Combat Aircraft Monthly 2021.07 (MIG-31BM)
Combat Aircraft Monthly 2021.07 (MIG-31BM)
Combat Aircraft Monthly 2021.07 (MIG-31BM)
ALABAMA
STATE ALLIES OF
ATHENS
REPORT
FRENCH JETS IN
MAJOR GREEK
EXERCISE
USMC IN
DIXIELAND’S THE UK
AIR POWER ‘TAKING’ A
BRITISH MOOR
LIGHTNINGS
ON LIZZIE
US ARMY
HELICOPTERS
IN DUNKIRK
THE FRENCH
CANADA’S CONNECTION
AURORA
FIGHTING ILLEGAL FISHING
Volume 22 No 7 JULY 2021
07
UK £5.30
Multi-service operations
Downloadable
ExcelTM reports
EMAIL: info@AirForcesIntel.com
www.AirForcesIntel.com
671 AFI promo fp.indd 91 21/07/2020 09:40
COMBAT EDGE // FIND US ON
28 STEALTH SUNSET?
Will a fourth-generation fighter supplant the
700 cancelled Joint Strike Fighters? Jon Lake
asks if this marks the end for the F-35
34 AIRCRAFT PROFILE:
CP-140 AURORA
Tom Kaminski takes a look at the career of
Canada’s maritime patrol aircraft that, through
good management, has stood the test of time
60 EXERCISE REPORT:
INIOCHOS 2021
Babak Taghvaee reports on France’s
involvement in Europe’s largest air drill, while
Vincent Martens zooms in on some of the
other aircraft participating
Boeing
74 VMFA-211 JOINS ‘BIG LIZZIE’
CAJ reports on the arrival of the USMC’s
F-35Bs on the UK’s HMS Queen Elizabeth
ON THE COVER
Alabama ANG F-16C
87-0336 spits out
flares as it heads for
the clouds. The unit is
the only military fast-jet
operator based in
Alabama, the first state
to be covered in our
state-by-state review
Zinchuk 34 CWO Mike Kaehler (RCAF Ret.) James Haseltine
‘AVENGERS’ DEPLOY ON
HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH
VMFA-211 SETS OUT
ON BOARD THE ROYAL
NAVY CARRIER ON ITS
FIRST OPERATIONAL
DEPLOYMENT
Right: Lt Col Andrew D’Ambrogi, the
commanding officer of Marine Fighter Attack
Squadron 211 (VMFA-211) ‘Wake Island
Avengers,’ conducts carrier qualifications
in F-35B Lightning II 169621 CF-01 aboard
HMS ‘Queen Elizabeth’ at sea, off the coast of
the UK, shortly after arriving on board on May
2 USMC/3rd MAW/1st Lt Zachary Bodner
TEN US Marine Corps F-35B to it the next day, followed by three deployment, dubbed CSG21. This While the carrier was in UK
Lightning IIs from Marine Fighter more on May 3. The final aircraft will see the Wake Island Avengers waters, two USMC MV-22B Ospreys
Attack Squadron 211 (VMFA- due to fly had to abort due to a remain with the carrier as it travels from Marine Medium Tiltrotor
211) ‘Avengers’ at Marine Corps technical problem. to the Mediterranean, Indian Ocean Squadron 162 (VMM-162) ‘Golden
Air Station Yuma, Arizona, have The VMFA-211 aircraft were joined and Asia Pacific. Eagles’ visited the ship. They were
deployed aboard the Royal Navy by eight Royal Air Force F-35Bs The task group will visit 40 ferrying in VMFA-211 personnel and
aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth from the famous 617 ‘Dambusters’ nations, including India, Japan, equipment from RAF Mildenhall,
(R 08) for a 28-week Carrier Squadron at RAF Marham, Norfolk, Republic of Korea and Singapore, Suffolk. The Ospreys are assigned to
Strike Group (CSG) deployment making this the largest ever in a deployment covering 26,000 the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit
– the vessel’s first operational at-sea deployment of the type. nautical miles and undertaking in (MEU), Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready
deployment. The aircraft initially The CSG initially participated in excess of 70 engagements, visits, air Group, on board the amphibious
flew to the UK, landing at the USAF the two-week-long Exercise Strike exercises and operations. assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7),
base at RAF Lakenheath, Suffolk, in Warrior off northwest Scotland, The group will also join exercises also a part of CSG21.
two flights of five aircraft each on involving more than 20 warships, with French carrier FS Charles De See page 74/75 for VMFA-211’s
April 26 and 27. 3 submarines and 150 aircraft Gaulle (R 91) in the Mediterranean arrival on the HMS Queen Elizabeth
After the carrier had left its base in from 11 nations. The culmination and navies and aircraft from allies
For more on HMS Queen Elizabeth’s
Portsmouth, Hampshire, on May 1, of Strike Warrior will see the CSG such as the US, Canada, Denmark, deployment, listen to our Air Warriors
KEY PODCASTS
six of the VMFA-211 F-35Bs flew out certified ready for its maiden Greece, Israel, Italy, Japan and UAE. NEW podcast at key.aero/podcasts
CARRIER MOVES
Under the proposal, the
USAF will request 48 F-35As in
fiscal year (FY) 2022, followed
by 43 each year from FY2023
to FY2026. Over that five-year
period, this will give an overall
purchase of 220, compared to the
previously planned 240.
Air Force Magazine also noted
that the FY2022 budget talking
points said that congressional
approval will be sought to retire
421 legacy aircraft through to
2026 but acquire only 306 new
fighters to replace them. The
savings from operating a smaller
fleet would go towards acquiring
new systems, including the
Next-Generation Air Dominance
fighter later this decade and a
Above US Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II 169619 ‘DC-56’ from VMFA-122 prepares to launch from the USS ‘Makin Island’ (LHD 8) on May 6, in
the Gulf of Alaska, during Exercise Northern Edge 21. While deployed on the ship, the VMFA-122 aircraft are assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor new MR-X multi-role fighter in
Squadron 164 (Reinforced) US Navy/Petty Officer 3rd Class Ethan Morrow the 2030s.
In preparation for the ship’s The aircraft carrier USS George operations in the Gulf of Alaska as The retirement plan would
upcoming $3bn mid-life refueling Washington (CVN 73) is currently part of the Indo-Pacific Command’s include a complete phase-out
and complex overhaul (RCOH), the nearing the end of its RCOH, which Exercise Northern Edge 21 from of the 234-strong F-15C/D Eagle
aircraft carrier USS John C Stennis began in August 2017. Completion May 3-14. The aircraft deployed fleet by the end of FY2026,
(CVN 74) was moved across the was delayed by the COVID-19 aboard the amphibious assault while 124 aircraft from the F-16
James River from Naval Station pandemic but the ship will return to ship included F-35Bs operated by fleet would also go – mostly
Norfolk, Virginia, to Newport News the fleet in 2022. Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122 from the earliest models still in
Shipbuilding on May 6. The ship The USS Theodore Roosevelt (VMFA-122) ‘Werewolves’. As part of service. This would leave 812
has not deployed since arriving (CVN 71) Carrier Strike Group and the exercise, the Marines conducted remaining in service by the end
in Norfolk in May 2019. It will be Carrier Air Wing 11 (CVW-11), Expeditionary Advanced Base of 2026. The A-10C Thunderbolt II
the seventh Nimitz-class nuclear- along with the USS Makin Island Operations (EABO) at Joint Base would also be cut from 281 total
powered aircraft carrier to undergo (LHD 8) Amphibious Ready Group Elmendorf-Richardson, Eielson AFB, aircraft to 218, ending in FY2023.
a RCOH, which is expected to be and its embarked 15th Marine Fort Greely’s Allen Army Airfield and Meanwhile, up to FY2026, 84
completed in 2025. Expeditionary Unit, conducted Cold Bay Airport. Tom Kaminski F-15EXs would be acquired.
Both of the US Air Force F-15EX Eagle IIs on the ramp at Joint Base Elmendorf-
Richardson, Alaska, on May 4 while participating in Northern Edge 2021
USAF/1st Lt Savanah Bray
The US Marine Corps (USMC) has Stewart Air National Guard Squadron 55 (VR-55) ‘Minutemen’ Maintenance and Regeneration
finally ended operations with the Base (ANGB), New York. The unit at Naval Base Ventura County, Point Group at Davis-Monthan Air Force
legacy KC-130T Hercules after 60 is under the command of the Mugu, California. VMGR-452 is now Base, Arizona. Eight have now
years of service. 4th Marine Aircraft Wing/Marine transitioning to the new KC-130J been transferred to US Navy Fleet
US Naval Air Systems Command Aircraft Group 49 (MAG-49) at variant, which is replacing the Logistics Support Squadrons, five
announced on May 5 that the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst elderly KC-130T. Henceforth, USMC have gone to US Navy Air Test and
USMC had divested itself of the final in New Jersey, and forms MAG-49 VMGR units will only fly the new Evaluation Squadrons, one became
aircraft – BuNo 164105 ‘NY-105’, Detachment B at Stewart. KC-130J model. a ground instructional airframe and
which was operated by Marine The aircraft departed from Eight of the USMC KC-130Ts have another was written off. Two more
Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron Stewart ANGB on April 14 to join already been retired and are in were sold to the Philippine Air Force
452 (VMGR-452) ‘Yankees’ at the US Navy’s Fleet Logistic Support storage with the 309th Aerospace and delivered in 2016.
Secondhand Fuerza Aérea Argentine (FAA; Argentine Air Force) Boeing 737-76N T-99, c/n 33420/1459, ex 2-ACSM, SE-RJR, ET-ALQ, seen here on
May 10, was recently acquired by the FAA to boost its depleted transport fleet. It was delivered to the FAA at El Palomar, Buenos Aires, on April 27
and is operated by I Brigada de Transporte Aéreo/II Escuadrón with the name Islas de Malvinas (Falkland Islands) on the nose Rafael A Baires
Tiger-schemed US Marine Corps F/A-18D Hornet 164901 ‘WK-01’ from Marine All Weather Fighter
Attack Squadron 224 (VMFA(AW)-224) ‘Fighting Bengals’ at MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina,
arriving at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia on May 8. It is one of 12 jets which routed
through Naval Station Rota in Spain on their way to PSAB. They are part of a US CENTCOM
dynamic force deployment detachment to the region aimed at promoting security and stability
within the USCENTCOM area of responsibility USAF/Senior Airman Samuel Earick
US Air Force KC-46A Pegasus 18-46050, callsign ‘Gold 33’, from the New Hampshire Air
National Guard’s 157th Air Refueling Wing/133rd Air Refueling Squadron ‘Wildcats’ at Pease
Air National Guard Base approaches to land at Moron Air Base, Spain, on May 6. It arrived
along with a second aircraft from the unit – 16-46018 ‘Gold 32’ – while supporting the
VMFA(AW)-224 F/A-18Ds that were deploying to Saudi Arabia. These were the first KC-46As
to visit Moron on an operational mission Antonio Muñiz Zaragüeta
Northrop Grumman
RECENT LOSSES
• An ETHIOPIAN AIR FORCE Mi-35 crashed in Barangay Taytay on
from 21 Squadron crashed on April 27. The pilot was killed.
April 20 near Abiy Addi in Tigray Three other crew were injured.
• TURKISH AIR FORCE KT-1T • PERUVIAN ARMY Mi-171Sh-P province, northern Ethiopia. All • A MYANMAR AIR FORCE
Woongbi serial number 10-05 serial number EP-685 ditched into three crew were killed. Mi-35 was shot down by Kachin
‘05’ ditched in the sea off Foca the waters of the Rio Vilcanota, near • An AIR FORCE OF ZIMBABWE Independence Army rebels
on April 9 during a training flight Miaria, Cusco province, on April 17. Agusta-Bell 412 from 8 Squadron on May 3. This happened near
from the 2nd Main Jet Base at Five of those on board were killed, crashed into a house in the Hukuru Moemouk township, Kachin
Izmir-Cigli. Both pilots were five others rescued with minor area of Arcturus on April 23. All State. All three crew were killed.
rescued. injuries and two were missing. three crew and a child on the • An AFGHAN AIR FORCE
• An AZERBAIJAN AIR FORCE • GABONESE ARMY AS332M1 ground were killed. A second child MD530F Cayuse Warrior was
Mi-17-1V crashed in mountainous Super Puma serial number and her mother were injured. written-off in Kandahar Province
terrain in the Kalbajar region TR-KCX crashed on Apr 18 while • A US NAVY MQ-8B Fire Scout, on May 10. There were no
on April 14. It was not reported attempting an emergency landing operated by HSC-21, crashed into fatalities, but crew were injured.
whether there were any injuries or in the Minkébé National Park. All 16 the side of the littoral combat ship • CHINESE PEOPLE’S ARMED
fatalities. on board survived. USS Charleston (LCS 18) and fell into POLICE-Forestry Corps Changhe
• A KAZAKHSTAN AIR DEFENCE • ROMANIAN AIR FORCE MiG-21 the sea just after taking off from Z-8AWJS serial number WJ56038
FORCE Su-30SM, from the 504th LanceR-C serial number 5917 from the vessel in the western Pacific on crashed into Erhai Lake in Dali
Air Base at Taldykorgan, crashed Escadrila 711 Aviație Luptă crashed April 26. It was not recovered. City, Yunnan Province, on May 10,
on approach to the 609th Air Base on Apr 20 near Dedrad, during • PHILIPPINE AIR FORCE while attempting to scoop water
at Balkhash in the Karaganda a training mission from Baza 71 MD520MG Defender serial number for fire-fighting operations. Two
region on April 16. The crew Aeriana Câmpia Turzii. The pilot 15-410 ‘410’ from the 15th Strike crew members were killed; the
ejected safely. ejected safely. Wing/18th Attack Squadron other two were missing.
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W
ITH MORE THAN 100 also has under its control the commands Photography Group. The latter is also Above: The Naval
Aviation School
years of experience, of the fleet, marine infantry, submarine equipped with Beech B-200 Super King
received 15 T-34C-1s
Argentina’s naval force and naval transport, in addition to Airs; one is used for general purposes, in 1978, of which four
aviation capability the naval areas and bases. The COAN is and the other two for aerial surveillance, were lost in the 1982
Falklands War and ten
was not only one of organized into three Argentine Navy air modified to house vertical cameras.
are still on strength.
the oldest in Latin bases, each of them with one or more The ESAN used to train all the naval Now they are to be
America, but was for many years the navy air squadrons. aviators, then a decade ago some cadets modernized and there
is also interest in
biggest and most powerful. Now, after started to undergo basic training with
buying more examples
more than 30 years of little investment, Punta Indio NAB the Argentine Air Force, but that was All photos, author
the service is only a shadow of its former Punta Indio naval air base (BAPI) has under abandoned a few years later. Today, the
glory. But the missions continue, despite its command Naval Aviation Squadron 1 cadets graduate from the Naval School,
the limitations of the aircraft’s aging (NAS 1) and Arsenal Aeronaval 1, with the apply to naval aviation and the selected
avionics, for example. The Naval Aviation latter in charge of aircraft maintenance. candidates are sent to the ESAN. Basic
Command (Spanish acronym COAN) NAS 1 has three subordinate units – the training is performed on the fleet of ten
reports into the Readiness and Training Navy Aviation School (ESAN), the Maritime old Beechcraft T-34C-1 Mentors purchased
Command (COAA). This upper command Surveillance Squadron and the Navy Aerial in the late 1970s. After successfully
completing the course, pupils will LAU32A rocket launchers. Instead of in 2008. Initially there was aspirations for
continue to the advanced stage, covering buying new T-34Cs, a modernization a batch of B-200T Super King Airs, but
aerobatics, gunnery, and bombing. program was launched by the Argentine in 1994 a decision was taken instead to
Once they graduate as naval aviators, the Air Force in 2020 that is expected to see locally modify the Navy Reconnaissance
pilots receive ‘navalization’ training, this the navy aircraft modified with new radios, Squadron’s four existing Beech 200s. The
covers flying in the maritime surveillance instruments, and navigation systems this programme was referred to as Project
role, close air support with marine units year. Cormorant and carried out by Arsenal
and anti-surface mission with the surface The air force has announced that the Aeronaval 1 at Punta Indio.
fleet. IA-100B Malvina basic trainer program Work began in 1996 and was completed
There had been interest in acquiring will deliver 12 aircraft to the ESAN five years later. It saw the Beech 200s
a batch of surplus US Navy T-34Cs since between 2023 and 2025, but the navy has modified with Bendix RDR 1500
2016, to reinforce the fleet and for spares little interest. surveillance radars, new bubble windows
support, but no budget was allocated. The Maritime Surveillance Squadron in the rear part of the fuselage, a tactical
The existing Mentors also have a light created on April 1, 1996 at Almirante computer, new radios, and an Agiflite
attack capability met by 125kg Mk 81 Zar naval aviation base (BAAZ) in Trelew, camera connected to satellite navigation.
bombs, Twin MAG pods and seven-tube Chubut province, moved to Punta Indio They were also given the capacity to
THE FRENCH
CONNECTION
The 1st Combat Aviation Brigade’s recent rotation saw US Army equipment
arrive at Dunkirk for the first time in decades, reports Jean Francoise Auran
Both military and airport firefighters
were present in case of any emergency
Jean Francoise Auran
O
PERATION MOUSQUETAIRE approximately 50 UH-60 and HH-60 Black patrol teams as well as anti-drone
MUSKETEER occurred Hawks, 10 CH-47 Chinooks, 25 AH-64 capabilities. Simultaneously, the French Air
between late February and Apaches and 1,800 wheeled vehicles and and Space Force organised air traffic.
early March this year. Across pieces of equipment. Some of them used French infantry units were deployed
30 days or so, part of the US other European ports. Another portion in both facilities, to protect the assets. A
Army’s 1st Combat Aviation of the brigade's equipment arrived in French Air force liaison officer, a helicopter
Brigade (CAB)/1 American Infantry Alexandroupoli, Greece, in late February pilot, was dispatched to Calais airport
Division (AID) shuttled between Dunkirk on board freight trains. to co-ordinate with the US crews. Calais
and Calais airport in northern France. France, as a host nation, provided airport was cleared for official air traffic.
The 1st CAB from Fort Riley, Kansas, Below: The ARC protection and support to the visiting The Fuel Service of the Armies (Service de
‘Endurance’
moved to Germany, Poland, and Latvia – carrying 1st US troops. The Musketeer operation l'Énergie Opérationnelle) provided fuel for
to replace the 101st CAB. CAB, 1st Infantry is an interdepartmental effort under the US aircraft.
The ‘Demon’ Brigade (based at Fort Riley) Division equipment, the leadership of the préfet (a state's Calais airport, with its 5,000ft-long
helicopters, and
arrived at the port of Dunkirk on March 6, vehicles – arrives at representative in a department or region) runway, used to receive many British
on board the ARC Endurance, chartered the port of Dunkirk for defence and security. A similar process planes and passengers, but COVID-19 and
by the US Navy Military Sealift Command. on March 6, 2021, in took place in Bordeaux and La Rochelle Brexit have, of course, had an impact.
support of Atlantic
The 50,000-ton ro-ro (roll on-roll off ) was Resolve and Operation back in July 2020.
loaded with 55 helicopters, 610 vehicles Mousquetaire in Police and (mainly) gendarmerie Heading east
and 312 containers. Dunkirk, France supervised the static and mobile The logisticians unloaded the helicopters
US Army/Staff
The aviation brigade Sgt Benjamin protection, with the gendarmerie's and stored them in a vast area inside the
comprised Northcutt specialised units providing naval harbour. On March 8, the first helicopter
ON A WING &
A WARTHOG
K
Politicians have saved the Fairchild NOWN MORE WIDELY by The A-10 first flew in the early 1970s
its nickname, Warthog, and its primary role has been close air
Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II from the Fairchild Republic support (CAS). The Thunderbolt II's 30mm
retirement so far – now a USAF study may A-10 Thunderbolt II has GAU-8/A Gatling gun can fire 3,900 rounds
end the argument over its lifespan demonstrated it is just as a minute to defeat an array of ground
adaptable and enduring as targets including tanks. The A-10 can
FAIRCHILD REPUBLIC A-10 THUNDERBOLT II its animal namesake: the A-10 has also carry out combat search and rescue,
Primary Function Close air support
evaded death by defense cutbacks over air interdiction, armed reconnaissance,
Contractor Fairchild Republic/A-10 Prime Team
many years. suppression of enemy air defenses, and
Power Plant Two General Electric TF34-GE-100 turbofans
Despite the United States Air Force’s special forces support, and it can counter
Thrust 9,065lb from each engine
Wingspan 57ft 6in
multi-year efforts to retire its A-10 fleet of sea operations in low and high-threat
Length 53ft 4in 281 examples (see ’CAS over Washington environments, day or night. It also
Height 14ft 8in DC’, opposite page), Northrop Grumman has the capability to carry electronic
Weight 29,000lb was awarded the $185.7m indefinite- countermeasures. While the Warthog
Maximum
51,000lb
delivery, indefinite-quantity (ID/IQ) A-10 only flew 30% of the USAF’s Operation
Take-off Weight
aircraft structural integrity program (SIP) Desert Storm sorties in 1991, it achieved
Fuel Capacity 11,000lb
legacy VII contract last November. more than half of the confirmed Iraqi
Payload 16,000lb
At the same time, Boeing was carrying equipment losses and fired 90% of the
Speed 365kt
Range 695nm
out the $999m ID/IQ A-10 wing precision-guided Maverick missiles.
Ceiling 45,000ft replacement contract the USAF awarded The 2019 wing award and 2020
Armament One 30mm GAU-8/A seven-barrel Gatling gun; up to it in August 2019. The air force has ordered structural integrity contract will see the
16,000lb of mixed ordnance on eight under-wing and 44 wing sets from Boeing so far, while lifespan of the fleet’s airframes extended
three under-fuselage pylon stations, including 500lb
under a previous 2007 contract awarded into the 2030s. The A-10 has also been
Mk-82 and 2,000lb Mk-84 series low/high drag bombs,
incendiary cluster bombs, combined effects munitions, to the US aerospace prime, 173 wing the recipient of congressionally directed
mine dispensing munitions, AGM-65 Maverick missiles sets were delivered. Boeing reports that funds for research and development and
and laser-guided/electro-optically guided bombs; infra-
upgraded wings are more durable and for further modernization. “Keeping the
red countermeasure flares; electronic countermeasure
chaff; jammer pods; 2.75in rockets; illumination flares; efficient, and easier to maintain. That 2007 fleet modernized and flying for decades
and AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles. upgrade work was expected to keep 173 to come is one of my top priorities,” said
Crew One A-10s flying until 2030. US House of Representatives member
A-10C Thunderbolt II 80-0173 currently serves with Air Force Reserve Command’s 924th Fighter Group/47th
Fighter Squadron ‘Dogpatchers’ at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. Boeing manufactured new wing sets for 173
A-10s from 2011 to 2018, following which it gained a contract for an additional 44 in 2019 Boeing
Will a new tactical aircraft study lead to F-35 production being capped at 1,050 aircraft
and will a new fourth-generation fighter supplant the 700 cancelled Joint Strike Fighters?
Jon Lake asks if this could be the beginning of the end for the F-35
T
HE KNIVES ARE out for the House Armed Services Committee, said During April, Lieutenant General
Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint of the F-35 program that: “I want to stop Clint Hinote, the USAF's Deputy Chief
Strike Fighter, at least among throwing money down that particular of Staff for Strategy, Integration, and
aviation’s chattering classes. It’s rathole. What does the F-35 give us? Requirements, said that there was no
nothing new for the F-35, the And is there a way to cut our losses? Is value in including the current Block 3A
world’s most expensive weapon there a way to not keep spending that F-35A in wargames simulating future
system, with its catastrophically high much money for such a low capability high-end conflicts, including a putative
support, sustainment and operating costs because, as you know, the sustainment American military response to a Chinese
and a litany of technical problems, delays costs are brutal… How can we get a mix invasion of Taiwan. “Every [F-35] fighter
and difficulties. of fighter-attack aircraft that’s the most that rolls off the line today is a fighter that
cost-effective – that doesn’t make us have we wouldn’t even bother putting into
Bullying F-35? to rely on the F-35 for the next 35 years?" these scenarios," he averred.
The F-35 experiences regular flurries of Also in March, General Mark D Kelly, To be fair, there are a host of politicians,
criticism after each new revelation – often the head of the US Air Force’s Air Combat lobbyists and other cheerleaders who
revealed via Government Accountability Command, expressed doubt as to whether regularly take to their blogs or social
Office (GAO) reports or through the release F-35 availability was improving and media to defend the aircraft and to try to
of test-and-evaluation documents or after whether its US$36,000 hourly operating dismiss criticism. Pro-F-35 lawmakers are
high profile criticism of the aircraft from cost was coming down and said he was already seeking additional funds for the
politicians or senior officers. not “brimming with confidence” that cost Block 4 modernization program, to invest
On March 5, Adam Smith, chair of the US and availability targets would be achieved. in F-35 sustainment, spare parts and to
support the integration of new weapons clean-sheet fourth-generation design) Above: An F-35
and capabilities. Some will even push to instead. And while a new a Tactical Lightning II assigned
to the 61st Fighter
fund the procurement of F-35s in excess of Aircraft (TacAir) study is planned to be Squadron at Luke Air
the Pentagon’s own budget request. completed in time to feed into the fiscal Force Base takes off,
On the other side, journalists, columnists, year 2023 budget process, it is far too for a mission USAF/
Staff Sgt Staci Miller
analysts and commentators have eagerly early to accurately predict what the
seized upon statements by former report’s conclusions may be. Pork barrel
assistant secretary of the Air Force for politics will inevitably intervene and may
Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, Will significantly deflect the air force from its Left: As a Colonel,
Roper and new USAF Chief of Staff Gen chosen path, whatever that path turns out General ‘CQ’ Brown
commanded the
Charles ‘CQ’ Brown as evidence that F-35 to be.
8th Fighter Wing at
production will be dramatically cut back. Kunsan Air Base,
“The US Air Force Just Admitted Difficult decisions South Korea. Brown
brings hard-won
The F-35 Stealth Fighter Has Failed,” Perhaps most importantly, the USAF
experience of the F-16
one distinguished and respected is unlikely to be able to afford to fulfil to his new role as Air
commentator gushed, in response to previous Chief of Staff General Dave Force Chief of Staff,
especially in facing
a profusion of reports that the USAF Goldfein’s goal of growing the force from
the growing Chinese
was considering capping production 312 to 386 operational squadrons by threat USAF/Senior
of the F-35A and procuring new-build, 2030. General Brown reportedly believes Airman Barry Loo
new-generation F-16s, (or a new that the USAF is hurtling toward “the
40 YEARS ON
O
Above: The latest N MARCH 11, the Royal on the Bristol 175 Britannia transport, to government agencies combating illegal
reincarnation of the
Aurora. A CP-140M Canadian Air Force (RCAF) the Lockheed CP-140 has served Canada immigration and fishing, pollution and
(serial 140108) CP-140 Aurora marked the as an MPA since entering service in drug trafficking.
approaches CFB 40th anniversary of its first 1982. When delivered, the Aurora was
Greenwood, Nova
Scotia, at the end operational flight. Having primarily assigned to provide surveillance When it all began
of its first post- stood the test of time, the of Canada’s coastal waters and Arctic Canada selected Lockheed’s model L-385
modification flight on current 14-strong fleet of this maritime regions, and tasked with anti-surface and as the basis for its new Long Range Patrol
February 21, 2020.
Canada DND patrol aircraft (MPA) can look ahead to anti-submarine warfare (ASuW and ASW) Aircraft (LRPA) on November 27, 1975.
another decade of operations. plus limited intelligence, surveillance and Lockheed and the Canadian government
While the US Navy and several reconnaissance (ISR) missions. signed a contract for 18 anti-submarine
international customers are replacing their Today, while still tasked with those warfare aircraft on July 21, 1976. The
turboprop-powered P-3 Orions with jet- missions, it also serves as Canada’s primary government also placed an order for
powered Boeing P-8As, Canada has only airborne ISR aircraft. The MPA delivers a two Data Interpretation and Analysis
just recently announced plans to begin its range of maritime, littoral and overland Centers (DIAC) that were located at CFB
search for a new MPA. The reason being surveillance capabilities for domestic and Greenwood, Nova Scotia, and CFB Comox,
that the Canadians have kept the Aurora deployed missions in support of Canadian British Columbia.
relevant, not letting it be bypassed by sovereignty and international objectives. Initially known as the CP-3C Orion, the
ever-modernizing threats, as the RAF did It is also tasked with strike co-ordination, aircraft was designated the CP-140 in
with its Boeing E-3D Sentry. naval gunfire support (NGS), over-the- accordance with the Canadian Forces
Originally procured as a replacement for horizon targeting, search and rescue (SAR) Administrative Order and the name Aurora
the Royal Canadian Air Force’s Canadair and disaster-relief missions. On top of all was assigned in January 1977. Although
CP-107 (CL-28) Argus, which was based that, the aircraft also provides vital support the CP-140 utilized the airframe of the
Left Flanked by
a CP-107 Argus,
the first CP-140
was rolled out at
Lockheed’s Burbank,
California, facility on
January 25, 1979.
The 18 Auroras and
three CP-140As that
followed represented
the last of 650
P-3-based aircraft
produced in Burbank.
Serial 140101 was
the first aircraft to
complete the AIMP
(Aurora Incremental
Modernization Project)
upgrade in 2004
Lockheed
140105 ‘Y-LQ’ of 405 Squadron pictured at RAF Kinloss on September 12, 1999, whilst
participating in that year’s Fincastle ASW Competition. Chris Lofting
The Arcturus also featured an optical Comox Air Force Museum at 19 Wing/CFB three phases are already complete and the
window in the auxiliary escape hatch, for Comox in Lazo, British Columbia. final block is currently being implemented.
handheld photography and four observer The AIMP actually began in 1998 but,
stations with bubble windows. While it Multi-mission aircraft work was halted by the DND in September
did not carry weapons, the Arcturus could The Royal Canadian Air Force is now in 2007, to determine whether the Aurora
deploy two Survival Kit Air Droppable the final phase of its C$1.93 billion ($1.53 fleet should be upgraded or replaced.
(SKAD) or Arctic SKADs from the weapons billion) Aurora Incremental Modernization Ultimately, the DND opted to retain
bay. Deliveries to the Canadian Forces took Project (AIMP), providing 14 CP-140s the CP-140 and, three months later, the
place from December 1992 to April 1993. with new mission systems, sensors program was restarted with plans to
Bowing to fiscal pressures, as early as Below: CP-140M and capabilities, which will extend its upgrade ten aircraft.
140114 heading
2000, Canada’s Department of National out of CFB Comox, operational service life to 2030.
Defence (DND) made plans to reduce British Columbia, for Executed in a phased approach, AIMP Investing in upgrades
the Long Range Patrol fleet from 21 a training mission on integrates 23 individual projects that The first CP-140 upgraded to Block II A
April 8, 2021
aircraft to just 16, by retiring two Auroras CWO Mike Kaehler combine to turn the CP-140 into a true configuration made its maiden flight on
and the three CP-140As. The CP-140As (RCAF Ret.) multi-mission aircraft (MMA). The first May 6, 2004, in Halifax. The upgraded
were the first to go, with serial 140119
being assigned to CFB Greenwood as a
grounded instructional trainer in 2005. The
aircraft was later placed on static display at
Greenwood in July 2016.
Serials 140120 and 140121 were
respectively placed in storage with the
USAF’s 309th Aerospace Maintenance and
Regeneration Group at Davis-Monthan
AFB, Arizona, in March and February 2011.
Withdrawn from service in 2015, CP-140
serial 140102 was delivered to the National
Air Force Museum of Canada at 8 Wing/
CFB Trenton, Ontario in September 2018.
Serial 140107 joined the collection of the
ON PARADE: CP-140
Above: CP-140 serial 140110 is wearing the Aurora’s original high-visibility white over grey paint scheme. All 18 Auroras were
delivered in this scheme but the three CP-140A Arcturus aircraft entered service wearing the later tactical grey scheme.
Above: CP-140M serial 140108 serves as the prototype for the Aurora Incremental Modernization Project (AIMP) Block IV
configuration and wears the RCAF’s current tactical grey colour scheme.
Above: CP-140 serial 140111 received a modified tactical grey scheme that featured the government’s official ‘Canada Wordmark’
and a stylized Eagle’s head on the nose when 405 Squadron visited RAAF Base Edinburgh, South Australia for the annual Fincastle
Trophy competition in 2001.
Above: Operated by 415 Squadron CP-140 serial 140114 was painted in these marks to honor the RCAF’s 75th Anniversary in
1999. The tactical grey scheme included RAF roundels and codes worn by the squadron while serving with the Coastal and Bomber
Commands during the Second World War. All illustrations, Ryan Dorling
AUROR
Besides its traditional homeland
sovereignty missions, Canada’s Aurora
fleet has been called upon to support
many international missions. The CP-140’s
earliest deployments included Operation
Sharp Guard, which began in October
1993 and concluded in April 1994.
Operating from NAS Sigonella, Italy, the
CP-140s conducted armed missions over
the Adriatic that enforced an economic
embargo against the former Yugoslavia.
Operation Apollo marked the first
deployment for the Block I configured
CP-140, when a pair of aircraft departed
ALQ-217 ESM systems under a US$47.3 fleet with defensive countermeasures Above: Originally Canada for the Persian Gulf region on
million Foreign Military Sales contract capable of detecting shoulder-fired missile delivered to 14 Wing
December 27, 2001. The LRP Detachment
at CFB Greenwood
from US Naval Air Systems Command. (MANPADS) launched from the ground – on April 2, 1981, conducted its last mission in support of
Along with threat detection, the new ESM tracking the incoming missile and using a CP-140M serial coalition operations on June 19, 2003.
number 140115 While deployed, the Auroras completed
suite provided a secondary electronic laser beam to jam its guidance system.
was one of three around 500 missions and logged more
intelligence (ELINT) capability. Block III also provided a major upgrade Auroras to receive than 4,300 flying hours.
Block III also replaced the AN/APS-506 to the aircraft’s data management systems a Block III interim Between mid-October and mid-
radar system with a new AN/APS-508 (DMS) – installing a new AN/ASW-503 beyond-line-of-sight December 2004, two CP-140s operating
(iBLOS) satellite from NAS Sigonella flew 40 surveillance
Aurora Imaging Radar System (AIRS). mission computer and two large multi- communication
missions over the Mediterranean Sea,
Developed by Telephonics Corporation purpose displays at each mission station. system and be
deployed to the Middle in support of Operation Sirius. The
and MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates, The redesigned mission area also includes deployment was part of Canada's
East Canada DND
the AN/APS-508 was based on the AN/ two rear-facing Acoustic Sensor Operator contribution to NATO’s Mediterranean
APS-143(v)3 multi-mode imaging radar (ASO) stations at the aft end of the area. anti-terrorism Operation Active
and integrated an identification friend or A pair of forward-facing Non Acoustic Endeavour, which initially began in the
eastern Mediterranean in October 2001.
foe (IFF) system. With advanced multi- Sensor Operator stations is located at
Since November 2006, Auroras have
mode surveillance/imaging capabilities, the forward end. Three outboard-facing conducted rotational patrols in the
including a ground moving-target stations on the port side of the aircraft are Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico and Pacific,
indicator (GMTI) mode, the system is provided for the Tactical Communications, as part of Operation Caribbe. The missions
capable of SAR/ISAR imaging, small target Tactical Navigation and Navigator- support the multinational campaign to
stem the flow of drugs and smuggling
detection and SAR Transponder (SART) Communicator mission crew.
in the Caribbean, eastern Pacific and
beacons detection. The program also replaced the OL-5004/ the international waters around Central
The ISAR mode delivered the capability AYS acoustic processor with a General Below: A line of America. During the first ten years of
CP-140s and operations, the CP-140s deployed 39
to detect, classify and track ships at sea Dynamics Canada Modular VME Acoustic CP-140As operated
– significantly enhancing the Aurora’s Signal Processor (MVASP) and Fast Time times and flew 2,138 hours. In January
by 407 Squadron
share the ramp at 2012, the operations were integrated
effectiveness in performing SAR, Acoustic Analysis System. MVASP provides
19 Wing/CFB Comox, with the US Joint Interagency Task Force
sovereignty, counter-drug, and fisheries the capability to detect, localize/fix, British Columbia, South’s (JIATFS) Operation Martillo. The
and pollution patrol missions in blue water classify and track subsurface and surface in September 2006. deployed aircraft normally conduct
in littoral areas. vessels from passive, active and multi- Known as ‘Demon operations from Comalapa, El Salvador.
Squadron’, 407 In June 2009, two CP-140s fitted
In August 2014, the US approved the static active acoustic sonobuoy data. Long Range Patrol with high-resolution Applanix DSS-
sale of six AN/AAQ-24 Large Aircraft The genesis of the computer and sensor Squadron continues 439 Digital Sensor System (DSS)
Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) upgrade can be traced to 2001, when to operate as the sole
mapping cameras were tasked with
Aurora squadron on
systems for incorporation on the Aurora. General Dynamics Canada was awarded the west coast of photographing the terrain of a large
The LAIRCM system provided the Aurora a contract to replace those systems Canada Canada/DND area of southern Afghanistan, while
ON THE
MOOR
I
Ian Harding sits it out at Okehampton Army Camp in the UK’s Dartmoor T IS SELDOM that any significant
National Park, as the United States Marine Corps makes a surprise visit military aviation event takes place
Left: Members
nowadays without some prior
of the 24th MEU knowledge in the public domain.
trained openly on But that’s just what happened
Dartmoor every
day between April
during the morning of Saturday
10-17. Dartmoor’s April 10, when two United States Marine
changeable weather Corps (USMC) Sikorsky CH-53E Super
conditions certainly
provided a tough test
Stallions appeared over England’s
for the unit rugged southwest coast near the
seaside town of Bude in Cornwall.
The two huge helicopters operated by
VMM-162 (REIN) serving off the USS Iwo
Jima (LHD-7 – landing helicopter deck-7)
were heading to Okehampton Army Camp
located on Dartmoor National Park, in the
neighboring county of Devon.
All eyes had been focused on the
forthcoming exercise Joint Warrior 2021-
1, scheduled for May 7-21, the largest
Below: Two VMM-162s
MV-22B Ospreys get military exercise in Europe. Little was
set to touch down at known of the Iwo Jima’s movements. By
Okehampton Camp, the time military enthusiasts had worked
as troops prepare to
embark All images out where these two rare and unusual
by Ian Harding helicopters were heading, they had gone.
Above: Captured departing from one of the ranges located within the Dartmoor
National Park on April 15, 168653/YS15
Below: MV-22B Osprey 168323/YS14 is seen departing Farnborough Airport,
Hampshire, after a brief visit on April 12
After dispatching their passengers and Above: Each flight Element (ACE) assigned to the USS Iwo During the following week, elements of
equipment they headed back to the ship, to and from the Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) the 24th MEU trained openly on Dartmoor
USS ‘Iwo Jima’ took
located in the Celtic Sea, south of Ireland. approximately one and the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit with the only additional ACE support flight
Unknown to all was that two VMM-162 hour, with aircraft (MEU) – completed shuttle flights to and into the area being one afternoon MV-22B
Bell Boeing MV-22B Ospreys had already spending around from Okehampton Camp. Two MV-22Bs mission on Thursday April 15. This landed
30 minutes on the
visited the camp earlier. With absolutely ground. As you (callsign ‘Vortex 11/21 Flight’), and two at another location on Dartmoor before
no information available, the question was can see, the HLS is CH-53Es (callsign ‘Blackout 21 Flight’) were proceeding to Glasgow Prestwick Airport
what was happening? located on a steep dropping off personnel and equipment in Scotland.
incline which, given
the wind direction, from the 24th MEU. One Bell UH-1Y Venom and a Bell
Dartmoor training proved to be rather Elsewhere on the same day, a pair of AH-1Z Viper assigned to VMM-162 (REIN)
What was ahead became clearer on a test MV-22Bs completed two short afternoon briefly operated in the vicinity of the
Monday April 12 when VMM-162 – one missions into Farnborough Airport, Okehampton Camp before the Venom
component of the Aviation Combat Hampshire, about 40 miles from London. landed, while the Viper appeared to
ARG HEADED
TO SCOTTISH
HIGHLANDS
On May 5, the USS Iwo Jima ARG was
reported operating in the North Sea
and the Moray Firth, an area located
north and east of Inverness, Scotland.
Operations started in earnest two
days later on May 7 when six aircraft
from VMM-162 (REIN) comprising two
MV-22B (callsign ‘Vortex’) and two CH-
53E (callsign ‘Blackout’) from the USS
Iwo Jima, and one UH-1Y and a AH-1Z
(callsign ‘Shockwave’) from USS San
Antonio flew to Leuchars Station, Fife, one MV-22B diverted into Royal Naval What appears certain, based on events Above: Having
and the surrounding area. departed Naval
Air Station Culdrose, Cornwall, with a and brief discussions with ground
Station Norfolk,
Much of their focus was the Barry technical problem that took some time to personnel, is that this adventurous Virginia, on March
Buddon Training Camp and its 30, the US Navy’s
resolve. It eventually returned to the USS exercise to one of the UK’s toughest
extensive military training area. amphibious transport
Known as RAF Leuchars until Iwo Jima on May 1 with another Osprey. environments, provided the 24th MEU
dock ship USS ‘San
2015, the facility is now a British with excellent training ahead of their Antonio’ (LPD-17)
Army installation. With both CH- Brief encounter future operations. arrived at HMNB
53Es operating from and to HMA Devonport, Plymouth,
As troops from the 24th MEU gathered British aviation enthusiasts can only
Albion (L14) – one of the UK’s two on April 18 to
on the Okehampton Camp Helicopter hope they return in the future. replenish its stores.
amphibious assault ships leading
Landing Site on Sunday April 18, it was Three each of the UH-
the first UK deployment of its Littoral
1Y/AH-1Zs are visible
Response Group (North) – it was soon apparent that the 24th MEU’s
24TH MARINE
on deck
reasonable to assume the USS Iwo departure was imminent.
Jima would participate in Exercise
EXPEDITIONARY
The ship recovery started with a flight of
Joint Warrior before heading for
three MV-22Bs (‘Vortex 11 Flight’) followed
its next area of operation – the
speculation being that would be in
the Middle East.
closely by ‘Blackout 21 Flight’ comprising
two CH-53Es.
UNIT (MEU)
The 24th MEU has its headquarters Below: Due to their
Both flights returned later in the at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, flexibility and speed,
provide overhead top cover. These two afternoon. North Carolina. it is no surprise the
helicopters are attached to the US Navy's As quickly as this training exercise had It contains various ground combat Ospreys made several
and logistics units as well as an ACE, visits to other British
amphibious transport dock ship USS begun, it was over and we were none the locations including
Medium Tilt-Rotor Squadron (VMM)
San Antonio (LPD-17), which docked at wiser as to its name (if there was one), RNAS Culdrose,
162 Reinforced (REIN). The 24th Mildenhall, Leuchars,
Her Majesty’s Naval Base Devonport, and which United Kingdom Command MEU also includes a Light Armored and Prestwick
Plymouth, on Sunday morning, April 18. structure had co-ordinated this rare and Reconnaissance detachment. in addition to
During the previous evening, April 17, interesting event. Okehampton
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INSIDE THE
HEART
DIXIE
OF
UNITS OF THE
ALABAMA AIR
AND ARMY NATIONAL
GUARD OPERATE
The squadron regularly supports transport US government officials and Above: A pair of
CH-47Fs from the
FROM THREE CIVIL
airborne paratrooper training carried security forces.
out by the Airborne and Ranger Training Awarded on September 24, 2018 in
110th Aviation
Brigade’s 1st AIRPORTS LOCATED
Battalion 223rd
Brigade’s 1st Battalion, 507th Parachute
Infantry Regiment (PIR) at Fort Benning,
a deal worth US$2.4bn, the program
provides for up to 84 helicopters,
Aviation Regiment
depart Florala
THROUGHOUT
Georgia. The MH-139A announcement
came on November 20, 2020 when
training devices and associated support
equipment. The new helicopter closes
Municipal Airport,
Alabama, during THE STATE
a training mission
General Tim Ray, Commander of Air Force the capability gaps of the UH-1N Hueys
in February 2016. ALABAMA TAIL NUMBERS
Global Strike Command (AFGSC) said: “As in speed, range, endurance, payload Located southwest of 117th ARW/106th ARS
the lead command for the Air Force's MH- and survivability to support the AFGSC’s Dothan near the state
line with Florida, the KC-135R: 57-1453, 57-1473, 58-0004, 58-0066,
139 helicopter fleet, bringing the MH-139 intercontinental ballistic missile missions. 58-0073, 58-0106, 61-0318, 63-7984, 63-8007,
airport is often visited
FTU online is an important step to ensure Other mission capabilities include civil by helicopters from 63-8035
the nation’s Nuclear Triad remains safe, search and rescue, airlift support, National the Army’s training 187th FW/100th FS
fleet Antonio F-16C: 86-0326, 86-0341,86-0346, 87-0217,
secure, effective and ready.” Capital Region (NCR) missions, as well as
Gemma-More 87-0218, 87-0219, 87-0220, 87-0221, 87-0222,
survival school and test support. The Air
87-0232, 87-0263, 87-0271, 87-0272, 87-0276,
Welcoming the Grey Wolf Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) 87-0282, 87-0283, 87-0322, 87-0332, 87-0336,
The Boeing-Leonardo/AgustaWestland expects to spread the aircraft across 87-0342, 88-0151, 88-0398, 88-0399, 88-0400
F-16D: 87-0379, 88-0151
AW139 Grey Wolf will replace the USAF’s Malmstrom AFB, Montana; F E Warren AFB,
908th AW/757th AS
fleet of 63 veteran UH-1N Twin Huey Wyoming; and Minot AFB, North Dakota,
C-130H: 88-4406, 89-1187, 89-1188, 89-1055,
helicopters, beginning this year. A multi- which will each receive 11 for the nuclear 91-9141, 91-9142, 91-9143, 91-9144
mission helicopter based on Leonardo’s security role. CAE Dothan Training Center
proven commercial AW139 helicopter, A further 30 aircraft will be based at Joint C-12U: 85-51262, 85-51263, 85-51264,
the Grey Wolf is designed to protect Base Andrews, Maryland, for the NCR’s 85-51265, 85-51266,85-51267,85-51268,85-
intercontinental ballistic missiles and Continuation of Government/Continuity 51270,85-51271, 85-51272
AH-64D serial 98-5063 from the 1st Battalion, 14th Aviation Regiment (1-14th AVN)
fires a 2.75in (70mm) rocket during a training mission over Fort Rucker, Alabama in May 2007.
The ‘Tomahawks’ operate from Fort Rucker’s Hanchey Army Heliport Greg L Davis
tasked both as the service’s aviation and Operations Division (OPDIV) HC-144B {3}
Maxwell-Gunter AFB
capabilities development center and as an
908th Airlift Wing/Operations Group 357th Airlift Squadron C-130H2
operational air station.
Redstone Army Airfield/Redstone Arsenal
The Training Division’s three branches
Redstone Test Center (RTC) Aviation Flight Test Directorate (AFTD) CH-47F, UH-60A+/L/M/V, {4}
provide instruction for the MH-60T,
HH-60M, AH-64D/E, UH-72A
MH-65D/E rotary-wing and HC-144A/B C-12C, JRC-12G, T-6D
fixed-wing fleets. Additionally, the TRADIV Hanchey Army Heliport, Fort Rucker
provides Coast Guard aviators with 110th Aviation Brigade 1-14th AVN AH-64D/E
recurrent training that includes annual Lowe Army Heliport, Fort Rucker
week-long refresher training in one of the 110th Aviation Brigade 1-212th AVN UH-60A+/L/M
ATC’s flight simulators. 58th Special Operations Wing/Operations
23rd Flying Training Squadron TH-1H {5}
Its Operations Department provides Group
Cairns Army Airfield, Fort Rucker
a fixed-wing response capability that
Air Traffic Services Command (ATSCOM) Flight Check Section C-12S
supports the Eighth Coast Guard District,
USAMRDC USAARL Flight Systems Branch HH-60M {6}
which is responsible for operations
US Army Reserve Command (USARC) Det. 1 B/2-228th AVN C-12U
spanning 26 states, including the coastline
110th Aviation Brigade 1-223rd AVN CH-47F, UH-72A, UH-60A+ {7}
along the Gulf of Mexico from Florida Dothan Regional Airport
to Mexico, the adjacent offshore waters CAE USA Dothan Training Center C-12U, G120TP
and outer continental shelf as well as the Notes
inland waterways of the Mississippi, Ohio, {1} Active associate squadron, assigned to the 20th Fighter Wing’s 495th Fighter Group at Shaw AFB, South Carolina. Operates
Missouri, Illinois, and Tennessee aircraft assigned to the 187th Fighter Wing. {2} Active associate squadron, assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing’s Operations
Group at MacDill AFB, Florida. Operates aircraft assigned to the 117th Air Refueling Wing. {3} OPDIV shares aircraft with the TRADIV.
river systems.
{4} Operates various aircraft types on an ‘as-required’ basis to support testing. {5} 58th Special Operations Wing is located at Kirtland
The OPDIV began flying operational AFB, New Mexico {6} US Army Medical Research & Development Command {7} CH-47Fs are also stationed at Knox AHP, UH-60A+
missions with the Ocean Sentry in operated by the US Army Air Ambulance Detachment (USAAAD)
Above: CAE uses five Grob 120TPs in the US Army Fixed Wing programme at Dothan. The Irish Air Corps recently announced they were sending pilots to train there too CAE
Left: T-6B BuNo 166064 from training air wing TAW-5 conducts a training mission at Naval Outlying Landing Field (NOLF) Brewton, Alabama in October 2018. Located at
Brewton Municipal Airport, the NOLF is one of four facilities in Alabama to relieve traffic at Naval Air Station Whiting Field in Milton, Florida. The Texan II wore a chrome
yellow paint scheme as part of the commemoration of the Centennial of Naval Aviation Antonio Gemma-More
Flight schools
Located in Daleville, the US Army Aviation
Center of Excellence (USAACE) at Fort
Rucker is the service’s primary aviation arming refueling point. The stagefields are Above: A UH-72A combat skills phases of the Initial Entry
training facility. The Army Aviation School heliports that support daytime and or day/ operated by the Rotary-wing (IERW) training. Whereas
Alabama Army
began relocating from Fort Sill, Oklahoma night flight operations. Lowe is located on Fort Rucker, Shell AHP
National Guard lands
to the post in August 1954 and the first Situated at Hanchey Army Heliport at a forward landing is situated west of the base in Enterprise,
class began at Fort Rucker that October. On (AHP), the 1-14th is tasked with training area near Hanceville, Alabama. Overall responsibility for the
in February 2017.
1 February 1955, the Army Aviation Center all AH-64D/E Undergraduate Flight School IERW program is assigned to the 1-223rd
The Lakota was
was officially established at Fort Rucker. XXI (FSXXI) aviators and all graduate supporting a 117th Aviation Regiment at Cairns Army Airfield
Today the center’s 110th Aviation aviators that are Instructor Pilots and Air Refueling Wing (AAF) and Knox AHP. Positioned south
survival course in a
Brigade (Training) is responsible for three Maintenance Test pilots. Operating from of Fort Rucker Cairns is the only facility
rural area north of
unique battalions comprising the 1-14th Lowe and Shell AHPs, the 1-212th Aviation Birmingham Alabama capable of handling fixed-wing aircraft
AVN, 1-212th AVN and 1-223rd AVN. Fort Regiment trains aviators in the UH- Air National Guard/ operations and is the US Army’s busiest
TSgt Jeremy Farson
Rucker’s 23 aviation facilities comprise five 60A/L/M aircraft and provides evaluation airfield, averaging more than 1,000 aircraft
base fields, 17 stagefields and a forward flights for advanced instrument and basic movements each day.
IS THE SERVICE’S Gemma-More Knox AHP. The battalion trains Aviators Cairns. It is responsible for conducting
PRIMARY AVIATION
TRAINING
FACILITY
UH-60M serial 05-20002 assigned to Company F, 1st Battalion, 212th Aviation Regiment (F/1-212th AVN) conducts a training mission
near Fort Rucker in May 2007. The ‘Eagles’ conduct Black Hawk training from Lowe and Shell Army heliports. This early UH-60M was later
converted to MH-60M configuration for service with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment Greg L Davis
flight inspections of Army airfields and Above: Operations Wing’s Operations Group at training center utilizes six company-
tactical air traffic control (ATC) facilities. The Alabama Air Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, the squadron owned Grob G 120TP aircraft that support
National Guard’s
Based on the Beechcraft King Air 350ER, 117th Air Refueling provides specialized undergraduate live-flying training.
the ‘one-off’ C-12S conducts in-flight Wing’s 106th Air helicopter pilot training (SUPT-H) for USAF In addition to supporting the Army’s
inspection of the navigational aids and Refueling Squadron helicopter pilots destined for the special Initial-Entry Fixed-Wing (IEFW) training
has flown the
landing systems using an automated flight KC-135R since operations, combat search and rescue, program, the center delivers recurrent
inspection system. It replaced a similarly transitioning from the missile support and distinguished visitor training for the US Army, Navy, Marine
equipped JC-12D in January 2017. RF-4C in 1994. The airlift missions. Corps and USAF C-12 pilots alongside US
wing’s Stratotankers
The flight test section is one of two are also flown by the The unit operates the TH-1H version Army and USAF C-12 Aviator Qualification
fixed-wing units that operate from 99th Air Refueling of the venerable Huey helicopter. All 28 (AQC), Instructor Pilot and Aviator
the facility. The second is the US Army Squadron, an active Hueys had previously served with the US Refresher Courses.
duty squadron
Reserve Command’s Det 1 B/2-228th stationed alongside Army before being passed on to the USAF In March 2021, CAE received a contract
AVN, which operates the C-12U in the the Air National Guard and upgraded to Huey II configuration by to provide military pilot training to 14
theater fixed-wing role. The unit’s battalion unit in Birmingham Bell Helicopter’s US Helicopter subsidiary students from the Irish Air Corps. Phase 2
Jim Haseltine
headquarters is located at Joint Base in nearby Ozark, beginning in 2005. simulator and live training with the Grobs
McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. Known as the ‘Home of Army Aviation’, will be carried out in Dothan.
Fort Rucker also houses the US Army
Helicopter pilot training Aviation Museum. Its collection comprises NOLF
The USAACE is also responsible for the more than 160 aircraft that include the While Pensacola in Florida is known as
world’s largest helicopter simulator largest number of helicopters held by a the home of US Naval Aviation training,
facility. Operated by General Dynamics museum worldwide. More than 50 fixed Alabama hosts no less than four Navy
Information Technology under contract and rotary-wing aircraft are displayed in Outlying Landing Fields (NOLF) that
to the Army, Warrior Hall in Daleville the museum. support rotary and fixed-wing instruction
houses more than 40 flight training carried out by Training Air Wings TAW-5
simulators that support FSXXI and USAF CAE Dothan Training Center and 6 at NAS Whiting Field and NAS
training efforts. Advanced flight training Opened in 2017, the CAE Dothan Training Pensacola respectively. Those facilities
is conducted in the contractor-owned, Center provides fixed-wing flight training comprise NOLF Barin in Foley, NOLF
contractor-operated (CO/CO) facility to the US Army, USAF, US Navy and other Brewton/Municipal Airport, NOLF
with high fidelity, full-motion, full-visual customers. Academic and simulator Evergreen/Middleton Field and NOLF
UH-60A/L, UH-60M, CH-47F and TH-1H training is delivered at the state-of-the-art Summerdale. Serving as auxiliary fields,
simulators as well as UH-72A fixed-based training center, while live flying training the NOLFs support training flights permit
flight simulators. Warrior Hall provides is conducted at the adjacent Dothan students to conduct operations in less
training of 1,220 IERW and 1,100 Graduate Regional Airport. congested environments away from the
students annually. More than 800 US Army, Navy, Marine busier home station airspace.
Fort Rucker’s Lowe AHP is home to the Corps and USAF pilots are trained The addition of the MH-139A training
USAF’s 23rd Flying Training Squadron, annually at the CAE Dothan Training mission in 2023 will reinforce Alabama’s
which was activated in January 1994. Center. In addition to ten US Army-owned hold of the unofficial role as the world’s
Assigned as a GSU to the 58th Special twin-turboprop C-12U-1 aircraft, the rotary-wing training capital.
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BRITISH FIGHTERS OF THE 1970S AND ‘80S F-111: FORT WORTH SWINGER
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RAF AIRCRAFT IN THE COLD WAR 1970-90 MUSTANG: THE UNTOLD STORY
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ATHENS Babak Taghvaee reports on the role of the French Air and Navy forces at
the recent Iniochos 2021 exercise organized by the Hellenic Air Force
E
Above: One of three UROPE’S LARGEST AIR drill, Spanish Air Force (Ejército del Aire) had the Mirage 2000Ds and Rafale B/Cs of the
Rafale Bs of Escadron Iniochos 2021, involving participated, with 11, five and seven FASF were refueled by an Airbus A330-243
de Chasse 2/4
151 fixed wing aircraft and fighters respectively. MRTT en route to deployment over the
(Fighter Squadron
2/4) ‘La Fayette’ seven helicopters, was held in The exercise was a great opportunity island of Corsica.
that participated in Greece by the Weapons Tactics for French Mirage 2000D and Rafale An Airbus A400M Atlas heavy cargo
Iniochos 2021 was
School of the Hellenic Air B/C/M fighter pilots and weapon systems aircraft, serial number 0095 (callsign
352 ‘4-FS’
All images, author Force (HAF) between April 12 and 22. operators to increase their interoperability ‘CTM2064’), airlifted ground equipment
The aircraft from participating nations skills (senior pilots) as well as basic combat and groundcrew for the aircraft to
Cyprus, France, Greece, Israel, Spain, skills (junior pilots). Andravida Air Base. A second A400M,
the United States and the United Arab Here, we review the missions performed serial number 0008 (callsign ‘CTM1033’),
Emirates (UAE) included 109 fighters, 25 by the FASF, as well as the French naval airlifted another batch of equipment and
cargo aircraft, eight tankers, two airborne pilots, during this ten-day exercise. groundcrew to Greece the next day.
early warning and control aircraft, two On April 16, the FASF used a C-130H-30
liaison aircraft, a maritime patrol aircraft, The deployment phase Hercules (5140 ‘61-PD’) of ET02.061
seven helicopters and two UAVs. Among The FASF took part in the exercise with 'Franche-Comte' to transfer several inert
them were 16 fighters belonging to the three Rafale Bs, three Rafale Cs and five bombs for use by the Mirage 2000Ds and
French Air and Space Force (FASF) and the Mirage 2000Ds, while the Aéronavale Rafale B/C/Ms from Evreux to Andravida.
French Naval Aviation force (Aéronavale). participated with five Rafale Ms. The During the exercise, a CN235M-200
It was the first time in the history of fighters deployed from Saint-Dizier, Mont- of ET01.062 Vercors,serial number 128
Iniochos’s annual medium-scale Invitation de-Marsan, Nancy and Landivisiau to ‘64-IK’ (‘F-RAIK’) plus two CN235M-300s
exercises (INVITEX) of the HAF that the Andravida. While the Rafale Ms performed of ET03.062 ‘Ventoux’ with serial numbers
FASF, the Aéronavale as well as the buddy refueling on their way to Greece, 197 ‘64-HE’ and 200 ‘62-HH’ , were used
for transportation of personnel and Operations (COMAO) and improve their Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR); Time-
commanders of FASF between France interoperability skills during wartime. Sensitive Target destruction; Dynamic
and Greece. Meanwhile, on April 8, a According to the commander of HAF's targeting (Interdiction) of a High Value Air
CN235-200 flew from Evreux to Andravida School of Tactics of Weapons, participants Asset; Combat Air Patrol; and Slow Mover
with callsign ‘CTM2030’ and ‘CTM3940’ employed 12 different types of missions: Force protection.
on April 19, while 128 ‘64-IK’ flew with Offensive Counter Air Operations (OCA); During the exercise, HAF’s F-16 and
callsign ‘CTM2022’ on April 12. Finally, Air Defense Operations (ADO); Counter Mirage 2000-5 pilots as well as those of
197 departed Evreux for Andravida Surface Force Operations (CSFO) including FASF’s Mirage 2000Ds and the USAF’s
with callsign ‘CTM1140’ on April 16 and Air Power Contribution to Land Ops F-16s practiced inflight refueling in
‘CTM2040’ on April 18. (APCLO); Air Power Contribution to southern Greece over the Mediterranean.
Maritime Ops (APCMO); Reconnaissance; In total, a KC-135R of USAF’s 100th ARW,
The execution phase Left: Five Mirage
While Iniochos 2019 was designed by the 2000Ds of Escadron
School of Tactics of Weapons to be more de Chasse 3/3
(Fighter Squadron
focused on SEAD (Suppression of Enemy 3/3 Ardennes) were
Air Defense) and DEAD (Destruction of used in the exercise,
Enemy Air Defense), this year’s exercise and 680 ‘3-XM’ is
seen here departing
planned to cover the full spectrum of Andravida AB on
missions currently performed by the April 19
HAF, giving the air powers of France,
Israel, Spain, the US and the UAE the
chance to simulate Composite Air
62-3551, logged six inflight refueling pilots. Mirage 2000Ds took part in several Above: A complex
missions when it was on deployment at COMAOs jointly with Mirage 2000s, F-4s, air operation was
carried-out by four
Souda, Crete, during the exercise. They F-15s and F-16s of other participants.” Hellenic Air Force or HAF) and basic
were performed on April 12, 13, 15, 16, 20 He added: “We came with some young F-4Es and two Rafale air-to-ground missions
and 22 during which more than 100 F-16 pilots for their first participation in this Bs and two Rafale Cs in the Peloponnese. Secondly,
of the French Air and
pilots and 30 Mirage 2000 pilots practiced kind of exercise, which taught them a lot Space Force (FASF) it provided training in
inflight refueling. of lessons. Also, we gave some mission operational readiness flying
commanders specific missions. The and in leading some complex missions in
The French strike force actions conducted during the exercise a contested environment, using all the
The FASF's 11 fighters comprised three tested our air combat and air strike capabilities of the Rafale F3-R Block
Rafale Bs of Escadron de Chasse 2/4 capacities in an international including Meteor missiles for air-to-
(Fighter Squadron 2/4) ‘La Fayette’, three context. As a result, we can air engagements (12F was mission
Rafale Cs of Escadron de Chasse 2/30 confirm that the French Mirage commander during
(Fighter Squadron 2/30) ‘Normandie- 2000Ds remain at a good level of two COMAOs)
Niemen’ and five Mirage 2000Ds of interoperability (thanks to the data Deployment of the five Rafale Ms
Escadron de Chasse 3/3 (Fighter Squadron link L16) and their crew are combat- to Greece was in itself a simulation
3/3) ‘Ardennes’. Of these, the latter logged proven.” of a combat operation. “Concerning
the highest number of sorties – more our deployment to Andravida AB, we flew
than100 with a total of 150 flying hours, Rafale Ms in action Above: Lieutenant
Commander
from NAS Landivisiau located in northwest
according to the squadron commander. The Aéronavale took part with five Sébastien ‘Gringo’, France directly to Greece,” said Lieutenant
"Iniochos 2021 has been the first major Rafale M multirole fighter jets of 12F Commander of Commander Sébastien (‘Gringo’),
international exercise we’ve participated Squadron. Despite being navy pilots, 12F Squadron Commander of 12F Squadron. “Our
in for three years (except for the TLP the 12F airmen had the opportunity to endurance was sufficient enough to fly
course),” said Major Thibault, Commander carry out all the missions that their FASF directly to Greece. Nevertheless, we used
of Fighter Squadron 3/3 ‘Ardennes’. “It counterparts performed on Rafale B/Cs a Rafale M for buddy-buddy refueling in
was a great challenge to remain at this during the exercise. They were deployed order to increase our endurance because
high level of interoperability. The Greek to Andravida on the same day as the we planned a mission north of Crete
landscape offered us a lot of opportunities FASF fighters (April 8) and they were before landing [in Andravida]. To be
to use terrain masking. As there was a real stationed in the hardened aircraft shelters Below: A CN235M-200 accurate, we flew a training mission that
GBAD [Ground Based Air Defense] system previously used by 339 MPK (disbanded in cargo aircraft of ET was a long-range strike and had four F-16
1/62 ‘Vercors’, 128
on Kalamata air base, we could assess October 2017). ‘64-IK,’ was used from [Hellenic Air Force] 335 Sqn, Araxos
if our tactics were efficient. The variety The commander of 12F Squadron said for transportation AB, as opponents.”
of different fighting areas (over the sea, the unit had two objectives. Firstly, it gave of aircraft spare He added: “During Iniochos 2021, we
parts and personnel
mountains) gave a great opportunity to some junior pilots the chance to fly basic between Evreux in flew various types of missions such as
experience low-level flights for our young air-to-air missions against F-16s (USAF France and Andravida entry force, anti-surface warfare, high
value assets protection and attack.
Surface-to-air threats were also deployed
on the ground and ships at sea to make
the exercise more realistic. For the side
waves, we flew some 8v4 as swing rollers
(delivering our SBU-38/54/64 bombs then
acting as air-to-air assets with our Meteor
and MICA missiles) as well as BFM [basic
fighter maneuvres] or ACM [air combat
maneuvring] flights.
“We flew BFM/ACM flights against the
F-16Cs of USAF's 510th Fighter Squadron.
Iniochos also gave us the opportunity to
fly basic missions as well as very complex
Nice ’n’ low! In between the exercise missions, local movements were also planned such as a test flight for this Phantom, seen here departing the runway.
While the line-up of old and decommissioned F-4s is getting longer in the former 339 Squadron area, the Iniochos exercise produced a remarkable 13
flying F-4E AUP (Avionics Upgrade Program) jets
SHARPENING THE
Foxhound
CLAWS
The speedy Foxhound features
a robust airframe mainly made
from steel alloys and designed to
withstand high aerodynamic and
thermal loads resulting from a
low-altitude supersonic flight for
prolonged times
All photos, Andrey Zinchuk
Upgrade effort bearing fruit significant radar improvements for Above: The primary The massed-manner BM-standard
The large-scale avionics update for the longer-range detection and tracking mission of the long- upgrade, which also includes airframe
legged and speedy
enormous 1980s-vintage Foxhound to performance, combined with enhanced MiG-31BM is air overhaul, was launched in the early
the enhanced MiG-31BM configuration, jamming resistance. The Foxhound defense in the remote 2010s under two contracts running in
initiated in the late 2000s, covers updated upgrade effort covered the aircraft of all northern territories parallel. The first of these, dated August
and regions in Siberia
mission avionics together with the VKS frontline squadrons, a total of seven and the Far East that 2011, called for the delivery of 60 aircraft,
integration of new weapons. Slated for in addition to one operational conversion lack ground-based air with completion set for 2019, but in
eventual completion by 2023, the effort and combat training (also known as defense, as well as fact its completion didn’t take place
around Moscow
is intended to cover the vast majority of instructor-research) squadron. until December 2020. Unit price for the
the MiG-31s in active service or held in Frontline Foxhound units have an Below: Externally the overhaul and upgrades undertaken at
reserve, except for the surviving MiG- authorized strength of 12 airframes, but MiG-31BM can be NAZ Sokol (Nizhniy Novgorod Sokol State
distinguished from
31DZs, which are slated to be upgraded the actual number can vary from 12 to its non-upgraded Aircraft Plant) was set at about RUB 600
to a completely different standard – the 14 jets. In addition, the AVMF is fielding brethren by the rear- million (equating to US $11.9 million at the
MiG-31K – able to launch Kinzhal ballistic two more squadrons fully equipped with view periscope on the then exchange rate).
top of the front canopy
missiles against land and sea targets. MiG-31BMs, while its third squadron is and the two short The second contract, inked in November
The BM-upgrade has been fielded in only partially equipped, with up to four pylons under each 2014, covered 53 more, the last of which
three sub-versions due to the different newly upgraded Foxhounds by early 2021, wing to carry both the were reported delivered in 2018. The work
R-73 and R-77-1
MiG-31 derivatives being cycled through while the remainder are non-upgraded on the aircraft covered by the second
a program that primarily focuses on MiG-31DZs slated to serve for a while. contract was split between NAZ Sokol
and 514 ARZ, a maintenance, repair and
overhaul (MRO) plant in the city of Rzhev,
northwest of Moscow.
The third upgrade contract, currently
running, was inked in 2019, but no further
information has been released aside from
the works schedule, with completion set
for 2023. However, it is highly likely that
this contract will also cover overhauls and
upgrades of a number of early MiG-31BMs,
together with work on non-upgraded
aircraft of the baseline version.
As of early 2021, the VKS fleet of
upgraded Foxhounds numbered about
100 to 110 aircraft, in addition to about
28 more operated by the naval air arm.
A significant proportion of the AVMF’s
MIG-31BM
operate effectively in an environment
BM upgrade specifics age of the VKS’ MiG-
31 fleet, including
of dense electronic countermeasures.
The upgrade to the MiG-31BM standard This ability is further enhanced by the
WEAPONS
upgraded aircraft, is
– as offered by RSK MiG for the first time currently exceeding 30 use of targeting options provided by the
years, but the fleet is
in the late 1990s and further refined enhanced digital datalink suite, which
PAYLOAD
relatively little-used
in the early- to mid-2000s – primarily and, with a service provides information on targets seen
focused on introducing an upgraded life extension to by the radars of other MiG-31s in the
Passive radar-guided long-range 3,500 hours, it will be
radar with much improved detection and group intercept operations, as well as by
AAMs: 4 x R-33S rendered good for use
tracking performance, combined with until the mid-2030s airborne or ground-based early warning
Active radar-guided long-range
new air-to-air missiles and better tactical AAMs: 4 x R-37M and control systems. The crew is also
Top: By March 2021,
data presentation to both the pilot and Active radar-guided medium-range able to look up at some of the tracked
the much-touted
the weapons system operator (WSO), AAMs: 4 x R-77-1 expansion of the targets while looking down on others,
known in Russia as the navigator-operator. Infrared-guided short-range number of the VKS with relaxed restrictions to the missile
AAMs: 4 x R-73 ‘Foxhound’-equipped
Intended to turn the Foxhound into a acceptable launch region, so the weapons
Gun: 1xGSh-6-23 six-barrelled regiments and
more effective long-range interceptor, the Gatling-type with a 9,000rpm rate squadrons had not control system could enable missile
upgrade endowed the type with a vastly of fire and 260 rounds been achieved as the launches against widely spaced targets.
2018/2019 plan had
improved overall beyond-visual-range The MiG-31BM also sports a pair of
been cancelled or
(BVR) combat capability. scanning array (PESA) radar. Utilising the delayed, most likely R-800L UHF/VHF new-generation comms
The MiG-31BM sports a substantial newly added Baget-55-06 computer, the due to the lack of radios, and its navigation suite has been
enough personnel
potential for countering low-observable upgrade retains the existing fixed phased- enhanced through the addition of an
manned and unmanned strike and array antenna controlling the agile radar integrated A-737 satellite-navigation
reconnaissance aircraft at subsonic and beam electronically for faster and more
supersonic speeds, in addition to low- accurate pointing in space. The radar’s
flying cruise missiles. RSK MiG even claims maximum detection range increases to
the upgraded Foxhound is capable of 130nm (240km) in head-on encounters
engaging hypersonic air vehicles flying at against large-size fighters flying at
speeds of up to Mach 6 and altitudes of up medium and high altitudes.
to 82,000ft (25,000m). The Zaslon-AM retains the same angular
At the heart of the BM-standard upgrade coverage of its 1970s-vintage predecessor,
is the Tikhomirov NIIP S-800AM Zaslon-AM scanning an area out to 70º on each side
(also dubbed N007AM) passive electronic of the centreline and to 60º below and
THE AVENGERS
JOIN ‘BIG LIZZIE’
CAJ reports on the arrival of VMFA-211 on the Royal Navy’s HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier
F
ROM MAY 2-3, the USMC’s
Marine Fighter Attack
Squadron 211 (VMFA-211)
–based at MCAS Yuma,
Arizona – deployed aboard
HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08)
for its first operational tour. The ‘Wake
Island Avengers’ jets had arrived at RAF
Marham, Norfolk, UK, on April 26-27,
then flew to the carrier, where they
will work alongside the RAF’s 617 Sqn
Above: Unlike US ‘Dambusters’ in what is the largest fifth-
aircraft carriers, generation carrier air wing in the world.
HMS Queen Elizabeth Upon arrival, Lt Col Andrew D’Ambrogi,
is equipped with a
ramp from which the the commanding officer of VMFA-211,
F-35Bs take off said: “Moving the Marines, aircraft and
equipment to the United Kingdom
required co-ordinated planning, complex
logistical effort, diligent maintenance and
seamless execution.”
Right: Lt Col He continued: “Now that we have
Andrew D’Ambrogi, arrived in the United Kingdom, we are
commanding
officer of VMFA 211, reintegrating with our UK counterparts
climbs out of his and focused on providing both the
F-35B on May 2. He commodore of [Combat Carrier Strike
replaced the previous
commander, Lt Col Group 2021 (CSG-21)] and US combatant
Joseph Freshour, who commanders with ready, combat-capable,
deployed the unit to fifth-generation aircraft.”
HMS Queen Elizabeth
last October, during While Yael Lempert, US Embassy Chargé
CSG 21’s first outing d’Affaires, said: “We have no closer ally
An MV-22B Osprey with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group, lands on board the carrier on May 10. The Ospreys transported Marines and equipment assigned to
VMFA-211 from RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk, UK, to join CSG 21. Visible behind is one of the new Royal Navy Crowsnest Merlin HM2 airborne surveillance and control helicopters
O
NE HEARS THE familiar Above: A spare the North Valleys area, it is not far from the Tigers) at NAS Fallon. They also have a
howl of jet engines and, F-5AT sits on the famous Lake Tahoe that borders the states permanent detachment at Kingsley Field
ramp at sunset
looking up, sees a pair of of California and Nevada. Air National Guard Base in Klamath Falls,
All images by author
what appear to be F-5 Tiger Tactical Air is diverse with many Oregon to support Red Air missions for the
fighters overhead in the different operations – adversary air F-15s at the 173rd Fighter Wing.
break, preparing to land. being the primary one. Their goal is to
Reminiscent of F-5 Tiger jets assigned provide adversary air support to both Meet the Captain
to US Navy and Marine adversary the USAF and the US Navy. The Navy I had the opportunity to discuss Tactical
squadrons like the VFC-13 ‘Saints’, VFC- 4th generation contract is with NAWDC Air Support and its adversary support
111 ‘Sun Downers’ or VMFT-401 ‘Snipers’, (Naval Aviation Warfighting Development program with Captain Jim 'Guido'
these F-5 Tigers are actually from Tactical Center) at NAS Fallon, near Reno. Their DiMatteo, US Navy (Retired), an adversary
Air Support Inc. In that moment, there is principal role is to support NAWDC/ pilot who also holds the role of Director
a realization, a prickling under the skin, TOPGUN programs. Additionally, they of Communications as well as being an
that these jets are very different cats – support Air Wing workups, Strike Fighter executive member of their Strategy Team.
hiding new sharpened claws. Advanced Readiness Programs (SFARPs), He is one of those individuals who has
and any other programs that TOPGUN is had an amazing career not only in the
About Tactical Air responsible for. Navy but also in the corporate world.
Tactical Air has its main operating base Since they support many TOPGUN Joining the Navy in 1985, Guido served
at Reno-Stead Airport in Reno, Nevada. A programs, they station a permanent for 26 years, accumulating around 6,000
former Air Force Base nestled in the hills of detachment of their F-5AT (Advanced hours in fighters ranging from the A-4
Skyhawk, F-14 Tomcat, F-5E Tiger, F-16 Insert: Captain Jim was named the Director of Breitling Jet Wing/TOPGUN kind of scenarios to basic
Fighting Falcon and the F/A-18 Hornet. ‘Guido’ DiMatteo, Team, and also flew as part of the team for fighter maneuvering (BFM) training for
US Navy (Retired),
He has the distinction of having the their two-year American tour. the FRS. When we fly out of Moffett Field,
an adversary pilot
most adversary flight time in the history with Tactical Air we utilize the Warning areas adjacent to
of the US Navy, the Marines and the Air Support and executive Bandits for hire the Central Valley in the Pacific Ocean –
member of their
Force. Guido served as the Commanding Guido gave an insight into some of called Whiskey areas – which are pieces
Strategy Team
Officer for both VFC-13 'Saints' and VFC- US Navy the details of Tactical Air Support’s of the airspace carved out for non-
111 'Sun Downers', which fly the F-5E/F/N detachment at Moffett Field in California. regulatory special use airspace that
Tiger II in the adversary role. He said: "Sometimes TOPGUN does not include use as a Military Operating Area
Later, he held the position of US Race have any tasking at Fallon so, with the (MOAs) for military training.
Director for the International Red Bull Navy's agreement, we support other “The F-35s gave us an option of staging
Air Races for 14 years until 2019 when Squadrons at other bases. In this case, we from Lemoore or meeting them directly
the series went through a restructuring. received a request to support the F-35 in the Whiskey areas off the coast. By
COVID-19 has temporarily impacted the Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS), the operating out of Moffett Field, we are most
return of Air Racing, which is now projected VFA-125 'Rough Raiders', based out of NAS efficient with regard to time on station
to begin again in 2022. Guido joined the Lemoore. We are basically 'Bandits for hire' and fuel. We are closer to the Whiskey area
AirVenture, Oshkosh team in 2012 where and can support whatever Bandit role the ranges from Moffett than Lemoore – we
he was responsible for Flight Operations, Navy or USAF needs us to simulate for save over 100 miles in transit alone. That
Features & Attractions at AirVenture, which their training. translates to us optimizing our fuel for
is the world’s largest airshow. In 2015, he “It can range from very complex Air more training time with the F-35s.”
HOW NOT
TO BE
SEEN Chris Croot investigates the history of camouflage and
how it still has a place in today’s battlespace
M
AN HAS BEEN trying to into the surroundings or appear
hide from his enemies for as something different. It
millennia, using more and works by using color, pattern,
more advanced methods and materials to distort the
to remain concealed. The item’s shape, in particular the
ability to remain hidden disruption of straight lines.
has benefits for both hunter and hunted The principle dominates
alike and in the world of military aviation the natural world; a tiger’s stripes or a
the stakes often couldn’t be higher. leopard’s spots work by breaking up the
During the birth of aerial conflict, visual cat’s shape, while zebras form large groups
identification marked the difference using their stripes to make it difficult for
between life and death, but as predators to identify an individual animal.
technology has advanced, how relevant Along with their markings, an animal’s
are these colors and patterns today? colors can hide them from both predator
and prey. Countershading is the way in
What is camouflage? which darker colors on the upper side
Simply, camouflage is the disguising of and lighter colors on the underside of the
someone or something to either blend animal counteract the illuminating effect
EW
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HAIL
THE
T
HE TIME-WORN PHRASE, ‘It’s with uprated engines and equipment, By the end of the 1940s, the US Navy Above: A view of a
single-seat Skyhawk
not the size of the dog in the often helping to nurture indigenous needed both a replacement for the A-1
from a two-seat TA-4
fight, but the size of the fight aviation industries as a direct result. Skyraider and a machine to carry some of All images DoD
in the dog’, perfectly sums From its roots as a replacement for the the new, lighter-weight nuclear weapons
up the McDonnell-Douglas A-1 Skyraider on the decks of US carriers, that were then in development.
A-4 Skyhawk, which was one the Skyhawk blossomed: a lightweight
warplane that truly belied its size. and relatively inexpensive attack aircraft (it Genius and genesis
Measuring a shade over 40ft in length cost around a quarter of the price of an F-4 Military jet aircraft – even those aboard
and with a wingspan of just 27ft 6ins (so Phantom II), it was to become a nuclear the navy’s carrier decks – were getting
small that no wing-fold mechanism was bomber, a tanker aircraft and it would also heavier and more complex and one
required for storage on even the smallest be an ‘Iron Hand’ machine to tackle surface talented aircraft designer felt this shouldn’t
carrier deck), this diminutive jet – quickly to air missile sites. necessarily be the case.
nicknamed ‘Scooter’ – would give stellar Later, it would be transformed into Edward H Heinemann was chief designer
service to the United States Navy and a two-seat training jet in which many at Douglas, despite never having a formal
Marine Corps for 47 years. generations of aviators would earn their engineering degree and was the man
With a brochure ‘clean’ top speed of wings. It was to become an agile adversary behind some of its legendary aircraft,
around 670mph, the A-4E Skyhawk could aircraft, a forward air control machine, a including the A-20 Havoc, A-26 Invader
theoretically lug 8,500lb of ordnance to a target tug, and in blue and gold it would and Dauntless of World War Two, through
target – around 500lb more than a World be the mount of the Navy’s Blue Angels to jets such as the A-3 Skywarrior, F4D
War Two B-17G Flying Fortress. display team. It could even kill MiGs. Skyray and F3D Skyknight night fighter. He
Its capabilities ensured export success,
with almost 3,000 being built for the
US and eight other nations, some even
THE FIRST MACHINE, THE XA4D, WAS ROLLED OUT
buying their Scooters second-hand.
Throughout the A-4’s life, many airframes
IN JUNE 1954 AND WEIGHED JUST 7,896LB –
were re-worked into improved models, SOME 270LB BELOW DOUGLAS’ OWN ‘EMPTY’ TARGET
88 July 2021 // www.Key.Aero
R SCOOTER
When the A-4 Skyhawk entered service with the US Navy 65 years
ago, it was the beginning of a legend: this diminutive warrior served a
number of nations in many conflicts. Report by Bertie Simmonds
was also behind the A-1 Skyraider which Segundo design staff to give them a pep private aircraft. On the outside, the A4D
was the popular if slow carrier-based talk: “I think we can do this, but it will take Skyhawk (A-4 from 1962, following the
piston-engine attack machine. His designs a tough son-of-a-bitch to do it – that is me. change in aircraft designations) had a
saw him nicknamed ‘Mr Attack Aviation’. I want you all on my team, if anyone wants delta-wing planform, but with a traditional
Heinemann’s Skyraider had already set to leave, there is the door.” No one moved. tail unit. Anything that Heinemann
the bar for his ‘light is right’ ethos, being That summer, Douglas representatives could make smaller and lighter, he did
5,000lb lighter than its competitor, the had seen first-hand the conditions that so: four black boxes of avionics and their
Martin AM Mauler. Navy and Air Force aircraft were working associated wiring were condensed into
So much so, that in the early 1950s, in and being worked on over in Korea. what Heinemann called the ‘biscuit’, saving
the El Segundo division of Douglas Indeed, Heinemann himself had been 55lbs of weight.
Aircraft Company detailed how weight, dispatched to do the very same during The nose wheel and main undercarriage
complexity and cost could actually be World War Two. – which was long to give the A-4 the best
reversed on modern combat aircraft. Simplicity then was the watchword, and angle of incidence for take-off – would
Heinemann’s reasoning was that if many Navy and Marine pilots were asked retract forwards and come down with the
weight and avionics/equipment was for their feedback into the design of the aid of gravity and airflow, thus putting less
added to an aircraft (and performance new machine. stress on the hydraulic system, allowing
and range had to stay constant) then Inside the diminutive attack aircraft, the it to be lighter. Any sub-contractor who
the machine’s size had to increase by a conditions were cramped – you basically Below: An A4D-2 produced a part over the specified weight
factor of ten. So, add a single pound of ‘wore’ the A-4 (named Skyhawk officially Skyhawk of VA-83 was shown the door – until they’d hit the
refuels an F8U-1P
equipment and the rest of the airframe in February 1954) and the control panel Crusader of VFP-62 target. Even the Douglas ejection seat was
had to increase by 10lb to keep that wasn’t much more complicated than in a in 1961 re-designed from one on the F4D Skyray
same performance.
This was somewhat ironic as Douglas
was designing/building the huge
Skywarrior at the time, which could launch
from a carrier at weights around 68,000lb.
With curiosity piqued, the US
Department of Defense asked Heinemann
to give a presentation in early 1952 and in
June the Navy asked Douglas to produce
two prototype XA4D-1 attack aircraft
of just 12,000lb empty (later pushed to
14,000) and a gross weight of 30,000lb.
Speed of the aircraft should be around
576mph with combat range in the region
of 896 miles – and all for around $1 million
per aircraft. It would carry an unspecified
weapon of some 2,000lb – an atom bomb.
Legend has it that Heinemann claimed
to be able to make the Douglas jet go
around 100mph faster, be half the weight
specified and still cost less. He then
sketched his design and sat down the El
A-4 SKYHAWK:
out in June 1954 and weighed just 7,896lb
– some 270lb below Douglas’ own ‘empty’
target weight. It was powered by a Curtiss-
Wright J65 engine – a licensed British
A PILOT’S VIEW
Bristol Siddeley Sapphire.
A world-beater
Compared with today’s concerns of F-35
cost over-runs, late service entry and David ‘Frosty’ Olson earned his Naval The problem is the turning aircraft are
issues with reliability and capability, the Aviator wings in August 1969 and, as well flying near stall and forward velocity
A-4 was almost a model of production as being a Vought Corsair II pilot, spent a is real slow.
lot of time in the cockpit of the A-4 as an “From the perch, the third aircraft will
perfection. The Skyhawk even broke a
adversary pilot. attempt to enter at speeds twice to three
world speed record, when the XA4D-1 He said: “The A-4 was a small aircraft times that of the others. In one case, I was
hit 695.16mph around a 310.5-mile and had a small cockpit. I flew the A-4 in the back seat of the TA-4. As our slow
course with Lt Gordon ‘Gordo’ Gray at the after several years flying the larger A-7 speed scissors progressed, something in
controls – he would also make the first and, being six-feet one, the first few the back of my mind kicked in. ‘Where is
Above: A VMA-214 flights felt like putting a size 11 foot into the other guy?’ I looked over my shoulder.
carrier landings on the USS Ticonderoga in
A-4M Skyhawk: of a size eight shoe! One of my friends told “Oh crap, he was coming in way too hot.
September 1955. me of bombing ‘up north’ in Vietnam He pulled into us and directly in front. I
note are the Mk 12
Colt 20mm cannons Changes were made during production in heavy flak, he’d turn sideways in took the stick and pushed it full forward.
in the wing roots, and in subsequent versions, including a the cockpit to reduce frontal area The last thing I recall was his wing-plan
which would often to shrapnel. filling the windscreen…
framed forward windscreen, the ‘sugar-
jam in combat and “Several of the more senior pilots ”I had the same when flying against an
the leading edge slats scoop’ jet-pipe fairing, nuclear flash shield,
during my early career had flown the A-4 F-16 flown by the USAF’s Safety General!
the single-skin ‘tadpole’ rudder (saving yet in Vietnam: they liked it because it was As he approached from behind, no one
more weight), a straight and then angled a pretty stable platform, good power had told him about the A-4’s ability
refueling probe, a ‘buddy-buddy’ refueling response (turbojet not turbofan) and it to really tighten the turn, forcing the
system so the A-4 could act as a tanker, could take damage: with lost hydraulics overshoot. He watched in horror as we
the pilot could manually disconnect the disappeared under his nose and he hit
and (from the A-4E-onwards) five pylons
hydraulics and still control the aircraft our jet-wake. ‘My God, did we hit the little
for more ordnance and the introduction of with flight control cables to ailerons, guy?’ he exclaimed.
a dorsal ‘hump’ that would contain more rudder, and elevator. ”He asked if he’d violated the 500 feet
advanced avionics. “Adversary in the A-4 was fun, even ‘Rules of Engagement’. ‘Yeah, kinda,’
Later versions, such as the A-4M (called if it came down to one of two outcomes: mumbled we more junior types.
the flat scissors and the rolling scissors. “Finally, there was the Super Fox –
Skyhawk II) produced for the Marines for
We would pull into vertical forcing with a big, 12,000lb thrust motor and
use in the 1970s-1980s would add more the overshoot. nearly one-to-one thrust to weight. The
advanced electronic countermeasures “As the other pilot pulled up, we would standard A-4 could allow near to slight
and the associated receivers scabbed on continue into a sort of loop, roll over at a Mach-plus flight, but in reality even in a
the tail and nose, where sat an Angle-Rate very slow airspeed using rudder to push dive it couldn’t. But the Super Fox – oh
the A-4 back down. If we could point our boy! I pushed it up and up and as I neared
Bombing System lens.
nose at the other aircraft we could get 0.9 Mach I encountered a violent back-
a high deflection shot, up to a head-on and-forth yawing.
shot. Of course, we were losing energy “In my mind, the vivid picture of an F-4
(speed and altitude) the whole time many years before that disintegrated
we did this. from pilot-induced oscillations at Mach
“An A-4 was great in a slow fight (the entered my mind – I figured that was
‘phone booth’) but lacked the thrust- the end of my adventure pushing that
to-weight of a modern fighter with particular envelope.
afterburner. So our training was to ”Another lesson learned!
emulate slow speed fighter performance. ”With the Super Fox you could
Adversary flying was fun, but fraught with accelerate to 450kts, pull up into a loop
dangers. Here are a few examples... and then roll out at the top and pull up
“Those wing slats would extend into a second loop – but you were pretty
simultaneously as the angle of attack slow at the top.
(AoA) became high enough. Asymmetric “The adversary squadron was the
slat extension was, well, ‘special’ as it apotheosis of my naval aviation career
slammed one’s helmeted head into the before I became an Air Boss on the
canopy. On one such occasion, during USS Enterprise and in the last months
an aggressive, high-G turn, one slat we got some Northrop F-5s from
extended asymmetrically. I immediately TOPGUN as they had moved over to the
went nose down into a tight spiral – newer F/A-18.
yes, I thought I was going to die… My ”While I mention ‘Top Gun’, that
opponent could only gulp, ‘are you OK?’ movie created quite a nice image for us
“In a two-versus-one, two aircraft may adversary pilots: we had red stars on our
enter a horizontal scissors and the third patches and had become legends in our
will attempt to close for a firing solution. own minds…”
T
HE TEST AT Tyndall Air Force Base (AFB)
in Florida is a major advancement for
what is arguably the most important
tactical drone program in the world.
While other air forces are working
on highly autonomous fighter-style
unmanned aerial vehicles, the US Air Force’s
so-called Loyal Wingman is probably the most
sophisticated. The April 29 test for the first
time mated the computerized control systems
and artificial-intelligence algorithms with a
maneuverable, jet-propelled airframe.
The Air Force Research Laboratory (ARFL) at
Wright-Patterson AFB in Ohio is developing the
computers and AI under the auspices of the
Skyborg program. Skyborg in theory is compatible
with a wide array of drone types. The April test
paired the computers and algorithms with a
UTAP-22 Mako, a 20ft-long subsonic
UAV manufactured by San Diego-based
drone-maker Kratos. "Skyborg is a vessel for AI technologies that countries are working on the AI and airframes
The AI Mako flew for 2hrs 10mins. “The could range from rather simple algorithms to for wingman-style drones. In March, Boeing
[autonomy core system] performed a series of fly the aircraft and control them in airspace to and the Royal Australian Air Force completed
foundational behaviors necessary to characterize the introduction of more complicated levels of the first test flight of their Airpower Teaming
safe system operation,” the air force stated. AI to accomplish certain tasks or subtasks of the System drone at the Woomera test range in
“The ACS demonstrated basic aviation mission," said Matt Duquette, an AFRL engineer. southern Australia.
capabilities and responded to navigational Regardless of the degree of autonomy a Loyal The 38ft-long, single-engine vehicle flew along
commands, while reacting to geo-fences, adhering Wingman drone ultimately demonstrates, it’s US a pre-programmed flight path while under the
to aircraft flight envelopes and demonstrating military policy for a human operator to approve close supervision of operators on the ground. The
co-ordinated maneuvering. It was monitored any use of weapons. RAAF hopes to acquire ATS drones to bolster the
from both airborne and ground command and firepower of its manned fighters.
control stations.” Profound potential The Russian air force, meanwhile, is hard at
The air force aims to deploy combat-ready Loyal work on its own wingman drone, the 46ft-long
Little human control Wingman drones in the next few years. The Hunter-B. In trials over the Ashuluk range in
In other words, the AI proved it can safely fly technology has profound potential. For now, southern Russia in January, the Sukhoi-made
and maneuver. An operational version of a Skyborg is mostly for ground-attack missions. In a Hunter-B dropped an unguided 1,100lb bomb
Skyborg-equipped Loyal Wingman drone would separate but closely related effort, the US Defense from its internal bay.
accompany manned fighters into combat, adding Advanced Research Projects Agency is developing Russia’s wingman drone is the first to deploy live
their sensors and weapons to the capabilities of algorithms specifically for air-to-air dogfighting. In weapons. But the ability to drop a bomb or fire
the human crews. computerized trials in August, the AlphaDogfight a missile is less important in the development of
Depending on their level of autonomy, the Loyal code swiftly gunned down a human F-16 pilot. autonomous fighters than their code is. It’s the
Wingman drones may require very little human The air force could easily take the code that software that will make or break wingman drones.
control. The fighter crews or controllers in other comes out of AlphaDogfight and add it to On that front, the US Air Force is making steady
planes or on the ground, could issue general Skyborg. That way, the Skyborg-controlled drones progress. “Follow-on events will demonstrate
commands to the drones – go here, look there, would be able to battle enemy planes, too. The direct manned-unmanned teaming between
shoot these types of targets – while the Skyborg AI way forward for autonomous fighters is clear. manned aircraft and multiple ACS-controlled
handled the actual maneuvers. The basic technology is proliferating. Several unmanned aircraft,” the service explained.
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