OPERATION OKRA – RAAF STRIKES THE DAESH

FEBRUARY 2016
ISSUE #335

Officially the World's NUMBER ONE Authority on Military Aviation | www.airforcesmonthly.com

THE USAF’S
COMBAT
EXERCISE
REPORT
Crimson
Eagle

EDGE
UK Apaches in
the USA

FORCE REPORT
Royal Jordanian MORE WITH LESS
Air Force Fighting Fit

View from Above

Russia's Air Campaign in Syria

Defence of the Realm

Keeping the UK’s Enemies at Bay

Cherry Point
AV-8Bs deploy
to the desert
UK £4.80
www.airforcesmonthly.com

01 UKCover Feb.indd 1 08/01/2016 11:52

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 CONTENTS February

Leading the
Field 72
Cover: Raptors serve with six frontline
operational squadrons and have
32 Securing the Skies light on the Russian military 84 FORCE REPORT
Incursions by Russian military leadership attitudes to the Royal Jordanian Air Force
proved themselves to be potent attack
platforms in the fight against the aircraft into UK-controlled air campaign in Syria. Royal Jordanian Air Force
Daesh in Syria. AirTeamImages.com/ airspace over the North Atlantic commander Major General
Jason Taperell are once again a regular 64 EXERCISE REPORT Mansour S Aljobour discusses
occurrence. The RAF responds Crimson Eagle 2015 with Marco Dijkshoorn and Patrick
News by launching Typhoon fighter Joe Copalman reports on Roegies his latest acquisitions
All the world’s military to intercept them. Tim Ripley Army Air Corps conversion- and the ongoing fight against
aviation news, by region. explains how it all works. to-type training in the desert Daesh in Iraq and Syria.
4-5 Headlines of Arizona and California.
6-7 United Kingdom 38 Operation Okra 90 Attrition
8-11 Continental Europe The Royal Australian Air Force has 72 Leading the Field AFM’s Dave Allport reports on the
12-15 North America been engaged in Operation Okra, Jon Lake examines how Saudi world’s latest military accidents.
16-18 Latin America its contribution to the fight against Arabia has rapidly advanced
19 Africa Daesh in Iraq, since October with the operational capabilities 94 Debrief
20-23 Middle East 2014, as Nigel Pittaway reports. of its Eurofighter Typhoons. Reviews of recently published
26 Russia books on military aviation.
27-30 Asia Pacific 44 USAF Tactical Aviation 80 Discreetly Direct
31 Australasia/Contracts Tom Kaminski examines the US The French Air Force's ET60 96 Base Watch
Air Force tactical airpower, which moves senior government A snapshot of recent military
today relies on precision-guided officials and high-ranking military
Subscribe & Save munitions employed by a reduced officers around the world.
visitors to air bases around
the UK and abroad.
A subscription to AirForces fleet of fast jet and RPA platforms. Its Dassualt Falcons also
Monthly offers great savings fly medevac and special 98 Editorial
on cover price. See pages 60 The View from Above support missions, as Jean- AFM’s view on current
24 and 25 for details. Alexander Mladenov sheds Marc Tanguy reports. military aviation matters. .

USAF Tactical
Aviation 44

www.airforcesdaily.com #335 FEBRUARY 2016 3

03 Contents Feb.indd 3 12/01/2016 10:14

 NEWS

HEADLINES

USAF B-52 SHOW OF FORCE

AMID NORTH KOREA TENSIONS
A US Air Force B-52H
Stratofortress was deployed
on a low-level flight over South
Korea on January 10 as a show of
force in response to provocative
action by North Korea. The move
followed testing on January 6
of a thermonuclear bomb by
North Korea. North Korean
leader Kim Jong Un claimed
the test was a self-defensive
move to maintain peace on the
Korean Peninsula and protect
the country from the threat of
a nuclear war with the US. This
was the third such test, following
two similar nuclear detonations
between 2006 and 2013.
Admiral Harry B Harris
Jr, commander US Pacific
Command, said: "This was a
demonstration of the ironclad US
commitment to our allies in South
Korea, in Japan and to the defence
of the American homeland. North
Korea’s nuclear test is a blatant
violation of its international
obligations. US joint military
forces in the Indo-Asia-Pacific will
continue to work with all of our
regional allies and partners to
maintain stability and security.”

Nigeria Funds New Zambian Air Force SF260TWs

Three JF-17s ALENIA AERMACCHI has flight
tested the last of a batch of six
AF543 (CSX55176), AF544
(CSX55177), AF545 (CSX55178)
during the Air Force
Headquarters Annual Ball on
NIGERIA'S GOVERNMENT has SF-260TW trainers destined and AF546 (CSX55179). December 26, 2014. They will
allocated N5 billion ($25.12 for the Zambian Air Force (ZAF) Brigadier General Jabes join six examples delivered
million) in funding in its 2016 from the factory in Venegono, Zulu, the ZAF commander, in 2012 and operated by the
budget for purchase of three CAC- Italy. The complete batch first revealed that additional ZAF’s Training Squadron,
PAC JF-17 Thunder multi-role comprises AF541 (test serial SF260TWs were due to be which is believed to be
combat aircraft. Budget details CSX55174), AF542 (CSX55175), delivered in an announcement based at Mumbwa. 
were not made public when it
was presented by President
Muhammadu Buhari to a joint
session of the National Assembly
on December 22. However, a
copy of the document was leaked
to local media on January 5.
Total funding for the Nigerian
Air Force in 2016 amounts to
N85.61 billion ($430 million),
which includes not only the
JF-17s, but also financing to buy
two Mi-35M attack helicopters
at a cost of N11.6 billion ($58.28
million) and ten AMF PAC MFI-17
Super Mushshak trainers for
N2.05 billion ($10.35 million).
Nigeria was known to have been
looking at purchasing the JF-17,
with suggestions back in 2014
that up to two squadrons of
the type may be acquired.  Above: New Zambian Air Force SF260TW AF546/CS.X.55179 taxies in at Venegono, Italy, after a pre-delivery test flight
on November 27, 2015. It is the last of six ordered by the ZAF. FabrizioCapenti

4 FEBRUARY 2016 #335 www.airforcesmonthly.com

04-05 Headline Feb.DJ.indd 4 12/01/2016 12:46


US Air Force B-52H Stratofortress
60-0055 ‘MT’ makes a low pass
over Osan Air Base, South Korea, at
lunchtime on January 10, escorted
by USAF/36th Fighter Squadron
F-16C 90-0775 ‘OS’/‘36 FS’ and
Republic of Korea Air Force F-15K
Slam Eagle 08-042.
USAF/Senior Airman Kristin High
The B-52H, 60-0055 ‘MT’
from the 5th Bomb Wing’s 69th
Bomb Squadron ‘Knighthawks’
at Minot Air Force Base, North
Dakota, flew from Andersen AFB,
Guam, where it is on temporary
detachment as part of the
Continuous Bomber Presence. 
Australian Government
Orders Gulfstream
G550s for ISR Role
AUSTRALIA’S GOVERNMENT is
acquiring two new Gulfstream
G550s through US company
L-3 Communications Mission
Integration of Greenville, Texas.
A $93.6 million Foreign Military
Sales contract was awarded to
L-3 on December 28 by the US
Air Force’s 645th Aeronautical
Systems Group at Wright-
Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio,
for procurement of the aircraft
and associated maintenance.
They will be prepared by L-3
in its Greenville facility, with
completion anticipated by
November 30, 2017. There has
been no official announcement
by the Australian Government
regarding this acquisition.
However, Australian Government
officials have confirmed they will
be used in electronic warfare
and airborne intelligence,
surveillance and reconnaissance
roles. Further details will be
released with the Defence
White Paper later this year. 
www.airforcesdaily.com
04-05 Headline Feb.DJ.indd 5
Visit www.airforcesdaily.com for daily
news stories. E-mail the news team
at milnews@keypublishing.com
KF-X Full Scale Development Contract First Israeli F-35A
FULL-SCALE development of
South Korea’s KF-X fighter has
Douglas F-4E Phantom IIs.
Indonesia is funding 20% of the
Adir in Assembly
been launched with signature development programme and LOCKHEED MARTIN has
of a contract between the plans to buy 80 for operation begun final assembly of the
Defense Acquisition Program by the Indonesian Air Force. first F-35A Lightning II for Israel,
Administration (DAPA) and prime A provisional partnership deal which has given the type the
contractor Korea Aerospace between KAI and Indonesia Hebrew name ‘Adir’ (Mighty
Industries (KAI). The agreement was signed last year, on One). The manufacturing
was finalised on December 28. November 22. The agreement milestone was marked with a
The development programme, includes delivery of one of the ceremony at the factory in Fort
expected to be worth around $7.4 six development aircraft to the Worth, Texas, on January 7.
billion, including production of six latter. This was formalised when The aircraft, designated as
prototypes, will span a decade, a final agreement was signed F-35A aircraft AS-1, officially
through to June 2026, leading on January 7 between KAI and began its mate process, where
to first deliveries to the Republic Indonesia’s PTDI at the Indonesian the four major components of
of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) Defence Ministry in Jakatra. the aircraft are joined together
in September of that year. DAPA announced on March 30, in the Electronic Mate and
The ROKAF will acquire 120 of 2015, that KAI was the preferred Assembly Station to form
the type. It is planned to build bidder for the project – see the aircraft’s main structure.
an initial 40 of the twin-engined KAI Selected for KF-X Fighter, AS-1 is expected to roll out
of the factory in June and
fighters for the ROKAF by 2028, May 2015, p29. KAI is teamed
be delivered to the Israeli Air
after which a further 80 examples with Lockheed Martin as its
are intended to be delivered to the foreign technical assistance Force (IAF) later this year.
service between 2029 and 2032. partner for KF-X. Korean Air, Israel has contracted for 33
The KF-X will replace Korea’s partnered with Airbus Defence F-35A Adir aircraft through
ageing fleets of Northrop and Space, was the sole other the US Government’s Foreign
F-5E/F Tiger IIs and McDonnell bidder for the requirement.  Military Sales programme.
Israel’s contribution to the F-35
News Brief programme includes Israel
Aerospace Industries F-35A wing
production; Elbit Systems work
MD HELICOPTERS has gained an order for a further 12 MD530F Cayuse
on the Generation III helmet-
Warrior scout attack helicopters for the Afghan Air Force (AAF), which
mounted display system, which
already operates 12 of the type. The manufacturer announced the
all F-35 pilots fleet-wide will
contract on January 11, saying that they will be fitted with enhanced
wear; and Elbit Systems-Cyclone
mission equipment. The helicopters will be delivered in time for the
F-35 centre fuselage composite
2016 fighting season. Five MD530Fs, previously used by the AAF purely
components production. 
for training, have also now been upgraded to Cayuse Warriors. .
RAF 208 Squadron 100th
Anniversary Hawk
Above: Royal Air Force/208 (Reserve) Squadron Hawk T1A XX188, in new markings to celebrate its centenary, during a
sortie from its home base on January 7. MOD Crown Copyright/RAF Valley
ROYAL AIR Force Valley, Anglesey- personnel and was created by on October 25, 1916, as No 8
based 208 (Reserve) Squadron the Serco paintshop team at (Naval) Squadron, Royal Naval Air
has unveiled Hawk T1A XX188 Valley. The colours reflect the Service. When the Royal Air Force
in a new livery to commemorate unit’s long association with the was formed on April 1, 1918, it was
the unit’s 100th anniversary. Middle East, blue representing renumbered 208 Squadron RAF.
Photographs of the aircraft were the sky and yellow the sands of Today, it flies the Hawk from Valley
released on January 8, showing the desert. The sphinx at Giza, in the advanced flying training and
the tail painted with a design Egypt, which is depicted on the tactical weapons role, converting
incorporating the Squadron’s Squadron crest, is incorporated RAF and Royal Navy fast jet pilots
distinctive yellow and blue colours. in the design, along with the 208 to front line operational conversion
The scheme draws on a Squadron motto, ‘Vigilant’. unit input standard. It also
number of ideas from Squadron No 208 Squadron was formed trains international students. 
#335 FEBRUARY 2016 5
12/01/2016 12:47
 NEWS

UNITED KINGDOM
A formation of 771 Squadron Sea King HU5s flying past St operations at the same time.
Michael’s Mount in Cornwall on May 21 last year to mark the Bristow is using two Sikorsky
unit’s 76th anniversary. They comprise, from front to rear, ZA166 S-92s to replace the Sea Kings
‘16’, XV705 ‘29’, XZ920 ‘24’, XV661 ‘26’ and one unidentified
example. After taking off from RNAS Culdrose, they flew over
at Prestwick, while a similar
Penzance, Land’s End, St Ives, Newquay, Truro, Falmouth, Lizard number of S-92s have replaced
Point and Helston before returning to base. On December 31, the the Culdrose Sea Kings,
Squadron ended its SAR role, which has been taken over by Bristow operating from a new base at
Helicopters. MOD Crown Copyright/PO Phot Paul A Barrow Newquay Airport (the former
RAF St Mawgan) in Cornwall.
Although military SAR operations
in the UK have ended, the two
Royal Air Force/1563 Flight Sea
King HAR3s at Mount Pleasant
in the Falkland Islands are still
undertaking the SAR role – see
Long-Range Falklands Sea King
Rescue, January, p7. However,
as from April 2016, AAR Airlift
will take over Falklands SAR
operations using two AW189s,
thus ending helicopter SAR
operations by the UK military.
The two AW189s that will
be used in the Falklands are
G-SAAR (c/n 89003) and
G-FSAR (c/n 89004). They are
registered to British International
Helicopter Services, which
will undertake the role under
sub-contract to AAR Airlift. 

Royal Navy Ends UK Military

Search and Rescue Operations
UK MILITARY search and rescue
helicopter operations finally
ended on December 31, 2015,
when the Royal Navy relinquished
its SAR role. On the following
morning, January 1, 2016, the
mission was taken over by
Bristow Helicopters, which has
been awarded the contract by
the Maritime and Coast Guard
Agency to undertake the mission
throughout the UK until 2026.
This meant the end of SAR
missions by 771 Naval Air
Squadron Sea King HU5s at
Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose,
Cornwall, which had been
providing SAR operations for
over 40 years. The Squadron’s
Bristow Helicopters S-92 G-MCGY arriving at the new HM Coast Guard base at
HMS Gannet SAR detachment at Newquay Airport on October 19. The two S-92s now resident there officially
Glasgow-Prestwick International took over SAR operations from the Royal Navy’s 771 Squadron on January 1.
Airport, Scotland, also ceased Bristow Helicopters

Six-Year RAF C-130J Support Contract

A NEW £369 million deal has
been agreed by the UK Ministry of
Defence for continued in-service
support for the Royal Air Force
C-130J Hercules fleet. The
contract, announced by the MOD
on December 30, will see three
companies – Lockheed Martin,
Marshall Aerospace and Defence
Group and Rolls-Royce – provide
Hercules Integrated Operational
Support (HIOS) for the RAF
C-130J fleet until 2022.
The three have been
co-operating on the HIOS
programme since 2006. The
majority of the work will be
carried out by Marshall at its
Cambridge, UK site. Additional
work will be undertaken on
the type’s AE2100 engines by
Rolls-Royce in Bristol and at
Brize Norton in the UK, as well as
in Indianapolis, USA. Lockheed
Martin will manage the HIOS
supply chain with a UK team
based in Havant, Hampshire,
providing subcontract support
for IT, supply and field technical
support services. Lockheed
Martin subsidiaries in
Cheltenham and Stansted will
also be involved in the contract.
The MOD says that negotiations
with Marshall have resulted
in $64 million in savings for
the six-year contract. It is
being delivered over a series
RAF Chinooks Assist Flood Relief
RAF Chinook HC4 ZA684 prepares to lift one tonne sandbags for dropping
of instalments. Work has been into a breach in the banks of the River Douglas near Croston, Lancashire, on
focused solely on the 24 RAF December 31. Chinooks spent several days lifting up to six bags on each
flight from an Environmental Agency depot near Croston, just over 1km away
C-130Js, following retirement of from the river breach and then dropping them in to plug the gap. The mission
the C-130K variant in 2013.  formed part of Operation Shaku, the British Army response to widespread
flooding across the country. MOD Crown Copyright/Cpl Jamie Dudding

6 FEBRUARY 2016 #335 www.airforcesmonthly.com

6-7 UK News.DJ.indd 6 11/01/2016 17:10


Final RAF Chinook HC6 Arrives in UK
The 14th and final Royal Air Force
Chinook HC6, ZK563, being re-
assembled on the dockside at the
Royal Seaforth Container Terminal
in Liverpool on December 12.
Royal Seaforth Container Terminal/Tim
Ashman
Four 41 Sqn Tornado GR4s on High Rider Det
RAF Typhoons Continue Operations Against Daesh
www.airforcesdaily.com
6-7 UK News.DJ.indd 7
THE FINAL RAF Chinook
HC6 delivery to the UK has
now been completed. The
helicopter, ZK563 (c/n M7714,
ex N714UK), was re-assembled
on the dockside at the Royal
Seaforth Container Terminal,
Liverpool, Merseyside, over the
weekend of December 12-13,
having arrived there by ship on
December 11. It was then flown
to its new home at RAF Odiham,
Hampshire, on December 16.
The helicopter had been
formally handed over in a
Visit www.airforcesdaily.com for daily
news stories. E-mail the news team
at milnews@keypublishing.com
News Brief
GENERAL ATOMICS
Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI)
ceremony at the company’s has been awarded a US Air Force
facility in Ridley Park,
Foreign Military Sales contract
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to provide contractor logistics
on November 23 – see Final support for the UK Royal Air
RAF Chinook HC6 Handed Over, Force MQ-9A Reaper fleet. Work
January, p6. It is expected to be on the $57.4 million deal is to be
fully operational by April 2016. complete by March 31, 2017. 
The helicopter is the last of 14
new HC6 variants ordered by the
UK and brings the RAF Chinook
fleet to 60. Its delivery coincided
RAF Typhoon's
with the 35th anniversary of
Chinook operations by the
May Exercise
UK, which introduced the
type into service in 1980. 
in Japan
CONSIDERATION IS being
given to deploying Royal Air
Force Typhoons to Japan
during 2016 for a joint exercise.
The possibility was revealed
in an announcement by the
UK Ministry of Defence on
January 8, when Defence
Secretary Michael Fallon
stated that the UK is looking
at significantly deepening
defence relations with Japan.
Fallon said that, in addition to
joint exercises, reciprocal access
to military bases, personnel
exchanges and co-operation on
equipment, including a new air-to
air missile, are being planned.
Last October, an RAF A400M
visited to Miho Air Base, Japan. 
Above left: RAF Tornado GR4 ZG775
‘EB-Z’ from 41 (Reserve) Squadron,
the RAF’s Test and Evaluation Squad-
ron, flies at low level through Death
Valley, California, on December
8. The aircraft is one of four from
the unit, based at RAF Coningsby,
Lincolnshire, that have been operat-
ing out of Naval Air Weapons Station
China Lake, California, as part of the
High Rider weapons detachment.
Over the Christmas holiday period
they were temporarily hangered at
Edwards AFB, California, but were
due to return to China Lake in mid-
January for a few more weeks of
flight activity before heading home.
Kevin Whitehead
Below left: Royal Air Force Typhoon
FGR4 ZK338 ‘FF’, devoid of squadron
markings, refuels from a US Air
Force KC-135 Stratotanker assigned
to the 340th Expeditionary Air
Refueling Squadron, based at Al
Udeid, Qatar, during a sortie on
December 22. The aircraft was
over Iraq during an Operation
Shader mission, the UK element of
the Operation Inherent Resolve air
strikes against Daesh in Iraq and
Syria. Six RAF Typhoons have been
deployed to RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus, for
the mission since December 3 – see
First UK Air Strikes in Syria-RAF
Typhoons Join Tornados on the Front
Line, January, p4. USAF/Staff Sgt
Corey Hook
#335 FEBRUARY 2016 7
11/01/2016 17:10
 NEWS

CONTINENTAL EUROPE

Bundeswehr Takes Maiden Flight of First NATO AGS Global Hawk

Delivery of First NATO’S FIRST Alliance Ground
Surveillance (AGS) aircraft
persistent wide-area terrestrial
and maritime surveillance in
imagery of selected objects.
NATO AGS will be based in
Two H145Ms completed its first flight on
December 19. The unmanned
near real-time. It will provide
intelligence, surveillance and
Sigonella, Italy, where US Air
Force Global Hawks are already
AIRBUS HELICOPTERS has
aircraft, based on the Northrop reconnaissance capabilities to stationed. Northrop Grumman
delivered the first two H145M
Grumman RQ-4B Global Hawk, support a range of NATO missions will begin ferrying the first NATO
helicopters to the Bundeswehr
took off from Palmdale, California, such as protection of ground AGS aircraft to Italy this year. The
(German Armed Forces), launch
successfully completing a troops and civilian populations, system is being procured by 15
customer for the type. It has
comprehensive range of test border control, maritime safety NATO nations: Bulgaria, Czech
ordered 15 under a contract
points before landing at Edwards and humanitarian assistance. Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
signed on July 11, 2013. The
Air Force Base, California. The aircraft is equipped with Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,
helicopters, previously designated
This first example was rolled out leading-edge technology, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland,
the EC645T2, were handed over
at Palmdale on June 4 – see First including the Multi-Platform Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and
on December 8 at the company’s
NATO AGS Aircraft Unveiled, July Radar Technology Insertion the United States. The ground
facility in Donauwörth, Germany.
2015, p11. The NATO-owned and Program (MP-RTIP) sensor. stations will provide data link
They will be used by the
operated programme comprises The latter provides critical connectivity, data processing
Kommando Spezialkräfte
five air vehicles and European- data to commanders during and exploitation capabilities
(KSK), the German Army’s
sourced fixed, mobile and operations, in any weather, day to multiple deployed and non-
Special Forces, in Laupheim.
transportable ground stations. or night. Utilising the MP-RTIP deployed operational users.
The H145M is the military
The AGS has the ability to fly for sensor, the NATO AGS system Following acquisition, NATO AGS
version of the civil H145. The
up to 30 hours at a time. The will be able to fuse sensor data, will become a fully-owned and
Bundeswehr H145M (LUH
high-altitude, long-endurance continuously detect and track operated NATO capability. 
SOF) is equipped with a fast
system will perform all-weather, moving objects and provide
roping system for troops,
cargo hooks, hoists, a pintle-
mounted door gun, ballistic
protection and an electronic
countermeasures system,
which offers new capabilities
for KSK special operations.
Earlier this year, the
Bundeswehr awarded Airbus
Helicopters a seven-year
comprehensive co-operative
support and services
agreement for the type. This
includes the management and
implementation of maintenance
and repair activities, material The first NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance system Global Hawk, CS XAV-SA-0014, landing at Edwards AFB, California,
supply and airworthiness.  at the end of its maiden flight from Palmdale, California, on December 19. USAF/Chris Okula

Sweden Takes Delivery of Its First Full ASW NH90
AIRBUS HELICOPTERS has
delivered the first Swedish NH90
in full anti-submarine warfare
(ASW) configuration to the Swedish
Försvarets Materielverk (FMV –
Defence Materiel Administration).
The fully-qualified helicopter,
handed over at the company’s
facility in Donauwörth, Germany,
on December 17, has an entirely
customised mission system
including underwater sonar,
tactical radar and high cabin
for improved interior space.
In total, Sweden has ordered 18
NH90s (local designation Hkp14),
13 equipped for search-and-
rescue missions (SAR) and five in
ASW configuration. FMV and the
manufacturer NHIndustries also
signed a contract on December 17
to modify four already delivered
NH90s from SAR to ASW, bringing
the total Swedish NH90 fleet to
nine ASW and nine SAR aircraft.
Prior to delivery, the aircraft
has been tested by the Swedish
acceptance team in Donauwörth
Above: Swedish NH90 ASW 142056 (c/n 1197/BSWN02) ’56’ with its dipping
sonar deployed during a pre-delivery test flight on November 19. Airbus Helicopters
and over water at Marignane,
France. Wolfgang Schoder,
Head of Light and Governmental
Programmes at Airbus
Helicopters, said: “In terms of
versatility and customisability,
the Swedish NH90 ASW
demonstrates the benefits of
an integrated, highly powerful,
fly-by-wire helicopter platform.
USAF F-15s
Return from Incirlik
Deployment
US AIR FORCE F-15 Eagles
began returning to their UK
base at RAF Lakenheath,
Suffolk on December 16 from
Incirlik Air Base, Turkey.
Six F-15C Eagles from the 493rd
Fighter Squadron ‘Grim Reapers’
of the 48th Fighter Wing had
deployed on November 6. They
were followed by six F-15E
Strike Eagles from the 492nd
Fighter Squadron ‘Mad Hatters’
on November 12 – see USAF
F-15s Deployed to Turkey for
Inherent Resolve, January, p11.
Specially tailored for its maritime
The F-15Cs were only used
missions and the operative
for the protection of Turkish
environment in the Baltic Sea,
sovereign airspace, while the
this helicopter is best-suited for
F-15Es conducted air strike
the customer’s requirements.”
operations against Daesh. US
NHIndustries has delivered
Air Force A-10C Thunderbolt IIs,
260 NH90s to date to 13
UAVs and other coalition aircraft
different nations and these
remain at Incirlik conducting
have completed nearly 100,000
counter-Daesh missions. 
flying hours in service. 

8 FEBRUARY 2016 #335 www.airforcesmonthly.com

08-09 EuropeNews Feb.DJ.indd 8 08/01/2016 15:06


Norwegian F-35
Training Sortie
ANOTHER MILESTONE has
been reached at Luke Air Force
Base, Arizona, with the first
training flight by a Norwegian
pilot in a Royal Norwegian Air
Force (RNoAF) F-35 Lightning II.
RNoAF Major Morten Hanche,
an F-35 student pilot with the
US Air Force’s 62nd Fighter
Squadron ‘Spikes’ at Luke, made
the sortie on December 14 in the
second RNoAF F-35A, 5088.
The first two RNoAF F-35As,
5087 and 5088, had been
delivered to Luke AFB on
November 10, when they
were flown in from the factory
in Fort Worth, Texas – see
Norway’s First Two F-35As
Delivered to Luke AFB, January,
p11. Norway is the second
international partner to have
delivered F-35s to Luke for
training, after Australia. 
Slovenia Sells Its Original Two PC-9s
TWO FORMER Slovenian Air
Force Pilatus PC-9s have been
sold on the US civil market
and passed through the UK
on delivery to new owners.
They arrived on December 11
at Peterborough (Conington)
Business Airport, Cambridgeshire,
and comprised N69LW (c/n 180,
ex L9-51, S5-DSC, HB-HQM,
91-0071/US Army, HB-HQM)
and N69XC (c/n 182, ex L9-53,
S5-DPL, HB-HQO, 91-0073/
US Army, HB-HQO). Of the
two, N69LW was registered on
November 2 to Legacy Warbirds
of Raleigh, North Carolina,
while N69XC was registered on
October 29 to Xray Charlie LLC
of San Anselmo, California.
N69LW left Conington on
December 14, flying to Wick,
Scotland, then on to Reykjavik,
Former Slovenian Air Force Pilatus PC-9 L9-51/N69LW, still wearing its military markings and serial but with the new
US registration taped on, landing at Peterborough (Conington) Business Airport, Cambridgeshire, in murky conditions
on December 11, during its delivery flight to the USA. As of January 8, it was still present, awaiting rectification of a
transponder fault, which will probably be repaired by Marshall at Cambridge. Flying Club Conington
www.airforcesdaily.com
08-09 EuropeNews Feb.DJ.indd 9
Last Four Dutch Alouette IIIs Retired
Above: Royal Netherlands Air Force Alouette III A-301 during its final flight from Gilze-Rijen Air Base on December 15
before retirement of the type from RNLAF service. Dutch Ministry of Defence
A RETIREMENT ceremony was
held on December 15 at Gilze-
Rijen Air Base to mark the final
withdrawal of the Alouette III by
the Royal Netherlands Air Force
(RNLAF) after 51 years of service.
Two of the final four helicopters
remaining operational with 300
Iceland. It left Reykjavik on
December 17 and went via
Narsarsuaq, Greenland, to CFB
Goose Bay, Canada, before
continuing on December 21 to
Quebec/Jean Lesage International
Airport, where it was still
present on January 8. Its sister
aircraft, N69XC, encountered a
transponder problem and has
remained at Conington pending
a flight to Cambridge for repairs,
although on January 8 it was
still parked at Conington.
The aircraft are the two survivors
of three former US Army PC-9s
acquired second-hand by
Slovenia in 1995. They were
joined in 1999 by nine new-
build PC-9Ms, all of which still
remain in Slovenian service.
The two PC-9s were offered
for sale by tender on July 30,
Squadron performed a final
flypast before landing and taxiing
in to a traditional water cannon
salute. The type formally ended
RNLAF service on December 31.
The Dutch first put the
SE3160 Alouette III into
service in 1964 and eventually
2015 and bids were due in
by September 22. Built in
September 1990, at the time of
sale L9-51 had total flying hours
of 2,198 with 3,946 landings,
while L9-53 had 1,885 flying
hours with 3,856 landings.
The third Slovenian PC-9 was
also a former US Army aircraft,
L9-52 (c/n 181, ex S5-DPT,
HB-HQN, US Army/91-0072,
HB-HQN), but was written-off on
March 3, 2004 killing the pilot.
All three PC-9s were originally
operated by the US Army, which
bought them new from Pilatus.
They were delivered in November
1992 to replace ex-US Navy T-34C
Turbo Mentors with the US Army
Airborne and Special Operations
Test Board at Simmons AAF,
Fort Bragg, North Carolina. 
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news stories. E-mail the news team
at milnews@keypublishing.com
operated a total of 72.
Although most were
progressively withdrawn, four
were upgraded to SA316Bs in
2004-5 by RUAG in Switzerland
and remained in service. These
final four comprised A-247,
A275, A-292 and A-301. 
Former-RAF Hercules
Delivered to Austria
ANOTHER FORMER Royal Air
Force C-130K Hercules has left
storage at MOD St Athan, Wales.
Hercules C1 8X-CZ (c/n 4261,
ex XV295), left on December 10
for Linz, Austria, using callsign
‘Austrian Air Force 99’. The
aircraft, stored at St Athan since
October 22, 2013, has been
sold as a spares source for the
three operational Austrian Air
Force Hercules C1s, which are
also former RAF aircraft. This
was the third of the type to leave
storage at St Athan recently.
Two Hercules C3As were sold to
IMP Group for the Mexican Air
Force – see Two RAF Hercules
Head for New Life, January, p6. 
Tornado ECRs
Support Anti-Daesh
Operations
TWO GERMAN Air Force
Tornado ECRs of Taktisches
Luftwaffengeschwader 51
‘Immelmann’ at Schleswig-Jagel
deployed on December 10 to
Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, to join the
military campaign against Daesh.
The aircraft will be used purely
for reconnaissance and will not
participate in coalition air strikes.
A further two Tornado ECRs, one
from Buchel and one from Jagel,
flew to Incirlik on January 5 and
operations began from there on
January 8. An A310 MRTT also
deployed on December 10. 
#335 FEBRUARY 2016 9
08/01/2016 15:06
 NEWS
CONTINENTAL EUROPE
Seven More
Tiger HADs
Ordered for ALAT
FRANCE’S DIRECTION générale
de l’armement (DGA – Directorate
General of Armaments) has
ordered seven more Tigre
Hélicoptère Appui-Destruction
(HAD – fire support/destruction)
variants. The order, announced
by the DGA on December 22, was
placed with Airbus Helicopters
through the Organisation
Conjointe de Co-opération en
matière d’ARmement (OCCAR –
Organisation for Joint Armament
Co-operation) on December 17.
The acquisition will give the
Aviation Légère de l’Armée de
Terre (ALAT – French Army Air
Corps) a fleet of 67 Tigres. The
order, in accordance with the
French military programme
for 2014-2019, will boost ALAT
capabilities, particularly for
operations in Sahel-Saharan
Africa. A total of 55 Tigres have
been delivered to the ALAT to
date, of which 40 are of the
Hélicoptère Appui-Protection
(HAP – fire support/protection)
version. Most will progressively
be converted to the HAD variant.
The seven new examples will
be delivered in 2017-2018. 
Spain’s First A400M Progressing Well
Above: The forward fuselage for the first Spanish Air Force A400M, T.23-01 (c/n 0044), being unloaded from the open
nose of a Beluga into the Final Assembly Line at Seville through a set of doors shaped around the contours of the Beluga.
Airbus Defence and Space
PRODUCTION OF the first Ejército
del Aire (EdA – Spanish Air Force)
A400M, T.23-01 (c/n 0044), is
progressing well, with arrival on
December 21 of the nose section
for the aircraft at Seville-San
Pablo Airport, Spain, where it
has been incorporated on the
Final Assembly Line. Its wings
10 FEBRUARY 2016 #335
10-11 EuropeNews Feb.DJ.indd 10
Last Production MQ-1s Delivered to Italy
Above: One of the final two Italian Air Force MQ-1 Predators on a pre-delivery test flight from the company’s Gray Butte
Field Airport, California, on November 11. At that time, it was devoid of Italian markings and serial number. GA-ASI
GENERAL ATOMICS Aeronautical
Systems (GA-ASI) has delivered
the final two RQ-1 Predator
remotely piloted aircraft systems
to the Italian Air Force (AMI).
Acceptance was announced
by GA-ASI on December 22.
It marked the end of GA-ASI’s
production of the Predator A
variant, after more than two
decades of manufacture.
Frank W. Pace, president, Aircraft
Systems, GA-ASI, said: “Amassing
over 2.1 million cumulative flight
hours and featuring the highest
mission capable rate of any
aircraft in the [US] Air Force’s
inventory, Predators will continue
arrived in Seville on October 14.
The aircraft will now begin the
final assembly process, leading
to its delivery to the EdA in the
second quarter of 2016. Spain
had planned to purchase 27
A400Ms, but as the delivery
schedule continued to slip, the
country’s defence budget also
to keep warfighters safe by
equipping them with unparalleled
situational awareness for
many years to come.”
The last AMI Predator was
manufactured on the Predator
XP production line. The XP is an
improved derivative, designed
for the export market. GA-ASI
has delivered 15 RQ-1s and
MQ-9s to the AMI. Although the
number of each type has not
been disclosed, contracts have
been announced for the purchase
of six Reapers for the AMI, all of
which have been delivered. This
implies the remainder should
comprise nine Predators.
came under pressure. Finally, on
May 23, 2013, Spanish Congress
was told by the country’s
Secretary of State for Defence
the requirement would be
reduced to 14 aircraft. Spain is
seeking buyers for the remaining
13 aircraft to avoid penalty
charges for cancellation. 
The AMI is a leader in the
utilisation of Predators and
Reapers to support a wide range
of intelligence, surveillance, and
reconnaissance (ISR) missions
in Italy, over the Mediterranean
and in support of current
NATO operations. Italy is the
first country in Europe to have
achieved an RPA airworthiness
certification. GA-ASI has been
supplying AMI with these
critical assets for more than a
decade. The two types are flown
Amendola-Foggia Air Base by
32° Stormo’s 28° Gruppo, which
also provides detachments for
its overseas operations. 
Three More Reaper
UAVs Ordered for
France
FRANCE’S DIRECTION générale
de l’armement (DGA – General
Directorate of Armaments)
has ordered a third General
Atomics MQ-9A Reaper system.
The UAVs are being acquired
through the US Air Force
Foreign Military Sales system.
Each Reaper system
comprises three air vehicles and
delivery of the additional system
will bring the total number
of Reapers in French service
to nine. The first system was
delivered in December 2013 and
has seen extensive service in
the Sahel-Saharan strip as part
of the ongoing mission there
under Operation Barkhane,
operating out of Niamey, Niger.
The second system is
scheduled for delivery in
2016, followed by the newly
ordered third system in
2019. Under the 2014-2019
military programming act, it
is planned for the French Air
Force to have four complete
systems by 2019. 
www.airforcesmonthly.com
08/01/2016 14:58

France Orders
Eight Additional
A330MRTTs
FRANCE HAS placed a firm order
for a further eight Airbus Defence
and Space A330 Multi-Role
Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft.
The contract from the French
defence procurement agency,
the DGA, was announced by the
manufacturer on December 15.
This constitutes the second
tranche of the multi-year
contract for 12 A330 MRTTs
signed by the French Ministry
of Defence and announced
on November 20, 2014 – see
France to Order 12 A330
MRTTs, January 2015, p15. A
firm order for the first of these
was placed in June last year
and the latest announcement
brings the total firm order for
the French Air Force to nine.
Confirmation of the final three
is scheduled for 2018, enabling
deliveries of all 12 aircraft to
be completed before 2025.
The first French A330 MRTT
will be delivered in 2018,
followed by the second in 2019.
The remainder will follow at a
rate of one or two per year. In
French service the type will be
known as the Phénix (Phoenix)
and be powered by Rolls-Royce
Trent 700 engines. It will be
equipped with a combination
of the Airbus Refuelling Boom
System and underwing hose-
and-drogue refuelling pods. 
Italian AF Orders Three Tecnam P2006Ts for Training
TECNAM IS to supply three
twin-engine Tecnam P2006T
aircraft to the Italian Air Force
(AMI) as part of an integrated
training system (ITS), which
also includes a flight simulator.
The contract, announced by
the Italian manufacturer on
December 21, also comprises
training for pilots and technicians,
Below: An impression of the P2006T in Italian Air Force markings. The illustration suggests the type will use
the T-2006A designation in AMI service and the code ‘70-01’ indicates it will be flown by 70° Stormo, the
Italian Air Force flying training school at Latina. Tecnam
www.airforcesdaily.com
10-11 EuropeNews Feb.DJ.indd 11
Upgraded Spanish Navy AB212 Delivered
The first upgraded
Spanish Naval Air
Arm AB212,
HA.18-12 ‘01-316’,
during the delivery
ceremony. The type
is flown by Escuadrilla
003 at Rota and all
seven in service will
go through the mod-
ernisation programme.
Sener
SPANISH ENGINEERING and
technology group Sener has
redelivered the first upgraded
Agusta Bell 212 to the Directorate-
General of Armament and Material
(DGAM) of the Spanish Ministry
of Defence after completing the
initial phase of its modernisation.
The work, carried out through
a joint venture with INAER, the
main helicopter operator in
Spain, will extend the operational
life of all seven of the Arma
Aérea de la Armada (Spanish
Naval Air Arm) AB212s by
at least another 15 years.
The programme involves
installation of more advanced
equipment and avionics.
Sener has led the design,
engineering and integration,
together with maintenance
and assistance for three years
and 3,600 hours in total.
The three P2006Ts will fly in
Italian military markings, once
the validation from EASA CS-23
to AER/AMI certification has been
achieved. The Tecnam P2006T
was certified under EASA CS-23,
IFR category, in 2009 and in a
while INAER has managed the
installation and certification.
Head of the joint venture, Sener
engineer Fernando Quintana, said:
“The modernisation of the AB212
is an ambitious programme, the
first of its kind in the Spanish
aeronautical industry, which
will significantly improve the
performance of these helicopters
by incorporating new capacities
such as radar, a night vision system
and self-defence systems, etc.”
Quintana said the initiative
would cost the Spanish Navy less
than replacing them with new
models with similar capabilities.
The electrical system and the
analogue cockpit are replaced
with a completely digital one.
Also incorporated are state-of-
further 16 countries to date. It
is available in a wide range of
models including the P2006T SMP
(Special Mission Platform) variant,
which is intended to provide a
low-cost surveillance platform with
multiple sensor capability. NASA
recently selected the Tecnam
P2006T for use in its ‘distributed
power technology’ programme. 
Visit www.airforcesdaily.com for daily
news stories. E-mail the news team
at milnews@keypublishing.com
the-art mission systems such
as EFIS, EO/IR radar, Automatic
Identification System (AIS), GPS
navigation system, TAWS and
Tactical Mission Controller (TMC).
The extensive work also includes
a cargo hoist, modifications to
the auxiliary fuel tanks, a missile
approach warning system
(MAWS), a ballistic protection
system in the cockpit and
passenger cabin, armoured and
anti-crash seats for the crew,
and defensive weapon systems.
It also involves the addition of
plug-in technology that will allow
the helicopters to be quickly
reconfigured for new missions.
Hand-over of the first helicopter
was announced by the
company on December 21. 
Eighth French
AF A400M Atlas
Handed Over
FRANCE’S DIRECTION
générale de l’armement
(DGA – Directorate General
of Armaments) took delivery
on December 22 of the eighth
Armée de l’Air (French Air Force)
A400M Atlas, 0031/F-RBAH,
at the Final Assembly Line at
Seville-San Pablo Airport, Spain.
As with the previous delivery,
0019/F-RBAG, it is one of the
first to be cleared for dropping
paratroopers from the rear ramp
and also from the side doors.
This latest aircraft is the first
French A400M equipped
with the infra-red Enhanced
Visualisation System. It was
delivered to Base Aérienne 123
Orléans-Bricy to join Escadron
de Transport 1/61 ‘Touraine’. 
#335 FEBRUARY 2016 11
08/01/2016 14:58
 NEWS
NORTH AMERICA
More C-130Js
for USAF, USMC
and Coast Guard
TWO CONTRACTS worth
over $1.22 billion have been
awarded to Lockheed Martin
for 43 C-130J Super Hercules
of various variants for delivery
to the USAF, US Marine Corps
and US Coast Guard. Both deals
were awarded on December
30 by the US Air Force Life
Cycle Management Center at
Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.
The first, valued at
$1,060,940,036, covers 32
multi-year production aircraft.
These comprise 13 C-130J-30s,
five HC-130Js, 11 MC-130Js,
two KC-130Js (for the US
Marine Corps) and one US
Coast Guard HC-130J. Work
is expected to be complete by
April 30, 2020. Fiscal year 2014
USAF and US Navy aircraft
procurement funds totalling
$256,444,432; and FY15 USAF,
US Navy and Coast Guard
aircraft procurement funds of
$804,495,604 were released
at the time of the award.
The second deal, valued at
$61,866,434, is for 11 C-130J
FY13 and 14 congressional-
added production aircraft.
These comprise: one
C-130J-30, three HC-130Js,
two MC-130Js, three KC-130Js
(for the USMC) and two US
Coast Guard HC-130Js. Work
on this contract is due to
be complete by January 31,
2018. Financing is taken from
FY13 and 14 US Coast Guard
aircraft procurement funds.
The orders are part of the
newly agree $5.3 billion C-130J
Multiyear II contract, which
covers 78 aircraft. The total
will comprise 30 MC-130Js, 13
HC-130Js and 29 C-130J-30s
for the USAF, plus six KC-130Js
for the USMC and an option
on five HC-130Js for the US
Coast Guard. Aircraft deliveries
will begin this year and
continue through to 2020.
USAF Receives 32nd C-5M Super Galaxy
LOCKHEED MARTIN delivered the
32nd modernized C-5M Super
Galaxy on December 9 to the
USAF. This aircraft, 86-0016 (c/n
0102), was the ninth and final C-5M
scheduled for delivery in 2015.
The aircraft was delivered more
12 FEBRUARY 2016 #335
12 USNews Feb.DJ.indd 12
Lockheed Martin Delivers
2,500th Hercules
Above: USAF HC-130J Combat King II 13-5782 ‘FT’, the 2,500th Hercules to be delivered, departing from Marietta,
Georgia, on December 11 for Moody AFB. Lockheed Martin/Damien Guarnieri
THE 2,500TH C-130 Hercules Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. 68 nations and the global fleet
left Lockheed Martin's facility in The USAF had the distinction has collectively logged more
Marietta, Georgia, on December 11. of accepting the first delivery than 22 million flight hours. The
The landmark Hercules is HC-130J of a Hercules nearly sixty years current production model is the
Combat King II personnel recovery ago, on December 9, 1956. It C-130J Super Hercules, which
aircraft 13-5782 ‘FT’ (c/n 5782) is the world’s largest Hercules has been selected by 16 nations
assigned to the USAF’s 71st Rescue operator, which includes both and is flown by 19 different
Squadron, part of the 347th Rescue legacy C-130 and C-130J operators. The Super Hercules
Group. A US Air Force crew ferried Super Hercules variants. worldwide fleet has more than 1.3
the HC-130J to its new home at C-130s are today operated from million flight hours to its credit.
Lightning Production Goals Reached in 2015
45 F-35 deliveries comprise:
26 F-35As to USAF.
The first two F-35As to the
Royal Norwegian Air Force.
The first F-35A for the
Italian Air Force.
Eight F-35Bs to the USMC.
Eight F-35Cs to the USN/USMC.
The 45 F-35s are
assigned as follows:
17 to Luke AFB, Arizona –
including all international jets.
Eight to Marine Corps Air Station,
Beaufort, South Carolina.
Eight to Eglin AFB, Florida.
Five to Hill AFB, Utah.
Above: Lockheed Martin workers spell out ‘45’ in front of USAF F-35A Seven to Nellis AFB, Nevada.
Lightning II 13-5078 (AF-84), the 45th F-35 to be delivered in 2015, at the
Following the USMC’s
factory in Fort Worth, Texas, on December 21. F-35 JPO
combat-ready Initial Operational
THE 45TH Lightning II for 2015 announced by the F-35 Joint Capability (IOC) declaration in
has been delivered by Lockheed Program Office on December 21. July of last year, the USAF and
Martin, meeting the programme Including this aircraft, since US Navy intend to attain service
production goal for the year. the programme’s inception the IOC with their aircraft in 2016
Acceptance of the aircraft, USAF manufacturer has delivered 154 and 2018, respectively. The
F-35A 13-5078 (AF-84), by the operational F-35s to date to the fleet has accumulated more
US Department of Defense was US DoD and partner nations. The than 45,000 flight hours.
than a week ahead of the contract Ohio, ferried the aircraft from the will be the 14th Super Galaxy based
commitment delivery date. company facility in Marietta, Georgia, at Travis with the 60th Air Mobility
An active duty USAF aircrew to Stewart Air National Guard Base, Wing’s 22nd Airlift Squadron ‘Mulies’.
led by Major General Warren D New York, where it will undergo This aircraft was originally delivered
Berry, the Vice Commander of internal paint restoration. Once that to the USAF in December 1987 and
Air Force Materiel Command at work is completed, the aircraft will be had recorded approximately 21,510
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, assigned to Travis AFB, California. It flight hours prior to the ferry flight.
www.airforcesmonthly.com
08/01/2016 15:03
SMI F_P.indd 1 18/12/2015 10:04
 NEWS
NORTH AMERICA
Rafales, Raptors and Typhoons in Trilateral Exercise
RAF TYPHOONS, French
Air Force Rafales and USAF
F-22A Raptors were involved
in a major exercise in the USA
during December. This, the first
trilateral anti-access/area denial
exercise, took place between
December 2-18 at Joint Base
Langley-Eustis, Virginia, where
it was hosted by the USAF’s
1st Fighter Wing. It follows
the re-signing of the Trilateral
Strategic Initiative by each of the
three countries in July 2015.
The exercise focused on
procedures in a highly-contested
operational environment through
a variety of simulated adversary
scenarios. RAF Chief of the
Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir
Andrew Pulford, said: “This
is a fantastic opportunity for
the European air forces to get
alongside the United States Air
Force to start delivering true
interoperability across Europe
and across NATO.” According to
Chief of Staff of the USAF, General
Mark A Welsh III, the exercise also
allowed for the forces to train with
the same type of interoperability,
de-confliction and co-ordination
process as they would normally
use in the Middle East to
prevent miscommunication,
mistakes or bad decisions.
Welsh said: “The big benefit
of this exercise is these three
air forces have capability that
many air forces don’t. So being
able to operate our aircrews,
One of the resident USAF/1st Fighter Wing
F-22A Raptors takes off from Joint Base
Langley-Eustis behind RAF/11 Squadron
Typhoon FGR4 ZJ935 ‘DJ’ on December 11
during the trilateral exercise.
MOD Crown Copyright/ SAC Mark Parkinson
14 FEBRUARY 2016 #335
14-15 US News.DJ.indd 14
our maintenance crews, our
intelligence support teams
in preparation for a future
operating environment that
may be more difficult than what
we’ve been fighting in is really
an important step to refocusing
on that full-spectrum fight we
have not been involved with
in recent years, but is always
a potential in the future.”
More than 500 Service
members, consisting of
approximately 225 personnel
from the USAF, 175 from the
RAF and 150 from the FrAF,
gained an understanding of the
logistics, support requirements,
capabilities, tactics, techniques
and procedures associated
with the integrated operation
of coalition front-line fighters.
One RAF pilot on the exercise
described modern air warfare
as an information war. He said:
“Whoever can gather, process
and exploit the most information
in the quickest time will win the
information war and ultimately
the fight. With fifth generation
aircraft being able to instantly
share data with their fourth
generation cousins, the Typhoon
can become an even more
effective and capable jet fighter.”
While the initial stage of the
exercise pitted the aircraft
against each other, the vast
majority of training sorties saw
the jets fly collaboratively. Exact
details of exercise sorties have
been kept secret, but they would deal with the ‘difficult players’.
typically start with a group of If Typhoons flew in the first
RAF Typhoons or French Rafales encounter they would then
pushing ahead into ‘enemy switch places with the Rafales
territory’, supported a significant which were waiting behind. The
distance behind by half their Raptors would also swap with
number in USAF Raptors. Out another set and the whole group
at sea the formation would would move onto their next
encounter Red Air enemy fighters encounter with the ‘enemy’.
played by USAF F-15 Eagles One of the most significant
and T-38 Talons, outnumbering benefits is the sheer scale of
them three or four to one. training sorties. In the UK, the
The F-15s mimic the RAF will normally train against
performance and tactics of far fewer Red Air opponents
traditional threats and have a simultaneously. One Typhoon
top speed almost three times pilot explained the value of
that of the RAF’s Hawk, one of being vastly outnumbered. He
the Typhoon’s usual training said: “There’s so much going
adversaries back in the UK. on at once it’s hard to keep tabs
The fourth-generation aircraft on all the aircraft, and process
would ‘take out’ the leading everything that’s happening.”
edge of the Red Air, leaving More on the Rafale participation
the fifth-generation Raptor to will appear next month.
A French Air Force pilot climbs out of Rafale C 130 ‘30-GI’ after
arriving at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, on December 1 prior
to participating in Exercise Trilateral. The aircraft is from Escadron
de Chasse 2/30 ‘Normandie-Niemen’ at Base Aérienne 118
Mont-de-Marsan. USAF/
Senior Airman Aubrey White
www.airforcesmonthly.com
08/01/2016 15:16

US Navy Orders
29 Additional
MH-60Rs
SIKORSKY HAS received
a contract for a further 29
MH-60Rs for the US Navy. The
$354,156,879 deal, awarded
on December 7 by US Army
Contracting Command, funds
the Navy’s fifth programme
year for these helicopters.
Associated programme and
logistics support are also
included in the contract, which
has been financed with Fiscal
Year 2016 ‘other procurement’
funding. It is estimated
that work will be completed
by December 31, 2017.
The award is a modification to
the $8.5 billion contract signed
on July 10, 2012, covering US
Army and US Navy purchase
of a baseline quantity of 653
UH-60M Black Hawk and
MH-60R/S Seahawk helicopters
through to December 2017.
The deal also included options
on a further 263 of these
helicopters. Since then, actual
production quantities have been
determined on a year-by-year
basis, depending on funding
allocations and Pentagon
acquisition priorities. 
Airborne Imaging DC-3 Testing New MH-60 FLIR Sensor
AIRBORNE IMAGING DC-3
N737H visited San Diego-
Brown Field Municipal Airport,
California, on December
5. The aircraft is being used
as a test platform for a new
Lockheed Martin Awarded $1.25 Billion F-35 Contract
A US NAVAL Air Systems
Command (NAVAIR) advanced
acquisition contract valued
at $1.17 billion was awarded
on December 21 to Lockheed
Martin to procure long lead time
materials, parts, components and
effort to maintain the planned
production schedule for F-35
low rate initial production Lot
11, comprising 91 aircraft.
Lot 11 includes 80 F-35As (28
for the USAF; six for Norway;
www.airforcesdaily.com
14-15 US News.DJ.indd 15
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at milnews@keypublishing.com
KAI Unveils Contender for USAF T-X Requirement
Above: The prototype of the T-50-based proposal from KAI/Lockheed Martin for the US Air Force T-X Trainer
requirement, which was unveiled on December 17. KAI
A PROTOTYPE of a development maiden flight during 2016, with requirements and probably an
of the T-50 Golden Eagle that will trials in the USA following in 2017. aerial refuelling capability.
be offered for the US Air Force’s The most noticeable feature The USAF plans to purchase
T-X next-generation trainer externally on the new variant is up to 350 aircraft to meet the
competition was unveiled by Korea a distinctive dorsal hump. No T-X requirement, replacing the
Aerospace Industries (KAI) on specific details of the changes current Northrop T-38 Talon fleet.
December 17 at its Sacheon plant. in configuration to the aircraft Other contenders include Alenia
The aircraft will be proposed for have been revealed, although Aermacchi with its M346-based
the requirement in a joint bid earlier this year Lockheed T-100, Boeing with a clean-sheet
with Lockheed Martin, which Martin officials said it would design being developed in
provided technology transfer include an upgraded cockpit, collaboration with Saab and
for the original T-50 design. The new embedded systems to Northrop Grumman, which will
aircraft is expected to make its support fifth-generation training also propose a new type. 
Three Test
forward-looking infrared (FLIR)
sensor developed by Raytheon
T-33 and various civilian types,
which have been used for P-8As to be
for the Sikorsky MH-60 fleet
and installed in a ball turret on
missions in Central America.
The company has also tested
Brought to
the nose. Airborne Imaging’s
fleet includes three Dakotas, a
a wide array of sensors for
UAVs. Kevin Whitehead 
Production
Standard
BOEING IS to modify three
P-8A Poseidon development
airframes to production
standard under a $15.54 million
contract awarded by US Naval
Air Systems Command on
November 30. The aircraft are
the fourth, fifth and sixth flight
test airframes, comprising
167952/T-4 (c/n 40594) ‘JA-
952’, 167955/T-5 (c/n 40595)
‘JA-955’ and 167956/T-6 (c/n
40596) ‘JA-956’, respectively.
four for Turkey; eight for the US Navy ($256,433,369;
All are currently operated
Netherlands; eight for Australia; 21.9%); US Marine Corps
by Air Test and Evaluation
ten for the Israel; six for Japan ($106,500,000; 9.1%); non-US
Squadron 1 (VX-1) ‘Pioneers’
and ten for South Korea); seven DoD partners ($207,069,044;
at Naval Air Station Patuxent
F-35Bs (six for the USMC; 17.7%) and foreign military
River, Maryland, on trials
and one for the UK); and four sales ($199,694,560; 17%).
work. They will be brought
F-35Cs for the US Navy. A second contract on the same
up to low-rate 4-2 production
Also included is production day, valued at $84,434,012,
representative configuration.
of two F-35As for the USAF covered procurement of
The majority of the work (77%)
and F-35Cs for the US Navy. production non-recurring items
will be carried out at Pax
This contract combines for Lot 9 F-35 aircraft. These
River and is expected to be
purchase for the USAF include special tooling and
completed in January 2017. 
($401,509,516; 34.3%); special test equipment items. 
#335 FEBRUARY 2016 15
08/01/2016 15:16
 NEWS

LATIN AMERICA

New Mexican Honduran Air Force Acquires Two Cessna 172s

AF 737-800
A NEW Boeing 737-800
has entered service with the
Mexican Air Force. The aircraft,
737-8MC(W) FAM-3526
(c/n 44437, ex EI-RUS), was
delivered on November 20. Built
for Russian carrier Transaero,
it made its first flight on
September 17, 2015. Following
the demise of Transaero, it
was re-allocated for Mexico. Newly acquired Honduran Air Force Cessna 172 FAH-246
at La Ceiba-Goloson on December 16. Mario Theresin
It is one of two that are being
acquired for operation by TWO CESSNA 172 Skyhawks have International Airport, Honduras. Coronol José Enrique Soto Cano,
Air Transport Squadron 502 recently entered Fuerza Aérea Ten of the type's military Palmerola. The new Cessna
at BAM1 Santa Lucia, which Hondureña (FAH – Honduran equivalent, the Cessna T-41D 172s also appear to be operated
currently flies three Boeing Air Force) service. The aircraft, Mescalero, were previously flown by the AMA, as both wear the
727s. The Airbus A320-200 and FAH-245 and FAH-246, were by the FAH's Academia Militar academy’s badge on the cabin
737-900ER were also contenders first noted on December 16, de Aviación (AMA – Military doors. It is not yet clear whether
for the requirement.  visiting La Ceiba-Goloson Aviation Academy) at Base Aérea further examples are on order. 

Peruvian AF
Takes Delivery
of Three
Cessna 172s
THREE NEW Cessna 172
Mexican Air Force Bell Skyhawk SP aircraft have been
407GX 1312/N537QB delivered to the Fuerza Aérea
departing from Arlington del Perú (FAP – Peruvian Air
Municipal Airport, Texas, Force) for use in the training
on November 10 on its role. The aircraft, serial numbers
delivery flight to Mexico.
Michael Keaveney 469, 477 and 478, are the first
of seven being acquired. They

Mexican Bell 407GX Deliveries Completed

were welcomed with an arrival
ceremony on November 24
at Base Aérea Las Palmas,
DELIVERIES OF 15 Bell 407GX Texas. They comprised 1311/ days earlier with the spraying Santiago de Surco, Lima.
helicopters to the Fuerza Aérea N537CB (c/n 54599), 1312/ equipment already installed. They had departed from
Mexicana (FAM – Mexican Air N537QB (c/n 54600) and 1313/ It is believed that these the factory in Independence,
Force) are now complete. Three N537PB (c/n 54606). All were were the 12th, 13th and 14th Kansas, on a nine-day flight,
of the most recent examples fitted with spraying equipment helicopters, leaving just one involving 40 flying hours,
departed on November 10 under the fuselage for counter- more to be delivered at that routing via the USA, Mexico, El
from Bell’s XworX facility at narcotics missions. They had time. The US registration of Salvador, Nicaragua, Panama,
Arlington Municipal Airport, flown into Arlington a few the latter, 1314 (c/n 54607, ex Colombia and Ecuador
N537EB), was cancelled on before arriving in Peru.
Mexican Air Force Bell 407GXs December 17, 2015, presumably The remaining four were
Serial Con No Previous Identity US regn cancellation date after being delivered. scheduled for delivery during
1300 54566 N534LB April 15, 2015 The manufacturer had December, but their arrival
announced the order for them has yet to be confirmed.
1301 54571 N534PB May 28, 2015
on March 2, 2015 – see Mexican The aircraft will be used
1302 54573 N534NB June 4, 2015
Air Force Orders 15 Bell 407GXs, for primary training by the
1303 54574 N534RA September 3, 2015 April 2015, p19. Deliveries FAP’s Escuaela de Aviación
1304 54579 N536AZ July 9, 2015 began soon afterwards, the Civil (EDACI) at Las Palmas,
1305 54580 N536BQ July 9, 2015 first arriving on April 13 at Base which teaches both FAP
1306 54586 N536EZ September 3, 2015 Aérea Militar 5 Capitán Emilio and civilian pilots.
1307 54588 N536HS September 3, 2015 Carranza Rodríguez in Zapopán, After training with EDACI,
1308 54589 N536FS October 14, 2015 Jalisco, to join Escuadrón Aéreo FAP trainees will move on
1309 54595 N536WB October 14, 2015 111 – see Mexican Air Force’s to basic/advanced training
1310 54596 N536UB October 14, 2015 First Bell 407GX, June 2015, on the KT-1P. Currently, the
p18. The unit will operate all 15 EDACI uses the Cessna T-41D
1311 54599 N537CB November 25, 2015
helicopters, which in addition Mescalero and the new Cessna
1312 54600 N537QB November 25, 2015
to their counter-narcotics 172s will upgrade the standard
1313 54606 N537PB November 25, 2015 missions, are being used for a of training by providing a
1314 54607 N537EB December 17, 2015 variety of parapublic roles.  modern, digital cockpit. 

16 FEBRUARY 2016 #335 www.airforcesmonthly.com

16 LATAM.DJ.indd 16 11/01/2016 09:37

 NEWS

LATIN AMERICA

Four More Mi-171SH-Ps Delivered to Peruvian Army

A FIFTH batch of four Mil
Mi-171Sh-P helicopters have
been delivered to join the
Aviación del Ejército Peruano
(Peruvian Army Aviation) fleet.
They arrived on November 30 on
board an An-124, along with a
number of spare VK-2500
engines, at Callao-Jorge Chavez
International Airport.
After unloading, the helicopters
were transported to the Ejército’s
Centro de Mantenimiento
Aeronáutico (CEMAE) for
re-assembly and flight testing.
They are part of a batch of 24
ordered for the Peruvian Armed
Forces in December 2013. An
initial four arrived on board an
An-124 on November 27, 2014
(see Deliveries of Mi-171Sh to Peru
Begin, January 2015, p24),
followed by four more on
December 4 of that year. They
were inducted into Ejército
service on December 12, 2014. One of the new Peruvian Army Mi-171Sh-P helicopters is unloaded from an An-124 on November 20. Ejército
An additional three arrived early
last June. that this would contravene US that the sanctions did not apply nine more to be delivered, which
Delivery of the remaining 13 had sanctions on Russian export to this deal, enabling payment to were expected to follow in three
been delayed due to Peru’s agency Rosoboronexport, which be made and deliveries to resume batches of three over a short
National Bank holding up is supplying the helicopters. In once more. period, with the final examples
payments, because it believed September, it was determined The four most recent arrivals left due in January of this year. 

Peruvian AF’s Third C-27J

Spartan Delivered
PERU’S THIRD C-27J Spartan,
FAP-330/C.S.X62299, departed
from Turin-Caselle Airport, Italy,
on December 10 at the start of its
delivery flight. The aircraft had
been handed over to the Fuerza
Aérea del Perú (FAP – Peruvian
Air Force) the previous day.
Lima-Callao/Jorge Chávez
International Airport to join
Grupo Aéreo 8/Escuadrón de
Transporte 844 on December 13.
The FAP has ordered four
C-27Js, the first of which,
FAP-328/C.S.X62295, had
left the factory in Turin, Italy,

Colombian Arava Inaugurates

It routed via Gatineau Airport, on its delivery flight on March
Canada, where it was shown off 12, 2015. It arrived in Peru

New Planadas Runway to local media on December 11

as part of Alenia Aermacchi’s
Colombian Air Force IAI Arava FAC 1952 landing on December 29 to formally efforts to interest Canada in
inaugurate the newly refurbished runway at Planadas Airport, which was rebuilt the type to meet its fixed-wing
by military engineers. MinDef Colombia search and rescue requirement.
It was scheduled to arrive at
on March 15 (see Peruvian Air
Force C-27J Delivery, May 2015,
p19) and a formal ceremony to
induct the aircraft into service
was held on March 27 at Base
Aérea Las Palmas, Santiago

News Briefs de Surco, Lima. The second,

FAP-329/C.S.X62297, was
delivered to Lima on June 19. 
BRAZIL'S HELIBRAS announced on January 7 that it had
delivered the tenth upgraded Brazilian Army Fennec during
December. It was handed over at Helibras' Itajubá facility.

A SECOND former Royal Air Force C-130K Hercules C3A

destined for the Mexican Air Force, C-FNUM (c/n 4241, ex
XV214), departed from storage at MOD St Athan, Wales, on
December 9. Using callsign ‘UM214’, it flew initially to St John’s,
Newfoundland and Labrador. The aircraft is one of two ex-RAF
examples acquired by Canada’s IMP Group, which will refurbish
them before delivery to Mexico. The first, C-FNUL (c/n 4271, ex
XV303), left St Athan a few weeks earlier, on November 22 – see The third Peruvian Air Force C-27J Spartan, FAP-330/C.S.X62299, at Turin, Italy,
Two ex-RAF Hercules Head for New Life, January, p6.  preparing to depart for a pre-delivery acceptance flight on December 3. FAP

18 FEBRUARY 2016 #335 www.airforcesmonthly.com

18 LATAM.DJ.indd 18 08/01/2016 17:11

 NEWS
AFRICA
Russian
Helicopters
to Support
Egyptian Mi-8T/
Mi-17-Vs
RUSSIAN HELICOPTERS
has signed an agreement to
provide after-sales service and
maintenance for the Egyptian
Air Force’s (EAF’s) fleet of
Russian-made helicopters.
Under the contract, announced
on December 8 by the company,
the repair base at Heluane,
Egypt, will be re-tooled to
support the EAF’s fleet of 41 Mil
Mi-8Ts and three Mi-17-1Vs.
All of these helicopters will
undergo comprehensive repair
work at the facility. Russian
Helicopters will authorise the
Heluane plant as an official
aircraft repair plant for the type.
To support comprehensive
work to the airframes,
components, gearboxes and
rotor systems in helicopters
operated by the EAF, Russian
Helicopters will deliver
specialised equipment
to the facility, carry out
commissioning work and
transfer all the necessary
documentation to Egypt.
Egyptian specialists will be
trained to work on Mi-8Ts,
Mi-17-1Vs and Mi-17V-5s at
Russian Helicopters’ Novosibirsk
Aircraft Repair Plant. The
company will provide design
and technical support for
these repairs for two years. 
Belgian A109BAs in Gabon
BELGIAN AIR Component/15
Wing C-130Hs CH-11 and
CH-03 were at Libreville,
Gabon, on December 13, along
with USAF/62nd AW C-17A
www.airforcesdaily.com
19 Africa News.DJ.indd 19
Zambian AF Crews Complete L-15 Training
THE FIRST Zambian Air Force
(ZAF) pilots and maintenance
personnel have completed
conversion to the Hongdu L-15
Falcon advanced jet trainer at
Nanchang, AVIC announced
on December 28. The training
took place on the first ZAF
L-15s, which are expected
to begin delivery in June.
Cameroon and Kenya Order ScanEagle UAVs Egypt Acquiring
INSITU WAS awarded two million, also covers one ScanEagle
separate Foreign Military Sales
contracts by the US Naval Air
Warfare Center Aircraft Division
on September 29 to supply its
ScanEagle unmanned aircraft
system to Cameroon and Kenya.
The $9.86 million deal for the
Kenyan Government covers one
ScanEagle system. Work will be
divided equally between Insitu’s
facility in Bingen, Washington
and Laikipia/Nanyuki, the
Kenyan Air Force’s main base.
The deal with the Cameroon
Government, valued at $9.39
08-80193. Visible in front of
CH-03 are three cocooned
Belgian A109BAs. It is believed
that they were awaiting
shipment back home after
Although the ZAF was known
to have signed a contract for
acquisition of the L-15, details
were never clear. It is now known
the order is for six aircraft,
with a further six options.
Unlike the first six, the second
six will have a new afterburning
engine currently
in development.
system. Half of the work will be
carried out at the main air force
base in Douala, Cameroon.
The systems for both countries
will include analogue medium-
wave infrared ScanEagle UAVs,
launch and recovery equipment,
ground control stations, Insitu
video exploitation systems and
ground support equipment.
Kenya will also procure a Mk4
launcher, two full mission
training devices and spares
kits. Both contracts are due for
completion in September 2016. 
taking part in Exercise Tropical
Storm, a Belgian exercise
held in Gabon and the DRC
between November 21 and
December 11. Denetworks 
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at milnews@keypublishing.com
ZAF officer commanding,
Brigadier General Jabes Zulu,
had confirmed that the type
had been ordered at the Air
Force Headquarters Annual
Ball on December 26, 2014.
He also confirmed additional
SF260TW trainers, C-27J
transports and Mi-17 helicopters
would also be delivered. 
Additional E-2C
A US Naval Air Systems
Command (NAVAIR) pre-
solicitation reveals the Egyptian
Air Force (EAF) is acquiring an
additional E-2C Hawkeye from
surplus US Navy stocks. The
October 15, 2015 document
is a notification of the intention
to award Northrop Grumman
a contract for supplies and
services required to deliver
E-2C 162615 (c/n A-97) and
associated parts to Cairo under
the EAF E-2C Tactical Program.
The Hawkeye had been
in storage with the 309th
Aerospace Maintenance
and Regeneration Group at
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base,
Arizona, since March 10, 2005.
The deal will include packaging
plus shipment of the aircraft
and 3,200 parts to a freight
forwarder for onward delivery
to Cairo, which was due to be
completed within around three
months of contract award.
The heading of the solicitation
also refers to recovery and
upgrade of another ex-US Navy
E-2C, 163026 (c/n A-119),
delivered to the EAF in December
2010. This element of the deal is
not mentioned in the paperwork,
but it is presumed the aircraft
had been returned to the US
for overhaul and upgrade. 
#335 FEBRUARY 2016 19
08/01/2016 17:19
 NEWS

HEADLINES
MIDDLE EAST

An Israeli
Veteran Retires
In December Israel withdrew the veteran
Skyhawk from service. Latterly used
as a trainer, the type also saw extensive
combat during a career spanning
almost 50 years. Amit Agronov
was there to see this old
warhorse retire.

20 FEBRUARY 2016 #335 www.airforcesmonthly.com

20-21 Middle East Feb.aw copy.indd 20 11/01/2016 15:04


news stories. E-mail the news team
at milnews@keypublishing.com
Right: A series of formation flypasts were flown during the ceremony by two
M-346s and two TA-4s – representing the past and the future of pilot training
within the ISAF.
Below: Three TA-4 Skyhawks taxi out to the main runway at Hatzerim Air
Base during the retirement ceremony. Among pilots involved in the flying
on December 13 were three active major generals: ISAF commander Amir
Eshel, commander of personnel Hagai Toplonski, and head of the planning
directorate Amikam Norkin. All images by author
A FTER THOUSANDS of
sorties and a part in almost
all of Israel’s wars since the first
examples were unloaded from
a ship at Haifa 48 years ago,
the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk has
been withdrawn from Israeli Air
and Space Force (IASF) service.
Known as the Ayit (Eagle), the
last of them were replaced by
the Alenia Aermacchi M-346
Master (Lavi – Lion), which first
entered service in July 2014.
An official ceremony at Hatzerim
air base marked the Ayit’s
retirement on December 13,
2015. The rainy morning failed
to keep a crowd from assembling
around 102 Squadron’s flight line
as the jets took off to perform
a flypast. Among the pilots
involved were three active major
generals: IASF commander
Amir Eshel, commander of
personnel Hagai Toplonski
and head of the planning
directorate Amikam Norkin.
A total of 354 Ayits served with
the IASF, the very first examples
being purchased directly from the
US. They comprised 90 A-4H jets
received between 1967 and 1970,
Entering service in July 2014, the M-346 Master, (called Lavi, Hebrew for lion, by the ISAF)
has replaced the TA-4 in the advanced training role. However, it was clear to everyone at the
ceremony that the Lavi will never gain a combat record equal to that of the TA-4 Skyhawks.
www.airforcesdaily.com
20-21 Middle East Feb.aw copy.indd 21
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ten TA-4H two-seaters (1969-70),
117 A-4Ns (1973-76), 96 A-4Es
(delivered in 1971 and during the
1973 Yom Kippur War), 16 A-4Fs
and four TA-4Fs (1972), and 21
TA-4Js (1973-74). A total of 140
Ayits have been lost in combat, 53
of them during the Yom Kippur
War, and to training accidents.
Although the Ayit served
primarily as an attack aircraft,
on May 12, 1970, Colonel Ezra
Dotan ‘Beban’, also known as
‘Mr Skyhawk’, used an A-4H
to down two Syrian MiG-17s.
He destroyed one with 30mm
cannon fire and the other
with air-to-ground rockets.
During the early 1990s, 102
‘Flying Tiger’ Squadron, operating
the Skyhawk as a trainer, was
attached to the IDF flying school at
Hatzerim.
The Ayit has trained many
generations of IAF combat pilots.
“Ayit pilots witnessed great
events in the history of aerial
combat,” Eshel said. “Many
of the air force’s achievements
resulted from the combination
of these small aircraft and the
greatness of their pilots.” 
#335 FEBRUARY 2016 21
11/01/2016 15:04
 NEWS
MIDDLE EAST
Jordan Acquires ex-UAE Hawks and UK Fireflies
PREVIOUSLY UNREPORTED
acquisitions by the Royal
Jordanian Air Force (RJAF)
include 13 former United Arab
Emirates Air Force and Air
Defence Hawk Mk63s surplus
to UAE requirements following
delivery of Pilatus PC-21s. Given
serials 1720 to 1732 inclusive,
they are in service with 17
Squadron at H5/Prince Hassan
Air Base in the lead-in fighter
trainer (LIFT) role. They reached
full operational capability last
Recently acquired Royal Jordanian Air Force (RJAF) Hawk Mk
63 1722 is one of 13 formerly operated by the UAEAF&AD.
Marco Dijkshoorn
Qatar Rafale
Order Comes
into Force
A DASSAULT AVIATION contract
with Qatar for 24 Rafales came
into force on December 17 when
the first down payment was
received. The initial contract
was signed on May 4 in Doha in
the company of His Highness
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al
Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar,
and French President François
Hollande – see Qatar Orders 24
Rafales, June 2015, p22. The
deal represents a new stage
in the strategic partnership
between Qatar and France.
The 24 jets for the Qatar
Emiri Air Force comprise 18
single-seat and six twin-seat
Rafales, with an option on
either 12 or 24 more. The deal
also includes MBDA missiles
and training for 36 Qatari
pilots, 100 technicians and a
number of Qatari intelligence
officers by the French military.
Weapons included are
SCALP/Storm Shadow,
Meteor and Exocet missiles.
The total package is
valued at €6.3 billion. 
22 FEBRUARY 2016 #335
22-23 ME News.DJ.indd 22
June and have since replaced the
RJAF’s F-5E/Fs in the LIFT role.
Also recently acquired by
the RJAF are eight Slingsby
T67M-260 Fireflies previously
operated by the UK’s Defence
Elementary Flying Training
School. All had been up for sale
and were cancelled from the UK
register on August 13, 2015 when
they were officially transferred
to Jordanian ownership. They
are allocated serials 437 to 444
inclusive, their previous UK
Newly acquired UAE Air Force and Air Defence P-750
XSTOL, serial number 4000, with under-fuselage
freight pannier, hangared at Al Bateen recently.
UAE Air Force Operating P-750 XSTOL
AN UNUSUAL addition to the
United Arab Emirates Air Force
and Air Defence inventory is
a single Pacific Aerospace
P-750 XSTOL. The aircraft is
painted in an overall gloss white
colour scheme and devoid of
markings, apart from serial
4000 on the rear fuselage.
It entered service last July and
appears to be operated by the
GHQ SAR Wing at Al Bateen Air
Base, Abu Dhabi. Its role with
the UAEAF&AD is unknown. The
type was originally designed
specifically as a parachuting/
registrations being G-BWXG,
G-BWXR, G-BWXY, G-BWXZ,
G-BWXX, G-BWXK, G-BWXH
and G-BWXN respectively.
The additional Fireflies are
flown by the Instructor Pilot
School at the King Hussein Air
College, Mafraq – supplementing
16 delivered earlier – and are
thought to be a stopgap pending
acquisition of a new basic
trainer. For more details on the
Royal Jordanian Air Force, see
Fit for the Fight, p84-89. .
skydiving aircraft, but is also
used by commercial operators
in crop spraying, passenger,
survey and utility roles.
The aircraft was originally
registered to the manufacturer
in New Zealand as ZK-KCP
(c/n 191) on June 16, 2014
as a P-750XL, although the
company markets the type as
the P-750 XSTOL. It was ferried
from Kerikeri in Northland New
Zealand via Norfolk Island to
Brisbane, Australia, on June 28,
2015, and continued to Cairns
the next day and on to Darwin
Two More Iraqi
Mi-28NEs
Delivered
TWO MORE Mil Mi-28NE Night
Hunter attack helicopters
have been delivered to the
Iraqi Army Aviation Corps. An
official Iraqi Ministry of Defence
spokesman, Naseeri Nouri
Mohammed, announced on
December 10 that they had been
air-freighted into the country
that morning and were expected
to enter service very shortly.
An initial batch of three
Mi-28NEs was delivered to Iraq
at the end of August 2014 – see
Iraqi Army’s First Mi-28NEs Arrive
in Country, October 2014, p25.
A second batch, which arrived
on February 1, 2015, is now
reported to have comprised
only two helicopters (it was
previously reported to have
been four). Another four were
delivered in August followed
by two more in September.
The latest arrivals bring the
total number delivered to date
to 13. It remains unconfirmed
exactly how many of the type
have been ordered in total. 
on June 30. It flew on to Bali
International/Ngurah Rai on
July 1 and then to the UAE.
Cancelled from the New
Zealand register, the aircraft was
allocated US registration N506VS
on July 31 for Vertol Systems
of Hillsboro, Oregon, which
provides specialised aircraft and
helicopter solutions. The US
registration was in turn cancelled
on September 23 on transfer
to UAEAF&AD ownership. As
far as AFM is aware, it is the
only example of the type in
military service worldwide. 
www.airforcesmonthly.com
08/01/2016 16:50
 Visit www.airforcesdaily.com for daily
news stories. E-mail the news team
at milnews@keypublishing.com

MoU Signed
US Navy F/A-18C Hornet 165202 ‘AG-301’ from Strike Fighter Squadron 83 (VFA-83) ‘Rampagers’ launches from the
USS Harry S Truman (CVN 75) on December 31 for an Operation Inherent Resolve mission against Daesh. Note that
the unit badge on the fin has been suitably modified for Christmas, complete with Santa hat! US Navy/
for 30 Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class J R Pacheco

An-178s for
Royal Saudi
Air Force
ANTONOV AND Saudi Arabia’s
Taqnia Aeronautics Company
signed a memorandum of
understanding (MoU) on
December 17 for the delivery of
30 An-178 multi-purpose aircraft
to the Royal Saudi Air Force
(RSAF). The deal is an extension
of co-operation between the two
companies – Antonov announced
on May 13 it was developing
the new An-132 multi-purpose
transport aircraft in association
with Taqnia, which will build
USS Harry S Truman Begins Operations Against Daesh
the type in Saudi Arabia. STRIKE AIRCRAFT from the French allow us to maximise the next day. The carriers can
Under the new agreement, aircraft carrier USS Harry S our firepower and provide a then swap, which allows us to put
the two companies will also Truman (CVN 75) flew their unique opportunity to further more sorties in-country while
jointly market the An-178 to first missions in support of progress against Daesh we partner in this operation.”
other Middle Eastern countries Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) (Islamic State). It validates The Truman left its home port in
and promote special-purpose on December 29. The Truman our abilities to successfully Norfolk, Virginia, on November
variants of the An-148. and embarked Carrier Air Wing operate as an international 16. Its arrival in the region marks
Major General (retired) Ali 7 (CVW-7) have joined French coalition while conducting the return of a US carrier to
Mohammed Al-Ghamdi, carrier FS Charles de Gaulle very dynamic operations.” anti-Daesh operations. Since the
President of Taqnia Aeronautics, (R 91) in combined combat Captain Fredrick Luchtman, departure of the USS Theodore
said the An-178 had been operations against Daesh in Iraq CVW 7’s commander, added: Roosevelt (CVN 71), which ended
selected due to its advantageous and Syria from the Arabian Gulf. “We complement each other in air strike operations against
characteristics, price and low Rear Admiral Bret Batchelder, that while one carrier is able to fly Daesh and left the Fifth Fleet
operating costs compared commander of Carrier Strike sorties in-country to support OIR, area of responsibility on October
to other types in its class.  Group 8 (CSG-8), said: “Dual the other carrier can conduct 13, there had not been any US
carrier operations with the maintenance and prepare for carrier presence in the region. 

France Launches SCALP Saudi Navy Orders Ten MH-60Rs

on Operation Chammal LOCKHEED MARTIN and Sikorsky of the MH-60R Mission Avionics
have won contracts to provide ten
MH-60R Seahawk helicopters
Systems and Common Cockpits
configuration for the helicopters.
DURING AN air strike against buildings – some of which for the Royal Saudi Naval Forces The work is expected to be
a Daesh position in Iraq on were hardened – serving as a (RSNF). Sikorsky’s share of completed in June 2019.
December 15, French military headquarters and training centre, the deal is a Foreign Military Plans for the purchase had first
aircraft employed SCALP as well as a logistics store. Sales (FMS) contract valued at been revealed by the US Defense
air-launched cruise missiles The French Ministry of Defence $145m – awarded on December Security Co-operation Agency
for the first time in Operation said that a total of ten aircraft 17 by US Army Contracting (DSCA) on May 20 last year after
Chammal. The target was in were involved in the mission Command – for the procurement the US State Department approved
the Al Qaim region, close to the – a mix of Mirage 2000s and of the ten ‘green’ MH-60Rs. the sale – see Saudi Arabia Seeks
border between Iraq and Syria. Rafales operating from Jordan Estimated completion date for the Ten MH-60Rs, July 2015, p26.
The site comprised and the Persian Gulf.  contract is October 31, 2018. The DSCA said the total value
Lockheed Martin Mission Systems of the acquisition was estimated
Armée de l’Air Rafale B 338 ‘104-IO’ from Escadron de Chasse 3.30 ‘Lorraine’
at Base Aérienne 104 Al Dhafra, UAE, preparing to depart on December 15 and Training was awarded two FMS at around $1.9 billion, indicating
armed with SCALP cruise missiles for the first Operation Chammal air strike contracts by US Naval Air Systems that further contracts are likely
using the weapon, which targeted Daesh positions in the Al Qaim region of Command on December 23. The to be awarded to make up this
Iraq. État-major des armées first, valued at $117m, covers total. These are expected to
the manufacture and delivery cover role- and country-specific
of ten MH-60R Mission Avionics equipment plus weapons,
Systems and Common Cockpits spares, support and training.
for the helicopters. Estimated The MH-60R will be used by the
completion date is April 2019. RSNF to guard against maritime
The second award, worth security threats and for secondary
$110m, was for non-recurring missions including vertical
engineering support – covering replenishment, search and rescue
development, test and qualification (SAR) and communications relay. 

www.airforcesdaily.com #335 FEBRUARY 2016 23

22-23 ME News.DJ.indd 23 08/01/2016 16:50

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 NEWS
RUSSIA & CIS
Two More
Su-34s
Delivered to
Russian AF
SUKHOI HAS fulfilled the State
Defense Order 2015 for delivery
of Su-34s to the Russian Air
and Space Forces. The final
two aircraft of that order
departed on December 22
from Novosibirsk on delivery.
Although this completed last
year’s order, Sukhoi handed
over a further two Su-34s at
the same time, exceeding
the required deliveries for
the year. These aircraft were
also flown to their operational
airfield a few days later. The
manufacturer reported that
in 2014 the aircraft plant also
exceeded the yearly production
plan for Su-34 deliveries. 
Second An-178 and First An-132 Progressing
Above: The nose section of the prototype An-132D and fuselage of the second prototype An-178 at the official roll out
ceremony on December 28 at the Antonov factory in Kiev, Ukraine. Antonov
ANTONOV HAS completed the
fuselage of the second prototype
An-178 medium transport and
fuselage components of the first
An-132 light transport aircraft
demonstrator. The company
held a roll-out ceremony on
December 28 in its assembly
shops to mark the milestone.
The first prototype An-178 had
made its maiden flight on May 7,
2015, following which it appeared
Type Certification for Mi-38
RUSSIAN HELICOPTERS has
gained type certification for its
new medium, multi-role Mi-38
transport helicopter. A ceremony
was held on December 30 at the
Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant,
where the type was designed,
26 FEBRUARY 2016 #335
26 RussiaNews Feb.DJ.indd 26
Russia Flies Prototype of New Jet Trainer
A NEW Russian light jet trainer
prototype made its maiden flight
on December 25. The aircraft,
designated the SR-10, has
been developed by the CB-SAT
Modern Aviation Technologies
design bureau as either an
Above: The new Russian SR-10 jet trainer prototype taking off on its maiden flight on December 25. CB-SAT
at the Paris and Dubai air shows
–see An-178 Roll-Out and First
Flight, June 2015, p27, and An-178
Makes Public Debut, August 2015,
p14. Antonov says it has received
40 orders to date for the type,
although specific details were not
announced. On December 17,
Antonov had, however, signed a
Memorandum of Understanding
for supply of 30 An-178s to join
the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF)
to hand over the certification
documents. Certification for the
type’s Klimov TV7-117V engines
had been achieved earlier last year.
The Mi-38 is due to enter series
production in 2016 and the
first fuselage has already been
initial and basic military trainer
or sports aerobatic aircraft.
It features a tandem, two-seat
configuration with zero-zero
K-93 ejection seats and,
unusually, a forward-swept
wing. Its powerplant is a
transport fleet – see p22-23.
The An-132 is a joint project with
Saudi Arabia’s KACST and an MoU
for six special mission variants for
the RSAF was signed at the Dubai
Air Show in November - see News
Briefs, January, p28. At the Paris
Air Show last June, Antonov said
the prototype An-132 should be
completed within 18 months – see
Antonov Reveals More Details on
An-132, August 2015, p17. 
assembled by Kazan Helicopters.
Two prototypes (the third and
fourth) carried out certification
flight testing. The fourth is close
to the series production standard,
incorporating all production
systems and components. 
single AI-25TLSh turbojet.
This is the first news of the
project since details were first
revealed at the MAKS Air Show
at Zhukovsky in August 2009,
when a full-scale mock-up
was also unveiled. 
New Mil
High-Speed
Helicopter
Demonstrator
Flown
RUSSIA’S NEW high-speed
helicopter technology
demonstrator made its maiden
flight at the Mil Helicopter Plant’s
flight test facility in Tomilino,
Moscow Region on December 23.
The prototype is based on
the airframe of the Mi-24K.
Installation of a new rotor
system incorporating the
latest Russian developments
in aerodynamics, strength and
manufacturing technology is
the primary design change.
The most obvious external
feature, however, is new new
forward fuselage configuration,
which has been streamlined
to improve aerodynamics
during high-speed flight. In
addition, various aerodynamic
modifications to the stub wings
have also been carried out.
Details of the project were
first revealed at the MAKS 2015
International Aviation and Space
Salon in Zhukovsky last August,
when a full-scale mock-up of the
helicopter was also unveiled –
see New High-Speed Helicopter
Demonstrator, October 2015,
p24. It is planned to reach
speeds of up to 280mph
(450km/h) eventually. 
www.airforcesmonthly.com
11/01/2016 09:33
 NEWS
ASIA PACIFIC
Final Philippine Air Force C295M Delivered
DELIVERY OF the third and
final Philippine Air Force (PAF)
C295M has been completed.
The aircraft, 142/EC-001 (c/n
S-142), arrived at Clark Air
Russia and India
Sign Deal for
200 Ka-226Ts
RUSSIA AND India have signed
an agreement to co-operate in
the production of 200 Kamov
Ka-226Ts to replace Indian
Air Force and Army Cheetah
and Chetak helicopters. The
deal, which was announced
on December 28 by Russian
State Corporation Rostec,
was signed between the two
countries on December 24.
Under the terms of the
agreement, a Russian-Indian
joint venture will be created
involving Rostec-JSC
Rosoboronexport, Russian
Helicopters and India’s
Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd
(HAL). The deal, which will see
HAL producing the Ka-226T
in India, also provides for
repair of the helicopters, along
with technical support.
The first 60 Ka-226Ts will be
built at Russian Helicopters’
Kumertau Aviation Production
Enterprise factory, while
the remaining 140 will be
assembled in India by HAL.
Approval for acquisition of
these helicopters had been
given by India’s Defence
Acquisition Council at a
meeting on May 13, 2015 – see
India Approves Major Defence
Acquisitions, May 2015,
p33. It has not officially been
announced where the locally
assembled Ka-226Ts will be
produced, however, HAL is to set
up a new manufacturing facility
at Tumakuru, about 60 miles
(100km) from Bangalore. 
www.airforcesdaily.com
27 ASIAPAC News.DJ.indd 27
Base on December 11 after a
ferry flight from the factory at
Seville-San Pablo Airport, Spain.
It had left Seville on December
5. The aircraft will join the PAF’s
Second Royal Malaysian Air
Force A400M Delivered
DELIVERY OF the second Tentera
Udara DiRaja Malaysia (TUDM –
Royal Malaysian Air Force) A400M
military airlifter, M54-02 (c/n
0032, ex EC-400), took place on
December 23. It was handed over
at San Pablo Airport, Seville, Spain,
where it had made its maiden flight
on November 19 – see Second
Malaysian A400M Flown, January,
p30. Its ferry flight to Malaysia
was completed on December
India Delivers Donated Mi-25s to Afghanistan
INDIA HAS delivered three
Mi-25 Hind-D attack helicopters
to Afghanistan to support its
continuing offensive against
Taliban militants. On December
24 the Afghan Government said
they had arrived in the country
earlier in the month. They were
flown in on board Indian Air Force
(IAF) C-17A Globemaster IIIs.
The helicopters are the first
Afghan National Security Adviser Hanif Atmar and Indian
Ambassador to Afghanistan Amar Sinha inspect one of the
donated Indian Air Force (IAF) Mi-25 attack helicopters
on board an IAF C-17A Globemaster III after its delivery in
December. Afghan National Security Adviser’s Office
220th Airlift Wing/222nd Airlift
Squadron, which accepted
its first C295M in late March
2015. The second aircraft
followed in September. 
The third and final
Philippine Air Force
(PAF) C295M, 142/
EC-001 (c/n S-142)
arriving at Clark Air
Base after its ferry
flight from Spain. PAF
29, when it was escorted into
Subang by two TUDM MiG-29s.
The TUDM has four A400Ms on
order, the first of which, M54-01
(c/n 0022), was handed over in
Seville on March 9, 2015 – see
Malaysia’s First A400M Delivered,
May 2015, p29. It then departed
on its delivery flight on March 12.
The third TUDM aircraft, M54-03
(c/n 036), is completed at Seville,
but has yet to be delivered. 
three of four ex-IAF Mi-25s
being donated to Afghanistan.
The fourth was expected to
arrive shortly afterwards. The
transfer has been approved by
Russia, which originally supplied
the helicopters to India.
The Afghan Air Force (AAF) has
previously operated Mi-24P/V
and Mi-35 variants of the Hind,
but these have been progressively
Visit www.airforcesdaily.com for daily
news stories. E-mail the news team
at milnews@keypublishing.com
Two More
Su-30MK2Vs
Arrive in
Vietnam
A FURTHER two Sukhoi
Su-30MK2V multi-role fighters
have been delivered to the
Vietnam People’s Air Force
(VPAF) from the KnAAPO factory
in Komsomolsk-on-Amur. The
aircraft, serial numbers 8589
and 8590, arrived in Vietnam on
board a Volga-Dnepr An-124-
100M on December 29.
A US$600 million contract for
12 additional Su-30MK2Vs for the
VPAF was signed in August 2013.
The first two were then delivered
to Dan Nang Air Base (AB),
Vietnam in October 2014. Two
more followed on December 6,
2014. The most recent deliveries,
the fifth and sixth aircraft, arrived
in Vietnam on August 6, 2015
– see Vietnamese Su-30MK2V
Deliveries, September, p29.
Previously, the VPAF has
taken delivery of at least 26
Su-30MK2Vs,. The type equips
the 923rd Fighter-Bomber
Regiment at Bai Thuong AB,
929th Fighter Regiment/2nd
Squadron at Dan Nang AB
and the 935th Fighter-Bomber
Regiment at Bien Hoa AB. 
withdrawn from use in recent
years. Latterly, the AAF has
had just one Mi-35 remaining
in service and this was due for
retirement in January 2016.
Afghanistan is also seeking to
purchase three Mi-35s direct
from Russia. Afghan President
Ashraf Ghani asked for the
helicopters last October as part
of a request for military aid. 
#335 FEBRUARY 2016 27
08/01/2016 16:58
 NEWS
ASIA PACIFIC
Last TH-135 Delivered to
Japan MSDF
Above: The 15th and final Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force TH-135 training
helicopter, 8815, being waved off from the Airbus Helicopters Japan facility
on November 25. Airbus Helicopters/Koichi Nakagawa
AIRBUS HELICOPTERS has
completed delivery of 15
H135s (formerly known as the
EC135T2i) to the Japan Maritime
Self-Defense Force (JMSDF),
which designates the type the
TH-135 and uses it in the training
role. The company announced
hand-over of the 14th and 15th
JMSDF H135 on December 15.
Japan had announced selection
of the EC135T2i for the JMSDF’s
TX training requirement on
January 16, 2009. A contract
Report to Congress Details Afghan Air Force Status
A REPORT submitted to US
Congress has updated the current
status of the Afghan Air Force (AAF)
fleet. Entitled Enhancing Security
and Stability in Afghanistan, the
report, released on December 15,
covers developments between
June 1 and November 30, 2015.
Currently, the AAF has 161
fully trained pilots, not including
those who are in training to
transition to another aircraft
type. The latter includes the first
class of nine pilots converting
to the A-29 Super Tucano at
Moody AFB, Georgia. Shortly
after the report was published,
eight of those pilots graduated
at Moody on December 18,
bringing the overall total to 169.
As of November 30, the report
quotes the AAF as having 91
aircraft. These comprise a fixed-
wing complement of four C-130H
Hercules and 24 Cessna 208B
Grand Caravans, while rotary-wing
assets are 49 Mi-17s, one Mi-35,
ten MD530F Cayuse Warriors
and three Cheetals. Additionally,
the AAF uses six Cessna T182T
Turbo Skylanes, although these
are not listed as part of the
inventory in the report, perhaps
28 FEBRUARY 2016 #335
28,30 AsiaNews Feb.DJ.indd 28
for the first two was signed on
February 26, 2009. The first
of these was handed over on
December 2, 2009. The type
began replacing the OH-6D/
DAs used in the rotary-wing
training role by the 211th Kyoiku
Kokutai (Air Training Squadron)
at Kanoya from 2011.
In Japan, there are currently 80
H135s operating for emergency
medical services, police work,
electronic news gathering, VIP
transport and business aviation. 
because they are only used for
training. Further scheduled
acquisitions still to be delivered
comprise two more Cessna
208Bs, 20 A-29B Super Tucanos,
seven Mi-17s and 18 MD530Fs.
To date, 12 of the AAF A-29s have
been delivered to Moody AFB for
training pilots and maintenance
personnel. With the first pilots
now qualified on the type, the
first four aircraft are scheduled
to be delivered to Afghanistan
in January 2016, replacing the
Mi-35 in the light air support
role. The sole remaining Mi-35
is then expected to be retired.
The remaining A-29s from the
order for 20 will be delivered to
Moody by May 2016, before being
delivered to Afghanistan when
further pilots and maintenance
personnel graduate. Eight
A-29s are expected in country
by the 2016 fighting season,
increasing to 12 by the 2017
fighting season. Full operational
capability with 20 airframes,
30 pilots and 90 maintenance
personnel is expected to be
achieved by the end of 2018.
The Cessna 208Bs are largely
used in the light cargo and
Third Batch of UH-60Ms
Delivered to Taiwan
Above: Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk 911, one of the third batch for Taiwan, on
the dockside at Kaohsiung after being unloaded.
TAIWAN HAS taken delivery of
a third batch of four Sikorsky
UH-60M Black Hawks. The
helicopters arrived by sea at
Kaohsiung and were unloaded
on December 17. The number
involved has not yet been
confirmed, but the previous
two batches have each been of
four aircraft and it is believed
the same number were
involved in the latest arrivals.
The first four Republic of China
Army Aviation and Special
Forces Command UH-60Ms
personnel transport, casualty
evacuation and human remains
recovery roles. The type is also
being employed in a basic ISR
role, but this is only in the early
stages of development. The
US Train, Advise and Assist
Command-Air (TAAC-Air) is
working to expand the aircraft’s
employment envelope to develop
a soft field landing capability.
This will enable it to take over
some Mi-17 operations, freeing
up the latter for other missions.
The Mi-17 is the workhorse of
the AAF, but is unable to meet all
of the ground forces demands,
primarily because of lack of
availability due to maintenance
down time and challenges in
training maintenance personnel.
Currently, 14 of the type are
configured with a fixed forward-
firing capability and seven of
those can also fire rockets. To
alleviate the strain on the fleet,
in September 2015 coalition
advisors awarded a contract for
rotary-wing airlift to provide cargo,
personnel and human remains
movement for the Afghan National
Defence and Security Forces.
Following a second round of
(serials 901 to 904) arrived on
December 3, 2014. The second
batch of four (905 to 908) then
followed on May 24, 2015. One
of the third batch has been
confirmed as 911, suggesting that
serials for the latest deliveries
are likely to be 909 to 912.
A total of 60 UH-60Ms are
being acquired for the RoCA,
for which a contract valued
at $1.705 billion was signed
on November 22, 2012.
Final deliveries are
scheduled for 2019. 
deliveries in June 2015, the
AAF has ten armed MD530Fs
operating from Kabul, each with
a fixed forward firing capability,
comprising FN Herstal M3P
0.50 calibre machine guns,
installed in the company’s Heavy
Machine Gun Pod. Six more
weaponised MD530Fs are due
for delivery in early 2016 and the
US has approved a requirement
for a further 12, which will
be delivered later in 2016.
The Special Mission Wing (SMW)
is separate from the Air Force
and its aircraft are not included
in the totals above. Its assets
comprise 29 of 30 authorised
Mi-17-V5s and 17 of 18 authorised
Pilatus PC-12/47Es. The
Wing is dedicated to providing
expeditionary reach for the
Afghan Special Security Forces
(ASSF) for its counter-terrorism
and counter-narcotics missions.
The SMW supports ASSF
helicopter assault force raids and
provides overwatch, ISR, resupply
and casualty evacuation for ASSF
operations. It currently has three
fully operational units: 1 and 2
Squadrons are based at Kabul,
while 3 Squadron is at Kandahar. 
www.airforcesmonthly.com
11/01/2016 09:16
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 NEWS
ASIA PACIFIC
Bangladesh Inducts AW139s and Yak-130s
PRIME MINISTER Sheikh Hasina
Wazed was guest of honour
during an induction ceremony at
Bangabandhu Air Base/Dhaka-
Kurmitola on December 6 for the
Bangladesh Air Force’s (BAF’s)
newly delivered AgustaWestland
AW139 helicopters and Yakovlev
Yak-130 combat trainer aircraft.
The event marked the formal
entry into service of the BAF’s first
six Yak-130s and two AW139s.
The six Yak-130s had arrived at
Chittagong-Zahurul Haque Air
Bangladesh Air Force
Yak-130 Deliveries
Serial Con No First Flight
15101 130.12.02- Apr 29, 2015
0101
15102 130.12.02- Unknown
0102
15103 130.12.02- May 28, 2015
0103
15104 130.12.02- Jun 2, 2015
0104
15105 130.12.02- Jun 19, 2015
0105
15106 130.12.02- Unknown
0106
Bangladesh AF AW139s
Serial Con No Test Reg
613 31613 I-EASS
616 31616 I-PTFR
Last Bangladeshi Mi-171Sh Delivered
DELIVERY OF the last of five
Mi-171Sh Hip-H transport
helicopters to the Bangladesh
Air Force (BAF) has now been
completed. Russian Helicopters
confirmed their arrival in a
December 11 announcement.
In addition to routine cargo
transport and border security
operations, the new Mi-171Sh
will be used in UN humanitarian
missions and supporting
30 FEBRUARY 2016 #335
28,30 AsiaNews Feb.DJ.indd 30
Base on board a Volga-Dnepr
An-124-100 on September 20.
After re-assembly, they joined 21
Squadron ‘The Avengers’ at the
base. They are the first of 16 on
order under a contract signed
in late 2013. It had originally
been planned to purchase 24 of
the type, but budget constraints
reduced the total to 16.
The two AW139s arrived in the
country in early October and are
being operated by 1 Squadron,
also based at Chittagong-Zahurul
Above: The first Bangladesh Air Force AW139, 613/I-EASS (c/n 31613), during a pre-delivery test flight on June 24. It
was formally inducted into service on December 6, along with the first example of the type. Marco Bianchi
activities in regions that are facing
complex crime problems.
Bangladesh ordered the
Mi-171Sh helicopters under
a contract signed with
Rosoboronexport in late 2013
and they were built at the Ulan
Ude Aviation Plant. The first
two were delivered on April 8
on board an Antonov An-124.
The helicopters are equipped
with additional fuel tanks to
Haque. They are used in the
maritime search and rescue
role and for utility missions. The
helicopters were ordered under
a contract announced by the
manufacturer at the Farnborough
Air Show on July 14, 2014.
Their arrival marked the
establishment of the country’s first
dedicated maritime SAR capability.
Equipment fit includes a search/
weather radar, FLIR, searchlight,
rescue hoist, emergency flotation
gear and a state-of-the-art four-axis
New Bangladesh Air Force Mi-171Sh
869 during a pre-delivery test flight
at the Ulan Ude Aviation Plant on
March 19, 2015. Russian Helicopters
increase range and endurance,
as well as an external sling for
outsize cargo transportation.
They are fitted with powerful
spotlights and winches that can
lift 330lb (150kg), while also
having the option of installing
medevac equipment enabling
evacuation of up to 12 injured
people. Additionally, they are
equipped with armour and
self-protection systems. 
dual digital automatic flight control
system with hover and SAR modes.
During the ceremony, the Prime
Minister revealed that the BAF
will take delivery of 16 Chinese
Nanchang CJ-6/PT-6s, which
would be based at Chittagong-
Zahurul Haque Air Base. The BAF
already has the type in service, the
survivors of 40 that were delivered
from 1977 onwards being flown
by 11 Squadron of the Air Force
Academy’s Flying Training Wing at
Jessore/Matiur Rahman Air Base. 
First Japan-
Assembled
F-35A Being
Put Together
MATING OF the major
components (fuselage, wings
and tail) of the first Lockheed
Martin F-35 Lightning II to be
put together at the Mitsubishi
Heavy Industries (MHI) Final
Assembly and Check-Out (FACO)
facility in Nagoya, Japan, began
on December 15. The aircraft,
F-35A AX-5, will be rolled out
of the fsctory for delivery to
the Japan Air Self-Defense
Force (JASDF) in 2017.
The first four JASDF F-35As, AX-1
to AX-4, are being produced
in the US and are currently in
various stages of assembly in Fort
Worth, Texas. The first, AX-1, is
scheduled for delivery later this
year. The remaining 38 JASDF
F-35As, AX-5 to AX-42, will be
assembled and delivered from
Nagoya. The Nagoya FACO was
also selected in 2014 as the
regional F-35 overhaul facility. 
www.airforcesmonthly.com
11/01/2016 09:16
 NEWS
AUSTRALASIA
RAAF KC-30A in US Tanking Trials
Above: USAF F-35A Lightning II AF-03, on its 386th flight on October 27, alongside an RAAF KC-30A during trials from
Edwards AFB, California, to certify the Australian tanker for F-35 refuelling operations. Lockheed Martin/Tom Reynolds
Royal Australian Air Force
KC-30As have recently been
involved in trials in the USA.
From September 23 through
until October 26, an RAAF
KC-30A operating from Edwards
AFB, California, performed
12 sorties with US Air Force
F-35A Lightning II AF-3. During
these flights, 479 dry and
24 wet contacts were made
with the refuelling receptacle
on the F-35A. More than 95
tonnes of fuel were transferred
during the wet contacts.
Throughout the trials, the
KC-30A was flown by RAAF
CONTRACTS
Air Force Company
Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
French Air Force
French Air Force
French Army
Italian Air Force
Qatar Emiri Air Force
Royal Saudi Air Force
Royal Saudi Naval Forces
US Air Force
US Air Force
US Air Force
US Coast Guard
US Marine Corps
US Navy
www.airforcesdaily.com
31 AustraliaNews Feb DJ.indd 31
Visit www.airforcesdaily.com for daily
news stories. E-mail the news team
at milnews@keypublishing.com
Australia
Seeking Three
More CH-47Fs
AUSTRALIA IS seeking three
more CH-47F Chinooks. The US
Defense Security Co-operation
Agency (DSCA) announced
on December 21 that US
State Department approval
had been granted for their
acquisition. It notified Congress
of the possible Foreign Military
Sale on December 18.
The total estimated value is
$180 million. They will join
seven already delivered to the
Australian Army Aviation Corps.
The last of the initial seven was
delivered on August 10, 2015 –
see Boeing Delivers Last Australian
CH-47F, December, p35. 
Australia Signs
PC-21 Deal
LOCKHEED MARTIN Australia
has been contracted by the
Government to provide the new
personnel from 33 Squadron. December 3, when the KC-30A AIR 5428 Australian Defence
A flight test team from the refuelled the F-16 for the first time. Force Pilot Training System.
RAAF's Aircraft Research and In total, 444 contacts were made Signature of the acquisition
Development Unit, supported and 25 tonnes of fuel offloaded. and services contracts took
by flight test insttrumentation On December 18 the tests were place on December 4.
engineers from the Aerospace paused for the Christmas holiday Under the AUS$1.2 billion
Systems Engineering Squadron, break. They are to resume deal, Lockheed Martin Australia
was integrated within the early in the new year, when the will deliver 49 Pilatus PC-21s to
USAF Test Centre to work tanker returns to Edwards and the Royal Australian Air Force
on the test programme. this initial phase was expected (RAAF), along with seven flight
A further KC-30A deployment to be completed in February. simulators and support for
to Edwards took place from The trials are part of the an initial seven-year term.
November 30, during which Coalition Tanker Aerial Refuelling Performance-based options
similar tests were carried out Certification Effort, which could extend the contract for up to
with 416th Flight Test Squadron was signed on June 19, 2015. 25 years. The Lockheed Martin-
F-16D 86-0047 ‘ED’. The first Further tankers and receivers led Team 21 includes Pilatus,
flight in the series of tests was on will be tested in 2016.  which will provide the PC-21s
and through-life engineering and
airworthiness support. Hawker
Pacific will supply maintenance
No and Type Date Delivery Date & Notes and fleet support. Lockheed
Lockheed Martin 49 x Pilatus PC-21 Dec 4 From 2019 Martin will provide overall project
management and deliver a
L-3 Communications 2 x Gulfstream G550 Dec 28 By Nov 30, 2017
family of integrated ground-
General Atomics 3 x MQ-9A Reaper Dec 7 2019 based training technologies.
Airbus Defence and Space 8 x A330 MRTT Dec 15 2016 to 2025 The contracts will see Basic
Flying Training at RAAF Base
Airbus Helicopters 7 x Tigre HAD Dec 17 2017-2018 East Sale, Victoria, with 22 of the
Tecnam 3 x P2006T Dec 21 Not announced PC-21s, while Advanced Flying
Training will continue from RAAF
Dassault 24 x Rafale Dec 17 Not announced
Base Pearce, Western Australia.
Antonov 30 x An-178 Dec 17 Not announced The contract will also provide
Sikorsky 10 x MH-60R Dec 17 By Oct 31, 2018 three PC-21s as replacement
aircraft for 4 Squadron at RAAF
Lockheed Martin 14 x C-130J-30 Dec 30 By Apr 30, 2020
Base Williamtown, New South
Lockheed Martin 8 x HC-130J Dec 30 By Apr 30, 2020 Wales, for forward air control and
Lockheed Martin 13 x MC-130J Dec 30 By Apr 30, 2020
four for the Aircraft Research and
Development Unit (ARDU) at RAAF
Lockheed Martin 3 x HC-130J Dec 30 By Apr 30, 2020 Base Edinburgh, South Australia. .
Lockheed Martin 5 x KC-130J Dec 30 By Apr 30, 2020 Selection of the PC-21 for
the role had been announced
Sikorsky 29 x MH-60R Dece 7 By Dec 31, 2017
on September 6 last year. 
#335 FEBRUARY 2016 31
11/01/2016 11:42
 UK AIR DEFENCE
P ROTECTING THE UK’s airspace is a core
mission for the Royal Air Force and a
significant proportion of its personnel and aircraft
strength is devoted to it. The role of the quick
reaction alert (QRA) Typhoons in intercepting
rogue Russian aircraft, and airliners suspected
of being under the control of terrorists, is well
known and receives regular media coverage.
But placing fighters into the air in time to
intercept involves the work of a network of radars,
communications and experienced airspace bat-
tle managers, all of which have a far lower profile.
Some 75 years ago, the RAF’s famous Dowd-
ing system linked fighter aircraft, anti-aircraft
gun batteries, long-range surveillance radars
and Observer Corps spotting posts into the
network that won the Battle of Britain. In
the 21st century, the air defence of the UK is
organised along similar lines, but employs
dramatically more advanced technology.
Intercept
The RAF stands ready to launch fighter aircraft
to secure UK airspace round the clock. In many
cases the alarm is raised by civilian air
traffic controllers in
one of two National
Right: A 1(F) Sqn Typhoon FGR4 shows off its air
defence configuration – four long-range AIM-120
AMRAAMs under the belly and four medium-range
AIM-132 ASRAAMs mounted under the wings.
The Typhoon is the sharp end of the RAF’s Quick
Reaction Alert (QRA), based at RAF Coningsby,
Lossiemouth and Mount Pleasant (Falklands), where
they will sit armed ready for action when called
upon. John Dibbs
Below: The NATS (National Air Traffic Services) pro-
vides air traffic control from centres at Swanwick,
Hampshire and Prestwick, Ayrshire. NATS
32 FEBRUARY 2016 #335
32-36 UKSkies Feb.awgs.indd 32
Air Traffic Services (NATS) centres, at Swanwick
in Hampshire and Prestwick in South Ayrshire.
The RAF has duty personnel at Swanwick,
where they work alongside their NATS colleagues
every day. This enables the rapid handover of
incidents to the RAF team at the London Air
Traffic Control Centre (Military) (LATCC(Mil)).
The joint military and civilian team at
Swanwick monitors the thousands of daily
aircraft movements that occur over the UK,
the North Sea and a huge swathe of the North
Atlantic, watching out for aircraft following
unusual tracks and any that have not filed valid
flight plans or may have lost communications.
If contact cannot be established with a
suspect aircraft, the civilian controllers request
the RAF launch Typhoons to investigate.
The LATCC(Mil) team then phones a senior
RAF air battlespace
manager – known
as fighter
controllers during
the Cold War – in
the underground control and reporting centre
at RAF Boulmer in Northumberland. The
teams there manage intercepts using civil
and military radars to track suspicious
aircraft and direct RAF jets to them.
Another Boulmer controller calls up the
duty QRA at either RAF Lossiemouth in
Moray, which covers the northern UK, or
RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire, which covers
the south, to request a QRA launch.
The QRA pilots swing into action to get their
jets into the air, their engineers having begun
the procedure to start engines even before
the pilots leave their crew room. The aim is
to be airborne in 15 minutes. There is no
time for an extensive pre-mission briefing, the
pilots taking off with only a simple outline of
the type of incident and its general location.
Once aircraft are launched, time is of
the essence. While
Boulmer issues
a stream of
radio mes-
sages to direct
the Typhoons to
the incident,
LATCC(Mil)
person-
www.airforcesmonthly.com
08/01/2016 15:25
 SECURING
UK AIR DEFENCE

UK SKIES
Incursions by Russian military aircraft into UK-controlled airspace
over the North Atlantic are once again a regular occurrence.
The RAF launches Typhoon fighters to intercept them, the jets
representing the sharp end of a complex air defence system, as
Tim Ripley explains.

www.airforcesdaily.com #335 FEBRUARY 2016 33

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 UK AIR DEFENCE

nel work with NATS controllers to clear

other civilian aircraft out of the way.
The whole operation is monitored from the UK
National Air Defence Operations Centre (NADOC)
in a bunker at RAF High Wycombe in Bucking-
hamshire. From there, personnel provide live
updates to the government, should the incident
escalate into a serious situation and a Cabinet
Office Briefing Room A (COBR(A), usually
pronounced ‘Cobra’) crisis meeting be required.
In most cases air traffic controllers manage
to resolve incidents before an intercept
occurs. What happens when a Typhoon does
The NATS centres
fly up alongside the suspect aircraft, however,
are manned by a
depends on what the pilot finds: in some mix of civilian and
cases its radios might not be working and military personnel.
the Typhoons will escort it to a safe airfield, NATS
ensuring no other aircraft are at risk.
If the nightmare scenario of terrorists seizing sian military aircraft operate with their forward bases around Murmansk.
the aircraft becomes a reality, or is suspected, transponders switched off and do not file After the Tu-95s are airborne, they swing
the Typhoon pilots would attempt to direct it flight plans, they could disrupt civil air around Norway’s North Cape and head out
to land at a UK airfield, where the police would traffic or cause a tragic air accident. into the Atlantic. Norway’s air defence radar
take charge. If those in control refuse to land, These fears are shared by other NATO network picks them up very quickly and a
the Typhoons would escort it through UK nations and procedures have been pair of F-16AM Fighting Falcons is usually
airspace and provide regular updates to senior put in place to co-operate in the co- scrambled from Bodø to intercept.
government ministers in the briefing room. ordination and conduct of intercepts. As this is happening, senior officers in the
What might happen if the suspect aircraft The primary launch pad for Russian air Norwegian Joint Headquarters at Bodø talk to
attempts to emulate the events of 9/11 and activity over the North Atlantic is the Kola their RAF counterparts in the NADOC. A similar
fly into a populated area is of greatest concern Peninsula in northern Russia. Tupolev Tu-95 conversation takes place with duty officers at
to government ministers. With thousands Bears and, occasionally, Tu-160 Blackjacks NATO Combined Air Operations Centre 2 at
of lives at risk on the ground, the decision take off from Engels, deep in Russia, or Uedem, Germany, to set in train preparations
might eventually have to be made to shoot
it down – but, with potentially hundreds of
people onboard the suspect airliner, giving
the order would be an extremely difficult
decision, one that only the Prime Minister
or his designated deputy can make.

The Russians Are Coming

In the past decade QRA aircraft were
launched between 11 and 24 times a
year. In 2014 there were 21 launches, of
which eight involved Russian aircraft.
The procedures for intercepting Russian
aircraft are very different to those for dealing
with civilian craft and involve extensive co-
operation with allied air forces. While there is
considerable political tension between Britain
and Moscow, it is very unlikely that Russian
warplanes would actually open fire on British
aircraft or launch missiles at UK territory.
The real fear is that, because Rus-
Above: The Rapier GBAD system plays a major part in protecting the UK’s skies and was also deployed to
several sites during the 2012 London Olympic Games. All photos, Crown Copyright unless stated
Below: A Russian Tu-95 Bear H is intercepted by a Typhoon FGR4 on QRA. Aerospace Battle Managers at
RAF Control and Reporting Centre (CRC) Boulmer alerted and scrambled two Typhoons from RAF Lossie-
mouth to intercept the Russian military aircraft flying in international airspace.

34 FEBRUARY 2016 #335 www.airforcesmonthly.com

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 UK AIR DEFENCE

An E-3D Sentry AEW1 can fill gaps in any radar coverage that are caused by high terrain – it’s particularly useful when Russian aircraft are flying around the UK’s
western coast heading south.

for a NATO-wide response, if needed.
In the NADOC, RAF officers usually have a
couple of hours to prepare their response
to the imminent arrival of the relatively slow
flying Tu-95 in UK-controlled airspace. If
it does not turn for home and looks set to
head south into the UK sector, the NADOC
asks controllers at RAF Boulmer to order
a QRA launch from RAF Lossiemouth to
establish visual contact with the Bear.
Given the distances involved in these
operations, a Voyager tanker is launched from
RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, providing
air-to-air refuelling support to the fighters.
Having made visual contact with the Russian
aircraft, one of the RAF jets moves into position
alongside. The Typhoon pilots attempt to estab-
lish radio contact and then pull back to monitor it.
Since these intercepts take place in
international airspace, the RAF is obliged
to leave the Russians to proceed on their
way, while the Typhoons relay course and
position information back to Boulmer.
Russian aircraft have on occasion flown all
the way around the UK, down past Ireland and
out into the Bay of Biscay, sometimes flying
into radar ‘black spots’ outside the coverage
of UK land-based radar. In this case, the RAF
might launch an alert E-3D Sentry airborne
warning and control system (AWACS) from RAF
Waddington, Lincolnshire, to fill the gaps in
radar coverage and co-ordinate further air-to-air
refuelling contacts over the North Atlantic
Meanwhile the NADOC alerts its French
counterpart to launch fighters to continue
the shadowing operation. Alternatively, if the
Russian aircraft swings down into the North Sea
and heads into the Baltic, the RAF organises a
handover with its Dutch or Danish counterparts.

Above: The Puma with snipers on board was used during the Olympic 2012 Air Security Plan to maintain a
presence to deter any low-flying threats such as small aircraft or UAVs.
Right: Snipers are trained to shoot low-flying threats out of the sky. They were used during the 2012 Lon-
don Olympics but did not need to be called into action.
Below: The UK has purchased the Saab Giraffe AMB to protect the Falkland Islands from any possible threat.
Saab

Future QRA
There has been uncertainty over the Typhoon’s
long-term future as the QRA platform, based on
its 2030 out of service date (OSD), leading to
speculation that the F-35 Lightning II might take
over the role. The Strategic Defence and Security
Review extended the Typhoon’s OSD for at least
a decade. At the same time, the threat to UK
airspace is likely to continue to evolve. The fast-
est growing threat comes from UAVs, or drones.
Cheap and cheerful drones can be bought online
and potentially converted to deliver explosives
or other hazardous materials into urban areas.
Typhoon is a less than ideal solution to intercept-
ing drones that might be little bigger than a
remotely controlled model aircraft. A helicopter –
or, perhaps in future, another drone – is the most
effective defence against such a target. The RAF
used helicopters as interceptors during the 2012
London Olympics, teaming Puma HC1s with
RAF Regiment snipers to counter potential ‘slow
movers’ – general aviation types, helicopters and,
potentially, drones over the capital. 

www.airforcesdaily.com #335 FEBRUARY 2016 35

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 UK AIR DEFENCE

QRA Duty

On Friday July 24, 2015, while policing Baltic airspace, RAF Typhoons intercepted ten Russian aircraft during
a single Baltic Air Patrol, Quick Reaction Alert mission. The Typhoon FGR4s, from 6 (Fighter) Squadron inter-
cepted these four MiG-31 Foxhounds (No 1) from the 790th IAP at Khotilova, north of Moscow.

The Battle of Britain established the ‘scramble’ in
popular British consciousness through images of
plucky RAF pilots sitting on garden chairs reading
newspapers while waiting for a bell to ring and
set them running to the cockpits of their Spitfires
and Hurricanes.
Fast-forward to 2015, and today’s Typhoon pi-
lots share similar experiences. But, unlike 1940,
when every RAF fighter pilot waited 50 yards from
his aircraft, today only a fraction of the Typhoon
Force is dedicated to QRA at any one time.
Two pairs of Typhoons are held at readiness for
immediate launch at RAF Lossiemouth and RAF
Coningsby. At each, these are the ‘primary pair’,
with a second pair in reserve should the prima-
ries scramble. If an event were so serious that all
eight QRA aircraft were in the air, more Typhoons
would be brought to higher readiness and pilots
called in from other duty.
For pilots, QRA duty involves spending 24 hours
in a crew room 100 yards from the hardened
shelters where the Typhoons are kept ready for
action. While the number of aircraft involved in
immediate QRA duty is small, it soaks up a large
percentage of the RAF’s 120 or so Typhoon pilots.
Every week, 56 pilots stand QRA duty, equivalent
to more than three squadrons’ worth of person-
nel, even without taking into account sickness,
leave and routine training courses.
Radar Net
The military radar element of the UK Air Surveil-
lance and Control System (UKASACS) is based
at six sites stretching from Benbecula in the
Outer Hebrides to the toe of Cornwall. The radar
network is in the process of being renewed with
three new Lockheed Martin AN/TPS-77 radars.
During the Cold War the radar sites were heavily
defended and manned by fighter control person-
nel. Over the past 25 years the network has been
progressively automated and the sites are now
unmanned and linked by real-time data link to the
main reporting and control centre at RAF Boulmer.
The backbone of the network is the Lockheed
Martin Type 92 radar, with units in the remotely
operated radar heads at Benbecula and Buchan,
Aberdeenshire. The Type 92s are being replaced
by the AN/TPS-77s at Brizlee Wood in Northum-
bria, Staxton Wold in North Yorkshire, and
Trimingham in Norfolk, with the first site
scheduled to come on line in 2016.
Further bolstering radar coverage, a BAE Sys-
tems Type 101 is in use at Portreath, Cornwall,
and No 1 Air Control Centre at RAF Scamp-
ton, Lincolnshire, holds mobile radar units at
readiness for overseas deployment or to ‘gap-fill’
around the UK.
Falklands QRA
The RAF also has responsibility for the air defence
of the Falkland Islands, and since the 1982 con-
flict has maintained fighter aircraft and radars,
along with Rapier surface-to-air missiles, to deter
the possibility of Argentine aggression.
Air defence of the Falklands is co-ordinated from
the operations room of the Headquarters British
Forces South Atlantic Islands at RAF Mount Pleas-
ant. Early warning is provided by radars on Mount
Alice, Byron Heights and Mount Kent, the highest
peaks on West and East Falkland. The sites are
connected to Mount Pleasant by data link.
Four Typhoons have been based at Mount
Pleasant – outside the capital, Port Stanley –
since 2007. The pilots of 1435 Flight stand QRA
in much the same way as their counterparts in
the UK. A Voyager tanker is also based there to
extend the Typhoons’ range and endurance.
The major difference in air defence operations on
the Falklands compared to the UK mainland is the
presence of a British Army Rapier Field Standard C
missile battery at RAF Mount Pleasant.
Early in 2015 the British Ministry of Defence
announced it had begun a project to upgrade the
air defence network in the Falklands by the end of
the decade. The fixed radar sites are to have new
Saab Giraffe radars, while the MBDA Future Local
Area Air Defence System (Land) (FLAADS(L)) – a
land-based variant of the Sea Ceptor missile to be
installed on Royal Navy frigates – will replace Rapier.
Baltic Air Policing
The Crimea crisis in March 2014 prompted the
British Government to join NATO efforts to bolster
the defences of the alliance’s members in Eastern
Europe, under the long-running Baltic Air Policing
(BAP) mission – the Typhoon Force joining the NATO
air policing effort to protect Latvia, Estonia and Lithu-
ania on two occasions over the past 18 months.
Early in 2015 the government announced that
RAF Typhoons would return to BAP duty in 2016.
The most recent deployment, to Amari in Estonia
over the summer, lasted four months. It saw No
6 Squadron’s four Typhoons scrambled on 17 oc-
casions to intercept a total of 40 Russian aircraft.
On one occasion the RAF jets intercepted a
formation of ten Russian machines, the largest
encountered by NATO since the beginning of the
current crisis. 

A Typhoon FGR4 still wearing the markings of 1435 Flight at RAF Mount Pleasant touches down at RAF Coningsby after a QRA mission. Note the full missile fit.
All four of the Typhoons that had manned the Falklands QRA since 2007 were replaced by four more modern examples in September 2015. Chris Lofting

36 FEBRUARY 2016 #335 www.airforcesmonthly.com

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1224/15
 OPERATION OKRA

“The Super Hornet to my mind was probably the best

tactical platform in-theatre at the job it was doing, and the
two-seat concept was absolutely validated”

38 FEBRUARY 2016 #335 www.airforcesmonthly.com

38-43 ORK Feb.awgs.indd 38 08/01/2016 16:10


OPERATION
OKRA
An RAAF Super Hornet displays the com-
mon weapons load-out during the first
phase of Operation Okra: two GBU-12
‘Paveway II’ LGBs and two GBU-38 JDAMs
on the underwing pylons, two AIM-9X
Sidewinders on the wingtip rails and an
AIM-120C AMRAAM on the right shoulder
station. The ATFLIR targeting pod occupies
the left shoulder station. All images via RAAF
www.airforcesdaily.com
38-43 ORK Feb.awgs.indd 39
AUSTRALIA’S
WAR ON DAESH
The Royal Australian Air Force has been engaged
in Operation Okra, its contribution to the fight
against Daesh in Iraq, since October 2014, as
Nigel Pittaway reports.
A S PART of Operation Okra, the Royal Australian
Air Force (RAAF) formed an Air Task Group
(ATG) at short notice in mid-September 2014
before deploying to Al Minhad Air Base in the
United Arab Emirates, arriving on September 24. It
began operations just six days later, on October 1.
Air Task Group 630 (ATG 630) initially
comprised six Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornets,
a single Boeing E-7A Wedgetail airborne
early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft
and an Airbus Defence and Space KC-30A
Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT), along with
between 300 and 400 support personnel.
In April 2015 the Super Hornets were replaced
by a similar number of McDonnell Douglas F/A-
18A Hornets. Australian Government approval
to widen air operations to include Daesh targets
in Syria was granted in early September.
The first strike inside Syria was undertaken on
the night of September 11 and RAAF Hornets
had completed 18 sorties within Syrian air-
space, albeit with the release of just two weap-
ons, by the end of the month. Although ATG
630 remains ready to carry out further attacks
on Daesh targets in Syria, no more air strikes
had taken place by the end of November 2015.
By November 21, ATG 630 had flown
998 air strikes against Daesh in Iraq and
Syria, releasing 633 precision-guided
munitions (PGMs) in the process.
ATG Formation & Deployment
Air Task Group 630 deployed from Australia
on September 21, 2014 and was ready for
operations just 19 days after the announce-
OPERATION OKRA
ment by then-Prime Minister Tony Abbott
that Australia would contribute air assets
to the coalition of forces opposing Daesh in
Iraq. Operations were initially conducted
from Al Minhad, before moving to the current
base at Al Dhafra in mid-November 2014.
The deployment of six Super Hornets, the
Wedgetail and KC-30A from Australia to the
UAE, a distance of 6,500nm (12,000km),
was supported by organic RAAF airlift assets.
The initial commander of ATG 630 was Air
Commodore Steve Roberton, who paid
tribute to the rapid formation and deploy-
ment of the force, something that had never
before been achieved by the RAAF alone.
“We went a hell of a long way and we did
it in 19 days, which was well inside the
Australian Defence Force [ADF] preparedness
directives,” he said, following his return to
Australia early last year. That’s not a bad
effort for a small nation like ours. From an
Australian perspective we have never sent
away an air contingent for operations that
was better prepared, better trained or better
equipped, and in that light it was quite a
watershed for the Royal Australian Air Force.”
Given the extremely complex rules of engage-
ment in the operational area it was felt that the
second crewmember in the F/A-18F would be
an initial advantage over the single-seat F/A-
18A. “Having a pilot and WSO [weapon systems
operator] that were able to work through the
rules of engagement and the targeting directive
matrix gave a capability that was really second
to none,” Roberton recalled. “The Super Hornet
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08/01/2016 16:10
 OPERATION OKRA

“Our mantra is that this

is the most precise air
campaign in history, every
weapon we have employed
has either been laser-
guided or GPS-guided”
to my mind was probably the best tactical
platform in-theatre at the job it was doing, and
the two-seat concept was absolutely validated.”
The first change of command occurred in
January when Air Cmdre Glen Braz replaced
Roberton. Braz oversaw the transition to the
single-seat F/A-18A ‘Classic’ Hornet in April, by
which time operational experience had placed
the rules of engagement into perspective.
The ATG’s current commander, Air Cmdre
Stuart Bellingham told AFM that the move
from Super Hornet to ‘Classic’ had been a Above: An E-7A Wedgetail AEW&C prepares to leave for another sortie over Iraq and Syria. The single E-7A
deployed has demonstrated a mission success rate of around 95% in the first year of operations, and in
smooth one and tasking remained identical. November set a record for the longest mission, with a sortie lasting 17.1 hours.
“The single-seat guys in the ‘Classic’ Hornet
haven’t seen any change to how they’re
executing the task they’re given,” he said. “As
Super Hornet
we’ve grown to understand the environment
and apply the lessons learned from previous
rotations, we’re better able to prepare sub-
sequent rotations. It’s translating into very
successful missions and a highly effective
employment of weapons in the kinetic space.”
Strike weapons initially deployed with
the first rotation were the 500lb GBU-12
Paveway II laser-guided bomb (LGB) and
500lb GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munition
Six Super Hornets led the first deployment of Operation Okra in September 2014 and remained in-
(JDAM), although Bellingham declined
theatre until relieved by a similar number of F/A-18A ‘Classic’ Hornets in April.
to discuss specific weapons types in use
today for operationally sensitive reasons. Six Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornets from 1 Squad- (JHMCS) and Link 16 Tactical Data Link.
“Our mantra is that this is the most precise ron at Amberley ferried to the Middle East on The first strike against an Daesh target, on
air campaign in history, every weapon we September 14, 2014 marking the first operational October 8, marked the beginning of ATG offensive
deployment of the type in RAAF service. Aus- operations and the first RAAF attack operation
have employed has either been laser-guided
tralia’s Super Hornets are Block II jets, fitted with since 2003, when F/A-18A Hornets were used
or GPS-guided, and we’re achieving really
Raytheon’s APG-79 active electronically scanned against the forces of Saddam Hussein.
good effects with those weapons,” he said.
array (AESA) radar and are almost identical to By January 1, 2015 the Super Hornets had flown

Current operations their US Navy counterparts, thereby conferring the

Mission success rates for the RAAF platforms
deployed on Operation Okra have been above
95%, which is remarkable, given that there
is only one KC-30A and one Wedgetail at Al
Dhafra at any given time, the ‘Classic’ Hornets
are now 30 years old and all three types are
more than 6,000 miles (9,660km) from the
nearest Australian main operating base.
Based at Tindal in the Northern
highest level of commonality and interoperability.
The RAAF employs the standard array of US
Navy weapons, including GBU-12 and GBU-38
PGMs and the Raytheon AIM-120 AMRAAM
and AIM-9X Sidewinder for self-defence. Like
the US Navy jets, Australian Super Hornets use
Raytheon’s ASQ-228 Advanced Targeting Forward-
Looking Infra Red (ATFLIR) pod, in conjunction
with the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System
223 missions, of an average 7.8-hour duration
(the longest mission being 10.4 hours) and had
employed 103 GBU-38 JDAMs, 34 GBU-12 Pave-
way IIs and 154 rounds of 20mm ammunition.
Some operations were flown alongside the ‘Clas-
sic’ Hornets in March, during the transition period
to the single-seat jet, but the Super Hornet force
had returned home by early May. In the six-month
deployment, the six aircraft flew 418 sorties for
3,361 hours and had expended 278 munitions. 

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Wedgetail
Based on the commercial Boeing 737-700 fuselage, the Wedgetail has provision for up to ten operators,
seated at identical and reconfigurable workstations. Average mission length on Operation Okra sorties
is around 13 hours.
When the first Boeing E-7A Wedgetail, from 2
Squadron at Williamtown, deployed to the Gulf it
was still a developing capability. The project did
not achieve final operational capability (FOC) until
the end of May 2015 – by which time the single
aircraft had clocked up more than 100 operational
sorties and 1,200 flying hours in-theatre.
It has rapidly gained a reputation as the AEW&C
platform of choice, owing to the capabilities of its
primary sensor, the Northrop Grumman Multi-role
Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) radar and
inherent serviceability.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that it requires three
USAF E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning And Control
System (AWACS) platforms to provide the same
rate of effort as the single Wedgetail and the plat-
Above: A ‘Classic’ F/A-18A is prepared for another
mission. One of the major challenges faced by
the RAAF Air Task Group based in the United Arab
Emirates is maintaining operations in summer-
time temperatures which regularly exceed 50oC.
Below: Australia has six Boeing E-7A Wedgetails,
home-based at RAAF Williamtown with 2 Squad-
ron. One aircraft has been deployed in the
Middle East, supporting coalition strike
packages as part of Operation
Okra since September 2014.
www.airforcesdaily.com
38-43 ORK Feb.awgs.indd 41
form is highly sought after by the US-led C2 system.
One modification as a result of operational
experience in the MEO has been the inclusion of
an interim internet protocol (IP) chat capability,
which enables text communication (in addition to
voice connectivity) with the in-theatre combined air
operations centre (CAOC).
The E-7A has recently been cleared for air-to-air
refuelling with the KC-30A and has already taken
fuel on operations. A typical mission lasts ap-
proximately 13 hours, but on November 11, 2015
the deployed aircraft set a record 17.1 hours on an
operation over Iraq and Syria.
To November 21, the Wedgetail element of the
ATG had contributed 160 sorties and 1,946 hours
to the Coalition air campaign. 
Above: Pictured during a period of aircraft rotation between Australia and the Middle East Area of Opera-
tions, two E-7As occupy the ramp at the same time. The serviceability rate and capability of the newer
Wedgetail platform has attracted the attention of other AEW&C operators in-theatre, including the USAF.
OPERATION OKRA
Territory, 75 Squadron led the first F/A-18A
deployment in April, but crews, and maintenance
and support personnel effectively came from all
the ‘Classic’ Hornet squadrons within Air Combat
Group. Aircraft are rotated home according to
maintenance requirements and replaced by
fresh jets to maintain the number of strike aircraft
available at six. Personnel are rotated wherever
possible in ‘blocks’, but the standard length of
deployment is between three and six months.
Bellingham said the ‘Classic’ Hornet is
currently achieving a mission success rate
of 98%, which is comparable to the much
newer F/A-18F. “It’s an ageing aeroplane
but it’s doing a fantastic job. The F/A-18A
has had a number of avionics upgrades over
the years, which make it an extremely effec-
tive aircraft and in terms of any differences
between the Super and the ‘Classic’, there
are none in terms of the effect that we’re
delivering in combating Daesh,” he added.
“It is challenging, but we’re learning lots
of lessons as we go and the logistics and
engineering support has been sensational.
It’s another highlight of what we’ve learned
and how we are applying that expeditionary
Air Task Group model in the Middle East.”
The KC-30A is one of only five currently in the
RAAF inventory (another two are on order) and
given that one aircraft has spent an extended peri-
od in the US in recent months supporting F-35A
refuelling trials, and the fleet is undergoing a boom
upgrade programme, it is performing very well.
In the 12 months of Operation Okra the
single aircraft has offloaded more than 37
million pounds of fuel to tactical aircraft
in-theatre, including RAAF Hornets and
Super Hornets, but it also regularly supports
aircraft from the US Navy and Marines,
the UK, Canada and France, using its hose
and drogue equipment under Clearance
with Limited Evidence (CLE) methodology.
Mission success rate is in the order of 97%.
Most recently, the KC-30A’s Aerial Refuelling
Boom System (ARBS) has been cleared for use
with the Wedgetail and air-to-air refuelling oper-
ations have already been undertaken in-theatre.
“The KC-30A is doing an outstanding job, it’s
quite an amazing capability and it fits really well
into the Coalition and really is a force multiplier,”
Bellingham enthused. “I’m proud of the tanker
crews and the value they have brought to not just
the Task Group, but to Coalition airpower. It’s a
great aircraft that’s providing excellent support.”
#335 FEBRUARY 2016 41
08/01/2016 16:10
 OPERATION OKRA

The lone Wedgetail is proving to be a capable

command and control platform. With a mission Hornet
success rate of around 95% it had flown almost
2,000 hours in support of Operation Okra by
late November 2015. “The airspace has been
very complex from day one, even without the
addition of the Russians coming into Syria,”
Bellingham said. “With that added complexity,
it is extremely valuable to have airborne C2, and
the E-7A is contributing really well in that space.”

Russian Intervention
The introduction of Russian combat aircraft
into Syrian airspace has not only made
Coalition operations more complicated, but
the downing of a Su-24 Fencer by the Turkish
Air Force has increased tension.
However, Bellingham said: “We haven’t changed
anything we’re doing for the moment and it won’t
change anything for the current operations,”
although there had been no RAAF air strikes inside
Syria in the immediate aftermath of the shoot-
down. Obviously we’re concerned about the inci-
dent and we’re very keen for the relevant parties,
Turkey and Russia, to exercise restraint,” he said.
“Russia coming into Syria has made Syrian
airspace a little bit more complex, but our
rules of engagement in relation to how
we’re operating haven’t changed. We are
deconflicting our operations with those of
the Russians. The MoU [memorandum of
understanding] that’s in place between the
US and the Russians has been very effective
and has supported good co-ordination, or
deconfliction if you like, of the US-led Coalition
air efforts and the Russian air efforts, so our
rules of engagement remain constant and we
will continue to conduct air operations against
Daesh across Syria and Iraq unchanged.”
Below: An RAAF F/A-18F Super Hornet refuels from a KC-30A over Baghdad in an early night-time mission
against Islamic State targets in late 2014.
Despite being in service for 30 years, the six F/A-18A ‘Classic’ Hornets deployed on Operation Okra
have demonstrated a mission success rate of 98% during more than six months of operations, which is
comparable with that of the much newer Super Hornet. Here an F/A-18A loaded with four GBU-38 JDAM
weapons prepares to take fuel from a USAF KC-135R.
Australia’s F/A-18A/B ‘Classic’ Hornet force is the wing pylons and the Elta EL-L/8222 electronic
now three decades old, but in that time it has countermeasures (ECM) pod. The ‘Classic’ Hornet
undergone an extensive and incremental series uses Northrop Grumman’s AAQ-28 Litening AT
of updates under the Hornet Upgrade (HUG) (Advanced Targeting) pod and although it employs
programme, modernising the jets’ avionics, sen- the same strike weapons in the Operation Okra
sors and weapons. Among these upgrades was context, the single-seat Hornet uses the MBDA AS-
replacement of the original APG-65 radar with the RAAM as its within-visual-range air-to-air weapon.
Raytheon APG-73 which, although mechanically The first rotation of ‘Classic’ Hornets arrived in the-
scanned, is regarded as a very capable system. atre in March 2015, led by 75 Squadron. The two
The HUG also included several flight control Williamtown-based squadrons, Nos 3 and 77, are
software upgrades, the addition of colour cockpit following it in turn. Operations against Daesh began
displays, Link 16 Multifunctional Information Dis- that same month, initially in mixed formations with
tribution System (MIDS), a new countermeasures Super Hornets. By November 21 the six available
dispensing system (CMDS), tactical aircraft moving aircraft had flown 998 sorties for 7,652 hours, and
map capability (TAMMAC) display and JHMCS. expended 633 munitions. Of this total, 18 sorties,
Self-defence systems include the Raytheon ALR- for 143 hours, were flown against Daesh targets in
67 radar warning receiver, SAAB BOL CMDS on Syria, with the employment of two PGMs. 

“I’m really proud of the

tanker crews and the value
they have brought to not
just the Task Group, but to
Coalition airpower”

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 OPERATION OKRA

The KC-30A is cleared to refuel all the coalition strike aircraft that use the hose and drogue method of refuel-
ling under operational contingency clearances (Clearances with Limited Evidence), including RAF Tornados.
Challenges
Conducting sustained air combat operations at a
long distance from any major Australian air base
and in the harsh climatic conditions found in the
Middle East has been ATG 630’s major challenge.
“To deliver the effect that we need to deliver
day in, day out and to achieve the rates of
success that we aim for, and are fulfilling,
the logistics and engineering that underpin
what we do are probably among the great-
est challenges, but also one of the real
success stories,” Bellingham described.
“And we’ve worked in environmentally
extreme conditions as well – the summer here
was brutal, with temperatures in excess of
50°C on the tarmac. I’m really proud of
how we’ve done our business, how we’ve
Above: A KC-30A crew conducts air-to-air refuelling operations over Iraq. RAAF KC-30As have two Air
sustained a high degree of success and Refuelling Operator (ARO) stations on the flight deck to provide a level of mission redundancy and to
how we continue to support Coalition air accommodate training.
operations in the Middle East region.”

Future developments KC-30A

With no end in sight for the air campaign Another platform under development when first capability, but is also a reflection on RAAF tanker
against Daesh, ATG 630 will continue to rotate deployed to the Middle East was the KC-30A MRTT, crews, who have been proactive in their use of the
aircraft and personnel to the Middle East a single example of which is contributed by 33 aircraft, rather than maintaining a traditional tanker
Area of Operations (MEO) for the foreseeable Squadron at Amberley. The KC-30A had been in racetrack pattern. Contingency clearances for the
future. At some point, the ‘Classic’ Hornet will the midst of a remediation programme for its fly- full range of coalition tactical hose-and-drogue
be replaced by a second deployment of Super by-wire ARBS system when it was sent to the MEO receivers has now been obtained and the KC-30A
and had only been cleared for hose and drogue regularly supports US Hornets, Super Hornets,
Hornets, but it is the management of personnel
operations with RAAF Hornets and Super Hornets. EA-6B Prowlers and AV-8 Harriers, as well as
that will need continuing and careful planning
It was also on the Australian Government’s Projects RAF Tornados, French Mirage 2000s and Rafales,
to ensure the sustainability of operations.
of Concern list until March 2015. and Canadian Hornets. Early in the operation the
“Future rotations are all going to be
The aircraft has matured rapidly on operations single aircraft set a record for offloading 220,000lb
determined by the campaign. We have over Syria and Iraq, to the point where it is report- (100,000kg) of fuel in a single day, in the course
set up our operation to ensure we have a edly the tanker of choice for Coalition fighters of two sorties. By November 21 the deployed
sustainable and enduring model but, looking using the hose-and-drogue method of refuelling. KC-30A had flown 459 sorties for 3,635 hours, and
down the track, I’m not aware of where that This is due to its reliability, endurance and offload offloaded 37,142,111lb (16,847,000kg) of fuel. 
line in the sand is drawn or what the future
rotation model will be,” Bellingham said.
“It’s a team effort here; from the support
base back home, Joint Operations Command,
the wider Air Force and Air Command, and
then the whole Australian Defence Force
(ADF) team deployed across the Middle
East region that is providing support to
all aspects of what we’re doing over here.
The whole ADF team is outstanding and
it’s been a pleasure to be a part of it.”
In conclusion, Bellingham said: “I don’t have
a crystal ball, so I can’t foresee where the cam-
paign is heading. But what I do know is that we
are making a difference in the effects that we’re The KC-30A has become the coalition tanker of choice according to senior RAAF officers, not only due
delivering. We’re putting significant pres- to the reliability of the platform and large fuel offload capacity, but also for the innovation of Australian
afm crews, who are operating the aircraft in a different manner to the standard tanker ‘racetrack’ pattern.
sure on Daesh and it is having an effect.”

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 Combat E
US AIR FORCE TACTICAL AIRPOWER

USAF TACAIR

M ORE THAN 25 years have passed since the

Cold War ended, and in that time the US has
greatly reduced the size of its military forces. Cuts
have whittled down the number of US Air Force
(USAF) fighter squadrons by more than 70%.
Most of inactivations occurred shortly after
Operation Desert Storm in 1991, although
between 2001 and 2012 the USAF’s fleet of
fighter-class aircraft – comprising the A-10,
F-15, F-16 and F-22 – was reduced by almost
20% from some 2,500 to around 2,000; it
currently includes fewer than 1,150 combat-
coded (primary fighter mission) aircraft.
The loss of this capability has been partially
offset by the addition of new capabilities, includ-
ing GPS- and other precision-guided weapons,
and targeting pods. However, continued
deployments and combat operations have
put a strain on the fleet and its personnel.
As a result, the USAF now relies heavily on Air
Force Reserve Command (AFRC) and the Air
specified a requirement for 971 fighters assigned
to 26 active duty and 22 reserve component
fighter squadrons. The plan called for retiring
the entire A-10 fleet by 2019, with the majority
of the stand-downs occurring in Fiscal Year
2015 and FY16, when 164 aircraft would be
divested, along with 51 F-15s. The remaining
A-10s would be retired over a three-year period.
As part of its justification for the A-10
withdrawal, the USAF claimed other aircraft,
including B-1Bs, equipped with precision-
guided munitions (PGMs), would offset the loss
of the type’s close air support (CAS) capability.
However, the A-10 retirement was temporarily
halted when elected officials refused to approve
the plan, although the National Defense Authori-
zation Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2015 did per-
mit the service to place 36 A-10Cs into Backup
Aircraft Inventory (BAI) status. Ultimately only

National Guard (ANG) to meet its commitments. 18 aircraft, comprising nine at Davis-Monthan
Limited procurement funding has also forced AFB, Arizona, six at Moody AFB, Georgia, and
it to retain legacy aircraft longer than planned three at Nellis AFB, Nevada, were affected.
and to modify them to extend their service lives. At the end of FY14, which finished on Septem-
In response to the US Government’s 2012 ber 30, 2014, the total inventory included 1,962
Defense Strategic Guidance (DSG), which fighter and attack aircraft and the average age
imposed a reduction of $487 billion in defence of the fleet had reached 21.6 years. Split across
spending over ten years, the Air Force rebal- all commands, the fleet included 1,273 fighters
anced its force structure across its core func- assigned to active component squadrons,
tions, resulting in the current Primary Mission 585 to the ANG and 104 to the AFRC.
Aircraft Inventory (PMAI) requirement of 1,100
and Total Active Inventory (TAI) of 1,900 fighters. USAF Fighters – 30 Sept 2014
Considered a blueprint for the joint force of
Inventory
2020, the DSG also emphasised a shift in geo-
Type Average Active ANG AFRC Total
graphical priorities towards the Asia and Pacific
Age (years)
region, while retaining focus on the Middle East.
A-10C 32.5 159 91 47 297
In February 2012, Secretary of the Air Force
Michael B Donley announced that 102 A-10s F-15C 29.6 101 112 0 213
and 21 F-16s would be retired. Between April F-15D 29.5 13 23 0 36
2013 and May 2014, 49 additional A-10Cs F-15E 24.2 220 0 0 220
F-15Es are the USAF’s primary air-to-ground fighter/
were placed in storage. Subsequent fiscal F-16C 23.8 465 294 55 814 bomber. There are three front-line wings flying
constraints led the service to propose the dives- F-16D 23.7 110 45 2 157 the ‘Mud Hens’ as they are known in the USAF – at
titure of 334 additional fighter-class aircraft Seymour Johnson AFB, Mountain Home AFB in the
F-22A 7.7 167 20 0 187
as part of its Fiscal 2015 budget proposal. States and RAF Lakenheath in the UK. They have
F-35A 1.8 38 0 0 38
The suggested reduction aligned with the all been very active on combat ops in recent years.
2014 Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR), which Total 1,273 585 104 1,962 Rick Llinares

44 FEBRUARY 2016 #335 www.airforcesmonthly.com

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Edge
US AIR FORCE TACTICAL AIRPOWER

Tom Kaminski examines

US Air Force tactical
airpower, which today
relies on precision-guided
munitions employed by a
reduced fleet of fast
jet and RPA
platforms.

www.airforcesdaily.com #335 FEBRUARY 2016 45

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 US AIR FORCE TACTICAL AIRPOWER

Air Combat Command (ACC) – Joint Base Langley-Eustis, VA

Wing/Group Sqn Location Aircraft Code 95th FS Tyndall AFB, FL F-22A
USAF Warfare Center (USAFW/OGC) – Nellis AFB, NV Air National Guard (ANG) Units – JB Andrews-NAF Washington, MD
53rd WG Eglin AFB, FL 104th FW/OG 131st FS Westfield Barnes AP/ F-15C/D MA
53rd TEG Nellis AFB, NV ANGB, MA (*2)
31st TES (*1) Edwards AFB, CA F-22A, F-35A ED/ 113th WG/ 121st FS JB Andrews-NAF F-16C/D (Blk 30) DC
OT OG Washington, MD (*2)

85th TES Eglin AFB, FL F-15C/E, OT 122rd FW/OG 163d FS Fort Wayne IAP, IN A-10C IN
F-16C/D (Blk 127th WG/ 107th FS Selfridge ANGB, A-10C MI
40/50) OG Mount Clemens, MI
422d TES Nellis AFB, NV A-10C, F-16C/D OT 169th FW/OG 157th FS McEntire JNGS,
(Blk 42/52) Eastover, SC (*2)
57th WG Nellis AFB, NV F-15C/D/E, 175th WG/ 104th FS Martin SA/Warfield A-10C MD
F-22A, F-35A OG ANGB, Baltimore, MD
USAF ADS Nellis AFB, NV F-16C/D (Blk 52) 180th FW/OG 112th FS Toledo Express AP, F-16C/D (Blk 42)
57th ATG 64th AGRS Nellis AFB, NV F-16C/D (Blk WA Swanton, OH (*2)
25/32/42) 187th FW/OG 100th FS Montgomery RA - F-16C/D (Blk 30) AL
USAFWS Nellis AFB, NV Dannelly Field, AL

16th WPS Nellis AFB, NV F-16C (Blk WA 192nd FW/OG 149th FS (*4) JB Langley-Eustis, VA F-22A
42/52), F-16D Twelfth Air Force/Air Forces Southern (12AF/AFSOUTH) – Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ
(Blk 52), F-35A 355th FW/OG 354th FS Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ A-10C DM
17th WPS Nellis AFB, NV F-15E WA 357th FS Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ A-10C
66th WPS Nellis AFB, NV A-10C WA (FTU)
433d WPS (*1) Nellis AFB, NV F-15C/D, F-22A WA 366th FW/OG 389th FS Mountain Home F-15E MO
AFB, ID
AATC Tucson IAP, AZ F-16C/D (Blk 32) AT
391st FS Mountain Home F-15E
Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ A-10C DP
AFB, ID
First Air Force/Air Forces Northern (1AF/AFNORTH) (ANG) – Tyndall AFB, FL
428th FS Mountain Home F-15SG
Air National Guard (ANG) Units - JB Andrews-NAF Washington, MD AFB, ID
125th FW/OG 159th FS Jacksonville IAP, FL F-15C/D 388th FW/OG 4th FS Hill AFB, UT F-16C/D (Blk 40) HL
Det. 1 Homestead ARB, FL (*2) F-15C (*6)
142nd FW/ 123d FS Portland IAP/ANGB, F-15C/D 34th FS Hill AFB, UT F-35A
OG OR (*2) 421st FS Hill AFB, UT F-16C/D (Blk 40)
144th FW/OG 194th FS Fresno-Yosemite F-15C/D Air National Guard (ANG) Units – JB Andrews-NAF Washington, MD
IAP/ANGB, CA
114th FW/OG 175th FS Sioux Falls RA - Joe F-16C/D (Blk 40)
148th FW/OG 179th FS Duluth IAP /ANGB, F-16C (Blk 50) Foss Field, SD
MN (*2)
Det. 1 March ARB, CA (*2) F-16C
158th FW/OG 134th FS Burlington IAP, VT F-16C (Blk 30)
115th FW/OG 176th FS Dane County F-16C (Blk 30) WI
177th FW/OG 119th FS Atlantic City IAP/ F-16C (Blk 30) RA -Truax Field,
ANGB, NJ (*2) Madison, WI (*2)
Ninth Air Force (9AF) – Shaw AFB, SC 124th FW/OG 190th FS Boise Airport- A-10C ID
1st FW/OG 27th FS JB Langley-Eustis, VA F-22A FF Gowen Field, ID
94th FS JB Langley-Eustis, VA F-22A 138th FW/OG 125th FS Tulsa IAP, OK F-16C/D (Blk 42) OK
4th FW/OG 333d FS Seymour Johnson F-15E SJ Det. 1 Ellington Field JRB, F-16C/D (Blk 42)
(FTU) AFB, NC TX (*2)
334th FS Seymour Johnson F-15E 140th WG/ 120th FS Buckley AFB, Aurora, F-16C (Blk 30) CO
(FTU) AFB, NC OG CO (*2)
335th FS Seymour Johnson F-15E 159th FW/OG 122d FS NAS JRB New F-15C/D JZ
AFB, NC Orleans, LA (*2)
336th FS Seymour Johnson F-15E Tenth Air Force (10AF) – NAS JRB Fort Worth/Carswell Field, TX
AFB, NC Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) Units – Robins AFB, GA (*7)
20th FW/OG 55th FS Shaw AFB, SC F-16C/D (Blk 50) SW 301st FW/OG 457th FS NAS JRB Fort Worth/ F-16C/D (Blk 30) TX
77th FS Shaw AFB, SC F-16C/D (Blk 50) Carswell Field, TX
79th FS Shaw AFB, SC F-16C/D (Blk 50) 44th FG 301st FS (*8) Tyndall AFB, FL F-22A TY
495th FG (*3) Shaw AFB, SC 419th FW/OG 466th FS (*9) Hill AFB, UT F-16C/D (Blk 40) HL
Det. 100 Dannelly Field, AL F-16C (Blk 30) 442nd FW/OG 303rd FS Whiteman AFB, MO A-10C KC
Det. 134 Burlington IAP, VT F-16C (Blk 30) 476th FG 76th FS (*10) Moody AFB, GA A-10C FT
Det. 157 McEntire JNGS , SC F-16C (Blk 52) 482nd FW/OG 93rd FS Homestead ARB, FL F-16C/D (Blk 30) FM

Det. 303 Whiteman AFB, MO A-10C 926th OG 706th FS Nellis AFB, NV A-10C, F-16C/D, WA
(*11) F-15C/D/E, F-22A
Det. 457 NAS JRB Fort Worth, TX F-16C (Blk 30)
84th TES Eglin AFB, FL F-15C/E, F-16C/D OT
367th FS Homestead ARB, FL F-16C (Blk 30) (*12) (Blk 40/50)
378th FS Dane County RA, WI F-16C (Blk 30) 944th FW/OG (*13) Luke AFB, AZ LF
23rd WG/FG 74th FS Moody AFB, GA A-10C FT 924th FG 47th FS (FTU) Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ A-10C DP
75th FS Moody AFB, GA A-10C 414th FG 307th FS Seymour Johnson F-15E SJ
325th FW/OG 43d FS (FTU) Tyndall AFB, FL F-22A TY (*14) AFB, NC

Notes: *1: Utilizes aircraft borrowed from host 412th TW/OG. *2: Aerospace Control Alert (ACA) site. *3: Active associate squadron. *4: Wing operates F-22A
as an associate to the 1st FW/OG. *5: Squadron supports Republic of Singapore training. *6: The 4th FS will transition to the F-35A in Fiscal 2016. *7: AFRC’s
301st FW/OG, 419th FW/OG and 442d FW/OG are gained by 12th AF. 482d FW/OG is gained by 9th AF and 926th Group is gained by 57th Wing/OG. *8:
44th Fighter Group is an associate unit and is integrated with the 325th FW/OG. *9: Wing operates F-16C (Blk 40) as an associate to the 388th FW/OG. *10:
Squadron operates as an associate to the 23d FG. *11: 706th FS is an associate unit and is integrated with the 57th Wing/OG. *12: 84th TES is an associate
unit and is integrated with the 53d Wing/OG. *13: 944th FW/OG is AETC gained. *14: Associate unit supports ACC training operations.

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The USAF’s FY15 budget submission included

a plan to retire the entire A-10C fleet by 2019.
In support of the plan the budget removed
funding for proposed A-10 upgrades, but
continued to fund modifications required to
keep the aircraft viable until its retirement.
As part of its FY16 budget request the USAF
once again proposed retiring the A-10, citing
the need to free up maintainers for the F-35A
Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) – and cost savings of
$4.7 billion by 2019. This time the plan called
for withdrawing the aircraft over four years, with
164 ‘Warthogs’ removed from service in 2016.
Calling the Air Force’s attempt to retire the
aircraft “misguided”, lawmakers again rejected
the plan. This time a provision in the defence
spending bill required the new Secretary of the
Air Force, Deborah Lee James, to “maintain
a minimum of 171 A-10 aircraft in primary
mission aircraft inventory” and prohibited the
movement of “more than 18 A-10 aircraft in the Above: A pair of 56th FW F-16s from Luke AFB go through their final checks prior to a night mission. Having
active component to back-up flying status”. taken on the F-35 training mission, Luke is slowly swapping out F-16 units for F-35 squadrons. Joe Copalman
It also directed her to “commission an Below: The future of the A-10A is not looking good, and a decision on the aircraft will be made later this
independent entity outside the Department year. The Arkansas ANG lost its A-10As in early 2014, when the 188th Fighter Wing traded its jets for the
MQ-9 Reaper. USAF
of Defense to conduct an assessment of the
required capabilities and mission platform
to replace the A-10 aircraft”. Submission
of that report is due by September 30. The
NDAA also provided full funding for A-10
operations, maintenance and modifications.

Purchase plans
Ultimately the USAF aims to buy 1,763 F-35As
by 2038 – and the Lightning II will completely
replace the F-16C and A-10C. In accordance with
the Annual Aviation Inventory and Funding Plan
for Fiscal Years 2016-45, the USAF will procure
272 F-35As during the Future Year Defense
Programs (FYDPs) that run from 2016 to 2020.
Annual F-35A purchases continue to increase
and in FY16 the service will procure 44 aircraft. Inherent Resolve over Syria and Iraq. The need
Full-rate production is scheduled to begin in Total Fighter Inventory 2015 to support these missions has led to increased
2019 and plans call for the purchase of 60 Role Inventory reliance on the A-10C, and Air Combat Command
F-35As until 2021 and 80 annually from 2022. (ACC) commander General Herbert J ‘Hawk’ Carl-
Mission 1,141
Despite its shift towards the Pacific theatre, the isle recently admitted that demand for the aircraft
US has been forced to adjust its plans for Europe Training 436 means the Air Force may be forced to delay its
after recent Russian incursions in Crimea and Research, Development, Test & 116 controversial plans to retire it in two to three years.
eastern Ukraine. In response, it has increased its Evaluation (RDT&E) As recently as December 2, Deborah Lee
support to European security and its NATO allies Back-up (attrition reserve and other 272
James referred to the A-10 when she said:
as part of the European Reassurance Initiative and primary aircraft) “We’re using it, rotating it into the Middle
Operation Atlantic Resolve by deploying assets Eastern theatre. It’s doing a good job for us.
Total Aircraft 1,965
from its stateside units. These Theatre Security So that’s a reason to keep it a bit longer.”
Packages (TSPs) have seen A-10Cs, F-15Cs, Active Component 1,274 Facing a $17 billion reduction in funding in
F-16Cs and F-22As deployed to bases throughout Reserve Component 691 2017, the service will likely put the aircraft on
Europe. At the same time, the service has been the chopping block again as it tries to preserve
forced to expand its commitment to Operation 1,965 funding for other projects, including the F-35A.
Below: As the 56th FW’s first F-35 squadron, the
61st FS spent its first year training new instructors
to fill the squadron’s ranks, with the first class of
students converting to the F-35 in May 2015. Joe
Copalman

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Combat Forces
The largest of ten Major Commands (MAJCOMs)
that comprise the USAF, ACC is headquartered
at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. To support
global implementation of national security strate-
gy it operates fighter, intelligence, surveillance and
reconnaissance, battle management and elec-
tronic combat aircraft. It also provides command,
control, communications and intelligence sys-
tems and conducts global information operations.
Since its creation through the merger of Tacti-
cal Air Command and Strategic Air Command
on June 1, 1992, there have been numerous
changes to ACC’s organisation. Responsibility
for the B-52H and B-2A bombers, along with
the Eighth Air Force, was reassigned to Air
Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) in
February 2010. On October 1, 2015, ACC’s
B-1B bombers also passed to AFGSC.
Air Combat Command is the lead
agency for Combat Air Forces and serves as
the primary force provider for the Combatant A pair of 33rd FW F-35As fly alongside two F-16CM Block 40s of the Hill AFB’s 388th FW/421st ‘Black
Commands (CCMDs) and North American Widows’. The unit’s F-16s are now equipped with the HARM targeting system and the Sniper targeting pod.
Hill is now transitioning to the F-35A. USAF
Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).
According to its online mission state-
Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) - Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, HI ment, ACC “organises, trains, equips and
WG/Group Sqn Location Aircraft Code maintains combat-ready forces for rapid
15th WG/OG 19th FS (*15) JB Pearl Harbor-Hickam, HI F-22A HH deployment and employment while ensur-
ing strategic air defence forces are ready
Fifth Air Force (5AF) - Yokota AB, Japan
to meet the challenges of peacetime air
18th WG/OG 44th FS Kadena AB, Okinawa (Japan) F-15C/D ZZ sovereignty and wartime air defence”.
67th FS Kadena AB, Okinawa F-15C/D The command’s numbered air forces (NAF)
35th FW/OG 13th FS Misawa AB, Japan F-16C/D (Blk 50) WW provide the air components to US Northern
14th FS Misawa AB, Japan F-16C/D (Blk 50) Command (NORTHCOM), US Central
Seventh Air Force/Air Forces Korea (7AF/AFKOR) - Osan AB, Republic of Korea Command (CENTCOM) and US Southern
Command (SOUTHCOM), and augment
8th FW/OG 35th FS Kunsan AB, Republic of Korea F-16C/D (Blk 40)
the forces permanently assigned to US
80th FS Kunsan AB, Republic of Korea F-16C/D (Blk 40)
European, African and Pacific Commands.
51st FW/OG 25th FS Osan AB, Republic of Korea A-10C OS As well as combat-coded fighter and strike air-
36th FS Osan AB, Republic of Korea F-16C/D (Blk 50) craft, ACC is responsible for the Formal Training
Eleventh Air Force (11AF) - Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, AK Units (FTUs) that provide conversion/type train-
3rd WG/OG 90th FS JB Elmendorf-Richardson, AK (*2) F-22A AK ing for the F-15E, F-22A and A-10C. The FTUs
525th FS JB Elmendorf-Richardson, AK F-22A
for the F-15C, F-16C and F-35A are assigned to
Air Education and Training Command (AETC).
354th FW/OG 18th AGRS Eielson AFB, AK F-16C/D (Blk 30) AK
Air Combat Command’s forces are
Air National Guard (ANG) Units - JB Andrews-NAF Washington, MD organised under a direct reporting unit,
154th Wing/OG 199th FS JB Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii (*3) F-22A HH four NAFs and – when mobilised – an AFRC
Tenth Air Force (10AF) - NAS JRB Fort Worth/Carswell Field, TX numbered air force. Its NAFs control Active
Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) Units - Robins AFB, GA Component (AC) wings and gain Air Reserve
477th FG 302nd FS (*16) JB Elmendorf-Richardson, AK F-22A AK
Component (ARC) organisations compris-
ing ANG and AFRC wings and groups.
Note: *15: Active associate unit operates F-22A assigned to the Hawaii Air National Guard’s co-located Each of the USAF’s MAJCOMs reports to
199th FS. *16: Squadron operates F-22A as an associate to the co-located 3rd Wing. the Secretary of the Air Force via the Air Force
Below: The 57th Wing at Nellis AFB flew F-15C/Ds in Chief of Staff, and most provide operational
the aggressor role with the 65th AGRS until the unit forces to the nine Unified Combatant Com-
was inactivated on September 26, 2014, due mands (UCCs) or to Sub-Unified Commands.
to budget cuts. Ted Carlson Those MAJCOMs are known as Component

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 US AIR FORCE TACTICAL AIRPOWER

Major Commands (C-MAJCOM) and their Above: Deployments still continue to Bagram AB in Afghanistan to support Afghan and other allied troops
forces can be assigned to NAFs or Component there. The 421st FS F-16s were in evidence during late 2015, this example is seen departing with an AGM-
Numbered or Named Air Forces (C-NAFs). 65 Maverick under its starboard wing. USAF
Whereas the NAF is generally focused Below: Air Combat Command saw its B-1Bs reassigned to the Air Force Global Strike Command on October
1, 2015. The Lancer is now equipped with the Sniper targeting pod, and will help to fill the gap left by the
on ensuring the readiness of assigned
A-10s if they are retired in the near future. USAF
forces and preparing them for deployment
and employment, the C-NAF is tasked with
performing an operational and war fighting
mission in support of a UCC. The C-NAF
plans, commands, controls and executes air,
space and information capabilities in support
of the full range of military operations.
In addition to ACC, tactical fighters are
assigned to the Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) and
US Air Forces Europe/Air Forces Africa (USAFE/
AFAFRICA). Serving as the USAF component
of US Pacific Command (PACOM), PACAF
is allocated three NAFs at bases in Alaska,
Japan and the Republic of Korea (RoK). Its
area of responsibility spans more than 100
million square miles extending from the US
west coast to the east coast of Africa and from
the Arctic to the Antarctic. Headquartered
at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii,
PACAF is responsible for fighter wings located
in Alaska, Hawaii, Japan and the RoK.
Serving as the USAF component of US
European Command (EUCOM) and US
Africa Command (AFRICOM), USAFE/
AFAFRICA’s area of responsibility includes
Iceland, Europe, the Mediterranean, the defence of the contiguous US (CONUS), the objectives for USCENTCOM’s 20-nation area
Middle East and the African continent. US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. As the of responsibility in Southwest Asia.
Headquartered at Ramstein Air Base (AB), Continental United States Region (CONR) Twelfth Air Force/Air Forces Southern
Germany, it directs air operations in a theatre for NORAD, it provides air defence through (12AF/AFSOUTH) is headquartered at
covering more than 19 million square miles airspace surveillance and airspace control. Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona. As a C-NAF it
and containing more than 100 independent The two defence sectors under CONR’s serves as the air component for SOUTHCOM
countries on three continents. Its USAFE responsibility are the Western Air Defense and is responsible for three AC fighter wings
component is the oldest of the USAF’s ten Sector (WADS), headquartered at Joint Base as well as the mission readiness of gained
MAJCOMs and is responsible for a single NAF. Lewis-McChord, Washington, and the Eastern wings and other units of the ANG and AFRC.
Air Defense Sector (EADS), at Rome, New The Air Force Intelligence Surveillance and
ACC breakdown York. The First Air Force is also designated as Reconnaissance Agency (AFISRA) was realigned
Reporting directly to ACC headquarters, the the C-NAF for NORTHCOM. Six ANG fighter and redesignated as the 25th Air Force under
USAF Warfare Center’s (USAFWC’s) wings and squadrons are currently aligned with 1AF. ACC on September 29, 2014. Headquar-
groups are tasked with test and evaluation, Headquartered at Shaw AFB, South Caro- tered at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland,
and tactics development. The USAF Weapons lina, Ninth Air Force (9AF) is responsible for Texas, as a NAF it assumed responsibility
School (USAFWS), which reports to the USAFWC managing six fighter wings and groups. It also for ACC’s ISR aircraft the same day.
via the 57th Wing, provides advanced training maintains oversight of operational readiness The Tenth Air Force is responsible for ten
in weapons and tactics employment to USAF and ensures the standardisation and evaluation AFRC units which, when mobilised, are gained
personnel assigned to several MAJCOMs. (staneval) of its aligned ANG and AFRC units. by ACC. Headquartered at Naval Air Station-
First Air Force (1AF) or Air Forces Northern Shaw is also headquarters to Air Forces Central Joint Reserve Base, Fort Worth, Texas, as a NAF it
(AFNORTH) is headquartered at Tyndall Air (AFCENT), the air component of USCENTCOM, ensures that in excess of 13,300 reservists and
Force Base (AFB), Florida, and is respon- responsible for air operations and developing 900 civilians maintain the highest combat capa-
sible for ensuring the air sovereignty and air contingency plans in support of national bility to augment active forces when required.

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 US AIR FORCE TACTICAL AIRPOWER

Air Combat Command’s active compo-

nent squadrons operate more than 650
tactical fighter aircraft. Almost 600 fighter/
attack machines are assigned to the ANG,
and the AFRC accounts for around 100
additional jets. The ANG total includes
aircraft gained by ACC, AETC and PACAF.

Pacific Air Forces

A single ANG composite wing, reporting directly
to PACAF, is responsible for F-22As jointly oper-
ated by an active associate fighter squadron.
Headquartered at Yokota Air Base, Japan,
Fifth Air Force (5AF) is tasked as the C-NAF for
US Forces, Japan (USFJ). Its assets comprise
a single fighter wing and a large ‘composite’ The 3rd Wing at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson,
wing which includes two fighter squadrons. Alaska, flies two squadrons of F-22A Raptors to
The Seventh Air Force/Air Forces Korea (7AF/ protect the USA’s northern regions. It is the most
lethal air defence fighter in the world and its secret
AFKOREA), the C-NAF for US Forces Korea
technologies mean it is never likely to be exported.
(USFK), is headquartered at Osan AB, RoK. It USAF
provides support to United Nations Command
and RoK/US Combined Forces Command
(CFC) and is responsible for two fighter wings.
The largest of PACAF’s three NAFs, Eleventh Air
Force, is headquartered at Joint Base Elmendorf-
Richardson, Alaska, and is responsible for two
active component wings and a gained AFRC
associate fighter group which reports to the 10AF.
Tasked as the C-NAF for Alaskan Command
(ALCOM), its assets operate from numerous bases
and remote operating sites throughout the state
and often deploy across the northern Pacific.
Whereas PACAF’s active component
squadrons are currently responsible for
more than 260 fighters, the command is
supported by additional aircraft from ACC
units that deploy for specified periods
as Theater Support Packages (TSPs).
Above: A pilot taxies out his F-16C at Luke AFB during a night mission, equipped with a Litening targeting pod.
USAFE/AFAFRICA The 309th FS ‘Wild Ducks’ are one of only four F-16 training squadrons at the Arizona base. Joe Copalman
The structure of USAFE changed greatly from
2001 and further changes are in store as the United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) - Ramstein AB, Germany
US Forces in Europe are consolidated and WG/Group Sqn Location Aircraft Code
relocated. On April 20, 2012, USAFE’s mission
Third Air Force (3AF) - Ramstein AB, Germany
was expanded and it became USAFE/AFAFRICA.
Third Air Force (3AF) is the C-NAF for US 48th FW/OG 492d FS RAF Lakenheath, Suffolk, England F-15E LN
European Command (USEUCOM) and US 493d FS RAF Lakenheath, Suffolk, England F-15C/D
Africa Command (USAFRICOM). Headquar-
494th FS RAF Lakenheath, Suffolk, England F-15E
tered at Ramstein AB, it assumed responsibility
as the C-NAF for USAFRICOM when the 17th 52nd FW/OG 480th FS Spangdahlem AB, Germany F-16C/D (Blk 50) SP
Air Force was inactivated on April 20, 2012. 31st FW/OG 510th FS Aviano AB, Italy F-16C/D (Blk 40) AV
More than 150 combat-coded fighter aircraft
are permanently assigned to the command. 555th FS Aviano AB, Italy F-16C/D (Blk 40)

An 18th AGRS F-16C from Eielson AFB flies inverted past Denali, the highest peak in Alaska, formerly known as Mount McKinley. The unit plays a major part in the
Red Flag exercises held in Alaska at least twice a year. Ted Carlson

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Test and Evaluation
Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) is tasked
to support the development, test, acquisition
and support of the USAF’s weapon systems.
Headquartered at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio,
the command’s five centres include the Air Force
Test Center (AFTC) at Edwards AFB, California,
and the Air Force Life Cycle Management
Center (AFLCMC) at Wright-Patterson.
The AFTC is responsible for test wings
at Edwards and Eglin AFB, Florida, that
conduct aircraft and weapons develop-
ment test and evaluation (DT&E) to
ensure they meet operational war fighting
requirements. A fleet of around 60 fight-
ers currently supports test duties.
Responsibility for three Air Logistics Com-
plexes (ALCs) is assigned to the Air Force Life
Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) and the
Air Force Sustainment Center (AFSC) at Tinker
AFB, Oklahoma. Its assigned organisations
include the Ogden Air Logistics Complex
(OO-ALC) at Hill AFB, Utah, which is tasked
with programmed depot maintenance (PDM)
and modifications plus repairs to crashed or
battle-damaged F-16, F-22, F-35 and A-10
aircraft. The Warner-Robins ALC at Robins AFB,
Georgia, performs similar work on the F-15.
Training
Headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio-
Randolph, Texas, AETC is the second-oldest
command in the USAF and traces its history
to 1942, when it formed as the Army Air
Corps Flying Training Command.
It is responsible for training aircrew, and its
five flying wings provide Euro-NATO Joint Jet
Pilot (ENJJPT), Joint Service Undergraduate
Pilot (JSUPT) and Combat Systems Officer
(CSO) training. Two active component wings
also serve as AETC FTUs, providing advanced
transition/type training for the F-16 and F-35.
Almost 140 fighter aircraft support
AETC’s training commitments. Expansion
of F-35 training at Luke AFB, Arizona, has
resulted in the activation of a new fighter
group at Holloman AFB, New Mexico, which
is taking on the F-16 FTU role.
Air Education and Training Command
also gains the ANG wings that serve as
FTUs for the F-15 and F-16, while the AFRC
supports F-16 and F-35 training at Luke.
Warthog
Universally known as the ‘Warthog’, the A-10A
was selected as the winner of the USAF’s
www.airforcesdaily.com
44-59 USAF Feb.aw.indd 51
US AIR FORCE TACTICAL AIRPOWER
A pair of fully laden A-10Cs spit out
flares – these come in very handy when
the aircraft are flying down low, where
SAMs may be a threat. Rick Llinares
A-X competition in 1967 and the first YA-10
flew on May 10, 1972. The USAF took 713
A-10As from Fairchild Republic between
1975 and 1984, when the last was delivered.
Although the fleet has been reduced by
60%, more than 280 remain in service
with active duty, ANG and AFRC units.
At the height of the Cold War, almost 150 of
the ‘tank busters’ were based in Europe and
more than 40 at bases in Alaska and Korea.
Today, A-10Cs are operated by seven active
duty USAF, four ANG and four AFRC units,
including ten combat-coded squadrons. Only
24 A-10Cs are based outside the CONUS.
The type’s combat debut was over Kuwait
and Iraq during Operation Desert Storm,
when 142 A-10As and 15 OA-10As flew more
than 8,000 CAS, air interdiction, suppression
of enemy air defence (SEAD) and other
sorties, delivering almost 24,000 bombs.
The A/OA-10s destroyed almost 2,000
tanks, 500 armoured vehicles, 1,000 artillery
pieces and 2,000 vehicles during the 42-day
conflict. The aircraft subsequently saw action
over Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, again in
Iraq, and Libya. Most recently it has flown
combat missions over Iraq and Syria.
Numerous upgrades had been proposed
for the A-10A, but only minor changes dif-
ferentiated the earliest aircraft from the later
production machines. The jet’s first large-scale
The USAF hierarchy wants to withdraw the A-10,
but US politicians have blocked the move. With big
budget cuts being imposed the USAF command
is willing to sacrifice the unique looking fighter
primed for close air support so other platforms can
stay in service. Rick Llinares
modification came in the early 1990s,
when the Low-Altitude Safety and Targeting
Enhancements (LASTE) were installed.
The work provided computer-aided
capabilities, including ground collision avoid-
ance, enhanced attitude control for aircraft
stabilisation during gunfire and a low-altitude
autopilot system – along with ballistic weapons
control and target detection and tracking.
By the mid-1990s, night-vision
modifications had also been installed on
more than 370 aircraft and incorporation
of an embedded GPS inertial navigation
system (EGI) capability began in 1999.
Fielding of the A-10A+ began in 2007, when
the first of around 100 ANG and AFRC A-10As
were equipped with a single liquid-crystal
multi-function colour display (MFCD) which
replaced a smaller television monitor.
Additionally, the Situational Awareness
Data Link (SADL), which enabled data
transmission from and to other platforms,
was incorporated along with the AN/AAQ-28
Litening Advanced Targeting (AT) pod. Pod
compatibility had initially been added in
2003. Flight testing of the first A-10A+ began
in November 2007 and in May 2008 the
new variant was deployed to Afghanistan.
Today only the A-10C remains in service.
Unveiled at Eglin AFB, Florida, in January
2005, the first modified aircraft preceded
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Weapons
The use of so-called ‘smart’ ordnance has
greatly reduced the number of aircraft and
weapons required to prosecute and destroy a
target. The USAF’s smart weapon inventory
means its tactical aircraft can attack dispa-
rate target types across a broad spectrum,
from the 250lb GBU-39 and GBU-53 SDBs to
the 2,000lb AGM-158A Joint Air-to-Surface
Stand-off Missile (JASSM) and extended range
AGM-158B JASSM-ER.
These missiles offer maximum ranges of 200
and 500 miles (322 and 805km) respectively,
and provide a launch-and-leave stand-off ca-
pability. First used in combat during 2006, the
SDB has enabled commanders to conduct pre-
cision attacks in populated areas with minimal
collateral damage. Low-rate GBU-53 produc-
tion began in June 2015. The GBU-53/B SDB
II is equipped with a tri-mode seeker and can
be launched against moving targets in adverse
weather; it has a maximum range of 45 miles
The ‘JZ’ coded F-15Cs of the 159th FW/122nd
(72km). By comparison, the 5,000lb GBU-28, FS based at NAS JRB New Orleans are part of the
designed to destroy reinforced bunkers, is the network of Aerospace Control Alert (ACA) sites
largest PGM in the inventory.  located around the USA. Rick Llinares

large-scale deliveries of the variant, which
began in August 2006. It achieved initial
operational capability (IOC) with the Maryland
ANG’s 104th Fighter Squadron (FS) in August
2007. The A-10C began its first deployment,
to Al Asad AB, Iraq, in September 2007.
Development work had begun in February
2001, when Lockheed Martin received a $74
million engineering and manufacturing devel-
opment (EMD) contract to develop the Precision
Engagement (PE) upgrade programme. Merg-
ing several smaller projects, the PE included a
redesigned main instrument panel, smart weap-
ons capabilities and aircraft DC power upgrades.
Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) – Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
WG/Group Sqn Location
Air Force Test Center (AFTC) – Edwards AFB, CA
412th TW/OG USAF TPS Edwards AFB, CA
411th FLTS Edwards AFB, CA
416th FLTS Edwards AFB, CA
461st FLTS Edwards AFB, CA
96th TW/OG 40th FLTS Eglin AFB, FL
Cockpit work included the addition of a pair of
MFCDs, a new armament/HUD control panel
and an upfront controller (a small, rugged
keypad) along with a new control stick grip
and right throttle in common with the F-16
and F-15E. A MIL-STD-1760 data bus and the
AN/AAQ-28 and AN/AAQ-33 Sniper target-
ing pods were integrated with the aircraft’s
digital stores management system (DSMS)
and a central interface control unit (CICU).
MIL-STD-1760 capabilities were also
incorporated into six of the A-10’s stores pylons,
enabling a new precision weapons capability
which initially included up to four 2,000lb
Aircraft Code
NF-16D ED
F-22A
F-16C/D (Blk 30/40/42/50)
F-35A
A-10C, F-15C/D/E, F-16C (Blk 25/40/42/50), ET
F-16D (Blk 40/50)
GBU-10 or six 500lb GBU-12 laser-guided
bombs (LGBs) or four 2,000lb GBU-31 or six
500lb GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munitions
(JDAMs); or six CBU-103/104 Wind Corrected
Munitions Dispensers (WCMDs). The A-10C
employed a JDAM during its maiden deploy-
ment to Al Asad, on September 19, 2007.
Subsequent updates cleared the aircraft to
deploy the 500lb GBU-54 Laser-Guided JDAM
(LJDAM) in 2009, and work to facilitate the
carriage of up to 98 Laser-Guided Advanced
Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS)
rockets began in February 2013. The
system combines a 2.75in (70mm) Hydra
70 rocket with an M151 warhead.
Other, later A-10C modifications installed
AN/ARC-210 multi-band and multi-mode
beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) radios and the AN/
AAR-47 missile approach warning system.
Further upgrading the A-10C’s combat
capabilities, a Helmet-Mounted Integrated
Targeting (HMIT) solution, the Gentex Scorpion
Helmet-Mounted Cueing System (HMCS),
was integrated from July 2010. First
fielded by the 74th Fighter Squadron in

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2013, it provides day/night colour displays.
The 576th Aerospace Maintenance and
Regeneration Squadron’s ‘Desert Speed Line
(DSL) Project’ at Davis-Monthan AFB has also
been responsible for several recent A-10C
projects. In March 2014, for example, the DSL
began replacing the aircraft’s liquid oxygen
system with an onboard oxygen generating
system (OBOGS) that improves the jet’s
ability to operate from remote locations.
The latest Mode 5 identification friend or
foe (IFF) capability and Lightweight Airborne
Radio System (LARS) improvements were
fielded in 2015 as part of the Operational
Flight Program (OFP) software Suite 8. Plans
for OFP Suite 9 were cancelled due to the Air
Force’s planned A-10C retirement date.
The final A-10C had been delivered at Hill AFB,
Utah, after the OO-ALC’s 309th Maintenance
Wing completed the 349th production
upgrade in June 2011. The Société Anonyme
Belge de Constructions Aeronautiques
(SABCA) at Brussels South Charleroi Airport,
Belgium, and Korean Air’s Aerospace Division
at Gimhae International Airport in Busan,
Above: Leaving a long trail of afterburner as it roars
down the runway, this 48th FW F-15E heads to Turkey
for an Operation Inherent Resolve deployment. USAF
Right: An F-15E Strike Eagle from RAF Lakenheath’s
48th FW and assigned to the 492nd Expeditionary
Fighter Squadron departs Bagram Airfield, Af-
ghanistan, on June 9, 2014. It is fitted with precision
guided munitions, which are the responsibility of the
weapons systems operator in the rear seat. USAF
Left: The 142 FS/Oregon ANG flies the oldest air-
worthy F-15Cs in the US. The unit is responsible for
training west coast F-15 pilots in air-to-air combat.
Its air defence alert capabilities have been partly
taken over by the deployment of F-15s from the
144th FW at Fresno IAP. Joe Copalman
www.airforcesdaily.com
44-59 USAF Feb.aw.indd 53
US AIR FORCE TACTICAL AIRPOWER
Three 391 FS/366th FW F-15E Strike Eagles fly in
formation over an Idaho mountain range. Under
each jet’s right air intake is the AN/AAQ-13 naviga-
tion pod, while the AN/AAQ-14 targeting pod is
mounted under the left one. Mountain Home AFB
hosts two F-15E units and a single Republic of Sin-
gapore Air Force F-15SG squadron. Rick Llinares
RoK, also upgraded more than 40 aircraft
based in Germany and Korea respectively.
Originally designed for 6,000 flight hours, the
service life of late production A-10s, built with
more durable wing assemblies, was extended
to 8,000 hours, and then 16,000 hours,
through service life extension programmes
(SLEPs). The project to replace the wings
on earlier aircraft began in June 2007 when
Boeing received a contract to construct up
to 242 sets of Enhanced Wing Assemblies
(EWAs) rated for 16,000 flight hours.
Installation of this Thick Updated Skin
(TUSK) wing assembly extends the A-10C’s
service to around 2030. Budget cuts and
planned retirements originally reduced
the project to 233 sets, although Boeing
has received orders for only 173.
Delivery of the first EWA to the OO-ALC came
in March 2011. The initial upgraded aircraft
flew again in November and was formally rolled
out at Hill AFB in February 2012. Completion
of the TUSK effort is scheduled for Fiscal 2017.
Although Boeing held options for an additional
69 wing sets, the AFLCMC recently issued a
request for information seeking other sources
for production of the TUSK wing assembly.
In June 2009, the USAF jointly awarded
a four-year $1.6 billion A-10 Thunderbolt
Lifecycle Program Support (TLPS) contract to
Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grum-
man, under which individual modernisation
and sustainment efforts are completed as
task/delivery orders among the three prime
contractors – delivering the ‘best value’ solution.
If all of its options are exercised, the
programme could run until 2019.
Eagles
The McDonnell Douglas F-15 was chosen as
winner of the USAF’s Fighter-Experimental
competition in December 1969 and the
initial full-scale development (FSD) F-15A
flew for the first time at Edwards AFB in July
1972. Production aircraft entered service at
Luke AFB, Arizona, in November 1974 and
in July 1975 the jet achieved IOC. The 1st
Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW) became the first
combat-coded Eagle operator in 1977.
Beginning in 1979, production switched to
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Air Education Training Command (AETC) – JB San Antonio - Randolph, TX the more capable F-15C and two-seat F-15D.
Wing/Group Sqn Location Aircraft Code Improvements included a 2,000lb (900kg)
increase in internal fuel, provision for conformal
Nineteenth Air Force (19AF) – JB San Antonio - Randolph, TX
fuel tanks and an increased maximum take-off
33rd FW/OG (*17) 58th FS Eglin AFB, FL F-35A EG
weight of up to 68,000lb (30,600kg).
56th FW/OG 21st FS (*18) Luke AFB, AZ F-16A/B (Blk 20) LF The US Eagle fleet has been actively engaged
61st FS Luke AFB, AZ F-35A in combat since Operation Desert Storm, when
62rd FS Luke AFB, AZ F-35A the deployed F-15s accounted for 36 of the
309th FS Luke AFB, AZ F-16C/D (Blk 25) 39 air-to-air victories claimed by the USAF.
310th FS Luke AFB, AZ F-16C/D (Blk 42) F-15Cs later shot down four Serbian MiG-29s
during Operation Allied Force in March 1999.
425th FS (*19) Luke AFB, AZ F-16C/D (Blk 52)
The USAF accepted 905 air superiority
56th OG Det. 1 (*20) Tucson IA AZ F-16C/D AZ
‘light-grey’ Eagles, including 408 F-15Cs and
56th OG Det. 2 (*20) Klamath Falls Airport - Kingsley F-15B/C/D 62 F-15Ds. Today F-15Cs are assigned to
Field, OR three active duty combat-coded squadrons,
54th FG 311th FS Holloman AFB, N.M. F-16C/D (Blk 42) the 18th Wing’s 44th and 67th FSs at
314th FS Holloman AFB, N.M. F-16C/D (Blk 42) Kadena AB and the 48th FW’s 493rd FS
Air National Guard (ANG) Units – JB Andrews-NAF Washington, Maryland at RAF Lakenheath, Suffolk, England.
149th FW/OG 182nd FS (FTU) JB San Antonio-Kelly Field, F-16C/D (Blk 30) SA The Eagles assigned to the latter had been
Lackland AFB, TX scheduled for retirement in 2015, but have
162nd FW/OG 148th FS (FTU) (*21) Tucson IAP, AZ F-16A/B (MLU) AZ since been extended until 2017. The squadron
152nd FS (FTU) Tucson IAP, AZ F-16C/D (Blk 42)
recently deployed six Eagles to Incirlik AB, Tur-
key, in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.
195th FS (FTU) Tucson IAP, AZ F-16C/D (Blk 25/32)
Most of the Eagle fleet is operated by ANG
Det. 1 Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ (*2) F-16C/D (Blk 32) units in California, Florida, Louisiana, Massachu-
173rd FW/OG 114th FS Klamath Falls Airport - F-15B/C/D setts and Oregon, which will retain 17 F-15Cs
Kingsley Field, OR that had been planned for retirement in 2015.
Tenth Air Force (10AF) – NAS JRB Fort Worth/Carswell Field, TX In addition to a combat-coded squadron, the
Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) Units – Robins AFB, GA Oregon Air National Guard is responsible for a
944th FW/OG 69th FS (*22) Luke AFB, AZ F-16C/D (Blk 25/42) second squadron, which has been tasked as the
sole F-15 FTU since late 2010. It is supported
Notes: *17: 33d FW/OG is home to F-35 training center. *18: 21st FS trains Republic of China AF by a detachment of active duty personnel.
pilots. *19: 425th FS trains Singapore AF pilots. *20: Detachment is responsible for active duty Five other active duty (and one AFRC)
instructor pilots and maintenance personnel that support FTU. *21: 148th FS trains RNLAF pilots using
squadrons operate Eagles on test and
Dutch-owned aircraft. *22: AETC gained associate unit operates F-16C/D in support of 56th FW/OG.
evaluation, tactics development and
graduate-level training duties.
Today the USAF’s light-grey Eagle fleet
comprises 213 F-15C/Ds; the last F-15As
were retired in October 2009. Around
196 F-15s will remain in service until
at least 2040, upgraded with systems
enabling them to operate alongside the
fifth-generation F-22A and F-35A. Under
current plans the USAF will spend around
$1.7 billion on the Eagle across the FYDP.
The largest of these projects replaces the
mechanically scanned radar systems that equip
179 F-15Cs with Raytheon AN/APG-63(v)3
active electronically scanned array (AESA)
radars. Upgraded (v)3 radars were first fielded
by F-15Cs assigned to the Florida ANG’s 159th
FW at Jacksonville International Airport in
April 2010 and by the 18th FW at Kadena
Above: Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, is now home to just one F-16C/D Block 40 squadron, the 480th AB, Okinawa, that November.
FS. The 22nd and 23rd FS made up the 52nd FW until they were deactivated in August 2010, and the 81st The advantages of AESA
FS (with A-10Cs) followed suit in June 2013. Ted Carlson include improvements in
Below: The Seventh Air Force, headquartered at Osan AB in South Korea has three F-16 squadrons under its range and resolution and
responsibility. The jets regularly attend Red Flag exercises in Alaska, where this example, sporting special increased capability
marks of the 35th FS/8th FW based at Kunsan, was seen in April 2011. Robin Polderman
against advanced

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 US AIR FORCE TACTICAL AIRPOWER

The New Jersey ANG operates a fleet of F-16C Block

30s, which stand on ACA. They are armed with AIM-
120 AMRAAM and AIM-9 Sidewinders. Rick Llinares

electronic attack (EA) systems – as well as sig- will be completed in 2016, will determine the Mud Hens
nificantly better reliability and maintainability. feasibility of an airframe service life extension. Although the F-15 was intended to serve as an air
Technologies incorporated in the earlier AN/ Boeing has proposed numerous improve- superiority fighter, its design included provision for
APG-63(v)2, first fielded in 2000, and the F/A- ments for the Eagle and most recently unveiled air-to-ground weapons. After studying the feasibil-
18E/F’s AN/APG-79 AESA radars were incor- its 2040C Eagle Upgrade. An evolution of the ity of adapting the basic F-15 for the air-to-ground
porated in the (v)3. Under current contracts Silent Eagle proposed to the RoK, it contains role, McDonnell Douglas began a series of dem-
Boeing will install the radar in 127 F-15Cs. some low-observable improvements, but onstrations using an early FSD F-15B two-seater.
Furthermore, the addition of an infrared would primarily double the aircraft’s missile The aircraft featured a modified AN/APG-63
search and track (IRST) sensor will give capacity to 16, via ‘quad pack’ munitions racks. radar, equipped with a synthetic aperture radar
the Eagle a capability considered vital to It will also feature the podded Talon HATE, (SAR) mode, and first flew in July 1980. After
operations in contested environments. which integrates the F-22’s Intra-Flight a fly-off with the General Dynamics F-16E, it
Coupled to the radar, it will create an Data Link (IFDL) with the Multifunctional was chosen as the basis of the USAF’s Dual
integrated fire control system that continues Information Distribution System-Joint Tacti- Role Fighter (DRF) and developed as the
to function under jamming conditions. cal Radio System (MIDS-J). F-15E; FSD was authorised in May 1984.
A new high-resolution colour display will Currently undergoing test, the quick- The F-15E flew for the first time in December
replace the Eagle’s current vertical situation reaction capability (QRC) programme is 1986 and the first production aircraft was
display (VSD) and computer processing designed to provide connectivity between delivered to the 405th Tactical Training Wing at
is being upgraded through the installation fourth- and fifth-generation fighters. Luke AFB, Arizona, in April 1988. Although the
of the Advanced Display Core Processor
(ADCP) II. Replacing the F-15C’s current
mission computer, the enhanced mission
processor will also enable future upgrades,
providing data fused connectivity with other
fighter aircraft, including the F-22A and F-35A
for example. A more robust and powerful
data link is also being incorporated.
The Eagle Passive/Active Warning Survivability
System (EPAWSS) will replace the fighter’s ALQ-
135 Tactical Electronic Warfare System (TEWS).
Developed by BAE Systems under a sub-
contract from Boeing, EPAWSS incorporates
a digital radar warning receiver (RWR), digital
radio frequency memory jammer and AN/ALE-
58 BOL advanced countermeasures dispenser.
The result is an integrated electronic attack
suite that will counter current and future
air-to-air and surface-to-air radars, and infrared
threats; fielding is scheduled to begin in 2018. Three F-16Cs of the 158th FW/Vermont
Structurally, the F-15C is certified to 9,000 ANG highlight the multi-role capabilities of
hours and Boeing is evaluating the airframe the ageing jets. The nearest two are carrying
for alternative service lives of 13,500 and JDAM bombs as well AIM-120 AMRAAMs and
AIM-9 Sidewinders for air defence. Ted Carlson
33,000 hours. A full-scale fatigue test, which

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 US AIR FORCE TACTICAL AIRPOWER
service planned to acquire 392 F-15Es, only
236 ‘Mud Hens’, as the type is nicknamed, had
been delivered when production ended in 2004.
The Strike Eagle first saw combat during
Operation Desert Storm and later in the
Balkans, Afghanistan, Libya and, most recently,
in support of Operation Inherent Resolve
in Iraq and Syria. Six F-15Es operated by
the 48th FW’s 492nd FS arrived at Incirlik
on November 12. They were deployed to
the southern Turkish base to attack Islamic
State (IS) targets in Syria and Iraq.
Lakenheath’s F-15Es have also flown direct
strikes against targets in Libya. On November
13, 2015, for example, Strike Eagles operating
from the Suffolk base hit a compound near
Darna, killing the senior IS leader in Libya.
Originally fielded with the AN/AAQ-13
navigation and AN/AAQ-14 targeting pods
of the Low-Altitude Navigation and Targeting
Infrared for Night (LANTIRN) system, the
Strike Eagle has since been made compatible
with the Sniper and Litening AT pods.
It has had numerous further upgrades
and 217 F-15Es will be equipped with
Raytheon AN/APG-82(v)1 AESA radars in
place of the original, mechanically steered AN/
APG-70. The first F-15E with the new radar
was assigned to the 366th FW’s 389th FS at
Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, in June 2014.
Developed by Boeing and Raytheon under the
$238 million Radar Modernization Program
(RMP) contract, the new radar entered flight test
at Eglin AFB in January 2011. Approval for low-
rate initial production (LRIP) was granted in Sep-
tember 2011 after a 110-sortie test programme.
56 FEBRUARY 2016 #335
44-59 USAF Feb.aw.indd 56
A November 2015 contract for 29 systems
brings AN/APG-82(v)1 orders to 47, enabling
upgrade of the F-15Es with the 389th and
391st FSs at Mountain Home by 2017. As
well as the modified radar, the Strike Eagle will
receive EPAWSS and ADCP II/VSD modifica-
tions in common with the F-15C. Fielding
is scheduled to begin in 2018. The USAF
plans to spend some $2.2 billion on updating
the Strike Eagle fleet through the FYDP.
Besides the two squadrons assigned to the
366th FW at Mountain Home, F-15Es are
operated by the 4th FW at Seymour Johnson
AFB, North Carolina, which is responsible for
two combat-coded squadrons and two tasked
as Strike Eagle FTUs. An associate AFRC
squadron also operates 4th FW aircraft.
Strike Eagles are based at RAF Lakenheath,
where two squadrons are assigned to the
48th FW. Three active duty and two AFRC
squadrons carry out test and evaluation, tactics
development and graduate-level training duties.
Viper
Universally known as the ‘Viper’, the F-16 was
developed as part of the Lightweight Fighter
(LWF) programme. The General Dynamics
Model 401 first flew as the YF-16 in February
1974 and was selected as the basis for the
USAF’s Air Combat Fighter (ACF) campaign.
The F-16A first flew in December 1976 and
deliveries to the 58th Tactical Training Wing at
Luke AFB, Arizona, began in August 1978. The
first operational F-16A was delivered to the
388th TFW at Hill AFB, Utah, in January 1979.
In 1983 production switched to the F-16C,
Above: By August 2020, 152 Raptors will have
been upgraded with the latest capabilities to im-
prove the jet’s survivability. There are two F-22
squadrons based at Joint Base Langley-Eustis,
the 27th FS and 94th FS. Rick Llinares
Abbreviations
AAF-Army Air Field; AATC ANG/AFRC Test
Center; ACA-Aerospace Control Alert; ACC-Air
Combat Command; ADS - Air Demonstration
Squadron; AETC Air Education and Training Com-
mand; AFB Air Force Base; AFNORTH Air Forces
North; AFMC Air Force Materiel Command; AFRC
Air Force Reserve Command; AFTC Air Force Test
Center; AGRS Aggressor Squadron; ANG Air
National Guard; ANGB Air National Guard Base;
ANGS Air National Guard Station; AP Airport;
ARB Air Reserve Base; ARS Air Reserve Station;
AS Air Station; ATG Adversary Tactics Group;
AWC Air Warfare Center; FG Fighter Group; FS
Fighter Squadron; FW/OG Fighter Wing; FTU
Formal Training Unit; MAP Municipal Airport;
NAF Naval Air Facility; NAS Naval Air Station ;
OG Operations Group; RAP Regional Airport;
TDY Temporary Duty; TEG Test & Evaluation
Group; TES Test & Evaluation Squadron; TPS
Test Pilot School; TW Test Wing; USAFE United
States Air Forces Europe; USAFW/OGC USAF
Weapons Center; USAFW/OGS USAF Weapons
School; USCENTCOM U.S. Central Command;
USEUCOM U.S. European Command; USPA-
COM U. S. Pacific Command; USSOUTHCOM
US Southern Command; USSPACECOM U.S.
Space Command; USSTRATCOM US Strategic
Command; WEG Weapons Evaluation Group;
WG Wing WPS Weapons Squadron
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12/01/2016 12:43

The sleek lines of a 3rd Wing F-22A Raptor are
clearly evident. All its missiles are housed in the air-
craft’s internal weapons bay. This keeps the USAF’s
premier jet as stealthy as possible. Ted Carlson
featuring AN/APG-68 radar and modified
cockpit controls and displays. The first of
the initial C-model, the Block 25, flew in June
1984 and was delivered the following month.
The Block 25’s Pratt & Whitney F100-GE-200
turbofan was later upgraded to the more
reliable F100-PW-220E configuration.
Block 30/32 and subsequent F-16C/Ds
are powered by either the General Electric
F110-GE-100 turbofan (Block x0) or F100-
PW-220 (Block x2); the engines are not
interchangeable. The Block 40/42 aircraft were
the first capable of carrying LANTIRN pods.
Block 50/52 aircraft were respectively
powered by F110-GE-129 and F100-PW-229
Improved Performance Engines. Block
50D/52D jets were equipped with the
High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM)
avionics/launcher interface computer (ALIC)
and the AN/ASQ-213 HARM Targeting System
(HTS), which provided full autonomous
employment of the AGM-88 missile.
As well as AIM-9 and AIM-120 missiles, the
Block 50/52 is compatible with a variety of
precision laser and GPS-guided weapons and
An F-22 Raptor lands at Spangdahlem Air Base,
Germany, on August 28, 2015, as part of the
inaugural F-22 training deployment to Europe. Four
F-22s from the 95th FS at Tyndall AFB were part of
the European Reassurance Initiative and will serve
to assure allies of the Air Force’s commitment
to European security and stability.
USAF/Staff Sgt Chad Warren
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44-59 USAF Feb.aw.indd 57
US AIR FORCE TACTICAL AIRPOWER
AN/AAQ-28 Litening and AN/AAQ-33 Sniper
targeting pods. The latter capability has also
been ‘back-fitted’ to the Block 30/32s.
Between 2002 and 2011 an upgrade
known as the Common Configuration
Implementation Program (CCIP) provided
enhanced mission capabilities and integrated
a common avionics configuration for more
than 200 Block 50/52 and 420 Block 40/42
F-16C/Ds. It installed a new MMC, colour
displays, common missile warning systems,
advanced data link IFF systems and the Joint
Helmet-Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS).
Lockheed purchased the General Dynamics
Fort Worth division in 1993 and, as Lockheed
Martin, delivered the last of 2,231 USAF
F-16s in 2005; more than 950 remain in
service. The inventory primarily comprises
Block 30/32, 40/42 and 50/52 aircraft, but
a small number of Block 25s continue to
support test and training missions. The
F-16C remains the USAF’s primary multi-role
fighter, representing 50% of its tactical fleet.
The USAF intends to invest $1 billion across
the FYDP on upgrades and modernisation
plans, including an SLEP enabling the Viper
to remain in service until at least 2025. The
SLEP will extend the airframe structural
service life of 300 aircraft from the current
8,000 to more than 10,000 hours, adding
eight to ten years’ service life. It is initially
planned for Block 40/42 and 50/52 aircraft
and was originally included in the cancelled
Combat Avionics Programmed Extension Suite
(CAPES), which also included AESA radar.
The F-16’s modular mission computer
(MMC), programmable display generator
(PDG) and MIDS will also be upgraded and
updates to the operational flight programme
(OFP) will enable new weapons, avionics and
improved targeting pods to be integrated.
In response to an urgent operational need
(UON) submitted by NORTHCOM, the USAF
is reconsidering options for integrating
AESA radar on Block 30 and later F-16Cs.
Active duty squadrons fly Block 40 and
50 F-16Cs, while 12 ANG and three AFRC
squadrons fly Block 30, 40, 42 and 50 jets
operationally. Personnel assigned to active
duty fighter groups also operate and maintain
the F-16s of the ANG and AFRC units.
Seven active duty, one AFRC and four ANG
squadrons are tasked as FTUs, while seven active
duty and two AFRC squadrons conduct test and
evaluation, tactics development and graduate-
level training. The USAF Air Demonstration
Squadron, the Thunderbirds, also flies F-16C/Ds.
Raptor
Stationed at Tyndall AFB, Florida, the 325th
FW serves as the Raptor FTU. It received its
first F-22A in September 2003 and the initial
assignment to a combat-coded squadron
occurred when deliveries to the 1st FW
at Langley AFB began in May 2005. The
Raptor achieved full operational capability, at
Langley, in December 2007 and Lockheed
Martin delivered the final aircraft to Joint Base
Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, in May 2012.
The Raptor is operational with five combat-
coded active duty squadrons at Tyndall,
Langley and Elmendorf. Additionally, F-22As
are assigned to a single ANG unit at Joint
Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.
Associate squadrons at each of the facilities
include one active duty, one ANG and two AFRC
units. A single squadron at Tyndall serves as
the FTU and four active duty and one AFRC
squadron conduct test and evaluation, tactics
development and graduate-level training.
Air Combat Command’s plans originally
called for the acquisition of 648 Raptors, but
production was curtailed and only 195 were
delivered. Whereas the baseline Increment
1 aircraft was designed as an air superiority
fighter, Increment 2 jets featured a Global Strike
Basic capability and all operational aircraft had
been updated to that configuration by 2009.
The update enabled employment of AIM-9M
and AIM-120C air-to-air missiles and two
1,000lb GBU-31 JDAMs, upgraded the
IFDL and enhanced connectivity with other
Raptors. Despite cutting back the number of
production aircraft, the Air Force committed to
an incremental upgrade plan for the Raptor.
Increment 3.1 added advanced air-to-ground
capabilities, including a SAR ground-mapping
mode for the Raptor’s Northrop Grumman
AN/APG-77 radar. Additionally, EA and
threat geolocation capabilities enable it to
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 US AIR FORCE TACTICAL AIRPOWER
A 61st FS F-35A prepares to touch down at Luke
AFB, fitted with two dummy GBU-12s. Joe Copalman
locate enemy radars. The fighter also gained
the capability to deliver up to eight 250lb
GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bombs (SDBs).
Increment 3.2 upgrades are separated into
a series of smaller packages and Increment
3.2A, which should be fielded by October 2017,
is a software upgrade. It provides additional
enhanced electronic protection and improved
communications, including a Link 16 data
link receive mode and enhanced combat
identification and targeting capabilities.
Increment 3.2B production will begin in 2016
and its hardware and software updates are
scheduled for fielding from 2018. By August
2020, 152 Raptors will have had the upgrades.
They will improve the IFDL and enhanced stores
management system (ESMS), upgrade emitter
geolocation and electronic protection capabili-
ties and integrate AIM-9X and AIM-120D.
The USAF is also moving forward with plans
to equip Raptor pilots with a Helmet-Mounted
Display and Cueing System (HMDCS) by 2020.
The early Block 10 Production Representative
Test Vehicle and Block 10 and 20 aircraft
from LRIP Lots 1, 2 and 3 were upgraded to
a common Block 20 configuration under the
Common Configuration Program (CCP), which
added computer memory, faster processors
and new power supplies. Additionally, 39
Block 20 aircraft from Lots 3 and 4 will be
upgraded to Block 30/35 configuration.
Ultimately, when modifications are complete,
the Raptor fleet will include 139 combat-
An F-35A from the 61st FS ‘Top Dogs’ taxies back to the squadron’s ramp at Luke AFB. Air Force F-35
pilots are currently sourced from the A-10, F-15C, F-15E, and F-16 communities. Joe Copalman
58 FEBRUARY 2016 #335
44-59 USAF Feb.aw.indd 58
coded Block 30/35s, 32 training Block 20s,
12 development test/operational test (DT/OT)
Block 20/30/35s and two pre-block test aircraft.
Raptors assigned to the 1st FW’s 27th FS flew
the F-22A’s first combat missions, against IS tar-
gets under Operation Inherent Resolve, on Sep-
tember 22, 2014. The type’s initial strike mis-
sion delivered GPS-guided munitions against a
command and control facility in Raqqa, Syria.
Lightning II
The multi-role F-35A JSF, or Lightning II, is
the centrepiece of the USAF’s future fighter
precision attack capability and will form
the backbone of its force. Complementing
the F-22A’s air superiority capabilities,
it is designed to penetrate air defences
and deliver a wide range of PGMs.
A single F-35 prototype was followed by
four production-representative ‘weight
optimised’ F-35As built as part of the system
design and development (SDD) contract;
the first of them took its maiden flight in
November 2009. The first flight of the initial
LRIP F-35A followed in February 2011 and
deliveries to the Integrated Training Center
at Eglin AFB, Florida, began in July 2011.
The F-35A is powered by the Pratt & Whitney
F135-PW-100 turbofan and features the
Northrop Grumman AN/APG-81 AESA radar,
Lockheed Martin AN/AAQ-40 Electro Optical
Targeting System (EOTS) and Northrop
Grumman AN/AAQ-37 electro-optical
Distributed Aperture System (DAS).
The radar has 32 operating modes, including
air-to-air, air-to-ground, maritime, EW, naviga-
tion and weather. The EOTS is an all-weather
active targeting sensor supporting air-to-air
and air-to-ground missions and the DAS is
a passive infrared sensor that relies on six
high-resolution infrared cameras embedded
in the airframe to provide a spherical day/
night vision capability that allows the pilot to
‘see’ directly below and behind the aircraft.
As well as short-range IRST, DAS warns of
approaching missiles, locates the point of origin
of a missile launch and delivers navigation
imaging. Imagery is displayed on the aircraft’s
panoramic cockpit display (PCD) and the pilot’s
Helmet-Mounted Display System (HMDS).
Developed from the F-22A’s BAE Systems
AN/ALR-94, the F-35’s AN/ASQ-239 EW
system performs several functions, including
radar warning, emitter location, direction
finding and electronic countermeasures.
Sensor fusion provides the capability to
search, detect, track and identify targets of
interest using individual or multiple sen-
sors that can be directed against a single
track. Three data links facilitate information
sharing with other platforms and the
Multifunction Advanced Data Link (MADL)
shares sensor data with other Lightning IIs.
The jet has 11 weapons stations: three
under each wing, two in each of its two bays
and one on the fuselage centreline. The
F-35A can carry 18,000lb (8,165kg) of
ordnance and is equipped with an internal
four-barrel 25mm GAU-22/A cannon.
The first fully capable Block 4 F-35As are
expected to enter service in 2021. Although
the configuration is still being developed,
Lockheed Martin has proposed the incorpora-
tion of an Advanced EOTS to deliver improved
targeting capabilities. The system includes
short-wave infrared and high-definition televi-
sion capabilities along with an infrared marker
and improved resolution, which will make for
increased recognition and detection ranges.
The Block 4 could also include a number
of additional weapons, among them the
Raytheon GBU-53/B SDB II, the Kongsberg/
Raytheon Joint Strike Missile (JSM) and the
B61-12 guided nuclear bomb, which is under
development by Boeing, the USAF and the
National Nuclear Security Administration.
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12/01/2016 12:44

The USAF plans to achieve IOC between
August and December 2016. It will be
realised when the first operational squadron
is equipped with between 12 and 24 aircraft
and personnel capable of conducting basic
CAS, interdiction and limited suppression
and destruction of enemy air defence (SEAD/
DEAD) operations in a contested environment.
The jets will be equipped with Block 3I
software. Full combat capabilities, including
data link imagery, a complete weapons set and
embedded training, will be delivered with the
subsequent Block 3F release in late 2017.
The first eight LRIP lots include 110 F-35As,
and more than 80 aircraft have been delivered
to the USAF at five bases. Training is the
responsibility of the 33rd FW at Eglin and
the 56th FW at Luke AFB, which received its
first aircraft in March 2014. The last of 26
F-35As was delivered to Eglin in May 2014.
Three active duty squadrons provide training,
including two at Luke responsible for instructing
pilots from partner nations. Four squadrons
conduct test and evaluation, tactics develop-
ment and graduate-level training duties.
Testing continues at Edwards AFB and
Nellis AFB, where advanced training and
tactics development is under way. The
first two operational F-35As were fielded to
the 388th FW at Hill AFB on September 1,
2015. The USAF recently announced that
Eielson AFB and RAF Lakenheath had been
selected as the first OCONUS (Outside the
Contiguous US) bases to support the F-35A.
Each will host 48 fighters with two squadrons;
Eielson’s first Lightning IIs are scheduled to
arrive in 2019 and Lakenheath’s in 2020.
Predators and Reapers
The USAF operates a large number of
unmanned remotely piloted aircraft (RPAs)
capable of carrying out precision strike missions.
The systems are often forward-deployed
with their Mission Control Element (MCE)
located thousands of miles away from the
Launch And Recovery Element (LRE) or the
combat arena. Numerous MCEs are located
throughout the CONUS, operated by active
duty units and those of the ANG and AFRC.
First deployed to Bosnia in July 1995 as an ISR
platform, the General Atomics RQ-1A Predator
later gained a strike capability, resulting in
assignment of the revised MQ-1B designa-
tion, first fielded in 2002 (the Department of
Defense uses the ‘R’ role designator to indicate
reconnaissance and the ‘M’ designator for
multi-role; ‘Q’ refers to unmanned). The final
The MQ-9 Reaper is part of a remotely piloted aircraft system. This fully operational system consists
of several sensor/weapon-equipped aircraft, a ground control station, Predator primary satellite link,
and spare equipment along with operations and maintenance crews for deployed 24-hour missions.
USAF/432nd Wing
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44-59 USAF Feb.aw.indd 59
US AIR FORCE TACTICAL AIRPOWER
An MQ-9 Reaper modified for extended range, from the 62nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron,
sits on the ramp at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan on December 6, 2015. The ER modification enables an
additional 20 to 40% of flying time dependent on the aircraft’s load out. USAF/Tech Sgt Robert Cloys
Predator was delivered in March 2011. The
type has seen combat over Afghanistan, Bosnia,
Iraq, Libya, Serbia, Somalia, Syria and Yemen.
Predator is equipped with the AN/AAS-52
Multi-Spectral Targeting System (MTS-A),
which integrates an infrared sensor; colour/
monochrome daylight TV camera; image-
intensified TV camera; and laser designator
and illuminator. Full-motion video from
each of its imaging sensors can be viewed
as separate video streams, or fused. The
aircraft can employ two laser-guided
AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-ground missiles.
Although more than 140 Predators
are currently operated by 13 active
duty, six ANG and three AFRC units, the
RPA will be phased out by 2018.
General Atomics developed the Predator B in
1999 and it first took to the air at the company’s
flight operations facility in El Mirage, California,
in February 2001. After purchasing two Preda-
tor Bs in October 2001 to assess their advan-
tages over the baseline Predator, the USAF
initially acquired four pre-production examples.
Assigned the designation MQ-9A Reaper in
service, the new aircraft is larger than Predator
A and powered by a single Honeywell TPE331
turboprop, which enables operation at
higher altitudes than Predator. The MQ-9A
therefore operates at greater stand-off ranges
and provides coverage for longer periods.
Reaper and Predator share a common
avionics system and ground control station,
but the former also features triple redundant
avionics and dual mechanical control systems.
Viewed as a hunter/killer, the MQ-9A is
equipped with the AN/AAS-52 MTS-B and AN/
APY-8 Lynx II radar, which includes SAR and
ground/dismount moving target indicator
(GMTI/DMTI) modes. Its four wing hardpoints
carry a 3,000lb (1,361kg) payload of laser-
guided Hellfires, 500lb GBU-12 Paveway II
LGBs, GBU-38 JDAMs and GBU-54 LJDAMs.
The USAF recently began fielding the Extended
Range (ER) Reaper, capable of carrying external
fuel tanks and equipped with heavyweight
landing gear, a four-bladed propeller and a
new fuel management system. Endurance is
increased from 27 to between 33 and 35 hours.
General Atomics is producing a revised Block
5 MQ-9A for the USAF and the operational fleet
is being updated to this latest configuration.
The Block 5 incorporates improved main
landing gear for operations at heavier gross
weights, an upgraded and more powerful
electrical system, an additional encrypted
data link, a redesigned avionics bay and
a digital electronic engine control system
along with new lightweight bomb racks
and a high-definition video capability.
Operationally the MQ-9A was first fielded in
March 2007. It deployed to Afghanistan in
September that year and completed its first
combat strike in late October. Almost 250
Reapers are in service with 13 active duty,
ten ANG and four AFRC squadrons.
afm
#335 FEBRUARY 2016 59
12/01/2016 12:44
 RUSSIAN - SYRIAN MINDSET
The View
T HE RUSSIAN Air and Space Force (RuASF)
has being undertaking combat operations
from Above
in Syria safely and effectively, according to its
Commander-in-Chief (CinC), Colonel General
Viktor Bondarev. In an interview with the
Russian daily Komsomolskaya Pravda, published
in early November, he revealed previously
unreported details of the air campaign.
The RuASF has struck various Islamic and
anti-Assad militant groups in the war-torn
country, bombing moderate nationalist and
Islamist armed opposition from the beginning.
Not on our borders
Bondarev is a combat-hardened Su-25 pilot
decorated with the highest state award,
the Golden Star of the Hero of the Russian
Federation, for his combat exploits during the
first war in Chechnya in the mid-1990s. He
considers the Russian military involvement in
Syria as timely: “I think this option [Russian
military intervention] is much better than
waiting for this trouble to reach our borders.
“We’ve taken all possible threats [that could
60 FEBRUARY 2016 #335
60-62 CinC Feb.aw.indd 60
“Now we can prepare forces
for military operations in
minimum time. All this pre-
determined the speed of our
deployment to Syria.”
Alexander Mladenov sheds
light on the Russian military
leadership’s attitude to the air
campaign in Syria, where its
aircraft have been carrying out
strikes since September 30 at
the request of Syrian President
Bashar Assad.
Above: A Su-24M Fencer releases its load of OFAB-
250-270 bombs onto a target during a mission
over Syria. All images Russian MOD unless stated
Left: Colonel General Viktor Bondarev, CinC of the
RuASF, stated that the air campaign in Syria is a
preventive measure, to stop the proliferation of
Islamic terrorism into Russian territory.
Andery Zinchuk via author
Right: Armourers check an R-73 (AA-11 Archer)
air-to-air missile mounted on a Su-30SM multi-
role fighter at Hmeimim air base.
Far right: All Russian strikes in Syria are recorded
by UAVs or via the targeting systems on the Su-34 or
Su-24M for post-mission battle damage assessment.
www.airforcesmonthly.com
08/01/2016 15:59

be encountered in Syria] into consideration
and deployed attack aircraft, bombers and
interceptors and surface-to-air missile systems.
“We may face a variety of force majeure
situations, such as an aircraft hijacked
in a neighbouring country with the aim
of crashing onto our base. We have to
be ready to counter such threats.”
Catching the US unaware
The CinC said the fixed-wing aircraft deployed
to Syria by ferry flight, while the helicopters
were delivered to Latakia airport by airlift, most
likely in An-124s. Bondarev boasts that the
RuASF’s air group deployed reasonably covertly,
preventing its early detection by US intelligence
services. He refused to provide further details,
but said that, after landing at Hmeimim (as the
Russian Ministry of Defence refers to Latakia/
Basell as-Assad airport), the air group was
declared combat-ready within three hours.
He claimed that the surprise Russian
deployment to Syria has disrupted US plans
in this strategically important region, adding
e
that, during the preceding couple of years,
the Russian armed forces have changed
dramatically: “We’ve been taking 250 fixed-wing
aircraft and helicopters on strength annually,
while the combat training system has also
changed. Since 2012 we’ve introduced so-
called sudden combat readiness inspections,
which have taught us many new things.
“We don’t expect an enemy will send us a
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60-62 CinC Feb.aw.indd 61
Above: The KAB-500S is a new generation of satellite-
guided bomb. Its combat debut came in early Octo-
ber during the Russian air campaign over Syria.
Top: The Su-24Ms operate from Hmeimim air base
and carry a typical war load of four 250kg (550lb)
OFAB-250-270 fragmentation/high-explosive bombs
or four 500kg (1,100lb) FAB-500M62 high explosive
free-fall bombs.
Below: Aircrew of a Su-30 Flanker conduct a final
walk-around check of their aircraft before boarding for
another bomber-escort sortie from Hmeimim air base.
RUSSIAN SYRIAN MINDSET
telegram describing exactly through which
sector of the state border it will launch an
invasion. These sudden combat readiness
inspections have shown the real operational
capabilities of our military units.
“Now we can prepare forces for military
operations in minimum time. All this pre-deter-
mined the speed of our deployment to Syria.
“This is not because we are ‘hot heads’,
rushing into combat in an ad hoc manner. On
the contrary, we examined the infrastructure
and Daesh basing in detail. We’ve done
detailed reconnaissance and gathered a lot of
information. Our aircrews sat at their desks
and studied the expected area of operations.
“We’ve also done a detailed study of
structures considered sensitive to the
civilian population, including mosques,
other holy places, hospitals and schools.”
Bondarev also noted that the RuASF’s
50-aircraft air group in Syria is adequate, with
no reinforcements deemed necessary. He
revealed that the core aircrew dispatched to
Syria have combat experience (gathered mostly
in counter-insurgency missions on Russian
territory, in the troubled North Caucasus
region) while the rest were selected from
among those with the best results in training.
The training regime between January and
September saw each pilot and navigator/
weapons system operator amass more than
100 flight hours, so they were well prepared
for combat missions at short notice.
#335 FEBRUARY 2016 61
08/01/2016 15:59
 RUSSIAN - SYRIAN MINDSET
Satellite intelligence
Speaking about the intelligence used for targeting
and planning combat sorties, Bondarev noted
that the main source is satellite data. This is
complemented by information gathered by
unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) and manned
intelligence-gathering aircraft. The Russian air
group also receives intelligence information
supplied by a network of agents on the ground.
“That’s why each and every target and mission
we have been tasked to carry out is the subject
of a detailed prior examination and preparation.
We co-ordinate the mission with the local Syrian
military authorities and with the Syrian gener-
als, and only after this do we decide whether
designated objects of interest will be targeted.”
The CinC denied Western media reports that
RuASF aircraft had bombed Syrian civilians
and claimed that battle damage assessment,
using post-strike video footage of every
target, ensures strict control is exercised.
Bondarev noted that the operational tempo
was initially slow, with nine strikes reported
during the first day of the air campaign. Over
subsequent days the number gradually
increased to 80, while in early November the
figure hovered at between 50 and 60.
Daesh change tactics
The Colonel General also said the Daesh
groups have changed tactics, attempting to
establish themselves in close proximity to
civilian infrastructure, including towns, vil-
lages, mosques and hospitals. This has
compelled the Russian aviation group to
mount its strikes with increasing accuracy.
At the same time, he claimed, the new Daesh
tactics had brought welcome benefits: “The
terrorists have run away, abandoning their
checkpoints. This is freeing the way for the
Syrian Army advance. The terrorists hide
near civilian facilities because they’ve realised
we’ll destroy their stationary positions.
“They also avoid occupying small villages
because the Syrian Army can fire its artillery
through them. That’s why the terrorists have
been forced to gather in big cities. But this
works against them because it’s easier for the
Syrian Army to encircle cities one by one.
“The problem for us is that aircrew have to
work very precisely, avoiding collateral damage.
This accuracy is achieved firstly through gather-
ing complete and reliable intelligence data.
“Secondly, aircrew prepare each mission
in a very careful, detailed process. They
study the target, fix its position [on the
map], upload the positional information
into the aircraft’s nav/attack system and
Above: The dozen Mi-24Ps attack helicopters deployed to Syria operate in a light configuration, carrying
just a pair of 20-round rocket packs and four 9M114 anti-tank guided missiles.
62 FEBRUARY 2016 #335
60-62 CinC Feb.aw.indd 62
Above: The Su-24Ms upgraded with the Gefesti T SVP-24 nav/attack system are the workhorses of the
air campaign, involved in medium- and long-range strike missions. Fencers fly at altitudes of 5,000m
(16,400ft) to avoid MANPADS and small-calibre AAA.
cross-check the mission data several times.
“In the air, approaching the assigned
target, if doubts arise that the hit will not be
precise, crews are instructed to abort the
attack run and make another. There are
many stages of protection set out in order
to ensure our aircrews avoid mistakes.”
Speaking about co-operation with US
forces attacking targets in Syria, Bondarev
said: “The only act of co-operation with the
US is inking a memorandum of airspace
use.” He also admitted that the air campaign
provided a welcome opportunity for testing
new aircraft types and guided munitions.
Straying into neighbour's
airspace
Explaining the widely reported incursion of a
Russian aircraft into Turkish airspace on October
3, Col Gen Bondarev claimed that it was uninten-
tional. The incident occurred during a combat
Above: A Fullback releases a pair of 500kg KAB-
500S satellite-guided bombs onto an undisclosed
target in Syria. The Russian Government has given
its media unprecedented access to post-mission
imagery throughout the campaign.
Left: At least one Il-20M Coot electronic intelligence
gathering aircraft has been supporting Russia’s
air operations over Syria, flying from Hmeimim air
base. The Coot provides satellite communication
and real-time data sharing for aircraft on strike
missions.
mission when the aircraft flew parallel to the
border between Syria and Turkey in dense cloud.
It was ‘painted’ by the targeting radar of an
unidentified surface-to-air missile system and
the pilot initiated defensive manoeuvres, during
which he strayed into Turkish airspace a little. “We
have honestly admitted this,” Bondarev added.
Careful behaviour when flying next to the
Turkish border, however, did not help prevent
the November 24 incident when Su-24M ‘83’,
bombing anti-Assad Turkmen insurgents,
was gunned down by a Turkish Air Force F-16
next to the border line. The episode sparked a
crisis in relations between Russia and Turkey
and prompted Russian President Vladimir
Putin to call for a significant strengthen-
ing of the Hmeimim air base defence by
deploying an S-400 long-range SAM system
(see Access Denied, January, p66-77).
At the same time, all RuASF bombing mis-
sion in close proximity to the Turkish border
began to be carried out with a fighter escort,
provided by Hmeimim-based Su-30SMs,
while Su-34s flew self-escort missions armed
with R-73 and R-27 air-to-air missiles.
On November 29, Russian aircraft committed
an unintentional incursion, by about one mile
(1.6km), into Israeli airspace over the Golan
Heights. The Israeli air defence network
quickly established contact with the pilot,
warning him he was in the wrong place, and he
quickly adjusted his course, turning towards
Syrian airspace to continue his mission.
Israeli defence minister Moshe Yaalon told
media: “Israel and Russia have agreements
in place to avoid clashes over Syria, using a
hotline for sharing information. Russian aircraft
do not have any intention to attack and that’s
why we did not automatically react and afm
shoot them down when an error occurs.”
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08/01/2016 15:59
 EXERCISE REPORT Crimson Eagle 2015
Right: Capt Rob
McCrea, a CTR
student, passes by
a control tower on
the BMGR, after
completing a basic
course of fire with
the Apache’s
30mm chain gun.
All photos, author
unless stated.
A s custodian of
the British mili-
tary’s helicopter gun-
ship capability, the Army
Air Corps (AAC) Attack Helicopter
Force (AHF) must be ready to sup-
port the British Army and Royal
Marines wherever they deploy.
With the proven AgustaWestland
Apache AH1 as its mount, AHF
has seen extensive
combat in the deserts
of Iraq, Afghanistan
and Libya.
Although the UK
has been re-orien-
tating its forces to
meet a wide array of
contingencies, includ-
ing emerging threats
in Europe and Asia, the
likelihood of desert deployments
supporting operations against
Daesh and other insurgencies
remains high. As such, AHF’s
Apache crews train to meet the
challenges of desert operations.
For this it sends Apache crews to
the southwestern United States
for Exercise Crimson Eagle, a two-
64 FEBRUARY 2016 #335
64-70 Hunting Feb.awgs.indd 64
month detachment com-
bining desert environmental
training at Naval Air Facility
El Centro (NAFEC), California,
with live weapons training
at Gila Bend Air Force
Auxiliary Field in Arizona.
Based at Wattisham Airfield,
Suffolk, 653 Operational
Training Squadron assumed the
Apache conversion-to-role
(CTR) mission during a
reorganisation of the
AAC in 2014 and is
now responsible for
running Crimson Eagle,
which typically occurs
twice a year. Crimson
Eagle 15B ran from
late September to mid-
November 2015 and saw
the participation of around 150
personnel, flying or supporting
a detachment of six aircraft.
Crimson Eagle comes at the
end of a long road for 653’s CTR
students, as the capstone event
on nearly four years of training.
They arrive on the CTR course
having already completed basic
fixed-wing,
elementary
rotary, and intro-
ductory tactical
rotary-wing
training, before
being assigned
to the Apache.
They go to 673
Squadron at
Middle Wallop,
Hampshire, for
Apache conversion-
to-type (CTT) training, which the front seat generally doing
lasts eight months and teaches all of the weapons and the rear
new Apache crews the funda- seat generally doing the flying.”
mentals of operating the type. The CTR course at Wattisham
During CTT, all students learn consists of six months of advanced
the basics from the front and rear tactical training on the AH1,
seats. Upon its completion, they including threat reaction, electronic
are tracked into either a front-seat warfare and, of course, employing
or rear-seat curriculum. Capt Rob the Apache as a weapons system,
McCrea, a recent 653 Sqn gradu- which happens in the US during
ate, explained: “We’re divided the final two months of training.
into front-seat/rear-seat based on
certain attributes – including how Coming to America
well you’ve done in the sim and The UK’s desert helicopter
what aspects they think you’re training in the US has been
most suited for. So we come here institutionalised to the point that
and we qualify on a seat, with Joint Helicopter Command (JHC)
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12/01/2016 14:56
 Hunting
Joe Copalman
reports on Army Air
Corps conversion-to-
role training in the

Party
deserts of Arizona
and California.

“We’re divided
into front-seat/rear-
seat based on certain
attributes – including how well
you’ve done in the sim and what
aspects they think you’re most
suited for”
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64-70 Hunting Feb.awgs.indd 65 12/01/2016 14:56

 EXERCISE REPORT Crimson Eagle 2015

has a headquarters building at

NAFEC, but it still represents an
enormous undertaking to move
aircraft, equipment and person-
A CTR student taxies out while his
nel for each detachment. Capt
instructor in the front seat flashes
Nathan Torbett is 653 Squadron’s the thumbs-up.
operations officer, tasked with
ensuring that the unit gets to where
it needs to be, with what it needs
to operate for as long as needed.
Explaining what goes into
planning Crimson Eagle, Torbett
said: “Because it’s a major, fairly
expensive exercise, we have to
bid for it through our central
chain six months plus before
coming here. So pretty much
as soon as we get back, we start
planning for the next one. And
upon leaving here, normally,
we give an outline view of when
we’re looking at coming back.
“It’s already on NAFEC and Gila

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64-70 Hunting Feb.awgs.indd 66 12/01/2016 14:56

 “We came here and had two days to get
used to the heat and try to get rid of the jet
lag, and then it was building the aircraft”
Above: An Apache groundcrewman photographs the leading edges of the Bend’s radar, so we then start
main rotor blades on an Apache that had just returned from dust landing train- going through everything, like
ing. The leading edges are sprayed with a frequently reapplied protective diplomatic clearances, import
coating to prevent any damage caused by stones and abrasive dirt.
Above right: A 357th FS ‘Dragons’ A-10C on initial approach for a gun run on
licences and just the co-ordination
the BMGR. Crews from 662 and 663 Sqns, as well as instructors from 653 needed to get all the assets. Even
Sqn, worked with the 357th on the range. Paul Dunn though we’ve got six Apaches
Below: Groundcrewmen shelter from the downwash of a departing Apache here, the engineering support,
at Gila Bend. life support, and all of the kit
and equipment is enormous.”
For this particular exercise, a pair
of Antonov An-124s was hired
to transport the aircraft from
Wattisham along with most of the
equipment to El Centro. Simply
breaking down the aircraft for
transport was good training for
the squadron’s Royal Electrical
and Mechanical Engineers (REME)
aircraft technicians. Describing the
journey, REME aircraft technician
Cpl Tom Newey said: “It was 20ºC
maximum in the UK and we came
out to 40ºC. That’s one of the main
challenges. We came here and had
two days to get used to the heat
and try to get rid of the jet lag, and
then it was building the aircraft.”
Transportation of the ordnance
needed for the live-fire portion of
Crimson Eagle was handled quite
differently, and involved sea and
land transport. As Capt Torbett
explained: “We get our ordnance
from IGMR [the International
Guns, Rockets, and Missiles Project
Team] in Canada, so quite often
it will just be shipped straight
here. But we have shipped
ordnance from the UK as well.
We actually transported it this
Apache Ground Crew
Among aviation ground crew
worldwide, the AAC’s personnel
are trained across what is likely
the broadest spectrum of ground
support functions.
Though primarily tasked with
ensuring the aircraft take off in
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64-70 Hunting Feb.awgs.indd 67
time into South Carolina, and
then it was freighted across.”
Getting Dirty
One of the many advantages of
attack helicopters is that they
can move with the infantry while
relying on forward arming and
refuelling points (FARPs), which
keep them close to the battle by
avoiding lengthy return trips to a
faraway airfield for replenishment.
With most FARPs established in
unimproved areas, the potential
for dust, grass, or even snow kicked
up by rotor downwash obscuring
pilot vision is high, and Apache
crews train to operate safely in
degraded-visibility environments.
Dust landings involve consider-
able teamwork, with the desert
landing sites west of NAFEC requir-
ing preparation and manning
during the landings themselves,
as well as communications.
Capt Torbett explained the role
of 653’s signallers and ground
crew: “We send out a signaller to
speak with the aircraft, then two
ground crew to churn up the dust
landing areas and set out the
desert landing boxes [15m×30m
areas surveyed as landing zones],
then they’re the immediate
response out there in case of any
accident or incident as well.”
Airtrooper Conn Sweeney, a
653 Sqn signaller, elaborated
on his job during dust landings:
“There’s a signaller out there and
the correct state with appropriate
fuel and ordnance loads, Apache
groundcrew may find themselves
performing the functions of fuel
handler, armourer, plane captain
or marshaller, or setting up a
FARP. 
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 EXERCISE REPORT Crimson Eagle 2015
he’s got a satellite phone and a
radio. The radio is for commu-
nicating with the aircraft and the
sat-phone is for calling back with
any messages they might have.”
Flight operations in brownout
conditions are never easy, but
with the Apache being a two-crew
aircraft, the non-handling pilot
(usually the front-seater) carries
some of the workload. Capt
Torbett explained: “By day the guy
up front goes into ‘meerkat’ mode,
kind of peeking over the nose. It’s
very much a two-crew concept, so
the non-handling crew member
will be monitoring drift, speed,
height and so on, and calling out
the ‘gates’, so that you’re hitting
the speed and height combina-
tions to make a safe landing.”
Capt Torbett also praised the
Apache’s avionics and vision
systems: “We’re pretty blessed
Above: WO2 Steve Howard, an Apache instructor with 653 Sqn, clears a student
pilot ‘green’ as he repositions after a gun attack on the BMGR. Crimson Eagle
gives 653’s instructors opportunities to qualify as range control officers in addi-
tion to their primary duties.
68 FEBRUARY 2016 #335
64-70 Hunting Feb.awgs.indd 68
An AH1 from 653 Squadron down low
in the mountains west of El Centro,
where the CTR students practice
hot-and-high flying and mountain
navigation.
in the Apache. Obviously you’ve
got the symbology with the
monocle in front of your right eye
that displays exactly which way
up you are, it tells you if you’re
drifting forward, left, back, right,
by how much, if you’re accelerat-
ing forwards, backwards, etc.”
All student Apache pilots are
given what’s called a ‘bag check’,
in which all the cockpit windows
are covered with thick rubber,
forcing them to rely entirely on the
forward-looking infrared (FLIR) and
monocle to fly the aircraft. “And
that,” said Capt Torbett, “builds up
confidence in the ability to rely on
those systems, so that when you
come out here, you can sit in the
hover in a dust cloud and be fairly
confident that you’re not drifting,
which is one of the biggest dramas
with dust landings, and that you’re
going to conduct safe landings.”
Location,
location,
location
Capt Rob McCrea, a CTR course
student, explained the appeal
of training at El Centro and Gila
Bend: “It’s three aspects. One is
to operate in high temperatures
and a dusty environment; second
is getting experience in how a
foreign nation would do this
sort of aviation and third is the
real estate. The UK just doesn’t
have the real estate size-wise to
achieve what we need to do in
terms of the live-firing portion.”
“The UK just doesn’t
have the real estate size-
wise to achieve what we
need to do”
Both locations used by 653
Sqn offer obvious benefits. El
Centro puts the det within a few
minutes’ flying time of desert
landing sites and mountains for
high-density-altitude training,
while Gila Bend brings the crews
to the doorstep of the BMGR,
which offers 1.05 million acres of
ground area for tactical training,
including designated areas for
high-explosive ordnance and the
opportunity to work with JTACs.
Summing up the benefits of the
training sites, Capt Nathan Torbett
said: “There’s a high degree of
freedom, and it’s a challenging
environment. On your doorstep
you’ve got the mountains, you’ve
got dust, you’ve got Gila Bend
where you can fire in any direction
on the ranges and really challenge
yourself. I think the degree of
autonomy and freedom that you
can operate with from these bases
just makes the exercise.” 
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12/01/2016 14:57
 ‘The Apache was initially designed to
employ – nap-of-the-Earth flying and the use
of terrain masking for hit-and-run attacks’
Pilots are not the only ones tested
by dust landings. Cpl Newey
described the challenges for the
REME aircraft technicians: “The
dust literally gets everywhere,
which causes problems. Yesterday
a stone was picked up and cracked
the front windscreen, so it came
back, we changed it, and it will
be going out again today and
the same thing could happen.”
Cpl Newey also discussed how
dust exacerbates gun failures. The
Apache’s M230 30mm cannon
has a feed mechanism that is
largely exposed to the elements,
including the dust whipped up
by desert landings, which can
foul the feed track. Such failures
are mitigated through using
specific aircraft for dust land-
ings, and thorough cleaning and
lubrication. Torbett noted: “We
clean the ‘cabs’ [helicopters] as
thoroughly as we can before leav-
Above: Information displayed in the Apache’s monocle eyepiece greatly assists
during safe and effective dust landings.
ing here. We’ll get into Gila and
Below: The Apache’s M230 chain gun. Crimson Eagle offers CTR students their fire them as clean as possible.”
first opportunity to fire live rounds. Paul Dunn In addition to desert landings,
CTR students fly low-level train-
ing in the mountains between
El Centro and San Diego. This
is done in part to give them
exposure to flying in challenging
hot-and-high conditions, and to
introduce them to the tactics the
Apache was initially designed
to employ – nap-of-the-Earth
flying and the use of terrain
masking for hit-and-run attacks.
This return to the Apache’s roots
is the result of a renewed emphasis
on tactics outside the Afghan
environment, as Capt Torbett
noted: “We were in Afghanistan
for a long time, and have to not
so much relearn, but remember
the skills that we had before. It’s
not a new set of techniques, it’s
something that we’ve always had
through the pilots’ course, but
we’re just bringing it back to the
front of the stage again. We’re
integrating a lot more with land
forces and a more low-level, higher-
threat contingent environment,
rather than high-level, fairly low
threat like we had in Afghanistan.”
“While We’re Here…”
Crimson Eagle also affords oppor-
tunities for 653 to complete other
training that cannot be accom-
plished in the UK. The squadron
is the lead AHF unit for ensuring
that Apache pilots are trained in
survival, evasion, resistance, and
escape (SERE), and Crimson Eagle
is used to give CTR students desert
survival and evasion training that
the climate and terrain in the UK
simply cannot support. For this,
653 brings SERE instructors from
the UK and a tactical unit from the
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64-70 Hunting Feb.awgs.indd 69
US Customs and Border Protection
to, as Capt Torbett put it, “…hunt
the guys down with dogs and all
their kit, so it’s pretty realistic”.
Along with the eight CTR students
on the det, Crimson Eagle 15B
also saw two experienced Apache
pilots completing training as
weapons instructors. Capt Torbett
explained: “They go through the
methods of instruction phase
back in the UK, they go through
a simulator package so they can
teach in the simulator, and then
they go through instructional
techniques in the air. Finally, they
do that with live ordnance and
an instructor acting as if they’re
a student, so they can pick them
up on faults etc with the range.
Once they pass that test they
can then go out and do it with an
actual student on the range.”
Weapons-Hot at
Gila Bend
Desert and mountain environ-
mental training complete, the
CTR students relocate 190 miles
(306km) east along Interstate
8 to Gila Bend, for two weeks of
weapons training on the Barry M
Goldwater Range (BMGR). The
weapons det at BMGR is the first
chance the students have to shoot
the gun or fire rockets and missiles,
but they have already had exten-
sive training on how to employ
all of the Apache’s weapons.
Like the dust landing training at
El Centro, the live-weapons det
at Gila Bend benefits more than
just the AH pilots. While the role
of the REME technicians and
signallers remains the same at
both locations, the live-fire events
add ordnance handling to the list
of groundcrew responsibilities.
Airtrooper Max Iusell elaborated
on the benefits of the training:
“We come out here and actually
get to do our job for real in a real
environment with live ammuni-
tion. It’s a lot different loading a
live rocket compared with a drill
round, for the ‘fear factor’ and
just because it’s a live rocket.”
As with all the CTR training up
to that point, the weapons events
at Gila Bend are structured on
a crawl-walk-run model. The
facility has four identical ranges
for basic weapons training. Each
has an assigned number and is
always manned by a range control
officer (RCO), who ensures safe
training, and issues weapons
clearance and abort commands.
Crimson Eagle is an opportu-
nity for 653 Sqn to have several
Apache instructor pilots qualified
as RCOs, a collateral duty that
allows the AAC to train without
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 EXERCISE REPORT Crimson Eagle 2015
An Apache obscured by a wall of dust. The rotor downwash is capable of throw-
ing stones into the air, which can and do crack windscreens.
relying on RCOs contracted by
the Department of Defense.
Work on the numbered ranges
begins with a brief orientation,
after which the instructors guide
students through a number of pre-
briefed serials, including firing the
30mm cannon from hovers, dives
and off-axis while on the move.
From there, the training progresses
and leads to a finale event in which
all skills learned in the CTR course
are applied in a live-fire scenario on
Above: Sgt Kevin Horne, a 653 Sqn signaller, communicates with a pilot inbound BMGR’s North Tactical (TAC) range.
to a dust-landing site west of El Centro. In addition to running communications
in the squadron’s flight operations centre, signallers provide similar service at Working with JTACs
FARPs and other remote landing sites. This stage of training also sees
Below: A student and instructor go through final preparations for departure at the CTR students interacting with
NAFEC. joint terminal attack controllers
(JTACs) from the US and the UK,
who come to the BMGR to perform
live-weapons controls in order to
maintain currency. Capt Torbett
said the amount of ordnance
typically expended by each
crew: “…is about 1,100 rounds
of 30-mil, just under 50 rockets,
and one [AGM-114 Hellfire] mis-
sile. They’ll fire [the missile] as
part of their constituted course
crew, so there’s no instructor in
the aircraft, it’s their final sortie
before finishing the course.”
From a student’s perspective,
these last few weeks of training
bring on feelings of being turned
loose to do what they have been
trained to do. As Capt McCrea
elaborated, Crimson Eagle forces
CTR students to “naturally build
on the training we’ve already done.
Everything we’ve done up until now
has been very sterile, saying, ‘to
do it, here’s the answer,’ whereas
here it’s more, ‘okay, go do it’.”
Crimson Eagle 15B ran into a prob-
lem when a worldwide prohibition
on the 2.75in (70mm) CRV-7 rocket
70 FEBRUARY 2016 #335
64-70 Hunting Feb.awgs.indd 70
went into effect in mid-October
2015 due to safety concerns.
As such, the CTR students at Gila
Bend completed training without
firing rockets. Apache instructor
pilot Warrant Officer Second Class
(WO2) Steve Howard lamented:
“This is the first course in a long
time where we are sending pilots to
their units with incomplete training,”
but added that this training can
easily be picked up in the UK by the
units gaining the graduating pilots.
With training at Gila Bend
complete, 653 Sqn held a
graduation ceremony for the
CTR students on the deck of USS
Midway, a retired US Navy aircraft
carrier that serves as a pier-side
museum in San Diego harbour.
Over the two weeks that followed,
pilots from 662 and 663 Sqns
(frontline sister units to 653 under
3 Regiment, AAC, at Wattisham)
came to Gila Bend to renew their
annual firing currencies.
This training involved working
with JTACs on North TAC, as well
as something new for Crimson
Eagle – integration with A-10C
Warthogs from Davis-Monthan’s
357th Fighter Squadron, which
provided Forward Air Controller
(Airborne) services using white
phosphorous rockets and targeting
pods to designate for the Apaches.
With the exception of the
cancelled live-fire rocket events,
Crimson Eagle 15B met its
training objectives for the CTR
students, weapons instructor
trainees and frontline AH pilots.
Upon returning to Wattisham,
653 Sqn began preparing to
take on another group of CTR
students, who will no doubt
travel to the US on another
afm
Crimson Eagle det in 2016.
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House Vulcan F_P.indd 1 07/01/2016 16:10
 SAUDI TYPHOONS
Above: The Typhoon has supplanted the F-15C as the RSAF's primary fighter. Here a Taif-based RSAF Eagle breaks away from a Typhoon wearing the marks of 10 Sqn,
armed with IRIS-T missiles. All photos, Jamie Hunter unless stated
C ONTRARY TO many people’s expectations,
the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) has become
something of a pathfinder in operating the
Eurofighter Typhoon, pressing ahead and exploit-
ing new capabilities and weapons even before the
aircraft’s original European air force customers.
With recent combat operations against
the Daesh in Syria, and against Houthi
rebels in Yemen, the Saudi Typhoons have
probably now clocked up more combat
flying hours than any other operator – an
unexpected but significant achievement.
Saudi Arabia was always expected to be
an early export customer for Typhoon,
72 FEBRUARY 2016 #335
72-79 Typhoon Feb.awgs.indd 72
following the country’s long and successful
use of other British aircraft types, from the
Strikemaster to the Hunter and from the
Lightning to the Hawk and Tornado.
Project Salam
When the Project Salam deal was signed in
August 2007, it covered the purchase of 72
Eurofighter Typhoons, together with training,
support and technology transfer agreements.
The programme promised to stimulate new
industrial capabilities in the nation, including
the development of a dedicated engineer-
ing and manufacturing infrastructure.
From an early stage, it became apparent
that the Salam programme would involve an
unprecedented degree of defence technology
transfer to a Middle Eastern country. This
included the establishment of a Typhoon
assembly line in Saudi Arabia. However, to meet
Saudi timescales, the first 24 RSAF Typhoons
(18 single-seaters and six trainers) would be
diverted from the Royal Air Force Tranche
2 order, already taking shape on the BAE
Systems’ Warton production line in Lancashire.
The next 48 aircraft were originally expected to
be assembled in-country, 24 from UK-supplied
sub-assemblies that were to have been shipped
www.airforcesmonthly.com
11/01/2016 16:03

SAUDI TYPHOONS
LEADING
THE FIELD Jon Lake examines how Saudi Arabia has rapidly advanced with the
operational capabilities of its Eurofighter Typhoons.
to Saudi Arabia on board leased Antonov
An-124 freighters and the remainder from kits.
The first Typhoon for Saudi Arabia made
its maiden flight on October 20, 2008 and
was formally handed over to the RSAF
on June 11, 2009. The first pair was
delivered to the RSAF on June 23, 2009.
The initial eight Typhoons delivered to Saudi
Arabia (all single-seaters) were painted in
10 Squadron markings, leading many to
assume this unit had stood up as the RSAF
Typhoon OEU (Operational Evaluation Unit).
In the event, RSAF plans changed and 10
Squadron did not form at that time. Its
www.airforcesdaily.com
72-79 Typhoon Feb.awgs.indd 73
aircraft instead went to 3 Squadron, which
acted as the RSAF Typhoon OCU (Operational
Conversion Unit). The OCU’s first six two-
seaters were delivered between March and
October 2010, with four more single-seaters
following during the last quarter of that year.
Pilot training
An initial cadre of six RSAF pilots (Col Al Shahrani,
Lt Colonel Al Ibrahim, Majors Al Amri, Al Hamad,
and Al Qahtani, and Capt Al Tamimi), plus ground-
crew, completed training with the RAF, the pilots
undergoing conversion with No 29 (Reserve)
Squadron at RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire. Two
SAUDI TYPHOONS
more pilots were trained in Spain (although one
was killed in an accident at Getafe) and a further
two in the UK – these formed the cadre of instruc-
tor pilots who initially formed 3 Squadron at Taif.
The rising cost of this instruction in the UK
led to the cancellation of plans to train an
initial batch of 22 to 24 further RSAF pilots
there. Instead, the RAF and Spanish-taught
instructors (augmented by a group of BAE
Systems and RAF Typhoon pilots) locally trained
batches of seven or eight Typhoon pilots, who
graduated in late 2010 and early 2011.
After a hesitant start, with the Tranche 2
aircraft’s initial Service Release Package (SRP)
#335 FEBRUARY 2016 73
11/01/2016 16:03
 SAUDI TYPHOONS

‘The RSAF then started air-to-air gunnery training

(beating the RAF to this milestone) and, for good measure,
established an operational air-to-air refuelling clearance for
its Typhoons.’
Saudi Typhoon Production Tranche One 5.0 software proving disappointing, the adop-
tion of SRP 5.1 software enabled the RSAF to
Prodn No Serials Con No First Flight Delivery date
start using its Typhoons operationally. Though it
CS001 1001/ZK060 ex BS042/165 Oct 20, 2008 Jun 25, 2009
was formed as an operational conversion train-
CS002 1002/ZK061 ex BS043/168 Oct 29, 2008 Jun 25, 2009 ing unit, 3 Squadron also has an operational
CS003 1003/ZK062 ex BS044/172 Feb 18, 2009 Aug 25, 2009 role and began standing quick reaction alert
CS004 1004/ZK063 ex BS046/180 Mar 20, 2009 Aug 25, 2009 (QRA) in mid-2011, its aircraft armed with four
CS005 1005/ZK064 ex BS048/186 Apr 14, 2009 Oct 15, 2009 AIM-120C5 advanced medium-range air-to-air
CS006 1006/ZK065 ex BS049/189 May 14, 2009 Oct 15, 2009 missiles (AMRAAM) and a pair of short-range
infrared-homing IRIS-T air-to-air missiles.
CS007 1007/ZK066 ex BS050/193 May 12, 2009 Dec 5, 2009
Like Germany, Italy and Spain, the RSAF
CS008 1008/ZK068 ex BS051/197 Aug 14, 2009 Dec 5, 2009
selected the IRIS-T as its primary short-
CT001 301/ZK069 ex BT018/231 Dec 17, 2009 Mar 28, 2010 range weapon, rather than the AIM-132
CT002 302/ZK070 ex BT019/235 Dec 23, 2009 Mar 28, 2010 ASRAAM favoured by the UK. The RSAF then
CT003 303/ZK071 ex BT020/238 Feb 22, 2010 Jun 10, 2010 started air-to-air gunnery training (beating
CT004 304/ZK072 ex BT021/240 Mar 26, 2010 Jun 10, 2010 the RAF to this milestone) and, for good
CT005 305/ZK073 ex BT022/243 Apr 12, 2010 Oct 07, 2010 measure, established an operational air-to-air
refuelling clearance for its Typhoons.
CT006 306/ZK074 ex BT023/246 Jun 10, 2010 Oct 07, 2010
CS009 307/ZK075 ex BS061/252 July 01, 2010 Nov 25, 2010
Local assembly cancelled
CS010 308/ZK076 ex BS062/254 Jun 23, 2010 Nov 25, 2010 The last of the batch of 24 Warton-assembled
CS011 309/ZK077 ex BS065/264 Sep 30, 2010 Dec 09, 2010 Typhoons that had been diverted from RAF
CS012 310/ZK078 ex BS065/267 Oct 18, 2010 Dec 09, 2010 orders was delivered on September 22, 2011.
CS013 311/ZK079 ex BS068/277 Nov 16, 2010 Jun 09, 2011 Production was then supposed to have switched
CS014 312/ZK080 ex BS069/280 Dec 14, 2010 Jun 09, 2011 to a new facility built by BAE Systems at King
Abdulaziz Air Base at Dhahran. The delivery
CS015 313/ZK081 ex BS072/288 Feb 24, 2011 Jun 29, 2011
schedule of the remaining 48 aircraft was to have
CS016 314/ZK082 ex BS073/290 Jan 28, 2011 Jun 29, 2011
continued without interruption. Construction of
CS017 315/ZK083 ex BS076/300 Apr 08, 2011 Sep 22, 2011 the Typhoon technical zone at Dhahran began,
CS018 316/ZK084 ex BS077/303 May 04, 2011 Sep 22, 2011 with a foundation stone ceremonially laid by
Below: The RSAF holds the distinction of being the first Typhoon operator to start air-to-ground the then defence and aviation minister Crown
operations using Tranche 2 aircraft, in December 2011. A Typhoon taxies out armed with 1,000lb Paveway Prince Sultan in March 2008. However, the
II laser guided bombs. facility was not completed by August 2009 as
planned, nor by the second quarter of 2010,
when work on the first locally assembled Typhoon
was scheduled to have started. This aircraft
was originally due to be completed in 2011.
BAE Systems started training Saudis on
Typhoon aircraft assembly at Warton in
preparation for the establishment of the Saudi
assembly plant, but the in-country industrial
programme (IKIP) failed to materialise, amid
reports of “repeated hold-ups by Saudi
Arabia regarding the choice of a build site”.
Meanwhile, sub assemblies for the 25th and
subsequent Saudi Typhoons began to ‘back

74 FEBRUARY 2016 #335 www.airforcesmonthly.com

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 SAUDI TYPHOONS

Left: A five-ship formation of 3 Sqn Typhoons including one aircraft in 10 Sqn markings, high over the Saudi
desert. The aircraft are each armed with a pair of infra-red homing IRIS-T air-to-air missiles.
Below: A 3 Squadron two-seater trainer taxies out of a sun shelter at Taif Air Base for another local training
sortie. Student RSAF Typhoon pilots follow the traditional path of basic training on the Pilatus PC-21 before
progressing to the BAE Systems Hawk Mk65 (to be replaced by the Mk165), for the fast jet phase.

up’ at Warton and Samlesbury, waiting for a
decision on where they would be ‘put together’.
The failure to establish full local assembly
from the 25th Saudi Typhoon onwards was
“the cause of great frustration, disappointment
and even anger”, according to an Arabian
Aerospace online news report at the time, but
eventually it was realised that Riyadh’s aspira-
tions for full local assembly were “unrealistic”.
It was decided that local participation in
through-life support for the RSAF Typhoons
would confer greater benefits than those that
might accrue from in-country final assembly
and a modification to the 72-aircraft project
Salam contract was signed in early 2012.
The sub assemblies that had built up at
Warton, waiting shipment, were therefore
fed into the BAE assembly line. Six
two-seaters from the second batch were
assembled first, with final assembly of the
first of these beginning in January 2012.
Airshow, in February 2012, the deputy
commander of 3 Squadron, Col Hammad Al
Hammad, told this author that he had person-
ally dropped several LGBs, though he declined
to identify exactly what weapons were being
used. He and Lt Col Khalid Almalki confirmed
they had dropped ‘many’ laser guided weapons,
with Damocles-equipped Tornados ‘spiking’.
The RSAF Typhoon force always planned
to move quickly to self-designation, using
an ‘early cut’ of the P1E software. This was
integrated under a service engineering
modification (SEM), using a process similar to
a UK urgent operational requirement (UOR)
modification, even before the NATO Eurofighter
and Tornado Management Agency (NETMA)
had issued a full service clearance for P1EA.
Damocles pod
The RSAF chose to use a different laser designa-
tion pod (LDP) to the other Typhoon users,
selecting the French-designed Thales Damocles
LDP over the Israeli-designed Litening 3 pod.
To appease Saudi sensibilities, BAE offered a
UK-built version of Litening 3 with no Israeli con-
tent, which was known simply as the Ultra Pod.
The Damocles pod was already being
built under licence by Saudi Arabia’s AEC
for use by RSAF Tornados – and the RSAF
decided to integrate this LDP before the full
release of P1E – a contract for the integra-
tion of Damocles on the Saudi Typhoons
was reportedly placed in May 2012.
After a rapid development and integration
programme, BAE Systems flew the Thales
Damocles pod on the UK’s Typhoon instru-
mented series production aircraft (ISPA), ZK303
(BT017), on November 29, 2012 at Warton.
The ISPA is a test asset jointly owned
by BAE Systems and the RAF, and was

First for air-to-ground ops

Air-to-ground operations by 3 Squadron began
in December 2011 as part of a phased work-up,
long before the Phase 1 Enhancement (P1E,
that brought air-to-ground capability to the
Tranche 2 aircraft) was released. Thus Saudi
Arabia became the first Typhoon operator to start
air-to-ground operations using Tranche 2 aircraft,
while other operators choosing to wait for P1EA.
Initially, the Saudis practised dropping
Paveway IIs on targets designated by
Damocles-equipped, Tornado Sustainment
Programme (TSP)-modified Tornados and
also by ground-based laser designators. The
weapon used by the RSAF Typhoons was the
legacy Paveway II laser-guided bomb (LGB),
based on the UK 1,000lb bomb body, that
was originally supplied for use by the RSAF’s
Tornados. This was the weapon used by the
RAF’s Tranche 1 Typhoons when they gained
a so-called ‘austere air-to-ground capability’ in
2008, but the UK Paveway II was not planned to
be integrated on Tranche 2 aircraft under P1E. Above: Bucking the trend of other operators which favour the Litening pods, the RSAF chose the French-
By the time of the Bahrain International designed Thales Damocles laser designator pod for its fleet.

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 SAUDI TYPHOONS

exercise in September 2013 – 10 Squadron

Above: A Saudi Typhoon turns off Coningsby’s main runway after a sortie with RAF Typhoons during Exercise
Green Flag in 2013. Alan Warnes
at that time painted in No.17 (Reserve)
Squadron markings but based at Warton.
BAE undertook the Damocles integration, as
well as Damocles/P1E training for two RSAF
pilots, at Warton before testing and integration
work transferred to Saudi Arabia, where a
full, end-to-end self-designated drop of a
Paveway II LGB, using Damocles, was made
at the end of 2013. Further bombing trials
were undertaken in early February 2014. The
RSAF’s Tranche 2 Typhoons thereby gained an
in-service LDP capability up to a year before
the RAF. Subsequent Damocles development
continued at Warton, resulting in a progressively
improved and refined Damocles integration
over several successive software releases.
Typhoons at RAF Coningsby
The first aircraft from the new batch of Typhoons
(the first of the 48 aircraft that had once been
intended to be assembled in Saudi Arabia)
made its maiden flight from the BAE Systems
Warton factory airfield on November 30,
2012. Deliveries to the RSAF recommenced in
June 2013. The arrival of new aircraft allowed
the stand up of 10 Squadron (the second
RSAF Typhoon unit and the first fully frontline
squadron) at Taif in the second half of 2013.
No 3 Squadron had been a training unit
with a secondary air defence role and a small
air-to-ground cadre, whereas 10 Squadron
was intended to be a multi-role squadron
from the beginning. The new unit occupied
its own complex of hardened shelters at Taif,
although it shared aircraft with 3 Squadron.
Many aircrew transferred to the new unit from
3 Squadron, including the cadre of aircrew
who had been developing air-to-ground tactics
and doctrine for the Typhoon force. Others
converted to the Typhoon with 3 Squadron
before being posted to 10 Squadron – some
of them coming from the F-15C and others
from advanced training on the BAE Hawk.
Eight early Typhoons had been delivered
with 10 Squadron markings in 2009 and
further examples in the same markings
followed from December 2013. Except for
the squadron’s first major operation – a
four-ship deployment to RAF Coningsby
to take part in the Saudi-British Green Flag
used aircraft with 3 Squadron markings.
Though single RSAF Typhoons had previously
deployed outside the country (for example
for participation in the Bahrain International
Airshow) this was the first significant deploy-
ment of the Typhoon outside Saudi Arabia.
It also marked the first time that the RSAF’s
new A330 MRTT aircraft had been used to
‘trail’ aircraft operationally. In fact, it was
the first such A330 MRTT trail by any air
force, a source of great pride for the RSAF.
During the exercise, four RSAF Typhoons
and four Panavia Tornado IDS aircraft worked
alongside RAF Typhoons and Tornados, flying
mixed RSAF/RAF pairs. This helped the RSAF
to gain a useful insight into RAF Typhoon opera-
tions and tactics, and to understand how the
aircraft could best be used to its full potential.
Around the end of the first quarter of 2014,
10 Squadron became fully operational,
eventually receiving 18 single-seaters and
four trainers. As a training unit, 3 Squadron
had received 12 of each variant.
New contract agreed
The change in final assembly arrange-
ments for the last 48 aircraft involved
considerable extra work and cost for BAE
Systems, and it was not until February
2014 for a revised price to be agreed.
It is understood that the new agreement
included arrangements for greater local partici-

Above right: A Typhoon crew prepares for a mission.

The pilot on the right is supervised by the senior
Typhoon pilot (left). The khaki-uniformed officer is
the aircraft’s engineering officer. Alan Warnes
Right: The first Saudi Typhoon of Tranche 1 on its
delivery flight from BAE Systems’ Warton facility.
The jet is still wearing its UK serial, ZK060, on the
rear fuselage but has already received full RSAF 3
Squadron markings.

76 FEBRUARY 2016 #335 www.airforcesmonthly.com

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pation in support and sustainment, and for the
final batch of 24 of the 72 aircraft ordered to be
delivered to Tranche 3 standards, with structur-
al, electrical and cooling provision for airborne
electronically-scanned array (AESA) radar,
and with provision for conformal fuel tanks.
Fortunately, work continued even before
this price adjustment was agreed, and
10 Squadron’s stand-up was allowed to
continue uninterrupted. This was just as
well, as within a year, the unit would be
flying combat missions in its Typhoons, and
on July 9, 2014 BAE Systems was able to
announce that the RSAF’s Eurofighter Typhoon
fleet had reached 10,000 flying hours.
Combat Ops
When the USA began mounting what it called
‘expanded air strikes’ against Daesh targets in
Syria on September 22, 2014 about one-third
of the attacking aircraft were provided by its
Arab partner nations. The RSAF initially com-
mitted F-15S Eagles to the operation, which was
www.airforcesdaily.com
72-79 Typhoon Feb.awgs.indd 77
SAUDI TYPHOONS
Saudi Typhoon Production
Tranche Two
Prodn Serials Con First Delivery
No No Flight date
CT007 317/ZK085 272 Feb 12, Jun 27,
2013 2013
CT008 318/ZK086 279 Mar 14, Jun 27,
2013 2013
CT009 319/ZK087 298 May 14, Sep 05,
2013 2013
CT010 320/ZK088 310 Jun 19, Sep 05,
2013 2013
CT011 321/ZK089 320 Dec 13, April 25,
2012 2013
CT012 322/ZK090 330 Nov 30, April 25,
2012 2013
CS019 323/ZK091 344 Jul 26, Oct 17,
2013 2013
CS020 324/ZK092 353 Jul 26, Oct 17,
2013 2013
CS021 1009/ZK384 362 Sep 09, Dec 12,
2013 2013
CS022 1012/ZK385 384 Nov 07, Feb 27,
Saudi Arabia's Typhoons were the first Tranche 2 2013 2014
aircraft to gain an air-to-ground capability, and the CS023 1013/ZK386 387 Oct 10, May 14,
first to use Paveway IV in anger. 2014 2015
CT013 1010/ZK387 370 Oct 21, Feb 27,
named Inherent Resolve from mid-October. 2013 2014
Saudi Typhoons soon joined the operation CT014 1011/ZK388 377 Oct 18, Dec 12,
and flew an initial phase of missions against 2013 2013
Daesh targets in Syria using the Paveway II LGB CS024 1014/ZK389 400 Dec 20, May 16,
operationally. No 10 Squadron then underwent 2013 2014
a brief period of follow-up training, before rejoin- CS025 1015/ZK390 403 Jan 27, May 16,
ing the air campaign using the new dual mode 2014 2014
Paveway IV. The RSAF became the first Typhoon CS026 1018/ZK391 431 Mar 04, Aug 07,
operator to use the Tranche 2 aircraft in combat 2014 2014
and the first to use the Paveway IV ‘in anger’. CS027 1019/ZK392 425 Jun 16, Sep 05,
Paveway IV gave the Saudi Typhoons a real 2014 2014
capability against targets obscured by smoke, CS028 1022/ZK393 419 Nov 21, May 14,
2014 2015
dust or cloud – all of which can prevent the
use of self- or buddy-designated LGBs, and CS029 1023/ZK394 435 Sep 26, Dec 08,
2014 2014
also offers much better scalability of effect.
CS030 1024/ZK395 440 Nov 16,
By carefully tailoring fusing, impact angles
and attack direction, collateral damage can
2015
CT015 1016/ZK396 427 April 29, Aug 07,
be dramatically reduced and limited. 2014 2014
CT016 1017/ZK397 418 April 09, Sep 05,
EW hang-ups 2014 2014
Mission data is of crucial importance in CT017 1020/ZK398 424 Jul 28, Dec 21,
Typhoon, making a massive difference to the 2014 2014
defensive aids sub-system (DASS), radar and CT018 1021/ZK399 410 Sep 26, Dec 08,
other systems’ performance. The RAF has 2014 2014
made major efforts to ensure its own mission The first aircraft to be delivered with the ‘God Bless
data is updated and improved frequently. As a You’ titles that now adorn most RSAF aircraft was
consequence, many rate the combat effective- 1016. These markings were then also applied to
ness of RAF Typhoons as being significantly 1017-1021, and 1023 before delivery, as well as
the undelivered 1013. This effectively means that
higher than that of some other nations.
all aircraft from around August 2014 are painted
Good DASS performance (which can only be as such. The titles were on the 3 Squadron jet that
assured through first-class mission data) is appeared at the Bahrain Air Show in 2012, and on
of reputational importance to the Eurofighter those deployed to Coningsby in August 2013, but
programme, to the British Government not on any of the 3 Squadron aircraft when they
(the Saudi Typhoon deal having been on a were delivered. Since then, the RSAF has taken
government-to-government basis) and to BAE the time to apply them to all Typhoons in service,
unlike the 3 Squadron unit badge, which so far is
Systems as prime contractor. It was clear the
only on the aircraft delivered with that badge from
Saudis needed to have good mission data. Warton – these comprising aircraft 317 onwards.
However, this is an extremely sensitive
national asset and RAF mission data cannot
be exported. To compensate, BAE Systems is
setting up an Electronic Warfare Operational
Support facility to help the RSAF build its own.
In the interim, BAE set up a team of its
own in order to provide company-compiled
mission data, and it is believed this was
used by the RSAF during its operational
missions against Daesh targets in Syria.
A frontline NATO Typhoon pilot expressed the
view that the mission data delivered by BAE
under the new arrangements means the RSAF
Typhoons have “better mission data than the
#335 FEBRUARY 2016 77
11/01/2016 16:04
 SAUDI TYPHOONS

Above: A pair of Tranche 3 RSAF Typhoons line up on the runway at Bologna Airport on October 22 whilst on delivery. Even though they have 80 Sqn serials, the unit
has not yet stood up and the jets are being flown by pilots from the other two units. Lucio Alfieri
Germans, for example,” and that Saudi mission straight into storage, the RSAF used theirs This would give the RSAF an unmatched beyond
data is good enough to support the most to form a new unit, 80 Squadron. visual range air combat capability in the region.
demanding operational use of the aircraft. The new unit formed at Taif, with a squadron Saudi Arabia also ordered the new Raytheon
commander and principal squadron executives Paveway IV dual mode bomb – the first
Tranche 3s already appointed, and with a number of pilots Paveway version to incorporate a GPS/INS
The RSAF started taking delivery of Tranche transferring from Taif’s other units, while new targeting capability, a programmable detona-
3 Typhoons in June 2015 and whereas pilots go through training with 3 Squadron. tion capability, and variable attack directions
some other customers (including the RAF) It was once expected that, after being formed, and angles. Raytheon announced it had
have placed their new Tranche 3 aircraft 80 Squadron would transfer to the new wing secured its first export order for Paveway IV
due to form at the ‘new’ base being constructed on March 25, 2015 though it did not confirm
Saudi Typhoons Tranche Three (or more accurately rebuilt and upgraded) that the customer for this £150 million order
Prodn Serials Con First Delivery at King Saud Air Base, Hafr al Batin, near the for 2,400 Paveway IVs was Saudi Arabia.
No No Flight date Kuwaiti border. The base is close to King Khalid From March 24, 2015 the RSAF (supported
CS031 8001/ZK600 445 Mar 13, June 05, Military City Air Base and has been used as the by a number of allied Arab air arms) began
2015 2015 Hafr al Batin domestic airport, though it now Operation Decisive Storm, attacking Houthi and
CS032 8002/ZK601 450 Feb 26, June 05, has heavily protected and hardened shelters Al Qaeda targets in neighbouring Yemen, at the
2015 2015 capable of housing several squadrons of fast request of Yemen’s beleaguered President, Abd
CS033 ZK602/8003 ? Apr 20, Jul 14, jets. This plan now seems to be in doubt – not Rabbuh Mansur Hadi. The operation ended
2015 2015 least because the Typhoons at Taif are heavily on April 21, 2015 though bombing continued
CS034 ZK603/8004 459 Apr 02, Jul 14, committed to the Yemeni air campaign. as part of the follow-on Operation Restoring
2015 2015 The Typhoons are expected to provide Hope. The RSAF Typhoons were heavily com-
CS035 ZK604/8005 464 May 19, Oct 22, both the primary air defence asset and mitted and reportedly settled into a routine.
2015 2015 the offensive backbone of the future RSAF, Armed with Paveway II LGBs and Paveway IV
CS036 ZK605/8006 470 Jul 28, Oct 22, augmented by new and refurbished F-15SAs. dual mode (IN/GPS and laser-guided) weapons,
2015 2015 Further frontline Typhoon units have been the Typhoons launched from Taif, flying a sortie
CS037 ZK606/8007 ? Aug 26, Nov 24, predicted, including 15 Squadron, but over Yemen before landing at Khamis Mushayt
2015 2015 these would require a further order. where the pilots lunched while their aircraft
CS038 ZK607/8008 ? Sep 18, Nov 24, were rearmed and refuelled. They would then
2015 2015 More weapons launch for another sortie over Yemen, recover-
CS039 ZK608/8009 ? Oct 12, Dec 17, In February 2014, according to French newspa- ing to Taif at the conclusion of this second sortie.
2015 2015 per La Tribune, Saudi Arabia reportedly signed With the heavy Saudi consumption
CS040 ZK609 ? Oct 29, Dec 17, the first export contract for the MBDA Meteor of the Paveway IV in operations, Britain
2015 2015 air-to-air missile, for an reported £650 million. reportedly transferred Paveway IV bombs

78 FEBRUARY 2016 #335 www.airforcesmonthly.com

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 SAUDI TYPHOONS

originally earmarked for the RAF to Saudi
Arabia to enable the Gulf state to rebuild
its stocks, swapping delivery positions
on the production line at Raytheon UK to
ensure that the RSAF has sufficient weapon
stocks to continue its missions in Yemen.
It is expected that further new weapons will
be procured for and integrated on the Saudi
Typhoon, probably including Storm Shadow,
and Brimstone, and perhaps also including
the French AASM Hammer missile, already
slated for integration on RSAF Tornados.
An early priority for Saudi Arabia was the
integration of the Storm Shadow cruise missile
on its Typhoons. The weapon was already in
service on Saudi Tornado IDS fighter-bombers
and Saudi pressure (and probably Saudi
funding) led to Storm Shadow integration
on Typhoon being brought forward.
This is despite the fact that Storm Shadow’s
range is such that it allegedly violates Britain’s
voluntary commitments under the MTCR
(Missile Technology Control Regime). In
2008 this was of such concern to the USA
that then Secretary of State Condoleezza
Rice requested a “specific assurance” that
the Executive branch “would consult with
our Committees before any approval of a
request to sell Saudi Arabia such sensitive
weapon systems as Storm Shadow cruise
missiles…” Many had hoped that Saudi
Arabia would come to the rescue of the
Typhoon programme as production starts
to wind down, with the expectation that a
Saudi order for another batch of Typhoon
aircraft might keep the production lines
open long enough for Eurofighter GmbH to
find further new customers for the aircraft.
In an effort to make the aircraft more attractive
to export customers, BAE Systems claims it
has reduced the cost of producing a Typhoon
by an astonishing 20% over the past five years,
while simultaneously slowing the production
rate. In addition, industry has adopted a more
rapid and streamlined approach to the inser-
tion of future capabilities and the integration
of new weapons. This should give potential
export customers greater confidence that the
capabilities required will be available within a
reasonable and predictable timescale. All of this
ought to be music to the RSAF’s ears, since the
Saudis are known to be eager to gain greater
air-to-ground capabilities on the Typhoon.
More, more, more?
Many years ago, before Saudi Arabia had even
ordered the Typhoon, the then Crown Prince
Sultan reportedly declared his intention for the
RSAF to have “200 plus” Typhoons in service by
2015. More recently, there have been consistent
reports that negotiations were under way for a
second batch of 48 to 72 Typhoons to add to the
72 already ordered, and of Saudi plans for a third
batch of a further 72 aircraft. All this tallies with
reports that Saudi Arabia intends that its Armed
Forces should double in size over the course of
the next five years, including doubling the size of
the air force from its current strength of around
250 combat aircraft to 500 frontline fast jets.
Even with 154 Boeing F-15SAs on order (84
new-build and 70 via conversion of remaining
F-15S airframes), the surviving fleets of F-15C/
Ds (59 single-seaters and up to 20 F-15D
trainers) and Tornados (about 81), the 72
Typhoons currently on order would not be
sufficient to provide the required mass.
In fact, neither the Tornado nor the F-15C/D
are expected to have a long-term future
within the RSAF, so it can be seen that the
RSAF will have a requirement for as many
as 280 new fighters, leading some to believe
the Saudis could eventually purchase as
many as 216 Typhoons – or even more.
There have been reports that preliminary
talks with the UK Ministry of Defence on
a further batch are already under way.
But such an optimistic picture has recently
started to seem slightly less credible, with
falling oil prices reducing even Saudi Arabia’s
defence spending plans, and with the
extraordinarily high availability demonstrated
by the Typhoon in RSAF service leading some
to question how many aircraft will eventually
be needed. However, sources close to the
programme suggest a further Saudi
afm
purchase remains ‘extremely likely’.

Top: The Typhoon’s long-term future within the RSAF is secure. The only debate at the moment is how many
will finally enter service with current estimates at some 216 aircraft.
Above: A two-seater Typhoon, serial 322 departs RAF Coningsby for a training sortie. It’s one of the few jets
that carried 3 Squadron markings at the time. Alan Warnes
Left: During Exercise Green Flag at RAF Coningsby, Saudi Typhoons always flew all of their air-to-air combat
sorties with three fuel tanks. Whether this was a disadvantage during the mock aerial combat engagements
is open to debate. Alan Warnes

www.airforcesdaily.com #335 FEBRUARY 2016 79

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 ARMÉE DE L’AIR ET60
Discreetly Dir
The Armée de l’Air’s (French
Air Force’s) ET60 moves French
Government officials and high-
ranking military officers around
the world. Its Dassault Falcons
also fly medevac and special
support missions, as Jean-Marc
Tanguy reports.
Right: As France escalates its war against Islamic
State, senior French Air Force officers are finding
they rely on ET60’s fleet as ‘flying offices’. Frequent
destinations for the fleet are locations throughout the
Middle East. Jean-Marc Tanguy.
Below: The A330-200 nicknamed ‘Sarko One’
has been extensively modified and includes a
private room with shower, crisis meeting rooms
and a fully equipped surgery. There is rear cabin
accommodation for media representatives and
guests. AirTeamImages/Philippe Noret
80 FEBRUARY 2016 #335
80-82 VIP Feb.indd 80
T HE BEST equipped military VIP squad-
ron in Europe, Escadron de Transport 60
(ET60), operates a long-range Airbus A330-
200, two Dassault Falcon 7X, two brand
new Falcon 2000DX and two older Falcon
900B business jets, plus three Eurocopter
AS332 Super Puma helicopters.
This core fleet is supplemented by assets from
the air force (Airbus Defence & Space CN235
– commonly known as the CASA CN235 –
and SOCATA TBM700), Navy (Falcon 10) and
Army (TBM700). Its personnel include 150
highly experienced pilots and cabin crew.
The Escadre de Transport (transport wing) 60
was formally established in 1945, combining
the Groupe de Liaison Aériennes Ministérielles
(GLAM, Ministry Air Liaison Group) and
Groupe Aérien d’Entraînement et de Liaison
(GAEL, Training and Air Liaison Group).
There have been several changes in title
since, and in 1995 Escadron de Transport,
d’Entraînement et de Calibration 65 (ETEC,
Transport, Training and Calibration Squadron
65) became the current ET60.
The unit transports the French
President and Prime Minister
along with their security details
and aides. An ET60 team visits all
the airfields due to be used on offi-
cial visits weeks in advance, check-
ing their suitability for operations.
The Falcons also offer a mede-
vac capability and the Falcon 900
and Falcon 2000 fleet had flown 61
such missions by November 2015,
recovering injured French soldiers
www.airforcesmonthly.com
11/01/2016 12:28
Direct and civilians. High levels of activity were sus-
tained during French participation in the war
in Afghanistan (2001–14), peaking between
2008 (two medevac flights a week) and 2013.
French medevac teams aim to return injured
service people home to hospital in less than
24 hours. One of ET60’s largest mede-
vacs was in January 2015 after a Greek F-16
crashed into parked French aircraft during a
NATO exercise in Albacete, Spain. Nine air-
men were killed and six severely burned.
In medevac configuration the Falcon 2000
embarks one casualty, a flight nurse and a
surgeon; the Falcon 900 carries two patients.
The ’900s are priority-tasked for the role.
A dedicated medevac kit was developed for
the new Falcon 7X and 2000, but so far only
flies in the 2000DX. Two have been ordered
to supplement a pair of older kits initial-
ly developed for the Falcon 50/900 series.
Maintenance for the A330-200 is performed by Sabena Technics. The aircraft was purchased from
French carrier Air Antilles. AirTeamImages/Jonathan Zanninger
The Falcons are also available in the wake of the centre of Paris. In an emergency the heli-
national emergencies, providing rapid trans- copters can fly directly into the vicinity of gov-
port for France’s two counter-terrorist units – ernment offices in the city, including Le Palais
the police Recherche, Assistance, Intervention, de l’Elysée (the French President’s official resi-
Dissuasion (RAID; Research, Assistance, dence). Provision is made for temporary heli-
Intervention, Deterrence) organisation and copter operations from Invalides Corner or
the gendarmerie’s Groupe d’Intervention de the École Militaire, beside the Eiffel Tower.
la Gendarmerie Nationale (GIGN, National For security reasons the A330-200 flies
Gendarmerie Intervention Group). from Evreux, 62 miles (100km) west of
To satisfy these disparate missions, ET60 Paris. When required it joins civilian traffic at
holds two aircraft on QRA, one for governmen- Paris-Orly airport, south of Paris, under the
tal support, the other for medevac. As soon watchful eye of special protection teams.
as one takes off, another is placed on QRA. From 2012, new defence minister Jean-
The Falcons are based alongside the three Yves Le Drian used the Falcons regularly for
Super Pumas at Villacoublay, 30 minutes from secret meetings with African officials, ini-

Self Protection
Although self-protection was seen as an issue
when the Falcon 7X, 2000DX and A330-200
purchases were under way, nothing has been
revealed about providing them with the ca-
pability. The RAF’s BAe 146 VIP aircraft have
directional infrared countermeasures and
an equivalent could have been fitted on the
French aircraft.
An alternative, less complex possibility is the
installation of chaff and flare dispensers, but
they have not been seen on any of the aircraft.
Instead, when they operate into potentially hos-
tile airspace they do so under fighter escort. 

Above: Aircraft such as this air force CN235 can be fitted with a VIP kit to supplement the ET60s fleet.
The French Defence Minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian regularly travels between units in France on a CN235.
James Ronayne
Below: One Falcon 2000DX is equipped with an onboard medevac kit. The aircraft was used extensively
during the war in Afghanistan to bring home injured service personnel for additional medical treatment.
The squadron aims to bring home any wounded soldier within 24 hours. AirTeamImages/Rudi Boigelot

www.airforcesdaily.com #335 FEBRUARY 2016 81

80-82 VIP Feb.indd 81 11/01/2016 12:29

 ARMÉE DE L’AIR ET60
tially to discuss French hostages. Flights to
Africa continued during Operation Serval in
Mali in 2013, but the aircraft also visit French
defence industry customers, or potential
customers, in the Middle and Far East.
The French general chief of staff, General
Pierre de Villiers, is another frequent Falcon
user for visits to troops in Africa and the
Middle East. The chief of the air staff is
another, less regular Falcon customer.
The Prime Minister’s cabinet divides ET60’s
flying hours between the country’s min-
istries, the defence ministry taking prior-
ity with the foreign affairs ministry second.
Fading Falcons
The last four Falcon 50s in ET60 service
were sent to Dassault Aviation for conver-
sion as maritime patrol aircraft for the French
Navy’s Flottille (naval air squadron) 24F.
Three of them are now back in service.
When the Falcon 50 replacement programme
began, France looked to buy four Falcon 2000s
and sell the Falcon 900s. The latter would be
retained until the new Falcon 2000 medevac
kits were operational at the beginning of 2015.
But budget cuts mean the Falcon 900B may
well remain in service for some time to come.
The two Falcon 7X jets replaced two
Airbus A319CJ executive transports,
which were short on range for direct long-
haul flights and their luggage capacity
was limited for an aircraft of their size.
Acquired in 2002 to support the French EU
presidency, they were nicknamed ‘Chirac’
and ‘Jospin’ after the country’s right-wing
President and its socialist Prime Minister.
One A319CJ was sold to a broker and the
second went to an African customer.
The first Falcon 7X was unofficially chris-
tened ‘Carla One’ in reference to the first
name of President Sarkozy’s wife, for-
mer model Carla Bruni. The A330 is nick-
named ‘Sarko One’, abbreviating the name
of the President who ordered its pur-
chase from French carrier Air Antilles.
ET60 Fleet
Type No. in fleet Aircrew & cabin crew
Falcon 7X 2 2+1
Falcon 2000DX 2 2+1
Falcon 900B 2 2+1
Super Puma 3 2+2
A330-200 1 2+8
Below: Two Falcon 7Xs serve with ET60. The large cabin area and longer range of these corporate jets
were a significant improvement over the two A319CJs that suffered from a lack of range.
82 FEBRUARY 2016 #335
80-82 VIP Feb.indd 82
Above: With a fleet of of just three helicopters, ET60 ‘borrows’ aircraft such as this AS332 Super Puma from
the Air Force when its own fleet is undergoing maintenance. AirTeamImages/Paul Marais-Hayer
VIP Pumas
The VIP unit’s first rotary-wing assets, Sud
Alouette II helicopters, were taken on in 1961.
Three AS332 Super Pumas have been in ser-
vice since 1987, taking over from SA330
Pumas. In 1995, when ETEC65 disband-
ed, the Super Pumas were integrated into
Escadron d’Hélicoptères 3/67 Parisis, alongside
Aérospatiale Fennecs used in the air-to-air secu-
rity role. In 2005 they were reassigned to ET60.
Aside from improved radios, little moderni-
sation of the AS332s has been carried out.
They mainly fly in France, although one car-
ried President Mitterrand on a flying visit to
Sarajevo in 1992, signifying France’s decision
to assist the Bosnian people – a C-160 Transall
arrived soon after, carrying humanitarian aid.
A Super Puma also flew President François
Hollande and German Chancellor Angela
Merkel over the Alps after the Germanwings
A320 crash on March 24, 2015.
With a fleet of only three helicopters, ET60
‘borrows’ an aircraft when one of its own is
down for scheduled maintenance. In the
past, air force or army special operations
units loaned an EC725 Caracal, but the lack
Passengers Range Speed
14 11,000km M0.9
10 6,000km M0.86
13 6,000km M0.87
8 700km 280km/h
60 12,000km M0.86
of these specialised aircraft for operations
led to a rule change. Now the locally based
Groupe Interarmées d’Hélicoptères (GIH, Joint
Helicopter Group) supplies one of its Pumas.
Replacement of the Super Pumas is not
a priority; they are approaching 30 years
old, but fly little. The possibility of replacing
them with a pair of ex-French Navy search
and rescue EC225 helicopters was investi-
gated but abandoned for budgetary reasons.
Other assets
More aircraft are available when the core fleet
is overloaded. The defence minister, Jean-
Yves Le Drian, regularly travels between units
in France in a CN235 fitted with a VIP kit. He
also uses Falcon 10s based at Landivisiau
(in Brittany, western France) where the air-
craft are primarily used to train fighter pilots.
The four-seat TBM700 is available to general
officers, providing two hours’ endurance, suf-
ficient to reach any point in France; the air-
craft can be a little faster than the TGV railway.
A primary aircraft – the Airbus or a Falcon –
is always available to fly the President and a
spare (a Falcon) follows, should the first suf-
fer unserviceability. From the 1990s the air
force’s three Airbus A310s and two A340s
also flew on government duties – and contin-
ue to do so when the A330-200 is under
afm
maintenance with Sabena Technics.
www.airforcesmonthly.com
11/01/2016 12:29
 FEBRUARY ISSUE OUT NOW:
‘BLACKJACK’ ATTACK
The operations launched by Russia’s strategic
aviation arm over Syria on November 17,2015
saw the first ever combat use of the Tupolev
Tu-95MS long-range heavy bombers. We present
a timely review of the Tu-160, Russia’s most
lethal combat aircraft.

SUPER TUCANO
Santiago Rivas explores Embraer’s highly-
capable Super Tucano, one of the most
popular advanced trainers and light attack
aircraft in service today.

HUNGRY LIKE THE WOLVERINE

Though Embraer claims that its A-29 Super
Tucano is the most successful turboprop light
attack and advanced training aircraft on the
market, it has strong competition in the
shape of the Beechcraft AT-6 Wolverine. Jon
Lake reports.

RAFALE ON THE FRONT LINE

Henri-Pierre Grolleau details how the
Dassault Rafale has been at the forefront of
JUST
£4.50
French combat operations in Africa and the
Middle East.

AND MUCH MORE!

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004/16
 FORCE REPORT Royal Jordanian Air Force
Major General
Mansour S
Aljobour
Above: Major General Mansour
S Aljobour has been chief of the
RJAF since February 2013.
Major General Mansour S Aljo-
bour took over command of the
Royal Jordanian Air Force on De-
cember 11, 2013. He has served
as commander at the Prince
Hassan Air Force Base, comman-
dant of King Hussein Air College,
Director of RJAF Training and
Director of RJAF Operations.
Prior to assuming his current
position, Aljobour was Assistant
to the RJAF Commander for Op-
erations and Air Defence. He is
a command pilot with more than
4,500 flying hours in a variety of
aircraft. 
84 FEBRUARY 2016 #335
84-89 Jordan Feb.aw.indd 84
O N DECEMBER 24, 2014 the
Royal Jordanian Air Force
(RJAF) hit the headlines for all the
wrong reasons. A young pilot,
Captain Maaz al-Kassasbeh, was
shot down in his F-16 near Raqqah,
Syria. He was participating in a
bombing mission against Daesh
(Islamic State) as part of Operation
Inherent Resolve (OIR) which had
officially started on October 15.
Jordan’s geographical position
– land-locked between Iraq to the
northeast, Saudi Arabia to the east,
Israel in the west and Syria to the
north – places it under direct threat
from Daesh and other jihadi forces
wreaking havoc in parts of Iraq
and Syria. For this reason, RJAF
is developing rapidly as it invests
in personnel and equipment.
A month after the shootdown
of the young RJAF pilot, Daesh
posted a propaganda video
online. It showed his brutal execu-
tion and drastically changed
the way Jordan was fighting
the war against the terrorists.
“We decided to revenge the bar-
baric execution of our pilot and
flew 20 aircraft for three consecu-
tive days, beginning on February
4, 2015,” says a clearly emo-
tional Major General Aljobour.
“We were using general-purpose
and laser-guided bombs, and
our battle damage assessment
showed we hit every single target.
“But the greatest success was
boosting the morale of the pilots.
When al-
Kassasbeh
was captured, I
went down to the base
[Azraq] and they were actually
begging to fly. They were ready on its opera-
to fly anytime and take the fight tions over the country,
to those guys [Daesh]; regard- the US has divided the airspace
less of experience or rank, all the into areas of operation (AOPs).
pilots wanted to continue with Air tasking orders (ATOs) come
the job. They pushed me on a from the combined air opera-
daily basis to go out and fly. tions centre (COAC) in Al Udeid,
“Our main focus is over Iraq and Qatar, where an RJAF liaison
Syria, since we strongly believe officer relays information to the
this is the centre of the threat to air operations centre in Jordan.
us, the region and the interna- The RJAF operates mainly over
“Our main focus is over Iraq and Syria, since
we strongly believe this is the centre of the
threat to us, the region and the international
community. Daesh will not be forgotten
until it is defeated – we will fight them to our
final drop of fuel and our last bullet.”
tional community. Daesh will not Raqqah in central Syria and
be forgotten until it is defeated Deir-ez-Zzor in the nation’s
– we will fight them to our final east, both Daesh strongholds.
drop of fuel and our last bullet.” “This is one of the most restrictive
By mid-December the RJAF had air campaigns ever,” says Aljobour,
flown 1,100 hours against Daesh, “due to the long distances that
and was flying a two-ship mission have to be flown and the strict rules
on a daily basis. Jordan is the of engagement. Imposed to avoid
only Arab country permitted to fly collateral damage, they mean we
bombing missions over Iraq, and have to loiter over the target for
although there are no restrictions long periods before attacking.”
www.airforcesmonthly.com
08/01/2016 16:16
 FIT FOR THE

FIGHT
Royal Jordanian Air Force commander Major General Mansour
S Aljobour discusses with Marco Dijkshoorn and Patrick
Roegies his latest acquisitions and the fight against Daesh.

Frontline aircraft
There are 43 F-16AM/BM jets in the
RJAF inventory and 15 more will be
delivered from Royal Netherlands
Air Force (RNLAF) stocks, compris-
ing F-16AM J-057, J-145, J-193,
J-199, J-510, J-623, J-637, J-638,
J-868, J-870, J-872. J-873, J-876
and F-16BMs J-208 and J-884.
They are being upgraded to Mid-
Life Update (MLU) Operational
Flight Program (OFP) 6.5 stand-
ard, representing the latest soft-
ware available in Europe.
Under the initial contract, OFP 5.0
was ordered and approved by the
US Congress. But there have been
technical difficulties in adapting OFP
5.0 to the hardware in the Dutch jets,
and Congressional approval is now
Above: Six former UAE AT-802 Air Tractors are now operating with the RJAF. The Block 1 configuration employs GBU-58 being sought for the release of OFP
and GBU-12 Paveway II LGBs. 6.5. Delivery is scheduled for late
Top: The RJAF’s primary strike capability is delivered by the F-16AM and F-16BM, operated by three squadrons at 2016/early 2017 and, with the MLU
Shaheed Muwaffaq Al-Salti (al-Azraq) Air Base. This example is carrying a Sniper targeting pod. All photos, authors F-16s in service, the RJAF plans to

www.airforcesdaily.com #335 FEBRUARY 2016 85

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 FORCE REPORT Royal Jordanian Air Force

sell some of its current inventory. Above: Bell AH-1 Cobras, flown by 10 and 12 Sqns, play a vital role in border protection. A permanent detachment at H4
Pakistan along with a European is supported by the ISR capabilities of the Cessna 208B Grand Caravan.
country and another potential Below: The RJAF has a single PZL M28 Skytruck. Its role is unclear, but it is probably used for the infiltration and exfiltra-
purchaser have shown inter- tion of special forces. Another example will be delivered shortly.
est in the surplus F-16s which,
if a deal goes ahead, are likely to
come from the ex-US Air National
Guard Peace Falcon II aircraft
delivered to Jordan from 2003.
Meanwhile, an upgrade to raise
the existing fleet of ex-Belgian
Air Component and RNLAF
F-16AM/BMs to MLU 6.5 stand-
ard is planned. “We also signed
a letter of acceptance for the
procurement of JDAMs, and
15 Sniper pods have been pur-
chased to enhance the F-16's
capability,” says Aljobour.

Air Tractor
To support Jordan’s fight against
Daesh, the United Arab Emirates
(UAE) supplied six IOMAX Air Tractor
AT-802 light-attack turboprops
under a US-backed plan executed

Special Forces
Although Special Operations Com-
mand’s (SOCOM’s) Prince Hashem
Bin Abdullah II Royal Aviation
Brigade at King Abdullah II Air Base
(KA2) is part of the Royal Jordanian
Army, it has very close ties with the
RJAF. Its aircraft are maintained by
ex-Air Force personnel and its pilots
trained by the RJAF’s King Hussein
Air Academy. The brigade’s three
squadrons operate MD530F ‘Little
Bird’ and UH-60L Black Hawk
helicopters, and AC-235 gunships,
from an apron adjacent to the
control tower, which also overlooks
the RJAF’s presence at KA2. 

Above: Eight MD530F Little Birds were delivered in late 2006. They serve
SOCOM’s 28 Sqn and, in common with the Black Hawks, some are in a sand
camouflage and others in a dark scheme.

86 FEBRUARY 2016 #335 www.airforcesmonthly.com

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 in 2013. They fly with 25 Sqn from RJAF Air Order of Battle
Amman-Marka and KA2, but as
new facilities are built at KA2, the
December 2015
Air Tractors will relocate there. Unit Type (inventory)
“We have six Block 1 Air Tractors King Abdullah AB – Amman-Marka
and we’ll receive four more,” says 3 Sqn M28 (1), C-130H (4),
the Major General. “All will have C-130E (6), C295 (2)
the Block 3 upgrade, similar to 7 Sqn AS332M-1 (10)
the IOMAX Archangel [based on
8 Sqn UH-1H (aprox 4),
the Thrush S2R-660 airframe]. S-70A/UH-60A (16)
The four additional aircraft are
14 Sqn EC635T1 (aprox 8)
still in the US, but expected to
arrive in Jordan by June 2016.” 15 Sqn Cessna 208B-ISR (6,
They were initially earmarked will move to KA2)
Above: The King Hussein Air College at Mafraq operates the Slingsby Firefly in
for delivery to Yemen as a gift two roles. The white aircraft serve 4 Sqn as primary trainers, while the yellow 25 Sqn AT-802 (2, will move
from the UAE, but because of that machines are used for instructor training. to KA2)
country’s turbulent situation they Below: The Instructor Pilot School operates eight ex-British T-67M-260 Firefly Emergency AW139 (2)
are being delivered to Jordan aircraft that retain their former civilian registrations. Medical Sqn
instead. Two were recently noted Royal Sqn AW139 (1), S-70A-11
at Waco, Texas, with white Spraylat (aprox 5)
covering their Yemen Air Force Public EC635T2i (4)
fuselage roundels. After a year Security AW
in Jordanian service, they will go OJKA King Abdullah II (KA2) AB
through the Block 3 modification.
10 Sqn AH-1F (aprox 18)
The six AT-802s already in the
inventory boast intelligence, sur- 12 Sqn AH-1F (aprox 18)
veillance and reconnaissance Prince Hussein II ISR Wing
(ISR) and strike capability. An 9 Sqn Falco (4), S-100
upgrade, installing the MX15Di as a sensor and shooter. We’re and Skylark UAVs to Jordan Camcopter (10)
sensor, will enable the aircraft to interested in any UAV that has – which remains to be seen. 25 Sqn AT-802 (4 + 4 on
fire Hellfire missiles and drop GBU- both capabilities and we asked for order)
58 and GBU-12 Paveway II LGBs. the Predator, but I don’t believe Quick Reaction Force King Hussein Air College – Mafraq
the US is willing to export the The primary role of the RJAF’s
Unmanned Capabilities technology to Jordan. They’ve rotary wing component, based 4 Sqn T-67M-260 (16,
painted white)
The RJAF has ten Schiebel shown willingness to export the at Amman-Marka, is tactical and
Camcopter S-100 unmanned air Predator XP as a sensor platform, VIP personnel transport. In the 5 Sqn R44 (8)
vehicles (UAVs) on strength (two of but we want a dual-role system.” future a Quick Reaction Force 11 Sqn C101CC (aprox 10),
the 12 delivered have been lost) and Recently the RJAF ordered the (QRF) will also be established, PC-9M (9 on order)
four Finmeccanica Falco UAVs. The China Aerospace Science and based on up to 24 newly acquired Flight AS350B3 (6),
new Falco EVO armed UAV is being Technology Corporation (CASC) Black Hawk helicopters. The ini- Instructor T-67M-260 (8,
developed and evaluated in a bilat- Rainbow CH4B armed UAV, which tial 16 have been ordered and School painted yellow)
eral project with the Italian Air Force, is expected to enter service in first deliveries have taken place. Shaheed Muwaffaq Al-Salti AB –
with a view to an RJAF purchase. January. The vehicle features a “The Black Hawk is already in al-Azraq
Battle damage assessments after satellite link so that it can be oper- the inventory and we have good 1 Sqn F-16AM/BM (aprox 15)
RJAF strikes are currently provided ated from thousands of miles away. experience with it. It will also be 2 Sqn F-16BM (aprox
by coalition ISR platforms but, In August, Israeli media used for bor- 15, operational
Aljobour says, “Jordan is seeking reported that Israel is deliver- der patrol conversion unit)
an ISR capability of its own, both ing 12 advanced Heron TP and our 6 Sqn F-16AM/BM (aprox 15)
Prince Hassan AB – H5
17 Sqn Hawk Mk 63 (13)
Rweished AB – H4
10/12 Sqn AH-1F Cobra (aprox 6)
det
15 Sqn det Cessna 208B-ISR
(aprox 1)
King Feisal bin Abdul Aziz AB –
Al Jafr
This reserve base has no aircraft
permanently assigned, one
squadron of F-16s having moved
from here to Azraq for missions
against Daesh
SOCOM – Prince Hashim Bin
Abdullah II Royal Aviation Brigade
(part of the Army)
28 Sqn MD530F (8)
30 Sqn UH-60L (8)
31 Sqn An-32B (1 written off
and for sale)
32 Sqn AC235 (2), AC295 (2
Number 15 Sqn’s Cessna 208Bs, currently based at Amman Marka, have provided the RJAF with a good C3ISR capability. on order)

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 FORCE REPORT Royal Jordanian Air Force
Above: Jordan replaced its F-5E/F fleet with ex-UAE Hawks.
special operations forces are
involved in setting up the QRF,”
the Major General explains.
The recently delivered Black
Hawks will likely receive the
sensor systems fitted to the
SOCOM UH-60L fleet at Amman-
Marka. They will replace the few
remaining UH-1H and EC635
helicopters with 8 and 14
Squadrons, respectively, which
will be disbanded. The EC635 is
deemed to lack the performance
required by the RJAF and will be
sold if a buyer can be found.
Attack helicopter
Jordan has received a large num-
ber of AH-1 Cobras over several
years. The first 24 were delivered
as AH-1S Stage 3 (modernised)
aircraft, built for the US Army with
Fiscal Year 1982 serials. This
standard was later redesignated
AH-1F and the aircraft were trans-
ferred to Jordan from 1985.
Two further batches, each of
nine aircraft, were delivered under
the Military Assistance Program
from 2001, and 16 ex-Israeli
Air Force AH-1E/F Cobras were
refurbished and handed over to
Jordan in 2014 in a US-approved
88 FEBRUARY 2016 #335
84-89 Jordan Feb.aw.indd 88
protection capabilities in the
Middle East, a combination of six
Cessna 208B-ISR Grand Caravan
C3ISR platforms and other
types secure Jordan’s bounda-
ries. Together with the AT-802,
Cobra, two Airbus AC235 gun-
ships and two S-100 Camcopters,
the Caravans fly round-the-
clock border surveillance.
A Cessna and six AH-1Fs are
permanently detached to the air
base closest to Iraq, Rweished
(H4). “Our command and con-
trol capability used to be just
C2, but now we have C3I and
our situational awareness is
deal. At least eight AH-1Fs were guided missiles. We’re expect- very high,” says Aljobour.
transferred to Pakistan in 2013. ing the first two by June/July The C3ISR system is inte-
“We have 36 aircraft on strength 2016. Six aircraft are currently grated with Hawk surface-to-
and a contract with Science in the US undergoing upgrade.” air missile batteries, while the
and Engineering Services at Cobras fire the BGM-71A TOW AC235 and F-16 have Link
Huntsville, Alabama, to upgrade missiles and unguided 70mm 16 data links, creating a fully
them,” explains Aljobour. “The rockets, while a 20mm M197 integrated defence system.
helicopters are being fitted with Gatling gun is also installed. Two C295s have been acquired
a glass cockpit while the avi- and the King Abdullah II Design
onics will be updated to allow Command & control and Development Bureau hopes to
them to fire Hellfire and other Among the most potent border modify them with a sub contractor
to AC295 gunship configuration.
LEBANON At least one AC235 is forward-
Golan
Heights SYRIA deployed in Saudi Arabia for close
Mediterranean Sea of IRAQ air support operations over Yemen.
Sea Galilee
Rweished “It has been a very successful pro-
Mafraq AB/H4 ject and we encourage other coun-
West tries to either join or follow us in it.”
Bank King Abduallah II Prince Hassan
AB/H5
The RJAF has also deployed
Amman four F-16s for the effort but, says
Amman
Gaza Dead Marka Aljobour, “this is a secondary
Strip Sea
target for the RJAF. The primary
target remains [Daesh] in Syria.”
ISRAEL SAUDI ARABIA
JORDAN Transport fleet
In March 2016 the RJAF had expect-
ed to enter the bidding for the trans-
Al Jafr
fer of several ex-RAF C-130Js. The
RAF is expected to retire ten within
the next few years, but an alterna-
EGYPT
tive option could be the upgrade
of the RJAF’s C-130E/H fleet or the
possibility of buying new C-130Js.
Below: Approximately ten of the 16 C-101CC trainers originally delivered remain
in service. Some have since crashed and others are used as a spares source to
keep the ageing fleet flying. The Pilatus PC-9M will replace them from 2017.
www.airforcesmonthly.com
08/01/2016 16:17

Above: The majority of the retired F-5s are stored in pristine condition at H5, but most are expected to be sold to TacAir soon.
It currently operates two 60-ton
capacity Ilyushin Il-76MF freight-
ers in the strategic transport role.
Air University
On December 1, 2015, the King
Hussein Air College (KHAC) at
Mafraq was accredited as an
‘Air University’ offering a degree
education in subjects including
air traffic control, navigation and
meteorology. The facility houses
three training squadrons and
the Flight Instructor School.
Asked how the next ten years
look for the RJAF, Aljobour says: “It
all starts with human resources;
our troops should be ready for
whatever the future brings.
“The first thing that I changed
is their training. We’re buying
nine Pilatus PC-9M turboprops;
the contract is signed and the
Swiss-built aircraft will replace
the CASA 101.” Since 1987, 11
Sqn has flown the CASA C-101CC
in the advanced training role.
Basic training relies on the
Slingsby T-67M-260 Firefly, 16
of which were delivered from
2002. They were augmented in
2011 by eight ex-RAF/Defence
Elementary Flying Training School
examples formerly operated by
Babcock. They still wear British
civilian registrations and are
operated solely by the Instructor
Pilot School (IPS) – and appear
to be a stopgap solution until a
new basic trainer is introduced.
“We’re in the process of buy-
ing a newer aircraft for basic
training,” says Aljobour. The
Grob 109TP is among the types
being evaluated, but more con-
tenders will have the chance to
demonstrate their aircraft.
“We phased out the Hughes
500D/E training helicopters
because they were old. We
replaced them with the Robinson
www.airforcesdaily.com
84-89 Jordan Feb.aw.indd 89
R44 Raven II.” Eight R44 IIs serve
5 Sqn, the type having gained
full operational capability (FOC)
in April 2015 and taken over the
Hughes 500’s role in late 2014.
The squadron also operated the
AS350B3 Squirrel, but since the
R44’s arrival, the six AS350B3s
have passed to the Instructor
Pilot School. The 500s are for
sale, in a hangar at Mafraq.
Hawk for F-5
The Northrop F-5 was phased
out of the lead-in fighter trainer
(LIFT) role in 2014 and a batch
Above: The R44 replaced the Hughes 500D and 500E in the basic helicopter
training role.
Above: With delivery of the Robinson R44 Raven II, the AS350B3 helicopters were transferred from 5 Sqn to the Instructor
Pilot School. All basic and advanced helicopter pilot training is now performed on the Raven II.
of aircraft was expected to have
been sold to Tactical Air Support
(‘TacAir’) in Reno, Nevada soon.
“We keep two F-5s flying for her-
itage purposes, but they are no
longer operational,” says Aljobour.
The RJAF acquired 13 ex-
UAEAF&AD BAe Hawk Mk 63A
jets to replace the F-5, and would
like to buy more Hawks so that
more than one LIFT squadron
could prepare pilots for the
F-16. Meanwhile an upgrade is
planned to equip the Hawk fleet
with a more suitable avion-
afm
ics suite for F-16 training.
Red Flag
“There are skills you only get from
an exercise like Red Flag,” says Aljo-
bour. The RJAF took four F-16AMs
and one F-16BM to Red Flag 15-4.
On the way to Nellis AFB, Nevada,
the Jordanian F-16s refuelled from
an Israeli tanker supporting a num-
ber of the country’s F-15s.
“When our pilots came back, they
were extremely happy with the
experience they’d gained from Red
Flag. The skills they learned will
stay with them for a long time.”
The RJAF Red Flag participants
experienced scenarios replicating
the current threat to Jordan. “Red
Flag is high on our agenda and
the RJAF would like to participate
again in 2016. If that’s not pos-
sible, then definitely in 2017,” says
Aljobour enthusiastically.
Jordan’s pilots constantly hone
their skills and the RJAF has
permanent bilateral exchange
programmes with close allies
including Pakistan, Turkey, the US
and the UK.
Overall, the RJAF is a relatively
small, but very efficient, air force
that demonstrates agility and perse-
verance. With an excellent training
facility in the Aviation University,
recruits are trained to a high level,
creating a good basis for the future.
In recent years the RJAF has
shown its ability to introduce and
adapt to new aircraft, replacing
poorly performing types, and the
public execution of one of its pilots
has served only to galvanise Major
General Aljobour’s colleagues
against the Daesh enemy.
As long as the fight with Daesh
continues, Jordan’s geography
will keep it on the front line. Sup-
ported by Arab and non-Arab
nations in the region, it will remain
a potent coalition partner with
unique capabilities. 
#335 FEBRUARY 2016 89
08/01/2016 16:17
 DEC 2 2015 - JAN 7 2016
ATTRITION REPORT
Wyoming ANG C-130H Rebuilt
After Emergency Landing
ALMOST 14 months after being
damaged in an emergency landing,
a USAF/Wyoming Air National
Guard C-130H Hercules has been
returned to service following a major
rebuild. The aircraft, 92-1533 ‘3’,
returned to Cheyenne Regional
Airport, Wyoming, on October 13
last year to re-join the 153rd Airlift
Wing/187th Airlift Squadron.
During an aerial firefighting mission
over Utah on August 17, 2014, using
the Modular Airborne Fire-Fighting
System (MAFFS), the aircraft was
scheduled to land at Hill Air Force
Base to refuel and re-supply. The
crew, comprised of Guard, Reserve
and active duty personnel, found
they were unable to lower the nose
undercarriage. However, they
successfully landed the aircraft on a
foam-covered runway without injury
to the crew or damage to the runway
– see Attrition, November 2014, p93.
William Ferrell, a C-130 crew
chief at Hill AFB and a member
of the Crash Damage, Disabled
and Recovery Team said: “The
pilot made a smooth landing.
The only damage was to the
underside of the aircraft.”
After the incident, Ferrell and
eight other personnel used a
crane to lift the front of the aircraft,
tow it to a maintenance area and
secure it after an emergency
nose landing gear extension, a
process that took a little more
than four hours to complete.
Following a five-month-long
investigation, it was determined
that a broken support rod for
the landing gear uplock actuator
caused the failure. This damage
90 FEBRUARY 2016 #335
90-93 Attrition Feb.DJ.indd 90
Above: US Air Force C-130H Hercules 92-1533 arrives back at Cheyenne C-130 to find suitable parts that
Regional Airport, Wyoming, on October 13 last year for return to service with could be adapted. They also had
the Wyoming Air National Guard after completing its rebuild at Hill AFB, Utah.
to locally manufacture some parts
USAF/Master Sgt Charles Delano
Below: The C-130H after its emergency landing at Hill AFB on August 17, 2014. from original blueprint drawings.”
USAF/Hill AFB Major Brett Goebel, the
Wyoming Air National Guard
navigator who was on the accident
flight, said: “That [$850,000]
is fairly low when you consider
it’s a $37 million aircraft.”
Lt Col Todd Davis, the 153rd
Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
commander, said he was pleased
with the timeline and quality of
the repair: “Getting 1533 back to
flying again required more than just
the maintenance crews. Funding
funnelled quickly from National
eventually led to a fleet-wide to the commander at Hill AFB, Guard Bureau to Hill and the team
inspection, which resulted in several said that this was a one-of-a-kind did an amazing job. They reskinned
other defective rods being detected. rebuild. “A lot of creativity and everything on the bottom. It looks
Since that time, the C-130H ingenuity was needed, since many brand new, which is pretty good for
has been at the 572nd Aircraft of the C-130H structural parts an aircraft that is that 23 years old.”
Maintenance Squadron, at Hill AFB, that were needed are no longer Goebel said the crew knew
where the estimated $850,000 in made,” said Mehring. “The team something was wrong with the nose
damage that was caused by that here did a tremendous amount of gear as they were on approach to
landing was repaired. Col Steve work to cross-reference parts from Hill. “After trouble-shooting for
Mehring, Air National Guard advisor the current generation ‘J’ model two-and-a-half hours, it became
apparent we were not going to get
a fix for our problem,” said Goebel.
Along with Goebel, members of
the crew that were able to safely
land the aircraft were Major Jack
Berquist, aircraft commander;
his co-pilot, Major Derik George;
flight engineer Tech Sgt Damian
Hoffmann; and load masters,
Master Sgts Brandon York and
Christian Reese. All received the
Air Mobility Command Aircrew of
Distinction Award for their efforts
Above: The Hercules in Hangar No 1 at Hill AFB on May 5, 2015, while undergoing that day which resulted in no loss
extensive repairs following its landing without the nose undercarriage extended. of life and minimal damage to a
USAF/Hill AFB multi-million dollar airframe. 
www.airforcesmonthly.com
11/01/2016 16:18

Accident Reports
D: Dec 2, 2007
N: Peruvian Army/BA811
T: PA-31T-620 Cheyenne II
S: EP-621
Damaged in an unspecified
accident. Subsequently repaired but
involved in another, more serious,
accident on November 17, 2015
– see Attrition, January 2016, p91.
D: Aug 25, 2015
N: Royal Canadian Air Force/431
Air Demo Sqn Snowbirds
T: CT-114 Tutor
S: 114058
This aircraft diverted due to an
in-flight emergency and landed
safely at Greater Moncton
International Airport, New
Brunswick. After being repaired,
it carried out a successful test
flight and was refuelled for
departure to re-join the Snowbird
team. As the tyres were due for
their seven-day inspection/refill,
nitrogen tanks were borrowed
from a local facility to service the
aircraft. While topping up the
starboard main tyre with nitrogen,
the tyre was over-pressurised and
exploded. This seriously damaged
the starboard main undercarriage
leg and wing rear spar, while the
split rim was propelled into and
crushed the starboard main diesel
tank. Primarily due to the damage
in the wing spar, the aircraft was
classed as having sustained
Category B damage. A preliminary
report released by the Directorate
of Flight Safety on October 29
said the investigation found that
the technician misinterpreted
the gauges on this unfamiliar
equipment and attempted to fill
the tyre to 150 Bars instead of 150
PSI. This resulted in the wheel/
tyre assembly failing at around
120 Bars (over 1,700 PSI).
D: Sep 20
N: Royal Saudi Land Forces
T: AH-64 Apache
Unconfirmed reports suggest
that this helicopter may have
been shot down with a surface-
to-air missile by Yemeni armed
forces in the al-Safer area, near
Ma’rib, Jizan province, Yemen.
No further details are known.
D: Sep 25?
N: US Air Force
T: MQ-1B Predator
This UAV was destroyed when
it crashed on the coast just
southeast of Derna, Libya. Daesh
claimed to have shot it down.
Abbreviations: D: Date N/U: Nationality/Units T: Type S: Serials
www.airforcesdaily.com
90-93 Attrition Feb.DJ.indd 91
Above: Close-up of the starboard wheel of RCAF/Snowbirds CT-114 Tutor
114058 after the tyre was over-pressurised and exploded on August 25, 2015,
at Greater Moncton International Airport. The resultant rupture in the starboard
diesel tank is also clearly apparent. RCAF Directorate of Flight Safety
D: Sep 29
N: Spanish Air Force/Patrulla Aguila
T: CASA 101EB
S: E.25-45 ’79-45’
Following a routine training
flight, the pilot found that he was
unable to lower the aircraft’s
undercarriage on return to land
at San Javier Air Base. After
assessing the situation, he
decided against ejecting and
elected instead to carry out a belly
landing, which was completed
successfully, although there was
some unspecified damage to the
underside of the aircraft. The
pilot was uninjured. The aircraft
was from the Patrulla Aguila
aerobatic display team, part of
794 Escuadrón at the Academia
General de Aire at San Javier.
The team had been practicing its
display in readiness for the Military
Parade in Madrid on October 12.
Above: Wreckage of the US Air Force MQ-1B Predator which crash near the
Libyan coast either early on September 25 or possibly the day before.
D: Oct 4
N: Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force
T: C-130H Hercules
S: 5-8527
The port wing of this aircraft,
which was parked on the ramp
at Tehran-Mehrabad Airport,
was struck by Zagros Airlines
Airbus A320-231 EP-ZAI, which
was being pushed back prior
to departure. Damage to both
aircraft was reported to be minor.
D: Oct 6
N: Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force
T: L-1329 Jetstar II
After reportedly having hydraulics
failure at TFB14 Mashad, the
aircraft ran off the runway into
rough ground, causing the
undercarriage to collapse. No
injuries were reported but
the extent of damage to the
aircraft is unconfirmed.
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news stories. E-mail the news team
at milnews@keypublishing.com
D: Oct 13
N: Royal Canadian Air Force
T: CH-124A(U) Sea King
S: 12419
While in the UK detached to RAF
Odiham, Hampshire, the tyres
on the main undercarriage were
found to be low. A dual-pressure
inflation kit was used to re-inflate
them. The low side was reported
to be set for 60psi, while the high
pressure side was reported to
be around 500psi. Normal tyre
pressure for the type is 105psi.
During inflation, the port inboard
tyre ruptured. This resulted in
rim fragments causing damage
to both the port and starboard
undercarriage, as well as the
fuselage. Damage was classed
as Category C. An interim
statement on the incident by
the Directorate of Flight Safety,
released on December 16, said
investigation is focusing on
human factors procedures for
the use of unfamiliar equipment.
The helicopter was one of two
Sea Kings temporarily based
at Odiham while their parent
ship, Iroquois-class destroyer
HMCS Athabaskan (DDG 282)
was docked in Portsmouth for
unexpected engine repairs.
D: Oct 28
N: Czech Air Force/212 Taktiká Letka
T: L-159A ALCA
While on a flight from Zaragoza
Air Base, Spain, during Exercise
Trident Juncture 2015, the aircraft
had a serious bird strike. A vulture
impacted the starboard wing, just
inboard of the wingtip drop tank,
tearing a large hole in the leading
edge. The pilot, 1st Lt Zbynek Abel,
declared a mayday and thought he
would have to eject, as the damage
was causing such severe buffeting
that it appeared the wing might be
torn off. However, after lowering
airspeed, he found he could
maintain control of the aircraft,
but still needed to land as quickly
as possible. He then successfully
performed an emergency landing
back at Zaragoza. Damage was
such that the aircraft had to be
transported back to the Czech
Republic by road for repair. On
November 24, the pilot was
awarded the Medal of Merit by
Czech Air Force Chief of Staff
Joseph Becvar for his extraordinary
courage, determination and
professional skill in assessing the
situation quickly and thus saving
the badly damaged aircraft.
#335 FEBRUARY 2016 91
11/01/2016 16:18
 DEC 2 2015 - JAN 7 2016

ATTRITION REPORT

Accident Reports
Left: The wings of IRIAF C-130H 5-8527 and Zagros Airlines A321-231 EP-ZAI
interlocked at Tehran-Mehrabad Airport on October 4 after the ground incident.
FARS News Agency
Below: A very distant and thus poor quality view of the Islamic Republic of Iran
Air Force Jetstar II following its accident on October 6 at TFB Mashad.

D: Dec 9 D: Dec 13 D: Dec 21 D: Dec 23

N: US Marine Corps/VMM-166
T: MV-22B Osprey
S: 168026 ‘YX-01’
This Osprey was involved in an
accident on board the USS New
Orleans (LPD 18) in the Pacific
Ocean off Camp Pendleton,
California. It was operating with the
13th Marine Expeditionary Unit,
carrying four crew and 22 Marine
passengers when the incident
occurred at around 1715hrs. No
injuries were reported. The aircraft
was returning to the ship after a
training mission ashore when it
experienced a landing mishap.
While recovering, it landed short
of Spot 2 on the flight deck and
the main undercarriage struck
the deck edge netting. The ship
arrived back in San Diego with
the Osprey still in the position
where it had landed, hanging off
the fantail of the vessel. It was
resting on its belly and with its
rear wheels hanging over the
edge of the deck. The extent
of damage to the airframe was
not immediately clear, but it has
been categorised as a Class A
accident, indicating damage
valued at more than $2 million.
N: Pakistan Army Aviation Corps
T: Bell 412EP
This Bell 412EP crashed and
rolled over in Awaran, Balochistan.
All six crew members escaped
with only minor injuries.
D: Dec 17
N: Chinese PLANAF/4 Div/12 Rgt
T: J-10SH
S: 83147
This two-seat J-10SH was written
off in a crash in Zhejiang Province.
Both crew members ejected safely.
D: Dec 20
N: Indonesian Air Force/SkU 15
T: T-50i Golden Eagle
S: TT-5007
This T-50i was destroyed in a
crash which killed both crew
members. The accident happened
at 0940hrs local time during its
aerobatic display at Adisucipto
Air Base, Yogyakarta, where an
airshow was being held to mark
the 70th anniversary of the Air
Force Academy. The aircraft was
seen to spiral towards the ground
and although it levelled out at low
level, the crew was unable to pull
up before impacting the ground.
N: El Salvador Air Force/Escuadrón
de Caza y Bombardeo
T: A-37B Dragón
S: FAS-424
This A-37B was badly damaged
during an emergency landing
at Comalapa Airport after the
undercarriage failed and a fire
broke out during the emergency
landing. No injuries were reported.
D: Dec 22
N: Indian Border Security Force
T: B200 King Air
S: VT-BSA
Ten BSF personnel were killed
in the crash of this aircraft near
Delhi-Indira Gandhi International
Airport at around 0950hrs. It had
taken off from there at 0937hrs
for a flight to Ranchi Airport in
Jharkhand state but shortly after
getting airborne the crew said
they had a technical problem and
wanted to return. The King Air
was on approach to Runway 10
when it came down in a sewage
treatment plant in Bagdola village
after hitting the airport boundary
wall. It was flown by two crew and
had been taking eight technicians
to Ranchi to repair a helicopter.
N: Mongolian People’s Air Force
T: Mi-8
During a night training mission,
the helicopter crashed, killing one
person and injuring ten others.
The accident took place about 30
miles (50km) east of Ulan Bator.
D: Dec 28
N: Venezuelan National Guard
T: Bell 206B JetRanger
S: GNB-7429
This JetRanger crashed at 1036hrs
at La Raya, Paraguachón, La
Guajira, Colombia. The pilot and
co-pilot, were injured and were
rescued by villagers and then
taken back over the border into
Venezuela, where they were moved
to the city of Maracaibo, 75 miles
(120km) east of the crash site,
to be treated in hospital. The
helicopter was carrying out a
routine patrol along the Colombia-
Venezuela border in poor weather
when it crashed. It rolled over on
impact, tearing off the main and
tail rotors, before coming to rest
around 30ft (10m) over the border
in Colombia. Although there was
no fire, the helicopter was reported
to have been extensively damaged.

Below: The extensive damage to the outer starboard wing of the Czech Air Force
L-159A is clearly visible here following its collision with a vulture near Zaragoza
Air Base, Spain, on October 28, 2015. Czech AF/21st TAB/Marek Maxim Svancara

Above: Royal Canadian Air Force CH-124A(U) Sea King 12419, with close-ups
showing the damage to the main undercarriage as a result of over-inflation of
one of the tyres while temporarily based at RAF Odiham, Hampshire, on
October 13, 2015. RCAF Directorate of Flight Safety

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

92 FEBRUARY 2016 #335 www.airforcesmonthly.com

90-93 Attrition Feb.DJ.indd 92 11/01/2016 16:18


Above left: US Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey 168026 ‘YX-01’ from Marine Medium Tilt Rotor Squadron 166 (VMM-166) (Reinforced) takes off from the amphibious
assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) on October 21 in the Pacific Ocean. This aircraft was involved in a Class A accident on board the USS New Orleans (LPD 18) on
December 9. US Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Debra Daco Above right: The Pakistan Army Bell 412P following its crash on December 13.
D: Dec 30
N: Royal Bahrain Air Force
T: F-16C
The pilot of this F-16C ejected
safely before it crashed in Saudi
Arabia’s southern province of
Jizan. The aircraft was on a
mission as part of the Saudi-led
coalition fighting Shia Houthi
rebels in Yemen when it came
down as a result of a technical
failure. Until now there had
only been one loss, an F-16C
on September 27, 2003.
D: Jan 3, 2016
N: Afghan Air Force
T: Mi-17
Three Afghan soldiers were
killed and two others injured
when this helicopter crashed at
around 1330hrs in eastern Logar
province. A statement by Afghan
Defence Ministry spokesman
Dawlat Waziri said the accident
had been caused by technical
problems. The crash took place
near the national army training
centre in the Shakar Qala area,
during a routine training flight.
www.airforcesdaily.com
90-93 Attrition Feb.DJ.indd 93
D: Jan 4
N: Libyan Air Force
T: MiG-21bis
During a combat sortie, this
MiG-21was shot down over
Benghazi. The pilot ejected safely.
The aircraft received a direct hit
from anti-aircraft gunfire or a
portable surface-to-air missile.
D: Jan 5
N: Colombian Air Force/Esc 613
T: Basler AC-47T Fantasma
S: FAC-1658
This gunship was badly damaged
when it veered off the side of the
runway landing at the Comando
Aéreo de Combate No 6 (CACOM
6) Base Aérea Tres Esquinas
‘Ernesto Esguerra Cubudes’,
Caquetá. It came to rest in a ditch,
but no injuries were reported to
the two crew members, Mayor
Forero and Capitán Puentes. It is
assumed to have been operated
by the resident Grupo de Combate
61/Escuadrón de Combate Táctico
613. A team from the Inspección
General de la Institución will
investigate the incident.
D: Jan 5
N: US Air Force
T: HH-60G Pave Hawk
This helicopter was damaged
in Afghanistan during an
operational mission when it was
required to provide assistance
after a US service member
(Staff Sgt Matthew MClintock of
A Company,1st Batallion, 19th
Special Forces Group) had been
killed and another two injured after
coming under fire during a train,
advise and assist mission with
their Afghan Special Operations
counterparts. A number of Afghan
forces personnel were also injured.
Following the incident, which
occurred near Marjah, Helmand
Province, two HH-60Gs, including
the accident aircraft, were sent
to provide help. However, one
was waived off after taking fire
but was able to return safely
to base. Although the second
Pave Hawk landed safely, its
rotor blades were then damaged
after it apparently struck a wall.
As a result, it was disabled and
forced to remain on the ground.
Above: Venezuelan National Guard B206B JetRanger GNB-7429 following its
crash on December 28.
Left: The fin of PLAAF J-10SH 83147 following its crash on December 17.
Visit www.airforcesdaily.com for daily
news stories. E-mail the news team
at milnews@keypublishing.com
D: Jan 7
N: US Air Force
T: MQ-1 Predator
This Predator crashed in central
Iraq at approximately 1250hrs
local time. A US Air Force
statement issued the following day
said that the UAV had been flying
a combat mission when positive
control of the aircraft was lost. The
USAF also stated that the crash
was not due to enemy fire. There
were no reports of civilian injuries
or damage to civilian property
at the crash site. The USAF said
that the Predator was destroyed
and is not in enemy hands. An
investigation board will convene
to determine the specific cause of
the crash. Daesh claimed to have
shot the UAV down near Akashat,
Anbar. Images and video released
by Daesh showed them inspecting
the wreckage of a Predator,
which they said was the one they
had shot down on this date. 
Additional material from: Juan
Carlos Cicalesi and Scramble/
Dutch Aviation Society.
#335 FEBRUARY 2016 93
11/01/2016 16:18
 DEBRIEF Book reviews
Israeli Air Force
Yearbook 2015-
2016
Wizard Publications
Ofer Zidon
£16.99
ISBN:
9789657752005
This book covers the Israeli
Air Force (IAF) with up-to-date
information on changes within
the force’s order of battle,
organisational structure and
operational activities both
recently and for those that
are planned for 2016. It is
beautifully illustrated with more
than 300 colour pictures taken
by the author, many of which are
published for the first time. But
Ofer Zidon has not only focussed
on the modern arsenal of the
IAF, he reports on the retirement
of the AH-1 Tzefa – Hebrew
The Panavia
Tornado
A Photographic
Tribute
Pen & Sword Publica-
tions
Michael Leek
£30
ISBN: 1781592977
Photographic tribute books
tend to fall into two categories
in my opinion – those with large
colourful images accompanied by
mediocre captions while others
pull together unusual, rare and
dramatic images supported by
detailed copy that adds further
insight to a particular image.
Michael Leek’s latest title on the
Tornado expertly falls into the
latter category. It’s clear from the
extensively sourced images of the
‘fin’, as the Tornado is nicknamed,
has been a labour of love.
Leek launches straight into a
debate about which aircraft – the
Tornado GR4 or the retired
Harrier GR9 – would have been
the better combat aircraft for
operations against Daesh. It is
an unconventional opening for
a book on the Tornado, which
often dwell on the aircraft’s
These titles are available from: The Aviation Bookshop, 31-33 Vale Road, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 1BS, United Kingdom.
94 FEBRUARY 2016 #335
94 Debrief.indd 94
for Viper. The sight of desert-
camouflaged AH-1s flying in
formation over Israel’s training
area in the Golan has been
impressively captured in print.
Special reports follow the
CH-53 ‘Night Leaders’ squadron
development, something that
has already been covered a
multitude of times in other books.
As the author states: ‘this
book is not presented as the
definitive history of the Tornado’,
it is more a visual legacy of a
long-serving combat-proven
aircraft that is nearing retirement.
There are plenty of images of
the Tornado in its element – flying
fast and low amid the Welsh hills,
and while many are stunning
there are a few that
would not have
been my first
choice. However,
the reader has to
take into account
the conditions, and
surely, few would be
prepared to stand on
a Welsh hillside all day,
waiting for an F3 or
GR4 to pass by within
seconds. One only has
to look at the image of
GR4 ZD788, its wings
swept back at 67o, its
anniversary scheme
on show, to ‘feel the
force’ of the Tornado.
This is a great book
on the recent activities
of RAF and overseas
Tornado squadrons,
but there are too many
similar images of
Telephone: +44(0)1892 539284 Website: www.aviation-bookshop.com
although unfortunately not
much is revealed about its
work with the Special Forces
or Unit 669 – the IAF’s
specialised search and rescue
unit. Intelligence gathering is
secretive by its very nature,
but the author gained limited
access to Israel’s ‘Nachshon’
squadron equipped with
heavily modified Gulfstream
G-550s. While operational
details are scarce within
this section, the history and
background relating to the
formation of the squadron are
noteworthy for those with a
passion for ELINT squadrons.
These IAF yearbooks
have become a must-have
for aviation enthusiasts
specialising in Middle East
air forces and Ofer Zidon has
met the challenge once again
of producing an impressive
overview of the activities of the
IAF to date and what might be
expected in 2016. Glenn Sands
aircraft flying left to right down
a valley. While variations on a
theme can prove challenging in
such locations, more could have
been made of the shots from the
fence line at RAF Lossiemouth,
if only to break-up the repetition
of some of the spreads.
But as a Tornado fan I’m
certainly glad to have this title
on my shelf. Glenn Sands
F-104 Starfighter
World Military
Aircraft Volume 1
Various Authors
£15.99
ISBN: n/a
This A5 sized, spiral-bound book
produced by World Military
Aircraft publishers is certainly for
the hard-core aviation military
enthusiast. It comprises lists
of serials and the fates of every
F-104 Starfighter ever produced.
Those built by Lockheed, and
licence-built examples by
Canadair, are covered, as are the
overseas air forces that received
F-104s as part of America’s
Military Assistance Program
(MAP) during the Cold War.
Where possible the authors
have included photographs
of a particular jet to tie-in with
the serials presented on that
page. Many of these images
have been sourced from private
collections and are appearing
in print for the first time, with
my only disappointment being
that they could have been used
at a bigger size on the page.
Each operator of the F-104
is given a brief introduction, a
listing as to when, where and how
the Starfighters were acquired.
The entry on Taiwanese Air
Force is particularly impressive,
given that at one stage the
nation was the third largest
operator of the F-104, having
acquired jets from the US,
Japan, Germany and Belgium.
A remarkable little book and, I
hope, the first of a series that will
cover other types in due course.
Recommended. Glenn Sands
www.airforcesmonthly.com
08/01/2016 15:52
 THE AIR WAR OVER SOUTH EAST ASIA
Vietnam - the Air War over South East Asia
provides a detailed overview of the aircraft,
tactics and politics employed during the
Vietnam War. Packed with rare and hitherto
unseen photographs, this publication traces
the history of the war from the late-1940s to
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 BASE WATCH Nellis & McCarran Int Airport

DEC 12 2015 Left: A Draken International A-4K

Skyhawk N147EM/155069 returns
to Nellis AFB having fulfilled the
‘aggressor’ role against USAF fighter
units at the base. The company
provides tactical fighter aircraft for
training including military and con-
tract customers. Skyhawks stayed
at Nellis until December 20, after
which they returned to the company’s
headquarters at Lakeland, Florida.
All images by Barry Ambrose
Below: A desert camouflaged Mi-17
Hip – lacking any markings other
than serial number 15-5207 on its tail
boom – arrives at McCarran Interna-
tional Airport, Nevada on December
17 for a fuel stop. The CIA, along
with the US Special Forces, has oper-
ated a number of Russian-built heli-
copters for covert operations. These
helicopters are used throughout the
Middle East because they attract less
attention than US Army Black Hawks.
DEC 17 2015

Right: A CASA C-27J Spartan 2708 DEC 21 2015

(ex-09-27017) of the US Coast Guard
(USCG) departs McCarran Internation-
al Airport after an overnight stop. In
the background is one of the typically
gold-glazed Las Vegas hotels that
border the airport. The C-27J appears
well weathered because it was one
of 14 stored at Davis-Monthan AFB,
Tucson, Arizona, under the care of the
309th Aerospace Maintenance and
Regeneration Group, after the type
was withdrawn from the USAF due to
budget restraints.
DEC 20 2015

Above: An Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) C-146A Wolfhound 10-3026 of the 524th Special Operations Squadron based at Cannon AFB makes a
quick visit to McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada on the morning of December 20, to collect personnel for an onward flight. The AFSOC prefers
to use the more secure Nellis AFB facilities nearby for its operations to avoid public scrutiny.

96 FEBRUARY 2016 #335 www.airforcesmonthly.com

96-97 Base Feb.indd 96 08/01/2016 15:47

 RAF Lossiemouth
Send us your Base Watch images,
please include time, date and location.
E-mail at basewatch@keypublishing.com

DEC 4 2015

DEC 11 2015 Above: Belgian Air Force (BAF)

Alpha Jet 1B+ E AT-02 lines up on
RAF Lossiemouth’s main runway on
December 4, prior to heading back
to its home base of Cazaux Air Base
(BA 120) in southwest Bordeaux,
France. It was one of three BAF Al-
pha Jets that arrived in Scotland on
the previous day as part of Belgium-
French Alpha Jet School’s (AJetS)
annual navigation training exercise
(NavEx) for student pilots. All images
by Niall Peterson
Left: United States Navy P-3C Orion
1616406/PD of VP-9 ‘Golden Eagles’
taxies to RAF Lossiemouth’s visiting
aircraft ramp on December 11. It
was one of three Orions conducting
sorties off the west coast of Scotland
DEC 11 2015 between December 15 and 20. For
the aircrew of VP-9 it was certainly a
change of scene, as their squadron
is based at MCBH Kaneohe Bay,
Hawaii.

Above: Hunter F.58 ZZ190 from

Hawker Hunter Aviation (HHA)
approaches RAF Lossiemouth on
December 11. Arriving from HHA’s
facility at RAF Scampton, the Hunter
conducted a radar approach,
followed by a couple of visual
circuits, before departing south back
to the Linconshire base. It was the
first time a Hunter in RAF colours
had flown in Lossiemouth’s landing
circuit for almost 20 years.
Right: Taxiing for departure on
December 16, United States Navy
C-40A Clipper 165829 heads back
to Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigo-
nella, Italy. The Clipper, which is on
detachment to NAS Sigonella, had
delivered spare parts and personnel
to two US Navy P-3C Orions operat-
ing from RAF Lossiemouth. DEC 16 2015

www.airforcesdaily.com #335 FEBRUARY 2016 97

96-97 Base Feb.indd 97 08/01/2016 15:47

 EDITORIAL February 2016
Having the Combat Edge
E VERY AIR force has a combat edge – but
the USAF without doubt has the biggest
and most effective (see Pages 44-59). While
the number of fighters may has declined since
the mid-1990s, it doesn’t mean the USAF is
any less potent. Precision-guided munitions
(PGMs) with the aid of cutting-edge targeting
pods such as the Sniper and Litening has
seen to that. The days of dropping hundreds
of munitions (often referred to as carpet-
bombing) to hit one target are truly over.
PGMs working with these pods and good
navigation systems are now the key to the
air-to-ground war, as we are
seeing in the fight against
Daesh
(Islamic State). They might not beat Daesh,
but they are having an effect – particularly
when it comes to avoiding the all-important
collateral damage. The killing of innocent
civilians is now unacceptable, unlike the days
when B-52s were seen dropping hundreds
of bombs in Vietnam to hit targets.
It is strange, then, that with its smart-
thinking ways, the US has never acquired
the impressive fire-and-forget MBDA Dual
Mode Brimstone. It can be used in all
weathers both day and night, and a salvo of
DMBs can be fired at the same time, each
going after separate designated targets.
However, its biggest advantages, having
been designed as an anti-tank weapon with a
smaller warhead, is its low collateral damage
Brand Editor: Glenn Sands
World Air Forces Correspondent: Alan Warnes
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98 FEBRUARY 2016 #335
98 Editorial Feb.aw.indd 98
E-mail at afmletters@keypublishing.com
impact and ability to hit moving targets.
Amazingly, the RAF’s Tornado GR4 is the
only platform using the DMB, which is being
Without it, the Typhoon will never gain the air-to-
ground credibility the RAF so desperately wants.
So has the US ignored this stunning piece
put to good effect in Operation Shader – the of European engineering and technology
UK’s contribution to defeating Daesh in Iraq due to continuous defence cuts or does it
and Syria. It was also used in Afghanistan prefer to soldier on with domestic weapons
(between 2009-2014) and Libya in 2011. regardless of their lack of combat edge?
Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron even At one point, MBDA was looking to submit
trumpeted the weapon’s capabilities while Brimstone 2
campaigning for the UK to start bombing
Daesh targets in Syria late last year.
At an estimated cost of around £175,000
($255,000) per
Above: Having the combat as part of the US Army’s Joint Air-To-
edge doesn’t just mean amassing fight- Ground Missile (JAGM) programme.
ers, bombers or remote piloted air systems (RPAS). However it would have required
The role of the sophisticated weapon has seen to complex re-engineering of the missile
that. The Dual Mode Brimstone has turned the
seeker to mate to the back end of the
Tornado into a lethal 21st century bomber, providing
the RAF’s Combat Air with an edge in three wars to
Hellfire. This would have resulted in a new
date in Afghanistan, Libya and now against Daesh in missile not suitable for tactical jets.
Iraq and Syria. There is nothing else like the DMB. It It seems the US does not to want the
is accurate and has a small blast from its detonation, best foreign weapons on its aircraft,
which means the chance of killing innocent civilians regardless of how good they are.
is substantially reduced. It illustrates how smart What are your thoughts? Write to Feedback at
weapons working with sophisticated ways of hitting afmletters@keypublishing.com
the target are just as important as the aircraft.
weapon, the DMB should be used sparingly,
but with rules of engagement stopping the
Tornado from flying low level due to a SAM
threat, the DMB is usually the only option.
There are now plans to fit the DMB/Brimstone
2 weapon on to the RAF’s Typhoons, with an
entry into service date of December 2018, when Alan Warnes - World Air
the Tornado reaches its out of service date. Forces Correspondent
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