tornado wing at Marham The RAF had been extremely busy from the
Telegraph at the time. “I admit I was nervous, along with others from No 617 Squadron onset of the operation. The British strike force
but I executed the command as I am trained to ‘Dambusters’ at Lossiemouth, Scotland. of Tornado GR4s and Harrier GR7s undertook
do. I was relieved that I had been successful Among the cadre at Ali al-Salem, only Teakle around six months’ worth of flying in the brief
and afterwards everyone said, ‘well done’.” had flown the Tornado during Operation Desert period before the war to prepare for action.
The target on that occasion was an air Storm, 12 years earlier. “We developed a Prior to deploying, the Tornados were
defence installation near An Nasiriyah, good relationship and have stayed together,” all fitted with ‘hot and high’-rated RB199
attacked after it had begun firing on another Beilby commented at the time. “It’s reassuring Mk103 engines, new light grey radomes
Tornado in his formation. It was the first of to have a navigator of his experience.” and a light grey overall ARTF (Alkaline

40 // FEBRUARY 2019 #371 www.airforcesmonthly.com

 NG GUN’
U Ope

He s
ra

po
flying the
ke
icer Pe te

pilot invo

GR4 in c
Be

lved
ilb y turned on

Tornado ddam Hussein’s ick about

a
against S to Thomas New
omb at.
ployed
Flying Off i desert while de st RAF
tio n
it
the Kuwa Telic – the young 2003 war
in the

d
e
24 in

Iraqi forc
es.

Removable Temporary Finish) paint scheme.

They also received new hand controllers
in the rear cockpit for the defensive aids
suite, which now included BOL-IR (infrared)
self-defensive Sidewinder missile rails.
The RAF deployed around 32 Tornado
GR4/4As to the Persian Gulf ready for the
start of hostilities. From RAF Marham, Nos
II (Army Co-operation), IX (Bomber) and
31 Squadrons arrived in the Middle East,
together with crews from No 13 Squadron.
Two squadrons from RAF Lossiemouth
– Nos 12(B) and 617 Squadrons – also
deployed to the Gulf, the force making
up two pooled Tornado wings at Ali
al-Salem, Kuwait, and Al Udeid in Qatar.
The element in Kuwait comprised mainly Above: Paveway-toting Tornado
Marham assets, with No II(AC) Squadron, GR4 ZD720/‘TA’, crewed by No IX(B)
No IX(B) Squadron and No 31 Squadron. Six Squadron operating from Ali al-
Salem in Kuwait. The RAF deployed
crews from Lossiemouth’s No 617 Squadron around 32 Tornado GR4/4As to the
were also here as it was the preferred location Persian Gulf for Operation Telic.
from which to undertake the Storm Shadow No IX(B) Squadron Right: Fg Off Pete
cruise missile mission: having prepared for the Beilby (left) and his navigator Wg
Cdr Paddy Teakle return to Ali al-
operational clearance of the new weapon, they Salem after a Telic mission.
flew with it in the first few days of the war.

www.airforcesmonthly.com #371 FEBRUARY 2019 // 41

Tornado Tales

GR4 improvements
The Tornado GR4 was a very different jet from
the GR1 which had made its combat debut
over Iraq in Desert Storm, as Beilby explained:
“From a pilot’s perspective, the GR4 mid-life
update gave the Tornado a digital moving map
that allowed a lot more tactical information to be
displayed. It also had GPS navigation rather than
the internal navigation, with increased accuracy.
“It had an improved head-up display [HUD] and
forward-looking infrared, which was projected
up on the HUD. The whole cockpit was NVG
[night-vision goggles]-compatible, including NVG
lighting on the aircraft, externally and internally.
We used NVGs all the time at night, including
tanking. On Operation Resinate we did quite
a lot of daylight, enforcing the no-fly zone.”
As combat operations began, the RAF flew
missions around the clock. Gp Capt Simon
Dobb, Tornado detachment commander
in Kuwait, said: “We’re expecting this to
be on an unprecedented scale, far larger
than Operation Desert Storm in 1991.”
Above: Plugged into a VC10 tanker, a GR4 crew wears helmets compatible with night-vision goggles.
Although No 31 Squadron was a defence- Since these helmets lacked dark visors, sunglasses were the order of the day before darkness fell. No 617
suppression specialist carrying the radar-defeating Squadron Below: Named ‘Oh Nell’, Tornado GR4A ZG711/‘ON’ was among the jets flown regularly on Telic
ALARM missile, Beilby never got the opportunity missions by Beilby and Teakle. The same jet served as an appropriate backdrop for glamour model Nell
to use the missile in anger. “Some of the crews McAndrew’s visit to the Gulf.
did, particularly in the early days of Telic, including
a full ALARM fit of nine missiles,” he said. The
ALARM missile had been upgraded and the
latest iteration made its combat debut in Telic.
Beilby’s ‘weapons of choice’ during Telic
were the Paveway II and the Enhanced
Paveway II, or ‘E-Paveway’, which added a
GPS guidance package. The Tornado GR4
was still using the TIALD (Thermal Imaging
and Airborne Laser Designator) system,
although this too had been upgraded.
“We were laser-designating as well as using
GPS, depending on role,” Beilby added. “For
close air support we tended to use laser
designation. We did a fair amount of close air
support during the day. As an example, we did
laser designation against tanks on the ground.”
Another weapon carried, but not dropped, by
Beilby was a concrete-filled Paveway intended
to reduce collateral damage but still tackle Iraqi
armour moved into residential areas. Developed
during the fighting around Basra, it switched
the standard high-explosive bomb ‘payload’
for a 1,000lb concrete-filled ‘blue’ practice
bomb, fitted with Paveway laser guidance kits.

Flying in the ‘super MEZ’

The Iraqi air defence network was the biggest
threat to the Tornado crews, but its components
and capabilities differed widely depending
on where they were operating. “Initially, up
around Baghdad they called it the ‘super MEZ’
– missile engagement zone,” said Beilby.
“They did have an integrated air defence
system [IADS] that was pretty up to date. The
SA-6 was probably the biggest threat, but they
had SA-8 and Roland as well. In reality, what
happened was that in the first few days of the
conflict the IADS was targeted so effectively
that the air threat other than in some specific
regions of Baghdad was fairly contained.”
From the first night, Tornado GR4s flew
suppression of enemy air defences missions
with the ALARM missile and attacked Iraqi radar
defences as part of the massive air strikes on
Baghdad. The Tornado GR4 force also struck

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key Iraqi military targets around Al Kut and
Kirkuk with Enhanced Paveways and used the
new RAPTOR pod to provide essential, time-
sensitive target information for air commanders.
Beilby’s first Telic mission was right at the
beginning of the campaign, when the Tornado
Force’s tasking was changed overnight
from Resinate to Telic. “It was classic air
interdiction, long-range strike. It was right
up in the northwestern desert, and they had
a target out there that was pretty sensitive.
It was essentially a command and control/
leadership target – an individual they wanted
to go and target right at the very start.
“We were just one element of a huge package
that had to refuel before pushing west. The
weather was terrible. We pressed towards
the target area and there was a fair amount
of confliction in terms of other assets. We The weapons control panel in the
were part of a four-ship and we stripped cockpit of a Telic Tornado GR4
out the second pair who went back. indicates two Enhanced Paveway
“The next day we went and did kill box II laser-guided bombs ‘good to go’.
RAF/Air Cdre Ian Gale
interdiction, not knowing where you were going
until you got airborne. We were sent down including AWACS and ground co-ordination a tank storage facility, a compound up
towards Basra and were tasked with close air teams. The AWACS could also put the crew around Baghdad. US forces were going
support for US Marines on the ground who on the same frequency as a UAV operating in to do a strike against that and we were to
were up against some tanks in some berms. the area, talking the navigator’s eyes onto the advance and take out some of the armour.
We dropped on those using TIALD to laser- target through the TV-tab display in the back. “It was pre-planned, so we knew where they
designate Paveway. We had only worked “We were deconflicted from drones,” explained were, and it was co-ordinated on quite a close
with US troops in a training environment Beilby. “Because of the Tornado’s performance, timeline for the US armoured team going in there.
and I hadn’t done a Red Flag. I had done a the hard deck was something like 19,000ft; “What happened was that when we got
heavy weapons det at Tucson, Arizona. you wouldn’t generally go below that because airborne, they had bought their timings
“Interestingly, for the majority of the training of the threat from surface-to-air missiles or forward, so we had to be in the areas as
before Telic (I joined the squadron 18 months triple-A [anti-aircraft artillery]. The Predators they launched their tactical artillery, which
before), the emphasis was still low level. It would be at 19,000 or lower, with the Tornados was pretty… interesting. This was GPS-
included a lot of low-level pairs and four- at 20,000, with everyone else up above. guided artillery that went up into the high
ships. The proportion was perhaps 80% “Our performance when we were fully loaded 30s, so it went through our airspace.
low level, 20% medium level. And then meant we couldn’t elevate much above that. “One of the most challenging things was
out on Telic, because of the air defence We were probably the lowest of the stack. the complexity of the air environment. The
threat, we did 90% medium level.” It was the first time I’d ever operated in an number of things going on up there all the
environment in which drones were active. time was pretty staggering. You’d go to the
Drone warfare They were integrated into the ATO [air tasking tanker towlines to refuel. In the UK you might
In a further example of the Tornado’s order] and we knew where they would be. have seen two tankers on a towline – out there
advances since Desert Storm, Telic involved “We worked a bit with the British Army, there’d be four racetracks of tankers each
close co-operation with unmanned aerial particularly around Basra, and then up stacked with four tankers and a pretty much
vehicles (UAVs), including the US Predator. north towards Baghdad we worked with continual stream of assets through those.
Tornado crews flying close air support for some US armoured divisions. There was Imagine what that looks like at night on ‘gogs’
ground troops could typically call upon agencies one mission [when] we were tasked against – just a serious amount of hardware in the air.” AFM

Left: A Tornado is loaded with ALARM anti-radar

missiles prior to a SEAD mission targeting the
Baghdad ‘super MEZ’. RAF/Air Cdre Ian Gale
Right: ‘Snakepit’ was the name given to the
Tornado crew bunker at Ali al-Salem. Personnel
demonstrate the respirators which were provided
for protection against possible chemical or
biological attack. RAF/Air Cdre Ian Gale

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Exercise
Report Cruzex 2018

Fighters of the

Souther
Air arms from Brazil,
Chile, Peru and Uruguay
as well as the United
States, Canada and
France, came to Natal
air base in northeast
A
total of 59 aircraft rolled
onto the tarmac at Natal
on a hot November
morning, awaiting take-off for the
first composite mission of 2018’s
Cruzeiro do Sul Exercise (Exercise
Southern Cross, CRUZEX).
Base Aérea de Santa Maria.
In the fictitious scenario, the
coalition operated under the aegis
of the UN and the commanders’
main challenge was co-ordinating
and maximising the efficiency
of the various elements, within
de Aviación No 10 of the Fuerza
Aérea de Chile (FACh, Chilean Air
Force), a KC-135R from the USAF’s
22nd Air Refueling Wing (ARW) at
McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas,
and a FAB KC-130. Meanwhile,
FAB Embraer E-99 and R-99
Brazil for the joint The exercise’s overarching a composite air operation aircraft provided early warning and
objective was to establish a (COMAO – see also p84-87). aerial command post functions.
CRUZEX exercise in late unified air component suitable Colonel Francisco Bento Aircraft were active over 24,710
November. Cristobal for responding to a potential Antunes Neto, chief of the sq miles (64,000km2) of northern
Soto Pino witnessed regional conflict. It would have CRUZEX 2018 Control Division Brazil, under the control of airborne
the action. to be able to execute missions explained: “The first two days of radar and, with the tankers in
over the Atlantic coast under the the exercise were for the crew to position, the air assault assets
command of the host Força Aérea adapt to the airfield and region.” began to arrive on scene. These
Brasileira (FAB, Brazilian Air Force). These familiarisation flights involved two Royal Canadian Air
Take-offs followed a meticulous together with force integration Force (RCAF) CC-130Js, two
briefing by the generals in charge training took place ahead of FAB C-105 Amazonas (C295s)
of each national delegation. To the main COMAO missions. and two C-130Hs, plus a solitary
help pilots adapt to the operating CN235 from Base Aérienne 367
Above: A trio of fighters in environment, the first sorties COMAO Cayenne-Rochambeau, a French
formation over Brazil’s Atlantic were under the direction of local The first aircraft into the air Air Force facility in neighbouring
coast. From left to right: Brazilian mission commander Major Felipe provided strategic support for the French Guiana. Paratroopers
Air Force F-5EM, Brazilian Navy
AF-1C and Chilean Air Force Scheer of the 1°/10° Grupo de fighters and attack aircraft, in this and equipment were airdropped
F-16AM. All photos Cristobal Soto Aviação (GAv) Esquadrão ‘Poker’, case aerial refuelling assets in near the city of Fortaleza. For
Pino and Simón Blaise Olivera which flies the A-1A/B (AMX) from the form of a KC-135E of Grupo the first time in this exercise,

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rn Cross
Chilean ‘Vipers’
The Grupo de Aviación No 7 Fighting
Falcons at CRUZEX were among
the second-hand batch of F-16AMs
acquired from the Netherlands, which
the infiltrated troops included
Joint Terminal Attack Controllers
(JTACs) to provide guidance
during close air support (CAS).
Next it was the turn of the
attack aircraft, flying CAS and
strike missions. Around half-a-
the region’s fleets. The A-37B
flown by Peru and Uruguay
is still capable of executing
CRUZEX missions, but the
Dragonfly offers limited firepower
and technology compared with
current NATO standards, lacking
were subjected to the Pacer Amstel
dozen FAB A-1A/Bs led the wave a radar, laser-guided weapons
modernisation programme. This included
of take-offs. As they tucked up or target designation pod.
rewiring, reinforcing the airframe and
their landing gear a squadron
other structural improvements to extend
operational life by at least 20 years.
of FAB A-29B Super Tucanos Air superiority
followed them into the air. Further The air defence component
The jet has an AN/APG-66(V)2A radar
back were the Fuerza Aérea del began to arrive the weekend
and the cockpit includes two Honeywell
Perú (FAP, Peruvian Air Force) before the exercise, and the
LCDs compatible with night-vision
A-37Bs of the Escuadron Aéreo USAF detachment was first to
goggles (NVGs). The jet is equipped with
711 ‘Escorpiones’ of Grupo land – four F-16Cs of the Texas
inertial and GPS navigation systems.
Aéreo 7 at Piura. The newly Air National Guard’s 149th Fighter
During CRUZEX 2018 the Chilean
modernised AF-1M Skyhawks Wing supported by a KC-135.
defence minister announced a further
of the Marinha do Brasil’s Five FACh F-16AMs of Grupo de
modernisation of the F-16 but did not
(Brazilian Navy’s) Esquadrão Aviación No 7 came via a direct
provide details. In the past, different
VF-1 were also involved. flight from the V Brigada Aérea
companies have offered a new head- Above: Chilean Air Force F-16AM Although the availability of at Cerro Moreno in the coastal
up display, support for the Joint Helmet serial 749 (formerly J-869 of the combat aircraft during the exercise city of Antofagasta to Rio Grande
Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS), RNLAF) prepares to hook up with a
KC-135 refueller. Stratotankers were
remained good, the strike assets do Norte, supported by a FACh
modernisation of the tactical data
provided by the FACh’s Grupo de in particular revealed the need KC-135E. Only a few minutes after
link and a new active electronically Aviación No 10 and the USAF’s 22nd to renew or upgrade much of the Chilean jets arrived, four
scanned array (AESA) radar. Air Refueling Wing.

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Exercise
Report Cruzex 2018

Mirage 2000P/DPs (three single- while the Texan F-16s were also
seaters and a single two-seater) equipped with Litening III pods
of Grupo Aéreo 4, based at La for target designation. Once
Joya, Arequipa, touched down at they were in the air, an A-1M
Natal after a stopover in Brasilia. departed Natal equipped with a
The Peruvian Mirages are now RecceLite pod to assess the results
somewhat long in the tooth and in obtained by the attack aircraft.
need of modernisation. According
to unofficial sources, at least six of Red Air
the jets will undergo a capability The hostile Red Air forces were
upgrade in the next five years. led by the F-5EM/FM plus a
Acquired in the late 1980s, a last rotating squadron of either
major inspection was conducted Chilean and/or USAF F-16s and/
by Dassault between 2009 and or Peruvian Mirage 2000s.
2012 with input from powerplant COMAO attack aircraft were
specialist Snecma (now Safran) tasked with striking ground targets Above: AMX serial 5506 is one of the FAB’s upgraded A-1Ms, assigned to Ala
and avionics business Thales. after Blue Air established superiority, 4 at Santa Maria. The jet carries a Rafael RecceLite pod under the fuselage
The FAP now hopes to install new in the form of combat air patrols for a battle damage assessment mission. Below: Peruvian and Uruguayan
radar, sensors and armament; (CAPs). These operations included Dragonflies were the oldest combat jets taking part in the exercise. This is
an A-37B of the FAP’s Escuadron Aéreo 711 ‘Escorpiones’ of Grupo Aéreo 7
the Mica IR/RF has been offered an improvised combat rescue based at Piura.
to the FAP since 2011. mission in ‘enemy territory’, in the
Blue Air’s adversaries included area of Maxaranguape, around 40
FAB F-5EM/FMs, provided by miles (64km) from Natal. Here, a
five different squadrons: 1º member of the 141st ARW was
Grupo de Defesa Aérea (GDA), rescued by a two FAB-operated
1º/1º Grupo de Aviação de Caça H-36 (EC725) Caracals. Before the
(GAvCa) Esquadrão ‘Jambock’, helicopters arrived, CAS air support
2º/1º GAvCa ‘Pif-Paf’, 1º/4º GAv was delivered by the ‘strikers’ to
Esquadrão ‘Pacau’ and 1º/14º secure the area for the rescuers.
GAv Esquadrão ‘Pampa’. These At the same time, each side
aircraft all deployed to Natal in was furnished with the necessary
advance for familiarisation flights. electronic coverage from the
The fighters took off in flights R-99 and E-99 platforms, which
of between two and four jets in provided a complete picture of the
air-to-air mission configurations, conflict scenario for both parties.

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 Above: Mirage 2000DP serial 195 rolls for take-off. Operated by the FAP’s
Escuadrón Aéreo 412, part of Grupo Aéreo 4, based at La Joya, the fighter
Mission commander
wears a toned-down grey colour scheme. Left: Serial N-1008 was the fourth Each COMAO was led by a
modernised AF-1 Skyhawk and was re-delivered to the Brazilian Navy last designated mission commander,
August 23. While Embraer refers to the improved aircraft as the AF-1M, in provided on a rotational basis
service the aircraft are designated AF-1B (single-seat) and AF-1C (two-
seat). Below: A Força Aérea Brasileira F-5EM pilot prepares to taxi out for a
by each participating country.
CRUZEX sortie from Natal. F-5s from five different squadrons were present at The commander received details
the base and were heavily engaged in the Red Air adversary role. of the mission, as well as the
means available to carry it out,
only 24 hours in advance.
The boss of the FACh’s Grupo de
Aviación No 7, Wg Cdr Guillermo
Pino, led a COMAO on November
23. This was a task force composed
of around 50 aircraft divided into
four different missions: air defence,
airlift, strike and combat search and
rescue. Each had a responsible
commander with whom Wg Cdr
Pino, together with his deputy
commander, had to co-ordinate
and subsequently direct the
mission, although the commander

Upgraded Tigers had the last word regarding the

development of the exercise.
The host’s F-5EM/FM is one of the were brought up to F-5FM standard; and control (AEW&C) platforms and Putting together the air component
world’s most advanced Tiger II variants. the Jordanian single-seaters did not a new navigation computer. was the mission commander’s
The upgrade effort began in 2005 when undergo the modernisation and never The Elbit/AEL Targo helmet-mounted responsibility, including the different
Embraer and AEL Sistemas (an Elbit entered FAB service, instead being display was added, allowing off- flight levels of the ‘strikers’ and
Systems company) received a $285m used as a source of spares. One of boresight target designation, together aircraft configurations. In the
contract to modernise 43 existing F-5Es. the F-5FMs was lost on May 24 last with the Rafael Python 4/5 and beyond- words of Wg Cdr Pino: “The
This was later increased to include 11 year, both pilots ejecting safely. visual-range Derby air-to-air missiles. enriching experience of being able
Tigers acquired from the Royal Jordanian Improvements include the incorporation New self-protection systems to work with squadron leaders of
Air Force (RJAF) from August 2008. of the Selex Grifo radar capable of include chaff/flare launchers, a new neighbouring air forces is almost
In the event, a total of 43 single- locating multiple targets at different radar warning receiver and wiring unique, [and helps to] understand
seat F-5Es underwent upgrade to altitudes thanks to its track-while- for the use of Rafael’s Sky Shield the logic according to the geography
F-5EM standard while six two-seat scan technology, a data link connecting electronic warfare pod. Deliveries were and climates from which they come.”
F-5Fs (including three ex-RJAF jets) the jet with airborne early warning completed between 2005 and 2017. He added: “Culture is another aspect
that we must take into account when
flying in these composite forces.”

Alternative exercises
Although there are other
opportunities for combat aircraft
to take part in similar multinational
exercises in the region, CRUZEX
has proved to be the most
enduring. Serving a similar purpose
are Ceibo in Argentina and
Chile’s Salitre, both of which were
launched in the early 2000s. The
Argentine manoeuvres continued
until 2005, while Salitre, which
takes place in Antofagasta, was
last held in 2014. However, Chile’s
defence minister announced during
F-5FM serial 4808 (FMS 82-0091) was the first of six two-seaters to undergo the upgrade. It’s flown by 1º/14º GAv CRUZEX 2018 that the next Salitre
Esquadrão ‘Pampa’ stationed at Canoas in the state of Rio Grande do Sul.
could be this year or next. AFM

www.airforcesmonthly.com #371 FEBRUARY 2019 // 47

B-1 at war

Desert‘Bats
T
Bhe thunderous roar of four General
Electric F101 engines in full reheat
reverberates around the arid desert
base of Al Udeid in Qatar, heralding the start
of another B-1B Lancer mission supporting
the complex US operation in the Middle East.
symbol of US air power in the region
in support of Operation Freedom’s
Sentinel in Afghanistan and Operation
Inherent Resolve in Iraq and Syria.
The B-1 is a versatile tool for its
commanders, and the 9th EBS is on
Lt Col Erick Lord is the hand to react to requirements
commander of the 9th around the US Central
Expeditionary Bomb Squadron Command (CENTCOM)
(EBS), here under the 379th Air area of responsibility (AOR).
Expeditionary Wing (AEW) at the Capt ‘Bear’ Olgun is a
base known as ‘The Deid’. weapons system officer
Deployed from the 7th Bomb (WSO) who has been flying
Wing at Dyess Air Force Base the B-1 for six years. This
in Texas, Lord commands is his fourth deployment to Al
a team of more than 75 B-1 Udeid with the B-1 but his first
aviators who provide the ultimate with the 9th EBS. He told AFM AFM:

“Deploying with the 9th Expeditionary

Bomb Squadron and employing a B-1 in
combat is an absolute honour and privilege”
Lt Col Erick Lord

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Bones
s’ at ‘The Deid’
In an exclusive insight into US
Air Force B-1B operations during
combat missions in the Middle
East, Ashley Wallace was
granted access to the secretive
base at Al Udeid, Qatar for a rare
look at the Lancer at war.

A B-1B of the 9th

Expeditionary Bomb
Squadron on the chocks at
Al Udeid ahead of a mission.
All images Ashley Wallace
unless otherwise stated

www.airforcesmonthly.com #371 FEBRUARY 2019 // 49

B-1 at war

“CENTCOM is run by an army four-star general

who controls the whole area of operations
including Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Yemen and
Syria. What we do is provide combat air power
in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel
and Operation Inherent Resolve to all coalition
partners whether it be with other air forces
in the air or coalition partners on the ground,
Joint Terminal Attack Controllers [JTACs] and
other army ground units such as marines and
Navy SEALs in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria. We
like to think of ourselves as customer service
providers to [forces] on the ground, making sure
that those guys and girls get home safely.”
Lt Col Lord added: “The presence and
capabilities of the B-1 serve as a deterrent
Above: The 9th EBS has left its mark on one of the for any would-be aggressor while ensuring
concrete blast walls near the operations building.
Right: Lt Col Erick Lord, commander of the 9th
our allies in the CENTCOM region have the
EBS. Below: A B-1 crew goes through final checks will and ability to defend national and allied
ahead of ‘stepping’ to the jet. interests. The air force’s only non-nuclear
bomber – the B-1 – provides a highly versatile,
multi-mission weapons system that carries
the largest payload of both guided and
unguided weapons in the air force inventory.
The B-1’s unprecedented persistence, range
and weapon flexibility provides a strong
deterrent to regional foes, while providing
unrivalled support to combatant commander
objectives and protection to the region.”

‘Bone’ boss
Receiving his commission in September 2003,
Lt Col Lord graduated from Joint Specialised
Undergraduate Navigator Training and the
B-1 Formal Training Unit, before operational
assignments at both Ellsworth AFB in South
Dakota and Dyess AFB, Texas. Lt Col Lord is
now a ‘senior navigator’ with more than 2,500
hours in the B-1 of which more than 1,500 have
been flown in combat. He has deployed four
times to Southwest Asia in support of ongoing
US commitments. “Unfortunately, we don’t get
to choose our enemy or the war we support,
so the B-1 crews must be prepared to fight

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 Exc AFM
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Belly of the ‘Bone’
The B-1’s huge fuselage conceals a vast amount of cluster munitions or 30 Wind-Corrected Munitions to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSMs) and
weaponry with up to 75,000lb (34,019kg) of ordnance Dispensers; up to 24 2,000Ib GBU-31 Joint 15 GBU-54 Laser JDAMs. The weapon loadout
tucked within three internal weapons bays, each Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs) or 15 500Ib is tailored specifically for each mission.
independently configurable and capable of carrying GBU-38 JDAMs; up to 24 AGM-158A Joint Air-
a mixture of GPS-aided bombs and cruise missiles.
The B-1 can carry: 24 2,000Ib Mk84 general
purpose bombs; up to 84 500Ib Mk62 or eight
2,000Ib Mk65 Quick Strike naval mines; 30

Maintainers from the 379th

AMXS load a live GBU-31
Joint Direct Attack Munition.

and employ combat air power across the full sister services, NATO and coalition partners.” protect American lives and interests, I expect
spectrum of conflict,” he explains. “Red Flag Lt Col Lord explains the process of how he them to exercise proportionality while employing
exercises provide realistic, integrated training in decides which airmen to send into combat. precise and lethal air power. I expect them
a contested, degraded and operationally limited “Deploying with the 9th Expeditionary Bomb to be perfect every time, because American
environment – think [about our] adversaries. Squadron and employing a B-1 in combat is and coalition lives depend on it.” Lt Col Lord
Green Flag is the US Air Force’s premier an absolute honour and privilege. Our country continued: “Only the best and most proficient
CENTCOM spin-up exercise where B-1 crews demands perfection and I expect nothing less. I combat aviators and airmen earn the privilege
have the opportunity to hone their close air train the squadron’s aircrews to use their minds of wearing the 9th [EBS] patch in combat and
support [CAS] skills in realistic force-on-force, before they employ their weapons and expect that patch is hard-earned. B-1 aviators must
air-to-ground combat scenarios. In a given year, them to always exercise appropriate restraint. graduate approximately two years of training
we will participate in both exercises, which also However, when forced to choose a kinetic and then pass a rigorous mission verification
affords the opportunity for us to train with our response to thwart our nation’s enemies and exercise, whereas as the commander, I

“Unfortunately, we don’t get to choose our enemy or

the war we support, so the B-1 crews must be prepared
to fight and employ combat air power across the full
spectrum of conflict” Lt Col Lord

www.airforcesmonthly.com #371 FEBRUARY 2019 // 51

personally certify them worthy of combat with a change or reshuffling occurring half- each other’s tendencies, strengths and
operations. Although we are the smallest air way,” Lt Col Lord explained. “This construct weaknesses and even one’s normal state of
force we’ve ever been, there is no shortage allows crews to learn each other’s strengths and emotion often proves to be a force multiplier.”
of premier combat aviators and not everyone weaknesses. It allows them to better anticipate Capt ‘Bear’ Olgun adds: “Some of it is a
makes the roster; I left people at home because each other’s next move, which can cut down on social experiment to see how people operate
they just weren’t good enough yet. I have not the requirement for extra spoken words. Such together, but most of it is due to the fact that,
only the responsibility but also the pleasure a crew construct affords the opportunity for if you are with the same people, you condition
of leading America’s finest into combat.” everyone to really get to know one another.” each other and get used to each other’s way
Lord says each B-1 crew is built based on of operating the aircraft, and then everything
Meeting the mission experience levels. “For example we will and everyone is in sync; it’s to get some sort
The 9th EBS deployed enough airmen to pair an experienced instructor pilot with a of standardisation inside the cockpit so that
support a round-the-clock demand. The less experienced co-pilot, and an every single time you fly, you fly with an
battle rhythm required here is known well experienced weapons expectation from the crew.”
by now to meet the objectives set forth system officer [WSO] with
by the combined forces Air Component one of less experience. Mission sets
Commander: deliver air power, develop I will also take into Close air support
relationships and defend the region. account personalities. is what this is all
The typical B-1 crew member averages a I try my best not about and the
couple of combat missions per week over the to put four super pilots are known
course of a deployment rotation. The remaining ‘type-A’ officers in to employ the
time is spent either recovering from a mission or the same cockpit! B-1 at extreme
supporting combat operations through a myriad Having four sets operational
of ground duties. “Generally speaking, we are of eyeballs in limits during
‘hard-crewed’ [meaning the same crew members the cockpit, sorties,
stay together] for the duration of a deployment, understanding averaging

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Above: Complete with ‘Bats’ squadron fin band, an immaculate 9th EBS B-1B eases out from its parking slot. Left: Capt ‘Bear’ Olgun and Capt ‘Maddog’
Newman prepping their flight equipment before heading to their mission briefing. Far left: Maj ‘Repo’ Yadlin checks her helmet communications and oxygen
mask ahead of a mission.

more than 12 hours in duration and covering Block 16, which has added new cockpit displays a strategic bomber flying long-range power
more than 3,500nm. Equipped with the AN/ and data links. Maj ‘Repo’ Yadlin has been a projection missions in the Pacific, or we can
AAQ-33 Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod pilot flying the B-1 for two and half years, and employ at a tactical level, dropping weapons
and using the B-1’s AN/APQ-164 synthetic this was her first deployment to Al Udeid. “Flying within close proximity of friendly forces.”
aperture ground-mapping radar with moving the B-1 is, despite the cliché it sounds, amazing.
target tracking capability, the B-1 provides It’s a huge aircraft but it handles like a fighter. View from the top
both non-traditional intelligence, surveillance It is extremely responsive and manoeuvrable – Commanding a deployed combat squadron is
and reconnaissance (NTISR) as well as there’s nothing quite like the feeling of those four hugely demanding and also brings a personal
precision strike. With a maximum flyable gross afterburners kicking in, you can really feel the and emotional side with it. Lt Col Lord explains
weight of more than 400,000Ib (181,437kg) force of those engines. It’s the best kick in the how crews are trained to deal with the day-to-
and a maximum speed of approximately pants you can imagine. In terms of what we do day life during missions. “I go to great lengths
Mach 1.2 – around 800kts – the B-1 is best there is probably a doctrinal answer versus to prepare my aircrew and their families to be
unlike any other jet in the USAF inventory. a practical answer. However, we are the best at able to deal with and bear the burden of taking
With its sleek curves and four powerful what we’re designed for: low level ingress to get human life. A combat deployment affects
motors tucked underneath the belly, the in below enemy radars, popping up to release everyone differently, and sometimes the most
B-1B looks like a fighter, while in the cockpit weapons and then dropping low to egress. insignificant event can trigger the flow of emotion
its control stick instead of a yoke means it While the B-1 is an extremely impressive aircraft – coping with the stress of combat is personal
handles and manoeuvres much as it looks at low level, both with the terrain following and complicated. Nonetheless, the squadron and
on the outside. When its swing-wings are radar and just being hand-flown, I think we are the air force stand ready to provide resources
swept fully aft to 67° the B-1 is capable of the best at being adaptable and versatile. should a warfighter need to talk to someone
supersonic flight for durations unmatched by “The B-1 has become the premier close air about something seen or done. I preach restraint
other aircraft, even if they carry smaller loads. support platform in the Middle East and that and proportionality and I wish the squadron
To match its muscle, the B-1 has been is because of our ability to adapt and react to could achieve the Combatant Commander’s
continually and significantly upgraded the needs of the air force, regardless of the intent without taking a single human life.
throughout its life, the latest being Sustainment mission required,” Yadlin adds. “We can be America’s enemies, however, continue to prove

Above: Maj ‘Repo’ Yadlin and Capt ‘Spad’ Winningham in the cockpit of B-1B 86-0127 running through
their pre-flight checks before a combat mission over Iraq. Left: The size of the B-1B is apparent in this
shot. However, it handles much like a fighter aircraft and is clearly very popular with its crews.

www.airforcesmonthly.com #371 FEBRUARY 2019 // 53

B-1 at war

that they are willing to die for what they believe

in. Although the 9th EBS comes in peace, we
stand ready to strike with lethality and precision.
Personally, I maintain my mental health by
compartmentalising, when the door closes
to the briefing room, it’s time for business.
“In the jet, it’s all about business, and until we
land and debrief, more business,” explains Lord.
“A benefit of deployed life, separated from family,
[is that] I land and decompress with fellow crew
members, go to sleep to wake up and do it all
again the next day – we’re all in this together
and we deal with it together. I tell my youngest
aviators and remind my eldest that when you hear
American sons and daughters on the other end
of the radio in trouble, any doubt, reservation, or
hesitation of taking enemy life instantly fades. At
the end of the day, when my deployment comes
to an end, I take comfort in the fact that I am
making the world a safer, more stable place.”
Capt ‘Spad’ Winningham is well placed to
comment on what it means to deploy, as
he’s on his first foray. “I think some of the
most memorable moments in combat have
been when you arrive to the AOR and you’re
Above: Capt ‘Bear’ Olgun is a weapons systems officer, seen here working at his mission station, which
is in the latest Block 16 standard. Below: Capt ‘Bear’ Olgun and Capt ‘Maddog’ Newman wear headsets
talking to a JTAC over the radio and you can
rather than helmets as they run through lengthy pre-flight preparations. instantly hear the stress in their voice, they
are talking that little bit faster. You may even
sometimes hear gunshots in the background
whilst they are telling you the facts. You
can break that contact and help them out
and you then instantly hear the relief in their
voice. It’s a pretty rewarding feeling.”
Speaking about one particularly fulfilling
incident, Capt ‘Bear’ Olgun told AFM: “I
remember one mission during the early part
of this deployment. We were flying over
Afghanistan and it was pretty quiet for the
most of the flight, then the unit that we were
supporting on the ground called us on the
radio. They had been taking rocket fire for days
on end and needed our help. We quickly got
some coordinates and got on station just to
show our presence and to make some noise.
[They] radioed through to thank us for being
overhead making some noise as that was the
first time in 24 hours that any of them were able
to get some sleep. So even though we may
not be dropping munitions in that operation

54 // FEBRUARY 2019 #371 www.airforcesmonthly.com

 Exc AFM
lus
ive

The AN/AAQ-33 Sniper pod under the forward

fuselage is dwarfed by the huge bomber. However,
it has transformed the B-1’s ability to perform
precision strike and surveillance.

or taking out enemies, the sheer presence

and noise of the B-1 deters the enemy from
“So even though we may not be dropping munitions
conducting any type of attacks. If we can [help in that operation or taking out enemies, the sheer
facilitate] some sleep for those guys on the
ground then that’s still a huge win in our book.”
presence and noise of the B-1 deters the enemy from
Over the course of approximately 125 B-1 conducting any type of attacks” Capt ‘Bear’ Olgun
combat missions, Lt Col Lord has many fond
memories: “You always remember your first
‘Winchester’ [dropping every bomb on board]
and always remember your first combat
sortie as an instructor, the so-called ‘adult
supervision’ missions. Back in 2013, my
squadron commander promoted me to the
rank of major over ‘bad guy’ country, and this
deployment I’ve had the pleasure of promoting
two of my airmen in similar circumstances.
Those experiences rank right up near the top.
In short, they are all memorable, for I have
the pleasure of leading and flying with the
finest that the USAF has to offer. I am a firm
believer that the best jet in the air force is the
one that you fly. They are all great, but in my
Above: B-1B 86-0127 from the 9th EBS on the flight line at Al Udeid, with its crew running through pre-
own humble opinion, a day at the office at flight checks prior to departing on a combat mission. Below: With four F101 engines in full afterburner
the controls of a B-1 is as good as it gets.” AFM ‘Bone 11’ accelerates down the runway at Al Udeid.

www.airforcesmonthly.com #371 FEBRUARY 2019 // 55

 Exercise
Report Trident Juncture 2018

NATO
Geopolitical changes,
military expansion from
potential rivals and a
decline in traditional
large-scale exercises:
these were just some of
the reasons why Trident
Juncture 2018 was the
largest collective defence
exercise by NATO forces
since the end of the Cold

in the Far North War. Kees Otten and

Wim Das report from
Norway.

1. Luftwaffe A400M 54+16 arrives at Oslo Airport, Gardermoen on October

9 transporting participating soldiers. Allied Joint Force Command Naples 2.
Royal Netherlands Air Force AS532U2 S-419 heads to the beach after
departing from an assault ship during the media event at Bynese. Kees Otten
and Wim Das 3. Italian and US Air Force personnel at work within a NATO
Deployable Air Control Centre – Recognized Air Picture Production Centre
– Sensor Fusion Post (DARS). The DARS provides mobile radar and control
capabilities to conduct air surveillance and aircraft management. 4. MV-22B
Ospreys assigned to VMM-365 fly troops and materiel from USS ‘Iwo Jima’
1 to the beachhead. US Navy/Chief Mass Communication Specialist David Holmes

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2 3
t’s clear that the countries such as Sweden and two US Navy P-8As assigned
I alliance sees a
renewed requirement to
Finland, which are increasingly
embedded in NATO doctrine
to the exercise and detached
from Sigonella, Sicily to Iceland
demonstrate its military potency in and which now also host NATO (the aircraft later relocated to
Europe. As well as training NATO’s troops and aircraft for training. RAF Lossiemouth, Scotland).
own members, a high-visibility live Other PfP nations’ shift towards As leader of the manoeuvres,
exercise (LIVEX) also sends a clear NATO is a bone of contention for ADM Foggo travelled throughout
message to would-be adversaries. Moscow, where critics point to the region to engage with key
The highest level of activity during NATO expansion towards Russia’s leaders and as an observer. He
Trident Juncture 2018 (TRJE18) borders. For its part, NATO is was backed up by Canada’s
was recorded between October concerned by large-scale Russian Lt Gen Christian Juneau, his
25 and November 7 and it’s exercises including the Voshkod deputy, who oversaw the
no coincidence that Russian and Zapad series, which it says exercise from the NATO Joint
military observers were invited. resemble attacks on the West. Warfare Centre in Stavanger and
The joint exercise involved around Equally troubling for the alliance commanded the land forces.
50,000 participants from 29 NATO is the character of these ‘snap’ Both Iceland and Norway were
countries, plus Sweden and exercises, which demonstrate an reinforced by the US Marine Corps
Finland. Around 150 aircraft, 65 extremely short preparation time under Exercise Northern Screen
vessels and up to 10,000 vehicles of only a few days while involving during the prelude to TRJE18. A
were deployed to the main exercise tens to hundreds of thousands of strike group was then activated
locations in central and eastern troops. NATO Secretary General in fairly short time and headed
Norway, the surrounding areas of Jens Stoltenberg reiterated that the to Europe to demonstrate rapid
the North Atlantic and the Baltic alliance has to defend itself and that reinforcement. The vessels of the
Sea, including Iceland, and the Russia had nothing to fear from an Harry S Truman Carrier Strike Group
airspace of Finland and Sweden. exercise that was purely defensive. including the carrier USS Harry S
NATO is eager to show its Truman (CVN 75), an amphibious
credibility, but also to develop Naval strike group assault force from the 24th Marine
appropriate responses to an Article The commander of Allied Joint Expeditionary Unit, embarked in
5 threat, in which an attack on an Force Command (JFC) Naples and the USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), USS
individual member state constitutes boss of the US Sixth Fleet, ADM Gunston Hall (LSD 44) and USS
an attack on all. While all NATO James Foggo was responsible for New York (LPD 21), the command-
allies need to participate in regular overseeing the full spectrum of and-control ship USS Mount
exercises, just as important are joint and naval operations during Whitney (LCC 20), supported by a
the Partnership for Peace (PfP) TRJE18. He flew in one of the Ticonderoga-class Aegis guided

www.airforcesmonthly.com #371 FEBRUARY 2019 // 57

Exercise
Report Trident Juncture 2018
Right: A US Marine Corps CH-53E from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 363 ‘Hammerheads’ takes off during
an amphibious landing in Alvund, Norway. US Marine Corps/Lance Cpl Gumchol Cho Below: Italian Air Force F-2000A
Typhoon MM7311 ‘4-55’ touches down at Bodø Main Air Station on October 25. Louise Levin/Försvarsmakten

missile cruiser and five Arleigh British troops from the Royal Irish great number of troops and operate Scandinavian
Burke-class destroyers. Between Regiment, the Duke of Lancaster’s collectively with allies and partners. integration
them, these warships added another Regiment and supporting units. It will also test our total defence PfP members Sweden and
6,000 soldiers and some 100 They arrived in the port of concept.” Oslo’s ‘total defence’ Finland both deployed soldiers
aircraft to TRJE18. ADM Foggo was Rotterdam with 480 vehicles before includes some 10,000 local troops, to Norway and the number of
located at the heart of the exercise going ‘on the road’ to Norway. logistic support, co-operation with troops was significantly increased
on board USS Mount Whitney. Parts of the German contingent civil authorities, all military air bases compared with previous exercises.
– including around 8,000 troops, and a substantial part of the Royal Finland’s contribution included
Testing rapid 20 tanks and 200 other armoured Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF). members of the Pori Brigade,
deployment vehicles – set sail from harbours Scenarios were scripted to a Jaeger formation trained for
Alongside 24,000 naval and 20,000 in northern Germany while include warfare under extreme rapid deployment and embedded
land forces personnel, TRJE18 others flew direct to Norway. Arctic conditions including land in a Swedish brigade as part of
involved 3,500 airmen plus a Ships, aircraft and some 2,000 battle exercises and amphibious increasing ongoing co-operation.
further 1,000 logistics specialists troops from Canada crossed assault missions, mostly in Norway. Swedish Gripens and Finnish
and 1,300 personnel from a range the Atlantic to Norway, including Meanwhile, air strike and air defence F/A-18s were stationed in Norway,
of other NATO commands. eight CF-188 Hornets, a CC-150 missions took place over Norway, and both Sweden and Finland
Logistics plays a decisive role Polaris tanker, two CP-140 Sweden and Finland. Equipment received US elements. Kallax
in the ability to deploy rapidly maritime patrol aircraft (MPAs) plus from all branches of Norway’s airfield in Sweden became the
and ADM Foggo described this helicopters and transport aircraft. armed forces was involved, operational base for 18 F-16s of
element as “the sixth domain of including the RNoAF’s advanced the 480th Fighter Squadron/52nd
warfare”. The admiral noted that the Norwegian F-35As stationed at Ørland. Fighter Wing from Spangdahlem
objective was to test the “30/30/30” perspective Reflecting on the importance Air Base, Germany. Rovaniemi
point – the ability to move 30 Norway’s Minister of Defence, Frank of the exercise, Admiral Haakon in Finland served as a hub for
battalions, 30 aircraft squadrons Bakke-Jensen, declared during the Bruun-Hanssen, Norwegian Chief USAF KC-135s that refuelled
and 30 ships in a 30-day period. first week of the manoeuvres: “Being of Defence, pointed again to Belgian and Finnish aircraft.
The member states took 60 a responsible and credible ally is the importance of Article 5 and The commander of the Finnish
shiploads and 180 flights to 27 very important to us.” He continued: the requirement for Norway to Hornet squadron deployed at
arrival points in Norway. As well “We take our responsibility in NATO accommodate allied forces and Ørland said: “We are not part of
as transport aircraft and shipping seriously and remain committed. reinforcements. He told media: NATO, but our training programme
facilities, supply lines made use Norway is a small country with a “50,000 soldiers exercising in rises to the same level and we
of railways and highways through high strategic value. We remain Norway is a strong message to have trained regularly with NATO
Denmark, Germany and the dependent for our defence on our anyone who would like to challenge as part of the EU. We are often
Netherlands. Among the forces allies and TRJE18 gives us a great our allies in the northern sector asked to play the role of ‘bad
travelling over land were 2,700 opportunity to receive and handle a and challenge our sovereignty.” guys’ in exercises.” He added:

Below: Two Canadian and two Finnish

F/A-18s flying over Norway during
Exercise Trident Juncture on October
29. Allied Joint Force Command Naples

58 // FEBRUARY 2019 #371 www.airforcesmonthly.com

“Sure, Russia is our neighbour, assault on Oppdal, with some 5,000 Turkish F-16s, Italian Typhoons and Two (SNMG1 and 2), made up
but we consider NATO a defensive troops involved. Elsewhere, a similar Tornados as well as British Hawks. of forces from 15 countries.
organisation and see no problem number of troops from British, Interoperability was tested, and
in co-operating [with the alliance] Danish, Finnish, French, German, North and South threats were represented by surface
as long as it is in our interest.” Norwegian and Polish forces fought One of the more important aspects ships, submarines and MPAs,
Trident Juncture provided an a scenario on two different axes of TRJE18 was the concept of including P-3s. Anti-submarine
opportunity for allied forces to in Tynset and Femundsmarka, Northern and Southern Forces warfare and minesweeping missions
carry out complex air operations testing interoperability with tanks, fighting each other. On land, were also exercised, and the
in tough Norwegian weather artillery and armoured vehicles. the Northern Force was led by Russian Navy observed the actions
conditions under NATO Allied Air On another occasion, Canadian NATO’s Allied Land Command with an overflight by a Tu-142
Command in Ramstein, Germany, helicopters conducted an airlift on and comprised the Norwegian MPA off the Norwegian coast.
in co-ordination with the Norwegian terrain secured by an Italian brigade Brigade Nord and elements Reportedly, the Russian presence
National Air Operations Centre with participation by 1,000 troops. from Canada and Sweden. They also included attempts to disrupt
(NAOC). Besides the traditional TRJE18 also served as a ‘stress were pitted against a Southern NATO’s GPS communications.
offensive and defensive counter- test’ for the NATO Response Force led by the German/Dutch
air operations (OCA and DCA), Force (NRF), in particular allowing Corps and also comprising Gaining amphibious
aircraft from 14 different countries certification of the Very High brigades from Germany, Italy and skills
undertook reconnaissance, air-to-air Readiness Joint Task Force the UK. An amphibious force One of the key elements was
refuelling and airborne early warning (VJTF). The VJTF is a multinational from the USMC assisted the an amphibious assault mission
(AEW) missions, as well as working unit comprising soldiers from attack on the Southern Force. staged during a media event at
with E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Germany, the Netherlands and This was followed some days Byneset. Local air superiority
Attack Radar System (Joint STARS) Norway. Germany led the VJTF later by a counterattack from the was achieved by fighter jets
and special forces. Missions were Spearhead Force during 2018 Southern Force including a second flying combat air patrols. The
flown in support of land forces and the Netherlands will assume amphibious force led by the Dutch assault forces included around
in the field exercise area and that position this year. The force and including the assault ships 3,000 troops and the ships of the
maritime forces off the coast of includes a tank brigade with both Zr.Ms. Karel Doorman (A833) and Southern Force were supported by
western and central Norway. Dutch and German soldiers, is Johan de Witt (L801) and the Dutch Cougar helicopters from the
geared up to deploy on rotational French Dixmude (L9015). A similar Zr.Ms. Karel Doorman and Johan
Tactical concept missions in the Baltic theatre and scenario unfolded in the Atlantic de Witt, plus MV-22B tiltrotors
Army units were tested in the course is trained to work with ships and where a Northern Force formed by and SH-60 helicopters from the
of several land battles, with the aircraft. Several scenarios were Canada, Denmark, Norway, Poland, Harry S Truman Strike Group.
main focus on tactical units. In one trained with changing elements and the UK and US met a Southern While Trident Juncture prepared
example, an Italian-led brigade was different troop mixes. The variety of Force consisting of Standing for the final phase, a commando
tasked with countering a USMC ships and aircraft involved included NATO Maritime Groups One and exercise, ADM Foggo visited the
Zr.Ms. Johan de Witt and paid his
compliments to the 2,200 Dutch
troops. The Netherlands will lead
the multinational amphibious
task group under the NRF in
2020 and Trident Juncture was
an important test for this. As the
exercise came to an end, Dutch
Minister of Defence Ank Bijleveld
reflected on the importance of
NATO co-operation: “The test is
to see how fast you can organise
and where to find our weak
points. NATO must face reality
and being prepared is our primary
task. Coming out of an era of
defence cuts, the time has come
A Swedish Air Force JAS 39C takes off from Bodø Main Air to build up again and to ensure
Station, Norway on October 25. Louise Levin/Försvarsmakten
we can fulfil NATO requests.” AFM

www.airforcesmonthly.com #371 FEBRUARY 2019 // 59

330 Skvadron at Bodø

Kings of the

Arctic
Located within the Arctic Circle,
Bodø airfield is surrounded by
sea, mountains and fjords, and
R
esponsibility for search
and rescue (SAR) within
the Luftforsvaret (Royal
Norwegian Air Force, RNoAF)
time for 2017 was 12.5
minutes, measured
from the bleeper
going off to
experiences the strongest winds falls to 330 Skvadron, which being airborne.
in Norway. It’s an environment operates 12 Westland Sea What makes
fraught with danger for the King Mk43B helicopters this more
across two Joint Rescue remarkable
aviators of 330 Skvadron, as Neil Coordination Centres (JRCCs) is that the Sea
Dunridge discovered. and five bases overseeing the King is kept inside
north and south of the country: a hangar to protect
Bodø and Banak cover JRCC North while it from the elements.
Sola, Ørland and Rygge cover JRCC South.
Two Sea Kings are located at each of Rescue team
the five bases and operate under 139 The Sea King’s six-person
Air Wing, controlled from Bardufoss. crew comprises the pilot,
Headquartered at Sola, 330 Skv is headed co-pilot, flight engineer, navigator,
by a squadron leader, with each base rescueman/swimmer and a doctor who
unit led by a unit commander. Maj Peer- spend up to a maximum of ten days on round-
Johan Ødegaard – who flew 1,000 hours the-clock duty before they have time off. Time
on the F-16 before transitioning to, and in the air is limited to 12 hours every 24 hours.
accruing 1,500 hours on, the Sea King over The civilian doctor, from a pool of nine at Bodø
six years – is Bodø’s unit commander. hospital, is also on continuous duty. Their duty
Despite its advancing years, the Sea King is days are rotated to accommodate hospital work.
still an extremely capable SAR platform and Rescueman Capt Kjus Torgeir explained
will serve until the AW101 Merlin Mk612 is fully his particular role: “Although my title is
introduced to frontline service between 2019 rescueman/swimmer, my main job is to assist
and 2021. Maj Ødegaard explained: “Having the doctor. I’m not trained to paramedic
used ‘old’ helicopters for many years now, level, but I am to ambulance worker level,
people wonder if we can still do the job. so follow his medical instructions. If the
“In this respect the numbers are clear – doctor needs to be hoisted down, I will be
we’re doing more SAR sorties than we’ve ever there to support them in medical matters.
done; 2017 was the busiest in 330 Skvadron’s “Currently we’re trying to add specific training
history and at Bodø we flew 359 missions – for doctors to support us more as well. In difficult
the highest among all the units, which had terrain they would be an additional benefit helping
a combined total of 4,446 flight hours. us on the ground. During training sorties, we’re
“Fifty percent of the missions were flown for both trying to gain a better understanding
SAR/ambulance purposes, 30% on annual of each other’s role.”
training and 20% training new personnel.”
Although one aircraft is maintained on
15-minute alert status at
Bodø, the average
response

60 // FEBRUARY 2019 #371 www.airforcesmonthly.com

 Ørland, Sola, Bodø and Banak operate on
15-minute round-the-clock readiness. However,
Rygge’s crews are not accommodated next to
their squadron hangar, so the base maintains
15 minutes’ readiness during the day and 25
minutes at night. They nevertheless normally
manage to be airborne within 15 minutes.
The five Sea King bases ensure a SAR asset
is never more than 90 minutes away from a
situation and each one is covered by its nearest
neighbour should a unit be unable to fly. For
example, if Banak can’t launch, Bodø will
step in and cover the area all the way to the
Svalbard Islands at 80° N in the Arctic Ocean.
In 2021 a sixth SAR unit will set up at Florø
with the AW101. The base, currently served
by the civilian CHC Helikopter Service, was
previously covered by all five RNoAF units which
deployed personnel there every fifth week.

Above: Capt Tina Karlsen (left) and Maj Peer-Johan Ødegaard (right) in the cockpit of a Sea King Mk43B.
Crews have been provided with digital controls under the 2020 upgrade. Main image: RNoAF Sea King
Mk43B 073 is one of 330 Skvadron’s 2020-upgraded examples. Radomes for the Telephonics RDR-1300C
radar on the port side of the nose and dorsal-mounted RDR-1500B are prominent features of the aircraft.
All photos Neil Dunridge

www.airforcesmonthly.com #371 FEBRUARY 2019 // 61

Above: Navigator Maj Paul Paulsen at work in his
‘office’. The 2020 upgrade added the Garmin GPS
on the left of the work station, mainly used for
mission planning. Below: A rescue swimmer, who
is medically trained to ambulance worker level,
and a doctor prepare for a winch training exercise.
Efforts are currently under way to help improve co-
operation between these two roles.

Training The RNoAF’s first ten Sea Kings were

Sea King Mk43B
Unusually, each unit undertakes Sea King received from 1972 and became operational
flight training independently. Pilots will go to in 1973. Initially delivered as Mk43s, they active inventory
Canada and the United States to complete were upgraded to Mk43B specification in the Serial c/n Notes
basic helicopter flight tuition before returning to mid-1990s. Two attrition replacements were 060 WA746
Norway for six months of Sea King schooling. delivered in 1978 and 1992 respectively, and 062 WA747
Pilots will have previously flown anything a pair of newly built Mk43Bs arrived from 066 WA748
from the F-16 to the P-3 Orion. Flight Westland in 1996. Two aircraft have been 069 WA750
engineers, navigators and rescue swimmers written off in accidents, leaving 12 still flying. 070 WA751
are also trained on the unit, but with the In November 2015 the Luftforsvaret took 071 WA752
introduction of the AW101 all training charge of three ex-Royal Air Force Sea King 073 WA754
will be centralised at Sola/Stavanger. HAR3As. The first two (ZH540 and ZH543) 074 WA755
In another major change, AW101 maintenance arrived by road at Sola while the third (ZH541)
189 WA874
will be centralised too. Currently the unit flew to Kjeller, the maintenance base for the
322 WA1005 ex ZH566
commander is in charge of maintenance air force’s logistics command. All three have
329 WA1011 ex ZJ162
personnel, but in future the function will been used for spare parts to keep the Mk43B
be separate from the operations side. fleet flying until its out-of-service date. 330 WA1012 ex ZJ163

Sea King Mk43B 073 over a typical local landscape.

The Bodø Sea King crews are trained locally
and soon become familiar with the challenges of
Norway’s rugged coastline and fjords.

62 // FEBRUARY 2019 #371 www.airforcesmonthly.com

 Super-long line
The super-long line system is a unique piece of “When we’re able to grab the rope, we place it
equipment, designed and developed in Bodø, to rescue over a pulley and the locking device will secure it;
people from mountains with overhanging walls or in it then won’t slide down. You can have as many
areas the winch is simply not long enough to reach. ropes as you like as long as you knot them together;
Rescueman Capt Kjus Torgeir explained how it the knotted rope passes through the pulley.
worked: “Using the hoist which is 245ft [74.6m] would “Another common rescue we undertake is people
generally be the quickest method. But in high mountain in gullies. This necessitates the use of a super-
terrain it’s not always possible for the helicopter long line as there could be an avalanche risk, or
to manoeuvre close enough to the mountainside the walls of the gully are too tight to fly in – or for
because of the face of the wall or the downdraft. the Sea King to fly away from in an emergency.
“Downdraft can be a particular problem when “For these rescues we can be winched down and
rescuing base jumpers; we don’t want to inflate walk with the rope into the gully. The rope has a
their parachute, so the super-long line is a swivel on the end, so the casualty can spin when
tried and tested method to retrieve them. lifted without getting the rope twisted. Forward flight
“The super-long line is a rope going from a point also helps to slow down any spinning motion.”
on top of the overhang or a level area where the The system requires two hoists, which
alpine rescue guys can reach. They then rappel down both the Sea King and AW101 have.
to the casualty taking a rope that can be 100m,
200m or however long is needed, down to them.
“The helicopter crew can then attach the top of
the rope to the hoist while the casualty is at the
bottom of the rope. We then have a connection
between casualty and helicopter. We then move away
from the mountain with that connection intact.
Right: The locally developed super-long
line winch set-up. Left: Flight engineer Lt
Fredrik Hunstad at work in the Sea King’s
cabin door. Note the twin hoists:
the second was added to the aircraft after
a winch failure during an evacuation of
oil-rig workers in the 1980s.
Powered by two Rolls-Royce Gnome H1400-
1 engines driving a composite main rotor, the
Mk43B has a range of 215nm and endurance
of five hours. The RNoAF Sea Kings are fitted
with Telephonics RDR-1300C radar on the
port side of the nose, with a 120° field of view,
and a dorsal-mounted RDR-1500B radar aft
of the main rotor providing 360° coverage.
An L3 Wescam MX-10 infrared camera and
searchlight is mounted on the port side.
The RDR-1300 has a range of 2.5nm
forwards while the RDR-1500 extends out to
160nm; the ’1500 also has a colour display
which shows more intense objects with an
increasing red indication as they get closer.
Maj Paul Paulsen, a 330 Skv navigator, explained
how the MX-10 is used in SAR missions: “It has
a forward-looking infrared camera as well as a
regular camera, and both are fantastic, but when
we’re looking for people the field of view is small
– so it’s difficult to pinpoint a person from the air.
“It’s much better at night because of the
temperature variation. The terrain is cold even
in summer, so the best search time in terms
of detecting the heat of a person is from
04.00 to 05.00hrs. During the day the casualty
will be roughly the same temperature as the
terrain so it’s difficult to use the infrared.
“Arriving at the scene, six people’s eyes
will be better than one camera, so we nearly
always fly around first, whereas at night we’ll
stand off and search with the FLIR and move
the camera to ensure we have a wider view.
“With the help of the FLIR it’s possible
to follow tracks in the snow: anything
that breaks the pattern will show up.”
Different search patterns are used
to search for casualties and vessels.
Among the most commonly used are:
• Expanding square search. This pattern
begins at an initially reported position and
expands outwards in concentric squares.

www.airforcesmonthly.com #371 FEBRUARY 2019 // 63

330 Skvadron at Bodø

• Sector search. If a person is missing from a 397 and 595lb (180 and 270kg), making it have now adjusted to that response time.
ship, for example, the pilot will fly over the last possible to fly away if there’s a problem. “Whereas the old analogue joystick
known position and then, taking into account allowed for 8kts of forward flight, the
the drift, fly far enough to make a turn before Sea King 2020 digital system can cope with 18kts, which
completing a leg equal to the maximum track Currently three Sea King Mk43Bs have increases the safety margin should we
spacing. They then turn back to fly over the undergone the 2020 upgrade. Another lose an engine and have to fly away.
point again. This pattern continues until the modernised airframe was due to be delivered “Transitioning to the upgraded 2020 aircraft,
point has been crossed from all angles. this year but it’s unlikely the programme will the system operator will receive seven flights
For mountainous area searches, visual recces extend beyond the six planned now that the with 15 minutes’ hover training using the digital
normally start from the base of the mountain. AW101 is being delivered. Banak, Bodø and system. The first three flights are just hovering.
Aircrew will then circle around it, getting Rygge will operate the updated aircraft until After this we will approach a large ship,
higher each time until they reach the summit. the end of Sea King operations in 2021. gradually working down to smaller vessels.
Flying in such terrain, and through fjords, The upgrade includes a new digital flight “We also have a new GPS for the navigator:
in all weather can be hazardous. The Sea control system providing more mode options the Garmin GTN-750. This is primarily a
King has to keep a distance of 0.5 miles than the analogue version – including autopilot. flight planning instrument made for Flight
(0.8km) from all objects when flying in Maj Ødegaard confirmed: “We always had Level 350 [35,000ft], not 200ft! It’s not good
zero visibility and the crew requires 0.5 a height hold, but now we have height and for low-level flying but very good for flight
miles’ visibility in the area where they’re speed hold which allows it to fly holding planning. It also has a terrain and height
required to land or rescue a casualty. patterns, before and during search patterns. warning system which alerts us if we’re
The aircraft’s 2020 upgrade enables the “Previously we had to be told by the approaching terrain in the descent. Both
helicopter to be flown ‘coupled’, which means system operator when to turn and stop are invaluable in the areas we operate.”
the navigator can input the routes for the pilot turning. This kept the pilots very busy
and co-pilot to follow. Normally the pilot will be just flying the aircraft. Now it can be done Beginning of the end
in control, but the upgrade allows the navigator automatically which means we have more Until their 2021 out-of-service date the Sea
to warn the pilots about hazards ahead. eyes looking out for the casualty and Kings will continue to do what they’ve done
Norway’s rugged coastline provides many hazards while still monitoring the aircraft.” for close on half a century. Maj Ødegaard
waypoint routes for the crew to follow – A new altimeter is also among the summed up the day-to-day operations:
and Bodø, for example, has 30 leading out improvements, and all Mk43Bs are also “Years ago, we were flying over the sea
from the airfield. The navigator can enter receiving the TETRA (Terrestrial Trunked a lot. Now there are a lot more mountain
their start location and the waypoint nearest Radio) communications system which callouts due to the increase in tourists. The
to their destination, plus the return airfield, enables all emergency services to talk to situation doesn’t have to be extreme – just
and the system will automatically select each other. Externally only a few aerials walking and getting into trouble with an
them. This saves an enormous amount distinguish the 2020 modifications. injured ankle may require our assistance.
of time when under pressure to get to a The upgrade was met with some “Rescues from trawlers have been on the
rescue scene as quickly as possible and scepticism among crews. One early decline. Having improved weather data
makes operations around fjords easier. issue involved getting used to the time and technology, as well as better first aid
There are many airfields the Sea King can lag with the digital controls which made training for the trawler crews, has allowed
refuel from should a flight be extended the aircraft less responsive, but now they them to recognise danger before they get
beyond the standard five hours’ endurance. have more experience they’re enjoying into trouble and need us to rescue them.”
Operating out to sea, the crews can land the improved Sea King’s many benefits. Between 1972 and the end of 2017, 330
on oil rig platforms or call on Norwegian Maj Paulsen explained how crews adapted Skv assisted or saved some 40,000 people
Coast Guard (Kystvakten) vessels for to the new digital system: “The joystick to during 40,716 SAR and ambulance missions
assistance, occasionally also making use hover the aircraft from the rear door was conducted over 180,000 flight hours.
of helicopter in-flight refuelling (HIFR). changed to the digital system. Unfortunately, The Sea King is not set to see 50 years in
This involves winching a hose up to the Sea when we gave an input command it took RNoAF service, but it will be remembered –
King and coupling it to the fuel tank inlet. The some time for the computer to process along with its crews – for the many lives saved
attachment has a breaking point between that and then make the movement. We in some of the worst conditions in the world. AFM

The 2,631ft peak of Rypdalstinden on the

island of Landegode provides the backdrop
to Sea King Mk43B 073. Note the MX-10
infrared camera and searchlight mounted on
the port side of the forward fuselage.

64 // FEBRUARY 2019 #371 www.airforcesmonthly.com

 FEBRUARY ISSUE OUT NOW:
This issue features:

THE CHINESE ‘FLANKER’ STORY - PART 1

The ‘Flanker’ family is arguably the most
important warplane type in People’s
Liberation Army Air Force service. Andreas
Rupprecht begins a two-part study of its
complex evolutions

AWACS-LITE
The Boeing 737 Airborne Early Warning and
Control represents an evolution over the E-3
Sentry, one of the most recognized symbols of
this mission.

STAYING ALIVE
While Argentina’s A-4AR Fightinghawks are
amongst the last examples of the Skyhawk
in active military service, they continue to
support front-line roles as Santiago Rivas
discovers

THAILAND’S LEAN, MEAN, FIGHTING

MACHINE
Jamie Hunter visits the Royal Thai Air Force
JUST as it marks 10 years since ordering the Saab
£4.80 Gripen and 10,000 flying hours.

AND MUCH MORE!

February issue available NOW from and all other leading newsagents
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007/19
Airshow Iran International Airshow
A pair of F-5E Saeghes, serials 3-7367
and 3-7368, flew a tight pairs routine,
operating from the airfield at Kish.
All photos Daniele Faccioli

The ninth Iran International Airshow ran

from November 26-29 on the small island of
Kish. In the shadow of renewed international
pressure on the country, Daniele Faccioli
witnessed an incredible display of air power.

Tehran’s sho I
ranian Minister of Defence,
Brig Gen Amir Hatami,
opened the ninth Iran
International Airshow at Kish
on November 26. First held 18
agreement (Joint Comprehensive
Plan of Action, JCPOA), signed in
2015 with the US, Russia, China,
France, UK and Germany, that
came into effect in January 2016,
years ago, the biennual event is US secondary sanctions were
designed to encourage interaction relaxed. However, the US Trump
between Iran and its allies as well administration has reversed much
as demonstrating the progress of this progress. Indeed, on May 8,
made by national industry. the US announced it would exit the
This year was particularly JCPOA, despite protestations from
important for Iran’s industrial members of the European Union.
autonomy in light of deteriorating This plunged Tehran into new
international relations and the difficulty, risking economic isolation
restoration of US secondary and renewed collapse of its oil
sanctions. Tensions with Iran yield, thus hindering more recent
are a regular source of regional development of national industry
economic instability. The complex and commercial relationships.
One of the newly geopolitical situation in the Middle The direct result with regard
restored IRGCAF East, where Iran is a central to the military is a slow-down,
Su-22UM3Ks (15- entity, was deeply affected by its with Iran again having to turn to
2462) breaks over controversial nuclear programme. stimulating indigenous initiatives.
the crowd at Kish.
Following the Iranian nuclear In the large pavilion adjacent

66 // FEBRUARY 2019 #371 www.airforcesmonthly.com

how of force
to the civil terminal at Kish, 110
local and foreign companies
exhibited their offerings, most
appealing to the civil aviation
market. Local industry in particular
is enhancing its ability to maintain
different aircraft by providing
maintenance, spares and less
invasive updates. The main Iranian
aerospace company IAIO (Iran
Aviation Industries Organization)
was present with a range of
remotely piloted aircraft (RPA),
a particularly active sector of
the local aviation community.
The Mohajer 2D, Yassir and
Sadegh tactical reconnaissance
RPAs were displayed, as was
the armed Mohadjer 6.
On the military front, various
companies were represented,
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Air Force (IRGCAF) EMB-312A
including the Pars Aviation Service Tucanos, probably from the training squadron at Shiraz.
Company, based at Teheran-

www.airforcesmonthly.com #371 FEBRUARY 2019 // 67

Airshow Iran International Airshow

The IRIAF’s C-130E/Hs are being upgraded under a local initiative known as ‘Sattari’, which adds new navigation
systems and cockpit displays.

Mehrabad Airport, which not only production” of indigenous military fighters delivered before the
services and upgrades Russian aircraft, with reference to the Islamic Revolution. A series of
types but has also played a key Kowsar project, unveiled last initiatives have sought to keep the
role in overhauling and improving year in Tehran. Also apparently Tomcats active and credible, and
types, such as the Mirage F1, derived from the F-5E, Kowsar is the remaining examples of this
F-4 Phantom II and F-5 Tiger II. said to host “fourth-generation complex fighter operate from the
The Northrop F-5 has been a avionics and control system”, 8th Tactical Air Base at Isfahan/
focus of attention for the Islamic according to local media reports. Shahid Babaiee. This includes
Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) Brig Gen Abdoklarim Banitarafi, a handful of F-14AMs, which
in recent years with a variety the head of the IAIO, added that have received a local update
of adaptations: the two-seat Iran’s aviation experts are ready to aimed at extending the
conversion used as the Simorgh export this new fighter, which will airframe and engine
trainer, the modestly modified be built in both single and two-seat life, along with
Azarakhsh and the Saeghe, all versions as an advanced trainer. new avionics
of which are products of the Iran and
Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Kish highlights
Company (HESA). During the A small static display at Kish was
opening ceremony at Kish, dominated by an F-14A Tomcat,
Defence Minister Hatami told AFM with 79 of these Grumman
that Iran is now
ready for
“mass

Above: Time to buzz the tower

– F-14A serial 160327/3-6029
makes a low pass. Left: A short
demonstration by two Tomcats
included some spirited manoeuvres.
Right above: The F-4E remains
an important asset for the IRIAF,
illustrated here by 00242/3-6673 from
the 91st TFS. Right left: Two ‘Fitters’
– Su-22UM3K serial 15-2462 and
Su-22M4K serial 15-2472 – start their
‘airfield attack’ sequence.

68 // FEBRUARY 2019 #371 www.airforcesmonthly.com

 Left: Islamic Republic of Iran Navy (IRIN) SH-3D Sea King, serial 8-2313, in the
static line-up at Kish. Below: A top side view of a Saeghe clearly shows the
mountings for the new twin tails.

armament armaments. The Revolutionary Guard Corps Air MiG-29s and Latvian L-39C Baltic was a formation led by a Boeing
overhaul reportedly requires some Force (IRGCAF) on anti-drug Bees teams performed, it was 707-3J9C tanker with three F-4E
35,000 man-hours to complete missions against the Taliban on the local participants that stole Phantom IIs and a pair of Tomcats.
and essentially returns the aircraft the eastern borders of the country. the show. A pair of F-5E Saeghe Over the following days, the
to active status after long-term The military presence was far Is from the 23rd Tactical Fighter 707 alternated with the IRIAF’s
storage. The F-14AM can employ more comprehensive than in Squadron flew a tight routine. impressive Boeing 747-131 tanker.
the Fakour-90 long-range air- previous years, with another Three Tucanos gave a neat Following low formation
to-air missile, derived from the highlight being an immaculate formation display followed by a passes by the fighters, a
AIM-54 Phoenix, and the MIM- Islamic Republic of Iran Navy single PC-7B. Finally, a Harbin C-130H appeared overhead
23 HAWK surface-to-air missile (IRIN) SH-3D Sea King. A fleet Y-12 of the IRGCAF dispatched to release three loads
modified for air-to-air use. of 20 Sea Kings, built in Italy by a team of paratroopers. suspended on parachutes.
Alongside the Tomcat was a Agusta, were purchased before The real showstoppers operated It was notable that this Kish show
HESA Saeghe II, a modified two- the fall of the Shah. Overhauled from nearby Bandar Abbas bore the hallmarks of a country
seat F-5F that reportedly features by local industry, some of these air base – a pair of IRGCAF trying to emerge from its troubles
new avionics, but is clearly retain an anti-submarine warfare Fitters (one Su-22M4K and a and establish itself as a diplomatic
retrofitted with twin fins. Also role, however the example at Su-22UM3K) based at Sayyed intermediary, actively participating
located in this area was a Pilatus Kish was a transport variant. al-Shohada base in Shiraz in various international
PC-7B and an Embraer EMB- made three low passes and an negotiations regarding the Syrian
312 Tucano. Some 25 Tucanos Flying displays ‘airfield attack’. On July 25, Iran crisis. Having attracted a strong
were delivered from 1989 to Each of the four show days announced it was upgrading international contingent, this
1991 and were used – between featured an early afternoon flying and returning ten former Iraqi event drew significant interesting
2000 and 2001 – by the Iranian display. While the Russian Swifts examples to service. Next up from around the world. AFM

www.airforcesmonthly.com #371 FEBRUARY 2019 // 69

419 Tactical Fighter Training Squadron

LD
C KE
LA WHER
E FIGHTERPILOTS ARE MADE

he sun rises over Canadian Forces

T Base Cold Lake, Alberta, as a group
of young Canadian, Hungarian and
Singaporean pilots walk out to their CT-155
Hawk jets. With several years of pilot training
behind them and already cleared solo on the
Hawk, this is a new chapter in their careers.
Here at Cold Lake they will be taught to
wear the aircraft like a suit, manoeuvre it
to the limit in combat and kill bandits while
staying alive themselves. After years spent in
a relatively benign training environment, this
is the first time they are part of a squadron.
Above: The area north of Cold Lake is very The pressure is on to demonstrate they
scarcely populated, making it ideal for all are not just pilots, but fighter pilots.
types of air-to-air and air-to-ground training. Lt Caleb Robert of the Royal Canadian Air
All the squadron’s sorties are flown with an Force (RCAF) is one of those students in Phase
Air Combat Manoeuvering Instrumentation
(ACMI) pod on the left wing-tip station, a IV of NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC),
centreline fuel tank and an inert Sidewinder the final phase before hopefully converting to
missile on the right wing-tip. All photos Dirk Jan the Hornet. He told AFM: “Once you come
de Ridder here it’s single-minded focus. This is the fighter

70 // FEBRUARY 2019 #371 www.airforcesmonthly.com

 lying
h e N ATO F nada
T a
g in C
Trainin me was
nd

E
m
progra d in 2000 a
e
launch tical Fighter
c
419 Ta Squadron
g
Trainin responsible –
a m e ining
be c s e IV trafore the
P h a
for be
t step e
the las of a frontlin
k p it d e
coc Ja n .
. D i rk
fighter investigates
r
Ri d d e
E

“You are friends, but as

soon as the fight is on, he
is my worst enemy and I
am doing everything I can
to defeat him. That is a lot
of fun!” Lt Caleb Robert

community. I was definitely a bit intimidated by training and then they go right into dogfighting.
that and I think a lot of students are a little unsure We start with the basics, 1-v-1 basic fighter
if this is really going to be for them when they get manoeuvres and then into 2-v-1. After that
here. I really do think it’s one way or the other. we move into the ACT [advanced combat
Either you think this is too much and not exactly tactics] phase and, once that’s complete,
what you thought it was going to be, or you think the air-to-ground phase where they’ll do an
this is awesome. I was definitely in that [second] academic bombing pattern. After that, we put
camp! After my first flight here, I was convinced. it all together and they will do a self-escort
That one hour of the first fighter flight was strike phase. They take themselves out to the
better than the 200 [previous] hours of flying.” combat training area, push out on time, fight
their way in, drop bombs and fight their way
Squadron boss out, followed by a thorough debrief where
Lieutenant Colonel (LCol) Colin ‘Moose’ the instructors reconstruct the mission and
Marks is the first 419 Tactical Fighter Training highlight all of the critical lessons learned.”
Squadron commanding officer (CO) to have With some 2,300 hours on the Hornet, both at
originally been trained on the Hawk as part CFB Bagotville and Cold Lake as well as with
of NFTC’s fighter lead-in training (FLIT) the US Navy on the ‘legacy’ and Super Hornet,
programme. He explained what students get to the CO knows exactly what his students need.
Above: A couple more switches to turn and this
do during their short time with the squadron: And the requirement has changed a lot since he Canadian student will be ready to go. The Hawk’s
“The syllabus is a building-block approach. was a student: “The syllabus has gotten better cockpit becomes considerably more cramped once
There is two to three weeks of ground school over the last 15 years. When I went through pilots don their exposure suits for winter flying.

www.airforcesmonthly.com #371 FEBRUARY 2019 // 71

419 Tactical Fighter Training Squadron

your chance to really prove yourself. You are

friends, but as soon as the fight is on, he is
my worst enemy and I am doing everything
I can to defeat him. That is a lot of fun!”
Canadian, Hungarian and Singaporean
students are currently being trained at Cold
Lake. Instructors come from those same
countries plus Germany and the United
Kingdom. Foreign instructors typically sign up
for three years, but many extend their stay by
one or two years. With an annual total of some
3,000 flying hours, 419 Squadron’s Hawks are
among the most active anywhere in the world.
Above: To mark the 75th anniversary of 419 Squadron in 2016, CT-155 serial 155217 was painted in a The course takes an average of six months,
camouflage scheme similar to that worn by the unit’s aircraft in World War Two. The ‘VR-W’ code was once consisting of 37 sorties and 45 flight hours per
worn by a Wellington flown by Wg Cdr John ‘Moose’ Fulton, the unit’s first commanding officer, in 1941. student, but it may last as long as eight months
as a FLIT student, we never used to do close to get at the next phase. When [RCAF student if winter weather makes it difficult to fly. LCol
air support at all. Now we have a robust close pilots] go over to the F/A-18 school, they Marks said: “The winter is very cold here, it’s
air support phase to help us better support know how to walk, talk, fly fighters and they why they call it ‘Cold Lake’! It is so cold that we
our ground forces engaged in the land battle are just transitioning to a more sophisticated have to wear full winter exposure flying gear. It
below. We did do self-escort strike, but at aircraft. Ideally, all they should really need to makes the cockpit very small when you have
that time we didn’t do time-sensitive targeting do is take the Hawk patch off and put a Hornet all those layers on. Sometimes we hit the limit
or dynamic targeting. These are all things patch on. The foundation is already there.” where it is too cold to fly, where if you were
that you’re doing every day in the modern forced to eject you would freeze to death in
battlespace, so the training has changed to Dogfighting duels the parachute before you hit the ground. The
reflect what is being done [in the] real world. Lt Robert spoke to AFM just after completing amount of cloud cover, the cold temperatures
That is very exciting. A lot of the comms and the basic fighter manoeuvres (BFM) phase. and icing within the clouds can make it
the tactics have changed to reflect what is He described the progress made so far: “The challenging for us to run our daily operations.”
really going on. It’s a building-block approach, foundational 1-v-1 dogfighting principles are
yes, but we are as close to the front line as kind of the hardest to get. Once you have California deployments
you can possibly be, but still giving them the that, then you build upon it. You will start To mitigate these challenges, the squadron
developmental learning, entry-level examples, the set with one aircraft behind the other. If has deployed to Naval Air Facility El Centro,
and increasing the intensity from there. I start defensive, my job is to neutralise, get California, in winter during the last two years.
“Everything we do here should be as close offensive or get out; but if I’m offensive, I’m LCol Marks said: “Winter can slow down our
to the front line as we can possibly make trying to kill that bandit – not get neutral and training significantly, so the best thing we can
it,” LCol Marks continued. “We focus on definitely not get defensive. The last four flights do is chase the good weather. El Centro is an
developing the ‘warrior’s spirit’ and like to think [during the BFM phase], you start neutral amazing place to train. I came to love it during
of the Hawk as more of an ‘F/A-155’ fighter and meet each other in the middle. You are US Navy exchange tours with VFA-125 and
than a CT-155 trainer. We are trying to make flying against the other student’s instructor, VFA-122. We have built a great relationship
a course that will best prepare them for the because he is the one who can present you with CAPT Brent Alfonzo [NAF El Centro’s base
operational training units. Whether that is here with the high-aspect sight pictures he knows commander] and the facility staff. The weather
in Cold Lake at 410 Squadron, in Hungary or you need to see. And then you’ll switch. is always fantastic, the airspace is literally right
in Singapore, we want to make sure that the “Against an instructor you definitely have there and everyone is so accommodating. You
students are well prepared. The failure rate that fighter spirit, but in the back of your take off and you are basically in the airspace,
has traditionally been between ten and 20%. head is that voice saying, ‘he has a lot more which cuts down on transit time and fuel costs
If it’s too easy and the students pass through experience than me, he is probably going to and allows for more tactical training. We can
here, but then fail at the next level where it is beat me’. Once we get into the phase that I conduct every mission that we need there.”
more expensive to train, then we are not doing just finished, they introduce a student versus The squadron usually takes three or four
our job. It has to be efficient, effective and student. That’s the first time you do that, courses down with them to California. Some
representative training of what they are going so once the other student is flying, that is students will be at the beginning, others will

72 // FEBRUARY 2019 #371 www.airforcesmonthly.com

Students arrive at Cold Lake for the fourth
and final phase of the NATO Flying Training
in Canada syllabus, after completing most
of their tuition at Moose Jaw. This photo
shows a trio of Phase III Hawks, which lack
the ACMI/Sidewinder ‘fit’.

be at the middle or the end of the course, so the aircraft. It is all simulated, but from an completed their training at NFTC and will be
all aspects of Phase IV training will typically operator’s perspective it is seamless, using the ready to truly make their dream come true.
be carried out during these few weeks. A targets on the CLAW [Cold Lake Air Weapons] Canadian students remain at Cold Lake to fly
Hawk simulator isn’t available at El Centro, range. We are spoilt with hundreds of targets the CF-188 Hornet with 410 Tactical Fighter
so simulator flights for each student’s specific that are real vehicles, real tanks, real surface- (Operational Training) Squadron. Hungarian
phase will be ‘front loaded’. Students carry to-air missile sites, barracks, bridges and an pilots complete their Gripen conversion
them all out, sometimes with one or two trips urban training complex that allows us to train training in Sweden, while Singaporean
at the Cold Lake local area ranges, before for modern-day scenarios where eliminating students move to the United States for
heading south. The airspace around El Centro collateral damage is our primary concern.” conversion training on the F-15 or F-16.
has more traffic, making the deployment a great Meanwhile, Lt Robert still has some way
opportunity to train in an unfamiliar environment. Future fighter, future trainer? to go. He concluded: “It is tough, but at this
Nothing beats the training opportunities at LCol Marks believes that a new jet is probably point in the game there is a lot of reward from
Cold Lake though, due to its enormous amount needed to train future pilots in the best possible the work that you are putting into it. I’m not
of largely unrestricted airspace, firing ranges way. In 2017, the RCAF extended the NFTC saying previous training wasn’t rewarding,
and targets. And it is no coincidence that one contract with Canadian training services but we were just taking off, landing, doing
of the world’s premier fighter exercises, Maple supplier CAE until at least 2023, with an some basic aerobatics and stalls, which is
Flag, takes place here. LCol Marks commented: option to extend it for an additional year (see all a lot of fun, but then you get back on the
“We are very lucky in Cold Lake to have this accompanying boxed item). This will reportedly ground and do the same thing the next day.
amazing airspace. The training range itself is allow the government the time necessary to Now every single flight is different. You’re
immense. I think it’s the best in the world in determine its future pilot training requirements. fighting against a friend and even if you lose
terms of air-to-air and air-to-ground training. After successfully completing the FLIT you still feel pretty good about it, because
At FLIT, we don’t drop any live weapons off course with 419 Squadron, students will have you’re dogfighting. How cool is that?” AFM

NATO Flying Training in Canada

NFTC is a multinational joint programme designed instruction experience. The company is also responsible
by the Canadian Department of National Defence for providing the aircraft, ground operations, facilities,
and an industry team led by Bombardier. In fixed training devices, food services and maintenance.
October 2015, CAE took over the programme from Future fighter pilots go through the following
Bombardier. CAE’s employees support primary phases of flying training at NFTC:
flying training (at Portage La Prairie, Manitoba),
basic flying training, advanced flying training
Flying traing at NFTC
(both of which at Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan) and Phase Role Type Location
lead-in fighter training (at Cold Lake, Alberta). Phase I Primary Grob G 120A Portage
Foreign countries to have taken part in the flying training La Prairie
programme so far include Austria, Denmark, Phase II Basic flying CT-156 Moose
Germany, Hungary, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the training Harvard II (T-6 Jaw
Texan II)
United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.
Phase III Advanced CT-155 Hawk Moose
All in-aircraft flying instruction is given by military
flying training (Hawk Mk115) Jaw
Above: Two Canadian students prepare for their pilots from Canada and other participating countries.
Phase IV Fighter lead- CT-155 Hawk Cold
BFM sortie with the familiar ‘fighting sticks’. The The RCAF oversees the training standards, provides in training Lake
squadron is currently training Canadian, Hungarian the airspace and dictates the syllabus. The aircraft are
and Singaporean students. Left: A student and his
instructor head out to the Cold Lake Air Weapons owned by an independent non-profit organisation, then Helicopter and multi-engine pilots are divided
Range in CT-155 serial 155207. While students are leased to CAE on behalf of the Department of National halfway through Phase II. Foreign students typically
cleared to fly solo on the Hawk, it’s the instructor’s Defence. Academic and simulator instruction is given receive primary flying training in their own country,
job to dogfight against the other student in the by CAE employees who have previous military flying before joining Phase II and III training at Moose Jaw.
formation.

www.airforcesmonthly.com #371 FEBRUARY 2019 // 73

Force
Report Lebanese Air Force

A force on
The small but effective Lebanese Air Force has had its fair share of struggles in the past, but is now
undergoing an increase in aircraft numbers as well as professionalism, as Jeroen van Veenendaal recounts.

T
he Lebanese Air Force
(LAF – in Arabic,
the way from helicopter pilot to
Lebanese Air Force commander.
The ‘Huey’ modification proved
very important and was judged
right on time, but we were also
able to use the IAR-330 Puma
al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya He looked back at the air arm’s the main reason for terminating and the SA342 Gazelle to fill
al-Lubnaniyya) was created recent history, emphasising the battle with the Fatah al-Islam the need for aerial support.”
in 1949, six years after the the growth of the force: terrorists who had been hiding With reconnaissance provided
country gained independence “In 2007, we were involved out in fortified positions. The by newly acquired RQ-11B
from France. Immediately in a big battle with Fatah LAF realised the importance Raven unmanned aerial
after its establishment, al-Islam, an Islamist militant of air power in such situations vehicles (UAVs), the LAF knew
aircraft began to be donated organisation in a Palestinian and since then has planned its exactly the positions of the
by the British, French and camp in the north of Lebanon, aerial capabilities accordingly. enemies’ ammunition storage
Italian governments. called Nahr al-Bared.” At this The LAF submitted a plan to caches, what type of weapons
Having flown the Hawker time, the air force was flying the United States to obtain an they contained, how many
Hunter and Mirage IIIEL, the mostly medical and casualty aerial platform able to provide personnel were defending each
LAF was left without a fighter evacuation missions, as well as close air support. In 2013, it position and the access routes
capability when both types performing aerial photography. received the first of three armed the terrorists were using.
were grounded and the Mirages The need emerged for a platform AC-208 Combat Caravans, The general explained what
then sold. The Hunters remain able to deliver 500lb (227kg) each able to carry two AGM-114 happened next: “We hit several
airworthy and continue to Mk82 and 1,000lb (454kg) Hellfire air-to-ground missiles. targets accurately and we
be maintained, but are no Mk83 bombs with acceptable forced them to change their
longer in active use. For a accuracy. Brig Gen Haykal War with Daesh techniques and positions. First,
long time, the air force had continued: “The dimensions of The Lebanese government knew we were able to reinforce the
to rely solely on a helicopter the camp were not that large, that the effects of the ongoing army’s positions and then we
force. But in recent years, but at the same time we were war in Syria would likely spill over changed to an attack posture.
three Cessna AC-208 Combat surrounding them with friendly across the border, and its armed We started to bomb Daesh
Caravans were acquired for forces. So, the big challenge forces were made ready for this positions deep inside the area
reconnaissance and attack was not to hit any friendly eventuality. Brig Gen Haykal they controlled. In the final
and, in May 2018, the country forces when dropping these said: “Lebanon’s war with Daesh operation, called Dawn of
received the last of an initial hundreds of pounds of bombs. [so-called Islamic State] and the the Outskirts [in Arabic, Fajr
six EMB-314 Super Tucanos. Being resourceful, we modified al-Nusra terrorists started on al-Jouroud] we bombed all the
AFM spoke to Brigadier the UH-1Hs in our inventory – the northern and northeastern defensive targets for a week
General Ziad Haykal, who which are basically made for border in 2013. The Combat and we actually cleared almost
climbed the career ladder all transport – into bombers.” Caravan’s capability arrived the entire area to allow the

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n the rise

A trio of Lebanese A-29Bs – serials L-714, L-715 and L-716 – in formation over the Mediterranean. The first four Super Tucanos had started crew training at
Moody by April 2017 and two were delivered during October 2017, followed by four more last May. Ralph Blok

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Force
Report Lebanese Air Force

Above: A dramatic portrait of A-29B serial L-714 at Hamat. The Super

Tucano deal also included two spare PT6A-68A engines, eight AN/ALE-47
countermeasures dispensers, 2,000 APKWS laser-guided rockets and eight
AN/AAR-60(V)2 missile launch detection systems. Jeroen van Veenendaal
Below: Converted to armed configuration by ATK, the Combat Caravan can
be armed with a pair of AGM-114 Hellfire missiles under the wings. Also
visible is the sensor turret for the Wescam MX-15D electro-optical/infrared
system. Ralph Blok Bottom: The LAF A-29B fleet is operated by the 7th
Fighter Squadron (motto: ‘Kill with finesse’) based at Hamat. The service’s
commander hopes to induct another six Super Tucanos in the future. Jeroen
van Veenendaal

Lebanese Army special forces Advanced Precision Kill Weapon

to enter. We concluded the System [APKWS]. The APKWS
battle in a matter of one week.” is a conversion of the Hydra
70 unguided rocket, but with a
Super Tucano laser guidance kit to turn it into
acquisition a precision-guided munition.
While the battle raged, a new The APKWS can now also be
request for a weapon platform launched by jet aircraft like the
had already been sent to the F-16 and from helicopters.”
US. “The request process The turboprop A-29 is ideal to
usually takes some time,” Brig protect Lebanon and fulfils both
Gen Haykal explained: “A letter reconnaissance and precision-
of request composed by the bombing requirements. To the
Lebanese Ministry of Defence untrained eye, the A-29 may
contains the specifications of the seem unimpressive compared
Lebanese Air Force’s needs, such with a fighter jet that is four times
as the types of tasks we want faster. But appearances can be
to perform, whether it is fixed deceptive, as Brig Gen Haykal
wing or rotary wing, what kind of asserted: “It is very well suited
weapons we’d like to carry, the for anti-terrorist missions. [The
airspeed, the length of the runway Super Tucanos] have the same
we have. The US authorities weapons on board as the fast
then study these specifications fighter jets, and have the same
and will assign a platform effectiveness and accuracy, but
accordingly.” For the Lebanese cost significantly less per flight
Air Force, that meant the A-29B hour.” By way of comparison, an
Super Tucano, delivered as F-15E Strike Eagle costs around
part of a support package from $27,000 per flight hour, while
the US government to aid the the A-29 is between $4,000
fight against the terrorists. and $5,000 per flight hour and
“These aircraft were can often do the same job.
manufactured for Lebanon in The general added: “These
Brazil and were armed by the aircraft are not meant to
Sierra Nevada Corporation in the have an air superiority role.
United States,” the commander The main mission for the
continued. “This is the first Tucanos is to provide close
type of aircraft able to fire the air support to the army.”

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A pair of LAF SA342L Gazelles from the Rayak-based 8th Squadron. A

batch of seven Gazelles was originally acquired in 1980, but all were
withdrawn and replaced by nine former UAE examples donated in 2007.
Roelof-Jan Gort

Serial L-1202 is one of the new UH-1H-IIs, this example being assigned to
the 12th Squadron. Although no firm order for the Huey IIs was publicly
announced, the first six were delivered in December 2012 and a follow-on
delivery of three rotorcraft took place in March 2016. Jeroen van Veenendaal

The Lebanese Super Tucano they had a minimum capability to were not in place. The Combat Puma at war
pilots received flight training perform missions against Daesh. Caravan is able to laser designate When fighting broke out along
at Moody Air Force Base in Any new platform in the inventory targets for the Hellfire missiles the Syrian border in 2013, the
Georgia. Brig Gen Haykal will require a certain period of and is also capable of designating LAF initiated a study to install
describes them as outstanding time to become fully implemented targets for the Super Tucano. two ADEN 30mm cannon, two
pilots, and they routinely finish in the system. To give you an Our pilots trained to have two Matra SNEB 68mm (2.68in)
at the top of their classes. example, the Super Tucano does Super Tucanos working together rocket pods and bombs on
The first two Super Tucanos not work by itself in any battle, it at all times, one designating for the IAR-330 Puma. The three
arrived in October 2017 and the will be working in co-operation another. A Combat Caravan is weapons were all taken from
last four in May 2018. “Within the with other platforms like the able to designate targets for two the decommissioned Hunters.
request that we sent, one of the Combat Caravan, the Puma or Super Tucanos from a longer Brig Gen Haykal was working in
items that we insisted on was the Gazelle. So, to implement distance. You have to create Hamat as an intelligence officer
to have a minimum capability to the new platform you have to certain procedures to operate all when the plan was developed
operate and maintain the aircraft create certain procedures. No these platforms together. These and he reflected with the proverb:
once they arrived in Lebanon,” the other air force uses the Super standard operating procedures “Necessity is the mother of
LAF commander continued. “The Tucano and the Combat Caravan have been executed and now invention.” Evaluation took 13
first day they arrived in Lebanon together, so existing procedures we are in an evaluation period.” months and started with ground

AC-208B serial L-403. The first LAF

Combat Caravan was accepted into
service at Beirut International Airport
in November 2013. A second example
was converted from a previously
delivered Cessna 208B, and the third
and final example was handed over in
December 2016. Jeroen van Veenendaal

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Force
Report Lebanese Air Force

Above: Rocket-toting IAR-330SM L-912 patrols the Lebanese coastline. The arrival of the Super Tucano will allow the Puma’s primary mission to revert to
transport. Ralph Blok Top right: The Puma weapons installation is an example of LAF ingenuity. The ADEN 30mm cannon and Matra SNEB 68mm rocket pod
seen here were both inherited from the Lebanese Hawker Hunter fleet. Ralph Blok Bottom right: The sight of a bombed-up Puma – typically used for transport or
troop duties – is almost certainly unique to the Lebanese Air Force. Serial L-916 is one of the 9th Squadron’s Romanian-built IAR-330SM Pumas, one of at least
seven provided by the United Arab Emirates between 2009 and 2011. Roelof-Jan Gort

tests before moving on to aerial be fitted in another in a matter general explained: “In 2015, we the Lebanese Army commander
trials. “It’s not only the testing, of just a few hours, in case of an received the M712 Copperhead decided to start a trial. It was
you are also putting a Hunter aircraft malfunction. Thankfully, rounds, a 155mm-calibre cannon- a big success. The quantity of
weapon on a Puma – it is entirely we have incredible teamwork.” launched guided projectile. explosives in a Hellfire missile
different. Installing the 30mm The arrival of the Super Tucano These Copperhead rounds also is limited when compared with
gun, rockets and bomb controls won’t render the Puma obsolete. work with laser designators – a 155mm Copperhead shell.
within the Puma electrical system Its main role will switch back to once the laser signal is detected, During an anti-terrorism mission
with an Alouette III visor is not transport, but the capability to the onboard guidance system against Daesh, a pilot was
an easy challenge. The 30mm carry rockets will remain. The will manoeuvre the projectile decorated for being able to hit
gun has its own data information general clarified: “According to the target. We were limited 18 different targets within one
and requirements. At the same to the threat, according to the to using these rounds from the flying hour. This is a payload
time, the rockets have their own mission, according to the type of ground because we have a long no existing fighter can carry!”
procedures and the bombs have target you are going to hit, you front line and a deep area with Targets as far as 6.2 miles
their own performance. These will be using whatever platform rough terrain, and it was hard (10km) away from the artillery
are three very different weapon or weapon is convenient. If to send in personnel with laser were hit accurately. This caught
systems to install. All the ballistics, we need to deliver 1,300kg of designators in a threat area the attention of the US, and a US
trajectories and deviations had to ordnance at the same time, we with a tactical disadvantage. Air Force general from Central
be calculated correctly. Besides don’t have any platform that can “We had the Cessna’s laser Command came to Lebanon to
all this, you have to establish carry this load except the Puma.” designator capability and the witness the innovation. The US is
procedures for the maintainers question was if it was compatible now reconsidering its procedures
to safely perform their task. The Artillery innovations with the Copperhead rounds. for the use of the M172
system itself was meant to be The armed Puma is not the LAF’s After explaining the process, risks Copperhead and the ability to
removed from the aircraft and only recent innovation, as the and the percentage of success, designate targets from the air. Brig

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Lebanese Air Force order of battle

Unit Types Base
1st Squadron Bulldog Srs126 Beirut
4th Squadron Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, Beirut
AC-208B Combat Caravan
12th Squadron UH-1H-II Huey II Beirut
16th Squadron S-61N Beirut
VIP Flight AW139 Beirut
2nd Squadron Hunter Mk66C/Mk70A‡ Rayak
8th Squadron SA342L Gazelle Rayak
10th Squadron* UH-1H Iroquois, UH-1H-II Rayak
Huey II
11th Squadron* UH-1H Iroquois, UH-1H-II Rayak
Huey II
14th Squadron UH-1H Iroquois René Mouawad Air
Base/Kleyate Airport
Aviation School Rayak
15th Squadron R44 Raven II
7th Fighter Squadron A-29B Super Tucano Hamat
9th Squadron IAR-330SM Puma Hamat
* One of the ‘Huey’ units may have disbanded after the arrival of the UH-1H-II.
‡ Hunters briely returned to service from 2008 to 2010, before being withdrawn
again. Aircraft are airworthy and still maintained.

Gen Haykal is clearly proud when capability. The MD530 was

talking about these developments: essentially requested to replace
“We forced ourselves to be an the Gazelle, maybe in ten years.
important player in the war against “The Puma’s main role will
terrorism and in the important change back to transport
task of defending our country. helicopter because we need
We studied, tried and executed this capability. We are planning
all these inventions locally.” to upgrade all the existing
UH-1 ‘Hueys’ to UH-1H-II
The future standard. We are already in the
The Lebanese Air Force is still process of getting the AB212
in the ascendancy. The general operational again after more
outlined plans for the future: “We than 25 years grounded.
will request an additional six Super “All the new platforms will be
Tucano aircraft. In 2021, we are provided as support from the
expecting to receive six McDonnell US government. We are trying
Douglas MD530G multi-role light to negotiate and convince the
helicopters. This version will US authorities that this is the
also be able to fire laser-guided minimum that the Lebanese
rockets. Five years from now we Air Force needs. We need to
hope to have 12 Super Tucanos continue to secure the border
and 12 MD530Gs. Our priority is and stand strong in our fight
to increase the close air support against terrorist groups.” AFM

www.airforcesmonthly.com #371 FEBRUARY 2019 // 79

 NEWS Special

Postcard from Iruma

AFM contributor
Rolf Flinzner
was at Iruma Air
Base in the city of
Sayama, Saitama
Prefecture, north
of western Tokyo,
when the Japan
Air Self-Defense
Force opened the
station’s doors to
the public as part
Two-seat F-2B 23-8111 (c/n 3011) is one of the 21 Hikotai jets stationed at the Air Training Command’s Matsushima AB, where
of the Culture Day they operate alongside the T-4s of the Blue Impulse display team. No fewer than 18 F-2Bs were originally declared beyond
national holiday on repair after the earthquake and tsunami that flooded Matsushima in March 2011. The Japan Defense Ministry subsequently
contracted Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to rebuild 13 examples, which were redelivered to the JASDF between 2015 and 2018.
November 3.

Above: U-125 39-3042 (c/n 258227) taxies at Iruma.

Configured for instrument landing system (ILS) calibration
duties, the jet is on strength with the Hiko Tenkentai –
the Flight Checker Squadron – part of the
Tokubetsu Koku Yusodai (Special Airlift
Group) based at Iruma and is one of three
examples delivered to the JASDF from
December 1992 to 1995. Right: Hawker
T-400 51-5058 (c/n TX-8) is part of
the 41 Kyoiku Hikotai (41 Training
Squadron) based at Miho AB.
Thirteen of the Mitsubishi-
designed twinjets entered
JASDF service from 1994.

The crew of T-4 16-5797 (c/n 1197) salute the camera at Iruma on November 3. This aircraft is assigned to the Shireibu Hikotai (Headquarters Squadron) of the 13 Hiko
Kyoikudan (13 Flying Training Wing) at Ashiya AB – part of the Koku Kyoiku Shudan (Air Training Command) – and wears the wing’s red and white colour scheme.

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Right: C-1 78-1025 (c/n

8025) of the 402 Hikotai
on short finals. Based
at Iruma, this squadron
is the last still flying the
indigenous airlifter, as
part of the Koku Shien
Shudan (Air Support
Command). Thirty-one
C-1s were originally
delivered, but no more
than eight remain
airworthy today. Below:
T-7 46-5917 (c/n 17)
wears the markings of
the 11 Hiko Kyoikudan
(11 Flying Training Wing)
at Shizuhama AB. This
unit – part of the Koku
Kyoiku Shudan (Air
Training Command) –
has two squadrons but
they lack distinguishing
markings. Forty-nine
of the primary trainers
entered JASDF service
from 2003. All photos
Rolf Flinzner

Left above: Another Iruma

resident, CH-47J 47-4490 (c/n
5070) is part of the JASDF’s
Koku Kyunandan (Air Rescue
Wing), headquartered at the
base and with detachments
at airfields around the
country. The Iruma-based
Chinooks are assigned
to the Iruma Herikoputa
Kuuyutai (Iruma Helicopter
Airlift Squadron). Left: Japan
Maritime Self-Defense Force
SH-60K 8445 (c/n 5045) is
from the 21 Kokutai, home-
based at Iwoto on the island
of Iwo Jima. Developed by
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
as an improved SH-60J, the
first prototype SH-60K began
test flying in 2001 and the
initial production aircraft was
delivered to the JMSDF on
August 10, 2005. The service
has ordered 74 examples.
Below: E-2C 34-3459 (c/n
A20-953, FMS 164621) from
the 601 Hikotai is based at
Misawa AB and part of the
Keikai Kokutai (Airborne
Early Warning Wing). This
Hawkeye is one of the first
to receive the eight-bladed
NP2000 propellers. Northrop
Grumman was contracted
in 2014 to integrate and test
the NP2000 on the Japanese
E-2C fleet, but it’s not known
how many of the 13-strong
fleet will be refitted.

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Exercise
Report Falcon Autumn 2018

Going Dutch
The Royal Netherlands
Army’s Exercise Falcon
Autumn combined the alcon Autumn is part the 11 LMB has been integrated from 336 Squadron, the brigade

rotary forces of the

Germany Army and
F of a series of exercises
organised by the Royal
within the German unit’s command
structure since June 2014.
is transformed into the 11 Air
Manoeuvre Brigade (11 AMB).
Netherlands Army’s (RNLA’s) 11 The DSK includes three Maj Mark, the 11 LMB planning
the Royal Netherlands Luchtmobiele Brigade (Air Assault) Heeresfliegertruppe (Army officer, and Maj Ronald ‘Wally’ from
Air Force’s Defence (11 LMB, 11th Airmobile Brigade). Aviation) regiments – two the DHC (full names withheld on
Taking place between September Transporthubschrauberregiments request) provided an insight into
Helicopter Command.
26 and October 10, the latest (THR, Transport Helicopter Falcon Autumn. First, Maj Mark
Manolito Jaarsma manoeuvres included the Germany Regiments) and one explained the 11 LMB training
reports from Military Army’s Division Schnelle Kräfte Kampfhubschrauberregiment cycle: “We organise two large
Aviation Terrain Deelen. (DSK, Rapid Forces Division) – (KHR, Combat Helicopter exercises a year – one in spring
Regiment). Both THR 10 and one in autumn, taking into
‘Lüneburger Heide’ at Faßberg account the weather conditions
and THR 30 from Niederstetten for helicopter operations. These
are equipped with the NH90 start to be planned a year in
TTH while Fritzlar’s KHR 36 advance and the planning and
‘Kurhessen’ flies the Tiger UHT, execution of the exercise overlap.
although the last type was not We look into the availability of our
involved in the exercise. battalions and companies as some
[elements] of them are away”. For
Helicopter units example, members of 11 LMB are
In contrast with Germany, Dutch currently deployed in support of
air assault assets are divided the UN Multidimensional Integrated
between the RNLA and Royal Stabilization Mission in Mali
A German Army Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF). (MINUSMA) that ends on May 1.
pathfinder from the When 11 LMB operates alongside The exercise scenario was
Division Schnelle Kräfte RNLAF Defence Helicopter divided into three phases. Maj
descends on his objective Command (DHC) helicopters (298 Mark continued: “The first week
during Falcon Autumn.
Squadron CH-47D/F Chinooks, was used for the arrival of the
300 Squadron AS532U2 Cougars helicopters. Then we aimed to get
and 301 Squadron AH-64D everyone acquainted and to train
Apaches) and/or each other’s procedures. Training
the C-130Hs was conducted at a company

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NH90 TTH 79+10 is assigned to THR 30 at Niederstetten. Here, coverage of the landing zone is provided by a flight of Dutch Apaches.

level during the second week alongside our 11 LMB colleagues the pathfinders were transported already in formation, preparing
and focused on several different we also co-operate with RNLA back to Eindhoven Air Base to to board the helicopters to
air assault missions. During the special forces and the marines. prepare for a nighttime jump conduct their next tasks.
third week a battalion [800 to Basically, our helicopters are at Marnewaard, marking the All training conducted during
1,000 personnel] was trained requested five to six times more start of the final week of the the first two phases was put into
in one large action using all the than we can deliver. Therefore, manoeuvres. Once there, they practice in the exercise’s finale,
techniques and procedures we look into what we can support were to survive for 72 hours during which the helicopters used a
trained during the first phases.” and make sure we are totally before the first elements of the forward arming and refuelling point
All aspects of air assault prepared and trained. During this Dutch/German battalion arrived. at Assen to support a battalion-
missions (including air attack, exercise we are working together The Dutch Hercules returned to size air assault at Marnewaard.
airdrop/landing and air raid) were with the German NH90s which is perform two cargo drops using
undertaken. Some scenarios both interesting and instructive.” its cargo delivery system (CDS). German-Dutch
were conducted twice, first by CDS is a relatively new task for the co-operation
the German companies and the Assault scenario squadron and can only be trained Falcon Autumn proved the
following day by the Dutch. During AFM’s visit, a team of at Deelen due to the required co-operation between the land and
The DSK deployed eight NH90s pathfinders – normally operating space and safety regulations. air assets of the DSK, 11 LMB and
from THR 30, including two as a team of six – was first to Between the two drops three DHC. Improvements over previous
spares, while the DHC contingent arrive on the scene, dropped Apaches departed towards the exercises included helicopters
consisted of eight Apaches and by a 336 Squadron C-130H-30. De Vlasakkers military training transporting each other’s personnel
five Chinooks, including two Their mission was to check for complex near Amersfoort. The and equipment. Another highlight
and one spares respectively. suitable landing zones (LZs) for previous day, companies had been was the first slung-load transport
Maj Ronald outlined the either the transport aircraft or inserted here in an air assault and of a German Army Wiesel 1 light
participation of the Gilze-Rijen- helicopters. These LZs were these forces were extracted by armoured vehicle by a Chinook.
based squadrons: “Our helicopters marked with separate landing four NH90s and four CH-47Ds, The DSK and 11 LMB are
are an expensive and scarce areas for the medium and with Apaches providing cover. due to be declared ready as an
resource that require a lot of heavy transport helicopters. During the recovery at Deelen integrated battalion to support
maintenance. As well as working Immediately after their jump the next wave of soldiers was the EU Battlegroup in 2020. AFM

Above: RNLAF C-130H-30 G-273

operated by 336 Squadron drops a
cargo load. Left: Troops look on as
Royal Netherlands Air Force CH-47D
D-103 of 298 Squadron works with
an RNLAF AH-64D and a German
Army NH90 TTH out of Deelen.
All photos Manolito Jaarsma

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Column Commander’s Update Briefing

Composite air
operations
Bringing a range of effects
to bear in a neat air package B
eing able to penetrate a sophisticated
enemy’s defences by air is, these
With a little
help from
your friends
advent of air power where lone reconnaissance
aircraft or bombers were quickly picked off by
days, a rather hazardous business. enemy fighters, and so the concept of escort
is the very essence of the While modern stealth aircraft – such as the fighters was born. So, although the title of
COMAO. It’s a way to meet B-2 Spirit – might be able to go it alone, the COMAO is very much a modern invention of
mission objectives in a majority of air platforms require a degree the last 30 years, they can trace their pedigree
complex scenario. Air Power of mutual support from specialist types back to the early beginnings of air power.
Association President Air in order to survive. These might include I have written previously about air superiority,
aircraft that conduct surveillance or provide and since this might be hard to achieve in
Marshal (ret’d) Greg Bagwell electronic protection or physical defence from the early phases of a campaign against a
CB CBE investigates. surface-to-air systems or fighter aircraft. peer threat, COMAOs are a way of delivering
Composite air operations (COMAOs) are that for a finite period in a specific area.
Below: Joining forces. The USAF multiple platforms integrated into a single Individual tactical missions are typically flown
has been heavily engaged in fighter
integration. It combines the respective
‘package’ of aircraft and systems to prosecute in groups of two or four aircraft. This number
benefits of various platforms. All photos a specific mission or task as required around allows for mutual support and redundancy,
Jamie Hunter unless otherwise stated the globe. Similar tactics were developed at the as well as sufficient mass and saturation to

84 // FEBRUARY 2019 #371 www.airforcesmonthly.com

Above: Exercise Red Flag is a classic example of a COMAO-based mission scenario,
bringing different types and air arms together. Below: An E-3 AWACS team pores
over the radar scopes during a large-force exercise. USAF/A1C Matthew Seefeldt

complete the task and allow for some failure

or losses. However, although modern tactical
aircraft are increasingly capable of multiple
roles, individual aircraft types cannot always
meet all the capabilities or supporting tasks
that a more complex threat might require.

Close co-ordination
In their most traditional format, a COMAO
package is a very tightly co-ordinated group
of aircraft, which brings together every facet
of air power acting in mutual support. These
can number anything from eight to over 100
aircraft. Typically, the central element of the
package is the ‘strikers’ or attack aircraft.
These may be targeting a specific complex
or a series of points in a relatively close
“Once nominated, a package commander geographical area. The primary aim here is
to strike near simultaneously and shock or
will orchestrate the COMAO by allocating saturate an enemy. However, attack aircraft,
even those capable of self-defence, are
targets, routes and timings” relatively vulnerable because of the weight of
their attack stores and need to stay focused
on the ground targets. For that reason, a
dedicated fighter sweep (ahead of the package)
or fighter escort (within the formation) provides
a protection force from enemy fighter aircraft.
Planning for such a package will normally
begin back in the air operations centre,
where the air tasking order (ATO) will
allocate assets to a specific task. A leader
or mission commander will be nominated if
the COMAO formation needs to be tightly
co-ordinated and, for especially large and
complex events, sub-leaders for each of the
critical capabilities may also be allocated.
COMAO training missions have the luxury of
most participants being co-located, therefore
making it easier to plan and integrate, but
on typical operations this will be more
challenging as the units will be spread over
a number of bases. In this case, experience,
constant practice and well-established
standard operating procedures make an
apparently complex process relatively simple.
Once nominated, a package commander will
orchestrate the COMAO by allocating targets,
routes and timings. The next task will be to plan
assembly of the various aircraft, including a
communications strategy and a tanker procedure
to ensure anyone who needs fuel gets it in good
time. Finally, they will arrange their defensive
assets: fighters and suppression of enemy air
defence (SEAD) aircraft, so that they place

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Column Commander’s Update Briefing

them between any potential enemy locations

and the strikers. Each COMAO member will
operate to a ‘contract’, so that everyone knows
their place in the team and what each can be
expected to do as the situation develops.
Once in the air, a COMAO uses airborne
surveillance and command and control (C2)
assets to provide constant updates on recent
intelligence. Then, once assembled, and any
unplanned gaps plugged or rearranged, the
formation presses into enemy territory and on to
its target. COMAOs by their very size and nature
are hard to hide (the larger ones can be easily
over a hundred miles long and able to influence a
corridor just as wide); indeed, they are designed
with the expectation of being detected. They
use their sheer weight of effort and aggressive
posture to muscle their way in and out to their
target, almost daring enemy aircraft to get
airborne and engage, only to meet overwhelming
force which is concentrated and ready.
So, COMAOs are a relatively unsubtle
form of employing air power, but one that
seeks to achieve more than the sum of its
parts. As aircraft become more capable of
performing multiple roles simultaneously,
so their reliance on supporting assets may
decrease. However, as enemy systems
become increasingly advanced and lethal,
the overwhelming application of co-ordinated
firepower to saturate and defeat them will be
no less vital. COMAOs might be a little less
formulaic and tightly co-ordinated in the future,
but they will become smarter and more agile,
able to react and adjust quickly by sharing
data across secure links and better able to
share targeting and threat information. While
air power becomes more sophisticated and
capable over time, the old adage that ‘quantity
has a quality all of its own,’ still applies. AFM

NEXT MONTH:
Suppression of enemy air defences

86 // FEBRUARY 2019 #371 www.airforcesmonthly.com

Above: Exercise Atlantic Trident in 2017 brought
together a now familiar team of RAF Typhoons,
US F-35As and F-22As and French Rafales.
Above right: With the Las Vegas skyline in the
distance, an RAF Typhoon prepares to launch
for a Red Flag large-force mission. Right: The
RAF has been keen for its Typhoons to train
alongside US Raptors in order to understand how
an operational relationship works between the
two. Below: A ‘package’ could combine a stealth
platform as a sensor and a fourth-generation
fighter, such as a Typhoon, as a ‘shooter’. Left
below: A French Rafale C forms up with an F-22A
during Atlantic Trident in 2017. Left: The advent
of fifth-generation types such as the F-35 enables
the use of stealth to mitigate risk in certain
scenarios.

www.airforcesmonthly.com #371 FEBRUARY 2019 // 87

Attrition
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for breaking news stories. E-mail the news
team at [email protected]

Investigation report on
fatal WC-130H crash

Above: The wreckage of Puerto Rico ANG WC-130H Hercules 65-0968 following its crash on May 2, 2018, on Georgia State Highway 21 near Savannah/Hilton
Head International Airport. USAF
S AIR Force officials The MC’s mission was to fly runway into the grass before it MP1’s improper application of
U have released the official
Accident Investigation
the MA to the 309th Aerospace
Maintenance and Regeneration
achieved flight. The MA departed
KSAV at approximately 1125L.
left rudder, which resulted in a
subsequent skid below three-
Report into the fatal crash Group at Davis-Monthan Air Force As the MC retracted the engine minimum controllable
of Puerto Rico Air National Base, Arizona, for removal from undercarriage, they identified airspeed, a left-wing stall and the
Guard (ANG)/156th Airlift Wing service. The MA had been at KSAV the engine one RPM and torque MA’s departure from controlled
(AW)/198th Airlift Squadron for almost a month, since April 9, malfunction and MP1 called for flight. Additionally, the board
WC-130H Hercules 65-0968 2018, undergoing prescheduled engine shutdown. However, the president found the MC’s
last May, which killed all nine fuel cell maintenance and MC failed to complete the ‘take- failure to adequately prepare
on board – see Attrition, July unscheduled work on engine off continued after engine failure’ for emergency actions, the
2018, p90. The report was number one by 156th AW procedure, the engine shutdown MC’s failure to reject the take-
released on November 9. maintenance personnel using procedure and the after take- off, the MC’s failure to properly
On May 2, 2018, at 1127hrs local the facilities of the 165th AW. off checklist, as directed by the execute appropriate after
time (L), the mishap aircraft (MA), During the take-off roll from flight manual, and the MA’s flaps take-off and engine shutdown
WC-130H 65-0968, assigned KSAV, engine one’s revolutions remained at 50%. Additionally, MP1 checklists and procedures, and
to the Puerto Rico ANG’s 156th per minute (RPM) fluctuated and banked left into the inoperative the mishap maintainers’ failure
AW, located at Muñiz Air National did not provide normal RPM when engine, continued to climb, and to properly diagnose and repair
Guard Base, Puerto Rico, crashed MP1 advanced the throttle lever varied left and right rudder inputs. engine number one substantially
approximately 1.5 miles (2.4km) into the flight range for take-off. At an altitude of approximately contributed to the mishap.
northeast of Savannah/Hilton Approximately eight seconds 900ft (274m) above mean sea Those killed were: Maj José
Head International Airport (KSAV), prior to aircraft rotation, engine level and 131kts indicated air R Román Rosado (pilot), Maj
Georgia. All nine members one RPM and torque significantly speed, MP1 input over 9° of Carlos Pérez Serra (navigator),
aboard the MA – mishap decayed, which substantially left rudder, the MA skidded left, 1st Lt David Albandoz (co-pilot);
pilot 1 (MP1), mishap pilot 2, lowered thrust. The fluctuation on the left wing stalled and the Senior Master Sgt Jan Paravisini
mishap navigator, mishap flight roll and significant performance MA departed controlled flight (mechanic), Master Sgt Jean
engineer and mishap loadmaster decay went unrecognised by and impacted the terrain on Audriffred, Master Sgt Mario
(collectively the mishap crew, the MC until rotation, when MP1 Georgia State Highway 21. Braña (flight engineer), Master
MC), and four mission essential commented on aircraft control The board president found, by a Sgt Víctor Colón, Master Sgt
personnel, MAs 1, 2, 3 and 4 – challenges and the MA veered preponderance of the evidence, Eric Circuns (loadmaster) and
perished during the accident. left and nearly departed the the cause of the mishap was Senior Airman Roberto Espada.

88 // FEBRUARY 2019 #371 www.airforcesmonthly.com

 Accident Reports
D: Feb 12, 2003
N: US Marine Corps
T: MV-22B Osprey
S: 164942
This tiltrotor was overstressed
during a previously unreported
accident, while assigned to
Naval Air Station Patuxent River,
Maryland. Although reported as a
Class A mishap – indicating that
the helicopter was initially assessed
as having incurred more than
$2m-worth of damage – the aircraft
appears to have been repaired.
It was operational again by June
28, 2004, but then damaged once
more during trials on board the
assault ship USS Iwo Jima – see Above: USMC MV-22B 166482 ‘GX-17’, seen participating in Exercise Vigilant Response 2017 at MCAS New River, North
Attrition, September and December Carolina on November 7, 2017, is now in use as a ground instructional airframe at the base. The aircraft was grounded
2004. Despite being reported after an engine fire at New River on May 1, 2006, but was never repaired. USMC/Sgt Judith L Harter
as not seriously damaged and Carolina. Although not reported maintenance test flight from Leh enable the helicopter to be flown
flown off the ship two days later, at the time and not listed by Air Force Station and made a down to the Siachen Base Camp.
it was formally struck off charge the US Naval Safety Center as precautionary landing in soft snow It was then taken to Leh AFS,
on April 3, 2006, and scrapped. a Class A mishap, it was not at 18,000ft (5,486m) near the from where it was transported
repaired. It was stricken from the Khanda post on the Siachen Glacier as airfreight to Bangalore for
D: Sep 8, 2005? inventory on April 21, 2010, but in Jammu and Kashmir. Although more permanent repairs.
N: US Marine Corps has been retained at New River it landed safely, without injury to
T: MV-22B Osprey for ground instruction use. the crew, overnight snow caused D: Nov 1
S: 165437 the helicopter to roll over onto its N: Indian Army Aviation Corps
This Osprey was reportedly D: Feb 22, 2016 starboard side, breaking one of T: HAL Cheetah
involved in a previously N/U: USAF/47th Flying Training the main rotor blades and causing This helicopter performed an
undisclosed Class A accident Wing/86th Flying Training some damage to the fuselage. emergency landing at a post in the
on this date, but no details are Squadron After several rounds of inspections, central area of the Siachen Glacier
known of the circumstances of the T: 38 x T-1A Jayhawks it was determined that it could at 1130hrs, resulting in unspecified
incident. However, it had already Not previously reported by AFM, be repaired and the commanding damage. The crew was reportedly
been stricken from the active US these aircraft were damaged during officer of 14 Corps approved uninjured. The force landing was due
Navy inventory on September 13, a serious hailstorm at Laughlin the plan. However, a number of to a sudden change in the weather.
2004, suggesting the accident date Air Force Base, Texas. While it attempts to recover the Dhruv
was incorrect. In any case, it was was not known at the time how then failed, due to unpredictable D: Dec 4
not repaired and later became a badly affected the aircraft were, it weather in the area – it was finally N: Armenian Air Force
ground instruction airframe with subsequently emerged that more retrieved from the accident site last T: Su-25UBK
the Center for Naval Aviation than 80% of Laughlin’s training July. Temporary repairs, including S: 3237 (c/n 38220113237)
Technical Training (CNATT) at fleet had to be grounded due to fitting at least one new main rotor This aircraft crashed at 1020hrs local
Marine Corps New River, North widespread hailstone damage. A blade, were carried out in situ to time near the Karaberd settlement
Carolina, with code ‘GX-T’. By total of 38 of these were T-1As,
July 2014 it had been placed on which had extensive skin abrasions.
display as a gate guard at the Many were repaired on site, but 11
base with code ‘26’ and remains of the most seriously affected were
there now. Another MV-22B, delivered to the 309th Aerospace
165438, which also became a Maintenance and Regeneration
ground instructional airframe at Center at Davis-Monthan AFB,
New River with code ‘GX-T2’, was Arizona, for more extensive repairs.
also permanently grounded after The first two were redelivered to
an unspecified Class A mishap Laughlin on November 1, 2018.
– date and details of which are
unknown, although it was also D: Jan ??, 2018
stricken from the US Navy active N/U: Indian Army Air Corps/203
inventory on September 13, 2004. Army Aviation Squadron
T: HAL Dhruv
D: May 1, 2006 S: IA-1144
N/U: US Marine Corps/VMMT-204 Details of a previously unknown
T: MV-22B Osprey accident involving this helicopter
S: 166482 were revealed in a video released Above: The first of the USAF/47th Flying Training Wing/86th Flying Training
Squadron T-1As to arrive at Davis-Monthan from Laughlin AFB on August 1,
This aircraft was damaged by by the Indian Army on December
2017 to undergo repairs to hailstorm damage. Extensive temporary patching
an engine fire at Marine Corps 27. The helicopter encountered a of punctures from the hailstones is clearly apparent on the nose section.
Air Station New River, North technical problem during a post- USAF/309th AMARG/Teresa Pittman

Abbreviations: D: Date N/U: Nationality/Units T: Type S: Serials

www.airforcesmonthly.com #371 FEBRUARY 2019 // 89

Attrition
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for breaking news stories. E-mail the news
team at [email protected]

in the Maralik area of Shirak Marz D: Dec 7

Region, 15 minutes after taking off N: French Air Force/EH 01/044
on a combat readiness training flight T: AS332C Super Puma
from Gyumri-Shirak (Kumayari) air During a mid-morning training flight
base. Both crew members, Pilot 1st at Ghisonaccia Alzitone Airport,
Class Lt Col Armen Slavik Babayan Corsica, the helicopter landed
and 3rd Class Pilot Major Movses extremely hard, causing substantial
Gevorgyan Manukyan, were killed. damage to the airframe and
blocking the runway. However, by
D: Dec 6 that evening it had been recovered
N/U: US Marine Corps/VMFA and transported by road back to
(AW)-242 (Hornet) Base Aérienne Solenzara, where it is
T: F/A-18D Hornet and operated by EH 01/044 ‘Solenzara’.
KC-130J Hercules Two pilots, a flight engineer and
During a routine training and two passengers were on board
aerial refuelling mission these two at the time, but no injuries were Above: Indian Army Air Corps/203 Army Aviation Squadron Dhruv IA-1144
aircraft collided at around 0200hrs reported. It was not immediately awaiting recovery following its accident on the Siachen Glacier during January
last year. After lengthy weather delays, it was finally recovered in July. Indian Army
local time over the Philippine Sea, clear why the helicopter made
200 miles (322km) off the coast such a hard landing. D: Dec 9 D: Dec 13
of Japan and both crashed. The N: US Marine Corps N/U: Royal Canadian Air Force/
two aircrew in the Hornet ejected D: Dec 9 T: CH-53E Super Stallion 4 Wing/417 Combat
and were recovered, but one, later N: Afghan Air Force While taxiing back to the squadron Support Squadron
identified as pilot Capt Jahmar F T: Unidentified helicopter dispersal at Marine Corps Air T: CH-146 Griffon
Resilard, from Marine All Weather This helicopter crashed at around Station New River, North Carolina, During a routine afternoon mission
Fighter Attack Squadron 242 at 2200hrs, following a technical the undercarriage was inadvertently from Canadian Forces Base Cold
Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, malfunction immediately after retracted. No one was injured during Lake, Alberta, this helicopter
Japan, was pronounced dead after take-off from Kandahar Airport the incident, but the US Naval was involved in an incident
being found during search and for a routine training flight. Safety Center has categorised it while landing on the Cold Lake
rescue operations. The other Hornet There were no fatalities, but five as a Class A mishap. At present Air Weapons Range. The exact
aircrew member was said to be in occupants were injured and no further details are known about cause was not immediately clear,
fair condition. The two aircraft had taken to hospital for treatment. the circumstances of the accident. but a flight safety investigation
both taken off from MCAS Iwakuni. was launched. No personnel
The KC-130J’s unit has not been D: Dec 9 D: Dec 12 were injured and all were safely
officially disclosed, but Marine N: Sudanese Air Force N: Afghan Air Force transported back to 4 Wing.
Aerial Refueler Squadron (VMGR) T: Unidentified helicopter T: Mi-17 The RCAF has released no
152 operates the type out of the While attempting to land in a field While taking off from Sar e-Hawz further details and it is unclear
base. The search involved a US near Gadarif city in Al-Qadarif village in the Pashtun Kot district of whether there was any serious
Navy P-8A flying out of Kadena Air state, near the Ethiopian border, the Faryab province that evening, the damage to the helicopter.
Base, a Royal Australian Air Force helicopter hit a communications helicopter developed a technical
P-8A, plus US Air Force MC-130J, tower, crashed and caught fire, killing problem, attempted an emergency D: Dec 13
C-130J, CV-22B, RC-135, KC-135 at least seven local government landing but crashed and caught N: Sudanese Air Force
and RQ-4 aircraft, along with officials on board and injuring fire. None of those on board were T: Mi-17
Japan Air Self-Defense Force, several others. The fatalities included injured. The Mi-17 was one of S: 556
Japan Maritime Self-Defense the Governor of Al-Qadarif State six that had arrived to evacuate This helicopter had a mishap on
Force and Japanese Coast Guard Mirghani Saleh, his cabinet chief, the village residents to Maimana City the runway while attempting to
aircraft and ships. The effort was Sudanese Minister of Agriculture, the to escape a siege by militants take off from Zalingei Airport in
concluded on December 11 and local police chief and the head of that had deprived them of food the Central Darfur region. It came
the five marines killed were named the border guard. The helicopter had and other vital supplies. Owing to rest on its belly with some
as Lt Col Kevin R Herrmann, been taking officials on a security to tensions in the area, it was damage after the undercarriage
Maj James M Brophy, Staff Sgt tour of the province and had been expected that the badly damaged collapsed. No injuries were
Maximo A Flores, Cpl Daniel E en route from the city of Gadarif to Mi-17 would be destroyed in situ reported to the unspecified number
Baker and Cpl William C Ross. Gallabat at the time of the crash. rather than attempting recovery. of passengers and crew on board.

D: Dec 12 D: Dec 15
N/U: Patrulla Aérea Colombiana/ N: Czech Police Aviation
Seccional Antioquia Department
T: AeroAndina MXP-740 T: EC135T2+
Savannah S: OK-BYB
S: HJ-111 While trying to land to pick up
Both occupants were killed a patient on a football pitch
and this Colombian Air Patrol in Staré Hut near Dobříš in
aircraft destroyed when the Příbram, this helicopter struck a
Patrulla Aérea crew attempted an emergency metal structure and came down
Colombiana/Seccional landing at around 1215hrs near heavily, causing the tail boom to
Antioquia AeroAndina
MXP-740 Savannah the Sanlazaro footpath in Frontino be partially severed. No one on
HJ-111 crashed while municipality, Antioquia. The aircraft board was injured and the patient
attempting an emergency had already made two attempts was taken instead by a normal
landing on December 12. to land and crashed on the third. ambulance to a nearby hospital.
Abbreviations: D: Date N/U: Nationality/Units T: Type S: Serials

90 // FEBRUARY 2019 #371 www.airforcesmonthly.com

 D: Dec 15
N/U: Ukrainian Air Force/831 brTA
T: Su-27
S: ‘55 Blue’ (c/n 36911021308)
While on a training flight, this
aircraft was on approach to Ozerne
air base, near Zhytomyr, when it
crashed at around 1530hrs local
time about 1.2 miles (2km) short of
the runway. The pilot, Maj Fomenko
Alexander Vasilyevich, was killed.
Although the 39 brihada taktichnoyi
aviatsiyi (brTA, tactical aviation
brigade) is based at Ozerne with
the Su-27, this aircraft was from
the 831 brTA, based at Myrhorod. Above: Czech Police Aviation Department EC135T2+ OK-BYB following its accident on December 15 while trying to
The Su-27 came down in a flat land on a football pitch in Staré Hut near Dobříš in Příbram. Czech Police
attitude and skidded for some ran off the end of the runway and in an accident when it landed at from the accident site. The Talon
distance over a relatively open area the nosewheel collapsed. The Beni-Mavivi Airport in the eastern was from the 71st FTS at Joint
before coming to rest on its belly. nose section was substantially Democratic Republic of Congo. Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia.
damaged but it is unconfirmed It appears to have overrun the
D: Dec 16 whether any injuries were sustained runway and down a slope, resulting D: Dec 29
N: Russian Aerospace Forces by the three crew members: in the port wing breaking away N/U: UAEAF&AD/UAE National
T: Orlan-10 pilot Mayor de la Aviación Militar outboard of the number one Search and Rescue Center
This reconnaissance UAV crashed Darwin Sanabria, Primera Teniente engine. Both propellers struck the T: AW139
in the town of Al-Latamnah during a Oriana Pacheco and Sargento ground and the fuselage broke All four people on board this
mission over the Hama governorate Mayor de Tercera Félix Mejía. The in two immediately behind the search and rescue helicopter were
in northwestern Syria after aircraft had been carrying out a wing, leaving the rear fuselage killed when it hit the cable of the
experiencing technical problems. transport flight on behalf of the on fairly level ground with the world’s longest zipline on the Jebel
The area is a stronghold for the Free indigenous Kamarata community. almost completely severed Jais Mountain, the UAE’s highest
Syrian Army’s Jaysh Al-Izza faction forward fuselage resting on a peak, in the Emirate of Ras Al
and the FSA released a photograph D: Dec 23 steep downward slope. All of Khaimah, at around 1750hrs local
of the UAV later in the day after N: Royal Saudi Air Force the four crew and 65 troops on time. The aircraft spiralled into the
recovering it from the crash site. T: CH-4B board survived, but at least 38 of mountain and was consumed by
Houthi rebels claimed to have shot the DRC soldiers on board were a post-crash fire. The crew were
D: Dec 17 down this coalition UAV over Saada reported to have been injured, on their way to airlift an injured
N: French Sécurité Civile province, Yemen. It is believed to 15 of them seriously. A post- man from the mountain, but had
T: Bombardier 415 have been hit by a Russian-made impact fire was extinguished not yet reached him. Those killed
S: F-ZBEU ‘42’ R-73E (AA-11 Archer) short-range, by the airport fire servicesi. were the two pilots, Saqr Saeed
This aircraft made a precautionary infrared air-to-air missile, which Mohamed Abdullah Al-Yamahi
landing on the Étang de Berre had been modified for ground D: Dec 28 and Hameed Mohamed Obaid
lagoon, Bouches-du-Rhône, coming launching. A video taken from the N/U: US Air Force/1st Fighter Al-Za’abi, together with navigator
to rest about 331ft (100m) off the missile launch site shows the UAV Wing/71st Fighter Training Jasim Abdullah Ali Tunaiji and
shore between Berre and Rognac. being hit and catching fire, after Squadron South African-born critical care
There were no injuries to the crew. which it begins to fall. One wing T: T-38A Talon paramedic Mark Roxburgh. The
Local airport services initially then separated and the fiercely S: 63-8229 ‘FF’/‘71st FTS’ National Search and Rescue Center
attempted to tow the aircraft, but burning CH-4B spiralled into the While landing at around 1115hrs is responsible for all civilian SAR
without success. It was then decided ground, where it was destroyed by local time at Newport News/ within the UAE’s air and maritime
to attempt to repair the aircraft the impact and continuing fire. Williamsburg International Airport, regions. Although its helicopters
in situ with a team of divers. It is Virginia, directional control was lost wear military markings, they are
believed the scooping mechanism D: Dec 24 due to an undercarriage problem. owned by the UAE Air Force
doors had developed a fault. The N: Air Force of the The aircraft veered off the runway and Air Defence and operated
Société Nationale de Sauvetage Democratic Republic of – the starboard undercarriage and maintained by Abu Dhabi
en Mer (SNSM, National Maritime Congo collapsed and the aircraft sustained Aviation on behalf of the NSRC.
Rescue Society) de Martigues was T: An-26B unspecified damage, however the
on standby to help tow the aircraft S: 9T-TAB pilot was unhurt. The main runway Additional material from:
ashore if it could not be repaired. After completing a troop was closed for several hours Rick Burgess, Scramble/Dutch
deployment flight from Kisangani until a crane could be brought Aviation Society, Yasagiri Ohko
D: Dec 22 Airport, this aircraft was involved in to lift the disabled aircraft and René L Uijthoven. AFM

N: Guardia Nacional
Bolivariana de Venezuela
(GNBV)
T: M28 Skytruck
S: GNB-96107
After landing at Kamarata Airport,
in the Canaima National Park,
Bolivar State, this aircraft, operated
by the Venezuelan National Guard, Ukrainian Air Force/831 brTA Su-27 ‘55 Blue’ crashed on approach to the runway at Zhytomyr-Ozerne on December 15.

Abbreviations: D: Date N/U: Nationality/Units T: Type S: Serials

www.airforcesmonthly.com #371 FEBRUARY 2019 // 91

Colombian Kfirs

Jungle
lions
at 30
Yissachar Ruas reports from
Palanquero air base as AFM flies
with the upgraded Kfir fighters
of the Colombian Air Force’s
Escuadrón de Combate 111.

Main image: A smart break

from echelon by a trio of
heavily armed Kfirs high
over the Cordillera Mountains.
The lead aircraft carries a full load of
four Rafael Derby AAMs for beyond-visual-range
combat. All photos Yissachar Ruas unless stated

92 // FEBRUARY 2019 #371 www.airforcesmonthly.com

 eep in the heart of Colombia, on Fantasma gunships as well as T-37B Tweet Venezuela. Colombia has absorbed almost
D the banks of the Magdalena River,
the pride of the Fuerza Aérea
trainers (see ‘Tango’ Tweets, June 2018).
Over the years, access to the base has been
two million refugees from its neighbour. Many
thousands of refugees have arrived there from
Colombiana (FAC, Colombian Air extremely limited, due to Colombia’s security the lawless country to the east, increasing
Force) is found at Palanquero air situation and ongoing war with both guerrillas the strain on the government in Bogotá.
base. This is home to Comando and the various infamous drug cartels. Today, Along with the significant improvement in
Aéreo de Combate No 1 (Combat the country has made significant inroads national security, the FAC has become more
Air Command No 1) and named to tackle drug-related crime, thanks to a open to showcasing its combat assets. Its
after aviator Captain Germán prolonged and determined battle. In 2017, a premier fighter is the Israel Aircraft Industries
Olano Moreno. Situated among second peace agreement was reached with (IAI) Kfir C10, with around 21 aircraft currently
the Cordillera Mountain ranges, the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de assigned to Escuadrón de Combate 111.
the airfield’s rich aviation history Colombia (FARC, Revolutionary Armed Forces Founded in 1989 by Major General (ret’d)
dates back to the 1930s when of Colombia) guerillas and other Marxist Forero Gonzalo, Escuadrón de Combate 111
seaplanes used to operate from groups to disarm. Although these measures has been at the front line of the Colombian
the Magdalena. Today, the FAC’s have had a positive effect on violence within Air Force for almost three decades, with the
Escuadrón de Combate 111 is the the nation’s borders, there are many hurdles Kfirs now bristling with advanced technology.
base’s most significant resident to overcome before its citizens can feel like
with its Kfir (lion cub) fighters. It’s the longstanding conflict is truly behind them. Kfir force
also home to the Adding to the country’s challenges is the Colombia’s Kfir pilots are typically very
AC-47T ongoing unrest along its long border with experienced and spend most of their careers

Night falls on the Kfir maintenance hangar. Despite its age, the Kfir is still a top performer and the FAC expects it to remain on the front line until at least 2025.

www.airforcesmonthly.com #371 FEBRUARY 2019 // 93

Colombian Kfirs

associated in some way with this squadron.

They are the Colombian military’s first
line of defence and therefore held in high
regard. Once pilots are selected to serve on
the Kfir squadron, they are likely to spend
close to a decade on that assignment.
It’s a prize that’s hard won, as the path
to the Kfir cockpit is a long and arduous
one. Thousands apply to join the FAC
academy and applicants must complete
various aptitude tests as well as a
psychological evaluation and rigorous
background checks, in an effort to gain
as much knowledge on the potential
cadet’s environment and his family history.
From close to 4,000 applicants, only
100 will be selected for the academy.
Only the top percentage of students
make the grade to enter Kfir training. Even
then, they must first prove their mettle and
excel in basic flying training and in the
follow-on EMB-314 Super Tucano. Having
accumulated four years of service and 350
flight hours, they are eligible for a further
evaluation for advancing to the Kfir.

94 // FEBRUARY 2019 #371 www.airforcesmonthly.com

Above: FAC 3008 is a two-seat Kfir COD. The jet Above: Maintenance work on FAC 3058, a single-
retains full combat capability, evidenced by this
load of Derby and Python AAMs. The latest I-Derby
Red Flag seat Kfir COA. The type has received successive
subsystem upgrades and the current FAC Kfir
ER missile incorporates an innovative radio- Almost two years in planning and designed to be standard is similar to IAI’s proposed Block 60
frequency seeker and a range of up to 100km. variant.
the ultimate test for the upgraded C10s, the FAC
took part in Exercise Red Flag 2012-4. This included Palanquero operates like a small town, with
working closely with the US Air Force to spin up the all families and related facilities located on
Kfir squadron for the exercise. Such was the success base. While progression to the Kfir is long,
that six Kfirs returned to Nellis AFB, Nevada, in July once here the personnel enjoy a stable
2018 for a repeat performance in Red Flag 18-3. family environment, thanks to the FAC.
Part of the 2012 work-up included air combat with Maj Sanchez (full name withheld on request)
the F-16s of the South Carolina Air National Guard, is the current Kfir squadron operations officer.
which led directly to a requirement for the Elbit DASH He told AFM his father was an armament
(Display and Sight Helmet). In addition, new electronic officer on the Mirage 5 and that he was
warfare systems were identified as a requirement brought up at Palanquero. Today, he walks
and these were added by 2017 and featured on the to the jets along the same shelters as his
aircraft that attended Red Flag in 2018. This time, father did before him. Like all Kfir aviators,
the Palanquero Kfirs bought the full range of new Sanchez built considerable flying experience
capabilities to bear and, by all accounts, showed that before he arrived at the Kfir, indeed he flew
even old platforms can hold their own in such an the AC-47T as a co-pilot, and eventually
exercise if they wield appropriate new technology. became an instructor pilot (IP) on the Super
Tucano – before strapping on the Kfir C10.
Left: Escuadrón de Combate 111 Kfirs top up
from the FAC’s sole KC-767 multi-role tanker
transport. Nearest the camera is Kfir COA serial Modern Kfirs
FAC 3048, carrying an air-to-air load-out of Derby The Kfir was an iconic fighter in the
and (outboard) Python 5 AAMs, plus a Litening Israeli Air Force, loosely modelled on the
pod on the shoulder pylon. Below left: Maj
Alex ‘Jak’ Martinez en route to a mission from Dassault Mirage 5. It featured the powerful
Palanquero. Kfir pilot is a prized position within General Electric J79 engine and canards
the air arm, and from around 4,000 applicants, to enhance manoeuvrability and stability.
only 100 will be selected for the academy, the very The Kfir C1 and C2 variants served in Israel,
best of these progressing to the delta-winged
fighter. Below: This single-seat Kfir is marked as a and this was the standard of aircraft that was
‘C10 EW’ jet, reflecting the new electronic warfare A FAC Kfir pilot and crew chief conduct pre- initially sold to Colombia from 1989. Israel
systems added in 2017 and subsequently put to flight inspections on the Nellis AFB ramp during sold 12 C2 models to the FAC, with all the
the test in Red Flag last year. The kit includes an Red Flag 18-3 on July 27 last year. airframes having seen combat operations
Elbit/Elisra SPS-45(V)6 jamming system, for which USAF/Staff Sgt Angela Ruiz
Colombia was the launch customer. over Lebanon. In 1990, 11 were upgraded
from C2 to C7 standard by the Comando
Aéreo de Mantenimiento (CAMAN) in Madrid,
just north of Bogotá. This provided the
aircraft with the ability to employ Rafael’s
Python 3 air-to-air missile (AAM) and added
an in-flight refuelling probe to extend
combat radius, initially for working with the
FAC’s sole Boeing KC-137 tanker, Zeus.
In 2009, following two decades of service,
ten survivors were upgraded again under what
IAI dubbed the ‘Kfir 2000’, more commonly
known as the C10. A new nose profile
accommodated the Elta EL/M-2032 advanced
multi-mode radar, plus the DASH (Display
and Sight Helmet), two new multifunction
cockpit displays, Python 5 missiles and a
new beyond visual range (BVR) capability via
the Rafael Derby AAM. It also added Link 16
data link, the Rafael Litening targeting pod
and the RecceLite reconnaissance pod.
In addition to the ten upgrades, the FAC also
purchased ten additional single-seaters that
were mothballed in the Negev desert, plus
three upgraded two-seaters, which became
TC12s. Some upgraded single-seaters lack
only the new radar and are known as C12s.

www.airforcesmonthly.com #371 FEBRUARY 2019 // 95

Colombian Kfirs
Hunter-killer team: while FAC 3045 furthest
from the camera is armed with a mixed load of
Derby AAMs and three laser-guided bombs, its
wingman, FAC 3048, is configured for air defence
but also carries a Litening pod for ‘buddy lasing’.

With one Kfir TC12 having crashed in July neighbour’s troop mobilisations, as well
2009 prior to acceptance (and subsequently as high-speed flights in the vicinity of
replaced by IAI) the FAC was ultimately in the border, but he stressed that such
possession of 20 Kfir C10/C12s and three incidents are handled via diplomatic
TC12 two-seaters (another two TC12 attrition channels, not military ones.
losses in 2010 and 2014 were similarly Figueroa speaks highly of the 2018
replaced from Israeli stocks). The jets Red Flag detachment, which took six
are now referred to locally as Kfir jets to America for 38 days, starting at
COA (single-seat) and Kfir Barranquilla on July 2, with the last aircraft
COD (dual-seat). landing back at Palanquero on August 9, all
supported by the FAC’s KC-767 Jupiter multi-
Industry role tanker transport and 130 personnel.
support Their first stop was Davis-Monthan Air
Israeli industry has Force Base, Arizona, for Relampago, a
played a significant work-up exercise for Red Flag. Summing
role in supporting and up, the squadron’s CO felt that Red Flag
advancing Colombia’s in the blistering heat of July provided the
Kfir force. There is a Kfirs with not only a first-class tactical
very noticeable Rafael training exercise for the pilots, but also a
presence at Palanquero, with unique logistical experience for the squadron
the C10s toting the company’s deploying en masse. It encompassed
long-range Derby and Python 5 everything from maintaining the jets to
missiles. Rafael markets both managing public relations messaging, all the
these weapons as a cost- time working hand-in-hand with the USAF.
effective package for However, the main purpose was to really
lightweight fighters. challenge the new Kfir equipment and
In addition to capabilities in a realistic combat environment
increased air-to-air on the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR).
weapons, Rafael It was also about interoperability, following
also integrated NATO rules and standards alongside partner
its Spice nations and allies, all the while strengthening
1000 GPS- Colombia’s partnership with the US.
guided holds a lofty Previous exercises such as this have led
munition. This can be added to a Mk83 bomb reputation in Latin directly to the FAC modifying its practices
and effectively works like a Joint Direct Attack America. The FAC and procedures and there is no doubt
Munition (JDAM) kit. Spice has the added foresees the Kfir in its that Red Flag 18-3 will be no exception.
advantage that if it encounters GPS jamming, current state as a viable As the Kfir enters its fourth decade of
it can be guided by either image matching or platform until at least 2025. While Venezuela service in Colombia, it’s safe to assume
by electro-optical targeting, which ultimately to the east holds little real threat in terms of the FAC will maintain its stature in the
provides excellent mission flexibility. current capabilities, an increasing Russian region, maintained in part by flying one
Most of the Kfirs are able to carry the relationship is troubling. Indeed, in recent of the most technologically advanced
Rafael Litening targeting pod and, for years this has actively tested Colombia’s fighters on the continent. AFM

more complex strike missions, the two- air defences. Back in 2013, Russian Tu-160
seaters can be used and crewed with a Blackjacks were intercepted by FAC Kfirs Acknowledgements:
‘combat navigator’ in the back, often to gain near Colombian airspace. It means the FAC The author wishes to thank: Maj Eliana
proficiency with the similar RecceLite pod. must not only tackle domestic uncertainly, Marin, Maj Freddy Figueroa, Maj Alex
but also international threats to its borders. Martinez, Col Jorge Ortiz and the
Future force Maj Freddy ‘Stuka’ Figueroa is the current commanding officer of the FAC for
Despite their age, Colombia’s Kfirs are at the Kfir squadron commanding officer. He assisting in producing this article.
top of their game and the Colombian military told AFM that the FAC is well aware of its

96 // FEBRUARY 2019 #371 www.airforcesmonthly.com

 FEBRUARY ISSUE AVAILABLE
THURSDAY 17TH JANUARY
RAF Tornado Special
IX (Bomber) Squadron - Tornado Trailblazers
Group Captain Peter Gooding (Ret’d) provides
insights into the Tornado’s early RAF career
as he tells Dino Carrara what it was like to be
the boss of the world’s first frontline squadron
flying the then new swing-wing bomber.

Tip of the Spear - Flying a Modern-day Legend

Having led a detachment hunting Scud
missiles in Iraq and commanded a squadron
in Afghanistan, Air Commodore Ian Gale MBE
MBA FCMI CMgr talks to editor Dino Carrara
about his long career as a Tornado pilot, both
in peacetime and on operations.

Saving an SR-71 - Viggens to the Rescue

Known for its blistering speed, the SR-71
was considered almost untouchable during
its service career. Paul F. Crickmore details
an occasion when a Blackbird almost fell into
Soviet hands.
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Coming up in AFM
The March 2019 issue
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from February 21.*
The Armée de l’Air (French Air Force)
maintains two fast jet quick reaction
alert (QRA) facilities equipped with
Rafale fighters (and a further two flying
Mirage 2000 interceptors). Each QRA
facility comprises two aircraft, a pair of
pilots and five engineers, and air and
ground crews are on duty for a week
at a time. In the next issue of AFM,
Henri-Pierre Grolleau discovers how
the Armée de l’Air relies on reserve air
units to help train its combat pilots in
the art of intercepting ‘slow movers’
and other asymmetric threats. In this
way, for example, Rafales are pitted
against 180hp (134kW) Robin DR400
sport monoplanes – just one effective
way of providing realistic training at
reduced cost.

Other forthcoming
features include:
• Vortex Warrior – RAF
Chinooks getting dirty at El
Centro
• Survey: Su-25 operators –
Turkmenistan, Ukraine and
Uzbekistan
• CL-215T firefighters – in
defence of the Balearics
• Unit Report: VFA-147
‘Argonauts’
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overseas deliveries are likely to be after this date.
Photo: Henri-Pierre Grolleau

98 // FEBRUARY 2019 #371 www.airforcesmonthly.com

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